Chapter 25

Another ten days passed, and the New Year was quietly coming to an end. This year, the snow melted earlier than usual, the weather gradually warmed up, and the bare branches along the roads began to sprout fresh green buds.

After breakfast, Ye Xiaoyu stepped onto the scale.

Lele didn’t quite understand why his mother weighed herself so often. She did it so much that even he recognized all the digits and had learned to calculate weight through observation, gradually improving his math skills.

“Mom, there’s a 50, a 10, a 5, and a 1. 50 + 10 = 60, 60 + 5 = 65, and then plus 2… that’s… that’s 67 kilograms!”

“Wow, that’s right! Lele, you’re amazing! 68 kilograms is just 68 times 2, which equals 134 jin. Mommy’s weight is now 134 jin.”

With a height of 173.5 cm, plugging 173 cm into the standard weight formula, 134 jin fell within the normal range.

Weight loss success! Applause!

The biggest credit went to herself. Besides her daily, unshakable routine of morning exercise and yoga, playing with the kids in the neighborhood also contributed to her fitness.

Lele tilted his head, watching his mother twirling in front of the mirror. Sigh, having a vain mother was such a headache. When would they finally leave the house?

He had learned the word “vain” from his cousin Yuzhen.

Ye Xiaoyu admired the changes in herself. Now, she wasn’t just thinner in the face—her figure was becoming more defined. She looked completely different from her past life’s stick-thin self.

Her loose winter coat had hidden everything. When she went out in winter, it wasn’t noticeable, but at home, without the outer layers, her wool sweater accentuated her now near-perfect body curves—fleshy where it should be, slender where it shouldn’t.

She believed her great figure was thanks to both her natural genetics and yoga, which played a crucial role in shaping her body.

In her past life, yoga had never been this effective. Since she clearly had a talent for it in this life, how could she not practice it every day?

With her weight loss success, most of the clothes in her wardrobe no longer fit, especially those without elastic waistbands—they were so loose that she could probably fit two of herself inside them.

So, today’s goal was set.

After Lele finished eating another orange, Ye Xiaoyu finally took him out.

Shops along the street were gradually reopening, and Beijing was returning to its usual lively atmosphere—busier than the year before, with even more workers arriving in the city.

Ye Xiaoyu first went to the North Market and bought several fitted wool sweaters in solid colors, as well as shirts in different styles, colors, and cuts. Warm and versatile. The original owner had fair skin, so even orange complemented her well. She also picked up scarves, headbands, earrings, belts, and various other accessories.

Then, she headed to the city’s well-known fashion street, famous for its trendy Hong Kong-style clothing.

With the rapid economic development of coastal cities and increased cultural exchanges between both sides of the strait, “Hong Kong fashion” had become a trendy term. Seeing the stylish men and women in imported Hong Kong dramas and their distinctly different lifestyles, people couldn’t help but admire them and started emulating their fashion.

To be honest, many of the outfits were genuinely stylish—not necessarily figure-hugging, but featuring bold or muted colors, simple or intricate designs, and an overall relaxed and effortless look. Even in the future, they would still be considered classic “vintage fashion.”

Stepping into this district, she was surrounded by vibrant colors, floral prints, a dazzling array of accessories, and streets full of women with permed hair and red lips—confident and radiant.

The prices, while reasonable by future standards, were undeniably steep for this era.

For that reason, Ye Xiaoyu had already bought everything she could from the marketplace. Her goal here was to pick up two well-cut coats, several suits, and spring/summer outfits like denim pieces, knitwear, solid and floral dresses, Mary Jane shoes, leather shoes, and high heels.

She also bought two sets of matching mother-and-child outfits for her and Lele—one set of sporty outfits and one small suit. He looked adorable in them, and he loved matching with his mom.

The only minor trouble was figuring out where to get them washed, as some were clearly not suitable for machine washing.

The sales clerks here had different attitudes—some were enthusiastic, while others were selectively welcoming.

Since Ye Xiaoyu was dressed for comfort, one store clerk looked down on her, acting impatient, as if just glancing at their clothes would ruin them. It was reminiscent of the old supply-and-marketing cooperatives—some salespeople seemed to have a superiority complex in every era.

So, when she spoke, she switched to Cantonese with a bit of broken Mandarin. As expected, the clerk’s attitude did a complete 180.

These days, not only were “foreign monks better at chanting scriptures,” but “Hong Kong monks were just as good.” This phrase had even been joked about in the Spring Festival Gala, showing how widespread the phenomenon was.

Ye Xiaoyu wasn’t trying to show off her less-than-fluent Cantonese. She just wanted to make it easier to try on clothes and avoid being ripped off.

The moment she stepped out of the fitting room, the store clerks showered her with compliments—only to face her ruthless bargaining.

Money didn’t just fall from the sky. Any unnecessary markup she could cut down was a victory.

She also bought two bags—one handbag and one tote with a shoulder strap.

For her, bags were an absolute necessity—not just for carrying things, but for appearances. She couldn’t exactly show up to business discussions with a plastic bag or a woven sack, could she? While cloth bags were fine, for making an impression, leather bags were more effective.

Therefore, both bags have a decent capacity, with classic designs and versatile colors. The handbag is slightly larger, easily fitting an umbrella and a bulky mobile phone.

At the jewelry store, she picked out pearl earrings purely out of personal preference—she adored pearls, especially white ones. She restrained herself from buying a pearl necklace for now.

Next stop: the cosmetics store.

Ye Xiaoyu couldn’t help but touch her face—youth truly was a gift. Even without makeup, her skin was flawless, and her long eyelashes needed little enhancement. She mainly bought hydrating skincare products. Surprisingly, she also found sunscreen, which was imported from Japan. Though the brand still existed in the future, its current SPF value didn’t justify the high price, so she skipped it.

Lipstick was a must. She loved collecting lipsticks and lip balms, using them frequently. She occasionally wore perfume as well, preferring fresh and light scents.

Finally, the hair salon.

Ye Xiaoyu had no intention of getting voluminous waves or tight curls, despite her admiration for the glamorous waves seen in Hong Kong dramas. Nor did she plan to dye her hair. She simply wanted a trim, keeping her hair chest-length, and having it straightened.

In the mirror, her facial features stood out beautifully, needing no bangs for framing. Her jet-black hair made her fair skin look even more radiant.

This sleek, long hair suited any style—left loose, tied up, or braided—it all looked good.

As Ye Xiaoyu’s new hairstyle was completed, a fashionable young woman sitting nearby lit up upon seeing it. She hesitated, considering whether she should change her hairstyle too. She had initially planned to dye her hair but was now captivated by the sleek black look—it appeared youthful and elegant. The woman wouldn’t have guessed Ye Xiaoyu was a mother; she looked more like an older sister to her son. If she claimed to be a high school student, no one would doubt it.

However—was her hair too short? Should she get hair extensions instead?

Ye Xiaoyu had noticed the woman since she entered the salon. Everything about her—her tailored coat, wavy curls, oversized turquoise earrings, bold red lipstick, and even the designer handbag resembling one carried by a famous movie character—screamed wealth and high fashion.

Yet, her look seemed too cluttered, as if she was trying too hard to incorporate multiple trends at once. Instead of a cohesive style, it felt a bit overwhelming.

Seeing the woman struggling with indecision, Ye Xiaoyu casually offered a suggestion: “A collarbone-length cut would suit you well.” After all, the woman was petite, and overly long hair might make her look even shorter.

“Eh? Really?” The woman examined herself from different angles, still unsatisfied.

Ye Xiaoyu pulled a notepad and pencil from her newly purchased handbag and quickly sketched a hairstyle she had once tried in her previous life.

“That looks great!” The woman’s eyes lit up. “Miss, what’s your name?”

Ye Xiaoyu was slightly taken aback. Earlier, she had faked a Cantonese accent, but this woman’s Mandarin was naturally mixed with Cantonese tones. She thought for a moment before introducing herself.

The woman introduced herself as An Xizhao and eagerly requested Ye Xiaoyu’s help. After a brief pause, Ye Xiaoyu agreed and guided the hairstylist through the process. When it came to the bangs, she even took matters into her own hands.

Soon, a charming and lively beauty emerged.

The hairstyle would have looked stunning in shades like milk brown, cool tea, or ash blonde, but since hair dye technology wasn’t as advanced yet and the available colors were limited, keeping it voluminous and black was the best choice.

After getting her input on a few final adjustments, Ye Xiaoyu also refined An Xizhao’s makeup—mainly reshaping her brows and enhancing her eye makeup.

When the transformation was complete, An Xizhao admired herself in the mirror, thrilled with the results.

“Thank you so much, Miss Ye!”

“No need to be so formal, Miss An,” Ye Xiaoyu replied with a smile. “You’re naturally beautiful.”

An Xizhao discreetly observed Ye Xiaoyu. Giving her money as thanks didn’t feel appropriate, so she instructed her driver to buy two boxes of chocolates—one for Ye Xiaoyu’s son, Lele, a very adorable little boy.

The chocolates looked oddly familiar.

Ye Xiaoyu blinked and knelt down, speaking to Lele, “Sister gave you chocolates. What do you say?”

“Thank you, Sister!”

“No need to be polite, little one,” An Xizhao responded with a laugh. “Miss Ye, your son is so well-behaved.”

Far better than the mischievous kids in her own family.

Finding herself quite fond of Ye Xiaoyu, An Xizhao invited her out for a little shopping trip.

During their outing, Ye Xiaoyu learned that An Xizhao was indeed the daughter of a wealthy business family from Guangdong. She had come to Beijing partly for business and partly for leisure.

An Xizhao was very pleased with her new friend. First, she admired Ye Xiaoyu’s sharp fashion sense—not just in makeup and hairstyling, but also in clothing coordination. Second, she appreciated her composed and dignified demeanor. It was clear that Ye Xiaoyu didn’t come from a wealthy background, yet she never displayed inferiority or obsequiousness. If she admired something, she openly expressed it. The ease of their interaction made An Xizhao feel comfortable.

Before parting ways, even though their lives might never intersect again, the two exchanged contact information.

An Xizhao’s car was a Bentley. In the early ’90s, when Beijing’s roads were already packed with seven million vehicles, driving a Bentley was a clear sign of being among the wealthiest elite.

As the sun set, Ye Xiaoyu’s determination burned anew. She pedaled her bicycle home, humming an off-key tune along with Lele, who sat in the child seat, happily swaying to the rhythm