Looking at Lu Mingcheng’s surprised expression, Xu Chen lowered his head slightly, not daring to make a sound.

After a moment of silence, Lu Mingcheng, hands in his pockets, asked. “Did Madam say this herself?”

Xu Chen hesitated before replying, “…Yes.”

Though Lu Mingcheng found it hard to believe, he didn’t press further.

With a faint hum of acknowledgment, he instructed. “I’ll rest in another room.”

Xu Chen promptly responded. “Understood.”

Watching Lu Mingcheng’s retreating figure as he returned to the private room, Xu Chen rubbed his nose, equally puzzled.

Like Lu Mingcheng, he had confirmed it twice with Jiang Qiuyi, making sure his ears weren’t playing tricks on him.

Glancing at the ceiling, Xu Chen couldn’t fathom what Madam Lu was up to this time.

Shaking his head, he quickened his pace toward the front desk to arrange another suite for Lu Mingcheng to rest.

Having his own exclusive presidential suite yet refusing to stay in it—only Lu Mingcheng would do such a thing.

After hearing Jiang Qiuyi’s phone conversation with Lu Mingcheng’s assistant, Jian Xia stared at her, eyes wide in shock.

“You…”

Jiang Qiuyi took off her coat and glanced at her. “What about me?”

Jian Xia swallowed hard, blinking as she asked. “Aren’t you afraid that saying something like that to his assistant will get back to Lu Mingcheng?”

“Hmm?” Jiang Qiuyi seemed amused, her lips curving into a faint smile. “That’s exactly what I want—to make sure he tells Lu Mingcheng everything word for word.”

Jian Xia: “…”

She gawked at Jiang Qiuyi’s calm and collected demeanor, rubbed her eyes, and muttered. “Am I seeing things?”

“…”

Seeing Jiang Qiuyi’s enigmatic smile, Jian Xia hesitated for a moment before probing. “Lu Mingcheng… he wouldn’t happen to be cheating, would he?”

Otherwise, given her friend’s personality, there’s no way she’d do something like this or say those kinds of things.

Hearing this, Jiang Qiuyi stared at her for a few seconds before responding calmly, “No.”

Jian Xia, still on edge, asked hesitantly, “Really?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Qiuyi’s eyes curved into a smile as she said softly, “If he were cheating, I wouldn’t just settle for spending a bit of his money.”

Jian Xia thought about it and nodded in agreement.

If that scumbag dared to cheat, he’d deserve to be ruined completely.

Jiang Qiuyi didn’t dwell on the topic further and asked quietly, “Once you’ve rested, do you want to start with a spa or go straight to styling?”

Jian Xia’s attention instantly shifted. “A spa first? Do we have enough time?”

Jiang Qiuyi pulled up her personal beautician’s WeChat and replied casually, “Plenty. I’ll have them come directly to the hotel. We won’t need to go anywhere.”

Hearing this, Jian Xia couldn’t help but sigh again.

Having money really was amazing.

After their midday rest, a personal beautician came directly to provide services for the two of them.

Jiang Qiuyi lay on the bed and opted for a full-body treatment.

Sunlight streamed faintly through the gaps in the curtains, casting a dim glow in the room, where only the soft flicker of scented candles lit the space.

With her eyes closed, Jiang Qiuyi relaxed under the beautician’s skilled hands, nearly drifting off to sleep again.

“Miss Jiang, is this pressure okay?”

Jiang Qiuyi murmured an “Mm” and replied softly, “You can press a little harder on the shoulders.”

“Got it.”

After the treatment, Jiang Qiuyi felt as though her entire body was radiating the scent of luxury.

Jian Xia leaned closer to Jiang Qiuyi’s ear and whispered, “You know, this is the first time I’ve ever been pampered like this.”

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at her with amusement.

Jian Xia couldn’t hold back a sigh. “Seriously, last time I went to the store myself—even with the card you gave me—they were so indifferent. Nothing like the enthusiasm they’re showing today.”

Jiang Qiuyi chuckled softly and said, “If you like it, I’ll bring you along more often.”

Jian Xia: “…”

She stared at Jiang Qiuyi’s flawlessly radiant complexion and muttered under her breath. “Being rich is really something else.”

“…”

After the full-body treatment, Jiang Qiuyi took Jian Xia to a styling salon.

This salon was highly sought after, frequented by wealthy socialites and heiresses. They also offered home services for their VIP clients.

Jiang Qiuyi had visited the salon twice before with Mrs. Lu, so the staff were fairly familiar with her.

The moment she arrived, she was escorted to a VIP suite, where premium tea, water, and desserts were promptly served.

The styling director soon appeared, smiling warmly. “Miss Jiang, it’s been a while.”

Jiang Qiuyi nodded and gestured toward her companion. “This is my friend. Please help her with a makeover.”

“Of course.” The director then asked, “Miss Jiang, do you need a trim for your hair?”

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at her reflection in the mirror, her long, straight black hair cascading down her back. The corners of her lips curled upward. “Definitely.”

She took a seat on the side and instructed, “Please give my hair a perm and dye it a color that suits me.”

The director froze for a moment. “Pardon?”

It wasn’t that he misheard; he was simply shocked. He had styled Jiang Qiuyi twice before, and each time, she had only requested a minor trim, never a dye job or anything bold.

Jiang Qiuyi raised an eyebrow, her smile faint but sharp. “Didn’t catch that?”

Snapping out of his daze, the director quickly nodded. “Understood. Do you have a preferred type of curl?”

Jiang Qiuyi responded with an indifferent “Mm,” her tone calm. “You’re the stylist. I’ll leave it to your expertise.”

The stylist ended up giving Jiang Qiuyi a soft mermaid wave perm, which accentuated her facial features, making her face appear even smaller while exuding an effortless, alluring charm.

Seeing her new look, Jian Xia let out a loud “Wow!” and exclaimed, “You look stunning!”

Jiang Qiuyi was quite satisfied as well. She raised an eyebrow and glanced at the stylist. “Thank you.”

The stylist quickly replied, “It’s all thanks to Miss Jiang’s natural beauty.”

Looking at her fair and delicate face, he jokingly added. “With a dress to match, Miss Jiang could walk straight onto the red carpet.”

Hearing this, Jiang Qiuyi’s lips curved slightly.

Even without a dress, she could still walk the red carpet.

By the time they left the salon, the sky had darkened.

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at Jian Xia, who was admiring herself in a compact mirror, and chuckled softly. “Still in the mood for shopping?”

Jian Xia widened her eyes at her. “You haven’t bought enough yet?”

Jiang Qiuyi responded with a puzzled “Hmm?” and said, “That’s hardly anything.”

After thinking for a moment, she added softly, “Let’s go buy a few more bags—and change out of these clothes while we’re at it.”

Jian Xia: “…”

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at her. “The hair treatment left a smell on the clothes. Are you changing or not?”

Jian Xia froze for three seconds before replying without hesitation, “Changing.”

Jiang Qiuyi took her to a few stores they hadn’t visited that morning.

One of them specialized in custom-made dresses, ranging from haute couture gowns to everyday chic outfits. Most of the pieces were one-of-a-kind, with prices to match.

What Jiang Qiuyi didn’t expect was to run into someone she knew there.

The moment they walked in, a confused female voice called out from the side, “Jiang Qiuyi?”

Jiang Qiuyi turned her head toward the source of the voice.

When she saw the woman standing not far away, Jiang Qiuyi paused for a moment before speaking. “Xiao Xi.”

Sun Xi stared at her intently, her eyes filled with disbelief.

When she first spotted her, she thought she must be imagining things. How could Jiang Qiuyi, dressed like this, be in a store like this?

In her memory, Jiang Qiuyi was always timid and reserved. Though beautiful, she was the epitome of a meek girl-next-door with long black hair, always seeming like a submissive wife in the Lu family. The confident and striking appearance she had now was a stark contrast.

“It really is you.”

Sun Xi exclaimed in surprise, “What are you doing here?”

Hearing this, Jiang Qiuyi found it amusing and asked back, “What about you? Why are you here?”

Sun Xi replied, “I’m shopping for clothes with a friend.”

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at the other woman in the store and smiled. “Me too—just here to shop for clothes.”

Sun Xi studied her for a moment before hesitantly asking, “Who are you buying for?”

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at her and asked calmly, “What do you think?”

Without waiting for a response, she turned away from Sun Xi and addressed a nearby sales associate. “Do you have any new arrivals?”

The associate nodded politely. “Of course. This way, please, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Qiuyi followed, casually browsing through the racks.

“Jian Xia, what do you think of this one?” she asked, holding up a dress.

Just as Jian Xia was about to reply, Sun Xi appeared out of nowhere and glanced at the dress. “That one costs six figures,” she remarked.

Jiang Qiuyi gave a slow, indifferent “Oh,” held the dress up for a moment, then shook her head. “Not unique enough. Let’s look at something else.”

The associate’s eyes lit up and she quickly suggested, “Miss Jiang, we have a new collection over here. These are more distinctive, and every piece is one of a kind.”

Jiang Qiuyi nodded coolly. “Let’s take a look.”

Sun Xi: “?”

After observing Jiang Qiuyi’s tone and expression, Sun Xi realized she wasn’t joking. She hesitated and asked, “Are you serious?”

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at her briefly and lowered her gaze. “Is there a problem?”

Sun Xi: “…”

Sun Xi was left speechless as she stared at her in a daze.

If she had to pinpoint the problem, there wasn’t much of one.

Jiang Qiuyi was the wife of Lu Mingcheng, and given his wealth, no matter how much she spent, it wouldn’t be an issue.

But… this was Jiang Qiuyi, ever since Sun Xi encountered her, she had had a fixed impression of her.

She came from a humble background, knew nothing about the high society and didn’t even recognize the names of major brands. If it weren’t for her relationship with Lu Mingcheng, there was no way he would ever marry someone like her.

It was precisely because of this that the Lu family had never taken her seriously, let alone regarded her as the true Mrs. Lu.

With her awkward status, it was surprising to see her wandering around a high-end boutique where prices often ran into the six or seven figures.

Sun Xi watched her retreating figure, suspecting she was trying to put on a facade.

If Lu Mingcheng really treated her well, would she have acted so meek and submissive before?

Her friend noticed Sun Xi zoning out and nudged her arm. “What’s wrong? Do you know that person?”

“Mm.” Sun Xi paused, then stood up and followed her.

Jiang Qiuyi was negotiating with the sales associate, inquiring about the details of a dress.

Just as she was asking, Sun Xi appeared from the side, grabbing her arm and saying. “Jiang Qiuyi, come here for a second.”

Jiang Qiuyi frowned, her expression cold as she looked at her. “Is there something you can’t say here?”

Sun Xi paused briefly before responding, “Do you really want me to say it here?”

Jiang Qiuyi replied, “Say what you want.”

She picked up the rose-colored dress she had been eyeing, clearly quite fond of it.

Sun Xi’s eyelid twitched, and she murmured, “Stop putting on a show. You’re looking at it but not buying it—if you don’t, it’ll be the Lu family’s embarrassment.”

Hearing this, Jiang Qiuyi couldn’t help but smile. “How do you know I’m not buying it?”

Sun Xi froze, staring at her in shock. “Do you have money?”

Jiang Qiuyi gave her a cold glance and replied, “What do you think?”

Sun Xi sensed something was off but couldn’t quite figure out what.

Before she could think further, she heard Jiang Qiuyi ask, “Can I try it on?”

The sales associate eagerly responded, “Of course, Miss Jiang. This way, please.”

Jiang Qiuyi ignored Sun Xi and followed the associate into the fitting room.

Sun Xi stood rooted to the spot, feeling like the situation was unfolding beyond her understanding.

After a moment of hesitation, she told her friend she was stepping out and made a call to Lu Mingcheng.

When Sun Xi called, Lu Mingcheng was about to finish work.

Seeing the incoming call, he answered it.

“Hello.”

“Brother.” Sun Xi’s excited voice came through. “I ran into Jiang Qiuyi at the store.”

Sun Xi was the daughter of Lu Mingcheng’s aunt, she was her cousin.

Lu Mingcheng responded with a brief “Mm,” signaling for her to continue. “What happened?”

Sun Xi paused, lowering her voice. “Did you know she’s at a high-end boutique buying a dress?”

Lu Mingcheng replied, “Get to the point.”

Sun Xi took a deep breath. “Are you two attending some big event soon?”

Lu Mingcheng thought for a moment. “No.”

Sun Xi froze for a moment, then blurted out, “Then why is she trying on dresses worth tens of thousands?”

Lu Mingcheng, hearing her tone, furrowed his brows slightly. “What’s the problem with her buying a dress?”

Sun Xi: “???”

The words sounded strangely familiar to her.

Lu Mingcheng didn’t intend to elaborate further. He grabbed the jacket off the back of the chair and, in a cold tone, said. “Qiuyi is my wife. Whether she buys a dress or anything else, it’s her choice. I never interfere.”

Sun Xi’s lips moved, but suddenly she didn’t know what to say.

Lu Mingcheng asked. “Is there anything else?”

Sun Xi: “No…”

After hanging up, Sun Xi glanced at Jiang Qiuyi, who had come out of the fitting room in a new dress, muttering softly. “Does she even have money?”

Even if she did, Sun Xi didn’t think Jiang Qiuyi would dare buy it.

…

In the store, Jiang Qiuyi looked at herself in the rose-colored dress.

The dress featured a V-neck design with a subtle, flowing skirt. The rose-colored tulle combined with small sequins created a shimmering effect in the darkness.

This dress could easily be worn to a banquet, yet it’s not too extravagant for everyday wear.

Most importantly, the color complemented her skin tone beautifully and gave off a gentle vibe.

Noticing her expression, the salesperson softly asked, “Miss Jiang, how do you like it?”

“Not bad.”

Jiang Qiuyi smiled, “I’ll take this one.”

She turned to Jian Xia, “Have you decided on yours?”

Jian Xia replied, “I just have this one.”

Jian Xia had picked a more understated dress, not expensive, just a little over 30,000.

“Mm,” Jiang Qiuyi nodded and was about to take out her card when Sun Xi suddenly inserted herself from the side.

She stared intently at Jiang Qiuyi, pressed her lips together, and asked, “Are you really going to buy this dress?”

Jiang Qiuyi: “…”

“Sun Xi, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Sun Xi looked at her, lowering her voice, “Do you even know how much this dress costs?”

Before Jiang Qiuyi could respond, the salesperson smiled and said. “Miss Jiang, this dress is a new design by our head designer, priced at 320,000.”

Jiang Qiuyi nodded, “Mm.”

She ignored Sun Xi and took out her card from her bag, saying lightly. “Let’s charge it together.”

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Sun Xi: ??? The world suddenly feels so dim.

Jiang Qiuyi: Oh?

Mr. Lu: When can my wife finish shopping and come home? Does she have a gift for me?

Jiang Qiuyi: What are you dreaming about?