Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan stopped in their tracks, their faces showing confusion as they asked:
"What's wrong? Are we not allowed in because we're eating? Or are you afraid we'll get your clothes dirty?"
Fang Chenyi had never thought that the classic novel trope of snobs looking down on people would actually happen in real life. And, how cliché, it was happening to him.
She saw that the couple was dressed in cheap clothes and eating street food. They definitely wouldn't be able to afford anything if they came into this top-tier international brand's store. On top of that, they would make the whole place smell like spicy skewers. The store manager would definitely be displeased, and she'd inevitably get a scolding. Given the manager's personality, she certainly wouldn't have anything nice to say to this couple either. That's why the sales associate had kindly offered them a word of warning.
But hearing Fang Chenyi's question, it was clear he had misunderstood her good intentions. Especially when she looked up and saw his handsome face, the young sales associate's heart couldn't help but start pounding. She quickly waved her hands, glanced cautiously back into the store, and then lowered her voice, saying timidly:
"No, no, we don't have a rule against bringing food inside. It's just... it's just that our store manager has a bit of a... uh... temper. Sir, ma'am, we have a dedicated rest area over here with drinking water. You two should take a seat and eat at your own pace. It's much better for you, right?"
'Their store manager has a bad temper? Heh.' Fang Chenyi thought. 'Running a business and daring to lose your temper with customers? It didn't take a genius for him to guess that this sales associate was just being tactful. What she probably really meant was that they didn't look like they could afford anything.'
Of course, the sales associate's tone was still quite polite, and judging by her expression and demeanor, it didn't seem like she was looking down on them. It really did seem to be just as she said. Especially after glancing at her name tag—"Sales Trainee - Li Qian"—both Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan understood that this trainee, who was about their age, was probably genuinely trying to give them a kind warning.
'Still, Fang Chenyi felt a little frustrated. 'Never mind the sports cars and properties to my name, just the money in my bank account makes me a millionaire. Do I really look that much like a country bumpkin?'
Just then, a displeased female voice came from inside the store, behind the trainee. "Li Qian, what are you doing over there? Chatting on company time? Do you not want to become a full-time employee?"
Hearing this, the trainee flinched. She gave Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan an apologetic smile before quickly returning to her post and standing at attention.
Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan exchanged a look, seeing the resignation in each other's eyes.
"Chenyi, why don't we go next door? I think the clothes at Armani are nicer than the ones here anyway."
'Although Fang Chenyi really wanted to march in there, just like in a novel, and buy several sets of their most expensive clothes to slap them in the face, a second thought stopped him. If he did that, wouldn't he just be benefiting the store in the end? He'd buy the clothes, and the very people who looked down on him would get the commission. Wouldn't that just be asking for it?'
With that thought, Fang Chenyi nodded at Bai Menghan. "Alright, let's go check out Armani then."
After saying that, he led Bai Menghan toward the Armani store next door, eating a spicy skewer with one hand.
After the two left, a woman in her mid-thirties inside the Louis Vuitton store curled her lip in disdain. Then, she "praised" the trainee by the door, "Li Qian, you did a good job. From now on, remember, it's best not to bring poor bastards like that into the store! They should take a good hard look at themselves. Do they really think a couple of young punks like them can afford a brand like this?"
Hearing the manager's "praise," Li Qian, still by the entrance, sighed quietly. 'Looks like I was right after all,' she thought. 'If I had let that couple in, the manager would have surely humiliated them so badly they wouldn't have known where to look.'
Ignoring what was happening behind them, Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan soon arrived in front of the Armani boutique across the way.
Seeing that the Armani store also had a greeter at the door, Fang Chenyi wondered to himself, 'I wonder if this one will stop us too?'
But what he didn't know was that the moment he and Bai Menghan arrived at the Armani entrance, the female sales associate's eyes lit up. Before they could even step inside, she suddenly bounded in front of them.
The sales associate's sudden appearance startled Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan. Fang Chenyi was speechless. 'Damn,' he thought, 'don't tell me all these salesclerks are cut from the same cloth...'
But in the next moment, the associate's reaction completely defied their expectations.
The sales associate approached Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan and gave them a deep, respectful bow. "Sir, ma'am, welcome to the Armani boutique. I am the store's top sales consultant, Li Yi. It would be my honor to assist you today."
The woman's actions left Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan completely stunned. 'What's going on?' they both thought. 'This is a bit... over the top, isn't it??'
"Sir, ma'am, right this way, please. If I may be so bold as to ask, what style of clothing are you looking to purchase today? Our main Armani lines include..."
As she spoke, the sales associate gestured for them to enter, then launched into a seamless, eloquent introduction of the store's featured styles.
"Uh, hold on, hold on." Seeing that the sales associate was about to launch into a long speech, Fang Chenyi held up a hand to stop her. He pointed to the paper cups of spicy skewers in his and Bai Menghan's hands and asked, "Is it okay for us to bring these inside?"
"Of course it's okay! Tee-hee," she giggled. "To be honest, I love the smell of these. Please, you two, come right in."
After saying this, the saleswoman didn't forget to turn to another, rather dumbfounded salesperson next to her. "Xiaowu, quickly go and get two glasses of lemon water for our guests."
Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan exchanged a glance and both nodded. 'Now this is the attitude a sales consultant should have,' they thought. After nodding, they followed her into the store.
Because the Armani and Louis Vuitton boutiques were so close to each other, the scene over at Armani was perfectly visible to the Louis Vuitton store manager.
The Louis Vuitton manager just couldn't understand why that top saleswoman from Armani across the way, who was known for being incredibly proud, was being so enthusiastic toward this plainly dressed young couple.
Of course, what she didn't know was that just a short while ago, during her lunch break, this very same "top sales consultant" had also been shopping at "How's the Needle Fabric?". Li Yi had naturally witnessed the scene when Fang Chenyi and Bai Menghan were buying bedding, especially the black card Fang Chenyi produced when it was time to pay...
[To be continued...]
P.S. Phew, finally got it written! Today's second update!
A huge thank you to my brother 'Sitting on a Grave Teasing a Ghost' for the generous donations: two of 588 book coins and three of 1,888 book coins, for a grand total of 6,840 book coins! There's no way to repay you, so this Xiao Youzi will brave mountains of knives and cauldrons of boiling oil—and will definitely keep working hard on writing!
Another chapter will be up later!