Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Buying a Formal Dress

With the calming pill from Yun Zijin, Wang Minli felt much more confident as she arranged the decorative pieces.

First, the expensive items went into Miss Yun’s study or bedroom, while the relatively cheaper and less fragile ones were placed in the guest rooms or the living room.

The Fulu Shou Jade that Yun Zijin won at the auction was chosen to be displayed in her study.

Decorative pieces alone weren’t enough, so Wang Minli also picked out two calligraphy scrolls for Yun Zijin to hang on the walls of her study.

「In two days, it would be Old Sir Lu’s birthday banquet.」 Yun Zijin planned to go out and look for a formal gown, or perhaps a gift.

Although some of the items she’d won at the auction yesterday were suitable, Yun Zijin still wanted to have a backup plan.

Coincidentally, Su Mengyao was also stressing over a gown and a gift, so the two arranged to go shopping together.

Having experienced the joy of having a chauffeur, Yun Zijin no longer wanted to drive herself.

The system’s luxury car gift package from yesterday had included a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and Yun Zijin chose it in a heartbeat.

In fact, she had also seen a Rolls-Royce Phantom, the same model Lu Yunque owned. However, she didn’t choose it, afraid people might mistakenly think Lu Yunque had lent her his car.

Ling Er was driving, while Zero One sat in the passenger seat. Yun Zijin sat alone in the back.

Su Mengyao and Yun Zijin had arranged to meet at Jinsheng Mall.

Although Su Mengyao’s family’s Guangyuan Mall was nice, Jinsheng Mall offered a wider selection when it came to formal gowns.

Su Mengyao and Yun Zijin arrived one right after the other. Seeing that Yun Zijin was in yet another new car, Su Mengyao couldn’t help but tease her.

"You really are the woman who snatched land right out from under President Xiao Lu. You’re just loaded."

You were in a Phantom just a few days ago, and now you’ve already switched to a Cullinan.

Neither of them are Rolls-Royce’s most expensive models, but they’re still not cheap when you add them up.

"You say that as if you’re not rich yourself. Let’s get going."

Since it wasn’t a weekend, Jinsheng Mall was relatively empty.

And since they headed straight for the formal wear section upon arrival, the foot traffic was even lighter.

Yun Zijin was currently the most talked-about tycoon at Jinsheng Mall, while Su Mengyao was a regular, so nearly every sales associate there knew her.

"Miss Yun, Miss Su! Welcome!"

"Could you pick out a few gowns for us? They’re for an elder’s birthday banquet."

Su Mengyao spoke with practiced ease, clearly a frequent visitor.

"Of course. If you two would please wait here for a moment."

The sales associate invited them to take a seat on the guest sofa, then left after glancing at another associate.

A moment later, the other associate returned with two cups of hot tea.

"Please, have some tea, ladies."

"Thank you."

Su Mengyao simply gave a cool, aloof nod, while Yun Zijin verbally thanked the associate.

It wasn’t that Su Mengyao was impolite; she had just grown so accustomed to this kind of service that she habitually showed no emotion when receiving it.

Yun Zijin, on the other hand, was newly rich and hadn’t yet developed the mannerisms of someone like Su Mengyao, who hailed from an established, wealthy family.

Before long, the sales associate who had left returned, pulling a clothing rack hung with several gowns.

"Miss Yun, Miss Su, these are the newest styles from our in-house designer..."

The associate launched into a long-winded explanation of the dresses’ design concepts, materials, and tailoring.

It was full of industry jargon that Yun Zijin only half-understood, but that didn’t affect her eye for fashion.

Although it was Old Sir Lu’s birthday banquet and she needed to dress up to show respect, Yun Zijin didn’t want anything too extravagant. It would be a pain to walk in.

If the skirt was too wide, it would be awkward if someone stepped on it.

The gowns the associate brought over all had wide skirts, the kind that could take up a two-meter-diameter area around a single person.

"Do you have anything simpler? With skirts this wide, I’m worried it will be difficult to walk."

It wasn’t a red-carpet competition; Yun Zijin just wanted to be as comfortable as possible.

Su Mengyao had quite liked them at first, but after hearing Yun Zijin’s comment, she pictured herself trying to navigate a crowded banquet hall in a wide-skirted gown and instantly decided it wasn’t for her.

"Exactly! Bring us some with simple, elegant designs. No more wide skirts."

Su Mengyao was grateful she had invited Yun Zijin along. ’If I’d come alone,’ she thought, ’I probably would have picked one of these dresses with a huge skirt.’

’Wide skirts are beautiful, no doubt, but they’re also incredibly impractical.’

’I want to raid the dessert table at the banquet! In a dress like that, I wouldn’t even be able to get close.’

Despite their pickiness, the sales associate showed no sign of displeasure. She simply smiled and said, "Of course. I’ll go get some others right away."

The associate wheeled the rack away and returned shortly with a new selection of gowns with simpler designs.

Not wanting to draw too much attention, Yun Zijin went straight for a white, off-the-shoulder mermaid gown.

To ensure a perfect fit, however, the associate took Yun Zijin’s measurements so the designer could alter it. The gown would be delivered to Xingyu Mansion the next day.

Seeing how quickly Yun Zijin had made her choice, Su Mengyao began to feel anxious.

"Zijin, you have to help me choose. I really don’t know which one to get."

Su Mengyao had a classic case of analysis paralysis; she’d see one dress and think it was beautiful, then look at another and prefer its color...

In short, she had a million reasons to be indecisive.

"How about this: picture the jewelry you want to wear, then match the gown to that style."

Yun Zijin didn’t want to make the decision for Su Mengyao directly. ’If my pick ends up being a disaster,’ she reasoned, ’I’ll inevitably get blamed.’

"I do! My mom got me a pink diamond necklace and earrings. Pink probably looks best with white, right?

"No, wait, you already chose white. If our gowns are the same color, people will compare us."

Su Mengyao was self-aware enough to know that she could pick any color she wanted, as long as it wasn’t the same as Yun Zijin’s. Wearing the same style or even the same color was out of the question; otherwise, she knew she’d be the one looking like a fool.

"What do you think of this one?"

Yun Zijin scanned the room and pointed to a strapless pink gown in a shade so pale it was almost white.

It had an asymmetrical skirt, but it suited Su Mengyao’s effervescent personality.

Su Mengyao followed Yun Zijin’s gaze and saw it: a pale pink, strapless gown with an asymmetrical skirt, displayed on a mannequin in the corner. Her eyes instantly lit up.

"Oh, that’s gorgeous! Which designer made this? Why didn’t you show it to us?"

After all, if you were going to wear a designer’s piece, the least you could do was learn their name.

"That’s the work of a new intern designer who recently joined our brand. We don’t have many of her pieces—only three styles in the store. Would you like me to bring all of them for you to see?"

The associate hadn’t expected them to take a liking to a piece by an intern, but she showed no hint of disapproval.

’We should be happy that a customer fell for one of our designer’s pieces at first sight.’

"Yes, bring them all out for me to see."

’I think I’ve just discovered a hidden gem!’ Su Mengyao thought. ’Buying her designs now, before she gets famous, will save me a fortune!’

Yun Zijin was also a little surprised. She hadn’t expected that her random suggestion would land on a piece by a new designer.