Volume One, Chapter 20: The More Awkward, the Uglier

Hearing the sound, Yun Mojiu lifted her eyes and saw Xie Tongtong and Sun Xiaoxuan standing at the entrance.

Sun Xiaoxuan was still that delicate, pitiable figure. Her complexion was even worse than a few days ago, with an ever-thickening aura of gloom above her head. In contrast, Xie Tongtong wore a look of haughty pride, her chin raised high. When her gaze landed on the clothes Yun Mojiu was wearing, a flash of jealousy quickly crossed her eyes. That outfit—damn it—truly complemented Yun Mojiu. Clad in it, her entire bearing was elevated several levels; she was so stunning that one could only compare her to a crane among clouds, elegant, pure, and noble beyond reach.

She had never visited this kind of boutique before. She’d only passed by by chance, but now, unexpectedly, she felt a sudden urge to try something on herself.

Sun Xiaoxuan, too, felt a surge of envy upon seeing Yun Mojiu, though she concealed it well, not betraying herself as Xie Tongtong did. At the same time, an alarm bell rang in her heart. The old Yun Mojiu had always been beautiful, yes, but only in a way that did not draw attention. Now, however, whether in her demeanor or in her very aura, Yun Mojiu was impossible to overlook. With her current attire, she seemed even more aloof and refined, standing out as the most radiant person in any crowd.

Jealousy grew rampant in her heart. But then, a smile curled at her lips. So what if Yun Mojiu looked this good? Xie Jingling had abandoned her, choosing Sun Xiaoxuan instead. Didn’t that prove she was the superior one?

“Sister-in-law, let’s try something on, too!” Xie Tongtong tugged Sun Xiaoxuan into the boutique. Sun Xiaoxuan feigned reluctance, but her steps did not falter. Each selected a set of clothes and went to change.

Xie Tongtong came out of the fitting room feeling quite pleased with herself, standing proudly beside Yun Mojiu. But when she caught sight of herself in the mirror, her face changed instantly. Standing next to Yun Mojiu, she looked like nothing more than an ugly duckling! Yun Mojiu was already half a head taller, her waist slimmer, but the most crucial difference was how naturally she wore the clothes—as if they belonged to her.

In comparison, Xie Tongtong looked like a spiteful concubine who had stolen the stately queen’s attire. Even dressed in imperial yellow, she looked ill-fitted, awkward, and out of place no matter how she tried.

“These clothes are just hideous!” she huffed in frustration.

“Miss, we have many more options,” a store clerk hurried to soothe her.

Xie Tongtong went to pick out several more outfits. Yet, in every one, she felt mismatched, unable to rival Yun Mojiu’s elegance. Infuriated, she flung the garments away. “Why is everything in this shop so ugly!” she snapped.

The clerks nearly rolled their eyes.

What did she mean, everything in their shop was ugly? The young lady just now had looked exquisite! Blaming the clothes for her appearance—how unreasonable!

But as things went poorly for her, Sun Xiaoxuan was also dissatisfied. She had a gentle, sweet appearance, but lacked height, standing a full head shorter than Yun Mojiu. Moreover, being pregnant, her belly had begun to show and her face had become a little rounder. At first glance, she didn’t look bad, but compared with Yun Mojiu, the difference was like night and day. As the saying goes, matching outfits aren’t embarrassing—what matters is who looks worse. While their styles differed, she couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing she wore could compare.

Both women were stifled by their frustration.

With nowhere to vent her anger, Xie Tongtong’s gaze landed on the price tag. Her lips curved into a sly smile—she had an idea. Changing back into her own clothes and striding out of the fitting room in high heels, she looked condescendingly at the clerks.

“Let me give you some advice. When you’re busy serving someone, you’d best first ask if they can actually afford to buy anything. Otherwise, all your efforts might just be wasted,” she sneered.

The clerks’ expressions darkened. Serving people? True, they worked in customer service, but her tone suggested they were nothing but lowly servants. It was insulting. Still, her words struck a chord. They glanced at Yun Mojiu.

No one had ever tried on so many outfits at once. If she didn’t buy anything, wouldn’t it be just as that woman said—a waste of effort?

“Please wrap up all the pieces I selected earlier.”

A cool, clear voice rang out. The clerks lit up with joy.

Xie Tongtong, however, couldn’t believe it. “You mean you’re buying all of that?” she asked.

There were at least twenty pieces! She had checked—nothing in this shop was cheap; even the least expensive set cost tens of thousands. Yun Mojiu didn’t work. After marrying her brother, she’d been pursuing graduate studies and had just graduated, never having earned a salary. She didn’t get a penny from the divorce, and her family wasn’t fabulously wealthy. Even Xie Tongtong herself wouldn’t spend such a sum at once—could Yun Mojiu really afford it?

Her disbelief only grew until Yun Mojiu produced a bank card and completed the transaction. Xie Tongtong was utterly stunned.

She actually bought everything!

“Could you arrange to have these delivered to my home?” Yun Mojiu asked the clerk.

“Of course, just leave your contact information and address,” the clerk replied, grinning from ear to ear after landing such a large sale.

“Very well.”

After providing her information, Yun Mojiu turned and left at a leisurely pace.

“Would you two like to make a purchase?” a clerk asked Xie Tongtong and Sun Xiaoxuan.

“Buy what? Who’d want such ugly clothes!” Xie Tongtong snorted, dragging Sun Xiaoxuan with her as they stormed out.

“Tch, just admit you can’t afford it. Who are you trying to impress with that attitude?”

“Exactly—blaming the clothes when the problem is your own appearance.”

The clerks made no effort to lower their voices. Normally, they wouldn’t mock customers, but Xie Tongtong’s words had been so cutting that they felt she deserved it.

Xie Tongtong seethed, but Sun Xiaoxuan quickly pulled her away.

“Let it go. Don’t stoop to their level. Let’s try somewhere else.”

Xie Tongtong finally held her tongue.

As Yun Mojiu was walking away, a handsome young man suddenly stepped into her path.

“Miss, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Chen Zicheng greeted her, flashing what he believed to be a charming smile.

Yun Mojiu looked up at the young man blocking her way. He was handsome, with a bit of a pretty-boy charm. However…

He bore a mole at the corner of his eye, a sign of fickleness and a wandering heart. His lips were the sort that spoke honeyed words—a natural sweet-talker, skilled at flattery yet utterly unreliable.

“Mm,” Yun Mojiu answered coolly and sidestepped, intending to go around him.

But he stepped forward again, blocking her path.

Yun Mojiu grew impatient.

“Step aside,” her voice was frosty.

“Miss, I feel a special connection between us. I have a French restaurant upstairs—would you do me the honor of joining me for a meal?” Chen Zicheng persisted, oblivious to her irritation.