To be honest, the last time Zhu Ming heard the phrase “cleared the area” was on a dog-blooded idol drama in District Six that Zhu Yingying had been chasing, filled with over-the-top melodramatic CEOs.

In TV shows, it’s a classic plot device, brimming with blatant golden fingers. But in real life, being surrounded by service staff in such an emperor-like fashion gave Zhu Ming a faint sense of helplessness.

“Young Master Xiao Xi, I know you like making an impression, but is this really necessary?”

Unable to resist, Zhu Ming tugged on Xi Xianqing’s sleeve, his tone full of disbelief. “This is such a massive mall—just not getting lost here is already a challenge—and now you’re clearing it out? Do you know how much money they’re losing in sales for the day because of this ah?”

At that moment, Xi Xianqing had just stepped into a refined, high-end women’s clothing store. He casually picked up a dress from the rack, stared at it for a moment, and furrowed his brow.

“First of all, I don’t like crowded places, and I especially detest wasting time on meaningless things like waiting in line.”

The next second, he placed the dress back on the rack with an air of indifference. “Second, Tancheng is, after all, a business under the Xi Family name. Even if there are losses, it won’t affect anyone else.”

He picked up a skirt and pinched the fabric between his fingers. After assessing its texture and thickness, he asked, “Any other questions?”

“…” Zhu Ming made a gesture of zipping his lips shut and said, “I’ll stop talking. Happy shopping ha.”

The young master visited his family’s business, any further commentary from Zhu Ming would simply be overstepping.

Zhu Ming glanced around and was a little surprised—he hadn’t expected the first store Xi Xianqing would walk into to be a women’s clothing store.

Xi Xianqing’s method of choosing clothes resembled selecting the finest radishes at a vegetable market.

Quick, precise, ruthless, and without any hesitation—his likes and dislikes for the clothes were written plainly on his face.

Clothes that didn’t meet his aesthetic standards were greeted with a disdainful furrow of his brow; those that were mediocre were passed over mercilessly with the tips of his fingers. Anything that barely caught his eye was immediately plucked from the rack and handed to the attendant trailing behind him.

Zhu Ming watched as Xi Xianqing picked out two nearly identical purple dresses, compared them for a brief moment, and handed them both to the store clerk.

Zhu Ming sneaked a glance at the price tag on the first dress. His vision went black for a second. Then he checked the second one, and the number of zeroes on the tag made his hand tremble involuntarily.

He knew he’d regret asking, but he still couldn’t hold back. “So, uh, are these two dresses any different? Are you sure you need both?”

Xi Xianqing turned his head and glanced at him. “Of course they’re different. One is jacquard fabric, and the other is a wool blend. Additionally, one is wisteria purple, and the other is lavender purple. The brightness and the undertones of the colors are completely different.”

He looked at Zhu Ming with a strange expression. “These distinctions are so obvious. Don’t you see them?”

Zhu Ming: “…”

He really shouldn’t have asked.

After observing for a while, Zhu Ming realized that Xi Xianqing was genuinely enjoying the process of shopping. He examined each piece of clothing like he was judging a work of art, selecting his preferences with seriousness and care.

With inhuman efficiency, he moved smoothly through the sea of luxurious clothing, finishing his shopping in the first store in no time.

Xi Xianqing glanced at the pile of clothing the sales assistant was holding, which now resembled a small mountain. He picked out a beige chiffon dress from the pile. “Take this one and adjust the waistline down by one size.”

Then he pulled out a skirt. “She likes sitting on the floor while drawing. Get another one in black; it won’t show stains as easily.”

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow.

As expected, all these clothes were for Xi Mufei.

He decided not to interrupt any further and quietly followed at a distance behind Xi Xianqing’s entourage.

But accompanying someone on a shopping trip was no easy task either. Zhu Ming hadn’t had anything to drink since leaving the hospital and was feeling a bit parched. Gently, he asked the sales assistant beside him, “Excuse me, does the store have any water?”

The sales assistant’s spiritual manifestation was a chipmunk. Upon hearing Zhu Ming’s request, she immediately straightened up, and the chipmunk at her feet swished its tail in sync. “Yes, yes. Would you like plain water, mineral water, sparkling water, or lemon water?”

Zhu Ming hadn’t expected there to be so many options for a simple glass of water. “Uh… lemon water, I guess.”

Zhu Ming watched as the sales assistant turned her back and spoke into her earpiece.

Five minutes later, someone arrived with a freshly prepared glass of lemon water on a silver tray.

The sales assistant handed the water to Zhu Ming and asked softly, “Mr. Zhu, are you satisfied with the temperature and humidity in the mall? If you have any thoughts or requests, please don’t hesitate to let us know. There’s nothing we can’t arrange for you.”

The little girl’s speech was quite interesting, and Zhu Ming couldn’t resist teasing her. After taking a couple of sips, he joked, “Then, if I suddenly wanted ice cream and hot pot, could you arrange that too?”

The sales assistant playfully winked. “What flavors would you like?”

Zhu Ming burst into laughter, thinking the young woman had quite a sense of humor.

Three seconds later, his laughter died down. Staring at her face, he asked, “You can’t be serious, right?”

While Xi Xianqing finished picking out clothes for Xi Mufei, Zhu Ming had already been savoring a three-scoop ice cream waffle cone for quite some time.

The sales assistant, now directing the security team to carry the shopping bags, dashed over to Xi Xianqing. “Mr. Xi, the stores you frequently visit on the fifth floor have already been notified, and the store managers are prepared. Shall we head there now?”

“No rush,” Xi Xianqing replied, naming another store. “Let’s check this one out first.”

The sales assistant looked momentarily surprised and glanced at Zhu Ming behind him, then smiled knowingly. “Understood. This way, please.”

Meanwhile, Zhu Ming, with one hand operating his motorized wheelchair and the other hand enjoying his ice cream cone, leisurely followed the group into another store.

As he was engrossed in admiring the intricate and ornate sculptures at the entrance, his ice cream was suddenly snatched from his hand. A shadow fell over him immediately afterward.

Zhu Ming, still chewing his ice cream, mumbled, “Hmm?”

When he looked down, he saw Xi Xianqing holding a white suit jacket in one hand, draping it over Zhu Ming’s body to compare sizes.

The next moment, Xi Xianqing raised an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied. He communicated with the entourage behind him, “Have the tailor come over, and bring the leather shoes from the display window as well.”

The store clerk immediately acknowledged the order.

Zhu Ming was still a little confused at first, but when Xi Xianqing picked out three different styles of suits and kept comparing them against him, Zhu Ming finally realized something was off.

Xi Xianqing seemed to be… choosing clothes for him.

While Xi Xianqing was busy discussing details with the sales assistant, Zhu Ming hesitated for a moment before sneakily picking up a nearby garment. He turned it over, trying to catch a glimpse of the price tag.

To his surprise, this store was different from the one where they had bought dresses for Xi Mufei—none of the clothing here had price tags, not even washing labels. Only the logo of the brand was stitched discreetly on the collar.

A store clerk, appearing out of nowhere like a ghost, seemed to read his mind. Smiling brightly, she explained, “Mr. Zhu, this is one of our spring-summer haute couture runway collections. All embroidery and beading are handcrafted by our artisans. The jacket costs 170,000, and the pants are 150,000.”

Zhu Ming: “…How much?”

He felt like things were spiraling out of his control.

Taking a deep breath, he called out to Xi Xianqing, who was standing in front of a mirror, “Come here for a second.”

Xi Xianqing was trying on a cobalt-blue suit jacket and surrounded by attendants. He turned his head at the sound, glancing at Zhu Ming before walking over.

“I—” Zhu Ming had been about to say something, but as he looked at Xi Xianqing in the vibrant suit, he paused for a moment. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear bright colors before. It actually looks pretty good on you.”

Xi Xianqing’s expression remained unchanged. He slightly raised his chin, nodded, and looked into the mirror. “I know.”

“…That’s not the point.” Zhu Ming snapped back to his senses and took a deep breath. “The clothes you just picked for me—I’m not taking them.”

Xi Xianqing’s face changed slightly.

He took off the jacket, handed it to the attendant behind him, and stared directly at Zhu Ming. “Why?”

Zhu Ming said, “I don’t have any occasion to wear them, and even if I buy them, they’re far too expensive. I can’t accept them.”

Xi Xianqing’s gaze was slightly cold, “This store belongs to the Xi Family—”

Zhu Ming shook his head. “Whether it’s your family’s store or not, I can’t take them for free.”

“And I have a question.”

Zhu Ming looked straight into Xi Xianqing’s eyes and asked softly, “Did you bring me to a place like this and buy these clothes for me because you think my usual attire embarrasses you when we go out together?”

He asked with a smile, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. The corners of his eyes lifted slightly, and his dark gaze rested calmly on Xi Xianqing’s face.

Xi Xianqing froze, seemingly not expecting Zhu Ming’s thoughts to head in that direction. “Of course not.”

His Adam’s apple moved slightly as he pressed his lips together. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Actually, next week I—”

“Mr. Xi, Mr. Zhu, the tailor has arrived.”

The store clerk hurriedly returned, out of breath. “The shoes you requested are also ready. Our sizes tend to run small, so we’ve prepared two options for you to try on and see which fits better.”

Both of them froze and simultaneously turned toward the door.

The tailor, the store clerk, and the sales assistant were all holding various boxes, their eyes filled with anticipation as they looked at the two of them.

They had all gathered here… solely for Zhu Ming to try on a single suit.

Zhu Ming had never been particularly mindful of his wardrobe. For important occasions, he only had a handful of formal outfits, all leaning toward casual styles, relying primarily on his looks to carry the day.

Ever since the accident left him unable to walk, he had even less interest in dressing up, let alone spending hundreds of thousands on a formal suit with no occasion to wear it.

However, Zhu Ming also felt that dragging everyone into this ordeal only to leave empty-handed would be even more embarrassing. Stuck in this awkward position, he could only grit his teeth and say, “Fine, since we’re already here, I’ll try it on.”

At worst, he figured he could pay for it himself. After all, he hadn’t touched most of the research bonuses he had received over the years.

When he came out of the fitting room wearing the suit, everyone instinctively fell silent.

Even Xi Xianqing didn’t say a word; he simply stared at him.

Zhu Ming felt uncomfortable, “…What’s wrong?”

Still, Xi Xianqing remained silent. Zhu Ming maneuvered his wheelchair to the large floor mirror and was also stunned.

Looking at his reflection, Zhu Ming muttered thoughtfully, “This suit really does have a reason for its price.”

White was undeniably a color that suited Zhu Ming. The suit had an exceptional texture and elegant tailoring, with intricate hand-embroidered beadwork delicately adorning the shoulders and sleeves, perfectly highlighting his gentle and languid temperament.

Zhu Ming examined the man in the mirror with interest. “I have to admit, your taste is actually pretty good.”

Xi Xianqing, as always, replied with the same words: “I know.”

Clearly satisfied with his own sense of style, he crossed his arms and stood behind Zhu Ming, adopting an air of critique. “Now hurry up and change out of those shoes so we can see the full effect.”

Today, Zhu Ming had come out wearing a pair of comfortable flat sneakers, which clashed starkly with the refined elegance of the exquisite suit.

Zhu Ming murmured an ‘en’ and lowered his head to take off his shoes.

The box containing the matching leather shoes was sitting on the sofa beside him, but there was a bit of distance between him and the box since Zhu Ming was seated in his wheelchair.

Too lazy to maneuver the wheelchair closer, Zhu Ming stretched out his arm, trying to grab it.

His fingertips were just a hair’s breadth away. Zhu Ming pressed his lips together and extended his arm further in another attempt.

Xi Xianqing, standing nearby, didn’t think much of it. Seeing how Zhu Ming was struggling, he simply reached over, and took a shoe out of the box.

He turned Zhu Ming’s wheelchair opposite him and bent slightly, “Don’t move.”

He lifted one of Zhu Ming’s legs, his hand naturally sliding down to hold the back of his ankle, and with practiced ease, helped him put on the first shoe.

His fingers deftly caught the delicate laces, tying them neatly in one swift motion.

It wasn’t until he picked up the second shoe that Xi Xianqing suddenly noticed the odd stillness in the room.

The fitting room was small, and when he glanced up, he caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar expression on Zhu Ming’s face—one of surprise, as if he was in a bit of a daze.

Xi Xianqing paused, his hand holding the shoe frozen midair.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the reflection in the mirror: he could see the people crowding in the front of the dressing room–the sales assistant standing at the door, her eyes slightly widened, and the chipmunk spiritual manifestation on her shoulder, its mouth comically agape. The store clerk and the tailor nearby were struggling to maintain polite smiles, their gazes filled with unmistakable amusement and teasing curiosity.

It was then that he realized what he had done.

Back in District Two, during the hot springs, fireworks, and the banquet, he had done things far more intimate than putting on shoes, such as hugging.

But all of those moments had come with a clear premise: Zhu Ming couldn’t walk and genuinely needed help at the time.

Putting on shoes, however, was a small task… one well within Zhu Ming’s current abilities. It was something he didn’t actually need help with.

Sharing the small, mundane tasks of daily life—those tender, boundary-crossing gestures—was something typically reserved for couples deeply in love.

In reality, not every couple, even in the throes of romance, would go so far as to help each other put on shoes. Yet, Xi Xianqing had done just that for Zhu Ming, and not privately, but openly in front of everyone.

Xi Xianqing had already picked up the second shoe. His other hand had just lifted Zhu Ming’s leg, and he was mere moments away from putting it on him.

But then he froze. His hand loosened slightly before he released Zhu Ming’s leg, awkwardly shoving the second shoe into Zhu Ming’s hand. “This one you can put on yourself. I… I still need to go try on my own clothes.”

He abruptly straightened up and then bumped into an empty shoe box on the floor in his haste.

Through the mirror, Zhu Ming saw Xi Xianqing’s figure pause for a brief moment. But he didn’t look back. Instead, he gripped the doorframe and quickly strode out of the fitting room, his footsteps hurried.

The sales assistant’s gaze trailed after him, and the chipmunk on her shoulder twitched its tail nervously before scurrying after him in panic. “Mr. Xi, the direction you’re headed is toward the women’s lingerie section…”

Zhu Ming, who only had shoes on one foot at the moment, “…”

His gaze dropped to the shoe in his hand, lingering there for a long time without saying a word.

After a moment, he leaned forward slightly, slipping the shoe onto his foot and methodically tying the laces.

Whether it was the overly bright, searing light of the fitting room or something else entirely, Zhu Ming wasn’t sure. He looked up and stared at himself in the mirror, his cheeks and the tips of his ears felt faintly warm. A strange flutter seemed to rise in his chest.

After a while, Zhu Ming shook his head, exhaling softly. Then, turning toward the service staff behind him, he smiled faintly and said, “I’ll take them all.”

Author’s notes:

The peac0ck was stunned, the peac0ck was flustered and exasperated, and the peac0ck fled!

The little fox in his brand-new clothes seemed lost in thought.