Chapter 673: Mr. Shen, a gentleman?
While Yu Guanying was trying to win over Old Qin and plotting against the Shen Family and An Family, Shen Anyu was taking He Yiyi shopping at the mall. As for the Yu Family's actions, Shen Anyu had long since seen through them, but he didn't pay them any mind. Just a bunch of ants.
At this moment, He Yiyi was holding Shen Anyu's hand, a contact that sent a continuous, nervous flutter through her. At first, she had been profoundly shy, feeling the gesture was far too intimate for their new and complicated relationship. Her fingers felt stiff and awkward in his warm, confident grip. But then Shen Anyu led her through the gleaming, polished doors of a Chanel boutique, and the world shifted. The air inside was different—cooler, quieter, and scented with expensive perfume and new leather. She saw the artfully arranged displays of beautiful clothes and iconic handbags, and her eyes, wide and brilliant, immediately lit up with a covetous fire.
Almost every girl harbored a secret desire for these beautiful and luxurious things, and He Yiyi was no exception. In fact, for a woman who already possessed a touch of vanity, stepping into this temple of high fashion was like coming home. The very core of her nature, the part of her that craved beauty and status, simply exploded. It was a dangerous feeling, a thrilling echo of the same impulse that had led her to embezzle company funds in the first place—all to cover the loan for a single designer handbag that now seemed laughably insignificant.
After entering the Chanel store, the dynamic between them subtly changed. He Yiyi, who had been trailing a half-step behind Shen Anyu like a timid shadow, suddenly surged forward, her initial shyness consumed by a powerful wave of materialistic desire. She moved in front of him, her beautiful eyes sparkling with an almost feverish light as she gazed at the exquisite gowns and pristine bags. She couldn't tear her eyes away. The boutique was a fantasy made real: rows of quilted leather bags arranged like jewels, racks of perfectly tailored clothes in every conceivable color, and walls painted a delicate, welcoming pink. Everywhere she looked, impeccably dressed sales assistants offered polite, practiced smiles, their presence only adding to the aura of exclusive luxury.
'If I could just shop here, truly shop to my heart's content, just for one day…' she thought, a dizzying wave of longing washing over her. She couldn't even imagine how happy she would be, a little girl let loose in the world's most magnificent candy store.
"Sir, Madam, what can I help you with today?" A female sales assistant approached them, her professional smile unwavering. Her gaze lingered on Shen Anyu for a few extra seconds, an appreciative glint in her eyes. 'God, he's far too handsome,' she secretly praised, her assessment of his custom-tailored suit and expensive watch confirming he was the genuine article.
"Yiyi, whatever you like, just go try it on," Shen Anyu said with a warm, disarming smile, his attention focused entirely on He Yiyi. His voice was a smooth, encouraging murmur that seemed to insulate her from the intimidating opulence of their surroundings.
He Yiyi's small face clouded with hesitation. A painful reality check pierced through her fantasy. As much as she adored these things, she knew with crushing certainty that she couldn't afford a single item in this store. Even a small accessory would cost more than her monthly salary. The dream shattered, leaving behind the bitter taste of her own financial inadequacy.
Shen Anyu seemed to notice the subtle shift in her expression, the way the light dimmed in her eyes. He read her hesitation as clearly as if she had spoken it aloud. "I'll pay," he said, his tone casual, as if discussing the weather.
"Mr. Shen, how can this be?" He Yiyi immediately became flustered, her head snapping up. The idea was mortifying. She quickly shook her head, her hands fluttering in protest. "I'm already so sorry about the car, and now… this is too much..."
She was already swimming in a sea of gratitude that Shen Anyu hadn't pursued compensation for the rear-end collision, an accident for which she was entirely and embarrassingly at fault. He had saved her from financial ruin. How could she possibly accept such an extravagant gift on top of that? It felt wrong, transactional.
"Do you want me to lose face at the banquet tonight?" Shen Anyu tilted his head, his lips curling into a soft, teasing chuckle that held no malice, only playful persuasion. He framed the purchase not as a gift for her, but as a necessity for him.
"This..." He Yiyi was trapped. She bit her lower lip lightly, a troubled expression marring her pretty face. She understood his logic. He was a man of immense status; he couldn't have a companion on his arm who looked anything less than perfect. Her simple office attire would stand out for all the wrong reasons, reflecting poorly on him.
"Go on. There's not much time left until the eight o'clock banquet." Shen Anyu gently patted the back of He Yiyi's hand, a small, reassuring gesture that sent another jolt through her. He then turned his commanding gaze to the sales assistant. "Help her choose a gown. And find all the matching accessories—shoes, a clutch, everything."
"Yes, Sir. Madam, please follow me." The sales assistant's professional smile was now tinged with genuine, intense envy as she looked at He Yiyi. Not only was this girl's companion devastatingly handsome and radiating an aura of quiet power, but he was also breathtakingly generous. Some women had all the luck.
As an experienced saleswoman in a high-end boutique, she had developed a sharp eye for people. Judging from He Yiyi's slightly worn shoes, the simple cut of her dress, and her nervous, wide-eyed demeanor, she had immediately pegged her as an ordinary office worker—not at all the target demographic for a luxury brand like Chanel. Chanel's clientele were the upper-middle-class and the truly wealthy, individuals with a minimum annual income that ran into the millions. Anyone earning less simply didn't belong. The brand's own director had once publicly stated his confusion over people who would spend several months', or even a year's, salary just to buy a single Chanel product.
However, the sales assistant had seen far too many girls like this, women who, despite lacking the funds, insisted on chasing the illusion of a glamorous life. She'd served countless office workers who had gritted their teeth and taken on crippling debt, all for a bag or a dress. They all had the same look as He Yiyi—a mixture of awe and intense reservation, glancing left and right as if they were afraid of breaking something, looking completely out of their depth.
These thoughts flashed through the sales assistant's mind in an instant, but her training was impeccable. She dared not show a single flicker of judgment or discrimination. Although He Yiyi appeared to be just a pretty girl with shallow pockets, the handsome young man beside her was a different story. His calm, commanding presence and the effortless way he spoke of buying an entire ensemble suggested a background so extraordinary it was beyond her imagination.
The sales assistant's envious gaze didn't escape He Yiyi's notice. Seeing that undisguised admiration and jealousy in another woman's eyes sent a powerful, intoxicating surge through her. For the first time, her vanity wasn't a source of shame but a source of pride.
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine He Yiyi's favorability +1. Plundered +3000 Destiny Points!]
Under the sales assistant's expert guidance, He Yiyi was led to a private fitting room. She emerged a few minutes later, transformed. She wore a long gown the color of a pale blue summer sky. As she stepped out, she looked like a princess from a fairy tale, a real-life Elsa appearing before Shen Anyu. The dress shimmered under the boutique's soft lighting, its fabric flowing around her as she walked.
"Mr. Shen, is this set okay?" He Yiyi clutched a corner of her new skirt, her small face flushed with a mixture of excitement and nervous energy. She looked up at Shen Anyu from beneath her lashes, a hint of shyness in her posture as she anxiously awaited his evaluation.
A satisfied smile spread across Shen Anyu's face. He let his gaze sweep over her, taking in the full effect before he spoke, his voice laced with genuine praise. "A beautiful person looks good in anything. But unfortunately, there's no time to have something custom-made for you. This set… it can't truly highlight your beauty. It's too ordinary."
Hearing his words, He Yiyi felt a dizzying cocktail of emotions. She was shyly delighted by his direct praise of her beauty—it made her heart flutter uncontrollably. But she was also stunned by his casual dismissal of the dress. This gown, which felt like the most beautiful thing she had ever worn and cost a staggering seventy or eighty thousand yuan, was considered "too ordinary" in his eyes. It was a stunning glimpse into the world he inhabited.
"Try this set." Before she could fully process his comment, Shen Anyu moved to a nearby rack. He selected a black evening gown, one with a daring design that subtly revealed the shoulders and collarbones, and handed it to her. He motioned for her to try it on, his eyes holding a knowing gleam.
"Mhm, mhm." He Yiyi nodded obediently, her earlier hesitation completely gone. She took the heavy, silky fabric from his hands and retreated back into the fitting room.
But this time, the minutes stretched on. More than ten minutes passed, and He Yiyi still hadn't come out.
A faint smile touched Shen Anyu's lips; he knew exactly what was happening inside. He leaned against the wall near the fitting room door and called out, his voice pitched to sound patient but firm. "Yiyi, are you ready? It's already half past seven."
"Mr. Shen, I… I… could you come in for a moment?" He Yiyi's voice was a panicked, trembling whisper from behind the door. It was tinged with desperation. Immediately after she spoke, the door creaked open, revealing just a small crack of darkness.
Shen Anyu's gaze swept over to the sales assistant, who understood the unspoken command immediately and tactfully withdrew to another section of the store. Without another word, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The scene that greeted him made a look of genuine astonishment flash in Shen Anyu's eyes.
He Yiyi had her back to him. Her upper body was completely bare, her skin smooth and pale like polished white jade. The graceful lines of her shoulders and the delicate curve of her spine were captivating. Her lower body was clad in the black evening gown, but the dress was bunched up and stuck stubbornly around her waist. From Shen Anyu's angle, he could see the elegant curve of her side, a tantalizing glimpse of the swell of her breast.
"Mr. Shen, I… I can't get it on." He Yiyi was on the verge of tears, her voice choked with frustration. The gown was simply stuck, refusing to go up or down. She hadn't expected it to be so impossibly difficult to put on. And she didn't dare use force, terrified of tearing the delicate, outrageously expensive fabric. This black evening gown, with its daring, shoulder-baring cut, was worth over a hundred thousand yuan.
Shen Anyu found the situation deeply amusing; he had, of course, done this on purpose. This style of evening gown, meticulously designed to accentuate a woman's figure, was notoriously unforgiving. They were often sized one or even two sizes smaller than standard clothing, making them a significant struggle to put on. Furthermore, to maintain the perfect, sculpted silhouette, the wearer couldn't even make large movements once it was on. Eating or drinking more than a few sips was out of the question, lest a slight belly ruin the flawless line of the dress. And that, in turn, was also to prevent the logistical nightmare of needing to use the restroom. It was a feat of engineering to use a toilet in such a restrictive gown; the only solution was to try not to drink, not to eat, and simply not to go.
Elegance and beauty always came at a price.
He Yiyi had clearly never worn a true evening gown before, and now she was trapped by her own inexperience. What surprised Shen Anyu, just slightly, was that she had called for him instead of the female sales assistant.
But upon reflection, it wasn't so surprising. In this alien world of high luxury, He Yiyi was like a timid little white cat, utterly out of her element. Shen Anyu was her only anchor, the only person there she felt she could trust. Her favorability towards him had also climbed to seventy-seven, a number that signified a significant level of reliance and affection. And so, in her moment of panic, she had instinctively thought of him and called him in.
After Shen Anyu entered the confined space of the fitting room, He Yiyi's pretty face flushed a deep, vibrant crimson. A wave of regret washed over her. 'I should have called the sales assistant! Why did I call him?' But now it was far too awkward to ask Mr. Shen to leave. She could only mumble with her pink lips, whispering so quietly it was almost inaudible: "Mr. Shen… could you help me? I can't put it on by myself."
"Do you want me to have the female sales assistant come help you?" Shen Anyu asked, his expression perfectly composed, his tone that of a proper gentleman. He looked quite dignified, as if he were merely discussing a business matter.
"Have the female sales assistant come?" He Yiyi was somewhat tempted. That would be the proper thing to do, the less embarrassing option.
But the next moment, He Yiyi's face turned pale with fright
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