Upon hearing the price, Sang Sang immediately gasped in shock.
On her way here, she had heard street vendors hawking their wares—a bowl of meat-filled wontons cost only ten copper coins, yet this piece of clothing was priced at two taels of silver! With that amount of money, how many bowls of wontons could she eat?
Instantly, her initial excitement for the garment vanished completely.
With all her attention focused on the price, Sang Sang didn’t even notice the shop assistant’s form of address.
Clearly, he had misunderstood the relationship between the two of them.
Shen Yan, however, noticed it. His brow twitched slightly, and though he initially intended to explain, he held back.
After all, it was just an unrelated person—there was no need to explain anything to him.
The shop assistant had deliberately quoted the price because he saw their plain clothing and assumed they couldn’t afford it.
Upon hearing the price, they would naturally back down.
Just as Sang Sang was about to say she didn’t want it, Shen Yan spoke up, “Go try it on.”
Sang Sang quickly waved her hands, “No, no need. I don’t really like it.”
But Shen Yan’s tone left no room for argument, “When I tell you to try it, just go. No more talking.”
The shop assistant still wore a smile, but he made no move.
“Sir, it’s not that I don’t want to let you try it, but the fabric of that garment is quite precious…”
Shen Yan directly took out a silver ingot and slapped it onto the counter, cutting him off coldly.
“Can she try it now?”
Seeing this, the shop assistant immediately stammered, “Yes, yes, of course!”
His previously superficial, fake smile instantly became much more sincere, and he began bowing and scraping, exceedingly eager to please.
Sang Sang still looked hesitant.
Even though Shen Yan had the money, she didn’t want to waste it like this.
Just as she was about to speak, Shen Yan shot her a light glance, and Sang Sang immediately shrank back, closing her mouth.
The shop assistant was clever. His gaze swept over the veil on Sang Sang’s face, and he flattered with a smile, “Madam has an extraordinary aura. Wearing this garment will surely look beautiful, and if paired with this veil, it will be absolutely stunning, as lovely as a fairy.”
He held a white veil in his hand, embroidered with pale blue butterflies that seemed ready to take flight, vivid and lifelike.
The shop assistant was merely flattering, but Sang Sang blushed upon hearing it.
How could someone as ugly as her deserve such praise as “absolutely stunning” or “as lovely as a fairy”?
“No need… and I’m not…”
Before Sang Sang could finish her sentence, Shen Yan interrupted, “Try it on as well.”
His tone remained just as unyielding, leaving Sang Sang no room for rebuttal.
While Sang Sang was changing in the inner room, the shop assistant spared no effort in introducing other garments to Shen Yan, but he seemed somewhat distracted.
Uncontrollably, he began picturing how she would look in that dress, and for a moment, his thoughts wandered.
Before long, the beaded curtain rustled gently, and a stunning figure gracefully emerged from the inner room. Shen Yan turned to look, and his eyes immediately darkened.
The dress seemed tailor-made for her, fitting perfectly in every way, accentuating her slender waist and highlighting her flawless figure elsewhere.
The vibrant and brilliant colors made her dark eyes appear even clearer and more lively, like sparkling jewels. Her cheeks were hidden beneath the white veil, adding an air of mystery and allure that made one long to glimpse the beauty beneath.
Sang Sang stood stiffly, her gaze somewhat shy and uneasy, her earlobes tinged with a faint pink.
Shen Yan stared intently at her, his eyes deep and shadowed.
The shop assistant was also staring, momentarily speechless.
Seeing him remain silent with a heavy expression, Sang Sang’s eyes couldn’t help but dim.
It seemed this outfit really didn’t suit her.
She lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting nervously, her voice soft. “This… this dress isn’t suitable. I’ll go change…”
Shen Yan finally snapped out of his thoughts and spoke in a low voice, “No need.”
After a pause, he added indifferently, “It’s passable.”
The shop assistant, coming back to his senses, inwardly clicked his tongue at Shen Yan’s words. This gentleman’s standards were truly high! The outfit looked so beautiful, yet he only thought it passable.
The shop assistant smiled and praised, “More than just passable! I think Madam looks absolutely elegant and refined in it—it couldn’t be more fitting.
This dress is very particular about who wears it. Other young ladies have tried it on before, but none suited it as well as Madam!”
Sang Sang, however, didn’t take his praise seriously and instead grew even more embarrassed by it.
She murmured softly, “I…”
Shen Yan’s tone remained indifferent, as if he were being casual. “This one will do.”
The shop assistant immediately beamed with delight. “Excellent! The young master truly has a discerning eye!”
He then seized the opportunity to push further. “Would the young master like to pick out some other clothes for Madam? Our shop has many fine garments that would complement Madam’s elegance perfectly.”
Being repeatedly mistaken for a couple made Sang Sang’s face burn with embarrassment.
This time, she hurriedly spoke up, “I’m not Madam, just a little maid.
And there’s no need to buy more clothes. We can just buy some fabric—I know how to make clothes.”
The latter part was directed at Shen Yan.
Ready-made clothes were much more expensive, while fabric was far cheaper.
Even if Shen Yan had money, she wanted to help him save as much as possible.
Hearing this, the shop assistant was utterly astonished.
She was just a little maid? She really didn’t seem like one.
After all, what master would personally accompany a maid to pick out clothes and choose such expensive ones?
As for Shen Yan, hearing her eager explanation to clarify their relationship stirred a faint sense of displeasure within him.
After his initial surprise, the shop assistant quickly adapted. “Our shop also has fabric—all kinds of materials and patterns, very comprehensive. Please feel free to browse.”
Shen Yan remained silent, so Sang Sang took it as his tacit agreement and began carefully selecting.
She chose a roll of lotus-root purple and another of plain cyan, both ordinary linen. The lotus-root purple was for her, and the plain cyan was for Shen Yan.
She also picked out a roll of fine, soft white silk for making undergarments.
The shop assistant was truly adept at his job. Seeing she had made her selections, he cheerfully suggested, “Would the young lady care to look at shoes as well? Our shop also sells shoes that would perfectly match your outfit.”
Sang Sang felt the shop assistant was truly too good at seizing opportunities, relentlessly pushing for more from a single customer.
She quickly declined, “No need…”
Shen Yan glanced at the shoes on her feet, his expression tinged with disdain.
Sang Sang seemed to know what he was about to say and quickly preempted him, “I can make shoes too. If we buy some fabric to take back, I can make them myself. Handmade shoes are more comfortable to wear.”
—And more economical!
She had come to realize that her benefactor was a big spender. With his extravagant habits, Sang Sang genuinely feared he would deplete their savings in no time.
Seeing her insistence, Shen Yan did not press the matter further.
The shop assistant immediately looked disappointed.
The fabrics in their shop were suitable for making clothes but not specifically designed for shoes, so this sale was not to be.
However, he was clever and quick-witted, promptly offering goodwill by recommending other suitable places for them.
Shen Yan paid the bill, and the two headed to the shop recommended by the assistant, where they purchased all the necessary fabric and materials for making shoes.
With her new attire, she drew many sidelong glances from passersby along the way, their expressions filled with admiration.
Faced with such gazes, Sang Sang felt no joy but instead grew increasingly uneasy and self-conscious.
They admired her in her splendid attire, but if they caught sight of the scar on her face, their expressions would surely shift dramatically, revealing disgust.
Only Shen Yan was different. Even after seeing her at her most unsightly, he had never shown disdain.