Chapter 40 - 040: I Was Scolded by Someone
After yesterday’s incident, Xu Chaomu learned her lesson and dressed in her school uniform early the next morning, heading out with her backpack.
She even made a point of stuffing her homework notebook into her bag in front of Butler Ling, to let him know she really was going to a classmate’s place to do homework.
To make it more convincing, she even asked the driver to take her to a female classmate’s house.
Sure enough, Butler Ling did not suspect a thing.
Xu Chaomu walked around the backyard of her classmate’s home for a while and only confidently strolled out after seeing the driver’s car drive away.
She didn’t believe she could be caught by Shen Chi again; he was so busy, having left early in the morning, how could he have time to deal with her?
Xu Chaomu first headed to the mall where she planned to buy something for
Lou Yanli. She wasn’t someone who liked to take advantage of others, and since Yanli had given her a gift, she felt she should reciprocate.
Might as well… might as well buy something for Shen Chi, too, considering he had helped her vent her anger.
She didn’t know what boys liked, but seeing that Yanli had quite the scholarly air about him, she picked out a few books.
For someone who usually only reads entertainment magazines and R-rated comics, she really had no idea what books to buy. But seeing that “The Book of Songs” and “The Analects of Confucius” seemed like excellent choices, she bought a few and stuffed them into her backpack.
After leaving the bookstore and looking up, she found herself passing by the very same spot as the previous evening.
The electronic screen was still displaying ads for dresses and high heels, and
Xu Chaomu watched mesmerized for a long time.
Would she look good in them?
She still decided to muster up the courage to give them a try.
The mall was exceptionally clean, the floors shiny enough to use as mirrors. It was the weekend, so there were quite a few people around. The white light shone on the counters and shelves, making the whole place glitter and sparkle.
There were several perfume shops on the first floor, so fragrances wafted throughout the mall.
Xu Chaomu was dazzled by the beautiful clothes, jewelry, shoes, and cosmetics everywhere.
There were many beautiful women coming and going, lightly or heavily made up; although they didn’t compare to the beauties she saw at the ball, each had their own charm.
Xu Chaomu searched from one brand to the next, until her eyes were swimming.
She hardly recognized any of the designer names in the mall, but she remembered the two from yesterday, so she focused on finding just those.
She searched from the first floor to the second floor, then from the second floor to the third floor…
Before she could find them, she came across a tie at the men’s counter that really caught her eye.
It was yet another brand with English she couldn’t recognize, finally understanding her English teacher’s good intentions — mastering a foreign language was indeed important.
Xu Chaomu pressed her face to the glass case; she didn’t care for the rest, but that dark blue silk tie had her attention.
She thought that this blue tie, paired with the black suit Shen Chi often wore, would look great!
Just as Xu Chaomu was about to ask an employee to take it out for her to look at, a high-heeled saleswoman walked over.
“Little sister, with so many people today, step aside; this place isn’t for you,” the woman said with thick makeup, instantly judging by Xu Chaomu’s school uniform that she was there to make trouble.
“I want to take a look at this!” Xu Chaomu pointed at the tie inside the cabinet.
“Little sister, we don’t have anyone to entertain you here. Go downstairs quickly, and study hard; that’s what you should be doing. When you grow up, you’ll know that you can’t afford the ties here.”
The woman looked down at Xu Chaomu with a face full of scorn.
“Isn’t your door open to do business? If they are customers, why am I not a customer?” Xu Chaomu retorted, unwilling to accept this.
There were a few couples in the store, and the staff were very enthusiastic with them, helping them select this and that, but when it came to her, they couldn’t care less.
“Little sister, I’ve already said so much; if we go any further, it might hurt your pride. Anything here is beyond your means. Even if ten years pass, you probably still won’t be able to afford it!”
“Miss saleswoman, please show me that tie!”
At that moment, a tall, blonde beauty walked over, pointing at the tie Xu Chaomu had her eye on.
Xu Chaomu blocked the front of the display case: “I saw it first, if anyone is going to look, I should be first!”
Seeing she was just a schoolgirl, the blonde beauty laughed exaggeratedly: “Are high school girls this fashionable now? Little girl, who are you buying that tie
“It’s none of your business who I’m buying it for,” Xu Chaomu shot back.
“You’d better step aside, little sister, or I’ll have to get you thrown out, and that won’t be pretty,” the saleswoman said with a darkening expression, her eyes full of disdain and contempt.
The blonde also laughed: “Little girl, do you even have the money for that tie? If you don’t, maybe big sister can give you some advice. Old men these days like student girls like you. Just lie in their arms in a bar, and you’ll have as much money as you want. With one night’s work, you can buy several ties!”
As soon as her words fell, several saleswomen began to laugh, covering their mouths.
Xu Chaomu spat back, smiling: “No wonder you can afford it, but judging by your looks, you’d probably have to lie down for a good few nights just to save up for one tie.”
Pfft, as if she, Xu Chaomu, didn’t understand these things!
She was one of the top tough girls and a female hooligan! She didn’t fear anyone!
“Your mother, who are you cursing!” The blonde’s face immediately turned green, and she was about to slap Xu Chaomu.
Xu Chaomu dodged: “I’m cursing you; could I be wrong?
“Miss, Miss, calm down; it’s not worth arguing with a high school girl. Look at her, who knows what kind of wild child she is, raised without any manners,” the saleswoman intervened, trying to keep the peace.
Another saleswoman rushed over with tea and water: “Miss, please calm down, I’ll get the tie for you to look at.”
Xu Chaomu stood in front of the cabinet: “Are you bullying the customer because you’re a bigger store? I came first, so why does she get to see and I don’t?”
“Someone get this girl out of here, she won’t learn her place until she sees some color! She really thinks she’s something!” the shift supervisor yelled at a few male employees.
A few male employees walked over, shoving Xu Chaomu: “Walk away on your own, don’t fucking block our business!”
Pushed roughly by one of the men, Xu Chaomu lost her footing and stumbled over a step.
She reached out to grab the counter but was shoved again by someone else, causing her to fall forward!
As she braced for a painful landing, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her up.
Xu Chaomu recognized the familiar scent and her face instantly lit up with a smile.
She threw herself into Shen Chi’s arms: “Fourth Brother… I’ve been insulted.’
She rubbed her little face against his chest, and Shen Chi frowned, looking at her disdainfully: “You got your snot all over me.”
“I’ve been insulted, aren’t you going to do something about it!” Xu Chaomu clung to his waist, refusing to let go.
Shen Chi’s large hand stroked her head, raising his eyebrows: “Now you remember to call me Fourth Brother? What if I can’t do anything about it?”