As she tried on more and more clothes—all thin, lightweight innerwear and summer outfits—Linda’s expression gradually shifted with subtle changes.
In the dead of winter, trying on seven sets of summer clothes in a row without even glancing at a single expensive coat or fur piece… Could this be some small-time influencer here to take free photos in borrowed clothes?
She had seen far too many of these fake heiresses from “socialite group-buying circles.”
Thinking this, Linda’s service attitude became noticeably more perfunctory, and her movements as she handed over clothes carried a hint of impatience.
How could Shen Xingyao not see through this sales assistant’s thoughts?
But right now, her mind was completely occupied with her budget, leaving no room to dwell on such matters.
Just as she was about to wave her hand and have everything packed up, her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of an outfit in the menswear section.
It was a set of gray-blue deep-V attire, with sharp tailoring and an excellent cut.
In Shen Xingyao’s mind, a “ding” went off, and Pei Yanqiu’s devastatingly handsome face automatically appeared, along with his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.
If he wore this deep-V outfit, wouldn’t it be…
Shen Xingyao turned into an orange, yellow inside and out!
As if possessed, she pointed at the menswear set and said, “Get me that men’s outfit too, in size 185.”
Just as Linda was about to fetch it, a sharp and affected sneer suddenly cut in from the side.
“Well, well, I was wondering who was putting on airs as a wealthy lady here. Turns out it’s you!”
Shen Xingyao turned around and saw a rather plain-looking woman standing not far away, eyeing her with a disdainful, sidelong glance.
Who is this?
With such an unremarkable appearance, she probably wasn’t a talent from Brilliant Media.
Seeing Shen Xingyao’s completely blank expression, utterly unaware of who she was, the woman felt deeply insulted, her face instantly turning ashen.
Gritting her teeth, she said, “Shen Xingyao, what are you pretending to have amnesia for? What, now that Pei Yanqiu has fallen on hard times, you don’t even recognize his assistant anymore?”
“Holy crap!” Shen Xingyao inwardly cursed, suddenly remembering the original plot.
This clownish figure before her was Wu Lele, the life assistant from the Daybreak Club!
In the book, this woman was a venomous supporting character—not only did she harbor delusions of grandeur and covet Pei Yanqiu, but she ultimately betrayed him out of resentment born from unrequited love.
She had been secretly in love with Pei Yanqiu for a long time. Seeing that he was about to go bankrupt, she switched sides and aligned herself with the incoming capital.
No wonder she harbored such intense hostility toward Shen Xingyao, the legitimate girlfriend!
Shen Xingyao’s eyes instantly turned cold as she contemplated how to exact revenge for Pei Yanqiu in advance.
However, her thoughtful expression, in the eyes of Wu Lele and those around her, was interpreted as guilt from having her true background exposed on the spot.
Linda froze in place, still holding the menswear set, unsure whether to proceed or retreat.
Her worst fear had come true—this woman really was a fake socialite putting on a show of wealth!
Now, after all that effort, it turned out she was just being played!
At that moment, Mary, leaning against the checkout counter nearby, chimed in with a gleeful, sarcastic tone while filing her nails, “Oh, Linda, I told you not to be so eager with just anyone.”
“Look at what she picked—all cheap summer innerwear. Clearly, she can’t afford the big-ticket items and is just here to live out a fantasy.”
“Now you know what it means to waste all your effort for nothing, right? These days, I’ve seen more women with fox-like faces pretending to be wealthy ladies in our store than the number of grains of rice you’ve eaten in your life.”
Mary’s words struck Linda like a resounding slap across the face. Linda’s complexion instantly flushed crimson, and she nearly burst into tears.
She cautiously looked at Shen Xingyao. “Ma’am, this…”
She was still a newcomer, having busily served over a dozen outfits, and was genuinely afraid of encountering someone who was just trying things on for fun. Her words stumbled out awkwardly.
Shen Xingyao was so infuriated by Wu Lele and the others that she almost laughed in disbelief.
If she didn’t speak up, did they think she was mute?
She turned around, crossed her arms, and lifted her chin slightly. “What? Is this store owned by your family? Which eye of yours saw that I couldn’t afford it?”
Wu Lele had been waiting for exactly this line!
Her eyes lit up with excitement, as if she could already see Shen Xingyao’s social humiliation.
“Keep pretending! Go on!” Wu Lele raised her voice, practically wishing everyone in the entire mall could hear. “Shen Xingyao, don’t you dare keep up this stubborn act here!”
“Who doesn’t know that Pei Yanqiu can’t even afford rent now, borrowing money from old friends to get by every day? He’s struggling just to support a useless parasite like you. Where would you get the money to buy clothes in a store like this?”
“And trying on so many outfits at once? I bet you can’t even afford a single button!”
Wu Lele grew more and more excited as she spoke, turning to the two sales assistants. “You’d better keep your eyes wide open. Check her bag right now, or she might sneak off with something later!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the air suddenly fell silent.
Shen Xingyao wasted no words.
Under everyone’s gaze, she leisurely unzipped her bag and pulled out a black bank card shimmering with a metallic sheen, pinched between two slender fingers.
Thwack!
She slapped the card heavily onto the counter, producing a crisp sound.
“Wrap up all eight sets—the seven women’s outfits I just tried on, plus that men’s set,” Shen Xingyao said, leaning slightly forward with her hands braced on the counter, staring straight at the stunned Linda. “Charge it. No password.”
Bold!
Unapologetic!
The young miss has arrived—make way!
At this, not only Wu Lele but even Mary, who had been watching from the sidelines, was left utterly dumbfounded.
Eight sets!
That was a full eight sets!
Even if they were the cheapest summer outfits, the total would approach a hundred thousand!
During the off-season, this was nothing short of a godsend!
Mary’s eyes instantly turned red with envy, and she was filled with bitter regret.
If only she had known this woman was a genuinely wealthy lady hiding in plain sight, she would have rushed to serve her earlier.
Now, all the benefits had gone to that little upstart Linda—such a huge commission!
Meanwhile, Linda was completely stunned, as if she had been hit by a pie falling from the sky. She had originally thought the customer might buy one or two sets at most, but never expected it to be a full eight!
She stood frozen for a solid three seconds before bursting into action with unprecedented speed and enthusiasm.
“Y-yes! Ma’am! Please wait just a moment, I’ll process this right away! Please take a seat on the VIP sofa over here and enjoy a glass of Perrier while I pack everything up for you!” Linda bent at a ninety-degree angle, her smile brighter than a blooming chrysanthemum.
Linda swiftly completed the transaction and printed out a lengthy receipt.
Shen Xingyao sat on the soft sofa, maintaining a noble and aloof demeanor on the surface, but inwardly, her heart was twitching uncontrollably.
A hundred thousand!
That was a hundred thousand yuan!
Even though it was the company’s clothing allowance, it was still money!
Shen Xingyao was mentally pounding the ground in tears.
But when she lifted her eyelids and saw Wu Lele’s face, which looked even more unpleasant than if she had swallowed a dead fly, the heart-wrenching pain of spending money was instantly replaced by an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Worth it!
Spending the company’s money, flaunting her own style, and slapping her enemy in the face!
This round was an absolute win!