The afternoon sun shone gently over Liang Manor as Ethan Li personally drove up to pick up Lila. The gleaming Bentley Mulsanne Speed waited in the driveway, its polished black body reflecting the sunlight.
Lila stepped out gracefully, carrying a small, luxurious emerald green handbag that perfectly matched her short emerald green evening gown, which fell just above her knees, showing off her elegant legs. Her emerald green heels clicked softly against the driveway as she walked.
Her platinum necklace with a subtle diamond pendant, sparkling amethyst earrings, and an emerald green bangle added a touch of elegance and contrast. Her hair was styled in a sleek low bun, soft tendrils framing her face, making her beauty radiant and refined.
Ethan stepped out beside her—tall, cold, and imposing in a matching emerald green tuxedo suit. On his wrist rested a Patek Philippe watch, gleaming in the sunlight. Their coordinated outfits and accessories made them look like a royal couple, perfectly in sync, radiating sophistication.
"Shall we go?" he asked, his calm voice carrying a subtle warmth.
"Of course," Lila replied, slipping gracefully into the car beside him.
Their first stop was a high-end boutique. Lila carefully selected dresses and accessories while Ethan observed silently, occasionally offering quiet opinions she valued more than anyone else's. Their matching shoes clicked softly on the polished marble floors as they walked together, further cementing their visual pairing.
"Try this one," he suggested, handing her a navy blue evening dress.
"You have good taste, Mr. Li," she smiled.
He only smirked faintly, his usual cold demeanor softened by a rare glint of pride.
After shopping, they headed to Beautiful Heaven Hotel, Lila's own secret establishment. The rooftop restaurant offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, bathed in golden light. Manager Rani came out to greet them, winking at Lila, who returned the gesture with a graceful smile.
Dinner was quiet yet intimate. Lila laughed softly at something Ethan said, and he felt his usually cold heart stir. Their matching emerald outfits, shoes, and luxurious accessories made them appear almost untouchable under the city lights.
Unbeknownst to them, a paparazzi had snapped photos of the couple at the hotel. Within minutes, the images spread across Weibo. Comments poured in immediately:
@StarWatcher: "OMG! Ethan Li with Lila Chen! #EthanLiXLilaChen
@RomanceAddict: "I can't… my study goddess and Ethan Li!
#CoupleGoals"
@DreamGirl: "The shoes match perfectly… they are a real-life CP "
@EliteWatcher: "CEO dotes on his little wife! #EthanLiXLilaChen"
@CampusQueen: "I'm crying, they look so good together!! "
After the dinner, Ethan personally drove Lila back to Liang Manor. Once inside, Lila saw the trend on Weibo. Smiling faintly, she reposted the paparazzi photo on her account, adding:
"The evening was perfect #EthanLiXLilaChen"
The repost ignited another wave of CP comments, with her followers flooding in:
@LuckyFan123: "This is real-life couple goals "
@HeartEyesForever: "Ethan Li replied to a comment!! I can't breathe "
@EmeraldDreamer: "They match down to the shoes… perfect CP "
@CEOlover: "I feel like I'm dreaming… Ethan Li noticed us!! "
And sure enough, Ethan, using his real Weibo account Ethan Li, replied to some comments:
@HeartEyesForever: "Yes, she is my little lady "
@LuckyFan123: "Always my girl "
Fans nearly cried. They couldn't believe their study goddess had made the richest man in A City reply to them personally. The CP nickname #EthanLiXLilaChen trended endlessly.
When Vivian returned home from school. She immediately opened Weibo, and her face fell. Everywhere she looked: #EthanLiXLilaChen dominated trending. Her hands trembled as she cried on her mother's shoulder.
"How… how is this happening?!" Vivian sobbed.
Mrs. Chen tried to comfort her, but Vivian's heart burned with jealousy.
"I… I will destroy her!" she whispered through tears.
Mr. Chen, standing nearby, scowled deeply.
"Vivian, enough. Your obsession with Lila has brought nothing but shame to our family. You will face serious consequences."
He laid out his punishments clearly:
No outings with friends until your grades improve.
No scheming against Lila or using social media to manipulate others.
You must write a full self-reflection letter, to be submitted and read aloud to me before you can resume normal life.
Vivian's face paled, but her jealousy and determination only grew.
Meanwhile, Derek Wang slammed his phone down in anger.
"That woman…!" he muttered, rage and humiliation consuming him.
Seeing Lila with Ethan online, perfectly coordinated and trending, ignited his determination.
He began plotting, desperate to regain control over the situation—but he did not yet know how formidable Lila and her allies truly were.