Chapter 534
Chapter 534
By the time the two emerged from the mall after finishing their Jetroinian meal, darkness had already fallen. Meanwhile, a stage had been set up at the mall's entrance. There was possibly an event going on that night.
As it was still early, Alexander walked hand in hand to the stage with Sophia.
Coincidentally, many others emerged from the mall after dinner, filling the front of the stage with people quickly.
The host on stage was introducing the events for the evening with his microphone. Since it was Valentine's Day, the mall's management had set up the stage and organized events to celebrate the occasion.
“Tonight, ten lucky couples will win a special prize prepared by us. As long as the ten couples complete some simple challenges, they'll be awarded a pair of lock and key necklaces worth nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine from our sponsors, symbols of everlasting love.
“On top of that, as long as any man can carry their female partner for more than five minutes, they will win a specially designed Valentine's Day necklace worth one thousand one hundred and eleven that symbolizes the couple's fidelity for the rest of their lives.
“As for those who are single, please don't fret. The organizers have prepared twenty dining vouchers for you. Later in the evening, we will have a live matchmaking event. The twenty couples who have been paired up successfully today will receive vouchers for a couple meal in one of our premium restaurants worth four hundred and ninety-nine.”
The host explained the programs for the evening excitedly before the event began.
While listening, Sophia was intrigued by it.
When the smile on her face was noticed by Alexander, a glint flashed across his eyes. “Which one do you want?”
Alexander had leaned close enough to whisper in her ear, as the place was crowded with people.
The moment his warm breath bathed her ear, she turned around to glance at him. “What about you?”
She proceeded to throw the question back at him.
Alexander lowered his head to look at her, while his hands that were wrapped around her waist tightened slightly. He then pulled her closer into his arms before murmuring, “I want you, Mrs. Xenos.”
Although their intimate embrace didn't stand out in the sea of couples, Sophia could still feel the burning sensation on her cheeks.
She raised her hand to sweep aside the hair by her cheeks as if she didn't hear him. “The merchants seem to be experts in organizing fun events. They can hire a few temporary actors so that they don't really have to give out all the gifts while concurrently achieving their marketing objective.”
Cognizant that she was avoiding the topic, Alexander leaned in to give her forehead a peck as he let the matter slide.
At eight sharp, the Valentine's Day event began.
The first event was called “A Lover in Need is a Lover Indeed.” After the couples got on stage, one of them would be blindfolded, while the other would guide their blindfolded partner with their voice through a five-meter path littered with obstacles. As long as a couple knocked down less than three obstacles, they would be able to win a Polaroid camera.
Obviously, if they didn't knock anything down, they would win the lock and key necklaces worth nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.
No sooner had the host finished explaining the terms and details than the crowd below raised their hands enthusiastically wanting to participate.
Given that young couples were both daring and energetic, they made up all five couples who were chosen in the first round.
Thereafter, the stage was littered with comical scenes. Some of the blindfolded participants kept walking upon hearing the instructions, even if they weren't given by their own partners.
At the end of the first round, three couples came off the stage without winning anything.
The challenge might have sounded simple, but everyone soon realized how difficult it was in reality.
The organizers had a good grasp of human psychology. When one had to walk blindfolded in such a chaotic environment, one not only has to contend with the crowd's disruptive noise but also has to deal with the inherent panic from losing the sense of direction.
Watching the event on stage, Sophia couldn't help turning around and asking Alexander, “Do you think we have good teamwork, Mr. Xenos?”
Alexander cocked a brow in response. “Do you want to try?”
Sophia shook her head. “I think it is interesting.”
While both of them were speaking, an abrupt silence descended upon the scene.
When Sophia and Alexander stopped talking too, a girl by their side told her, “Miss, the host seems to be pointing at the two of you!”
Just as the girl had spoken, one of the event staff approached them with a smile. “Mister, miss, you have been randomly selected to participate in the game on stage to win some prizes. Please come with me.”
Sophia raised a surprise brow. “Randomly selected?”
The staff broke into a gentle smile, oblivious to the underlying meaning of Sophia's question. “Yes, miss. You and your boyfriend have been chosen to play the game on stage. If you succeed, you'll be able to win the grand prize worth nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.” Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Sophia let out a chuckle. “It's fine. Let someone else have the opportunity.”
The staff found it hard to believe that Sophia had turned it down. “Miss, our specially designed key and lock necklaces are extremely beautiful and intricate. You'll stand a chance to win as long as you play the game. Do you really not want to try?”
“That's right,” Sophia replied calmly while maintaining a cordial smile.
The staff was filled with shock. “Can you tell me why, miss? The necklace is worth nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine. Are you really not interested in it at all?”
“I'm sorry. I'm not.”
Even if it was worth ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, Sophia might not even be keen, let alone one for nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.
On the contrary, if Katherine was in the same position, she would definitely drag Joshua along to participate, even if the necklaces were only worth nine hundred and ninety-nine.
In reality, there was a reason why the staff had approached Sophia and Alexander—the duo's stunning good looks. The main objective of the evening's event was obviously marketing. Therefore, many members of the media were present below the stage. Even though it was announced that there were ten prizes worth nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine to be won, seven were given to actors the organizer hired. That essentially meant that only three of the prizes were given out for real.
At the end of the event, a picture was to be taken with the winner of the prize. Hence, the sponsor had made a request for a beautiful couple to be in it so as to increase the photo's marketability.
In fact, Sophia and Alexander had already been scouted the moment they emerged from the shopping mall. The couple was just too beautiful to blend into the crowd.
Consequently, with the aura the duo exuded, no other couple at the scene came close to competing
with them when it came to marketing potential.
Nonetheless, the staff was bewildered after being rejected by the duo.
Even though nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine wasn't a lot of money, the prize was still extremely attractive.
It's almost ten thousand. How can someone not be interested?
Since money had failed to motivate the couple, the staff could only change her tact. “But it's Valentine's Day today. Since you're out celebrating it, I'm sure you must be looking to do something memorable, right? This game is really fun. I'm certain that if you participate in it, you'll make some good memories.”
After giving the matter some thought, Sophia turned toward Alexander with her eyes beaming. “Do you want to join, Mr. Xenos?”
Throughout the time they spent together, both of them didn't seem to have any particularly special memories.
Alexander wasn't into such events but had his interest piqued by the staff's words.
He could also tell from Sophia's question that she wanted to do it.
Thus, he gave her a gentle look as he replied, “I do.”