103: Chapter 104 She pulled out a check for one billion real gold coins from her limited edition bag.

January 3rd.

The New Year's holiday balance hadn't yet completely run out, and the streets of the Magic City were still permeated with the laziness and prosperity of the New Year.

Inside the office of Jiyuan Technology, Shen Du briefly greeted Vice President Xu Hao and General Manager Chen Shengqiang.

He handed over all the daily operational tasks of the early post-war period to these two capable subordinates.

Afterward, he grabbed his car keys and went downstairs.

Accompanied by a low, resonant roar of the engine, the black Mercedes G55, like a beast released from its cage, drove straight toward the Bund along the Huangpu River.

When he arrived at the Bund, the lights were just coming on, and the neon reflections on the river surface rippled with the gentle waves.

Shen Du walked toward the agreed-upon location with his hands in his trench coat pockets.

His gaze pierced through the bustling crowd, and he instantly locked onto the beautiful figure standing on the riverside viewing platform.

At just a glance, a flash of deep admiration involuntarily crossed Shen Du's eyes.

In just half a year, amidst this crazy myth of wealth creation through traffic, Red Phoenix had clearly completed a class leap from the inside out.

Now, she was no longer as deliberately "restrained" as she used to be to maintain a certain persona.

At this moment, Red Phoenix displayed a dazzling luxury.

From head to toe, everything she wore was a top-tier luxury brand that required an extremely high threshold to obtain.

Exquisite earrings shimmered in the night.

In her hand, she casually carried a limited-edition bag that cost hundreds of thousands, or perhaps even millions, and might not even be purchasable.

The tailored, figure-hugging long dress she wore was not overwhelmed by the stench of money from the luxury brands; instead, she wore it with dignity and elegance.

Looking at her from afar, how could she still be just some internet influencer leader?

She was clearly the noble matriarch who had stepped out of some old-money family with deep foundations!

And even more lethal was her perfect figure.

Although they hadn't been in contact for over half a year, Red Phoenix clearly hadn't relaxed her demands on herself for a single moment.

Apart from managing the massive live-streaming base, she practiced yoga diligently at home every day while watching recordings.

She had forcefully stretched and sculpted every part and every inch of her body to an extreme that made one's blood boil.

Although her actual height was under 1.75 meters, with the blessing of that heaven-defying golden body ratio, she stood in the night wind looking like a walking cover model for a top fashion magazine.

Even now, if you were to put her directly on the runway of a top New York fashion week, she would absolutely be the most dazzling standout who could command the stage.

Shen Du slowed his pace, quietly admiring this stunning back.

He usually didn't like women to be too ostentatious, but facing the woman before him, he couldn't muster even a shred of aversion.

Because he knew better than anyone that Red Phoenix's stunning attire today, from her makeup to her outfit, had definitely taken a very long time to prepare meticulously.

A woman beautifies herself for the one she loves.

All this luxury and beauty was simply to welcome his arrival.

Shen Du's mouth curled into a faint smile as he lightened his steps and walked silently behind her.

A fragrance mixed with the river breeze and a charming scent drifted into his nostrils.

He reached out his hands and gently covered Red Phoenix's alluring eyes from behind.

He leaned his chin slightly against her ear and asked in a low voice: "Guess who I am?"

Red Phoenix, suddenly plunged into darkness, did not panic.

Upon feeling the familiar body temperature emanating from the broad chest behind her, as well as the unique scent that belonged only to this man, the corners of her eyes, painted with exquisite eyeliner, lifted slightly, blooming with a very charming smile.

Playing along with Shen Du's prank with great flair, she gently placed her slender hands over Shen Du's large hands and feigned thought, coquettishly saying: "Oh my, let me guess who it really is?"

"Is it Operations Manager Zhang Nan?"

She intentionally drew out the ending, then her fingers gently rubbed the slight calluses on Shen Du's knuckles, and she chuckled: "Hmm... obviously not. These palms are so broad and hot; this is definitely not a woman's hand..."

Hearing this, Shen Du didn't continue to tease her and let go.

He slid his hands along her smooth waist, gently pulling her into his embrace, and laughed in a low voice: "You really are cooperative. However... it's been half a year, and you seem even more stunning and compelling than before."

Red Phoenix turned around, following his force.

In this instant, she didn't express any of the longing or grievances that had accumulated over the past half year.

Instead, she directly stood on tiptoe, hooked her arms tightly around Shen Du's neck, and facing the cool river breeze, kissed him deeply.

This was a long kiss of reunion, as if they wanted to knead each other into their very bones and blood.

On this bustling Bund riverside, the two of them recklessly and wantonly sought each other's warmth, while the prosperous world around them completely faded away at this moment.

After a long while, the two separated, slightly breathless.

A layer of hazy mist covered Red Phoenix's eyes, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

She leaned her head gently against Shen Du's chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, and murmured emotionally: "You... you really are poison. At my age, you've actually given me the urge to be reckless and just want to fall in love, just like when I was young."

Shen Du lowered his head, quietly gazing at the woman in his arms.

At over thirty years old, Red Phoenix seemed to have been completely forgotten by time, which left no traces on her face.

Her skin, delicate enough to be broken by a blow, was maintained as smooth and lustrous as congealed fat.

She even possessed a few more charms that were soul-stirring than those green, twenty-something girls.

Watching the untreatable tenderness in her eyes, the smile on Shen Du's lips gradually rippled outward.

He reached out a finger and gently brushed away a strand of hair that had been tousled by the river breeze, his voice light and magnetic: "Nonsense, didn't you just turn eighteen this year?"

"Eighteen is the perfect age for falling in love."

Afterward, Shen Du let go of her hair.

His fingertips gently rubbed her luscious red lips, his deep eyes reflecting the neon lights of the Bund.

This sweet nothing, carrying a touch of dominance and doting, was like a flame, instantly igniting the intense love that had been accumulating in the depths of Red Phoenix's heart for half a year.

The two embraced and lingered by the river for a moment, feeling each other's genuine warmth.

But Red Phoenix did not forget the most important reason she came here today because of this brief moment of tenderness.

From that expensive, limited-edition bag, she crisply pulled out a check, held it between two fingers, and gently tucked it into the inner pocket of Shen Du's suit jacket.

"Here is one billion in cash, ready to be cashed at any time."

Red Phoenix looked up, meeting Shen Du's eyes, her tone filled with unhesitating certainty and a sense of wealth: "If this money still can't fill the hole you're trying to deal with, you don't need to worry; I'll find another way to help you."