CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111 SEA KING

It’s only couples who would live together, eat together, and pick each other up.

Xi Yiqian was overjoyed. Wearing these matching outfits... does this mean Xia Liang and I are announcing to everyone that we’re a couple now? Having never been in a relationship, this was Xi Yiqian’s entire understanding of what it meant to be a couple.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Xi Yiqian looked at herself in the mirror. Once I walk out that door, I’ll be Xia Liang’s girlfriend.

Summoning her courage, she finally opened the fitting room door and walked out, stopping in front of Xia Liang. Her face, which had just recovered a little, flushed red again as she stood there, clearly awaiting his evaluation.

Xia Liang looked her over and nodded in satisfaction. The hoodie really was nice; it wasn’t baggy on her at all and instead accentuated her curves. The pink fabric made her fair complexion look even more radiant.

Before Xia Liang could speak, the nearby salesperson exclaimed loudly, "Wow, where did this fairy come from! Our store should hire you as our spokesperson!"

Although the salesperson’s words were embarrassing, it was obvious that in Xi Yiqian’s heart, only Xia Liang’s opinion truly mattered. Under her expectant gaze, Xia Liang nodded and straightened her collar slightly.

"Yeah, it looks good."

Xi Yiqian finally let out a sigh of relief and gave a sweet smile. "I... I think it looks really nice, too."

Just as Xia Liang was about to say more, Luu Qi emerged from another fitting room. Seeing Luu Qi wearing the same hoodie, the salesperson couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat on Xia Liang’s behalf.

The moment Luu Qi came out, she did a little twirl in front of them before asking Xi Yiqian, "Sister Yiqian, what do you think? Does it look good?"

Xi Yiqian clearly didn’t think much of it and simply nodded. "It looks good."

"Great!" Hearing her reply, Luu Qi clapped her hands. "Then I’ll take this one!"

The salesperson instinctively swallowed hard. Aren’t these two going to fight? she wondered. In my eyes, Xia Liang and Xi Yiqian are a couple. Selling them matching outfits is normal, but why is an ’outsider’ meddling?

Just as the salesperson was worrying about a fight breaking out and wondering if she should intervene, Luu Qi threw her arms around Xi Yiqian. She said cheerfully, "This way, when you and he wear it, it’s a couple’s outfit. When you and I wear it, it’s a best friends’ outfit! You don’t mind, do you, Sister Yiqian?"

The salesperson sucked in a sharp breath. This best friend... what a master of ’green tea’ tactics. Surely this innocent-looking girl isn’t going to agree?

As if to confirm her thoughts, Xi Yiqian looked completely guileless. "Mind what?"

In her mind, Xia Liang and Luu Qi were family, so there was nothing strange about them wearing the same clothes. She used to wear matching outfits with her own sister. Besides, Luu Qi had said it would be a ’best friends’ outfit’ with her.

"Nothing at all," Luu Qi said, quickly waving her hands. Hearing Xi Yiqian’s answer, she naturally wouldn’t press the issue and make things awkward.

Seeing Xi Yiqian’s pure and simple expression, the salesperson felt a pang of anxiety for her. Oh, you silly girl! She doesn’t want to wear a ’best friends’ outfit’ with you... she’s trying to steal your boyfriend! She glanced at Xia Liang again but found him standing by silently. She could only sigh. I can’t believe this gentleman doesn’t see what’s happening. His silence is a form of consent. It seems he has his own agenda... Alas... But what can I, a mere salesperson, do? She could only shake her head helplessly.

Of course, Xia Liang was oblivious to the salesperson’s inner monologue. Seeing that both women were happy, he nodded as well. "I’ll take a white one, then."

Hearing this, the salesperson, who believed one should never argue with a paying customer, put on her professional smile again. "Sir, you have excellent taste. White will make you look even more bright and handsome."

"Mmm, the white one it is. Please bag them up for me." After speaking, he shook his phone. "I’ll go pay."

"Okay," the two women nodded, heading back into the fitting rooms to change.

Walking to the cash register, the salesperson smiled. "Sir, that will be 594 yuan for the three items."

Three items for 594 yuan meant each one was 198 yuan.

Xia Liang silently scanned the QR code and entered 792 yuan.

*WeChat notification: 792 yuan received.*

The salesperson was clearly taken aback. "Sir, the total is 594..."

Seeing she was about to continue, Xia Liang waved a hand. "I know. Get me an orange hoodie as well. Put it in the same bag as my white one and pack the other two separately."

"Ah..." So he wasn’t overpaying! He was buying another one. Obviously, this one isn’t for either of the girls with him, otherwise he wouldn’t be so secretive about it and have it bagged with his own. That means... this man is buying it for someone else! What a Sea King!

The term flashed through the salesperson’s mind. However, she didn’t let on, simply putting on her professional smile once more. "Certainly, sir."

With that, she went to find the clothes and bag them for Xia Liang. At the same time, the two women, having changed back into their own clothes, came out. The three of them waited together for the salesperson. After a moment, she trotted over with three paper bags.

Xia Liang subconsciously reached out to take them.

Xi Yiqian, who had been watching him with her head lowered, froze. Xia Liang is reaching out his hand... What is he doing? Oh, right, we’re a couple now. We should be holding hands... But there are so many people here. It’s so embarrassing! But if I don’t take his hand, wouldn’t that be awkward for him?

With that thought, Xi Yiqian reached out and took his hand.

Huh?

Xia Liang and Luu Qi both froze. Xia Liang had just raised his hand to take the bags, only to have it suddenly seized by Xi Yiqian.

What is this girl doing? Xia Liang wondered.

Luu Qi even rubbed her eyes, a look of disbelief on her face. No way... no way! Is Sister Yiqian really so easily won over? Did one outfit really advance their relationship by such a huge step?

But at that moment, Xi Yiqian didn’t dare look at either of them. Her eyes were fixed firmly on the floor, so she naturally didn’t notice their strange reactions. Xia Liang’s hand... Xia Liang’s hand... W-we’re holding hands!

After a moment’s pause, Xia Liang collected himself. He gave the delicate hand in his a gentle squeeze, a smile touching his lips. I don’t know what’s gotten into her today, but this is a nice change of pace.

Naturally, Xia Liang wasn’t foolish enough to expose the misunderstanding. He simply reached out his other hand to take the bags from the salesperson.

"Let’s go."

He led Xi Yiqian away by the hand. Luu Qi, having recovered from her shock, quickly linked her arm through Xi Yiqian’s other arm, and the three of them left the store together. Although a thousand questions were swirling in Luu Qi’s mind, she knew now wasn’t the time to ask, so she could only push them down for later.

The trio continued their shopping trip, buying two more sets of matching outfits and another individual outfit for each of the women.