Chapter 257 Which Prize Do You Want?
It so happened to be the busiest time of the night. Residents nearby had just had their dinner and they were out for a stroll. Soon, a large crowd surrounded the stage at the entrance of the supermarket.
“Our supermarket is having an activity today. The first prize is a Giante bicycle; the second prize is a box of chocolates and the third prize is a huge teddy plush toy! There are also various kinds of participation awards. The competition is open to everyone as long as you are teamed up with the opposite gender—it doesn’t matter whether you are a couple or not, all are eligible to take part in this activity! Ladies and gentlemen, do come and join the fun!” The host, who had heavy makeup on, held a megaphone as he announced to the crowd. He was wearing a suit with chicken feathers sticking out, which made him look like a last minute option whom the company hired on a whim for a village fair.
“We are short of a pair here. Is there anyone else?”
“Should we go?” Alexander lowered his head and asked Courtney.
After weighing her options, she shook her head. “No, we should head home now. We can buy the chocolates on our own.” The supermarket has strange activities for participants each time they have certain activities. I can’t even begin to imagine what they have in mind this time. It’s best to dodge it to decrease the risk of embarrassing ourselves.
However, before they could turn around, a light voice rang out from behind them. “Handsome, are you alone? Me too! Why not partner up and take part in the activity with me? We’ll split the prize!”
Courtney’s heart sank. She turned around to come face-to-face with a girl, whose hair was tied up in a bun. She looked like she was in her early twenties and she was staring at Alexander in anticipation. If he were to help her, the passion and sparks of love in her eyes would most probably come gushing out.
“I…” Alexander scowled because he seemed unsure of how to reject her.
“Handsome, you look especially friendly and helpful, so come on, help a girl out! Please, I really want the bicycle; I’m attending classes at Campus City nearby. If I were to receive the first prize, I’ll transfer half of the bicycle money to you.” The young girl was very persuasive. She was pouting while swinging her hips, looking much like a vixen.
“Sorry, but I’m afraid we are taking part too. We were just putting our things down.” Courtney shoved herself between the two of them unabashedly. She then handed Alexander the bags from the supermarket while commenting deliberately, “Please take these. I can’t carry them anymore.”
The young woman’s smile froze on her face and she cleared her throat to hide her humiliation. “I see. In that case, I’m sorry; I didn’t see you, madam. I’ll go look for someone else.”
Madam? Courtney felt anger burning within her. She addressed Alexander, who is in his thirties, ‘handsome’ but she’s addressing me as ‘madam’? Girl, are you insane?
Courtney was about to give her a piece of her mind but the young woman vanished into the crowd in the blink of an eye. Soon, they heard the host asking again, “We are short of a pair. Is there anyone else?”
“Here!” Alexander raised his hand. It was easy to spot him, with him being more than six feet tall.
And so, Courtney was dragged onto the stage before she could respond. While they were waiting for the activity to start, she asked him quietly, “How old do you think I look?”
Alexander turned to her. “Twenty-five.”
“I’m not asking you about my age. I am asking how old you think I look.” Courtney seemed annoyed. “Why did that young woman call you ‘handsome’ but address me as ‘madam’? Does she look much younger than me?”
“She attends university nearby, so she must be younger than you.”
“Alexander, how dare you—” Courtney almost fainted out of anger. I feel like I can’t continue this conversation with him. Was I blinded by love in the past? Why did I even date him?
“Here we go.” The host interrupted their conversation between two people who weren’t on the same page. The speakers on both sides of the stage were especially loud and it was almost deafening. “Here are the rules—each pair will begin by standing next to each other, but the ladies aren’t allowed to touch the ground. All five pairs will then take turns to strike a pose without repeating the same pose as the groups before you. The group who fails to come up with a new pose will be eliminated and the pair making it to the end will receive the first prize.”
Once they heard the announcement of the game rules, Courtney’s expression changed drastically and she turned to look at Alexander. He appeared calm when he regarded her. “What is it?”
Courtney cleared her throat and said to him softly, “I think we should give up.”
Before Alexander could ask her for a reason, the host had approached them. “Right; let’s start with the first group—Handsome and Beautiful.”
Courtney didn’t have the chance to run because she was whisked off the ground by Alexander, who had lifted her into his arms.
At the sight, the crowd roared below the stage. Courtney struggled instinctively but realized that Alexander held her securely. In fact, it occurred to her that she might look like a flopping fish in his arms when she struggled. Hence, she could only glare at him angrily.
Alexander looked down at her, his eyes shining brilliantly with an alluring and subdued light. Courtney immediately turned away her blushing face. She highly suspected Alexander had known about the rules of the game early on because he was exceptionally calm.
Soon, the other four couples did the same thing swiftly. One of them carried their partner on their back, whereas another carried their partner over their shoulder, while one of the especially short female participants sat on her boyfriend’s shoulder. The last pair looked especially ridiculous. They must have run out of ideas for their position because the man picked the woman up from behind by the back of her knees, carrying her up face down.
The crowd erupted into a roar of laughter. “That’s the way one coaxes a child to pee—”
The woman was utterly embarrassed and she struggled to get down. She then hit her boyfriend hard before running away while covering her face.
“Well, that’s a voluntary forfeit,” the host commented. He chuckled loudly and added, “Alright. We will maintain this position for one minute. Then, there will be a change in the pose. There’s 40 seconds left.”
The host started counting down, whereas Courtney looked up at Alexander’s chin. “What comes after? I can’t think of a new pose. Why don’t we forfeit?”
On the other hand, the host had completed the countdown. Courtney was still in a daze when Alexander put her down. However, before she could snap back to reality, he held her by her waist to lift her up directly. She instinctively reached out to wrap her hands around his neck and her legs squeezed his waist to prevent herself from sliding downward. Their position caused an uproar among the crowd.
Courtney blushed furiously and she hissed menacingly at him, “Alexander Duncan, let go of me.”
“Which prize do you want?” Alexander asked without answering her question.
“I don’t want any of the prizes… Let go of me! I don’t want anything anymore. Let’s go.”
“In that case, let’s get the first prize.” He smirked openly but his smile was hidden from the crowd, thanks to the shadows. Courtney was embarrassed and annoyed, but she was completely helpless.
Later on, another group was eliminated, which left three pairs to compete for the three prizes. Initially, Courtney assumed that they would have to change to a different pose but the host announced in a booming voice, “Alright; there’s a change in the rules now. Next, our three pairs have to strike a kissing pose. It’s going to be a competition of perseverance to maintain the pose for the longest time.”
The crowd below the stage cheered loudly. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss…”
Immediately, Courtney paled. “Alexander, put me down. I don’t want the prize anymore.”
“Now, I will start the countdown and the three pairs of couples will have to start the challenge.” The host’s voice reverberated through the night.
“Alexander Duncan, let go of me!” Courtney started struggling against his grip.
“Three!”
“I don’t want the prize anymore. If you dare do it, you’ll end up sleeping on the streets tonight—”
“Two!”
“One!”
