The Shopping Diary of a Young Lady

『Essential Items for When the Opposite Sex Stays Over at Your Place!』

【DUREX】

"Durex."

Ji Qingyi stared at this unfamiliar term, momentarily lost in confusion.

She wasn’t quite sure what it was—a brand name or something else?

But her hesitation was brief. She quickly typed the word "durex" into the search bar to find out what it meant.

The moment she hit search, a webpage popped up—

「The browser cannot open this webpage because a secure connection to the server could not be established.」

"?"

This was the first time she had encountered such an issue, leaving her unsure how to proceed. Undeterred, she tried typing "durex" again.

Yet, the result remained the same—no connection.

Unbeknownst to her, her phone was equipped with multiple firewalls and parental controls. After several futile attempts, she reluctantly closed the page.

However, her curiosity didn’t fade with the search engine. If anything, it grew stronger.

"Such tight security for an 'essential item,'" she murmured under her breath before raising her gaze to Ji Xiaze in the driver’s seat. "I have a question."

"Young Mistress, please go ahead," Ji Xiaze replied promptly, though his attention had been fixed on monitoring the road.

Ji Qingyi spoke slowly, enunciating each word. "What is 'durex,' and where can one purchase it?"

The moment the question left her lips, even Ji Xiaze—a driver and bodyguard trained under the strictest discipline—froze for several seconds before snapping back to reality. He stiffly turned his gaze forward, his tone grave and solemn. "Apologies, Young Mistress. I do not have the authority to answer that question."

The Ji Family’s upbringing was notoriously rigid, especially for its heiress. Any exposure to topics related to sex or romance was strictly forbidden.

Answering such a question would carry severe consequences.

To put it simply—

Ji Qingyi might be brilliant, but at her core, she was a sheltered young noblewoman utterly unversed in worldly matters.

Her knowledge in this area didn’t extend beyond elementary school level—she understood concepts like kissing, hugging, and holding hands, but anything beyond that was a complete mystery.

In other words—

What was common sense to others was an exotic novelty to her.

Her understanding of such topics was catastrophically lacking.

Ji Qingyi’s delicate brows furrowed.

She hadn’t expected Ji Xiaze to refuse her question, and his tone made it clear he dared not defy the Ji Family’s rules.

This only deepened her suspicion—perhaps "durex" was some kind of forbidden object!

Recalling the highly upvoted post, she muttered, "An essential item…"

Her curiosity had now peaked. But rather than press further, she turned her attention back to her phone.

After a long pause, she reopened it and typed a message to Liu Qingyue.

Minutes later, a reply arrived:

「Durex is a particularly effective good-luck charm.」

Ji Qingyi’s eyes widened in realization—so that’s why it was taboo.

It must be some superstitious relic.

While the Ji Family was traditional, they were staunchly anti-superstition. Their family code strictly prohibited any belief in such "backward" ideologies.

After all, history had witnessed tragedies like a certain conglomerate’s involvement in a cult that led to a horrific "human sacrifice" incident aboard a ship.

The Ji Family’s ancestors had established these rules precisely to prevent their descendants from falling into similar folly.

But then—

Another message from Liu Qingyue popped up:

「Are you thinking of gifting this? What a brilliant idea! Legend says that if someone of the opposite sex stays over, presenting this item after dinner will instantly convey your feelings. That night, you’ll even meet in dreams.」

「Of course, it’s pure superstition and utterly unreliable—but the sentiment behind it will definitely get across!」

Ji Qingyi’s eyes sparkled faintly.

She did want Su Cheng to sleep well, and meeting in dreams?

Did that mean they could even play Go in their dreams?

That way, he’d wake up refreshed and ready for another day of practice.

She knew it was just superstition, but the thought amused her.

Still, the idea of conveying her feelings…

She gently pressed her lips together and typed:

「In that case, where can I obtain one?」

The reply came swiftly:

「Leave it to me!」

「By tomorrow morning, the servants will have it ready for you.」

Satisfied, Ji Qingyi set her phone aside, adjusted her mask, and gracefully stepped out of the car, her long, slender legs clad in black stockings stretching elegantly as she exited.

They had arrived at a high-end men’s boutique—one specializing in luxury brands.

As soon as Ji Qingyi stepped into the clothing store, she immediately drew the attention of both customers and sales assistants, with the latter practically unable to tear their eyes away from her.

It wasn’t just the Flame City Private Academy uniform she wore—every movement she made exuded a natural elegance and nobility.

The sales staff couldn’t help but marvel inwardly, though they quickly averted their gazes. Customers like her required the attention of the department manager, and they had no right to disturb her.

While Ji Qingyi was searching for the sleepwear section, a middle-aged woman with a manager’s badge pinned to her chest approached her.

"Welcome to our boutique! I’m the manager here, and I’ll be happy to provide you with professional advice and assistance to help you find the perfect sleepwear."

With that, she flashed a practiced professional smile and bowed slightly, adopting a deferential posture.

This scene left the other sales assistants in the store utterly astonished—it was the first time they had ever seen their manager act so subserviently toward a customer.

After all, even wealthy and influential business tycoons who frequented their store had never received such treatment.

However, only the manager herself knew the truth. The moment she had approached this customer, she had felt as if dozens of eyes were locked onto her.

Moreover, as she drew closer to the young woman, she was overwhelmed by an intimidating aura that left no room for even the slightest impropriety.

As a high-earning executive with an annual income exceeding ten million, she knew full well that this girl’s status was likely beyond her reach. That was why she had resorted to such deference, hoping to balance the dynamics between them.

"Sleepwear."

Ji Qingyi cast her a cool glance and uttered just those two words.

"Right this way, please."

Hearing this, the manager immediately stepped forward, gesturing for Ji Qingyi to follow as she softly explained, "We have a range of exquisitely designed sleepwear. Of course, we can also arrange for a custom-made set if you prefer something unique."

At the manager’s words, Ji Qingyi raised a delicate eyebrow slightly before striding into the dedicated sleepwear section.

"Forgive my boldness, but may I ask who this purchase is for?"

The manager ventured cautiously, testing the waters.

After all, this was a men’s specialty section.

"A friend." Ji Qingyi replied indifferently, then lightly tapped the counter with her fingertips. "Please make some recommendations."

"Of course! Just a moment—I’ll bring out some options for you right away."

The manager hurried off to the counter to retrieve the garments.

Soon, over a dozen sales assistants lined up, each holding out different styles and fabrics of sleepwear for Ji Qingyi’s inspection.

As she passed by each one, a sales assistant would eagerly introduce the features of their displayed item.

Ji Qingyi examined each set carefully before shaking her head in rejection.

Finally, near the end, a black ensemble caught her attention. She studied it for a few seconds before pointing at it.

Immediately, two sales assistants stepped forward—one holding up the top, the other the bottom—displaying them for Ji Qingyi’s consideration.

The top was a pure black short-sleeved shirt with a folded collar, while the bottom was a matching pair of black shorts—an ultra-lightweight two-piece set designed for summer loungewear.

Why had she chosen this particular set?

Because when she practiced kyudo, she wore pure white archery attire.

Now that she was learning Go, she thought the pure black short-sleeved shirt and shorts would be fitting. She even reached out to touch the fabric—soft and comfortable, just as she preferred.

"This piece is from our boutique’s tech series. The fabric is made from coconut oil-infused cotton, often referred to as 'breathable fabric.' It nourishes the skin while keeping you cool and dry, with moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties that enhance ventilation and comfort."

Seeing her interest, the manager launched into a detailed explanation. "This is the only fabric on the market that meets the standards for optimal bare-skin comfort during sleep."

"This one."

Without hesitation, Ji Qingyi declared in a tone that brooked no argument. "Wrap it up."

At her command, the entire staff froze in place.

She hadn’t even mentioned the size—were they supposed to guess?

It wasn’t that Ji Qingyi lacked common sense; she had simply never purchased clothing before and thus had no concept of sizing.

"May I ask… what size your friend wears?" The manager remained patient, not daring to show the slightest hint of impatience.

"Size…"

Hearing the word, Ji Qingyi finally recalled that this was part of the process. But she had no idea what Su Cheng’s measurements were. She glanced around briefly before pulling out her phone.

She decided to contact her maid.

Ji Qingyi: "What are Su Cheng’s measurements?"

Soon, Liu Qingyue relayed Su Cheng’s size details to Ji Qingyi.

After conveying the measurements to the manager, Ji Qingyi handed over her bank card to settle the bill.

Once the payment was processed, the manager respectfully accepted the card and personally escorted her out of the boutique.

Then, carrying the bag containing 'Su Cheng’s sleepwear,' Ji Qingyi returned to her car before heading to a nearby large shopping mall.

She needed to purchase daily necessities.

This shopping experience had been quite satisfying—every item had been carefully selected by her.

From bath towels to slippers and face towels, though she hadn’t tested them herself, she was confident they would meet her standards.

Just as she was about to check out and leave, Ji Qingyi suddenly noticed a familiar English word on the gum display next to the checkout counter: "Durex."

Her footsteps halted instantly, her gaze growing solemn.

She couldn't understand why a protective charm would appear in a legitimate international mall.

This defied common sense.

A coincidence in name?

And why was it placed next to chewing gum?

Unless…

This charm was actually some kind of edible food?

The packaging also looked strikingly similar to gum.

This thought abruptly surfaced in Ji Qingyi's mind, compelling her to move toward the gum display.

"Young Mistress, please let me take those for you."

Suddenly, a woman dressed as a customer blocked Ji Qingyi's path and reached out to snatch the shopping bag from her hands.

Trying to stop me from getting closer!

So it really is 'Durex'!

Ji Qingyi frowned delicately, then sidestepped to avoid the woman's grasp, determined to purchase this edible protective charm.

But unexpectedly, several more customers brushed past her, obstructing her path.

"Young Mistress, if the main family finds out you’re buying this, they will undoubtedly restrict your freedom. Please abandon this idea immediately."

A steward stared at Ji Qingyi with an impassive expression, speaking sternly.

"Is there really a need for such alarm?"

Ji Qingyi swept a cold glance around before replying indifferently, "Besides, I only intended to buy it as a gift."

Yet the moment she said this, the attendants froze, exchanging bewildered looks.

"Young Mistress… are you joking?" one of them asked in disbelief.

"Do I look like I’m joking?"

Ji Qingyi furrowed her brows, sensing something was amiss.

Could it not be food after all?

Another attendant quickly waved her hands in explanation. "Apologies, Young Mistress, but you may only purchase items within the scope permitted by the main family, and this matter would require thorough vetting."

At that moment, Ji Xiaze approached from a distance, realizing that her young mistress must have misunderstood. Otherwise, given her temperament, she would never have done something so absurd.

Combined with the secret task Ji Yuewu had previously assigned her, it was clear that these two sisters-in-spirit were playing another strange game.

She had been instructed earlier to prepare an unmarked, label-free Durex. At the time, she found it odd—how could such a forbidden item be handed to the Young Mistress?

Now it made sense.

The Young Mistress had no idea what this item was for.

So she stepped forward and whispered into Ji Qingyi’s ear, "Young Mistress, preparations for this item are already underway. Please be patient, or else word might reach the main family and cause trouble."

Hearing this, Ji Qingyi paused briefly before calmly averting her gaze.

She gave a composed nod. "Understood."

Then she turned and walked out of the mall.

Only once her figure had vanished from sight did the attendants finally relax, their tense expressions easing.

If the Young Mistress had actually bought that, it would have been a capital offense.

One attendant, however, seemed puzzled by the Young Mistress’s behavior. "It seemed like she didn’t know what it was for."

"I think so too. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have done something so outrageous," another agreed, patting her chest in relief. "Thank goodness nothing went wrong."

Suddenly, Ji Xiaze appeared behind the stewards, her tone icy and stern. "People forget thousands of things every day. Why not choose to forget this one?"

"Yes, ma’am," the stewards replied in unison, bowing their heads.

After leaving the mall, Ji Qingyi opened her car door, placed her carefully selected items beside her, and sat upright with her eyes closed, seemingly in repose.

Though her expression remained as haughty and aloof as ever, inwardly, Ji Qingyi was brimming with excitement and anticipation.

Because the items she had bought today would be put to use by Su Cheng tomorrow.

This was her first time purchasing clothes and daily necessities for someone else.

Though she didn’t understand why she felt this inexplicable thrill, she found it refreshing.

Ding—

Just then, a message arrived from Liu Qingyue.

[Young Mistress, the protective charm is ready.]

Ji Qingyi replied swiftly, instructing, "I want to see it the moment I open my eyes."

[Understood, Young Mistress.]

"By the way, is this charm edible?"

[No, it’s a balloon-type toy.]

"A toy?"

Ji Qingyi blinked her beautiful eyes a few times before typing another message: "Has anyone else given him one before?"

[I’m certain no one has! But who knows about the future? When the time comes, just hand it to him as-is and let him blow up a few balloons for you.]