Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire

YIREN

Standing beside me is a massive black panther, glossy fur, intense eyes, the whole "I could eat you for lunch" look. My soul nearly exits my body.

A panther. In the penthouse!

With a strangled scream, I fling myself backward, practically skidding across the marble floor until I land flat on my azz. Ow.

"Yiren!" Suyin, instead of helping, is doubled over, howling with laughter. Honey doesn’t even blink at my dramatic escape. He rushes straight to the panther, scratching its massive head like it’s a kitten.

Then, as if the scene wasn’t wild enough, a strange white creature darts in, climbing onto Honey and wrapping around his neck. I squint. Is that... a fox?

"Relax, Yiren," Suyin manages to gasp out between laughs. "That’s Bagheera and Cleopatra. Our pets."

"A cat and dog are pets," I say, still frozen on the floor. "A black panther and white fox? That’s just... wrong. It’s cheating!"

Suyin’s wiping tears from her eyes as she hauls me to my feet. "Oh, your face was worth it. Good thing Jun asked me to get your reaction on recording."

"I’m going to strangle him in sleep tonight." Bloody asshole.

I duck behind her. Jun definitely lied or gave me half-truth. These aren’t pets. They’re mini predators with VIP access.

"They don’t bite," Suyin tries to reassure me.

"Right. That’s what they all say—just before I end up as brunch!" I huff, mentally calculating how fast I can book the next flight back to New York.

Suyin finally pushes me onto the couch, still giggling. "Honey, take them to your room."

Honey, looking entirely unbothered, waves at me with a grin as he leads his pets away, while I collapse into the couch, still eyeing the door, just in case any other exotic "pets" decide to join the party.

******

"Oh my god, Yiren! This is gorgeous!" Suyin exclaims, her face lighting up as she explores the VR tour of her future home.

"I want to see! I want to see!" Honey jumps up and down, his eyes wide with impatience. And mine sweeping around the house. If Honey is here then who is monitoring those two?

"Two minutes, sweetie! Let me finish."

He pouts, crossing his arms dramatically as he waits.

"Um... shouldn’t you be in your room?"

"Chill, Yiren. They don’t bite."

"I don’t believe you."

"Want me to call them so you can ask them yourself?"

"I believe you. 100%."

Ugh... I’m not coming here again. Next time we will meet somewhere outside.

"Wow! I love the master bedroom!"

Watching Suyin’s infectious excitement fills me with pride. Mental note: get Bruce more food coupons as a thank-you. When she finally finishes, still grinning, I kneel down and help Honey into the VR gear, securing it around his small head.

As soon as the view opens, his little face lights up. "This will be our house!"

"Yes!" I say, guiding him through each room, taking him on the full virtual tour. "And this," I point, "is your dragon’s dungeon!" It’s not really a dungeon but a uniquely designed tree house with knotted ropes and ladders leading from his balcony, making it the ultimate play area for him, Yuyu, and Lan. And maybe for the monsters he call pets.

Honey gasps, beaming. "I love it! I love it! I love it! What about the slide into the lake?"

I bite my lip, glancing at Suyin, who’s already shaking her head. Originally, I’d added a slide concept, but she thought it was too risky and vetoed it.

"Um... I’m still working on that idea. But look at this!" I lead him to Hagrid’s Hut, which in reality is a family gazebo inspired by his favourite fantasy world.

Honey’s excitement has my heart swelling, but I know the gazebo will be a challenging piece, especially with the details I’m planning for it.

Leaving the little hiccup at Suyin’s place behind, the rest of my day went surprisingly well. I met with some excellent contractors, and the quality and prices they’re offering are just what I need. Best of all, Ning is showing amazing progress. She’s started opening her eyes, and her baby is a champ—today, he wrapped his tiny fist around my finger, gripping like a future warrior. Kai, on the other hand, still looks troubled. I know what’s on his mind: until his business settles and brings in steady income, he won’t feel at ease.

I make a quick stop at a luxury market to restock my office supplies. The place is a bit pricey, but they carry the quality stationery I want. As I fill my cart, my gaze drifts to the gaming section, specifically the neatly stacked sets of the latest Legos. And there it is—the Hogwarts Castle. Jun gave his to Honey, so I pick up the box, turning it over to admire it... until I see the price tag. 25,000 Yuan. I nearly choke, setting it right back on the shelf. Sorry, Jun. Buy it yourself.

As I browse further, my attention lands on a group of kids trying out VR gaming gear. Intrigued, I try the display model, and it’s incredible. This setup makes my old VR set feel like a relic. The quality, the immersion—everything is leagues above what I have. Then I check the price and feel my heart sink. 350,000 Yuan. I can almost hear my bank account groaning.

"Excuse me! Are you buying it?"

Startled, I look up and come face-to-face with a tall, handsome man. He looks oddly familiar, and it takes me a second to realize who he is. Zhao Zeng, the #1 F1 racer in the world.

Oh my god. Zhao Zeng. The legend of the racing circuit! Though my personal favorite is Carlos Leclerc—strictly because I fangirl over him—Zhao Zeng’s reputation is undeniable. Realizing I’ve been staring like a total dork, I snap back to the moment.

"Uh... no, you can have it," I say, reluctantly handing over the last VR set, a small piece of my heart breaking. Goodbye, precious. Today’s just not the day.

As he takes it, I gather my courage. "But... can I have your autograph, please?"

******