Director Xia's Expertise in Women's Fashion

"Aunt Jiang, you're overthinking it. Xiao Bai is really good at making money. This car is no burden for him at all."

Seeing Aunt Jiang's puzzled expression, Xia Lin quickly stepped in to help.

"Hey~ Not bad at all!"

After a brief moment of shock, Aunt Jiang swiftly accepted this new reality.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she had always believed Su Bai would grow up to be successful—it’s just that the timeline had moved up sooner than expected.

Once inside the car, Aunt Jiang glanced around at the extravagant interior and offered her sharp critique: "Xiao Bai, do you plan to drive this car regularly?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It’s a bit too flashy, too youthful. Doesn’t quite match Director Xia’s refined vibe. If you’ve got money to spare, you should consider getting another car with a more mature style."

Aunt Jiang was already dishing out advice, much to Su Bai’s amusement.

Truth be told, parents like her were a rare breed.

Most parents, especially older female relatives, tended to be overly cautious, their "San value" (mental stability) easily shaken. The moment they heard their child was making money in college with a partner, they’d start worrying endlessly.

Some mothers would even lose sleep over it.

And then there were those who fretted at the slightest deviation from the conventional path—like switching majors in college.

Dealing with such parents meant not only managing your own life but also constantly reassuring them. Exhausting, really.

"A son traveling far from home will worry his mother"—it’s only natural, but it can also be a real headache.

Luckily, Aunt Jiang was anything but the typical parent. Her mind worked in wonderfully unpredictable ways.

Not only did she advise Su Bai on his car choices, but she also subtly hinted at things between him and Xia Lin… despite knowing full well that Su Bai had a girlfriend in his class.

"Eh, Aunt Jiang, how did you know I also have a Mercedes GLE?"

Su Bai pulled up a photo of the GLE on his phone and showed it to her.

She nodded approvingly, and the conversation quickly spiraled from Mercedes to German cars burning oil, then to the cheap oil deals at the auto repair shop run by Grandma Li’s nephew downstairs…

Xia Lin, sitting in the back, was practically dizzy from the whirlwind of topics.

Since Aunt Jiang was here, it was only right to let her ride up front with Su Bai.

So, despite her burning desire to claim the passenger seat, Xia Lin politely took the back.

But that did nothing to lessen the impact Aunt Jiang had on her.

This aunt could talk—and with such unfiltered hilarity that even Xia Lin found herself blushing.

Then it hit her: Aunt Jiang was being friendly toward her even though she knew about Chen Yusheng’s existence. That meant Aunt Jiang actually approved of her.

The realization sent Xia Lin’s lips curling into an unstoppable smile.

If marriage ever became a topic, at least in Aunt Jiang’s eyes, Xia Lin had the upper hand.

Marrying her would also be a clear advantage for Su Bai’s future prospects.

And Xia Lin wouldn’t police Su Bai’s interactions with other women. In her social circle, marriage was more like a corporate merger—an economic arrangement. It wasn’t unusual for couples to lead separate romantic lives after tying the knot.

Not that Xia Lin had any interest in playing around.

To her, Su Bai was entertainment enough!

Still, if she wanted to secure a higher place in his heart, she’d have to step up her game.

...

"Aunt Jiang, where would you like to visit first? Tianrong Resort is great for a stroll, and if you prefer shopping, I know some excellent spots."

"Hmm… this is… surprisingly hard to decide…"

Under Xia Lin’s enthusiastic suggestions, Aunt Jiang was struck by indecision.

Su Bai quickly jumped in. "Let’s go clothes shopping first. Get you some proper outfits so you don’t have to wear those cheap street-market brands anymore. That way, you won’t keep getting hit on by random sleazy middle-aged guys."

"Getting hit on just proves I’ve still got it!" Aunt Jiang declared proudly.

"Nonsense. It’s because you look too approachable—like someone who’d be easily impressed by a little cash."

Xia Lin nodded in agreement. "Aunt Jiang, you’ve got great natural charm. You really should dress more stylishly."

"Oh, you sweet talker… But honestly, I’m not that much of a looker. Fashion’s expensive—let’s not go overboard. Oh, and Xiao Bai, don’t you dare splurge too much on me."

"Why not?"

"I don’t want to mess with your cash flow."

"What cash flow?!" Su Bai burst out laughing. "You were just telling me to buy another car. Weren’t you worried about my finances then?"

"That’s different! Spending on yourself is fine. As for me, I’m happy just tagging along for a little fun." Aunt Jiang waved her hand dismissively. "Money’s just money—enough is enough. I don’t care much for luxuries."

It was clear.

Aunt Jiang genuinely had no interest in extravagant indulgences.

Even before they started shopping, Xia Lin could tell.

Logically speaking, middle-aged women who’d weathered life’s storms tended to be far more pragmatic than the young.

For instance, those who’d married for love in their youth only to end up divorced often prioritized financial security in their second marriages.

Xia Lin had looked into Aunt Jiang’s background and knew her ex-husband had been unreliable.

Yet Aunt Jiang hadn’t turned materialistic because of it.

Of course, there was one thing Xia Lin couldn’t have uncovered through research.

While Aunt Jiang wasn’t materialistic herself, she had raised her daughter to seek a well-off partner.

As for her?

She had her little shop, doing work she enjoyed—though compared to Su Bai, who could casually afford a Panamera, it might not seem like much of a career.

But Aunt Jiang was content.

Raising Su Bai hadn’t been much of a burden—compared to her own daughter, he’d been a breeze.

So when Su Bai led her into a high-end women’s boutique with intimidatingly upscale decor, Aunt Jiang immediately protested:

"No, no, no! Xiao Bai, just take me somewhere with clothes in the 400–500 range. That’s more than enough for me..."

"400–500? No way. Didn’t you hear Director Xia? Dressing well keeps unwanted attention away."

"Ahem, honestly, after all these years, I’m used to it. I’ve been pretty since I was a kid, you know. Back then, I was even more—"

"Enough bragging. Come on, let Director Xia pick a few outfits for you."

Su Bai ushered them inside.

The store’s name was MaxMara.

Admittedly, this was completely outside Su Bai’s realm of expertise.

Fortunately, Xia Lin was well-versed in fashion for mature women.

Not because she’d prematurely adopted middle-aged tastes, but because she often accompanied her mother and other female relatives on shopping trips.

She knew exactly which brands exuded understated elegance—luxurious without being ostentatious.