Chapter 10: The Rose of France

Xiao Ran breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Leon, busy organizing his winnings, was not following him. He felt a bit more at ease, unaware that several other greedy eyes were fixed firmly upon him.

Soon, Xiao Ran reached the parking lot, pushing his luggage cart toward his vehicle. Having been swindled by unscrupulous ride-share drivers and taxis while shopping for fans in the past—resulting in the loss of both money and merchandise—he had spent three thousand dollars on this used Volkswagen Touareg to get around and transport goods. Although the car was only in fair condition, it was reliable and sturdy. Unfortunately, shortly after he bought it, his circumstances changed. Following his return home for a period of remote study, the car had sat idle at the university for months, racking up unnecessary parking fees. He had originally expected to sell it at a loss before graduating and returning home, but after attending this lost-luggage auction and deciding to continue playing this "blind box" game, he felt the purchase had been worth it.

As he reached his car and prepared to open the trunk to load his three suitcases, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching rapidly from behind. They were light, but Xiao Ran heard them clearly. He spun around instantly. Less than ten meters away, two white men in their twenties or thirties were creeping toward him. Xiao Ran did not know them, but he had noticed them at the auction. Clearly, they were after his cash, his valuable luxury bags, or perhaps both.

Seeing them, Xiao Ran took two steps back and scanned his surroundings. It was an airport parking lot with plenty of pedestrians and vehicles. If these individuals attempted a robbery, a single shout would draw the attention of those nearby. Even if they chose not to intervene, they would serve as witnesses. Feeling slightly more secure, he spoke coldly, "Hey, what’s the meaning of this? You’d better stop, or I’m calling the police!" He pointed toward the officers stationed at the parking lot entrance.

Simultaneously, his livestream erupted. "Xiao Ran, be careful! Those two pigs are clearly up to no good!" "Call the police, Xiao Ran! We can be witnesses!" The viewers were panicked and shouting warnings, especially the women in the chat, who were screaming in alarm.

Seeing his vigilance, the two men had to stop. Their faces turned pale and then flushed with frustration. They realized that a silent, surprise attack was now impossible. This was a busy parking lot with police nearby, not a desolate wilderness. Having passed through security for the auction, they were unarmed, making it impossible to threaten him with a weapon.

One of the men spoke up, "Hey, don't be nervous. We mean no harm. We just wanted to ask if you’re selling those luxury bags? If so, we’re willing to pay a high price."

Xiao Ran shook his head dismissively. "Not for sale. Don't waste your time. And just so you know, I’m livestreaming, and this high-definition camera is recording everything. You’d better leave, or thousands of people will testify against you." He gestured to the camera pinned to his chest.

The two men froze, their faces turning ashen. "Hey, you’ve got it all wrong. Since you aren't selling, we’ll be on our way." They backed away, waving their hands in explanation.

Xiao Ran let out a long breath, as did his viewers, who immediately began chattering in the chat. "What kind of trash country is this? Trying to rob someone in broad daylight at an airport parking lot!" "Good thing Xiao Ran reacted quickly, or he could have been cleaned out!"

Xiao Ran laughed helplessly. "Guys, I’ve been robbed five times now; I’m used to it. I stay alert every time I go out, just in case." The chat filled with laughter.

He quickly loaded the three suitcases into the trunk and drove out of the lot, heading toward West Hollywood. He checked his rearview mirror repeatedly to ensure he wasn't being followed. Once he was certain he was clear, he relaxed. During the drive back to UCLA, he remained vigilant. Forty-five minutes later, he arrived at the university. To be safe, he drove through the campus and exited through a different gate before heading to his apartment building.

The building was adjacent to UCLA and housed mostly students, along with some office workers and actors. It was well-kept and, most importantly, had security at the entrance. Upon arrival, Xiao Ran parked and unloaded the two vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases, planning to take them inside first.

As he walked toward the entrance, a taxi pulled up and a beautiful woman stepped out, holding a small cardboard box. She was a tall, stunning white woman with delicate features and a graceful silhouette, reminiscent of the French actress Sophie Marceau. She was the goddess of the apartment building, and as soon as she appeared, she drew all eyes. A chorus of whistles and flirtatious comments filled the air. Some even serenaded her with the famous French song, "Hélène."

The woman, whose name was indeed Hélène, was a student from Paris. Xiao Ran couldn't help but chuckle. The livestream was flooded with comments: "Wow! Is that a French rose? A young Sophie Marceau, even sexier!" "She’s incredible—the perfect blend of Western sexiness and Eastern elegance!"

Xiao Ran ignored the lecherous comments and pushed his luggage toward the door. As Hélène approached, he teased, "Those guys are right, Hélène. You’re like a blinding sun; you’re going to burn their eyes out!"

Hélène laughed heartily. "You bastards are all wolves, and that includes you, Sean. Not a single good one among you." "Sean" was the English name Xiao Ran had adopted because his surname sounded similar to it.

While laughing, Hélène noticed the vintage suitcases and her eyes lit up. "Wait! Sean, where did you get those? If I’m not mistaken, those are 1970s limited-edition Louis Vuitton trunks—very rare and quite valuable!"

Xiao Ran smiled and nodded. "As expected of a fashionable Parisian. You're right, they are. I saw them at an auction and a friend wanted them, so I picked them up." He then changed the subject. "Why are you carrying that box, Hélène?"

"Oh, nothing much. Our studio went under, so these are just some odds and ends," she explained, though her eyes held a hint of disappointment. They walked into the apartment building together, chatting as they went.