NOVEL NEXT c33 - Shopping Trip
At 8 PM.
Gu Junwan arrived at Shen Han’s apartment with a very worried-looking Xu Zhao.
Seeing the cold glint reflecting off the Special Assistant’s glasses, Shen Han couldn’t help but shudder.
“Hey, Special Assistant Xu came too? Happy New Year in advance!”
She had thought Gu Junwan would sneak out to meet her without anyone knowing.
Unexpectedly seeing Xu Zhao gave her a sudden feeling of ‘taking your girlfriend out shopping but running into her parents at the door.’
Gu Junwan didn’t offer much explanation.
She took the large bag from Xu Zhao’s hand, then softly said to Shen Han ‘wait for me a moment,’ before hurrying into the Alpha’s bedroom.
Shen Han quickly poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Xu Zhao: “Don’t worry, I’m just taking her out for a little while. I guarantee nothing will happen.”
As she spoke, she patted her chest and added very seriously: “I swear on my life.”
Hearing this, Xu Zhao’s expression softened slightly.
She took a sip of the hot water, then began carefully instructing: “Her Majesty can’t eat things that are too spicy. Also, going from hot to cold easily causes colds. Don’t take her in and out of shopping malls frequently-”
Shen Han nodded in agreement to each point.
About 10 minutes later, the bedroom door turned.
Gu Junwan, successfully disguised, walked out slowly.
Looking at the Omega approaching her.
Shen Han’s eyes quickly widened.
Gu Junwan had changed into a light pink short down jacket, with a pleated short skirt at the hem.
Her long legs, wrapped in black stockings and short boots, looked straight and alluring.
The Empress’s slightly curled long hair was well hidden, replaced by a neat ear-length short haircut.
With delicate features and flawless snow-white skin.
She looked like a perfect female protagonist who had walked out of a manga.
Shen Han, stunned to the side, was nudged twice by Xu Zhao’s elbow before coming back to her senses.
This was also Gu Junwan’s first time dressing herself up in this way.
Seeing the Alpha’s reaction, she felt quite embarrassed.
Lowering her gaze to examine her attire again, she asked with some nervousness: “Does it not suit me?”
Shen Han controlled her wildly pounding heart and hurriedly said: “Of course not, you look absolutely stunning like this!”
As she spoke, Ning Xi’s call came in.
“Boss, are you guys ready? I’ve already driven the car to the bottom of your apartment building, you can come down.”
After hanging up the phone, Shen Han flashed a toothy grin at Special Assistant Xu.
Then, before the other could continue nagging, she took Gu Junwan’s hand and slipped out the door like a gust of wind.
As the elevator doors slowly closed.
They could faintly hear Special Assistant Xu’s anxious voice calling from afar: “Don’t run so fast, don’t let her fall!”
The two descended in the private elevator, with Gu Junwan breathing slightly heavily.
It wasn’t clear if it was from running too quickly in the corridor just now, or because her hand was still being tightly held by the Alpha beside her.
The outdoor temperature was only about 6 or 7 degrees Celsius, but Shen Han’s palm was very warm.
In the not-so-small elevator, the serene cold plum scent was gently guided by the soft snow cedar, colliding to create a hint of unique warmth.
Shen Han held the Omega’s slightly cool fingertips and asked her: “Are your legs cold? Your stockings look a bit thin.”
As she spoke, she lowered her head to look at Gu Junwan’s long legs.
This was clearly a very normal concern, but for some reason, the Alpha’s gaze made the Empress Omega feel a bit shy in her heart.
She imperceptibly pressed her legs together.
Then softly spoke: “Although it looks thin, it’s made of the warmest material, able to withstand temperatures as low as 0 degrees.”
After they chatted for a while.
The elevator had reached the first floor.
After walking out of the private passage, Ning Xi, wrapped in a long down coat, waved broadly at the two.
Just before exiting the elevator, Gu Junwan had put on a face mask, covering most of her face.
Ning Xi had been waiting outside the business car, just to get a good look at what Shen Han’s mysterious girlfriend looked like.
Now this was good, the person lowered her gaze and didn’t look in her direction at all.
And her face was mostly covered up.
Ning Xi certainly wasn’t having this!
She walked forward very enthusiastically, extending her hand while introducing herself.
“Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Ning Xi, Shen Han’s best friend! Shen Han always mentions you, but keeps hiding you and not bringing you out to meet us, I-”
Before she could finish speaking.
She was already dragged by Shen Han and stuffed into the driver’s seat.
While closing the car door, Shen Han also issued her a ‘yellow card warning.’
“Don’t talk nonsense in front of her. If you keep trying to find things to say, I’ll tell Miss Lulu that you broke up with her not because your family didn’t approve, but because you’re fickle and fell for another Omega.”
This level of threat actually meant nothing to Ning Xi.
But she saw that her boss truly cared deeply about that Omega girlfriend, so she obediently closed her mouth and even raised her hand to make a zipping motion across her lips.
After dealing with that big mouth.
Shen Han finally sat with Gu Junwan in the back of the vehicle.
The business car Ning Xi had procured bore Free Federation government license plates.
Although they had already gone through the procedures and processes in advance, the vehicle was stopped at the final checkpoint.
After all, today was a special day, so the inspections were much stricter than usual.
Moreover, the person on duty today was a very conscientious new graduate.
He strictly required everyone in the car to get out and go through identity verification before they could leave.
For this unexpected situation, neither soft nor hard methods would easily solve the problem.
Just as that staff member was about to press the intercom to call for backup, Shen Han was so anxious that her palms were sweating.
At this moment.
The captain of the guard post hurriedly ran out from the duty room, checked the license plate, and personally gave permission to pass.
It wasn’t until the vehicle left the base area that Shen Han and Ning Xi both let out an exaggerated long sigh of relief.
Especially Shen Han, it was bad enough that the preparations weren’t thorough.
If Gu Junwan’s identity had been exposed, she would have gotten into really big trouble.
At the same moment, at the base guard post.
The new graduate, standing at attention, asked his captain in confusion: “Captain Li, what was the deal with that car just now? We asked them to get out for personnel verification, but they kept refusing to cooperate. Why did you directly let them pass?”
Captain Li waved his hand dismissively.
“That car was specifically requested to be let through by Special Assistant Xu from the Secretary’s Office just now. Maybe there’s some special mission. Alright, don’t keep fixating on this matter in your mind. Later tonight this car will return, just let it pass directly when you see the license plate clearly, understand?”
The staff member wasn’t pig-headed. He carefully recorded the license plate number on his phone, then went back to his post.
……
Ning Xi drove the vehicle out of the district to the first checkpoint on Shen Han’s ‘battle plan.’
They would park the car here, then go on their separate dates.
After watching the holographic fireworks at midnight, Ning Xi would have to make another trip, return here, and drive the two back to the base.
When getting out of the car, Gu Junwan softly thanked driver Ning.
Although it was just two short words, that clear and pleasant voice made one feel extremely comfortable.
Finding a gap, Ning Xi pulled Shen Han aside and whispered persuasively.
“Are you really going to send her home after midnight? Ah, you’re being too old-fashioned.”
“An Omega sneaking out to date you on such a special day, she’s probably prepared to spend the night out with you. How can you be so clueless? It’s really frustrating me.”
Shen Han glanced at her sideways: “Lulu information warning, second time.”
Ning Xi’s face darkened. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and turned to leave.
“Hmph, what are you acting tough for with me? I’m not the one who can’t have fun with an Omega tonight.”
……
Shen Han didn’t plan to take Gu Junwan to a shopping mall.
She took her to a famous pedestrian street in the entire Fourth District.
There were all kinds of night market snacks and many high-tech magic shows.
Gu Junwan had never been out like this before, and Shen Han thought bringing her here to play would be much more interesting than browsing a mall.
Indeed, it was.
Gu Junwan’s curiosity about those night market stalls far exceeded Shen Han’s previous expectations.
The Empress Omega gently turned her palm, taking the initiative to intertwine her fingers with the Alpha beside her.
Then she led the other to curiously linger at various stalls.
When she encountered something she wanted to try, she would raise her eyes to look at the Alpha beside her.
Although Gu Junwan had disguised herself sufficiently, she still wore a mask to avoid her face being recognized when passing by certain scanning systems.
With the Omega’s cheeks hidden under the soft cloth, her golden eyes appeared particularly bright and captivating.
Shen Han immediately melted.
She swallowed her slightly tight throat, then began to haggle with the vendor, causing Gu Junwan to chuckle softly beside her.
This moment now was a beautiful dream that the Empress Omega had once imagined but never dared to hope would come true.
The two wandered the street for over two hours, buying a pile of strange snacks and little trinkets they would probably never use.
When they got a bit tired from walking, Shen Han found a rest area without too many people.
She led the Empress Omega to sit on a long bench and started eating some of the snacks they had bought earlier.
Gu Junwan temporarily removed her mask and tasted each item one by one.
But she couldn’t eat much of any single thing, daintily like a little kitten.
And the leftover food she couldn’t finish wasn’t wasted at all, all being taken and finished cleanly by the Alpha beside her.
Perhaps due to being too relaxed, Gu Junwan asked curiously while taking small bites of ice cream: “Do you never waste food?”
“Not really, usually I don’t actually eat that much.”
Gu Junwan put a spoonful of half-melted ice cream in her mouth and asked again: “Then why does it seem like you can eat two portions when you’re with me?”
“Because it has your flavor.”
The Alpha’s sudden frank words made the Empress Omega abruptly pause her movements.
She lowered her gaze slightly, pretending to stare at the ice cream cup in her hand.
Her entire face, along with her swan-like elegant neck, was dyed a uniform red.