Qian Dailan brought four pairs of shoes, kneeling slightly as she introduced them.
The store deliberately had high heels that weren’t suitable for squatting, ensuring that each employee would kneel on one knee to serve the seated customers, looking up at them.
She knelt in front of Lin Yi and smiled as she introduced the shoes.
“This sky-blue high heel is one of our new arrivals for this fall and winter. The upper is made of specially processed suede calfskin, which is very popular—”
“So, a lot of people have bought it?”
Lin Yi asked casually, not even looking at the shoes. “Try another one. I don’t like following trends.”
Ye Xijing said, “Mom, didn’t you say you were just here to pick up clothes? Let’s buy them another time.”
“Why another time? We’re having dinner together tomorrow night, so why change the day?”
Lin Yi teased.
“This child, why is he getting more rebellious as he gets older?”
As she said this, Lin Yi naturally gestured for Wu Ke to come over.
Wu Ke glanced at Ye Xijing, then at Qian Dailan.
She was so beautiful that Wu Ke couldn’t help but take another look.
The girl was very young, so young that her skin had no visible pores.
Her smooth, clean face, even with lipstick that didn’t quite suit her, still couldn’t hide the youthfulness radiating from her.
She had a full forehead, big bright eyes with glossy pupils, as if wearing contact lenses, a small and delicate nose, and a lively spirit.
Sales assistants at these types of stores have a tough job.
Even when there are no customers, they must stand and can’t rest.
She must have been standing for a long time, but she still looked energetic—
More energetic than a university student entering class at 8 a.m.
Wu Ke sensed the problem.
“No need,” she pursed her lips and said.
“Just the black ones, I can’t afford to wear anything so expensive on a daily basis.”
“No matter how expensive, Auntie is happy to buy them for you, as long as they’re worth it. Spending a little money is nothing,” Lin Yi said.
“I know you’re simple and different from others, but these shoes are a must-buy. Not just the shoes, let’s look at the dresses and other items too. If you like anything, just let me know, Auntie will pay for everything.”
Linda said, “Sis, we just got a dress in yesterday, it’s perfect—”
“Let her come,” Lin Yi interrupted, pointing at Qian Dailan.
“I’ll listen to her introduce it.”
Qian Dailan’s smile didn’t falter.
She smiled sweetly, her two little dimples barely showing, and continued, “Miss has great taste. The black block-heeled shoes you liked earlier are from our high-end handmade collection, made by hand.”
Lin Yi said, “You always speak so highly of everything. What isn’t handmade these days? These days, even machines are used in so-called handmade products.”
“This pair is truly handmade,” Qian Dailan said softly.
“It’s a new arrival from our high-end handmade collection. Both the materials and craftsmanship are patented by our brand,” she smiled as she held the shoes up and presented them.
“These shoes feature our brand’s most popular sheepskin soles. As our VIP Black Diamond member, you know how breathable and comfortable these soles are.
The upper is made from cashmere goat wool from Kashmir, which most brands use for coats or cashmere sweaters. We’ve blended it specially for this pair of shoes, creating custom fabric that makes the shoes both comfortable and exquisite.”
“Hmm?”
Lin Yi unconsciously shifted her body toward the shoes, staring at the high heels in Qian Dailan’s hands.
“Is it really that complicated?”
“Yes,” Qian Dailan said gently.
“Look at this camellia flower. Camellias are one of our brand’s key symbols. The camellia flower on the shoe is made from real silk satin. I can’t always express its quality through words, but if you touch it, don’t you feel like it’s just like a real camellia flower?
Look carefully—each camellia flower is hand-cut, selected, and then assembled onto the shoe by workers. A master can make at most six camellias in a whole morning. Our handmade collection is very limited, but I guarantee every piece, every camellia, is truly handmade.”
Behind her, Ava, who had just finished ironing clothes, came out and peeked over.
Hearing a soft cough behind her, she turned around and saw Luna.
Luna was also looking at Qian Dailan.
Lin Yi’s hand left the shoe surface, her eyes still focused on the camellia flower.
“Do you have this in size 37?”
“Only this one,” Qian Dailan replied, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Yi.
“Actually, the store only received this one pair in size 37. To be honest, the price is indeed high, but it’s really beautiful. Normally, we wouldn’t recommend it to customers unless they’re like you.”
Lin Yi stared at the shoes.
“How much?”
Linda said, “Ten thousand—”
“I didn’t ask you,” Lin Yi interrupted her, as if suddenly realizing something, turning to Qian Dailan.
“How much?”
“Twelve thousand yuan,” Qian Dailan replied without irritation, speaking softly.
“As a Black Diamond member, you can earn double points on shoes.”
Lin Yi was about to ask Wu Ke to sit down, but Wu Ke refused, shaking her head and smiling, saying the shoes were too expensive.
Lin Yi then extended her foot in front of Qian Dailan.
Qian Dailan knelt on one knee and gently helped Lin Yi try on the shoes, softly complimenting her for taking good care of her feet, saying they were beautiful.
Ye Xijing couldn’t take it anymore.
He reached out, wanting to pull Qian Dailan away, but Wu Ke grabbed his arm.
She shook her head gently at Ye Xijing, signaling him not to act impulsively.
Qian Dailan had served Lin Yi for a whole hour.
It was already past closing time, but according to the store’s policy, the door couldn’t be closed as long as there was a customer trying on clothes.
As the clock struck 10 p.m., Lin Yi had drunk two cups of water, eaten a fruit platter, and made a trip to the bathroom.
Qian Dailan hadn’t had a drop of water.
Her knee ached from squatting, kneeling on one knee, and standing up repeatedly, but she still maintained her smile, speaking softly, and patiently explaining everything.
Lin Yi had tried on almost every piece of clothing, jewelry, shoes, and bags in the store.
Instead of going to the comfortable VIP room, she stayed at the middle island sofa in the store, where anyone passing by could see, and ordered Qian Dailan to bring out one item after another, changing in and out of them.
During this time, Linda offered to help, but Lin Yi dismissed her with a few casual words.
She only wanted Qian Dailan to do it.
When Lin Yi went to the bathroom, Ye Xijing finally spoke to Qian Dailan.
“Stop it, come home with me.”
Home?
Where?
Back to Shenyan?
Qian Dailan avoided his hand.
At that moment, she saw a “childish” side of Ye Xijing up close for the first time.
She had known for a while that a relationship could only work if both people were willing to accommodate each other, like a wedge hammered into a bench, only becoming stable after friction, squeezing, and struggling.
But facing his “childishness” was completely unexpected.
A flower grown in a greenhouse couldn’t withstand even the slightest storm—what was this?
Lin Yi hadn’t even called her a little vixen or a fox spirit yet.
She had only been doing her job.
Back in the market, she had argued with people, had her hair pulled, and clothes maliciously tugged.
In the factory, men would intentionally rub up against her, make lewd comments while she ate, and even joke about raping her, saying it would be worth sitting in prison for two or three years for a brief thrill.
Wasn’t he even more fragile than she was?
She had always known that he was a pampered young master.
But she hadn’t expected him to be so naïve, so removed from the real world.
She could no longer deceive herself with the excuse of “not having suffered.”
Ye Xiyan, too, had lived a life of ease and never really suffered, but he wasn’t as childish as Ye Xijing.
He didn’t recklessly hurt her.
Qian Dailan didn’t want to be the subject of ridicule among her coworkers, so she avoided Ye Xijing’s hand.
“Please respect my job.”
Ye Xijing still wanted to grab her hand, but with so many eyes around, he had no choice but to let go, staring at her with a look full of heartache.
Finally, when Lin Yi was done trying on clothes, feeling satisfied, and ready to check out, she leisurely said, “Forget about everything I tried on upstairs. Just pick out a pair of shoes for Ke Ke. I almost forgot—quick, Ke Ke, sit here, let her try shoes for you.”
Qian Dailan’s smile remained unchanged.
Her knee hurt terribly, but she still got up and was about to go get the high heels.
“Enough.”
Ye Xijing forcefully grabbed her.
He turned around and directly asked Lin Yi, “Mom, you’ve tried everything in the store, and you’re not buying a single thing. Do you think this is appropriate?”
Lin Yi said, “You little brat—”
Ye Xijing pulled out his wallet, didn’t bother to take out the card, and handed it to Qian Dailan with force, his eyes fixed on Lin Yi.
“The first gold credit card in the inner layer, swipe it. The password is my birthday.”
“Sir,” Qian Dailan kept her smile, “How would I know when your birthday is?”
Ye Xijing paused and then recited the password.
Qian Dailan said, “Then you…”
“That pair of black shoes, the so-called handmade and sheepskin ones, the black dress my mom tried on, the coat, and the bag,” Ye Xijing said.
“Forget it, just get all those so-called handmade series you mentioned.”
Lin Yi abruptly stood up, no longer bothering to hide her frustration.
“Ye Xijing! Are you burning through money because you have too much?!”
Qian Dailan recognized her accent.
It sounded like she was from Tieling too.
How come she had never heard Ye Xijing mention that?
She pretended not to hear, and confirmed with Ye Xijing.
“Sir, the price of the black tea camellia wool-blend high heels from the high-end handmade collection is 12,000 yuan, the black silk dress is 7,500 yuan, the Alba white cashmere coat is 18,800 yuan.
The silver-gray calfskin gold ball crossbody bag is 15,000 yuan, and the enamel bracelet is 900 yuan—”
“The enamel bracelet isn’t needed,” Lin Yi interrupted her.
“Enamel and brass—I don’t like wearing those. It’s not worth the price.”
“You just said it was pretty and had them change five bracelets before you were satisfied,” Ye Xijing said with a cold laugh.
“So what if it’s not worth it? Mom wants to save money, and I want to show filial piety to my mom—buy it. Get all three of the bracelets my mom tried on just now.”
“Then that’s three enamel bracelets, a silk blouse for 4,500 yuan, and a small lambskin braided belt for 1,000 yuan,” Qian Dailan quickly calculated the total.
“A total of 61,500 yuan.”
61,500.
Meanwhile, Linda, pressing the pink, rhinestone-covered calculator, was quickly calculating the same total.
After Qian Dailan finished speaking, she saw the exact amount on the screen.
Linda held the calculator, her emotions complicated.
The high-end handmade collection was priced high, and few people bought it, so the commission percentage was the highest at 6%.
Calculating it out, for 61,500 yuan, the commission would be at least 3,690 yuan.
Qian Dailan was still in her probationary period, so her sales wouldn’t count toward commissions yet.
If the 61,500 yuan was all hers…
Linda clenched her palm, and the calculator in her hand gleamed under the lights.
She only looked at Qian Dailan.
Lin Yi’s expression darkened.
She clearly didn’t want to pay for everything, but the commotion had attracted several employees out, and with so many people watching, she couldn’t stop it anymore.
Ye Xijing’s attitude was firm.
“Ke Ke,” he asked, “Do you still need shoes?”
“No need,” Wu Ke smiled and shook her head.
“Thank you.”
Lin Yi reached for the card in Qian Dailan’s hand, but Ye Xijing, rarely losing his temper, reacted like a lion.
In the end, it was just a bit more than 60,000 yuan, not worth the fuss—but Lin Yi didn’t like Ye Xijing’s attitude, and as a result, she grew even more disgusted with Qian Dailan.
Qian Dailan had already quickly processed the shopping list and handed both it and the wallet to Ye Xijing.
The other employees in the store also got busy, folding clothes, organizing hangers, packing boxes, tying ribbons, and attaching the brand’s signature tea camellias…
At 10:25 p.m., Qian Dailan smiled and bowed, sending them off.
Wu Ke was currently living in the university faculty dormitory nearby.
The light rain had stopped, and she insisted on getting out of the car at the school gate.
As the car started again, Ye Xijing, who was driving, suddenly saw Lin Yi slapping herself frantically.
He immediately stopped the car, opened the back door, and held down Lin Yi’s self-harming hand, feeling both pain and discomfort.
“Mom!”
“You still know I’m your mom?”
Lin Yi said through tears, “I thought that little girl was your mom! The moment she smiles, you lose your soul, your mind floats away, and the money in your wallet is gone!!!”
Ye Xijing replied, “Isn’t it because you’ve been making things difficult for her?”
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