Fang Ming didn't know what was on Qin Xiao's mind, and perhaps he wouldn't have cared even if he did.
In any case, they were both just putting on a show and using each other; neither had the right to look down on the other.
Since there were no group missions and nothing to do in the afternoon, Fang Ming hesitated for a moment before deciding to go to the finance department to reimburse his expenses for the Yanjing trip.
Adding last month's salary and bonus of twenty-four thousand yuan, his bank card balance reached: 28,350 (the previous ten thousand bonus hadn't been fully spent).
"Brother Ming, want to find a place for a drink tonight? Liang Zi said a new barbecue place opened on the next street; the taste is good, and they have discounted chilled beer!"
After finishing work at 5 PM, Fang Ming had just come out of the Qin Corporation finance department and entered his audi a6 when Wang Meng called.
Fang Ming replied casually, "Not tonight, I'm going shopping with Chen Qian."
"Accompanying the sister-in-law? Then you definitely have to go. After all, you two just... you're in that inseparable stage, hehehe!"
"Get lost, stop being a smart-ass."
Fang Ming cursed with a laugh, hung up the phone, and drove to the destination where he had agreed to meet Chen Qian.
IFS was the most high-end luxury shopping district in Rong City; not only was the air conditioning strong, but the air was also filled with the scents of various major perfume brands.
When Fang Ming arrived, Zhou Xiaoyan was already gone, and Chen Qian had touched up her exquisite makeup.
The moment she saw Fang Ming appear, her eyes lit up.
"Honey, over here!~"
After saying this, she trotted to Fang Ming in her high heels with a 'da-da-da' sound and immediately took his arm.
That soft pair pressed against him without any hesitation, gently squeezing Fang Ming's arm with her breathing.
"Why did you just get here? I've been waiting for you for so long."
"I'm a corporate slave; I had to go to work after coming back, unlike you."
"Oh, why talk about that? Let's go, let's go. I've been eyeing that bag for a long time; if we don't buy it now, someone else will grab it!"
Chen Qian pulled Fang Ming's arm and walked toward a certain direction in the mall.
Entering a Gucci store, the sales assistant immediately greeted them warmly.
The salesgirls in these luxury stores were all sharp as tacks and could tell the nature of this pair at a glance—the man dressed simply but had a steady temperament, while the woman was dressed flamboyantly but was clearly a 'dodder flower' who relied on others.
Such a combination often had the highest conversion rate.
"Good afternoon, sir, madam. How can I help you?"
"Show me that new pink baguette bag!" Chen Qian pointed at a bag in the display case, her eyes shining.
"Certainly, you have great taste. This is our limited edition for this season; there are only three in Rong City, and this is the last one left."
The salesgirl put on her gloves to take out the bag while quietly observing Fang Ming's expression.
Fang Ming's expression was indifferent, even a bit... absent-minded??
"Honey, do you think this looks good?"
Chen Qian wore the delicate pink bag, posing in front of the mirror, her face full of infatuation.
"It looks good, suits you well," Fang Ming said perfunctorily.
The purpose of luxury goods was to show off; if it were just for looks, one might as well buy something for two or three hundred.
"This one then?"
Chen Qian looked at him expectantly, then glanced at the tag somewhat nervously: "It's just a bit expensive, twenty-two thousand..."
Twenty-two thousand?? Fang Ming's newly received salary was almost gone before it even got warm.
But he didn't even blink, directly taking out his phone: "Scan the code."
"Ah, honey, you're so handsome!!"
Although Fang Ming had promised her he'd find a way, Chen Qian thought that even if he were to buy it for her, he would lecture her for a long time. She hadn't expected him to be so decisive.
She was so excited she almost jumped, hugging Fang Ming's arm and rubbing against it again.
Just as Fang Ming was paying, a sudden argument broke out nearby.
The voices weren't loud, but they sounded particularly harsh in the quiet, high-end store.
"Look at them, they didn't even hesitate and bought it right away. Now look at you!!"
After scanning the code, Fang Ming instinctively looked toward the source of the noise, only to see a young couple standing at a counter not far away.
The man looked to be in his early twenties and was quite handsome, the type who could be a school hunk.
But his clothes looked a bit shabby: faded jeans, a crumpled white T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers that were starting to peel.
At this moment, he was holding the girl's hand with an embarrassed expression, his voice kept very low.
"Xiaoya, can we not argue here? So many people are watching..."
"So you know it's embarrassing??"
The girl named Xiaoya threw off his hand, her voice shrill: "You know so many people are watching? Didn't you see the way that salesgirl looked at us just now, like we were beggars?"
The girl was actually quite pretty. Although she couldn't compare to a carefully packaged'socialite' like Chen Qian, she was still youthful and beautiful.
Only now, her face was filled with disdain and impatience.
"I want to buy it for you too, but... but this one bag costs eighteen thousand. I work as a delivery driver for a month, through wind and rain, and I only make six or seven thousand even if I work myself to death..."
The boy gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly: "And we have to pay next month's rent, the utilities, and I have to get medicine for my mom..."
"Enough, enough, I don't want to hear this. Every time you say next month, next month. Zhou Yuan, it's been a year, a whole year!"
"For my best friend's birthday, her boyfriend gave her Chanel. For Valentine's Day, it was LV. What about me? I only have the cheap Taobao knockoffs you buy for a few dozen yuan."
"I want to save face too; I want to post selfies on my Moments and be envied, instead of shrinking into a corner like Cinderella at every gathering!"
The girl named Xiaoya's chest heaved violently, her eyes red.
She looked at the sweating, sun-tanned boy in front of her, the disdain in her eyes almost overflowing.
Zhou Yuan lowered his head, his hands gripping the hem of his shirt tightly: "Xiaoya, I know I've wronged you, but..."
"That's enough, Zhou Yuan, I'm tired, really tired."
Xiaoya interrupted Zhou Yuan directly. After speaking, she took one last look at the bag in the display case, her eyes full of reluctance and resolve.
Then she suddenly turned around and walked quickly out of the store.
"Xiaoya! Where are you going??" Zhou Yuan panicked and instinctively reached out to pull her, but only caught the air.
"Don't follow me, let me be alone!"
Xiaoya didn't look back; she pushed open the glass door, hailed a taxi, and disappeared from everyone's sight.
"Xiaoya..."
Zhou Yuan chased her to the door, but as the cold air from the automatic door blew on him, he froze in place.
He looked in the direction the taxi disappeared, then looked at the remaining three-digit balance on his phone. A full-grown man, his eyes instantly turned red.
He quickly took out his phone, his fingers trembling as he typed: "Xiaoya, I'm sorry, please don't be angry. I'll take more orders, and I'll go borrow money tonight. I'll definitely buy it for you..."
However, the message sent was like a stone sinking into the ocean, with no response.
Only the red exclamation mark reminded him that some things, once broken, can never be put back together.
This scene was fully witnessed by Fang Ming nearby.
While waiting for the salesgirl to pack the item, he pushed up the glasses on his nose.
"A delivery driver, a sick mother, and a beautiful girlfriend who despises the poor and loves the rich, leaving because of vanity... Tsk tsk, this setup is simply the standard urban god-rich template."
Fang Ming clicked his tongue inwardly: "If he were to get hit by a luxury car and gain an inheritance, or pick up a bargain antique, this kid would probably take off right then and there."