Chapter 18: Couple Outfit

The sales clerk rattled at Ye Xi'an like a machine gun, leaving her speechless, only able to wave helplessly, unable to get a word in.

Bao Jing saw it, smirked, and finally stepped forward to block the clerk, shielding Ye Xi'an: "The last silk from Doomsday Blue Star is only worth this much, who are you trying to fool?"

Although he hasn't seen any good stuff, he's heard of Doomsday Blue Star; if it really were silk from there, it would start at least at a million.

The clerk glanced up and down at Bao Jing, showing a contemptuous look, with no hint of disdain hidden: "What would a poor guy like you know? Have you ever been to Doomsday Blue Star?"

Hearing the clerk's insulting tone, Ye Xi'an instantly became displeased: "No, how are you speaking!"

The clerk, a male in his early thirties, though looking down on Bao Jing, dared not clash with a female, so he just smirked and attended to other customers.

Ye Xi'an rolled her eyes at the clerk, muttering softly: "What a low‑brow view."

While speaking, she glared at Bao Jing: "Aren't you the one who likes to choke people? He insults you like that, and you don't choke?"

Bao Jing looked down amused, seeing only Ye Xi'an's chin: "When did I ever like choking people?"

"Isn't that so?"

She was choked by Bao Jing when she first came to this world, and later he also choked Zuo Yi.

"I don't like choking people," Bao Jing's gaze darkened, looking at Ye Xi'an with a grim stare: "I choke people only because I simply want to kill them."

In an instant, Ye Xi'an felt her neck chilled, as if a snake were coiling around it; she stepped back, shielding her neck: "Then why don't you want to kill him?"

Bao Jing's expression relaxed, saying nonchalantly: "I can't beat him; a male his age is at least level five, I'm only level two. If I fight him, all I get is a choke."

"Then you're really rational."

Being mocked by the clerk, Ye Xi'an lost interest in buying clothes here: "Let's go check another shop."

Every clothing store on Zhu Shen Xing has a similar style; she can't afford any of them.

Bao Jing deliberately chose an expensive men's outfit to try on, striking a handsome pose before the mirror and asking Ye Xi'an if it looked good.

Ye Xi'an looked up: the tall, upright male wore a pure black Federation uniform, a matching hat, his short black hair half‑covering his slender eyebrows, looking mysterious and ascetic.

His long legs stood straight, a gold‑inlaid belt cinched his waist, outlining a lean torso.

He was truly handsome, like an Empire colonel straight out of a shoujo manga, and Ye Xi'an was mesmerized, though she still kept an eye on the price.

"Three hundred thousand!"

Startled, Ye Xi'an reached out to strip the clothes off Bao Jing.

Bao Jing naturally replied, "Not to your liking?"

Ye Xi'an gritted her teeth: "It may look good, but the price is way too high."

Bao Jing hummed: "My own clothes were even pricier back then."

Ye Xi'an helplessly rolled her eyes: "No matter how expensive, I'm not the seller; go find whoever sold it."

The clerk walked over, first praising Bao Jing, then asked Ye Xi'an: "Do you like this one?"

She awkwardly waved: "The clothes are nice, but I don't have enough money; do you have any cheaper ones? Preferably under five thousand."

The clerk's face bore the trademark smile, showing no odd expression at Ye Xi'an's request: "Of course, the cheap section is on the far side of the second floor; you can check for something suitable."

"Thanks."

Ye Xi'an thanked the clerk, eyes like knives at Bao Jing: "Hurry up and take it off."

"Tsk."

He reluctantly took the clothes off and hung them back, lingeringly stroking the hem, eyes set on acquiring it; when he has money later, he'll definitely buy it.

Ye Xi'an led Bao Jing to the far side of the second floor the clerk mentioned; the racks held only ordinary shirts and pants.

Ye Xi'an glanced at the prices, all around a thousand, and felt comfortable choosing.

After a while, she noticed Bao Jing unmoving: "Why aren't you picking? Hurry up."

Looking at a row of jet‑black clothes, Bao Jing grabbed a black long tee and trousers: "They're all the same; what's there to choose?"

He had no interest in these ugly, purely functional garments.

Ye Xi'an read his mind, turned away disdainfully to pick her own clothes.

"We're already so poor, and still so picky."

"What did you say?"

She didn't expect him to hear her soft voice: "Huh? You must have misheard; I said nothing."

"Dare say it but not own it."

At this moment, a shop assistant came over, enthusiastically recommending a couple's outfit on a 50% discount promotion.

"Why don't you try it? I think it suits both of you."

This couple's outfit is black‑and‑white: the female set is a white waist‑tied shirt‑dress, the male set a white shirt with black capri pants, a simple, elegant style; Ye Xi'an felt a stir, checked the price— fifteen thousand for both, still barely affordable.

She gave Bao Jing a look: "Want to try?"

Bao Jing stared at the couple's outfit in the clerk's hands, imagined himself and Ye Xi'an wearing it, and felt inexplicably embarrassed, not knowing where to look.

"Just try it then," he said, since he wouldn't lose anything.

After changing, the two stood before the mirror, and Bao Jing couldn't help staring dumbfounded.

The previous outfit Ye Xi'an wore was oversized, hiding her figure completely, but this one fully showcased her body's advantages.

Her slender snow‑white legs, a waist that couldn't be grasped, and… Bao Jing turned his head, blinking quickly to hide his panic.

Ye Xi'an loved the outfit, lifting the skirt to her thigh and twirling.

"Bao Jing, how's this one?"

"It's just… average. If you like it, buy it."

"Then let's take these two sets," Ye Xi'an said, smiling shyly at the clerk: "Please pack the clothes we took off; we'll just wear these two."

The clerk smiled: "Sure, please wait a moment."

The clerk handed the packed clothes to Ye Xi'an: "Take care, welcome back next time."

"Huh? I haven't paid yet."

Bao Jing put his arm around Ye Xi'an's neck, pulled her close, and walked out of the shop: "These stores are all auto‑deducted; you don't need to pay."

Sure enough, the moment Ye Xi'an stepped over the threshold, the balance on her arm instantly became 5475.

Really high‑end.

Hmph, the rarer, the stranger.

We should head back, right?

Ye Xi'an eagerly looked forward to going home; although the Slum was shabby, at least it was a home.

Wait a moment.

(End of chapter)