Chapter 11: A Fashion Disaster and the Magical ATM

The sun climbed higher in the sky, its warmth slowly dispelling the lingering morning chill. Chen Jing glanced over at Lucifer in the passenger seat of her car. His black shirt was wrinkled and worn, his pants bore smudges of dirt, and the overall disarray clashed starkly with his otherwise regal demeanor.

"Hey, Shen Lu," she teased, intentionally using the name on his fake ID. "Don't you think it's about time you got some decent clothes? At this rate, you're going from 'brooding heartthrob' to 'street-corner vagabond.'"

Lucifer turned his sharp gaze toward her, his voice cold. "Call me Lucifer. And mortal, external trappings are meaningless. True status is measured by power."

"Oh, give me a break." Chen Jing rolled her eyes. "You think people can just see your so-called power? Around here, first impressions are everything. Now come on, we're going shopping."

"Shopping?" Lucifer frowned, clearly unimpressed. "I require no such mortal frivolities."

"Too bad." She stepped on the gas, speeding up as she grinned. "You're my assistant now, and you're on my schedule!"

Inside the bustling mall, bright lights and bustling shoppers surrounded them. Chen Jing led Lucifer into a men's clothing store and immediately grabbed a sleek tailored suit, holding it up against him.

"Try this," she said, appraising him with a critical eye. "Simple and classy."

Lucifer accepted the suit with a dubious look. "This fabric seems restrictive," he muttered.

"Stop whining." She shoved him toward the dressing room. "Get in there and put it on."

A few minutes later, Lucifer emerged. The tailored suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall frame and commanding presence. The air in the store seemed to still as a hush fell over the other shoppers.

"Wow…" Chen Jing let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "I have to admit, you can pull off anything with a face like that."

Lucifer glanced down at himself, appearing mildly satisfied. "Merely mortal artifice," he remarked, his tone dismissive.

"Don't get too cocky yet," Chen Jing said, stifling a laugh as she picked out a gaudy floral shirt. "Here, try this next. It's… bold."

Lucifer frowned but complied, disappearing back into the dressing room. When he reemerged, the bright floral pattern clashed horribly with his austere demeanor, making him look like a misplaced extra from a tropical party.

Chen Jing doubled over, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "Oh my God, Lucifer! You look like you're ready for a square dance or a karaoke night at a country bar!"

His expression darkened. "Mortal, are you mocking me?"

"Absolutely," she gasped, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "Wait, I have one more for you!"

She handed him a neon yellow hoodie, barely able to keep a straight face. "Try this—it'll make you look youthful and vibrant!"

Lucifer reluctantly donned the hoodie, his broad shoulders barely fitting into the garment. When he stepped out, even the sales associates couldn't suppress their giggles.

"Stop. Enough of this nonsense," Lucifer growled, his voice icy. "My patience is wearing thin."

"Alright, alright," Chen Jing said, wiping away tears of laughter. She grabbed a long black trench coat. "This one's more your style. Classic, sleek, and just the right amount of drama."

To her relief, Lucifer didn't protest this time. He slipped on the trench coat, and just like that, the regal air of the "King of Hell" returned.

"There we go," Chen Jing said, nodding in approval. "You finally look like yourself again."

At the register, Chen Jing stared at the price tag in horror. "Four thousand yuan for one outfit?!" she exclaimed, clutching her chest as if physically wounded. "Lucifer, you're bankrupting me!"

Lucifer observed her reaction with a furrowed brow. "Why does currency hold such power over mortals?"

"Because without money, you can't even afford a trench coat sleeve!" she retorted, pulling out her phone to pay. "I'm practically raising a broke demon lord over here."

As they exited the store, they passed by a row of ATMs. Lucifer paused, his gaze fixating on the machines. "Mortal, what are these devices?"

"ATMs," Chen Jing explained absentmindedly. "You use them to withdraw cash with a bank card."

"Withdraw cash…" Lucifer murmured. Intrigued, he stepped closer, placing his hand on one of the machines.

Before Chen Jing could stop him, Lucifer's fingers emitted a faint, dark glow. The machine hummed ominously, and within seconds, cash began pouring out of the slot.

"Hey! Stop that!" Chen Jing yelled, rushing over to grab his arm. "You're robbing a bank!"

Lucifer turned to her, his expression unbothered. "I am merely extracting mortal currency. The machine remains intact."

"That's not the point!" she hissed, stuffing the loose bills back into the machine's slot as best as she could. "You'll get us arrested! This is illegal!"

"Illegal?" Lucifer frowned. "You mean by mortal enforcers?"

"Yes! By the cops!" Chen Jing nearly shouted, yanking his hand away from the machine. "From now on, no more magic unless I say so. This is a society of laws, got it?"

Lucifer's brow furrowed, clearly displeased. "Mortal rules are convoluted and irrational."

"Well, too bad," Chen Jing snapped, dragging him away from the scene. "Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to babysit a magic-wielding man-child?"

With a bag of new clothes in hand, Chen Jing led Lucifer into a cozy, bustling restaurant. The air was thick with the scent of garlic and stewed meats. Her mood instantly brightened.

"Alright, time for a good meal to reward myself for putting up with you!" She plopped down into a chair and began flipping through the menu. "You've tried Western junk food. Now it's time for some real Northeastern Chinese cuisine!"

Lucifer sat stiffly across from her, his eyes scanning the lively crowd with faint disdain. "Why is this place so noisy?"

"It's called atmosphere. You wouldn't get it." She handed him the menu. "Go ahead, pick something. I recommend the braised chicken with mushrooms and guo bao rou—sweet and sour fried pork."

Lucifer glanced at the menu, his expression growing darker. "These symbols are illogical and overly complicated."

Chen Jing burst out laughing. "Wait, are you saying you can't read a menu? Mr. High and Mighty can't read basic Chinese?"

"I require no assistance," Lucifer snapped, scanning the menu again. He pointed to one of the items. "This… 'guo bao rou.'"

"Good choice." Chen Jing nodded approvingly before ordering a feast for both of them.

Soon, the table was laden with steaming dishes: crispy guo bao rou, tender chicken with mushrooms, and colorful stir-fried vegetables.

"Dig in!" Chen Jing encouraged, expertly wielding her chopsticks. "This is a classic! You'll love it—unless you're allergic to flavor."

Lucifer hesitated before picking up a piece of the fried pork with surprising dexterity. He bit into it and froze.

"Well?" Chen Jing asked eagerly.

Lucifer chewed slowly, then nodded once. "It is… acceptable."

"'Acceptable'?" Chen Jing threw her hands up. "Who are you fooling? You're loving it!"

Lucifer ignored her, silently reaching for another piece.

By the end of the meal, Lucifer had sampled everything, offering clipped but grudgingly positive remarks about each dish. Chen Jing, meanwhile, couldn't stop giggling.

"Who would've thought?" she teased. "The King of Hell, conquered by guo bao rou!"

Lucifer shot her a frosty glare, though the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.

As they stepped out of the restaurant, Chen Jing stretched, patting her stomach contentedly. "Alright, that was amazing. Now, let's see if you can live up to the hype tonight, Mr. King of Hell."

Lucifer's gaze turned skyward, his tone low and foreboding. "Prepare yourself. The coming night will not be so… lighthearted."

Chen Jing rolled her eyes but grinned. "Relax, I've got guo bao rou power. Bring it on."