บท 62: Partners in Crime
Shu Xian, Shi Lian and Zhang Ren, already went to the mall to look for Pan An's blue necktie. The moment they set inside the mall, they were already looking left and right to look for a place where to buy his necktie.
However, Zhang Ren still remembered his astonishment when he knew about Shi Lian's background. With Mr. Chang who drove them to the mall, it was a quiet drive as he was a little bit embarrassed with asking Shi Lian about her background with Mr. Chang around.
"You didn't tell me that you grew up in an affluent family!" Zhang Ren exclaimed, Shi Lian, rolling her eyes at her as she crossed her arms in front of her chest while they walked.
"Are you stupid?" she commented, scoffing at the same time. "I'm not the type of person who is like that, you know—proudly saying 'Oh, you don't know who I am?' bla, bla, bla… I'm not that kind of snobby girl."
"Wow…"
Zhang Ren exclaimed once more, this time, nodding his head approvingly as he liked what Shi Lian said, grinning about it at the same time.
"It's good that you're like this, then! Something that I didn't expect from you! It's good that you beg to differ! Makes you an awesome, unique girl!"
This time, Shi Lian couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Shu Xian also agreed, nodding her head at the same time as she recalled what happened yesterday in the elevator.
"Yes, I'm proud of my friend being that way, however… yesterday, was something that you wouldn't expect."
"Oh?" Zhang Ren furrowed his brows, curious. "Tell me about it."
Shi Lian and Shu Xian laughed as they remembered the event that happened in the elevator. With Shu Xian starting the story, Zhang Ren listened intently to the girls, already interested in the topic.
"You see, Shi Lian is already known to some people who are familiar with the business industry and what they are doing for the city. When she heard people talk bad about me, she was a little annoyed that she didn't allow other people to enter the elevator."
"What?" Zhang Ren chuckled, "How? You own the university?"
"No!"
Shi Lian playfully rolled her eyes at him.
"We see potential in the university. If we see potential in those who seek for help, our family becomes one of the fund raisers for them. One of our contributions in the university are the elevators. So since people were judging Shu Xian, I didn't let them use it."
"Oh, so you're snobby if you only find it justifiable," Zhang Ren nodded, narrowing his eyes at her at the same time. "Fair."
The three of them laughed. With Shi Lian suddenly stopping in her tracks, the other two stopped as well, already listening to her suggestion.
"Hey, since you're looking for a necktie, why not shop in the department that is under us here in the mall? You can get a discount."
"Hmm…"
Shu Xian thought for a while, this gesture already understood by Shi Lian as she groaned, understanding what she's thinking of.
"Oh, geez! You don't have to think that just because you got a discount, doesn't mean it's not a good gift or it's a cheap gift! The quality is still the same and with the allowance that you have now, you still worked hard on it!"
Zhang Ren arched a brow at Shi Lian.
"That's what she's been worrying about?" he asked, Shi Lian, nodding to answer his question. "Oh, Shu Xian… you are a goody-two-shoes… you don't need to think that way. It's still a gift—the thought that counts."
"Yeah, right!"
Not minding what they are saying, Shu Xian turned her body to look at them, asking them a question instead.
"How much is a necktie, usually?"
"Well…"
Zhang Ren cocked his head to the side and told them what he knew.
"Cheap ones can be $5 but it won't last long. Good ones are usually $40-$50, but it's okay since the quality is good and it can last for a very long time."
"True," Shi Lian chimed in, crossing her arms in front of her chest once more as they waited for Shu Xian's decision. "You can get a discount from our department since I know the manager well. Anyway, how much do you have with you right now?"
Shu Xian bit her lip as she held the wallet tightly in her hand. With her knowing how much she has inside, Zhang Ren and Shi Lian sighed, wanting Shu Xian to accept the suggestion already.
"I have roughly $30 in my hand…"
"Haiya…"
Zhang Ren also shook his head, giving Shu Xian a smile as he told her to follow Shi Lian's suggestion.
"I say you take the discount. With only $30 and with you having no lunch yet, I'd say you let her help you."
"Geez…" Shu Xian furrowed her brows, "I didn't expect neckties to be this much when it comes to good quality."
"Well, duh! You're a girl and it's your first time shopping for neckties. Come on, then."
With Shi Lian linking her arm with Shu Xian's, the three of them walked to the store for them to buy Pan An's necktie.
"Do you know his color preference?" Zhang Ren asked, Shu Xian, nodding as she answered.
"Yeah. Blue."
"Alright!" Zhang Ren approved, winking as well. "He'll look good in blue—he'll use it to work!"
"Yeah! And if he uses it during classes, I will not say a word—just teasingly look at you as we know he will look good on it and the ladies will just gawk at him without them knowing that what he's wearing came from you."
Hearing the both of them talk made Shu Xian blush. Seeing as the two of them are already getting along even though they just met each other recently, it made Shu Xian think that if they are going to be together…
Shi Lian and Zhang Ren would already be partners in crime—a future headache for Shu Xian.
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MysticAmy
MysticAmy 2/2 updated~! If you look closely at the book cover of the book, you can see that Pan An is wearing the gift Shu Xian gave him, and she is pulling him by his blue necktie. ;)
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