Lin Wanshuang’s upcoming marriage was a major event. While Lin Chenqing didn’t have many relatives on her side, Zuo Xiangjun’s family was a massive, influential clan.
Back in the day, Zuo Xiangjun had cut ties with her family to marry Lin Chenqing. It wasn’t until Lin Wanshuang was born, as the sole grandchild of her generation, that the strained relationship with her family finally began to thaw.
Naturally, her wedding was of the utmost importance.
The hidden circumstances behind this marriage could not be leaked to the public. The only news the Zuo family received was that Lin Wanshuang, an A-rank Omega, was going to marry a penniless E-rank Alpha who had absolutely nothing to her name.
That very evening, a phone call from Lin Wanshuang’s maternal grandmother, the one who doted on her the most, blasted straight through to Zuo Xiangjun. Not only did the old matriarch scold her relentlessly, but she also accused her of setting a terrible example, claiming she had failed to raise her daughter properly.
It was a completely unprovoked disaster for Zuo Xiangjun. Heaven knew how much her heart ached for her own daughter, but her precious darling already had enough on her plate. Because of this, she chose not to bring these unpleasant interludes up in front of Lin Wanshuang.
In the end, it took repeated assurances from Zuo Xiangjun for the old lady to finally let the matter drop. Gathering her energy, the grandmother immediately began flipping through the lunar calendar for her granddaughter. Thus, the wedding date was set. December 15th, an auspicious day where all signs pointed to good fortune.
Lin Wanshuang didn’t have much of a concrete sense of reality regarding the wedding. Right now, her most pressing matter was a business trip to Songyang. The sample collection at Xinsong Prison was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
Because they would be short-staffed for this trip, they had to prepare themselves to stay there for three to four days.
Leaning against the doorframe, Lin Wanshuang watched Ming Jiao stuff those thin, lightweight jackets from the closet into her suitcase. “Are those the only clothes you’re bringing to Songyang?”
Squatting on the floor, Ming Jiao heard her and looked up at the person by the door. “What’s wrong?”
“No wonder my mom told me to take you out to the mall to buy some clothes,” Lin Wanshuang said lazily. “Let’s go. We’ll get you some thicker clothes, or my mom will accuse me of mistreating you.”
Ming Jiao subconsciously declined. “It’s fine. These are actually quite thick.”
Lin Wanshuang rolled her eyes. “Songyang is nestled against the mountains. It’s much colder than the urban areas of Jincheng. Go if you want, stay if you don’t. Suit yourself.” With that, she turned around and left.
Ming Jiao squatted in place, blinking her eyes. A moment later, she smiled faintly. Standing up, she gave her suitcase a light kick into the corner, then jogged out to chase after her. “Since the Eldest Young Lady wants to buy me clothes, I’d be more than happy to accept!”
Half an hour later, the two of them appeared in Jincheng’s largest luxury shopping mall. As far as the eye could see, it was filled with household name designer boutiques.
Lin Wanshuang was wearing a cream-white wool coat today. A belt about three fingers wide was fastened around her waist, making it look so slender that one could almost wrap their hands around it. The inner side of her collar featured a ring of soft, plush fur that was both windproof and warm.
Following close behind her, Ming Jiao looked as if she genuinely didn’t feel the cold at all. She had casually thrown on a wind-resistant brown leather jacket, underneath of which was still just a short-sleeved t-shirt.
Judging by their outfits, they looked like they were living in completely different seasons. However, this was quite standard between Alphas and Omegas. Omegas were generally susceptible to the cold, while Alphas possessed a much higher tolerance for it. Even though Ming Jiao was merely an E-rank Alpha, her cold-resistance attribute was completely maxed out.
Familiar with the layout, Lin Wanshuang led Ming Jiao straight into a ready to wear boutique. Instead of choosing to sit in the VIP lounge to wait for models to try on the clothes, she began browsing around enthusiastically on her own, pointing out whatever caught her eye for Ming Jiao to try on.
After trying on a few outfits, Ming Jiao gradually began to catch on. The Eldest Young Lady must be treating her like a living Barbie doll!
As it turned out, Ming Jiao’s hunch was spot on. Lin Wanshuang’s eyes lit up as she picked out a light-green, strapless, fishtail evening gown. The chest area featured a large expanse of woven lace over a nude lining, making the overall look incredibly sexy.
Ming Jiao raised an eyebrow as she looked at the gown in Lin Wanshuang’s hands. No matter how one tried to justify it, this dress did not match the vibe of Songyang at all. Thus, she asked, “Eldest Young Lady, are you planning to have me wear this dress to accompany you to the prison for sample collection?”
The enthusiastic expression on Lin Wanshuang’s face froze for a split second. Her face slumped into a pout as she retracted her hand, pulling the dress back from Ming Jiao. “Forget it if you don’t want to try it on,” she muttered, clearly annoyed.
The sales assistant was just about to reach out and take the dress back, but to her surprise, Ming Jiao snatched it away with a bright smile. She leaned down slightly, stepping closer to Lin Wanshuang. “How could I possibly refuse something the Eldest Young Lady wants me to try? After all, I am the Eldest Young Lady’s most obedient kept woman.”
The sales assistant: !
Lin Wanshuang’s eyes widened even more. She instinctively glanced at the sales assistant standing nearby and warned sharply, “What absolute nonsense are you spouting!”
Ming Jiao didn’t say another word. She simply carried the dress into the fitting room with a grin, leaving Lin Wanshuang all by herself to deal with the somewhat awkward situation.
Fortunately, the sales assistant was highly professional. Her expression didn’t change a bit throughout the entire interaction, she kept her eyes down and mind focused, acting as if she hadn’t heard a single thing.
After that little episode, Lin Wanshuang reined herself in quite a bit. Although Ming Jiao’s figure and looks made her the perfect candidate for a living doll, official business still had to take priority.
“Wrap up the jackets she just tried on. Also, help me pick out a few inner layers that would pair well with them,” Lin Wanshuang turned and instructed the sales assistant.
“Right away, ma’am.”
Just then, an uncertain voice drifted from behind them. “Wanshuang?”
Lin Wanshuang turned her head. The first thing that caught her eye was a stark white fur coat; the wearer’s sensitivity to the cold seemed even more exaggerated than her own.
It wasn’t until her gaze landed on the person’s face that Lin Wanshuang finally recognized who it was. It was the daughter of her mother’s business partner, a C-rank Omega named He Meixin.
He Meixin was accompanied by a few other young female Omegas, presumably her close friends.
“Miss He,” Lin Wanshuang nodded toward her, offering a polite greeting.
Yet, contrary to her usual behavior, He Meixin stepped forward with a look of pleasant surprise and cozied up right next to Lin Wanshuang. “Oh my, I thought you had forgotten all about me.”
As she spoke, she introduced Lin Wanshuang to her friends, “Everyone, this is Miss Lin Wanshuang of the Shunlin Group. Isn’t she gorgeous?”
He Meixin’s overly familiar attitude made Lin Wanshuang a bit uncomfortable. However, one couldn’t easily strike a smiling face. Besides, there was no bad blood between her and He Meixin, perhaps she was just being exceptionally enthusiastic.
The name of the Shunlin Group was certainly useful. Upon hearing it, the group of friends immediately introduced themselves with pleasant smiles. One of them even contemplated buying something right there in the shop to give to Lin Wanshuang as a dynamic acquaintance gift.
Fortunately, right at that moment, a voice sounded from the fitting room behind them. “Shuangshuang, did you run into someone you know?”
Ming Jiao stood there with a commanding elegance, dressed in the evening gown. The muscle lines on her arms were distinct without appearing bulky, and that face of hers caused everyone present to catch their breath for a split second. She was breathtakingly beautiful.