Over the recent days spent together, Xia Fu had gradually become used to Fang Jingcheng’s extravagant spending habits, which she had initially thought were overly excessive. He had no interest in the budget-friendly formalwear shops that ordinary students liked to frequent. Instead, he’d casually plan her entire weekend, from dining to shopping, all organized with seamless precision, fitting perfectly into his image of a “never cares about work” guy.

“I can’t get up early on weekends, and heading out in the afternoon feels too hot. How about I pick you up at ten, we grab lunch, stroll around GJ Center where there are some decent shops, and then head back after dinner?”

While he said this, Fang Jingcheng took out his phone eagerly, his eyes lowered as he looked up shops that Xia Fu might find interesting.

“Any place you’d like to eat?”

“No, you can decide.”

GJ Center was famous in S City as a luxury destination, renowned for its seasonal limited editions and international exclusives. Occasionally, celebrities or internet influencers would show up to shop or post their visits. Xia Fu, however, could count on one hand the times she’d been there, and even then, she’d only tagged along with Xiaowei to collect free samples or watch her try out popular products from online reviews. Xia Fu barely had any concept of the shops inside.

The floors were covered in patterned, luxurious marble tiles. The polished, mirror-like surface reflected the fragmented, triangular glass dome overhead, and milky-white geometric decor hung down, resembling doves taking flight. Even the escalators and corridor walls were adorned with intricate Greek-style relief patterns. The brightly lit GJ Center looked like an opulent palace, and every passerby seemed impeccably dressed.

Upon first entering, Xia Fu nearly thought she had wandered into some lively socialite banquet. Dressed plainly, she felt completely out of place among the handsome men and beautiful women. Following behind Xiaowei into stores, she often received cold looks from the sales assistants, and it was only thanks to her friend’s bold and outgoing personality that she managed to snag any of the free samples or trial items.

Remembering these experiences, Xia Fu began to feel a slight reluctance about the upcoming outing.

If they were heading to a mall like that, wouldn’t wearing just a T-shirt and jeans look strange? Especially accompanying someone like Fang Jingcheng, who would no doubt put in extra effort despite saying it’d be a casual outing…

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was a possibility. With a sigh, she pulled out a suitcase from under her bed on Friday night, carefully rifling through it until she found a light purple chiffon dress.

She laid the dress flat across her lap, leaning in to catch the faint scent of sandalwood clinging to the fabric—steady and elegant, its scent preserved despite being long stored away.

Perfect.

This chiffon dress had been Teacher Li’s graduation gift to her. In the scorching summer with the cicadas buzzing, Teacher Li had walked alongside her down the small county roads, holding her soft hand. For the first time, there was a gentle smile on the teacher’s face, usually so strict and serious.

“I know you’re a hardworking child, but you don’t always need to stay home helping. Learn to balance life a bit and make friends you can grow with. When you start school, dress nicely and go out with your roommates.”

“S City is a big place. Only by going out can you find your path.”

At the county’s largest boutique, the sales assistant recommended this long dress to them, eagerly saying, “This is a trendy overseas style, imported straight from G City, perfect for someone as petite and cute as you. You’ll look ladylike and lovely. It’s the last one left, straight off the model!”

“Ladylike chiffon not made locally, huh?” The assistant’s words had a bit of exaggeration, but she was right about one thing—the dress was indeed beautiful. Its soft, light lavender sheer overlay with matching camisole, adorable puffed short sleeves, and dainty cutout at the neckline made it look unique and elegant. When the assistant looped the belt into a bow, Xia Fu, typically thin and frail, looked quite the graceful young lady.

Who would’ve thought a subtle color could have such charm? Xia Fu had never worn such a light, gauzy dress before. After her younger brother was born, she’d been limited to school uniforms and inexpensive T-shirts from the night market. The dress made her feel like she was wrapped in clouds under a night sky, igniting her inner love of beauty. She couldn’t resist twirling the hem, feeling both delighted and a bit embarrassed.

“So pretty, like a fairy by the Jade Pool,” Teacher Li had said with satisfaction. Despite the dress’s unknown brand and a price of over three hundred, which counted as a real “branded” item in the county, Teacher Li bought it without hesitation for her favorite student.

This was Xia Fu’s most beautiful dress! One day, if she had the money, she’d buy a few more herself!

But her current finances couldn’t support such dreams, and this one-and-only dress held a deeper meaning than just being a pretty outfit. She treasured it, hardly wearing it to avoid snagging the delicate fabric or staining it, only taking it out for special occasions.

With the dress hanging beside her bed, Xia Fu closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep with a heart full of confidence.

However, at the mall, Xia Fu still felt she “wasn’t quite there.” Compared to the city-chic ladies shopping, she felt more like a child accompanying her mom on an outing, sipping the tea handed to her by the sales assistant with an awkward look while listening to Fang Jingcheng chatter animatedly with the assistant about the season’s new styles.

The world of fashion was full of unsolvable mysteries.

Why did the cost of clothes for a competition always seem to surpass the prize money for first place? Why did the brooch pinned to the assistant’s chest, which looked like two ordinary metal pieces, cost thousands? And why did expensive clothes never have pockets, while pairing a simple black crossbody bag required an additional hand clutch?

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Xia Fu crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly, squinting at her reflection as she tried to figure out what was so special about the double-breasted suit dress and what kind of “French flair” it added to her.

Amused, the young man chuckled quietly and gently closed the dressing room door behind him.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m copying Teacher Zhou. Successful people in the hallway always take photos like this.” Elite female lawyers’ promo shots often used this pose in TV dramas. She had no experience with trying on pretty clothes, so she imitated the look to show off to Fang Jingcheng—this was Xia Fu’s vision of her “two million a month” future self!

Although she tried to appear mature, the black pleated skirt barely reaching mid-thigh only made her look cuter to Fang Jingcheng.

“Isn’t it supposed to include a thumbs-up, too?”

The one responsible for her feelings of “falling short” was enjoying himself, humorously joining in her little game. Fang Jingcheng leaned forward, his long fingers lightly brushing the small camellia buttons on her sleeve, smoothing the edges with a mischievous gleam in his sapphire eyes.

It didn’t matter how well she dressed up; no one here could match him in looks. Even if he was deliberately posing in a thumbs-up, his breathtaking charm remained untarnished.

Just as she’d expected, Fang Jingcheng had put some thought into his look. His silver hair was tousled up, with just a few strands falling over his forehead. The youthful boyish vibe was gone, replaced with a deep, mixed-race allure. Dressed in a deep black designer suit with his hands in his pockets, he stood there lazily. Beneath the jacket, his muscular chest strained the single button, as if it might pop any second, while a fine snake-bone chain nestled in the hollow between his collarbones, sparking endless imaginations. Against his fair skin, the black neckline made him look like the epitome of “charming villain.”

Yet, hearing him say, “You look very beautiful today,” Xia Fu’s heart felt nothing but a sharp suspicion that he was trying to con her out of her money.

Thank goodness Fang Jingcheng had more money than her…

Noticing the admiration flash in Xia Fu’s eyes, Fang Jingcheng smiled in satisfaction.

“I think this color might be a bit too dark. Maybe the one with finer stripes would look better? What do you think?”

Hesitation flashed across Xia Fu’s face, her eyes glittering with uncertainty.

“You want my opinion?”

Stretching his words teasingly, Fang Jingcheng replied with an earnest expression, “Of course, they say girls have better taste. Help me pick.”

Growing up as the eldest sister, Xia Fu had only ever held her crying younger brother after a brief stint with dolls. Since then, she’d developed a bit of an aversion to “play-acting games.” Given her childhood lack of dolls, she’d always preferred to pet her neighbor’s fluffy little dog over playing house.

But now, here was an actual, life-sized “doll” right before her. This shopping mall had gathered all the pretty clothes from around the country, and as a VIP, Fang Jingcheng could even view the season’s newest designs in the private lounge.

“Okay.”

Would he care about her opinion? Having been ignored most of her life, her will finally found a voice through him. Xia Fu couldn’t resist the offer and tentatively pointed toward a suit with a classic British vibe.

“I’m not too sure, but that one looks quite gentlemanly. If it’s possible, maybe pair it with a vest?”

Strange as it sounded, Xia Fu found herself more interested in watching Fang Jingcheng try on clothes than trying any herself.

“So handsome.”

How fun! No wonder Xiaowei would spend hundreds just to play dress-up games. Who wouldn’t love a beautiful doll? If Fang Jingcheng were a girl, he might even look prettier than Li Yue Tong.

And his best trait as a “doll” was that if you complimented him with a simple “Wow, that’s so stylish,” he’d obediently try on new outfits, even searching for matching accessories when he found something he liked.

The sales assistant noticed this and quickly focused on Fang Jingcheng as the one willing to splurge on fashion. Her praise flowed easily: “Sir, you have such a refined air about you, and you clearly work out; your physique really suits this style…”

“A black shirt would look great too. How about round glasses? Or even a beret?”

“Could you try that pink one? Silver hair would look amazing with pink!”

But as Xia Fu’s requests became more playful, Fang Jingcheng finally caught on.

How dangerous. Seeing those sparkling eyes, he’d almost forgotten the whole point of their date. Noting her mischievous smile as she handed over another outfit, he sighed and stepped back with a wary grin.

“Hold up, hold up. We’re here to shop together, right? If I’m the only one trying on clothes, isn’t that a bit unfair? Don’t you have anything you want to try on?”

All this formality was just for competitions; he’d prefer to leave his mark on Xia Fu through something more memorable in daily life.

What did she want?

While directing Fang Jingcheng’s mini fashion show, she’d sneakily switched back into her beloved chiffon dress.

“Didn’t I already try this one?”

Xia Fu looked at him with innocent eyes. She glanced around the store but couldn’t find anything particularly appealing. She lowered her gaze and, somewhat reluctantly, tugged at the hem of her skirt.

Fang Jingcheng quickly caught on to her hesitation.

This guess wasn’t quite right; Xia Fu’s simple clothing made her preferences hard to gauge. He could only go with a safe bet—cute and feminine styles, maybe?

“I think there’s a Japanese-style boutique right across from us. The model’s dress there looks almost identical to yours. Want to try something similar?”

This suggestion worked wonders. She immediately perked up and hopped off the chair.

An identical dress?

Her dream goal was just nearby. Glancing toward the store, Xia Fu noticed a sign and read it aloud, “The event says with over ten thousand points, you can redeem a gift or discount. With what we’ve bought, have we earned enough?”

Fang Jingcheng, indifferent about money, replied offhandedly, “I haven’t kept track, but it should be enough. Let me check the points on my phone real quick.” He patted his pocket, only to find it empty.

“Oh, I left my phone in the fitting room with all the outfit changes. You go try on clothes; it’s just around the corner. I’ll be right back.”

Without the radiant “designer brand ambassador” Fang Jingcheng by her side, Xia Fu’s reception in the store took a nosedive. She reverted to an average college girl who could barely afford the sweet pastries in the basement food court. The elegantly made-up saleswomen paid her little attention, except for one younger assistant with a ponytail, who warmly introduced a few styles to her.

“Miss, are you wearing one of our classic designs? It looks great on you, really sweet and charming. This season, we’ve released it in new colors; would you like to try one?”

Fang Jingcheng hadn’t been wrong—this was indeed the store her dress was originally from. But while the styles were similar, the fabric was different, and the price tag added another zero. The sheer fabric shimmered with a layer of glitter, giving it a unique luster, like a butterfly’s wings after rain. What she’d once thought of as clouds now seemed like a makeshift mosquito net.

A shop like this wouldn’t exist back in the county.

Looking at the clearly superior quality of the fabric, Xia Fu felt suddenly exposed, her cheeks burning.

“Thank you, I actually need to…”

Before she could finish, Fang Jingcheng strode in with his hands full of shopping bags. The well-dressed young man looked like he had his own spotlight. As soon as he stepped through the door, the saleswomen, who had previously ignored her, swarmed around him, eagerly asking what services he might need.

“I’m here to pay.”

He smiled politely and walked straight toward Xia Fu.

“How about it? Found something you like?”

In an instant, Xia Fu went from “broke student” to “wealthy young lady,” her face stiffening as she turned to the saleswoman, who now wore a forced smile.

“Would the young lady like to try our new arrivals?”

…Maybe buying the genuine article would ease this discomfort?

Having no interest in the belated offer, Xia Fu quietly requested the ponytailed girl, “I’d like to see the floral dress with little flutter sleeves,” while the older woman begrudgingly went to fetch her size from the back.

With few people in the store, Xia Fu didn’t want anyone to notice her nervousness and slipped into a fitting room near the back, close to the storeroom.

Slowly pulling up the zipper, she overheard faint chatter from outside. The ignored saleswoman was venting her frustrations, unaware her voice carried clearly through the barely cracked door.

“That girl’s wearing a knockoff! I thought she was just one of those cheapskates who tries on stuff here and buys it online. Who knew her boyfriend was loaded? I mean, he’s got the looks and all those designer clothes—how’d she get so lucky?”

She couldn’t understand it. This was a dress Teacher Li had bought with her salary, fairly priced in the boutique. How could it be seen as a knockoff? Suddenly, it felt as if she’d been branded a cheap copycat, a petty thief of intellectual property.

She liked a fake? But wasn’t this her most cherished, beautiful dress?

Of course, no one had done anything wrong but the boutique, but Xia Fu still couldn’t help feeling mortified.

How much of that had Fang Jingcheng heard? Had he noticed something was off all along?

“These all look great; I think I’ve tried enough. I’d like to visit the restroom real quick.”

She pushed open the fitting room door without a glance at Fang Jingcheng’s expression, using “freshening up” as an excuse to slip away.

After escaping from the “genuine” shop, Xia Fu splashed her face with cold water, bringing her chaotic emotions to a calm. The restroom was tucked away between the women’s clothing and lingerie sections, and on her way back, she absentmindedly wandered into the lingerie area. Pausing in front of a display of nightwear, Xia Fu’s eyes settled on a long cotton nightgown adorned with ruffles and an embroidered sleeping puppy at the hem. It reminded her of the little bear nightgown she kept at the foot of her bed.

Ever since the incident, she hadn’t dared to visit a public bathhouse. Even when Bao Zhiwei officially withdrew, and she went out with Xiaowei to calm her nerves, she’d only worn her brother’s hand-me-down T-shirts.

This unexpectedly pretty nightgown seemed to mock her, reminding her that no matter how she dressed, she was still that girl who’d fled in panic that night. What she treasured most was seen as worthless to others.

Xia Fu couldn’t move her feet.

Fang Jingcheng finally caught up with her, carrying all the bags and suddenly feeling awkwardly out of place among the lingerie displays.

“I bought you the ones you liked. The ponytailed assistant was quite enthusiastic, recommending all these cute clothes for you, so I got them. But the older lady’s suggestions weren’t great, so I skipped them.” He’d even filed a small complaint about her rude comments.

But sensitive Xia Fu didn’t need to know all that, so he kept his tone light, asking gently, “Are you alright? Thinking about a new nightgown?”

As one of those who had witnessed what Bao Zhiwei did, Fang Jingcheng knew exactly what Xia Fu was dealing with. This was a knot he couldn’t untangle yet, so he was trying to lift her mood with “lavish spending,” hoping to ease her feelings.

He hadn’t laughed at her struggles, hadn’t belittled her for being harassed, hadn’t looked down on her accent, and hadn’t sneered at her wearing imitation clothes.

Faced with his sincerity, Xia Fu’s once numb heart stirred once more—

He’d come to her side anyway. The joy welled up inside her… yet she also felt an annoyance, wondering why it had to be him who saw her at her worst, and why at this age.

“No need. My brother’s T-shirts work just fine. Men’s clothes are convenient and safe, anyway.”

Xia Fu turned to him. With the constant outfit changes, Fang Jingcheng had taken off his fitted suit jacket, now standing in just a simple white T-shirt.

“This fabric you’re wearing feels nice, though.”

She extended a finger, as if testing the texture, lightly tracing down his chest, sliding from the hollow of his collarbone all the way to his stomach.

Her brother Changqing’s T-shirt was just an ordinary old garment, but something pulled off of Fang Jingcheng would feel different.

It would carry his warmth, his scent. If he held her, would she become like him?

An urgent desire and a hesitant retreat warred inside her, each refusing to let go.

The young man was beautiful enough to want to hold, yet it made her dislike herself. But perhaps that dislike had always been there, merely highlighted by the brilliant light that was Fang Jingcheng.

Would she feel less ashamed if she could change her accent, dress brightly, and secure a respectable job?

The desire burning within her was like a beacon in her dark life, giving her warmth in her dreams and guiding her forward. But as Fang Jingcheng brought her into his high-class world, making her long for things beyond her reach, that fire became unbearably painful.

It was a bad joke, yet Fang Jingcheng was the kind of guy who’d indulge it and fan the flames.

He looked at her, unwavering. “Want to try it on? I can take it off in the restroom if you want.”

That straightforwardness made Xia Fu realize how her earlier anxieties about money had been pointless.

Sure, she didn’t quite match up to Fang Jingcheng, but so what?

To those who judged based on appearances, Fang Jingcheng was like a designer purse she carried. Whatever his reasons, he was willing to give her his current things, even if they meant little to him.

How far could he really go?

Xia Fu glanced down at the bags in his hand and suddenly laughed.

“Alright, then. Take it off for me.”