Ning Qian looked up in surprise, staring at the man who walked in with a smile.
Her gaze was slightly unfocused.
It was as if he were glowing.
Just when she thought she had offended him and was ready to admit defeat, he appeared as if he had heard her silent pleas.
He materialized before her like a god descending from the heavens.
She wouldn't have to waste her breath trying to win him over.
His words, "I'm here to buy a few things from you," felt like the sweetest, most touching words of love she had ever heard.
Xu Yun's arrival also caused the other saleswomen who recognized him to exchange strange glances.
'Is the tide about to turn for this month's sales?'
Because Wang Shengmei had been on her day off, she didn't recognize him.
Thinking he was just another customer, she quickly strode over to Xu Yun, intending to intercept the sale.
"Hello, sir. I'm Xiaomei, a sales associate here. How can I help you?"
"Sorry."
Xu Yun turned her down, pointing to Ning Qian behind her. "I'm here to buy from her," he said.
He wasn't a fool. He knew perfectly well that among these sales associates, whoever sold the most earned the most in commission.
In a situation like this, Xu Yun naturally preferred to give his business to an acquaintance he'd met before.
Besides, Ning Qian had a good eye. The outfit she had put together for him last time was exactly to his liking.
"..."
Although Wang Shengmei had been rejected by Xu Yun, she didn't dare show any hint of dissatisfaction.
She knew that with these VIP customers, it didn't matter who was in the right. If they filed a complaint, she'd be the one to suffer the consequences.
Not only would she have to apologize profusely, but she would also have a hefty sum docked from her pay.
This was the world of the rich.
Wang Shengmei forced an awkward smile and said politely, "Oh, so you're here for Xiaoqian, sir. My apologies."
With that, she smiled and stepped aside.
A sense of crisis washed over her.
'I can't believe he actually came!'
But then she remembered she still had a lead of nearly 200,000 in sales over Ning Qian.
'There's no way,' she thought, 'that this guy is going to buy 200,000 worth of clothes in a single visit.'
Standing behind them, Ning Qian felt a thrill of satisfaction seeing Xu Yun put Wang Shengmei in her place. It felt so good.
Under everyone's gaze, she slowly approached Xu Yun, bowed with a smile, and asked, "Mr. Xu, what kind of clothes are you looking for this time?"
"Something like before. Why don't you put some outfits together for me."
'I don't even have a change of clothes,' Xu Yun thought, then added, "Could you pick out a few more sets this time, please?"
"Do you have a price range in mind?"
"No!"
There were few customers in the store, so everyone could hear their conversation.
Xu Yun's "a few more sets" and "no price range" made Wang Shengmei, who had just been feeling relaxed, tense up immediately.
The other saleswomen were filled with envy and began to quietly watch the drama unfold.
Picking out several outfits was too much for Ning Qian to handle alone, but thankfully, two of the sales associates she was friendly with came over to help.
One of them was the same one from before.
As they selected the clothes, one of the saleswomen whispered with a laugh, "Xiaoqian, this is your comeback! We should aim for 200,000. Just pick whatever's most expensive—he said there's no budget, after all."
"We don't need to do that."
Ning Qian refused. "Just help me by grabbing the items. I'll make the selections myself."
'At first, she really had wanted to redeem herself. She wanted to win the top sales spot for the month and put a stop to Wang Shengmei's arrogance once and for all.'
'But she suddenly realized that winning by ripping off Xu Yun would feel hollow. And for what? An extra 10,000 bonus?'
'Maybe this time, I can actually win.'
'But if I do this, will Mr. Xu ever come back to me again?'
'Nobody's money grows on trees, and nobody is a fool.'
'Mr. Xu came to me on his own this time, without me having to drop any hints.'
'That means he respects me, that he thinks well of me.'
'If I rip him off just for one month's sales title, I'd be shooting myself in the foot.'
'She knew the difference between one sale and building a relationship that could turn into countless sales in the future. She had to think long-term.'
「Half an hour later.」
The clothes were selected. True to her word, Ning Qian hadn't looked at the prices. She simply chose three complete outfits that she felt suited Xu Yun's style.
"Mr. Xu, you can go try the clothes on now. If there's anything you're not happy with, just let me know and I'll pick something else out for you."
"I won't try them on. I trust your eye."
Xu Yun stood up and said, "Just wrap each outfit up separately and ring me up."
"Okay."
Wang Shengmei, listening from the side, was so frustrated she could have coughed up blood.
'She didn't even have to do the math. Ning Qian would never pass up such a golden opportunity.'
'Those three damn outfits have to be more than 200,000!'
But to her surprise, a few minutes later, Ning Qian returned after ringing up the sale. "Mr. Xu," she said, "the total comes to 163,000."
This result left Wang Shengmei completely stunned.
'It's not over 200,000?'
The other saleswomen watching the drama unfold were just as stunned.
'How could Ning Qian give up such a golden opportunity?'
'Doesn't she want the top sales spot?'
'There's a 10,000 bonus on the line!'
"That's it?"
Xu Yun was also surprised. "Last time, the single outfit you picked for me was over 100,000. How are three outfits only a little over 160,000 now?" he asked.
"You didn't pick out some discounted, out-of-season clothes for me, did you?"
"Of course not."
Ning Qian smiled a little awkwardly. "The items last time were all new arrivals, so they were a bit more expensive. The outfits I picked for you now are at their normal seasonal price, and they're what suit you best."
"Mr. Xu, more expensive doesn't always mean it looks better. Everyone's different, after all."
"You've got a point there."
Xu Yun smiled. "Same as usual—I'll use my card."
"Mhm."
As Ning Qian was leading Xu Yun to the register, they walked past another sales associate, and he happened to overhear her mutter to herself.
"Sigh. She was only short by a few tens of thousands. Watching the top sales spot slip away just like that... I have no idea what Ning Qian is thinking."
Xu Yun glanced at the saleswoman.
'Did she say that on purpose for me to hear?'
Then he turned to Ning Qian and asked out of curiosity, "How far off are you from being this store's top seller?"
Ning Qian could only stare, bewildered.
Xu Yun explained with a smile, "Oh, it's nothing. I just happened to overhear that associate say that if you sold just a few tens of thousands more, you'd be this month's top seller."
"Fifty thousand," Ning Qian replied awkwardly.
"Is there a bonus for being the top seller?"
"Yes, ten thousand."
"That's quite a lot."
Xu Yun asked casually, "So why didn't you just pick some more expensive items earlier to push the total past 200,000? It's not like I care about the price."
"I do want to make money."
Ning Qian answered honestly, "And I want you to keep coming back to me for clothes. But I don't want to rip you off. You're a good person."
'She could have killed her friend right then and there.'
'If Mr. Xu thinks this was some little scheme of mine, his impression of me will be ruined. It'll all be over.'
'A good person?'
Xu Yun gave a self-deprecating laugh.
'Great. First, Li Jinshu had called him a 'nice guy,' and now Ning Qian was hitting him with the 'good person' card.'
He smiled and asked, "So, do you want to be the top seller?"
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't."
Ning Qian hesitated before answering, "But I still have my principles."
"Alright."
Xu Yun smiled. "As it happens, I was planning on buying a bag for my mom anyway. Might as well get it here today. I'll help you make it happen."
He liked women who were honest with him.
Ning Qian: "...."