Zuo Yao made a "sī lā" sound as she zipped up the dress, while Qiao Meina groaned, "Ah~ Be careful, it's a bit tight around my chest."
"Hey, Qiao Meina, are you speaking human? I just wore something looser, and now you say this one's tight? 36D, is that such a big deal?"
"Ai, stop joking." Qiao Meina turned around, "How does it look?"
"Wow~ This dress is practically tailor-made for you. You've got a small waist and big chest, and it looks so elegant and perfect on you. Meina, I'm so envious of your devilish figure."
"Really looks that good?"
"Why would I lie to you? Go out and look in the mirror yourself."
"Fine, fine, I'll just wear it in the fitting room for now."
"Ah, don't take it off! You have to look in the mirror outside, how can you know how good you look unless you show it off? Come on, let's go~"
"Don't pull me, be careful not to tear the dress, I can't afford to pay for it."
Qiao Meina carefully stepped out of the fitting room, afraid of damaging the expensive dress.
As soon as she stepped out, she caught the attention of other female customers nearby, who whispered to each other about how beautiful she looked in that dress.
Zuo Yao helped her adjust the hem of the dress and said, "This dress is really tricky, it's almost as hard to wear as a cheongsam. If you have even a little bit of extra fat, or if you're lacking a little bit, this dress won't work. I think only you and Qing Ning can pull it off. Miao Youxi's cute style doesn't suit it, and as for Ai Rena, that little b**** has a chest smaller than mine, she definitely can't wear this."
"Hehehe... If Ai Rena knew you were talking about her behind her back, she'd definitely scold you."
Qiao Meina admired herself in the mirror, her pale skin complemented by the dress, which made her appear even more radiant and delicate. The waist and strapless design highlighted her figure, making her look like an ethereal goddess.
"It really does look pretty."
"Pretty? Then just bite the bullet and buy it."
"Big sister, it's over seventy thousand! I'd have to sell all my teeth to afford it, you think I have a rich boyfriend like you who buys me whatever I want? Trying it on is enough for me."
"Didn't your brother say he'd use Huabei to support you? Hehe~"
"I don't want him to buy it."
"Huh? You mean he really took out a loan for you to buy this?"
"..."
Qiao Meina didn't explain, thinking to herself, that little rascal brother of mine is really naughty, and people actually believed he took out a loan for this.
Forget about this seventy thousand dollar dress, he spends seventy thousand just on one night in a hotel.
People sure differ from one another; it's so infuriating.
...
Meanwhile.
A wealthy woman in a pencil skirt entered the Gucci store, walking with a seductive sway.
Manager Ma quickly approached with a smile, "Li Jie, you've arrived?"
Li Jie took off her Dior sunglasses, set her Hermes bag down, and swayed her hourglass figure as she said, "The staff here told me about a new dress. I saw it on WeChat, it looked great, so I came to buy it. Has it sold yet?"
High-end luxury stores often send new products to VIP customers, who can either choose to have them delivered to their door or come in to try them on.
"That dress is the only one in our store, and it's very challenging to wear. Many customers have tried it but couldn't pull it off. Only someone with your figure, Li Jie, can wear it."
"Flattery."
"I'm speaking the truth, please."
The staff member complimented her, and indeed, she wasn't wrong. As for Gucci clothes, they can be tried on like any other, but of course, ordinary people don't have the luxury of going into high-end stores to try on clothes, only to be looked down on by the staff.
"Li Jie, hello."
"Li Jie, hello."
As Li Jie walked through the women's clothing section, the staff greeted her respectfully.
Li Jie was a VIP customer at this Gucci store, always spending hundreds of thousands whenever she came.
"Customer is king" is a phrase aimed at high-quality wealthy people; ordinary people don't get that treatment.
Reaching the women's section, the manager noticed the display windows were empty and asked, "Xiao He, where's the dress that was shown to Li Jie?"
The employee, Xiao He, responded, "A lady just took it to try on."
The manager smiled, "Li Jie, you see how popular this dress is, that proves your taste is really good."
The more they praised her, the more interested Li Jie became. Women like to be the center of attention; if someone else gets something they want, they become the object of envy.
"Alright, stop with the flattery. I have a spa appointment with a few friends. Hurry up and bring me that dress to try on."
"Please wait here, Li Jie, I'll go get it right now."
Li Jie sat on the couch while the staff served her coffee and snacks, taking care of the VIP customer.
The manager entered the fitting area and saw a beautiful girl wearing the dress in front of the mirror. He was stunned. Damn, he didn't expect it to look so stunning on her.
He walked over with a smile, "Miss, your taste is impeccable. Many people have tried this dress, but you not only pull it off, you look stunning in it. It seems tailor-made for you. Our store is running a promotion: if you buy this dress, you can enter a lucky draw."
Earlier, when Qiao Meina and Zuo Yao came to the store, the manager could tell that Zuo Yao was a real customer, but this lady wandering around didn't seem like someone who could afford it. He didn't say anything outright, just mentioned the lucky draw, knowing if she had the money, she'd buy it, and if not, she'd leave quietly.
Being a manager meant knowing how to handle situations smoothly.
"No, I'm just trying it on."
Qiao Meina politely refused and turned to go to the fitting room to take it off.
"Oh, no rush. Your brother will be back soon. This dress fits your figure perfectly. Who else could wear it like you? Let your brother see how beautiful you look before you change out of it," Zuo Yao smiled at the manager, then added, "He went out to buy milk tea, he'll be back soon. After he sees you, we'll decide if we buy it."
Zuo Yao then started taking pictures of Qiao Meina.
Of course, neither of them knew that someone was planning to buy this dress. If they had known, they would have taken it off already.
Mmm... Qiao Meina noticed that no other customers were showing interest in the dress, so she kept it on for another minute, wanting to wait for Lin Can to come back and see how beautiful she looked in it.
...
Li Jie sat on the couch, glancing at her Cartier watch, feeling impatient, "What's going on? I'm in a hurry. Why hasn't Manager Ma brought me the dress yet?"
"Li Jie, don't be angry. Let me check." The staff went to the fitting area and returned, saying, "A lady is waiting for her brother to come back and see if it looks good before deciding whether to buy."
"Buy a dress. Why make it so complicated? I'll go see it myself."
In modern society, people have clearly defined social strata. While an ordinary person might think Li Jie is rude, for her, spending tens of thousands a day is normal. To her, a seventy thousand dress is no big deal, and she buys it just to wear it a few times.
Li Jie went to the fitting area and saw that the girl looked stunning in the dress. The other women around her were also praising her figure. But when she looked at the girl's bag, shoes, and jewelry—all cheap, online-bought items—she could tell the girl was just playing dress-up and couldn't afford this dress.
"Hey, are you buying it or not? If not, take it off."
Li Jie had no patience for niceties, stating bluntly. As for her manners, they were impeccable within her circle, but she didn't need to be polite to people not in her league. She only cared about the dress not getting dirty because she was in a hurry to buy it and meet her friends.
The gap between the rich and the poor was growing, and the class divide was becoming clearer.
"Sorry," Qiao Meina apologized awkwardly and turned to go to the changing room to take the dress off. Zuo Yao immediately pulled her back, confronting Li Jie, "Hey, what do you mean by 'take it off if you're not buying'? Who comes to a store to try on clothes but doesn't buy?"
Li Jie had no intention of wasting her time on these poor people. She turned to the manager, "Ma Manager, I'm in a hurry. If I don't get the dress soon, I won't shop here anymore."
Hearing this, Zuo Yao was furious and pointed at Li Jie, "Say that again?"
"Don't make a scene. Let's just stay calm," the manager quickly intervened.
"Yao Yao, don't cause trouble. I'll take it off," Qiao Meina said, clasping her hands behind her back and walking with determination to the fitting room.
Li Jie sneered, "Hah, I can't stand women like her, who can't afford things but still go around trying on expensive clothes in luxury stores."
Qiao Meina might have heard, but she didn't react because she didn't have the confidence or the financial backing.
Zuo Yao, on the other hand, was ready to fight, but she stopped when Qiao Meina grabbed her and said, "Don't make trouble, help me zip up."
"I'm so pissed off," Zuo Yao said as she stood at the fitting room door, adjusting the zipper for Qiao Meina.
But the zipper got stuck.
Li Jie, standing in front of the mirror, taunted, "Be careful, don't break it. You'll have to pay for it."
"Mind your own business," Zuo Yao snapped, but she was still careful not to break the dress—it cost seventy thousand, after all.
Just then, Lin Can and Ye Fan walked in with milk tea, chatting and laughing. Seeing everyone gathered around the fitting area, they noticed Zuo Yao was helping Qiao Meina with the zipper.
Lin Can took a sip of milk tea, "What happened? You just left for a while."
Zuo Yao replied, "Lin Can, you're late! Your sister's being bullied. That woman's acting all high and mighty, mocking your sister, saying she's just a vain woman who goes to luxury stores to try on clothes but never buys them. She even said she's tired of seeing women like her."
Lin Can glanced at Li Jie, their eyes meeting. Li Jie felt a jolt of nervousness, her confidence faltering for a moment.
There was no reason for it, just the way Lin Can looked at her—a look of utter disdain.
Lin Can walked up to Qiao Meina and examined her in the dress. Zuo Yao chimed in, "We were planning to take it off, but I told her brother hadn't seen how beautiful she looks yet. When he comes back, we'll decide if we buy it. But that woman wouldn't speak nicely, making rude comments and mocking. Your sister apologized, and she called her a vain woman."
"Stop talking," Qiao Meina said, lowering her head, her eyes red. She was hurt by Li Jie's mocking words, though she didn't show it.
After all, she was just a 19-year-old girl who hadn't even left school.
Lin Can asked softly, "You're waiting for me to see, right?"
Qiao Meina didn't answer.
Zuo Yao confirmed, "Of course."
"Meina, you look beautiful."
Lin Can handed the milk tea to the nearby store employee, who looked bewildered as they took it from him, unsure of how to react.
Was it the aura of Lin Can that made everyone act this way?
"I'll do it," Zuo Yao stepped back, allowing Lin Can to finish fixing the zipper.
Lin Can stood behind Qiao Meina, looking at the stuck zipper and her flawless back.
"Almost done," Qiao Meina urged, wanting to finish this embarrassing moment as quickly as possible.
Soon, she felt Lin Can working on the zipper behind her, pulling it up.
Sī lā~
It wasn't being undone, though. It was being pulled up.
"You—what are you doing? Stop messing around!"
"Earlier, you said you'd help me take it off. So now, you'll wear it!"
Lin Can finished zipping it up, covering Qiao Meina's perfect back.
He then put his arm around her shoulder and proudly faced everyone.
"I've seen it. My sister is the most beautiful in this dress. Buy it."
He didn't even glance at Li Jie.
Because he didn't need to care about her opinion.
Zuo Yao gripped Ye Fan's hand, excited, "Wow~ This little puppy is so manly!"
Ye Fan asked, "Does he not have money? Is he really planning to take out a loan?"
Zuo Yao laughed, "This is the most handsome guy I've ever seen."