Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Xia Jiajiao’s Scheme

Given Yun Zijin’s previous track record at Jinsheng Mall, all the men’s clothing stores were eagerly awaiting her arrival today, knowing she planned to buy clothes for the seven bodyguards behind her.

Meanwhile, while Xia Zhiyun and the other two were picking out a formal gown for Xia Jiajiao, they would occasionally check up on Yun Zijin’s movements in Jinsheng Mall.

When Xia Zhiyun heard that Yun Zijin was splurging at Jinsheng Mall just to buy clothes for those bodyguards, he felt a pang of jealousy for some unknown reason.

As her biological brother, he had never even received clothes from Yun Zijin, yet a few bodyguards had.

Moreover, he couldn’t understand it. Yun Zijin didn’t seem like the type to be foolishly lovestruck, so why would any employer be willing to spend hundreds of thousands on clothes for their bodyguards?

"Zhiyun! Zhiyun!"

Zhang Yiqin’s voice pulled Xia Zhiyun back to reality, and only then did he realize his attention had once again been drawn to Yun Zijin.

"Mom, what’s wrong? Did you pick out a gown?"

Xia Zhiyun hadn’t planned on coming out shopping, but he finally agreed after Xia Jiajiao pestered him endlessly.

But now, seeing Xia Jiajiao choosing a gown in the store—carefree, and even a bit willful and spoiled—and then thinking of Yun Zijin buying clothes for other men...

The contrast made Xia Zhiyun’s chest feel tight.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on why he felt so uncomfortable.

’In his opinion, Yun Zijin had really gone too far. They were her family, after all, but her attitude toward them was terrible. She wasn’t obedient and sensible like Jiao Jiao at all.’

"We’ve picked one. There wasn’t enough time to have one custom-made, so we had them bring out a new design that isn’t on the market yet. I’ve already spoken with them. After they sell Jiao Jiao’s chosen gown to us, they can’t sell another one. Anything our Jiao Jiao likes has to be one-of-a-kind in the whole world.

They’re altering it to Jiao Jiao’s size today, and it will be delivered to the house tomorrow. Make sure you have someone follow up on it."

Zhang Yiqin ordered Xia Zhiyun around as if it were a matter of course.

"I know, Mom. But..."

"What is it now?"

Having chosen the gown, Zhang Yiqin was planning to take Xia Jiajiao to buy some jewelry to match, so she sounded a little impatient.

"Aren’t you going to help pick out a gown for Yun Zijin?"

Xia Zhiyun thought that since this was Yun Zijin’s first banquet, she probably didn’t know much about formal gowns, so he wanted Zhang Yiqin to help her out.

’Even if she couldn’t be as devoted to Yun Zijin as she was to Xia Jiajiao, Yun Zijin was still her biological daughter. She couldn’t just completely ignore her, could she?’

"Doesn’t she dislike me? She definitely won’t like anything I pick out. I’d rather not set myself up for a cold shoulder.

There are a few more over there. Just grab one in her size. It’s not like she knows the difference anyway."

Zhang Yiqin pointed to a few gowns hanging in a corner of the shop. Just from their placement, it was obvious they were unpopular items that wouldn’t cost more than 200,000 at most.

The one for Xia Jiajiao just now had cost over a million, even after the membership discount.

Xia Zhiyun looked at Zhang Yiqin, and he thought he was starting to understand why Yun Zijin didn’t want to return to the Xia Family.

’If he were in Yun Zijin’s shoes, he might have been even more ruthless and gone even further than she had.’

Xia Zhiyun didn’t say anything else and silently followed behind Zhang Yiqin and Xia Jiajiao.

However, it wasn’t long before his assistant called him. There was a matter at the company that required his attention. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Mom, something’s come up at the company, so I’m heading back. I’ll cover your and Jiao Jiao’s expenses today. Just have them put everything on my account."

Xia Zhiyun often bought gifts for Xia Jiajiao and Zhang Yiqin, so he had accounts with most of the major brands.

"I know, I know. If you have something to do, go take care of it. Your sister and I will just buy some jewelry to go with the gown, and then we’ll head back."

Keeping in mind that Xia Jiajiao had just been discharged from the hospital, Zhang Yiqin didn’t plan on shopping for too long today either.

After Xia Zhiyun left, Xia Jiajiao glanced at Zhang Yiqin, who was engrossed in picking out jewelry for her, and a small smile played on her lips.

"Mom, it seems like sister has been buying clothes for those men this whole time. Nothing at Jinsheng Mall is cheap. Didn’t she grow up in an orphanage? How does she have so much money to buy all this?"

Xia Jiajiao asked, feigning confusion.

Sure enough, upon hearing her words, Zhang Yiqin paused her search for jewelry, and an expression of disgust appeared on her face.

"Who knows where she got that money from. Don’t you dare be like her! She’s nothing but a shameless vixen!"

When Zhang Yiqin insulted Yun Zijin, her words and actions showed none of a mother’s tolerance, carrying instead a vitriol sharper and meaner than what one would show a stranger.

"Mom, sister... she probably didn’t do it on purpose. It’s all my fault. I’m the one who took her place. If it weren’t for me, sister wouldn’t..."

It was the same old trick of leaving a sentence half-finished, but it was a trick that worked, causing Yun Zijin’s image in Zhang Yiqin’s mind to plummet even further.

"Forget about her. Didn’t she say she doesn’t want to return to the Xia Family? If she’s going to be so shameless, then she can just stay away.

For your grandfather’s banquet this time, even though your dad and brother insist on her attending, you are the one we acknowledge as the Eldest Miss of the Xia Family. No one can ever take that away from you.

Don’t worry, Mom will always be on your side."

As Zhang Yiqin’s opinion of Yun Zijin worsened, she also gave Xia Jiajiao a calming pill.

"Mom, I actually heard what you and brother were saying just now. I knew you would never abandon me. But sister is your daughter too, after all. Since I got a gown, sister should have one too. She doesn’t understand these things, so I’ll help pick one out for her!"

Although she was very reluctant to spend the Xia Family’s money on a dress for Yun Zijin, Xia Jiajiao wanted to use this opportunity to cultivate a generous and poised image in front of everyone. To do that, she couldn’t just pick a gown for herself; she had to "help" pick one for Yun Zijin as well.

’As for what kind of gown she ended up choosing, well, that couldn’t be blamed on her.’

"Fine! Since you’re speaking up for her, Mom will help you pick out a gown for her."

Yun Zijin, still busy running around buying clothes for her bodyguards, had no idea that her original plan—to pick a gown herself and have Xia Zhiyun pay for it—had suddenly changed to Xia Jiajiao and Zhang Yiqin picking one for her.

After going into all sorts of bizarre clothing stores, when it was Zero One’s turn, Yun Zijin finally saw some reasonably normal menswear.

Yun Zijin’s eyes practically lit up as she looked at Zero One.

’As expected, there’s a reason he’s number one.’

"This one, this one, and this one! I’ll take them all. In his size."

The moment Yun Zijin entered the store, she pointed at several simple yet stylishly designed shirts and T-shirts and told the clerk to bag them up.

Yun Zijin looked at the clothes on the racks, wishing she could just bag up everything she liked for Zero One.

’It was so rare to have a bodyguard with a normal sense of style.’

However, when she turned her head, she saw a very familiar face, and a look of surprise crossed her own.

"Miss Yun, we meet again."

Lu Yunque hadn’t expected it either. He had only come to Jinsheng Mall for an inspection on a whim, only to see Yun Zijin in the middle of a shopping spree.

But seeing the store Yun Zijin was in, Lu Yunque was a little puzzled.