Chapter 71: Buy! Must Buy!

Jiang Ran steps forward, standing together with Su Ruan; he is tall, his eyes slightly lowered as he looks at Su Yanhua, his gaze like evaluating a merchandise for sale, his tone lazy yet carrying undeniable confidence.

"Oh? So it's Liu Laoshi who's about to get promoted? Congratulations, congratulations." He says congratulations with his mouth, but his eyes lack sincerity, "As for whether our shop is all hype or actually has substance…"

He turns sideways, giving way to the shop entrance, makes a "please" gesture, a smirk lingering at the corner of his mouth.

"Auntie, and Liu Laoshi, come in and have a look, then you'll know, right? Our shop has nothing else but a fresh look and good workmanship. Of course—"

He deliberately drags his tone, his gaze sweeping over the slightly tacky department‑store‑bought outfit Su Yanhua is wearing, saying pointedly.

"The price, of course, is different from those ordinary goods. Just afraid… some people only brag with words, but their pockets aren't sturdy enough."

This remark hits Su Yanhua's lungs like a precise poke!

She hates being looked down upon the most, especially financially!

"What do you mean?!" Su Yanhua, like a cat whose tail was stepped on, sharpens her voice, "Look down on whom? Wen Bin is a teacher! How could we owe you that little money?!"

Liu Wenbin, standing nearby, feels his forehead veins pulsing, silently cursing Su Yanhua a thousand times in his mind.

This stupid woman! Gets worked up at the slightest provocation!

Jiang Ran is clearly setting a trap!

He just wanted to speak to salvage the situation, saying "Let's take another look," but Su Yanhua had already grabbed his arm and, without letting go, dragged him into the shop.

"Come on, Wen Bin! We'll do it right here today! I want to see what kind of Golden Branch and Jade Leaf they can produce!"

Liu Wenbin is pulled off balance, stumbling, under the varied gazes of the surrounding people, literally caught between a rock and a hard place, forced to grit his teeth as Su Yanhua half‑pushes, half‑pulls him into the shop.

The moment they step inside, Su Yanhua's once‑blazing fighting spirit is doused as if with a bucket of cold water, instantly stifling.

The shop's interior and atmosphere are completely different from what she imagined.

It's not the cramped, noisy counters of a department store, but bright, tidy, and orderly.

Warm‑yellow walls display some Sketches she doesn't understand but finds beautiful; brand‑new wooden racks hold a few Ready‑made Clothing items, the styles indeed starkly different from those she saw in the department store, each exuding a unique delicacy.

The air is scented with a faint fabric fragrance and a barely perceptible hint of tea.

Several customers are speaking softly, the ambience quiet and comfortable.

"This… how does this look like a small workshop?"

"It's clearly a step above the department‑store counters!"

Su Yanhua feels a flutter in her heart, but the words are already out, the water splashed cannot be taken back; she can only force herself to stay calm, scanning the place with a critical eye, trying to find any flaw.

Jiang Ran and Su Ruan also walk in behind.

Jiang Ran gives Su Ruan a look, meaning "A fat sheep has arrived, you can slaughter it."

Su Ruan understands, her face still the same composed, unruffled expression; she steps up to Su Yanhua: "Since you want clothing for an important occasion, there will naturally be requirements for style, material, and workmanship."

"Why not first look at our Sample Garment and Fabric Book? Or, you could tell us your ideas, and we'll design according to your temperament and needs."

She pulls out several thick Fabric Sample Books and gestures toward a few representative Ready‑made Clothing pieces hanging on the wall.

Su Yanhua is a bit bewildered by this professional stance; she knows nothing about fabrics or design.

She only wants to dress more beautifully than everyone else, to outshine Su Ruan!

She flips through the Fabric Book haphazardly, unable to make sense of Silk, Xiangyun Gauze, Imported Cotton Linen, etc.!

This makes her confidence wane further; these materials clearly aren't cheap.

Liu Wenbin also leans in to look; as a cultured person he has some standards for texture, and seeing those delicate fabrics and the finely‑cut clothes on the wall, he has to admit that Su Ruan's shop indeed has something.

Yet the more he sees, the more his stomach aches, wondering how much this will cost.

"I… I want a skirt! The most fashionable! One‑of‑a‑kind! It must not clash with anyone else's outfit!"

Su Yanhua holds back for a while, presenting a vague and demanding request.

Su Ruan nods, not at all feeling troubled: "Sure. Our clothes are basically exclusive designs, limited production, so the chance of a clash is very low. As for the most fashionable…"

She calmly assesses Su Yanhua's figure and temperament, already calculating inside.

Su Yanhua's figure is decent, but her temperament is a bit petty, and overly avant‑garde designs would not suit her.

"Your figure is proportionate, your skin tone is fair, suitable for styles that enhance temperament and convey elegance and generosity." Su Ruan picks up a brush and paper, speaking while quickly sketching, "For example, this modified Cheongsam Dress, retaining the Stand Collar and Frog Button elements of a Cheongsam, showing temperament, but the skirt is made into a more modern A‑line for ease of movement; the color could be a steady, atmospheric ink‑green or royal blue; the material could be a draping Simulated Silk or Jacquard Cotton, both noble yet lively…"

With a few strokes, an elegant and distinctive Dress silhouette appears on the paper.

Su Yanhua looks at that Sketch, her eyes instantly widen!

This dress… is too beautiful!

Even better than what she saw in the department store, even better than what Xiao Juan wore!

She can almost picture herself wearing it, accompanying Liu Wenbin to the city competition venue, drawing countless envious looks!

"Just—just this one!" Su Yanhua points at the Sketch, fearing Su Ruan might backtrack.

Liu Wenbin also looks at the Sketch, finding it indeed generous and appropriate, very suitable for formal occasions.

Yet he can't help but ask, "How much would this whole set cost, roughly?"

Su Ruan puts down her brush, and in an even tone reports a figure.

The price makes Liu Wenbin gasp sharply! Su Yanhua also widens her eyes!

That price is almost equivalent to two or three months of Liu Wenbin's salary!

Su Yanhua collapses: "So expensive?! Why don't you go snatch it!"

Jiang Ran snorts beside her, lazily saying, "Auntie, you just said yourself earlier, money's no issue, you want to wear it to a big event."

"Our material, our design, our Handicraft, worth this price. If you think it's pricey, turn right outside, the department store has a pile of prices you like, pick any."

His words again put Su Yanhua on the hot seat.

Not buying means admitting she's poor, admitting she was bragging earlier, admitting she can't afford anything in Su Ruan's shop!

Buy! This price really hurts the flesh!

Su Yanhua's face flickers red and white, looking at Su Ruan's calm, expressionless face, at Jiang Ran's mocking smile, and at Liu Wenbin's clearly dissenting gaze, a surge of wicked fire mixed with intense vanity erupts within her.

Buy!

Must buy!

She must not admit cowardice at this moment!

She's going to wear the most expensive, it infuriates Su Ruan!

Let everyone see how good Su Yanhua's life is now!

"Do! Just this set!" Su Yanhua almost gritted her teeth, forcing the words out between her teeth, "Wen Bin, pay!"

Liu Wenbin's vision went black, and he almost couldn't catch his breath.