Chapter 220

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Alright, I'll accompany you shopping this afternoon."

Xue Qin let out a joyful cry and linked arms with Su Xinghui, walking onto the sidewalk. Normally, Su Xinghui would never accept such intimate contact from a girl, but now he felt moved, so he pretended nothing had happened, hands tucked in his pockets, walking forward.

Xue Qin stole a glance at Su Xinghui and saw his expressionless face; she was truly relieved he hadn't exploded on the spot. Her heart suddenly beat faster—had she been too bold? Thinking of this, her cheeks flushed.

She wanted to pull her hand away, yet she couldn't bear to lose this feeling. It was rare enough that Su Xinghui had tacitly accepted her behavior. After much hesitation, she resolved to keep her arm linked with his.

At that moment, Su Xinghui spoke: "Hey, Xue Qin, where do you want to buy clothes? We've almost walked the whole street."

Xue Qin snapped back to reality—she'd been lost in her own thoughts and hadn't noticed they'd walked far. She quickly pretended to browse, leading Su Xinghui into a random women's clothing store by the roadside.

A female clerk approached: "Comrade, are you buying clothes? Our store's inventory is all newly arrived from Jiangcheng—latest winter styles. What kind of garment are you looking for?"

Xue Qin said, "I'll look around first."

The clerk nodded: "Go ahead and browse."

Xue Qin browsed the store and liked a brown wool coat. She asked the clerk to take it down, changed into it in the fitting room, then stepped out and examined herself in the mirror, asking Su Xinghui: "Su Xinghui, does this look good?"

Su Xinghui didn't want to humoring Xue Qin. He studied it carefully, then shook his head: "The color's too dull—not suited for a girl your age."

Xue Qin had the clerk bring another, sky-blue one. She tried it on, but Su Xinghui still shook his head, saying it wasn't good enough.

After several tries, a pink coat finally caught Su Xinghui's eye. As long as Su Xinghui was satisfied, Xue Qin was satisfied. She checked the price tag: 328 yuan. She asked the clerk: "Is this coat on discount?"

The clerk said: "Our store is running a New Year promotion—this coat is 15% off."

Su Xinghui shook his head in disbelief—every store used the same line.

Xue Qin asked: "How much is that?"

The clerk pulled out a calculator, computed it, and said: "278 yuan."

Xue Qin stuck out her tongue: "So expensive? Almost two months' salary! Can't you make it cheaper?"

The clerk shook her head: "Comrade, this is already the lowest price. Without the New Year promotion, you'd never get this deal."

Xue Qin stared at the coat, reluctant to let go—but it was simply too expensive. After much hesitation, Su Xinghui took her hand and led her out.

The clerk panicked—this coat was valuable, and selling it meant a good commission. She shouted: "Don't leave! We can still negotiate the price!"

Xue Qin turned back: "How much then?"

"Eighty percent off!"

Su Xinghui kept walking out.

"Seventy percent off!"

Xue Qin stopped: "Xinghui, it's seventy percent off!"

Su Xinghui also stopped. He said to the clerk: "Where's your boss?"

The female shop owner, who had been serving another customer, came over. She said to Su Xinghui: "Comrade, seventy percent is already cheap—we're making no profit."

Su Xinghui once again used his haggling skills and drove the price down to fifty percent. The shop owner sighed helplessly: "You're ruthless. I can't argue with you. Fine, fifty percent. But next time you buy clothes for your girlfriend, come back to me!"

Hearing the shop owner call her Su Xinghui's girlfriend, Xue Qin's heart soared. She pulled out money to pay: "Alright, Big Sister, I'll always buy clothes here from now on!"

Su Xinghui carried the bag of clothes for Xue Qin as they left the store. She said: "Xinghui, you're amazing—so good at haggling."

Su Xinghui said: "Next time you buy clothes, haggle to fifty percent—that's the standard."

Xue Qin dragged Su Xinghui to a few more stores, bought a pair of jeans and a pair of leather shoes. Su Xinghui never grew tired, carrying all her bags. Xue Qin was delighted.

After leaving the shoe store, Xue Qin said: "Su Xinghui, thank you for spending the day with me. Let me treat you to something to eat."

Su Xinghui said: "No need for food. It's getting late. I'll walk you home, then go back myself."

Xue Qin said: "That won't do! You've spent over two hours with me—you're exhausted. I should thank you!"

Su Xinghui sighed and nodded: "Fine."

Xue Qin happily linked arms with Su Xinghui again.

At that moment, Su Xinghui heard someone shout: "Brother Hu, that's the guy—he caught me today!"

He turned and was stunned to see the long-haired thief he'd arrested that day—now out, surrounded by a few rough-looking youths, pointing at him.

The leader among them pointed at Su Xinghui: "Mouse, you're saying this guy helped the Gongan Bureau catch you today?"

The long-haired thief nodded: "Yeah, that's him."

The leader sneered: "Then we've got to teach him a lesson. If we let people like him mess with us, how will we ever work in peace? We've got to break them."

Su Xinghui, hearing such arrogance, didn't get angry—he laughed: "So your name's Mouse? Weren't you in jail? How'd you get out so fast?"

Mouse grinned: "You think arresting me did anything? My guys have connections inside the Gongan Bureau. One call, and I'm out."