Chapter 7

After speaking, Tang Ruan silently criticized herself in her heart.

Truly, her pretense was so excessive it was almost refreshing. Even Tang Ruan herself found it unbearable; she couldn’t imagine how Ji Jing felt about it.

But based on the novel’s descriptions, someone like Ji Jing—a cunning and mature man—was unlikely to enjoy it.

She sighed inwardly. Thankfully, her past jobs, with all the fake smiles and saying things she didn’t mean, had made her adept at this kind of acting. That was the only reason she could pull this off so convincingly.

Tang Ruan leaned against Ji Jing’s arm, rubbing it like a kitten, waiting for his reaction. Secretly, she hoped Ji Jing would reject her. Then she could shop alone and later use it as an excuse to say he didn’t love her. It would even give her “evidence” for when they divorced in the future, making Ji Jing feel guilty toward her.

In short, her little schemes were quite detailed, and her calculations weren’t bad.

However, Ji Jing’s response was rather unexpected.

Ji Jing’s lips curved slightly as he glanced at the woman leaning against his arm. Her cheek pressed against his suit sleeve, with several layers of fabric between them. Even so, he could feel the warmth and softness of her face. After a moment of thought, he replied, “Okay.”

“What?” Tang Ruan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Aren’t you… busy?”

Ji Jing paused, his gaze warm as he looked at her. “I said I’m not too busy, meaning I can make time to accompany you shopping.”

Tang Ruan froze for a moment, feeling inexplicably flustered under his smiling gaze. But she had to carry on with her act. She responded with a soft “Oh” and pretended to be very considerate, asking, “But shopping with me means going from morning to afternoon, and then evening. Are you sure you can manage? Shopping is super exhausting; most people can’t last that long.”

She exaggerated deliberately. In reality, she doubted she could last that long herself. Tang Ruan had once handed out flyers for an entire day, and it nearly killed her. Shopping for a whole day would probably drive her crazy.

In any case, she didn’t have the stamina, and naturally, she didn’t want Ji Jing to have it either.

Hearing this, Ji Jing smiled faintly, as if seeing through her thoughts. “It’s fine. I’ve got plenty of stamina.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

What does stamina have to do with shopping? Does being fit make you good at shopping?

Hmph! She was fit too!

Unable to outtalk Ji Jing, Tang Ruan had no choice but to go along with him. She had to stick to what she said, and since things had reached this point, she could only agree to go shopping together.

“Should we go now?”

Tang Ruan quickly shook her head. “No, no, you should finish your work first.” She smiled brightly at Ji Jing, her almond-shaped eyes glimmering with light. “We can go after you’re done.”

Ji Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled, showing no appreciation for her thoughtfulness.

“Let’s go now.”

“Don’t you have work?”

“I’m the boss.”

Tang Ruan choked and, where Ji Jing couldn’t see, shot him a sharp glare. So what if you’re the boss? Does being the boss make you all-powerful? Capitalists are so annoying—oppressing their employees while enjoying freedom themselves.

Through the glass window to his side, Ji Jing caught her milk-curdling glare and silently smirked.

His wife seemed to have become quite amusing.

–

Several large shopping malls surrounded the Ji Group headquarters. Most of the city’s major malls were concentrated in this area.

It only took about ten minutes on foot to reach a new one. Ji Jing had wanted to drive, but Tang Ruan, with other ideas in mind, insisted they walk. She was determined to make Ji Jing regret agreeing.

Shopping wasn’t easy—especially when accompanying a woman.

Tang Ruan tilted her head, recalling the information she had just searched online. She mentally calculated: there were six malls here, each with five to six floors. Most high-end brands were located on the second floor and above. But today, she planned to start from the basement level, browsing smaller brands first. Once Ji Jing was exhausted, they’d move upstairs.

The sunlight outside was bright, almost dazzling. The autumn breeze rustled, and leaves fell quietly onto the ground, making a soft crunching sound underfoot.

Looking at the yellowed leaves, Tang Ruan felt her mood lift.

Back when she handed out flyers, she used to stomp on fallen leaves during breaks, watching the golden leaves drift down from the trees. It was a simple pleasure in an otherwise monotonous job.

Lost in thought, Tang Ruan suddenly stopped.

–

Noticing she was no longer beside him, Ji Jing halted and turned around. His gaze fell on her crouched figure, looking abandoned and pitiful.

He froze for a moment, tempted to leave her there but ultimately unable to.

“Tang Ruan.”

She didn’t respond, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Ji Jing stood still, hands in his pockets, observing her. Finally, he gave in and walked over. With his long legs, he reached her in just a few strides.

“Not feeling well?”

Tang Ruan remained silent.

At this point, Ji Jing genuinely started to worry. He reached out to help her up, but the moment he touched her arm, she suddenly jumped up, holding a maple leaf. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled sweetly at him, calling out in a soft, coquettish voice, “Husband, this is for you.”

…?

Her voice was so tender that even passersby couldn’t help but glance over.

Ji Jing’s face darkened, and he ignored her “gift.”

Tang Ruan blinked and continued with her pitiful act. “You don’t like it?”

“This is the most beautiful leaf I could find after searching for a long time,” Tang Ruan said, her tone brimming with grievance. “I worked so hard, squatting for so long that my legs went numb, but my husband doesn’t even want the gift I found for him.”

As she spoke, she tilted her small face upward, her moist eyes gazing at him pitifully. “Is it because you think this leaf is too cheap?”

Ji Jing remained silent. Every word she had spoken had left no room for rebuttal.

Whether right or wrong, Tang Ruan had already said it all.

He stared at the leaf in her hand for a moment, his gaze heavy, then reached out and took it.

“No. Thank you.”

Tang Ruan grinned. “As long as you like it. You can press it in a book and use it as a bookmark.”

“Mm.”

Sensing she had reached her limit, Tang Ruan decided not to push her luck. She quietly followed Ji Jing, and three minutes later, they arrived at the mall.

–

The mall was crowded. Ji Jing walked ahead, confidently leading Tang Ruan straight into a luxury store before she had time to react.

As soon as they entered, a sales associate greeted them warmly. “Hello, is there anything I can assist you with?”

Ji Jing glanced back at his petite wife. “Ask her.”

Tang Ruan froze, momentarily distracted by the sales associate’s dazzling smile. Forcing herself to stay composed, she returned the smile and said, “Just browsing.”

The sales associate didn’t press further, maintaining a polite distance while trailing behind her.

Tang Ruan wandered through the store. In the past, she wouldn’t have dared to step into a place like this. When she was broke, she worried she’d be looked down upon because she couldn’t afford anything. But now, things were different. She felt ecstatic, especially when she saw several handbags that had once been her dream.

She had thought that, with enough hard work, she might save up in a year or two to buy one. But when she did save the money, she couldn’t bring herself to spend it. A luxury handbag costing tens of thousands felt like an extravagance she couldn’t justify, no matter how much she loved the design.

“Let’s look at the new arrivals,” she said. The older styles were ones the original Tang Ruan had already owned.

“Of course.”

Chanel had recently launched several new items that were in high demand. Tang Ruan was lucky to have come at the right time.

As she looked at the bags before her, she lowered her gaze to hide the light in her eyes.

The bags were stunning. If it had been the original Tang Ruan, she would have bought them all without hesitation. But she—

She couldn’t bring herself to be so indulgent.

–

“Hubby,” Tang Ruan suddenly called, turning to look at Ji Jing. “Can you help me pick one?”

The sales associate, startled, looked at Tang Ruan in surprise. Then, with a smile, she said, “You look so young! I didn’t expect you to be married already.”

As Ji Jing approached, Tang Ruan smiled back at the sales associate. “Yep. My husband is too handsome. If I hadn’t married him early, some other woman might have snatched him away.”

Ji Jing remained indifferent, his expression unchanged.

The sales associate chuckled. “That does make sense.”

When they first entered, the two had kept some distance and hadn’t displayed any affection, leading people to assume they might be a sponsor and a lover or perhaps siblings. Few thought they could be a married couple, given how young and attractive they both were.

Ignoring the sales associate, Tang Ruan asked Ji Jing for his opinion.

“Which one do you think looks the best?”

Ji Jing glanced briefly and said flatly, “Buy them all.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

She glared at Ji Jing and said righteously, “No way. I want to visit other stores, so I’ll just pick the most suitable one here.”

Hearing this, Ji Jing’s lips curved in a subtle, silent smile.

Tang Ruan cheerfully suggested, “I’ll try them on, and you can give me your opinion, okay?”

“Whatever you want.”

–

What followed was a long session of trying on handbags and clothes. Tang Ruan insisted Ji Jing give his thoughts on each item. By the third “It’s fine,” Tang Ruan stomped her foot, looking at him with an aggrieved expression. “Hubby.”

Everyone in the store felt goosebumps. Her sweet voice was truly lethal.

Ji Jing raised his eyes lazily, his expression calm as he gazed at her from a distance.

Tang Ruan pouted, standing there pitifully. “Don’t you love me anymore?”

Ji Jing: “…”

He hesitated, considering how to respond, but Tang Ruan beat him to it again. “You’ve been brushing me off this whole time.”

Ji Jing felt a headache coming on. Agreeing to go shopping with Tang Ruan had clearly been a mistake from the start.

Just as he was about to speak, a man and a woman walked into the store, their hands intimately linked.

The long-haired woman confidently told the sales associate, “Show me all your latest arrivals.”

The man beside her chimed in, “Bring them over.”

The sales associate gestured toward the items Tang Ruan had been trying. “These are the latest collections, but that lady is currently trying them.”

Hearing this, the man and woman turned to look. When the man’s gaze fell on Tang Ruan, his eyes lit up, and he let out a whistle. “Hey, pretty girl, we meet again.”

Tang Ruan smiled faintly, immediately recognizing the man.

The man, not noticing Ji Jing sitting half-hidden behind a chair, walked straight toward Tang Ruan and gave her an appraising look. “Nice dress.”

“Thanks.”

“Want me to buy it for you?”

Tang Ruan couldn’t help but laugh. She winked at him, then turned to the man behind her who was now standing up. Her voice became sweet and coquettish. “Hubby, this is the guy I told you about this morning—the one who harassed me.”

“Earlier, he even invited me to get into his car, saying he’d give me a ride. Who knows where he’d have taken me?”

Tang Ruan spoke smugly, adding with a bright smile, “Good thing the only one I love is my husband, so I didn’t go with him.” She looked up at Ji Jing with an expectant expression, her eyes gleaming. “Was I good?”

Hearing this, the store’s sales associates and the two other customers couldn’t hold back their laughter.

Author’s Note:
President Ji: What do I do with such an adorable, coquettish wife? I just can’t handle it!

Drama Queen: This is just the beginning! How are you already overwhelmed? Aren’t you supposed to be strong and enduring?

President Ji: I didn’t mean it that way.

Drama Queen: Then what do you mean~?

A reminder—don’t try to view the female lead with logical reasoning or standard thinking. She’s genuinely quirky and quite the clown. This story is meant to be lighthearted and fun. If you enjoy it, keep reading; if not, that’s fine too. Love you all!

To clarify why the sales associate didn’t recognize her: the original owner of this identity never went shopping herself. Everything she needed was delivered straight to her home as soon as it launched.