10 A Little Secret

"You're so beautiful, Shu Xian."

Shu Xian blinked her eyes a few times, not expecting a compliment coming from Pan An. He looked at her warmly, his gaze heating her body as Shu Xian felt her heart racing.

With Pan An's hand still holding hers, Shu Xian shyly but gently retracted her hand from him, averting her gaze away at the same time.

"I-I'm sorry," she apologized, discreetly looking at Pan An from the corner of her eye. "I'm just not used to someone holding me," she added, Pan An, nodding as he understood.

"Don't worry," he said as he made his way towards his room. "Give me 10 to 15 minutes. I'll get ready. Then, we'll go to the restaurant where my mother is waiting."

The moment Shu Xian heard his door closing, it was as if she held her breath for a long time. She took a deep breath and released it, her eyes wandering on a nearby mirror beside her.

'Ah...'

Shu Xian looked at herself with amusement in her eyes.

'Even I couldn't believe that this is me.'

Shu Xian took a few steps toward the mirror. She then held the glass as if looking at a foreign object, her gaze not leaving her reflection shown in the mirror.

She looked at herself as if she was a different person. Her heart continued to double its pace--not because of what Pan An had said, but because Shu Xian started appreciating herself.

Shu Xian never really cared about her looks. She believed herself to be a lost cause when it comes to dressing herself up.

There were times that she would watch videos about putting makeup on. Also, she watched videos on making the best outfit for the day--or as the Millenials say it, OOTD.

Shu Xian didn't care much about her looks until today that she would have to meet Pan Ann's mother.

If it was not for their fake relationship, if it was not for her living under the same roof, she would not have tried dressing up.

With that in mind, the young lady didn't mind to give herself a small smile. She cocked her head to the side as she started to appreciate how good she's looking today, wondering if she could be this confident in the following days.

'Shall I... try at least putting a lip tint every day?'

At the same moment, the door of Pan An's room opened. Instinctively, Shu Xian turned her body to look at him, and when she did, her eyes widened in surprise.

The professor himself displayed such pulchritude!

He combed his hair up, making him look younger than his age. Also, the suit that he wore has given him exuberance--quite the opposite of Pan An's usual aloof personality when he's at work.

Sensing her eyes on him, Pan An cocked his head to the side, his eyebrow raised at her as he spoke, teasing her.

"Do you like what you're seeing, babe?"

"Wha--?!"

Shu Xian instantly blushed, hearing the endearment that Pan An had just called her.

"What did you just call me?" she clarified, Pan An, laughing out loud as he found her reaction cute.

"Babe. We're faking our relationship, so we also have to have endearments for each other, no?"

Shu Xian puffed her cheeks, not liking the idea. She even rolled her eyes at him as she crossed both of her arms in front of her chest, speaking her mind at the same time.

"I don't like that endearment," she said honestly, "it doesn't fit me, nor you!"

Pan An shook his head as he fished for his car keys that was in his pocket.

"Then let's think of something later. For now, we have to drive to where mom is," he suggested, Pan An, walking ahead as Shu Xian followed him.

Behind Pan An's house was his garage. Shu Xian had not seen this part of his home, and now that she did, it made her realize that even Pan An, who lives near the university, has a car.

Shu Xian blinked her eyes a few times at Pan An's car. She then widened her eyes in astonishment to have identified what car he has, her mouth almost ajar.

'I-isn't this a Honqi S9 PHEV!?'

With an asking price of 10 million yuan ($1.45 million), the Hongqi S9 PHEV is by far the most expensive car ever built in China, but for a good reason.

This car packs a serious punch! Other than its sleek and luxurious look, the gullwing-doored hypercar is powered by a turbocharged V8 mated to a plug-in electric drivetrain.

Shu Xian pointed at the car as if Pan An had stolen it away from someone.

"P-Pan An... aren't you a university professor?"

Pan An raised a brow at her as he opened the door for Shu Xian, the young lady still not entering the car until she heard his answer.

"What's with that judging look?" he asked, letting out a small chuckle. "A university professor can't get the most expensive car in the country? Get in."

Shu Xian just blinked her eyes again, hesitantly sitting on the passenger's seat before Pan An closed the door. He then sat on the driver's seat, starting the car as Shu Xian put on her seatbelt.

"I don't mean to be rude, but how can a university professor afford this much? Your house is simple and homey, but this car..."

Pan An couldn't help but laugh out loud. He shook his head as he started driving off, a lot of people looking and admiring his car from afar.

"I'll tell you a little secret," he said, completely getting the attention of Shu Xian.

"What is it?" she asked, her eyebrows slightly furrowing as she realized that there was more to this man than meets the eye.

"I didn't tell you earlier because I'd fear you would adamantly back down," he started, and when the traffic light showed the red light, he stopped driving for a while.

"Pan An..." Shu Xian narrowed her eyes at him, feeling nervous already. "Tell me... are you a thief or not?"

Pan An laughed out loud once more, his head shaking as he found Shu Xian cute. Being laughed at made Shu Xian feel slightly embarrassed and stupid, making her think if what she asked is worth it.

After a fee seconds of the professor's laughter, he then looked at her seriously, what he said surprising the soul out of the young lady's body.

"I'm the son of the owner of Invicta Corporation."

"You're WHAT!?"

Shu Xian then impulsively hit Pan An's shoulder, further surprising him with how comfortable she was to hit him.

"You're the son of the person who owns one of the best companies in the country!?"