Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Xiao Yi took a bottle back. âWe still have work to do in the afternoon. You need to stay alert.â
âJust two bottles of fruit-flavored drinks. Iâll drink them like water,â said Li Zexin.
Thinking about how Li Yanchen had gotten drunk, Xiao Yi held onto the bottle because he thought Li Zexin might have inherited his fatherâs trait of not being able to hold his liquor.
âI was just joking with you. This stuff contains alcohol.â
âWind God, you still care about me! Thank you, Iâll do as you say,â Li Zexin said.
After Xia MO finished her work, she walked to the break room.
Xiao Yi set up the bowls and chopsticks.
âIn the afternoon, I want you and Xinxin to help me with something.â Xia MO drank the soup from the bowl and patted her belly.
âOkay. What is it?â
âCan the two of you go together and help me pick up the Lunar New Year outfits from this address.â Xia MO took out a business card from her wallet. âTwo sets, one for me and one for your dad. I sent you the size and order number on WeChat. Take a look when you pick them up.â
âJust this?â
âYes, take a cab. In the afternoon, I have an important client and canât leave, but Iâve already arranged with the shop owner to pick them up today.â
âSure, consider it done. Weâll leave after eating.â Xiao Yi was just thinking of going out for some fresh air.
Li Zexin nodded. âIâm happy to help, Auntie Xia. Just let me know what you need.â
Xiao Yi glared at Li Zexin.
Li Zexin stopped smiling and sat down politely.
After lunch, Xiao Yi booked a cab online to head to Yunshang Haute Couture.
The car followed the map but couldnât find the entrance. The two of them had to get off nearby and walk to the place. Finally, they saw the board under the sunny bridge of the old street.
The main gate was a bit simple. A brown wooden sign with four black characters on it.
Xiao Yi walked ahead.
There were only three staff members in the shop, but the walls were covered with clothes: cheongsams, Zhongshan suits, evening gowns, etc.
âThese clothes are much prettier than those in the mall. Menâs and womenâs wear are hung together. It looks good,â said Li Zexin.
A young woman walked in through a side door and greeted them.
âGentlemen, are you here to order custom-made clothes?â she asked.
Xiao Yi took out his phone and showed the woman the orders.
âOh, if youâre here to pick up the clothes, please follow me.â
The clothes were already packed in paper gift bags. They couldnât see how it looked.
âDo you want to look around? We also have matching outfits for couples, and even parent-child outfits.â
âSure, weâll take a look.â Li Zexinâs eyes lit up.
âWind God, you surely have a lot of pocket money, right? How about we ask how much they are? If I order outfits for my whole family, will we look cool wearing them?â Li Zexin had never worn parent-child outfits before.
Xiao Yi understood what Li Zexin was getting at. He was asking to borrow money. Considering the Li familyâs conditions, they wouldnât leave debts unpaid, especially witn tnelr close relatlonsmp.
âHow much do you want? You can borrow it, but I wonât give it for free.â
âWho said I wanted you to give it to me for free? Seriously, I just want to borrow it. Iâll even sign an IOU on the spot. Let me ask about the prices.â Li Zexin smiled happily.
The prices at Yunshang Haute Couture ranged from four to five figures. Li Zexin calculated it. He wasnât rich. He usually got some pocket money from his father and older brother. So, the five-figured prices were a pass. As for the four-figure ones, they ranged from high to low. With five members in the Li family, buying the larger ones would mean he had to tighten his pocket for several years to pay it off.
He could tighten his pocket but borrowing from someone and not returning it for years wasnât acceptable.
Li Zexin chose a relatively cheaper option. He chose clothes that cost around 2,000 yuan. He then asked Xiao Yi if he had 10,000 yuan.
Xiao Yi nodded. His esports prize money was still in his account.
Li Zexin asked a staff member for a pen and paper and wrote an IOU note on the spot. Xiao Yi tore it up. âNo need for this. Do you know everyoneâs sizes?â
âThatâs easy. My brotherâs size can be found online. Mr. Li is about the same height as my brother. I can get a larger size for Jiejie because he is still growing. As for Ms. Lin, Iâll get her measurements customized. Wind God, what do you think of bright red?â Li Zexin pointed to two samples.
âRed is a traditional Chinese color. It looks festive. Plus, these fabrics have auspicious clouds on them. Wearing red will definitely make you stand out.â Xiao Yiâs everyday clothes were usually picked by Xia MO, but when Li Zexin asked for his opinion, he seemed Imowledgeable.
In the end, Li Zexin chose a woolen cheongsam and four Chinese tunic suits.
He used Xiao Yi as a reference for measurements.
After placing the order, Li Zexin asked, âUncle Xiao and Auntie Xia ordered matching outfits. Did they not include you?â
Xiao Yi hadnât realized he was left out until Li Zexin mentioned it. âOh, did my parents really exclude me?â
âMaybe you can wear the same as me?â Li Zexin raised an eyebrow. âLend me another 2,000 yuan. Donât worry, Iâll pay you back.â
âNo, why would I join in the fun with your family? Maybe my mom knows I donât like red, so she didnât order for me. Look at the two items in the bag, although I canât see the styles clearly, theyâre both red. Maybe my dad is getting a long robe or something. I donât want to dress like that.â
âAre you afraid I wonât pay you back if I buy one for you?â
âNo, I really donât need it. Whoâs the eldest? Who has the final say?â Xiao Yi brought up his age for defense.
âYouâre the eldest. Of course, you have the final say.â
The five outfits would take two months to prepare. Li Zexin realized it would still be quite cold at the end of February. The woolen cheongsam would still be suitable. In order to surprise his family, he asked Xiao Yi to take a photo of the order receipt and keep it with himself.
After leaving the shop, Xiao Yi treated Li Zexin to a cup of milk tea.
âWind God, Iâll get New Yearâs money, and Iâll definitely pay you back within a month.â With his father and older brother, he would get a lot more. And if necessary, he could borrow from Lin Wan.
Li Zexin felt guilty for thinking like that. When he considered that he had used all his New Yearâs money on his family, he felt justified.
âIâm not in a hurry. Itâs fine even if it takes a year or two.â
âYeah. It might not matter to you, but Iâll always know. Well, Iâll work hard to make money.â
âOnce this is settled, letâs head back to the shop,â said Xiao Yi.
In the Sweetheart Inn, Xia MO was entertaining a distinguished guest, the chairman of Jiangnan Banquet, Xu Ziling.
Xu Ziling got straight to the point. âI want to acquire the Sweetheart Inn as the designated dessert brand for Jiangnan Banquet.â
Xia MO politely declined his offer. âChairman Xu, Jiangnan Banquetâs reputation is well-known. The Sweetheart Inn is just a small business. It is not on par with Jiangnan Banquet at all..â