Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Encountering the Xia Family

It was actually a cyberpunk-style streetwear store.

To be honest, Yun Zijin wasn’t a huge fan of this kind of flashy style.

But she had just declared herself a democratic Host, so of course, she couldn’t refuse now.

"Alright, let’s head to that store first. You all take a look and see if there’s anything you like. Just let me know."

Yun Zijin and her large entourage walked toward the streetwear store.

"Yun Zijin!"

That familiar voice, and that condescending tone... Yun Zijin really wanted to curse them for being such a persistent nuisance.

"Brother, is that older sister?"

That cloyingly sweet and weak voice... Yun Zijin didn’t even have to guess who it was.

"So you’re Yun Zijin? What is your relationship with them?"

Yun Zijin didn’t even turn around. Just by listening, she knew it was her never-before-met biological mother.

When she turned, she saw that her guess was correct.

Today was the day Xia Jiajiao was discharged from the hospital. ’Instead of going home to rest, she has the energy to go shopping? Looks like her injuries weren’t serious enough.’

"Can I help you all with something?"

"What kind of attitude is that? I’m your mother, after all. Is this how you speak to me?"

Zhang Yiqin already felt a sense of rejection toward this daughter who had suddenly appeared. Now, seeing Yun Zijin’s terrible attitude toward her, her impression of Yun Zijin worsened.

"I’m just speaking to you the way you’re speaking to me. Do you need something? If not, I’m leaving. I’m busy!"

She was still waiting to buy clothes for her bodyguards. Every second they delayed her could result in her not being able to spend her daily salary of ten million.

"Older sister!"

Yun Zijin glanced at Xia Jiajiao, whose eyes had somehow turned red, and her gaze grew cold.

"I’m an orphan. I don’t have a habit of adopting sisters. Besides... we have the same birthday. It’s not even certain who was born first that day. Don’t go around calling me that until you’ve figured it out."

"Yun Zijin!" Xia Zhiyun was shocked. He didn’t expect that Yun Zijin would not only be rude to him, but also so sharp and mean to an elder and her sister who had just been discharged from the hospital.

"I can hear you! How many times do I have to say it? When we run into each other, we pretend we don’t know each other. Young Master Xia, do you not understand plain language or what?"

They argued every time they met. Yun Zijin was truly fed up. She shot Xia Zhiyun a cold glance and turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Yun Zijin paused and looked at Xia Zhiyun. "Spit it out."

"I told you yesterday, tomorrow is Grandfather’s birthday banquet. As a daughter of the Xia Family, you are expected to attend.

We came out today to pick a gown for Jiao Jiao. Since we’ve run into each other, you might as well join us."

Yun Zijin glanced at Xia Zhiyun. "You’re that insistent that I attend this birthday banquet?"

"Yes!"

Yun Zijin smiled faintly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Fine. As you wish, I’ll attend. I’ll pick out my own gown; just remember to pay for it.

But I hope you don’t regret this."

’An unnecessary expense that wasn’t in my plan? Don’t expect me to waste my own money on it.’

Yun Zijin swept her gaze over the three of them, not intending to say anything more, and turned to leave. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Wait!"

Yun Zijin closed her eyes, telling herself to stay calm. After a moment, she turned back around. "Is there something else? Please say everything you need to say at once."

"You still haven’t said what your relationship is with them!"

Zhang Yiqin said impatiently, her brows furrowed.

"Older sister, don’t be angry. Mother is just concerned about you! After all, for a young woman to be shopping with so many men..."

Xia Jiajiao left her sentence half-finished, but the part she left out invited endless speculation.

"You see in others what you are yourself.

Look! Black suits, sunglasses... who would think they’re anything other than bodyguards?

You’d better back off. Don’t make me get physical!"

Xia Jiajiao put on a frightened act, backing away with a look of terror and hiding behind Zhang Yiqin.

"You wretched girl! What do you think you’re doing? Jiao Jiao was just discharged! Are you trying to send her right back to the hospital?"

Yun Zijin was speechless.

’She can get hospitalized from just a few words? Is Xia Jiajiao made of paper?’

"Ms. Zhang Yiqin, I want you to be very clear about something. You people didn’t raise me. Every cent I spend now is money I earned with my own two hands! No one in the Xia Family has the right to boss me around, and that includes you! My biological mother.

If we’re talking about debts, it should be the Xia Family that owes me!"

Yun Zijin’s words left Xia Zhiyun and Zhang Yiqin speechless. They wanted to argue, but they realized that everything Yun Zijin said was the truth.

Only Xia Jiajiao, in a corner where no one could see, had a look in her eyes that seemed laced with poison, completely devoid of the innocent, ’little white flower’ persona she showed everyone.

"Alright, if there’s nothing else, stop hovering around me. I’m busy!"

With that, Yun Zijin turned and led her seven men, Zero One through Ling Qi, into the streetwear store behind them.

Yun Zijin was a well-known wealthy woman in Jinsheng Mall. When the streetwear store staff saw her, they greeted her with great enthusiasm.

"Mother, Brother, it looks like this store actually sells menswear. Is older sister... buying clothes for those men?"

After composing herself, Xia Jiajiao began her performance.

"Hmph! As expected of someone who grew up on the outside. She’s been raised to be completely unruly!

Zhiyun, keep an eye on her from now on. Don’t let her ruin the Xia Family’s reputation!"

Zhang Yiqin showed not a shred of motherly concern for her daughter; instead, she was constantly worried that Yun Zijin would bring shame upon the Xia Family.

Xia Zhiyun glanced at Xia Jiajiao, his expression complicated, but he ultimately nodded. "I understand."

"Alright, let’s ignore her. We still haven’t picked a gown for our Jiao Jiao. Don’t let irrelevant people ruin our mood."

Zhang Yiqin took Xia Jiajiao’s arm and led her toward the shop where they usually had their gowns custom-made.

Xia Zhiyun glanced at Yun Zijin inside the streetwear store. He saw her pulling clothes off the racks as if they were free, even holding them up against one of the men next to her. He pursed his lips and followed Zhang Yiqin and Xia Jiajiao, leaving.

Inside the streetwear store.

"Alright, these few outfits. Please get them in his size."

Yun Zijin didn’t have Ling Qi try them on. After all, they had to buy clothes for seven people today. If everyone tried things on, it would take far too much time.

"Of course, please wait a moment."

Seeing Yun Zijin grab several outfits at once, the sales associate was inwardly ecstatic.

’She really is the famously lavish spender of Jinsheng Mall,’ the associate thought. ’Just these few outfits are worth several days of my sales quota.’

"Miss Yun, the clothes you selected have been packaged. If you could please step this way to the register."

Yun Zijin nodded, handed the shopping bags to Ling Qi, and followed the associate to the register.

"Hello, your total is 128,000. Will you be paying by card or cash?"

"Card."

Yun Zijin handed over her Black Gold Card.

Once the transaction was complete, Yun Zijin tucked the receipt into one of the bags Ling Qi was holding. Then she led them out of the cyberpunk streetwear store, ready to move on to the next one.