The sales assistant was a bit incredulous, but she quickly went to fill out the paperwork.

Huang Ying knew Li Yan was doing it for her. She pulled him aside and anxiously whispered, "I know you’re kind to me, and maybe you have the means to buy it, but money should be spent wisely. Is it worth competing with them? Will wearing such expensive clothes make you healthier or smarter? One piece costs so much; buying cheaper ones means we could get a hundred pieces, and I’d have new clothes to wear until I’m old."

Li Yan couldn’t help but chuckle upon hearing her words. The metaphor of buying a hundred pieces was one thing, but the idea of having new clothes to wear until she was old was truly a cute statement!

"Don’t worry! I’ll buy you new clothes until you’re old. You know I used to care little for my salary and bonuses. Let me tell you a little secret: your man is richer than they think! Buying this kind of clothes for you until you’re old is no problem. But don’t tell anyone, or your snobbish classmates might try to steal your husband." Li Yan whispered in her ear.

Huang Ying didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; they were in the middle of this, and he still had the mood to joke!

She whispered back, "I know you’re capable. But it’s not worth the fierce competition..."

"Uh... You don’t have any expensive clothes, and it’s my first time buying one for you. How about we consider it a showpiece?" Li Yan had to say for now.

Seeing him so determined, Huang Ying realized that continuing the argument might make him unhappy. After all, he was a man with his dignity. She didn’t mind buying clothes worth tens of thousands, but his efforts to protect her made her feel warm inside.

"Then... just one piece?"

"Today, I’ll make the call. Next time, I won’t force you, okay?"

Huang Ying couldn’t resist him even if she wanted to, so she had to go along with it.

...

The sales assistant quickly brought over two sets of paperwork, handed them to each of them, and guided them toward the payment area.

Watching Huang Ying pull Li Yan aside to discuss, Tao Lin and her boyfriend exchanged smiles, thinking they were still putting on airs, and their resolve to go through with it was strengthened.

But when he took the slips, Li Yan just smiled at them and headed to the cashier, leaving them stunned. Huang Ying hadn’t even taken off the clothes! Surely he wasn’t planning to make a run for it.

They looked at each other.

Tao Lin suddenly dropped from her pretentious high, but thinking at least she didn’t lose face; hadn’t she generously bought two pieces without checking the price or trying them on? That’s the style of the truly wealthy! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

So she whispered, "Let’s pay. Maybe he’s just pretending."

Her boyfriend looked at the paperwork, feeling a bit overwhelmed. The piece the same style as Huang Ying’s was over ten thousand, and the one the sales assistant later introduced was more than twenty thousand! Almost forty thousand total just for this competition?

He took a deep breath and gave Tao Lin a look, whispering, "Xiao Lin, I think we should forget it? We were just playing around, don’t waste so much."

This forty thousand, he could produce it, but it would mean entering a tight period until the New Year, and the weeks before the New Year are a busy spending season!

"A man should be tough! Are you going soft?" Tao Lin became a little displeased; wouldn’t this obviously drop face?

Her boyfriend felt a surge of anger, wanting to pin her down for a round of punishment. It’s hard for heroes to resist the beauty! He sighed inwardly and followed Li Yan over, still hoping Li Yan would back out at the last minute.

"Buddy, you’re right. A man’s income is for his woman to spend. You’re so generous because your girlfriend likes it, truly a model for us all!" Li Yan greeted with a smile.

"Yes... It’s hard being a man. Harder when you’re a man with a woman. If it were just myself, how free and easy it would be." Tao Lin’s boyfriend lamented, feeling a bit resigned as he looked at Li Yan, thinking: This guy’s ruthless, willing to spend his savings against me!

But now, they’re already calculating the bill, if he stops now it benefits the store.

"Buddy, I think... Since you’re not at Paradise Group anymore, maybe your income isn’t as it used to be, maybe you shouldn’t buy it."

Li Yan pretended not to understand when hearing his softer tone. "It’s okay, it’s not much money anyway. If she doesn’t like it, I’ll buy another. By the way, I’m still there, and I’ve been promoted. She’s not at Paradise Group anymore because she moved to a position with better growth opportunities."

"..." Tao Lin’s boyfriend was speechless, thinking they were both unemployed! Turns out they’ve been promoted, why still dress so cheaply? Is it fun? Now he’s stuck, cash can’t be maxed out, has to use the credit card first then settle it.

Seeing Li Yan paying two thousand plus, then swiping the card delightedly. Tao Lin’s boyfriend felt a burst of suffocation, this really was a situation of not getting the chicken but losing the rice! Spending more money, one piece he didn’t like, another he hadn’t tried on... Or should he suffer a loss of face just this once?

After Li Yan finished paying, he stepped aside but didn’t immediately leave, staying to chat. "Wow? Over forty thousand? Buddy, you’re more extravagant than me!"

Tao Lin’s boyfriend wore a very forced smile, silently cursing: You’ve paid, why don’t you leave?

Faced with Li Yan, he still couldn’t let go of his pride to bolt! So he reluctantly handed over the paperwork, feeling deeply frustrated. (To be continued, for more Chapters please log on to www.qidian.com, support the author, support legitimate reading!)