"Luke said he's doing his best to find a suitable werewolf. As for the art teacher... he said you're on your own with that. He also added that he's a police officer, not your butler." Olivia returned, handing the phone back to Shane with a hint of schadenfreude.
Shane shrugged nonchalantly. "Friends need a process to go from strangers to familiars. Asking each other for small favors is a little trick to promote the relationship. Today you trouble me, tomorrow I trouble you. Give and take—that's how we quickly get familiar and become friends."
What could Olivia say?
She could only say: I don't believe a word of it!
Shane saved the art teacher Jocelyn's number, called his own phone using Serena's phone to exchange numbers, and then returned the phone to Serena.
"Have you chosen your own birthday present? I can gift you whatever you like as thanks for introducing the art teacher."
He really wanted to give Serena something, or rather, show some appreciation.
On one hand, it was because of Jocelyn's number. Shane truly hadn't expected that Jocelyn from Shadowhunters would almost become the art teacher of Serena from Gossip Girl. Aside from both shows having beautiful female leads and being set in New York, their styles were worlds apart.
He originally planned to meet Jocelyn through Luke, but unexpectedly, Serena made it happen.
On the other hand, it was because of the bet just now. As the heroine of a teen drama, it was normal for Serena not to believe in supernatural forces or vampires. If she hadn't met him, she might never have encountered one even if New York was crawling with vampires. But now... she was definitely going to lose.
The content of the bet revealed Shane's true intention: Serena was a gift he prepared for Anna—or rather, food.
He wouldn't use excuses like "you must accept your loss," and there certainly wouldn't be any danger. But Shane felt a little bit like he was bullying a child, a little bit like he was scamming Serena. So spending some money to give her a gift she liked was a form of compensation.
Of course, if Serena was unwilling or reacted too extremely after seeing Anna, Shane would erase her memory and send her away, pretending this never happened. He'd just find someone else for Anna.
"You're already preparing to give me the birthday gift I want." Serena shook her head with a smile.
Shane couldn't say it explicitly, so he shrugged and let it go.
The sales associate brought back the bank card. Under the enthusiastic gazes of all the staff, Shane left Tiffany's with Olivia and Serena.
With the business of custom silver Kunai done, Shane wasn't in a hurry to leave Fifth Avenue. Since he had met a future socialite who knew how to spend money, he definitely wanted her to play a bigger role—teaching him how to be a high-society tycoon and stocking up on luxury knowledge.
Don't let Serena's young age fool you; she really knew her stuff!
Which brand was low-key luxury, which brand was just making up the numbers. From brand awareness to brand style, from brand style to target audience—she spoke effortlessly along the way, rattling off treasures, talking incessantly. Even Olivia, who had little interest in luxury goods, listened somewhat seriously.
Talk is cheap without practice. Serena's knowledge wasn't just theoretical. Under her recommendation, Shane and Olivia changed their outfits from top to bottom, inside and out. The effect was indeed obvious. A cool girl like Olivia became capable of being both sweet and salty under her guidance. Truly impressive.
Shane had been thoroughly schooled by this junior high little sister, Serena.
Originally, he planned to find the owner of the Williamsburg Diner to chat about buying the restaurant. Now, because of Serena, Shane changed his mind. While browsing a certain brand, he used the excuse of going to the restroom to dispel his Shadow Clones and summon new ones. After they left, he would have a Shadow Clone go find the owner of the Williamsburg Diner.
Several hours later, emerging from a three-Michelin-star restaurant called Jean-Georges, Shane finally decided to take Olivia and Serena back home.
Vulture Hotel, Shane's room. Olivia picked out her own share from the bags of loot and left to go back to her room.
The empty room and quiet atmosphere made Serena, who had been very talkative and proactive earlier, a bit nervous. Feigning calmness, she pretended to examine the room's layout while her little head raced to find a topic to break the silence and awkwardness.
Shane suddenly spoke. "About the bet, are you ready?"
"I'm fine. What about you? Don't you need to prepare?"
"Since you're ready, come with me." Shane shook his head, grabbed a key card, and turned toward the door.
"Wh-where are you going?" Serena asked in confusion.
"Just follow me."
Serena followed Shane out, confused and blank. After a few steps, they stopped at the door of another room.
"Be mentally prepared."
Shane winked at Serena and opened the door directly with the key card.
Click.
The door opened. Full of anticipation and slightly nervous, Serena walked in.
There was no special arrangement in the room. The dim, mysterious atmosphere Serena imagined fitting for a vampire was completely absent. It was just an ordinary hotel room, and... a woman who looked equally surprised.
"..."
"What do you mean?"
Shane pointed at Anna and asked Serena, whose face had changed to look a bit angry. "Do you know who she is?"
"I don't know, and I'm not interested in knowing."
"She's a vampire!"
"Heh."
"Don't believe it?"
Shane shrugged and said to Anna, "I made a bet with her. If I bring her to see a vampire, she volunteers to donate blood. So..."
Anna understood.
Looking at Serena, who clearly felt she was being played, the corners of Anna's mouth curled up as she opened her mouth. Immediately, sharp fangs grew slowly, and the area around her eyes turned pitch-black like ink.
Serena was dumbfounded!
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