Huh, she's wearing clothes like this, who knows what she's like in private...

Su Qi raised an eyebrow but didn’t dare to respond.

Whether she understood or not wasn’t really the point.

The key was keeping her happy.

Su Qi stood up as well. "Should I get you two more drinks, or do you want to go shopping first?"

At the mention of shopping, Liu Yuan immediately perked up, her earlier displeasure forgotten in an instant.

"Yes! Shopping, shopping!" She grabbed Yun Huang’s hand. "Sister Yun Huang, let’s go! There’s a shop ahead with the most beautiful clothes!"

"Before, I never dared to go inside… I’d just slow down and sneak a few glances from outside whenever I passed by…"

The afternoon sunlight was just right, carrying a pleasant warmth.

Compared to Yun Huang, Liu Yuan was more like a bird freed from its cage, chattering excitedly as she pulled Yun Huang forward.

"That’s the one up ahead—it’s called ‘Rainbow Silks.’ Even the name sounds lovely."

Yun Huang let herself be dragged along, a faint smile lingering on her lips as she occasionally hummed in agreement.

Perhaps she was happy too, but after years of suppressing her emotions, she couldn’t match Liu Yuan’s exuberance.

Or maybe… she simply struggled to express her joy most of the time.

Su Qi trailed behind, hands tucked in his pockets, keeping a steady pace.

This was one area where card wielders fell short compared to cultivators.

Boosting stats didn’t mean an immediate transformation of one’s physique.

The chill from the two cups of milk tea in his stomach was still lingering, sending a slight shiver down his back.

The cost was indeed steep.

Harming his sister by a thousand while losing eight hundred himself…

The exterior of "Rainbow Silks" was impressive—floor-to-ceiling windows spotlessly clean, showcasing an array of clothing with an understated sense of luxury.

Notably, the entrance was draped with a wooden bead curtain.

Pushing it aside, they were greeted by a blend of fresh fabric and subtle fragrance.

The shop was empty, quiet.

A clerk in an elegant uniform approached with a practiced smile—no trace of disdain despite Su Qi and Liu Yuan’s outfits, which together probably cost less than three hundred.

Well… Yun Huang’s clothes weren’t expensive either, likely due to frequent combat training.

"Welcome. Would you like some assistance?"

Liu Yuan might not have actually planned to buy anything.

But having been present when Su Qi squeezed three million out of Yun Ting, she couldn’t help feeling like their family had come into money…

So with Su Qi there to back her up, she finally had the courage to step inside.

"We’ll browse for now."

Of course… if the prices were within reason—say, eight hundred or a thousand—she could take the chance to "fleece" Su Qi good and proper.

Her eyes sparkled as she tugged Yun Huang toward the racks of pretty dresses.

"Wow! Sister Yun Huang, look at this one! The color is gorgeous!"

She held up a pale yellow gown against herself.

Yun Huang reached out, fingertips brushing the fabric—soft and smooth to the touch.

"It is lovely," she murmured, her voice warm with quiet amusement.

The clerk stepped forward at just the right moment.

Even if the customers said they didn’t need help, a good salesperson knew when to seize an opportunity…

After all, who would turn down a commission?

Still, she maintained a polite distance, avoiding the suffocating pressure of an overeager pitch.

"This is our store's new arrival, crafted with cloud-brocade-inspired techniques—excellent breathability and comfort. It uses a 'color halo' method to achieve gradient hues. With your fair complexion, miss, you'd wear it effortlessly."

Su Qi sat idly in the lounge area, zoning out.

He had little interest in these brightly colored women's garments.

The shop seemed to specialize in "Hanfu."

Unlike stores outside that crammed every trendy element into their designs,

the clothing here was mostly simple in cut, yet the details exuded thoughtful craftsmanship.

At that moment, Liu Yuan put the dress back on the rack.

She wandered over to a section with more understated styles, her gaze settling on another long gown.

The dress transitioned from a pale red on the left side to white on the right.

It had minimal embellishments—only delicate fretwork patterns embroidered in silver thread at the collar, cuffs, and front.

For some reason, she felt this dress suited Yun Huang perfectly.

Elegant, refined, with an indescribable air of nobility.

"Sister Yun Huang, try this one!" Liu Yuan held up the gown as if presenting a treasure. "It's gorgeous!"

Yun Huang smiled helplessly. "I’m not sure it’s quite my style."

The sales associate seized the opportunity: "This piece is called 'Apricot Blossoms in Light Rain.' It features retro raised embroidery, entirely handcrafted, and complements your aura beautifully."

Truthfully, the design wasn’t unfamiliar to Yun Huang…

It somewhat resembled the traditional sect robes worn by female cultivators in ancient times…

"Nonsense! You have such a great figure—you’d look amazing in anything!"

Su Qi watched their exchange, the two cups of shaved ice he’d downed earlier still sitting heavy in his stomach.

He decided to close his eyes for a moment.

Honestly, accompanying women on shopping trips…

Well, aside from couples in the honeymoon phase and the undefeatable species known as 'simps,' most men found the process rather dull—if not outright torturous.

The shop’s fragrance was pleasant—not the cheap, overpowering kind, but a subtle blend of floral and woody notes that was soothing.

The only downside was the air conditioning, which seemed cranked up a notch higher than outside.

Su Qi discreetly pulled his jacket tighter.

Soon, Liu Yuan returned with another outfit.

"Brother, brother, look at this one! How do I look?"

She held up a red cropped top, eyes shining with anticipation.

Su Qi glanced up briefly.

In his mind, it didn’t suit her—it even leaned slightly tacky.

But he didn’t say that outright.

"It’s alright."

A standard, noncommittal male response.

Liu Yuan pouted. "What kind of answer is 'alright'?"

She didn’t press him to elaborate, just put the top back and grabbed another.

"Brother, brother, what about this? Huh?"

Su Qi: "Hmm, this one seems decent."

Still vague, but slightly more encouraging—enough to keep his sister’s enthusiasm from deflating entirely.

"Ugh, you clearly have no taste in fashion!"

Liu Yuan stuck her tongue out at him before darting off.

Arguing about aesthetics with Su Qi felt like casting pearls before swine.

"Sister Yun Huang, check out this qipao—it’s a modernized version, perfect for you!"

It was a moon-white cheongsam, its collar and cuffs adorned with intricate silver-threaded lotus vine motifs.

The so-called modification involved replacing the original slit in the skirt with a small section of pleated fabric.

This preserved most of the classical charm while avoiding the odd stares it might otherwise attract.

...

Looking back, not long ago, styles like Lolita, JK uniforms, or Hanfu were still seen as incomprehensible by the general public.

Back then, they were labeled as "eccentric costumes," completely out of step with mainstream society.

Wearing such outfits in public almost guaranteed becoming the center of attention, enduring curious or judgmental glances.

It was all too easy to trigger people’s prejudices.

To many accustomed to plain, everyday wear, the elaborate ruffles and lace seemed excessively ornate and exaggerated.

After all, not everyone harbored an inner princess.

Some might have once nurtured such dreams, but reality had long since worn them away.

And so, what they had lost, they could hardly bear to see others embrace so vibrantly.

Fortunately, change came swiftly in recent years, with the whirlwind of short videos sweeping through everything.

First, let it be clear—Su Qi herself certainly wasn’t the type to mindlessly scroll through those clips...

But the influence of this trend undeniably reshaped the world around her.

Naturally, this included those once-marginalized fashion subcultures.

Yet, an old saying often surfaced unbidden in Su Qi’s mind:

When a once-niche, intimate hobby becomes ubiquitous—as common as street advertisements—its original allure, that unique aura, inevitably fades.

It was like stumbling upon a hidden rose garden, concealed behind towering walls.

You once approached it cautiously, fingertips brushing against velvety petals, inhaling deeply the intoxicating fragrance.

You wandered slowly through it, certain you’d found a secluded corner of paradise.

Then, one day, the protective walls crumbled.

Crowds surged in, momentarily stunned by the sight.

But soon, they began plucking the roses carelessly, excitedly taking them home.

Before long, the same blooms filled cheap vases in every household.

Yet they merely saw the flowers as pretty props for social media photos—few paused to savor the subtle fragrance, let alone understand the stories and rarity behind them.

And the once-fragrant garden? It lost its soul.

Roses were picked thoughtlessly, branches withered, and the former tranquility and beauty vanished, leaving only chaotic noise.

It seemed these fashions had met the same fate—now reduced to tools for chasing attention and clicks.

It was hard to judge those who flooded comment sections with generic praises like "Wishing you success!"

But their presence overshadowed those who simply wanted to share their passion sincerely.

Comments like, "If she dresses like this, who knows what she’s really into..." became inevitable.