Chapter 26

Su Yuxi pulled Xu Qinling's arm and walked downstairs, "You should go to Fudan and prepare. Don't cause trouble here."

Xu Qinling was a bit stunned, "Is it really that coincidental? Yuxi, you have to help me get justice. Look how excessive your brother was yesterday." She then hugged Su Yuxi's arm and started to act coquettishly.

Su Yuxi pushed Xu Qinling out of the teaching building, "I'll come over after class. Don't say you know me, you can scold him as you like, okay?"

"He's your brother!! How can you be so heartless?" Xu Qinling's expression changed like the weather in June, and she laughed and teased Su Yuxi, "Oh, Su Yuxi, I didn't expect you to be so kind on the outside but so cruel inside! Do you dislike your brother? Are you afraid he'll split the family assets with you?"

Su Yuxi replied irritably, "Do you think everyone is like your family? Hurry up and go, I still have class."

Xu Qinling made a face at Su Yuxi, waved her hand, and said, "See you later," then walked toward Fudan University.

Su Yuxi smiled as she watched Xu Qinling's slender and charming back figure, then returned to the classroom. Although Xu Qinling was a bit taller and looked a bit more mature, Su Yuxi had always taken care of her since they were young. They were more like sisters than best friends, and no one understood better that beneath Xu Qinling's strong, cold, and fiery temperament was a heart that was very careful and soft.

In her previous life, Cheng Xiaoyu had her own understanding of fashion and a sense of aesthetics that could shock even girls. As a result, when they went out to play, her friends would sometimes introduce her as a "veteran fashion designer." This meant that girls loved to ask her to accompany them shopping, but she was also picky and didn't go with just anyone.

Cheng Xiaoyu first found an eyewear store to get a pair of contact lenses for Xia Shamo. She texted Xia Shamo to ask for her prescription for both eyes, then picked a pair of deep brown contacts that lasted for six months. She also bought two bottles of contact lens solution and continued shopping with the bags in hand.

In this world, most of the major European and American brands from her previous life were still around, but there were also many more Chinese brands, all of which were well-established. Cheng Xiaoyu didn't yet have a complete image design for Xia Shamo in mind. It wasn't just about wearing beautiful clothes; it was more about whether they were suitable. Some people were naturally good at wearing clothes, making even the cheapest clothes look like high-end brands, while others had the opposite effect, making even the most expensive brands look like cheap market goods. This wasn't to say that the quality and design of the clothes weren't important. On the contrary, a well-fitting high-end brand could significantly enhance a person's presence. That's why there was a saying that "three parts of beauty come from nature, and seven parts from grooming." Of course, you shouldn't compare yourself to those naturally beautiful people who are so exceptional that they transcend the ordinary.

Cheng Xiaoyu aimlessly wandered around the mall until she saw a pair of sparkling stilettos in the JIMMY CHOO window, adorned with small crystal beads on the shoe body and heel, and a small crystal bow at the toe, radiating a dazzling light.

Cheng Xiaoyu, who would never hesitate when she saw something she liked, went straight into the JIMMY CHOO store. Since she was a boy in a school uniform, no salesperson paid attention to her. Cheng Xiaoyu didn't get angry and picked up four or five pairs of shoes, placing them on the counter and said, "Wrap them all up for me." A girl inside was playing with her phone, heard the noise, looked up, and saw a schoolboy. She stood up with a slightly unhappy expression and said, "Classmate, these are women's high heels, and they are very expensive. Have you checked the prices?"

Cheng Xiaoyu didn't bother to argue with the salesperson, "I really want to buy them, but no one is helping me."

The young and pretty salesperson, both angry and amused, said to Cheng Xiaoyu, "We only sell women's high heels here. If you want to buy shoes, go to the fifth floor where they have sports shoes, like NIKE and LILING. Don't play around here."

"I'm here to buy high heels. Didn't you hear me say to wrap them all up?" Cheng Xiaoyu looked at the salesperson in surprise.

The salesperson was stunned. She had never seen a high school boy come to JIMMY CHOO to buy high heels, and buying four or five pairs at once made her wonder if he was joking. She was considering whether to call security.

The situation clearly caught the attention of the store manager, who, dressed in a black business suit, walked over and asked, "Xiao Fang, what's going on?"

Xiao Fang, looking embarrassed, said, "There's a kid playing around."

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled at the manager, "I want to buy shoes, but she doesn't believe me."

The manager immediately bowed to Cheng Xiaoyu, "I'm sorry, sir. Our service was inadequate." She then walked to the counter and asked, "Do you want all these pairs?"

Cheng Xiaoyu shook her head, "No."

Xiao Fang immediately said, "Manager, I told you this kid was just messing around."

The manager turned to Xiao Fang, "Don't worry about this customer. Go check on the other side." The salesperson, still muttering to herself, walked to the other side. The manager then said to Cheng Xiaoyu, "I'm sorry, sir. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Cheng Xiaoyu pointed to the crystal shoes in the window, "I want those, size 38."

The manager said, "Sir, you have good taste. This pair is called the Cinderella Slipper, made in Italy with genuine leather upper, leather sole, and insole, adorned with 7,000 crystals and 46 diamonds. The heel is 4.3 inches high, and it's a limited edition, with only five pairs in all of China, one for each size. I'm not sure if we have size 38, but let me check."

Cheng Xiaoyu nodded, "Please check."

The manager went to the counter and checked the inventory on the computer, then came back to Cheng Xiaoyu, "We have size 38, but it's currently on display at the Plaza 66 store. If you need it, I can call and have it sent over, but it might take some time."

Cheng Xiaoyu nodded, "That's fine. Have it sent over quickly. I want it."

The manager instructed Xiao Fang to call and arrange for the shoes to be sent over, then asked Cheng Xiaoyu, "Is there anything else you need?"

Cheng Xiaoyu looked around casually, "No, I'll go shopping elsewhere. Just wrap up the shoes for me."

The manager smiled, "No problem. You can go shopping. Just leave your phone number, and I'll call you when the shoes arrive."

Cheng Xiaoyu said, "Oh, thank you," and gave the manager her phone number before leaving to shop elsewhere.

After Cheng Xiaoyu left, Xiao Fang immediately went to the manager, "Manager, why didn't you make her pay before she left? Those shoes cost over 50,000. If they don't sell after being sent over, we'll be in big trouble."

The manager smiled and shook her head, "You need to learn how to read people." She didn't tell Xiao Fang that she had noticed the Chopard Happy Diamonds 209200-1001 watch on the boy's wrist. Although Chopard watches were niche and not very expensive, this particular model cost over a million. Only true connoisseurs would buy such a watch as an accessory, not to show off.

Cheng Xiaoyu didn't know that the manager had seen the heirloom left by his mother. His mother had told him when she put the watch on his wrist that he should give it to the girl he wanted to marry, symbolizing that he was giving her all his time, as nothing was more precious than time in this world. Cheng Xiaoyu didn't mind that it was a women's watch and didn't care about its value; to him, it was a memory, a remembrance.

Cheng Xiaoyu wandered around for a while, buying some high-end cosmetics that she thought were useful, such as foundation, powder, eyeliner, and false eyelashes. She quietly selected a few outfits that she thought would suit Xia Shamo. When the JIMMY CHOO manager called, she went to pay for the shoes and returned to the Japanese hair salon where Xia Shamo was getting her hair done, with the JIMMY CHOO salesperson looking at her in disbelief.

Cheng Xiaoyu walked over to Xia Shamo, who was getting her hair blown dry. From behind, her black hair now flowed like a waterfall. Cheng Xiaoyu placed the bag with the contact lenses on the counter in front of Xia Shamo, "Here are the contact lenses. Put them on after your hair is dry." As she turned to leave, she asked Xia Shamo, "Do you know how to wear them?" Xia Shamo replied, "Yes." Cheng Xiaoyu then went to sit on the sofa outside, waiting for Xia Shamo to finish.

Xia Shamo had worn contact lenses before but found them too expensive to replace frequently, so she hadn't worn them.

When Xia Shamo came out with her hair dry and the contact lenses on, Cheng Xiaoyu was stunned. Without the messy bangs, curly hair, and ugly glasses, Xia Shamo had transformed beautifully. Even the Japanese hair stylist was amazed and regretted not taking a before photo, as this would have been the best advertisement. Xia Shamo was a bit shy, clearly not used to her new beautiful appearance, and the admiring glances around her made her uncomfortable.

Cheng Xiaoyu signed the bill and left. The staff bowed to her and Xia Shamo as they left. The money from this transaction was enough to cover the salon's expenses for a month.

Cheng Xiaoyu checked her phone; it was already five o'clock, and the gala started at seven. They had very little time.

In a hurry, Cheng Xiaoyu took Xia Shamo to try on the outfits she had chosen. Xia Shamo moved from the outer side to the inner side, letting Cheng Xiaoyu's large frame shield her from the gazes of others. She told Cheng Xiaoyu, "I'm a bit scared. Too many people are looking at me, and their gazes are too intense." Cheng Xiaoyu looked at Xia Shamo and smiled with satisfaction. Xia Shamo, now polished like a diamond, radiated beauty with every movement.

Cheng Xiaoyu couldn't help but chuckle, and Xia Shamo, blushing, asked, "Why are you laughing at me?"

"Nothing, I'm just laughing at my good luck. I can find a treasure so easily."

"What treasure?" Xia Shamo asked curiously, not realizing what Cheng Xiaoyu meant.

"Go look in the mirror!" Cheng Xiaoyu nudged Xia Shamo playfully.

"Ah, Cheng Xiaoyu, you're teasing me!" Xia Shamo was a bit angry.

Cheng Xiaoyu, seeing Xia Shamo's angry expression for the first time, smiled and said, "Summer, thank you. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to complete this music."

Xia Shamo blushed and shook her head, "I should thank you for giving me the opportunity to sing such a song."

At that moment, the phone rang. Teacher Ji Xin called to check on the two performers, who hadn't arrived at the Fudan University auditorium yet. Cheng Xiaoyu answered, "We're on our way," and dragged Xia Shamo to try on the outfits.

They tried several outfits, but none were perfect. Finding an outfit that suited two songs of completely different styles was difficult. Evening gowns were too formal, cocktail dresses weren't impressive enough, and casual wear was too casual. Cheng Xiaoyu wanted the performance to be flawless, making Xia Shamo's entrance stunning in every way.

Finally, they walked into a custom cheongsam shop, and Cheng Xiaoyu called Xia Shamo in to look. She immediately fell in love with a pearl white cheongsam with red dragon embroidery, a long hem, and a high slit adorned with lace, sequins, and pearls.

Cheng Xiaoyu called the salesperson over and pointed to the cheongsam, "Try it on."

The salesperson, wearing a blue and white cheongsam, smiled professionally, "I'm sorry, this is a non-sale item."

Cheng Xiaoyu replied, "Everything has a price. If you put it on display, it's for sale, right?"

The salesperson hesitated, "This is a masterpiece by Master Huang Xiuhua, and it's very expensive."

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled and placed the JIMMY CHOO crystal shoes on the counter, "JIMMY CHOO crystal shoes, limited to five pairs nationwide. Don't talk to me about price. I wouldn't buy it if it were cheap."

The salesperson immediately said, "Please wait a moment."

Xia Shamo, standing nearby, asked nervously, "How much does it cost?"

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled, "Don't worry about the price. Just wear it and return it to me. Consider it a loan." Xia Shamo was speechless.

Seeing the salesperson make a phone call, Cheng Xiaoyu didn't wait and took the cheongsam off the mannequin, handing it to Xia Shamo to try on.

Xia Shamo didn't hesitate, took the cheongsam, and went into the fitting room. When she came out, the salesperson and Cheng Xiaoyu were both stunned. The cheongsam fit Xia Shamo perfectly, accentuating her slender figure and revealing a glimpse of her fair skin through the lace. Her beauty left a few foreigners selecting cheongsams nearby speechless, and they took out their cameras to ask for a photo with Xia Shamo.

Cheng Xiaoyu said to the salesperson, "Now that she's tried it on, you have to sell it."

The salesperson was a bit anxious, "Sir, I'm not trying to be difficult, but I can't make this decision. Our boss is on her way. Can you talk to her?"

Cheng Xiaoyu, in a hurry, said, "Sister, I really need to go. The performance is about to start. Please, how much is it? I'll pay right away."

The salesperson was helpless and called the boss again.

Cheng Xiaoyu couldn't really run off with the cheongsam, so she and Xia Shamo picked out a fox fur bolero, a pair of dark purple sheer gloves, and a pair of white silk stockings. The boss finally arrived.

Cheng Xiaoyu turned around and saw a slender woman in her fifties being greeted by the salesperson. She was wearing a black cheongsam with a wool coat over it, her hair styled high with an emerald hairpin.

Cheng Xiaoyu hurried over and smiled charmingly, "Auntie, please sell me the cheongsam. I'll pay whatever you ask."

The woman glanced at Cheng Xiaoyu, seeing her nouveau riche demeanor, and said, "No, I won't sell it, no matter the price. Please leave."

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled bitterly and followed the woman, "Auntie, please help. My girl is perfect for this cheongsam. You won't find a more beautiful cheongsam in all of Shanghai, or a more suitable girl."

The woman walked to the counter, "You're just a student. What do you know about beauty? Selling this cheongsam to you would be a waste. Don't waste my time. Leave now."

Cheng Xiaoyu was a bit helpless. The performance was about to start, and they couldn't afford to be late. At that moment, Xia Shamo, wearing the white stockings, gloves, and bolero, came out of the fitting room, looking stunning.

The woman pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses and examined Xia Shamo carefully, then asked Cheng Xiaoyu, "Your girl?"

Cheng Xiaoyu nodded, full of anticipation, "Is it okay?"

The woman looked Xia Shamo up and down, circled her a few times, and said, "What a beautiful girl. How old are you?"

Xia Shamo blushed, "17."

Cheng Xiaoyu walked up and smiled flatteringly, "Auntie, how about it? Can I pay now?"

The woman didn't smile at Cheng Xiaoyu but smiled at Xia Shamo, "A beautiful girl like you shouldn't be with this fat guy."

Xia Shamo blushed, "Auntie, we're classmates. You misunderstood. He's actually a good person."

Cheng Xiaoyu said, "Auntie, you're overthinking it. We have a cultural performance today, and we're running late. I really can't wait."

The woman turned to Cheng Xiaoyu and smiled, "No, I won't sell it."

Cheng Xiaoyu looked dejected and told Xia Shamo to change back and leave.

The woman stopped Xia Shamo, "I won't sell it to him, but I'll give it to you. Leave your phone number, and come back to model for me when you have time."

Xia Shamo looked at Cheng Xiaoyu, who nodded, and she agreed.

Xia Shamo left her phone number, Cheng Xiaoyu paid for the stockings, gloves, and bolero, and they left with the afternoon's purchases. The performance was only a few minutes away.

Fortunately, their performance was later in the program.