Not feeling particularly happy about being dragged out by friends today, Liu Shijia felt even worse upon seeing Gu Yingxiong's assistant, Ladi, with them.
However, running into her cousin at this moment instantly lifted Liu Shijia's gloomy mood. "I'm here shopping with some friends. Have you recovered from your injury?"
"Just a minor skin wound, it healed long ago."
"Aren't you busy today?"
"Not busy, just came to buy some things. What do you want? Your cousin will buy it for you."
Seeing Xiao Xun dressed casually in brands she didn't recognize, with his entire outfit likely worth less than one of her inner garments, Liu Shijia's friends chuckled skeptically. "This is G City's most upscale mall. Cousin Shijia, are you sure you have enough money on you?"
Xiao Xun smiled. "I have some money."
The first floor was lined with luxury fashion boutiques, the second with jewelry, the third with bags and leather goods, the fourth with mobile phones and digital products, and the fifth was the infant and toddler zone.
The group headed directly to the second floor, instantly captivated by the surrounding opulence.
As they approached a jewelry counter, a young and beautiful sales associate politely walked over. "Welcome. How may I assist you?"
One of Liu Shijia's friends said, "We'd like to look at rings."
"Certainly, please follow me."
All the jewelry here was designer craftsmanship, with prices starting at no less than five figures.
The group was drawn to the dazzling diamond rings. One friend pointed to a diamond ring shaped like a snowflake. "Please show me this one."
Liu Shijia glanced at the price tag: eighteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight. She gasped inwardly at the cost.
The sales associate, wearing black silk gloves, took out a tray, gently wiped the ring with a special dust cloth, and placed it on the tray.
Her friend took it and slipped it onto her finger, looking at it from a distance. "It's beautiful! I'll take it. Please pack it up for me."
Liu Shijia tugged at her sleeve. "You're buying it after just one look?"
"When you buy things like this, it's all about the first impression. If you like it at first sight, you truly like it. Don't just stand there looking; pick one out too!"
Liu Shijia's friend's boyfriend, very thoughtfully, swiped his card to pay. "It's not expensive, less than twenty thousand."
Another friend, in a show of one-upmanship, requested a diamond ring priced at thirty thousand, also having her boyfriend pay.
Seeing two diamond rings sold as soon as they arrived, the sales associate's smile grew even brighter.
With two of the three girls having made a purchase, they turned to Liu Shijia. "Diamond rings not only adorn your beautiful hands but are also symbols of status and prestige. Wearing something valuable on your finger earns you more respect when you're out. Little sister, would you like to choose one too?"
Xiao Xun scoffed. "What does a ring have to do with status? If someone doesn't know better, they might think it's made of cubic zirconia."
The sales associate looked Xiao Xun up and down, a hint of displeasure in her voice. "Anyone who can afford a diamond ring must have discerning taste and wouldn't mistake such a precious ring for cheap costume jewelry."
Liu Shijia's friend chimed in, "What this lady said is right. We don't want to be friends with people who don't know value. Cousin Shijia, if you don't have the money to buy one for Shijia, you don't have to say that!"
A man named Ladi, dressed rather effeminately, seeing an opportunity to impress, immediately pointed to a two-carat diamond ring priced at fifty-eight thousand. "Shijia, do you like this one? As long as you like it, I'll spend whatever it takes."
Xiao Xun felt a wave of nausea looking at Ladi's attire and demeanor. "Are you my sister's...?"
Liu Shijia quickly interjected, "He's just a friend."
Ladi directly asked the sales assistant to bring out the ring and presented it to Liu Shijia with a fawning expression. "Even if you don't want it, you can try it on. If it looks good on you, I'll buy it for you."
Liu Shijia shook her head, showing no interest.
Xiao Xun stepped forward. "Friend, you know what giving a diamond ring implies. Your relationship with my cousin isn't at that level yet. Put it back. Next time you give a gift, think about what's appropriate and what isn't."
As Gu Yingxiong's assistant, Ladi recognized Xiao Xun. However, he never expected Xiao Xun to put him on the spot like this, and his face immediately soured.
Seeing Ladi's expression, the two friends sensed the awkward atmosphere and hurried to intervene.
They had always assumed Ladi was spending so generously on Liu Shijia and themselves because he liked her.
If things continued this way, they'd never get Liu Shijia, and Ladi's promised benefits would disappear. One of them quickly spoke up, "Cousin Shijia is right. We were being thoughtless. Giving a diamond ring is indeed a bit inappropriate."
The other added, "How about we ask Ladi to buy you a pair of earrings then, as an apology?"
Ladi quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes. It was my oversight. Please accept my sincere apology, Shijia."
Seeing that her cousin was not interested in the effeminate man, Xiao Xun waved his hand dismissively. "The things here are too common. My cousin dislikes them. You shouldn't give them."
The air around them froze for a moment.
The sales associate nearby, seeing the potential sale of a large diamond ring slipping away, muttered disdainfully, "If you don't have money, why are you putting on a show?"
Though her voice was low, everyone nearby could clearly hear it.
Liu Shijia's friends also chimed in with cold remarks. "The expensive jewelry here costs hundreds of thousands. I'm afraid you can't even afford a fraction of it. Cousin Shijia, can we please not brag? You know your own standing, don't you?"
Seeing how everyone was ostracizing her cousin, Liu Shijia felt deeply wronged. She grabbed Xiao Xun's arm. "Forget it, cousin. I'm a bit tired today. Let's go."
If they left now, the events of today would likely cast a shadow over Liu Shijia's heart for a long time. She immediately turned to the sales associate. "What's the most expensive piece of jewelry you have? Take me to see it!"
Seeing that he couldn't even afford a diamond ring in the tens of thousands and still wanted to see the most expensive items, the sales associate replied, "I'm sorry, our service is only for guests with taste and discernment. Given your earlier remarks, you are not among our target clientele and therefore do not qualify to view our most expensive jewelry. I apologize, but please understand."
Xiao Xun's expression turned cold. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, and he felt displeased. "What if I insist on seeing it?"
The sales associate suppressed her anger. "Then I will have to consider you deliberately causing trouble. If you don't want to be escorted out, you should leave yourself!"
"In that case, get your store manager."
"I'm sorry, our store manager is very busy."
Saying this, she pressed the call button at the counter.
Several security guards approached. "What's going on here?"
The sales associate sneered, "Sir, will you leave now, or shall they escort you out?"
Liu Shijia pulled on Xiao Xun's arm. "Let's just go!"
The store manager emerged from the restroom and saw a crowd gathered. She hurried over. "What happened?"
The sales associate pouted disdainfully. "Manager, this guest can't afford anything and is causing a scene. I was just about to have security escort him out."
The store manager turned and saw Xiao Xun, then bowed slightly. "Mr. Xiao! What brings you here?"
"You recognize me?"
"This store belongs to Mr. Tan. I had the privilege of meeting you once at the headquarters."
"Since you recognize me, then it's simple. Take me to see your most expensive jewelry!"
"This way, please."
The store manager adopted an extremely deferential posture, her face beaming with a fawning smile. "It's my mismanagement. My subordinate was blind and offended Mr. Xiao. Please, feel free to pick anything you like."
The sales associate beside her was stunned.
Ladi and the others stood frozen, watching the store manager grovel like a lapdog with disbelief in their eyes.
What was going on?