Inside the boutique, Qin Chunyi and her assistant were measuring Chi Ruanli’s size.
Listening to the assistant call out the numbers, Qin Chunyi kept clicking her tongue in admiration.
“A perfect anime heroine body!”
Chi Ruanli’s ears turned red from embarrassment.
After finishing the measurements, Qin Chunyi led her up to the second floor.
The exclusive, collectible pieces were kept upstairs and were not shown easily.
“What style do you like, Miss Chi?” Qin Chunyi asked.
“I’m fine with anything, as long as it suits me,” Chi Ruanli replied softly.
Hearing her sweet, soft voice, Qin Chunyi’s lips curved slightly.
“Try this one.”
She took out a silk mermaid gown in lotus-pink. The hem was studded with diamonds that shimmered under the light.
Chi Ruanli’s eyes lit up instantly.
Seeing her reaction, Qin Chunyi knew she had made the right choice and gently pushed her into the fitting room.
Since this was the first time Second Young Master Sheng had brought a woman here, Qin Chunyi naturally took it seriously and personally stayed to help her try on the dress.
“Miss Chi, do you have a boyfriend?” Qin Chunyi asked casually.
In front of the mirror, Qin Chunyi knelt slightly, carefully adjusting the hem of the dress for her.
Due to the height difference, Chi Ruanli looked down at her and studied her face closely.
Single eyelids, slightly elongated eye shape—classic phoenix eyes. A tear mole at the outer corner of her eye added an unspoken charm.
A straight nose with a small tip. Thin lips with a distinct lip peak.
She was one of the most beautiful people Chi Ruanli had ever seen.
Yang Yang counted as one.
The difference was that Yang Yang’s beauty was bright and outward, dazzling and bold.
Qin Chunyi’s beauty was restrained, subtle—yet dangerously captivating in every movement and smile.
Completely mesmerized, Chi Ruanli stared at her for a long time.
Only when she was asked did she finally snap back to reality.
“Boss lady, you’re really beautiful,” she said first, making Qin Chunyi laugh softly.
This girl suited her taste.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend,” Chi Ruanli added shyly.
Standing up, Qin Chunyi was almost a head taller than her.
She lightly lifted Chi Ruanli’s chin in a teasing gesture.
“Then what kind of man do you like? I can introduce you to one.”
Chi Ruanli just smiled and said nothing.
“Someone like President Sheng? Do you like that type?” Qin Chunyi asked slyly.
At that, Chi Ruanli’s heart skipped a beat.
After a brief pause, she replied, “Don’t tease me, Sister. President Sheng… someone like him is out of my league.”
Qin Chunyi gently smoothed her curly hair.
“Don’t underestimate yourself. Love is a mysterious thing.”
Chi Ruanli smiled faintly but didn’t respond.
She understood the logic—but the gap between them was too large. She didn’t dare entertain such thoughts.
“You can call me Sister Yiyi,” Qin Chunyi said, clearly already placing her in her own circle.
Chi Ruanli’s cheeks turned red.
“Okay… Sister Yiyi. You can call me Ruanruan.”
The girl was very obedient.
The front of the dress looked perfectly normal—nothing revealing.
But the moment Chi Ruanli turned around and saw her reflection in the mirror, she gasped.
“Sister Yiyi, this is too… sexy.”
The back of the dress plunged down to her lower waist, revealing faint, alluring curves.
Chi Ruanli blushed furiously. She had never worn anything like this before and immediately tried to take it off.
Qin Chunyi blinked and said seriously, though clearly persuasive:
“It looks great. It shows off your figure perfectly. You’re young—you should try more things.”
This dress had been in the store for over a year, and it was rare for someone to wear it so beautifully.
Qin Chunyi wanted more people to see it.
Chi Ruanli tilted her head and looked again.
It was beautiful—but…
Seeing her hesitation, Qin Chunyi added fuel to the fire.
“Don’t worry. You’re attending with Second Young Master Sheng. No one at the banquet will dare stare.”
Hearing that, Chi Ruanli relaxed and followed her out.
Sheng Yanqing had already changed and was sitting on the sofa chatting with Jing Xun.
Hearing the movement, both of them turned at the same time.
Chi Ruanli’s long wavy hair was loosely tied into a low ponytail, soft strands framing her face. Her delicate features made her look even more charming.
The lotus-pink dress made her skin appear even fairer. The eight-centimeter crystal heels enhanced her gentle, elegant aura.
A flash of amazement crossed both men’s eyes.
Jing Xun was about to praise Qin Chunyi for her taste and the dress she had chosen.
But the moment Chi Ruanli turned around—
“Holy—”
He immediately grabbed a magazine and covered his eyes.
What was Qin Chunyi thinking? This was a proper business banquet!
Qin Chunyi, however, didn’t care at all. She simply wanted more people to see the dress she had designed with effort.
Almost the moment Chi Ruanli turned, Sheng Yanqing stood up abruptly and quickly pushed her back into the fitting room.
Even in those brief seconds, he had clearly seen her waistline.
A strange sense of familiarity surged in his mind again.
Too similar.
Too much like that Little Woman.
A moment later, he frowned and called out sharply,
“Qin Chunyi!”
His voice carried clear displeasure.
“How exactly did Spring·Yi manage to open more than twenty stores?”
Qin Chunyi looked confused.
“What’s wrong? Doesn’t she look good?”
“She looks good. That’s exactly the problem,” Jing Xun sighed. “It’s not appropriate.”
Good—but not for this occasion.
“Alright then, change it,” Qin Chunyi sighed lightly. “No taste. My design still couldn’t leave the store.”
After she went back into the fitting room, Sheng Yanqing turned to Jing Xun.
“Nobody saw it?”
“Ahem.” Jing Xun cleared his throat awkwardly, then added shamelessly, “Clothes are meant to be seen.”
“Heh.”
So they all saw it.
Sheng Yanqing looked at him steadily.
Jing Xun instinctively shrank his neck.
Why did it feel like Sheng Yanqing wanted to kill him?
Still, he insisted,
“What’s the big deal? What is Chi Ruanli to you anyway?”
Sheng Yanqing let out a humorless laugh and stepped forward as if to hit him.
Jing Xun quickly begged for mercy.
After a round of chaos, Jing Xun finally caught his breath.
“So… what exactly do you feel toward Chi Ruanli?”
“I don’t know.”
Sheng Yanqing covered his face with both hands, looking unusually troubled.
“I just… feel like she resembles that person.”