Buying clothes is considered wasteful
Lu Zhian was led out of the house by the two brothers almost in a daze. When he stood in the brand's flagship store, which was decorated in an extremely luxurious style and had a lobby so spacious that it could be used as an ice rink, and looked at the well-trained and perfectly curved smiles on the sales assistant's face, he once again deeply understood what "the power of money" meant.
Xiao Jin was clearly familiar with the place. He walked in casually, his gaze not even lingering on the dazzling array of clothes. He went straight to the lady who appeared to be the store manager and spoke in a tone as indifferent as if he were buying a bottle of water at a convenience store: "What are the new arrivals this season?" He paused, then turned his head and gestured with his chin to Lu Zhian, who looked a little awkward beside him, adding, "Wrap up all the sizes he wears."
The words "wrap them all up" fell lightly, yet they struck Lu Zhian like a boulder. He gasped, not even having time to consider how much it would cost; his body reacted before his brain, grabbing Xiao Jin's arm, his voice trembling with urgency: "No! You can't wear that many! Just pick a few, too many will be a waste..."
He instinctively cast a pleading glance at Xiao Yuan, who had remained silent beside him, hoping that this seemingly calmer and more rational person would say something.
Xiao Yuan caught his gaze and spoke up as expected, his tone as calm as ever, saying to the store manager, "Take out a few styles that suit him to try out first."
Lu Zhian breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Xiao Yuan was indeed more reasonable.
Following the sales assistant's guidance, he tried on several outfits. It must be said, the tailoring and fabrics of top brands are truly exceptional; even the basic pieces accentuated his slender figure, making him appear exceptionally tall and sharp. He had just stood in front of the mirror, before he could even examine himself closely, when he heard Xiao Yuan's emotionless voice sound behind him again:
"Wrap up everything we just tried."
Lu Zhian: "!!!"
He whirled around and saw the sales assistant's face light up with an instant, smug smile, as if she'd just won the lottery, and Xiao Yuan's nonchalant, as if he'd only bought a cup of coffee. A surge of adrenaline rushed to his head, and without thinking, Lu Zhian lunged forward and covered Xiao Yuan's mouth with his hand!
“Hmm…” Xiao Yuan seemed to be stunned for a moment, a rare look of surprise flashing in his gray-blue eyes.
Lu Zhian realized his actions were too bold; his palm, which had touched the other person's lips, felt like it had been burned. But he couldn't care less at the moment; his face was burning. He withdrew his hand, gave an awkward smile to the equally stunned sales assistant and store manager, his voice filled with obvious embarrassment and determination:
"No, we don't need to listen to him! I...I'll just pick a few things myself!"
Adhering to the principle of never being extravagant, Lu Zhian's fingers wandered among the clothes racks, and in the end he only carefully took down a shirt and a matching pair of trousers.
"I only want these two items," he told the sales assistant, hoping his wishes would be respected.
However, his insignificant persistence was like a pebble thrown into the ocean in front of Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin, failing to even create a ripple.
Xiao Yuan's gaze swept lightly over the two rather plain clothes in his arms, without uttering a word, but there was a faint hint of disapproval in his deep gray-blue eyes. Xiao Jin's reaction was more direct. He scoffed lightly, his sharp eyes scanning Lu Zhian up and down, and uttered a two-word evaluation: "Not enough."
Before he could refute it any further, the two brothers, as if they had already reached a tacit understanding, began a new round of unquestionable selections.
With steady steps, Xiao Yuan pointed precisely to a well-tailored, soft light gray cashmere-blend cardigan and a pair of clean-lined dark casual trousers, and instructed the store manager beside him: "This set, his size."
Xiao Jin glanced at the display area, picked out a brightly colored limited edition hoodie and a pair of ripped black jeans, and said casually but with his usual domineering tone: "Take these according to his size."
They selected items so quickly that Lu Zhian was dazzled. The sales assistant took notes rapidly, her smile as bright and dazzling as a blooming chrysanthemum.
Xiao Yuan calmly concluded, as if dealing with a trivial daily task, "Send it home."
"Yes, Mr. Xiao! We'll arrange it for you right away!" The store manager's voice was filled with almost overflowing joy.
Lu Zhian felt no joy at all. His gaze inadvertently fell on the price tag hanging on the cashmere coat, and the long string of zeros made his vision go black. He felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and he wilted like an eggplant that had been exposed to the scorching sun.
That's too expensive... such a waste... how much money does that cost!
He silently screamed in his heart, feeling as if he wasn't receiving a gift, but passively pressing his fingerprint on a contract of servitude for an astonishing sum.
With this in mind, when Xiao Jin was about to step into another shop that looked expensive, Lu Zhian almost instinctively reached out and grabbed his clothes, stopping him in his tracks.
Xiao Jin turned around impatiently, his eyes full of displeasure at being interrupted, and stared at him: "What's wrong?"
Lu Zhian lowered his head, not daring to look him in the eye. His voice was low, filled with unspeakable shame and immense worry. Finally, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for so long: "...These things...what if, I mean, what if...we break up in the future, you...won't make me pay them back, will you?"
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin looked at him at the same time, their eyes showing the same astonishment, as if they had heard something unbelievable.
The people they carefully nurtured and cherished like private treasures are actually worried about this?
Xiao Jin was the first to react. He was so angry that he laughed. He reached out and pinched Lu Zhian's chin, forcing him to look up. His tone was dangerous and full of gritted teeth: "Break up? You dare to say those two words and see what happens?" He leaned closer and whispered, almost touching Lu Zhian's lips, his breath hot. "If you dare to say it, I'll make sure you never get out of bed again. Let's see how you break up."
This blatant, erotic threat made Lu Zhian's cheeks flush red, yet he also felt a chill.
Xiao Yuan, on the other side, also spoke, his voice still steady, but carrying a different kind of heavy pressure: "Assistant Lu," he used this distant title to remind them of the working relationship that still existed between them, "have you forgotten that your internship evaluation and graduation recommendation letter are still in my hands?"
His job! He actually threatened him with his job!
Threats from both sides! On one side are the constraints on his body, and on the other is the uncertainty of his future! Looking at the two equally handsome yet equally assertive faces in front of him, Lu Zhian's little hope was completely shattered, and his eyes dimmed even more.
I was enveloped in a sense of disappointment and resignation, like a little bird whose feathers had been soaked by the rain, pitiful and helpless.
Seeing his instantly dejected appearance, Xiao Yuan remained silent for a moment before finally softening his tone and speaking with an almost promise-like certainty: "No." Those two simple words were like a reassurance.
Xiao Jin had lost his patience. He stopped wasting words, put his arm around Lu Zhian's shoulder, and half-forcefully led the still-dazed person into the store, declaring without room for argument, "Let's go, don't dawdle."
Lu Zhian followed him, staggering, his heart filled with mixed emotions. That "no" felt like a weak straw, yet the threat was so real.
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