73. The Fastidious Chen Ruowen

Leaving the house was a trivial matter, but changing clothes… that was a real hassle.

Guo Jingyuan only realized this problem after returning to her room. She had dressed casually for her study session earlier, so logically, it should be fine to just head out in the same outfit, right?

She stood dumbly in front of the dressing mirror for quite a while, then took two steps back and leaned against Chen Ruomin’s door.

Chen Ruomin was in her walk-in closet, selecting clothes. Originally a guest room, it had been renovated and connected to her bedroom, making it easier for her to choose outfits.

Seeing Guo Jingyuan at her door, Chen Ruomin glanced up.

“What’s up?”

“Can’t I just wear this?” Guo Jingyuan ventured.

“If you could, why would I ask you to come back and change?” Chen Ruomin retorted.

Well, that made sense…

“So, what should I wear? Something more formal?”

“Something that looks good.” Chen Ruomin dropped her own clothes, pushing Guo Jingyuan back into her room. “What you’re wearing is ugly, and the quality is poor. It’s an eyesore. Change, quickly.”

Guo Jingyuan was speechless…

She was wearing a carefully chosen set from the night market; the entire outfit barely cost over a hundred yuan, so quality couldn’t be expected…

She obediently went back and changed into a slightly better set, standing in front of Chen Ruomin.

“How about this one?”

Chen Ruomin shook her head, “Ugly.”

Five minutes later…

“And this?”

Chen Ruomin gave up on having Guo Jingyuan continue her bargain-hunting fashion show—every outfit she chose was hideous, and only her looks kept them from being completely tacky.

Chen Ruomin seriously suspected the girl bought clothes solely based on the lowest price.

Really…

It was infuriating.

Chen Ruomin shook her head and simply left Guo Jingyuan in her room to reflect, heading off to change her own clothes.

Guo Jingyuan stood where she was for quite a while, unable to figure out what Chen Ruomin meant.

She thought for a moment, then changed into a set borrowed from Chen Ruomin.

Was it because she hadn’t worn Chen Ruomin’s clothes that she got angry?

Guo Jingyuan was uncertain.

Half an hour later, Chen Ruomin emerged from her walk-in closet, having finished getting ready. She glanced at Guo Jingyuan, who was obediently standing in the doorway in a new outfit, but said nothing.

“Ruomin, are you going out with Jingyuan?” Yang Anxin, who was watching TV in the living room with Chen Liwan, asked as they passed by.

Chen Ruomin waved at them, “We’re going out, won’t be back for lunch.”

“Bai Jinyan isn’t around, is he?” Chen Liwan asked offhandedly.

Chen Ruomin’s face darkened, “He’s not.”

“That’s good,” Chen Liwan said, visibly relieved.

As long as that boy wasn’t around, he could relax. Anyone else was fine, just not Bai Jinyan.

As if responding to his thoughts, Chen Ruomin quickly added, “We’re meeting Gao Tang for lunch today.”

“Gao Tang?” The unfamiliar name startled Yang Anxin. She looked at Chen Liwan, “Who’s Gao Tang?”

“He’s the son of the Wanguo Group. The ‘No NG Tonight’ show we produced recently was funded by them.”

“A boy?” Yang Anxin only caught one detail. “Ruomin, does Jinyan know you’re meeting another guy for lunch? Did you tell him?”

Chen Liwan was a bit annoyed.

His daughter was going out, and his wife was worried about whether she’d informed Bai Jinyan? That boy, had he even won over his mother-in-law? Bah, what mother-in-law!

“What does it matter who Ruomin goes out with? What kind of question is that?”

“How can it not matter?” Yang Anxin was instantly aggravated. “Jinyan grew up with us, he’s sensible and well-behaved, and most importantly, Ruomin likes him. Of course I need to help keep an eye on things! Right, Ruomin—hey, where did she go?”

The living room was empty; Chen Ruomin was nowhere to be seen.

Outside the villa, Chen Ruomin pulled Guo Jingyuan into the back seat of a red Ferrari, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

“Every time I go out, it’s twenty questions. It’s exhausting!” Chen Ruomin buckled her seatbelt and tossed the other one to Guo Jingyuan.

Guo Jingyuan smiled enviously but said nothing.

Even when her mother was alive, her home never had this kind of atmosphere.

Her mother never argued with her father—or maybe she didn’t dare. She always thought it was mutual respect between husband and wife, but now, looking back, perhaps it was simply a lack of love.

Under Chen Ruomin’s direction, the car stopped at a rather inconspicuous little shop. Chen Ruomin snapped a picture of the storefront and sent it to Geng Jiaojiao.

“Is this the place?”

Geng Jiaojiao quickly replied with a slew of cute emojis and text. Chen Ruomin saw the nodding emoji and slipped her phone back into her pocket.

This was a private tailor shop called “YOD” that Geng Jiaojiao had recommended. The prices were much lower than what Chen Ruomin usually wore, but it was one of the most popular shops among the ordinary rich kids of South City.

As soon as Chen Ruomin and Guo Jingyuan got out of the car, they were greeted with professional enthusiasm by the YOD staff. Even the least observant clerk could tell from the limited-edition Ferrari parked outside that they had a big spender on their hands.

Guo Jingyuan followed Chen Ruomin into the store, glancing curiously at the door, still unsure why Chen Ruomin brought her to a clothing shop.

Did she want to buy clothes?

Or… could it be she wanted to buy clothes for her?

While she was lost in thought, Chen Ruomin brushed aside the attendant and pointed to Guo Jingyuan.

“Pick something for her that’s presentable.”

Guo Jingyuan felt her face twitch. Was her current outfit not presentable?

“Of course!” The store clerk quickly sized up Guo Jingyuan and hurried off to find clothes.

Guo Jingyuan tugged at Chen Ruomin’s sleeve, a bit uneasy, “I think my outfit is fine!”

Chen Ruomin shook her head, “My clothes don’t suit your style. You look odd in them.”

“But there’s no need to buy new ones…” Guo Jingyuan protested, feeling the pain, “Aren’t we just going out for lunch? Why do we have to buy clothes?”

“Because I want to.” Chen Ruomin’s simple reply silenced Guo Jingyuan.

Well, you can’t buy willingness for a thousand gold. If this lady insists, who would dare object?

The clerk soon brought over a coordinated outfit. Chen Ruomin glanced at it and reluctantly nodded.

“Go change.”

Guo Jingyuan struggled for a moment but finally went obediently into the fitting room.

In the shop, Chen Ruomin turned to the attending staff.

“How much is that outfit?”

The clerk quoted a price.

Chen Ruomin nodded, “Knock off two zeros.”

“Uh… that’s not really possible. We don’t haggle in this shop,” the attendant replied, troubled.