Chapter 9: Trying on a Wedding Dress

After finishing their meal, the two asked the staff to prepare several dishes in advance for them to pick up later. Then, they settled the bill.

Sheng Jie had been wolfing down his food like he was starving. When he saw they were about to leave, he barely had time to wipe his mouth before rushing after them.

The waiter immediately blocked him, “Hey, comrade, you haven’t paid yet.”

Sheng Jie hurriedly called out from behind, “Xu Jiaojiao, Xu Jiaojiao, pay for me!”

Xu Jiaojiao turned her head, pretending to be puzzled, “Why should I pay for you? I don’t have any money.”

Xie Zhi quickly took her hand and walked away briskly, worried that Xu Jiaojiao might soften her heart. She looked helplessly at the handsome man, shaking her head like a child.

Several staff members, now irritated, surrounded Sheng Jie. They had assumed he was rich, so they’d tolerated his arrogance, but now they realized he was just pretending to be important. “Comrade, please pay, one yuan and twenty cents.”

Sheng Jie, in disbelief, yelled angrily, “That expensive? Are you robbing me?” That money could buy him a high-quality pen!

“I didn’t even eat that much of your food. Take thirty cents or leave it!” He pulled out some crumpled bills from his pocket and threw them down, looking pained.

The staff couldn’t take it anymore and snapped, “Take him to the police station! Does he even realize where he is, trying to dine and dash at a state-owned restaurant?”

Xu Jiaojiao said, “Honey, the shrimp was delicious, but it’s too expensive.”

Xie Zhi felt both pained and indulgent as he placed his hand around her slender waist, “It’s okay, Jiaojiao. If you want, I’ll bring you here every day.”

“Jiaojiao, you’re done eating now, right?”

Xie Zhi’s smile froze. Why wouldn’t this person just leave them alone? He cast a cold glance at Shen Yun, who shivered, sniffled, and tried to look pitiful, her cheeks still stained with tears, casting a weak glance at Xie Zhi.

“Jiaojiao, let’s go look at wedding dresses,” Xie Zhi quickly interrupted, cutting off whatever Jiaojiao was about to say, successfully diverting her attention.

Sure enough, her eyes lit up. “Wedding dresses? I’ve only ever seen movie stars wear those. Can I try one on too?”

Xie Zhi couldn’t resist pinching her soft, fair cheek when he saw her cute expression, “Of course you can.”

Shen Yun’s teeth ground together as she listened, her face twisted with jealousy. A wedding dress was something she couldn’t even dream of, yet Xu Jiaojiao could just reach out and have one. How could she not be envious?

Xie Zhi had already scouted the area the last time he came to pick up a package. Nowadays, society was much more open, with a growing cultural diversity, so even small county towns had bridal shops now.

He confidently led Jiaojiao there, completely ignoring Shen Yun, who was still trying to cling to them. Shen Yun had hoped she could gain some benefit or trick this fool like she used to, but Xie Zhi was too vigilant now, and Xu Jiaojiao listened to him.

As they approached the bridal shop, the walls were covered with posters of modern women. Xu Jiaojiao propped her chin on her hand, thinking, “This isn’t much different from the future.”

Xie Zhi noticed her dazed expression and felt a bit sorry for her. Smiling, he led her inside.

They were greeted by a stylish and beautiful shop owner. The moment she saw Xu Jiaojiao, her eyes lit up. She had been looking for a model to promote the bridal shop.

She warmly greeted them, “You’ve come to look at wedding dresses, haven’t you? You’re in luck! We’ve just received a new silk wedding gown today. It’s absolutely stunning.”

“This young lady is so beautiful; she’ll look good in anything. Later, I’ll take a few photos for you.”

Xu Jiaojiao shyly leaned against Xie Zhi. To be honest, she had always been extremely introverted around others, acting tough only in familiar settings.

“Jiaojiao, don’t be shy. Let the owner show us around,” Xie Zhi teased, enjoying the feeling of being relied on.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at him bashfully, and the two followed the owner inside.

Shen Yun was left standing at the entrance. She gazed at the wedding dresses displayed throughout the store and the mannequins wearing them. Her eyes filled with envy, and she twisted her fingers together tightly. If only she could wear one of those dresses too.

Looking at Xu Jiaojiao being lovingly held in Xie Zhi’s arms, Shen Yun wished it was her in that position. If only Xu Jiaojiao weren’t here, or if she could be cast aside, wouldn’t that be wonderful? A cold gleam flashed in her eyes as she turned and left the shop.

The mannequin in the store wore a wedding dress that Xu Jiaojiao immediately fell in love with at first glance. In both the present and future, most wedding dresses were made from lightweight tulle, but this one was crafted with intricate satin embroidery. Though the style wasn’t cutting-edge, the design was simple and elegant.

Xie Zhi’s dark eyes gleamed as he leaned down and whispered in the girl’s ear, his voice low and teasing, “Jiaojiao, go try it on.”

His breath sent shivers down Xu Jiaojiao’s neck, making her blush like a peach blossom. She nodded hastily.

The shop owner quickly took down the dress and led her to the fitting room.

The owner, watching the handsome couple being so affectionate, smiled brightly. Instead of feeling annoyed, she found them pleasing to the eye and even thought about finding an outfit for the man so they could take photos together.

Xie Zhi, for some reason, felt unexpectedly nervous. His palms were sweaty. He had never imagined he and Jiaojiao would really get married. Since that night, everything seemed to be moving faster than he had anticipated.

The shop owner watched as the girl took off her clothes, hardly daring to breathe. Her skin was as smooth as porcelain, and her face glowed with a rosy hue.

Even though she was a woman herself, she couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful this girl was. Her man was truly lucky.

After putting on the wedding dress, Xu Jiaojiao stepped out. The girl in the mirror looked stunning, as delicate as a budding crabapple flower. However, her hair was left loose, which made her feel that something was off.

Following a thought from the future, she quickly styled her hair into an updo, revealing her slender, fair neck. Instantly, she looked more sophisticated.

“Can you find me a pair of white gloves? Preferably ones that cover the forearms,” Xu Jiaojiao asked.

The owner noticed the woman’s refined taste but was puzzled. Why such long gloves? However, she happened to have a pair in the shop.

Xu Jiaojiao put the gloves on, then added her original two hairpins to her updo, making her look elegant and radiant.

Xu Jiaojiao’s features had a seductive beauty like that of a fox, but with her hair up and the addition of the white lace gloves, she now exuded a touch of innocence, leaving the owner speechless.

After a moment, the owner finally said, “Comrade, may I take a few pictures of you? You look absolutely stunning.”

“Of course,” Xu Jiaojiao replied confidently, striking poses for the camera. Between shots, she even mimicked future poses, doing a quick series of nine shots in a row.

“Comrade, it’s such a pity you’re not a model!” The owner exclaimed excitedly as she admired the photos. With her lively expressions and striking looks, no one would believe she wasn’t a celebrity.