It’s all just a game of tricks.

Remove two zeros? That’s not haggling anymore, it’s outright making trouble! Yet, thanks to her professional composure, the shop assistant managed to maintain a gentle smile.

“I know,” Chen Ruowen said, handing over her credit card to the assistant. “When you give her the price, cut off two zeros; I’ll pay the rest.”

What kind of move was that?

The assistant was baffled, but quickly figured it out—so long as the total wasn’t short, why worry about their payment methods?

When Guo Jingyuan finally emerged from the fitting room, Chen Ruowen felt a rare spark of surprise. Previously, Guo Jingyuan was pretty, but always dressed in ill-fitting clothes, her timid slouch diminishing even the most beautiful features. After moving in with Chen Ruowen, the sense of shyness faded somewhat, but the two were polar opposites. Wearing Chen Ruowen’s clothes, Guo Jingyuan still looked good, but there was always a sense she was “borrowing an adult’s outfit.”

Later, when she wore market stall goods, it was even worse…

Every time Chen Ruowen saw it, she wanted to throw a fit.

Now, dressed in something truly suited to her, Guo Jingyuan finally looked pleasing.

“This’ll do. Let’s go with this set,” Chen Ruowen declared, handing her card to the assistant again.

The assistant was utterly confused. She’d just swiped over sixty thousand from this card, and now the guest was handing it over again… What sort of game was this?

While the assistant paused in bewilderment, Guo Jingyuan reacted swiftly, grabbing Chen Ruowen’s hand and shaking her head vigorously.

“I… I don’t want to buy it.”

From design to tailoring to texture, everything about the outfit screamed expensive. Guo Jingyuan knew she already owed Chen Ruowen too much—she couldn’t possibly add more.

“But you look great in this,” Chen Ruowen said candidly.

Anyone familiar with Chen Ruowen would have questioned reality at that statement. For her, others’ looks were only ever described as “ugly,” “average,” or “not bad.” For her to call someone beautiful? What kind of celestial beauty would merit such praise?

“But… it’s too expensive…” Guo Jingyuan pleaded.

Chen Ruowen scoffed, “Jiaojiao told me this is a budget shop. How could a budget shop be expensive?”

Budget? The assistant clenched her teeth.

Their YOD was haute couture, for heaven’s sake!

Budget shop? Guo Jingyuan was puzzled.

She didn’t know who Geng Jiaojiao was, but the outfit’s design alone meant it couldn’t possibly be cheap.

Could it really be affordable?

Guo Jingyuan looked uncertainly at the assistant and carefully asked, “Excuse me, how much does this outfit cost?”

The assistant put on her best smile and quickly quoted the price she’d already calculated.

“This entire set is just 683!” she said, then added shrewdly, “It’s as if this outfit was tailor-made for you—it suits your temperament perfectly! The price is a real bargain; you won’t find such quality for less anywhere else. Don’t hesitate!”

Besides, most of the bill had already been paid. She couldn’t let her commission slip through her fingers.

Guo Jingyuan was indeed tempted.

No girl dislikes looking good, and Guo Jingyuan was no exception. Seeing herself in the mirror, she genuinely liked what she saw. But she also knew she had no money.

She estimated the outfit should cost at least fifty or sixty thousand, but if it really was just over six hundred…

Chen Ruowen had lent her two thousand previously, and she still had plenty left. If she bought this, it would be enough.

But… borrowed money had to be repaid! Six hundred for a whole outfit was affordable, yet for her current situation, it was still a huge sum.

Guo Jingyuan struggled for a while, then eventually shook her head, taking off the coat and handing it back to the assistant.

“I’m sorry, I don’t want it.”

The assistant glanced awkwardly at Chen Ruowen, unsure whether to accept it.

“Don’t want it?” Chen Ruowen suddenly snorted coldly. “So you think my taste is bad?”

“That’s not what I meant!” Guo Jingyuan hurried to explain. “I just… it’s just… too… expensive…”

“So you want me to pay for you?” Chen Ruowen waved her credit card. “Such a small amount—just say so.”

“That’s not what I mean…” Guo Jingyuan was nearly in tears. “You know that’s not what I mean.”

“So you just don’t like it?” Chen Ruowen pressed, unreasonable.

Guo Jingyuan fell silent. She lowered her head, took the coat back from the assistant, and pulled out seven neatly stacked red bills from her wallet.

“I like it. I’ll buy it.”

Guo Jingyuan dutifully wore her new clothes onto the car, but sat upright, sneaking glances at Chen Ruowen every ten seconds or so. After about twenty looks, Chen Ruowen still ignored her, making Guo Jingyuan even more restless.

“Are you… angry?”

Chen Ruowen replied with a simple “Mm.”

Such a direct answer actually made Guo Jingyuan sigh with relief. She wrapped her arms around Chen Ruowen’s, swaying like a child who’d done something wrong.

“Don’t be angry…”

Chen Ruowen answered “Mm” again.

Now Guo Jingyuan was bewildered—did this “Mm” mean she was angry or not?

She wrestled with this question until they got out of the car; Chen Ruowen still wouldn’t acknowledge her. When Guo Jingyuan tried to start a conversation, Chen Ruowen responded, but always with just a single syllable: “Mm.”

So flustered…

What should she do…

Gao Tang was already waiting at the restaurant entrance early that morning. On seeing Chen Ruowen, he smiled and opened his arms for a hug.

He hugged lightly and let go instantly, making it seem like a normal greeting.

But when it came to Guo Jingyuan, he only gave her a gentlemanly handshake and politely said, “Hello.”

He then quickly moved to Chen Ruowen’s other side and deftly took her bag.

Chen Ruowen rarely carried her own bag when going out, so she didn’t find anything amiss.

“Baiyan Grand Restaurant is one of the most distinctive Chinese restaurants under the Banner Group. All the major cuisines are represented, and the chefs are all renowned in the industry. There’s only one location each in South City and North City—the North City branch is a bit heavier in flavor, but the South City one should suit your palate better.”

Although Chen Ruowen was technically hosting, paying the bill was easy enough. If you wanted her to choose the place, pick the dishes, or decide the menu…

Ha—Even Bai Jingyan could only expect half that effort.

As for today’s “thank you dinner” with Gao Tang, it was even more perfunctory.

After Chen Ruowen agreed, she promptly forgot about it. Gao Tang handled everything from choosing the time to selecting the venue. Still, Chen Ruowen was true to her word—she fully honored the guest’s preferences, agreeing to Gao Tang’s arrangements without a hint of doubt. Her decisiveness stunned Gao Tang.

“We’re not open to the public today, so I didn’t book a private room. We have a window seat on the third floor, which has a decent view.”

Gao Tang led them to their table, dismissed the waiting staff, personally pulled out a chair for Chen Ruowen, and sat beside her. Throughout, his gaze and words never left Chen Ruowen for a moment.

Guo Jingyuan finally realized—she was nothing more than an 800-watt super-sized lightbulb, shining and burning bright.