Chapter 39

On the fifth day after meeting Shen Haoyu, Li Muxue stood nervously in front of the glass window of the department store, her hands clasped together, her thumbs rapidly twirling. The off-white silk dress hanging in the window looked like a soft cloud, while she was wearing a light blue floral shirt with slightly pilling cuffs, ordinary blue jeans, a faux leather shoulder bag with worn edges, and canvas shoes stained with oil from a chance encounter at the auto repair shop, the white rubber soles and edges worn smooth.

"This one will do." Shen Haoyu's voice was casual as he tapped his finger on the shop window. The sales assistant behind him immediately opened the glass door eagerly. He was dressed in simple casual clothes, and the watch on his wrist shone so brightly under the mall's fluorescent lights that it hurt Li Muxue's eyes. The price of that watch was equivalent to half a year's living expenses for her.

"Brother Yu, I...I'm not used to wearing this kind of dress."

Li Muxue shrank back, her voice barely audible. She only had a few cotton dresses in her wardrobe, bought for her by her mother, Qiao Kexin, when she was in high school. She had only ever seen silk in magazines.

Shen Haoyu took the dress from the sales assistant and shoved it into her arms. "It's just a dress from a friend, don't overthink it. As long as it fits you!" His tone was so natural, as if he were handing her a piece of candy, not an expensive dress. But Li Muxue held the cool silk dress as if she were holding a red-hot iron.

"The fitting room is over there," Shen Haoyu pointed to the end of the corridor, where a sales assistant greeted him with a smile. Li Muxue had no choice but to clutch her dress and slip into the fitting room. The silk felt cool against her skin, making her complexion appear even paler. The girl in the mirror seemed so unfamiliar that it made her heart race. The purple rhinestone buttons at the neckline sparkled, and the skirt reached her calves. It concealed a small scar on her knee from a year ago when she fell while searching for Xu Chen in the old alley…

“Perfect.” Shen Haoyu’s eyes lit up when she came out, then he turned to the sales assistant and said, “Get two more pairs of genuine leather high heels in the same color, and that beige bag over there.” He was referring to the designer bag hanging on the wall, which Li Muxue had seen in a fashion magazine; it cost four figures, which was her tuition for a year.

"No! Really, you don't need it!" Li Muxue quickly waved her hand, her face flushed red. "I have a bag, I..."

"It's nothing, just a small gift, don't be nervous." Shen Haoyu interrupted her, his tone still gentle, but carrying an aura that left no room for refusal. That strong and inescapable sense of oppression made Li Muxue feel a little suffocated.

He pulled a wad of hundred-yuan bills from his wallet and handed it to the sales assistant with a motion as smooth as handing over a tissue. Li Muxue looked at the wad of money and suddenly remembered how her parents would always smooth out the crumpled change and carefully stuff it into the lining of her schoolbag whenever they gave her money. This stark contrast made her heart tremble.

For the next hour, Li Muxue was like a stiff Barbie doll, helplessly at his mercy. Shen Haoyu picked out three Maybelline lipsticks for her, saying her lip color was too light; he also bought her a delicate pearl necklace, and as he put it around her neck, his fingertips accidentally touched her collarbone, causing Li Muxue to flinch as if burned. Finally, he shoved a TCL3388 flip phone into her hand; its bright red body was small and exquisite, and the screen emitted a pale blue light when lit.

"It'll be easier to contact you later. It's not high-end, it's not expensive, just take it. I know you definitely can't accept the top-of-the-line model, so I chose the mid-range one. And I've prepaid a year's worth of monthly fees for you, so you can use it as you please. Just tell me when you need to pay, and I'll top it up for you. Write down this number: 136403..."

Shen Haoyu put the phone box into his shopping bag, then took the jewelry box from the sales assistant. Inside lay a high-quality Hetian jade bracelet, gleaming with a delicate, bluish-green light. "Your hands are small and your wrists are slender, this will fit you perfectly. I had the jewelry store make it for you."

Shen Haoyu's words were chilling upon closer examination, sending shivers down Li Muxue's spine. When had he observed her wrist so meticulously?!

Shopping bags nearly filled the back seat of the car. On the way back, although Li Muxue was sitting in the passenger seat, she pressed herself tightly against the door, as if that would allow her to distance herself from the extravagant man beside her.

Shen Haoyu gripped the steering wheel with both hands, driving while telling Li Muxue that his father's business was not just a small auto repair shop, but also... But Li Muxue didn't want to hear another word. In her understanding, this was not just a simple display of wealth, but a brutal trampling of her humbled self-esteem under his "noble" feet.

Back home, Li Muxue suddenly felt a wave of suffocation. She rushed into the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Looking up at herself in the mirror—pale, her eyes filled with fear, yet a forced, zombie-like smile tugged at the corners of her lips. This contradictory expression filled her with a deep, chilling dread…

(To be continued)