Buying clothes
If Lin Zhihan hadn't really grasped the Ling family's wealth before, now she truly understood the reality of her boyfriend being a tycoon.
That row of villas, covering an area equivalent to 50 football fields, could easily be called an imperial residence.
Her boyfriend is so rich, so impressive, so incredibly wealthy!
"So, I've been part of your plan all along," Lin Zhihan turned around, slapped Ling Yan's fingers away, her eyes unreadable.
"I suppose so." Ling Yan put the silver ring back around Lin Zhihan's neck, his eyes gentle.
"Don't lose it again. This one is unique. It contains..." Ling Yan pursed her lips, deciding not to reveal this secret.
What
Don't you Ling family members each have one?
Even~
"Hmph!" Lin Zhihan pouted, determined not to admit that she was jealous.
"So-and-so has one too, and it's the same color as their name. Young Master Ling, you're so thoughtful!"
Lin Zhihan's words were sarcastic and unsettling.
Ling Yan found it amusing.
“This is different, it’s mine, I’ve worn it since I was a child, this silver one is unique.”
The ones they wore were all pretty much the same, all show and no substance. Aside from basic functions like location tracking, voice calls, and video recording, they were at best invisible phones.
"This is different from the one I'm giving you." After putting the ring on Lin Zhihan's finger, Ling Yan gently turned it.
"What's different?" Lin Zhihan asked, showing some interest.
Ling Yan chuckled softly and stood up:
You'll find out later.
"Alright, get up and eat something first. Here are some steamed buns and millet porridge I brought you from Xu's." Ling Yan picked up another simply packaged serving of fried dough sticks and soy milk, and waved it in Lin Zhihan's direction:
"And I also brought up the fried dough sticks and soy milk that your classmate brought for you."
Ling Yan calmly arranged breakfast for Lin Zhihan, asking her seemingly casually as he did so:
"The male college student you're sponsoring is downstairs."
That sounds rather odd.
"It wasn't me, it was Ming Xiaoxiao." Lin Zhihan stood up, supporting her waist, and quietly put on her clothes.
Upon closer reflection, Ling Yan's question seemed rather strange.
What is a male college student?
Lin Zhihan finally finished getting dressed, and it was already 9:10.
The late autumn sun shone brightly on the windowsill, making the room warm and cozy.
Lin Zhihan stood up, basking in the sunlight, touched her stomach, and looked somewhat aggrieved.
After a night and half a morning of hard work, Lin Zhihan was starving.
"These are all mine! I'm so hungry I could eat a whole cow!" She deliberately avoided mentioning Yan Kang, pointing to the breakfast for two on the table to assert her ownership.
Ling Yan is a bit petty, but he's actually kind of cute when he's jealous.
Lin Zhihan moved to sit at the small dining table by herself.
This dining table is a modular table that can be assembled against the wall. When not in use, it can be folded up and leaned against the wall. It was recommended to her by Ming Xiaoxiao.
Lin Zhihan found it quite interesting, so she bought the same one.
For some reason, Ling Yan wore her teddy bear apron and was meticulously preparing breakfast for her, looking every bit the husband.
A white shirt, black trousers, and this mismatched apron around his waist—it's almost comical to look at.
Ling Yan glanced at his girlfriend, who was secretly laughing at him, and inwardly scoffed. He had gotten his look from the 'little bee' downstairs.
Damn home decor.
He wanted to create the illusion that he was the male head of the household, so that she would not only admire his good looks but also his virtuousness.
Ling Yan sensed something was amiss and coughed lightly:
"Aren't we attending the Lin family's banquet on Friday? I'll take you to buy a dress later."
"Oh, that kind of thing, just wear something clear and bright."
This saved me the trouble of finding the same items as celebrities.
Lin Zhihan responded casually while tearing apart a fried dough stick.
Ling Yan frowned and tossed Lin Zhihan a silver card:
"Why do you want to wear her clothes? I'll buy you new clothes."
Didn't your paintings sell for a lot of money?
"Why do you still live such a simple life?" Ling Yan's words circled in her mouth before she finally came up with a decent word to describe it: "Simple."
Yes, Lin Zhihan basically doesn't dress up anymore.
When I was with him before, I would often wear a full face of makeup, but now...
She wore no makeup, and her clothes were either the most comfortable casual wear or the Nanmiao school uniform.
Ling Yan hasn't been seen wearing a skirt in the past two years.
She always wears casual tops and jeans. You'd never guess she's actually a low-key rich woman.
Oh, women dress up for those they want to please. Has no one been worth dressing up for in the two years since she broke up with him?
Ling Yan felt a mix of sadness, annoyance, and relief.
In short, I have very mixed feelings.
"Oh, haven't you heard that proper hunger can inspire creativity?"
For artists like us, the spiritual world is more important; external, material things don't mean much to us.
If you mind, I can go buy some with you.
"But I personally think it's unnecessary to waste time on these meaningless things." Lin Zhihan finished her soy milk and fried dough sticks in a few bites, and now reached for the steamed buns and rice porridge that Ling Yan had bought for her.
"Why didn't you eat the breakfast I bought for you first?" Men's focus is always so bizarre.
"Oh, because I'd rather have fried dough sticks and soy milk today," Lin Zhihan replied to Ling Yanka without any hesitation.
Ling Yan sat down angrily, frowning as he looked at her.
“Zhihan,”
"Ugh~" Lin Zhihan took a big bite of half a bun, feeling like she might have bulimia.
"It smells so good, it tastes so good."
Ling Yan, I take back what I just said.
The best things are always saved for last.
You upper-class people really know how to enjoy life. I heard Ming Xiaoxiao say that it's really hard to buy Xu's steamed buns from this place.
Mmm, the porridge is delicious too, so soft and sticky, and it even has red dates in it. It's amazing how well millet porridge can be cooked!
Lin Zhihan dramatically transformed into a food blogger, sharing her taste experiences while eating.
Ling Yan found it quite amusing.
"That's enough, I'm not that childish."
"Oh." Lin Zhihan finally stopped making exaggerated expressions and started eating seriously.
My boyfriend is very sensitive, it's so tiring to comfort him. Waiting for advice online.
After finishing brunch, Lin Zhihan still went with Ling Yan to the nearby Jinda Shopping Plaza.
The Ling family stopped at a DIO brand women's clothing store and let Lin Zhihan go in and browse.
Soon, a waitress warmly greeted them.
Lin Zhihan wondered if it was just her imagination, but the waiters at this restaurant seemed very reserved towards Ling Yan.
That awkwardness and timidity was the kind of caution and fear she only felt when facing her teacher.
Following the waitress's recommendation, Lin Zhihan took two dresses to the fitting room to try them on.
Ling Yan sat on the sofa in the outer room, watching Lin Zhihan try on clothes.
I'm just waiting for her to come out in her new clothes so I can give her feedback and suggestions.
The first dress Lin Zhihan tried on was a white, fitted, backless long dress with delicate roses and a cutout design, making Lin Zhihan look like an ugly duckling transformed into a swan.
Feeling awkward and uncomfortable in various ways.
This outfit is so figure-hugging.
Lin Zhihan felt that all of her physical strengths and weaknesses had been exposed.
Ling Yan stared at Lin Zhihan's white dress, initially taken aback, then frowned as expected.
She waved to her and Lin Zhihan went to try on the next item.
The next item is a short black dress.
The tail is short when it swings forward and long when it swings backward.
The front is bare up to the upper thighs, while the tail trails for a meter on the ground.
Lin Zhihan felt that this dress was a waste of so much fabric; it didn't cover anything that was supposed to be covered.
This time, Ling Yan simply turned her head to the side.
Even a single glance makes me breathless.
What kind of style is this outfit? It's okay to wear at home, but would it be suitable for a banquet?
Don't even think about it.
The next item was a red pomegranate-colored dress, with a lantern design, which made Lin Zhihan look like a child wearing an adult's clothes.
It's truly impossible for it to hold up anywhere.
The young lady helping Lin Zhihan choose clothes was sweating profusely. Every time Lin Zhihan came out of a fitting room, it was like a temporary execution. Lin Zhihan had seen the young lady's expression change multiple times in response to Ling Yan's changing attitude.
The young woman visibly swayed the moment Ling Yan stood up.
Lin Zhihan felt that the first person to break down when buying clothes was the sales assistant.
really.
Ling Yan was furious this time. He simply stood up and went to the clothing section himself to choose clothes for Lin Zhihan.
The young woman's face paled slightly. She swayed over to Ling Yan's side, her fingers trembling as she took the dresses he had chosen one by one.
Like a frightened little bird, trembling with fear.
Lin Zhihan kindly patted the young lady's shoulder, offering a weak but comforting word:
"Don't worry, he'll find one he's satisfied with."
Miss: ……
Thank you, but I wasn't comforted.
Later, Lin Zhihan tried on several more dresses that Ling Yan had personally selected, but Ling Yan still didn't seem satisfied.
An hour and a half later, Lin Zhihan looked at Ling Yan, who still hadn't had enough, and said weakly:
"Brother Yan, I'm too tired. How about I choose the first white dress I tried on?"
Ling Yan glanced at her sideways, his face saying, "Are you kidding me?"
The waitress had the same expression on her face.
It greatly damages their dignified image.
Lin Zhihan backed up and sat down on the small white sofa, raising her hands in surrender.
"Anyway, I'm not trying it on. You can try it on yourself if you want!" Lin Zhihan turned her face away, as if to say, "Don't bother me anymore."
Ling Yan still couldn't find a dress that satisfied him. He randomly pointed to a few that caught his eye, clothes that he'd give a 70 out of 100, and asked the saleswoman to pack them up.
Then, Ling Yan stood in the center of the store and started making phone calls.
"LISSA, I'm sending you the measurements. You have two days to make an engagement dress that I'm satisfied with."
DIO's chief designer, Lisa: "No, Mr. Ling, I don't have a single piece of women's clothing in my store that would satisfy you."
"I'm not entirely satisfied with either of them. I remember you have a design that's going to be submitted to a design competition in Country Y. Could you alter it to my darling's size so she can wear it to the banquet on Friday?"
LISSA:……
You must be playing some kind of international joke on me.
"that's all."
"Wait, Boss Ling, Brother Ling, Ancestor Ling, that was meant for an international design competition. If you wear it ahead of time, how am I supposed to participate?"
Even assuming your event is niche and no one recognizes my work, and it doesn't involve any premature leaks that allowed others to plagiarize, the size you gave me still doesn't meet my model's standards.
"I can make it smaller, but why can I change it back?" Lisa said, her head balding, over the phone.
"10 million."
LISSA swallowed hard.
"that….."
"Lingjia has taken over all of DIO's orders for the past three quarters."
"Okay, Mr. Ling, is there anything else you need?" Lisa's attitude changed completely, and she asked in a very obsequious tone on the phone:
Is one piece enough to wear?
I can design two more replacement outfits for you free of charge.
"Can."
LISSA:……
It's just a polite remark; you don't need to take it seriously.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhihan, who had eavesdropped the whole time, asked Ling Yan with her mouth wide open:
"Was the person you just spoke to the same Lissa I know?"
“It should be her.” Ling Yan calmly took Lin Zhihan’s hand and walked out of the DIO store.
Still seemingly dazed, Lin Zhihan jumped up and asked Ling Yan as if she had finally come to her senses:
"That's Lisa, the internationally acclaimed, award-winning genius designer!"
"The Nebula evening gown she designed herself, selling for an astronomical price—that's the work of a genius fashion designer!" Lin Zhihan covered her mouth, looking utterly astonished, as if she'd never seen anything like it before.
"What's the problem?" Ling Yan asked calmly. "If it weren't for her somewhat famous reputation, I wouldn't have personally brought you to her store to choose clothes."
Lin Zhihan stared at Ling Yan in utter disbelief.
Then I noticed he was holding no fewer than seven pieces of DIO brand women's clothing.
Wow, a true master!
She doesn't need to sleep tonight; she can just worship her own wardrobe.
Only a few people know that the chief designer behind DIO, a women's clothing brand with stores all over the world, is actually Lissa.
LISSA is a rising star in the fashion industry in recent years. Her signature piece, the Nebula wedding dress, fetched a high price of 300 million yuan at auction. It has become a new fashion trendsetter for royalty and nobility in Y country in the past two years, with many vying to have their custom-made gowns made.
When Ke Lingyan first met Lisa, she was just the unloved youngest daughter of the Jif family.
It was Ling Yan who sponsored Lissa's first sum of money two years ago, enabling her to open her own DIO clothing store.
It can be said that without the strong support of the Ling family conglomerate, Lisa's abundant talent would not have brought her into the sights of the Y country's royal family and high society so quickly.
Of course, it's a win-win situation for both Ling Yan and Lissa.
Lisa played an indispensable role in Ling Yan's connection with the Jif family.
The JIFF family is one of the two most powerful noble families in the Y country, on par with the OBB family, which is Ling Yan's maternal family.
Both are considered close relatives of the royal family. The nearly century-long struggle between the two families within the royal family is hidden beneath the seemingly peaceful succession of imperial power.
Lisa's achievements in the art world have added weight to the Jiff family's prestige.
So Ling Yan and Lissa are actually relatives. Ling Yan is Lissa's cousin.
Ella, Ling Yan's mother, was initially rejected by her family when she entered Hollywood, but was later accepted by the family because of her significant achievements in the entertainment industry.
The niece resembles her aunt; this is yet another rebellious young girl challenging the authority of the family.
In the end, she managed to carve out a bloody path for herself.
Associating with the Jiff family has also greatly benefited the Ling family's overseas businesses.
Ling Yan would never watch his father and uncle's families live out their old age happily in Country Y.
For the past two years, the business in Country Y has been entirely handled by the second generation of the Ling family, the Ling brothers.
The stakes are simple.
Ling Yan shielded his two brothers from the pressure from Shen Qing and the board of directors back in the country.
Ling Xiaoyang and Ling Xiaofeng then took over the Ling family's overseas operations.
Ling Yan was in charge of facilitating the deal, while his uncle and father were responsible for expanding and strengthening the business, which was bound to lead to a deal with JIFF and the OBB royal family.
It turns out that love and career can go hand in hand.
So why didn't Ling Xiaoyang connect with the OBB family when he married Ella?
With the support of the royal family, many of the Ling family's businesses in Country Y have become much smoother.
So Ling Yan's father was truly just a love-struck fool who was after his mother.
No wonder he fought with his second uncle for two years in China and only ended up with both sides suffering losses; it's because his mind was entirely focused on women.
Ling Yan cannot scorn the great and true love of her parents.
Because of this, his birth became noble.
Only the fruit of love deserves a face as beautiful as Cupid's.
Ling Yan thanked them.
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