Chapter 28: Only the Body, Not the Heart

Women.

They have two faces.

When men aren't around, they are strong as an ox, capable of lifting a 16.8-liter bottle of water with ease.

When men are around, they turn delicate, unable to open a 500ml bottle cap.

Now, with the sweet moments between Emily and David, if Vivian weren't there, they might have even kissed in front of everyone.

David held Emily tightly, as though afraid she would run away.

Emily cooed sweetly, "Alright, I've been busy lately, but now I've managed to find some time to see you."

"Miss me?"

David bit her lightly, "I've missed you so much, I'm going crazy."

Vivian couldn't bear to watch anymore and turned her head away.

Emily, acting all coquettish with her younger boyfriend—who could have imagined she had just been arguing with an older man in a morning meeting?

As her long-time friend, Vivian knew the subtle hints in Emily's words.

She smiled slightly, her expression flawless. "You know, since college, after Emily broke up with her ex, this is the first time she's introduced a boyfriend to me."

David looked genuinely pleased, scratching the back of his head, his gaze lingering on Emily with a fond look.

"Don't worry, Vivian. I'll treat Emily well," he said.

"Seeing how sweet you two are, I'm naturally at ease."

At ease? How could she be?

This troublesome girl, Emily, changes boyfriends faster than she changes her clothes. By the time this year's over, Vivian would have already lost track of how many men she's brought in front of her.

Not even ten fingers would be enough to count them all.

Vivian had intentionally left out a few words earlier.

This wasn't the first time Emily had introduced a boyfriend—it was just the first time this month.

"So, is this one serious?" she asked, teasing Emily.

Emily gave a casual glance at David, who was checking them into their tent, and shrugged nonchalantly. "We'll see, won't we? Love is unpredictable, you never know."

She wanted to enjoy herself in the moment, without the need to complicate things with serious commitments.

"You know Godmother would skin you alive if she found out," Vivian warned.

The "Godmother" Vivian was referring to was Emily's mother, Eleanor, the founder's wife of Rosewood Hotel Group.

When Eleanor was young, she was an outstanding businesswoman, dominating the commercial world for decades. Without her, Rosewood Hotel wouldn't have reached its current success. Now, in her sixties, she had mostly retired and was living in Solace.

She rarely came back to Lumina these days, and when she did, it was usually only once or twice a year.

"Ugh!" Emily pouted. "Vivi, you're such an old soul. Dating isn't about selling yourself. Men are like clothes. The seasons change, and so do they. You need to switch them up to find the one that fits best."

Once you've worn a lot, you know which one feels most comfortable.

Looking around to make sure no one was listening, Emily leaned closer to Vivian and whispered, "Besides, the guy may not be perfect, but he's got the strength!"

She raised her brows, giving Vivian a playful grin.

Vivian understood immediately.

Her face flushed slightly, a delicate shade of pink blooming across her cheeks, looking both beautiful and coy.

She playfully shot Emily a look. "You keep playing around, but if it gets out of hand, don't come running to me for help."

Emily wasn't afraid. "My mom's too busy running things in Solace to care about me. As long as you don't blab, we've got nothing to worry about."

Emily had grown up under the influence of her sharp-minded mother, learning how to do business like a pro. She approached relationships the same way.

Just the body, not the heart.

"He's after my money, and I'm after his body. We're both getting what we need. If it gets old, we can part ways without any hard feelings. Don't worry about it."

Vivian was practically speechless.

Emily had such a mischievous glint in her eyes, making her a temptation even for women.

"Honestly, Vivi, if I looked like you, I'd be out there playing the field, making sure I didn't waste such beauty."

As she spoke, Emily playfully lifted Vivian's chin, her actions teasing like a charming rogue in a drama.

Seeing her friend getting more and more outrageous, Vivian gave her a playful slap on the shoulder. "Emily, do you want me to call Godmother right now?"

Her threat was no match for Emily, who twisted away, teasing. "Go ahead! Call her, and then I'll have my mom introduce all her top-tier guy friends to you. You'll be busy dating them all, and you won't even have time to bother me."

She pinched Vivian's waist playfully, her voice full of mischief. "Then you'll have one every day, and during your period, they'll take turns to keep you company."

Vivian was left speechless. She grabbed Emily and playfully pinched her back. "Emily, you've turned bad. Who taught you all this?"

Emily grinned and ran off, taunting, "Didn't you say we're gathering the United Nations? Let's start with a guy from Solace. How about that?"

"Ugh, Emily! You really… just shut up!"

Vivian couldn't help but laugh at her.

The two beautiful women's playful banter caught the attention of several passersby.

Some of the bolder ones, noticing Vivian's flushed cheeks and her stunning beauty, approached to ask for her contact details.

Vivian, in casual attire with no pockets, had left her phone in the car, so at least she didn't have to deal with the trouble of giving out her number.

After politely turning down the advances of a few men, Vivian and Emily moved on to find their tent for the night.

As Vivian walked ahead, she felt as though someone was watching her.

When she turned around to look, she only saw a group of people gathered around a fire, brewing tea.

The gaze disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her uncertain.

Maybe she was just imagining things?

The water in the kettle began to boil, bubbling over, and Daniel was called a few times before he finally responded.

"What?"

"Mr. Smith, would you like to take a tour around later?" A sweet, flirtatious voice called out beside him.

Both of the camping chairs beside Daniel were empty, and the woman sitting across from him asked her question, her voice laced with sugar.

Before Daniel could answer, she gracefully stood up, making her move toward him.

Daniel glanced at her with a look that seemed to say she was just another event organizer sent to liaise with him.

His voice was as cold as ice. "No need."

The tent wasn't laid with grass; it had flooring, but the gaps between the floorboards were large. With high heels, the thin heels were at risk of getting stuck.

"Oh dear." The woman gasped, feigning distress as she struggled.

Today, she was here as a representative from the opposing party, accompanying Daniel while she handled business discussions. She had already studied his profile thoroughly. When she saw his photos, she had already been impressed, but in person, the shock was even greater.

He didn't need to do much—just sitting there emanated an air of nobility, an almost unreachable aura.

Throughout the conversation, others were speaking while he merely listened. When he did ask questions, his low, enchanting voice felt like a soft breeze, stirring ripples in her heart.

She had watched his live stream the other day—wealthy, young, and deeply affectionate. A man like him was the kind of person you would want to possess. Even if she couldn't have him forever, even a moment of his warmth would be enough.