A Scummy A, But Bound To A Cutesy-Appeal System - Chapter 8

Pei Xixia listlessly turned the system back on. Her eyes were vacant as she slumped dejectedly on the sofa, automatically ignoring every single one of Jiaojiao’s morning greetings.

In the future, she had better not turn it off. If it monitored her, then it monitored her. Hadn’t her phone been monitoring her for all these years too? Adding one more system would not make much difference.

Besides, the system’s confidentiality should be a little better. At least it would not lump her into big data analysis.

Two minutes ago, Pei Xiyao had already charged out the front door with a backpack on her shoulders, moving as fast as the wind. Her momentum did not look like she was going to borrow money. It looked more like she was going to rob a bank.

Pei Xixia checked the academy’s official website. A mere twenty-one-day club training camp actually cost four hundred and twenty thousand yuan. This enormous expense was about the same as Pei Xining opening champagne for an entire week straight. Still, this was a good thing. Considering the Pei family’s current financial situation, plus Pei Xiyao’s plastic friendships, there was absolutely no way she could borrow that much money in just one morning. At the very least, her life was saved.

The most urgent task now was to choose clothes and accessories for tomorrow night’s event. After all, they would be sitting in the second row beside the red carpet. They could not dress too shabbily.

Although Lu Yimo verbally disliked Pei Xixia, she still cared a great deal about her own reputation. In just ten or so minutes, she had dressed neatly and went with Pei Xixia to the collection room to choose outfits and accessories.

The collection room was located on the southern side of the manor. It was a separate little attic, its red brick walls covered in lush Boston ivy, making it look especially full of life. The first floor had an anti-theft iron door in a retro industrial style. It was heavy and tightly sealed, and Pei Xixia had to put in a great deal of effort before she managed to push it open.

The original owner had not cared about these collectibles at all. Pei Xixia had inherited the original owner’s memories, but she only knew that there were jewelry and gowns here. She had no idea what specifically was inside. Once she entered and saw it for herself, she inevitably felt a little awkward.

While Pei Yuan was alive, she had indeed collected many items from all over the world. They were indeed niche and rare. However, these collectibles did not seem suitable to wear outside.

For example, there was an opal gland-protection choker with hundreds of years of history, a peridot brooch that had been extremely popular among Omega groups during the equal rights movement, a heavy-work currency ring from the ancient technological civilization era, and a garnet pendant that sealed the scent of soil pheromones from an extragalactic system…

In short, they were all strange things normal people would not wear to attend an event.

There were also some ordinary accessories, but most of them merely had unique designs and were not especially valuable. They could not display any special status.

As for the haute couture gowns, they were ridiculous in another way. One was more gorgeous than the next, one more exaggerated than the last. The colors were dazzling, the designs bold, and the fringe and dangling ornaments all over them clinked and chimed. They looked beautiful, yes, but they were absolutely not suitable for appearing in audience seats.

In Pei Xixia’s mind, the image of the collapsing heroine from certain dress-up game advertisements surfaced: “Who can help me? This game is so hard!”

However, Lu Yimo did not mock her. Instead, she looked around with great interest, as if she had treated this as a pure tour and was completely immersed in it.

Pei Xixia chose a pair of emerald earrings that were suitable for everyday wear but still delicate. Nervously, she asked Lu Yimo, “Momo, do you like these? I feel like they match the color of your eyes very well. If you don’t like them, we can look at something else.”

Lu Yimo was seriously admiring a blurry photo on the wall, one sent back by humans exploring the universe during the ancient technological civilization era. Hearing this, she turned her head and swept a calm glance over the earrings. “Anything is fine. You decide.”

Pei Xixia placed the emerald earrings into a jewelry box, then hesitated before speaking. “Momo… these clothes don’t seem very suitable. Should we go to the mall later?”

When celebrities attended events, clothing was usually sponsored by brands. However, judging by Jiaqi Entertainment’s current operating situation, no brand was likely to come do charity for them. Buying a set themselves would be more reliable.

Pei Xixia still had her own little treasury. Well, to be precise, it was the debt she had dodged paying back to Qi Wanbai. Since the deal had not gone through, logically, the money should have been refunded. But Qi Wanbai had already ruined both of their reputations so badly, and Pei Xixia had no intention of returning that money to her.

Five hundred thousand yuan. The original owner had spent sixty thousand at the nightclub, and Pei Xixia had spent around twenty thousand bringing Lu Yimo to the hospital and buying gifts for Su Ying. There was still a little over four hundred thousand left for her to use freely.

But this was also Pei Xixia’s entire foundation for turning the tables against the wind.

She could not squander it recklessly.

Although Pei Xixia was the creator of this world, the field of luxury goods pricing was truly her blind spot. In her original real world, Pei Xixia had never chased celebrities, so she had no idea what price range celebrities’ event outfits usually fell into.

The original owner was also a genuine good-for-nothing who had no concept of money. When buying clothes, she never looked at the price tag and simply swiped her card, so she could not provide any useful memories.

What if they went to the mall and discovered that she could not afford anything? Would that not be incredibly embarrassing?

Pei Xixia looked at Lu Yimo hesitantly. “Um… Momo, usually, when you attend events, what price range are your clothes in…”

Lu Yimo turned her head and looked at her with a smile that was not quite a smile, as if she had seen through Pei Xixia’s embarrassment. “What? Just now, someone said she loved me so much she couldn’t control herself and wanted to give me everything. Now she’s not even willing to buy me one outfit?”

Pei Xixia’s face suddenly reddened. Was Lu Yimo joking with her…? She awkwardly fiddled with her fingers. “It’s not that I’m unwilling… It’s just that our family’s economic situation is really…”

Lu Yimo interrupted coldly, “Who is ‘our’ family? Stop trying to act close to me.”

Sigh. This temper really was too unpredictable. Pei Xixia could only surrender. “Okay, okay, it’s me. My economic situation is worrying. I’m useless. I’m pathetic. I can’t take out money to support my wife…”

“Who is your wife?” Lu Yimo shot over a sharp glare.

“My dear Sister, we are legally married wives.” Pei Xixia was suffering bitterly. “Please, I’m begging you, all right? Hurry and tell me how much the clothes you usually wear cost, so I can prepare myself mentally in advance.”

Without warning, the familiar electronic voice suddenly rang out in her mind.

Pei Xixia jolted by reflex. In an instant, she realized something and looked at Lu Yimo in shock.

If she remembered correctly… what she had just said was… “wife”?

Could it be that Lu Yimo did not dislike being called her wife?

Just as Pei Xixia expected, Jiaojiao announced, “Detected that the form of address ‘wife’ has taken effect. The target character’s hostility index has decreased. Psychological trauma value minus one. Current psychological trauma value total: eighty-four points. Mission progress: three out of three. Congratulations, host, for successfully passing First Stage, Mission One. The mission rewards have been delivered to your item inventory. Host, please do not forget to go to the inventory to collect your mission rewards.”

It was actually true!

So her cub was the kind of tsundere who said one thing and meant another!

Pei Xixia foolishly watched Lu Yimo’s mouth open and close, but she could not take in a single word Lu Yimo was saying. She only felt that this cold, distant face… had become even cuter!

Lu Yimo had clearly noticed that Pei Xixia’s mind was wandering, and her expression cooled. “Did you hear what I said, Pei Xining? What exactly are you spacing out for?”

“Ah, ah, sorry. I zoned out just now. What did you say?” Pei Xixia snapped back to herself, but her face was still brimming with happiness.

“Nutcase.” Lu Yimo snapped at her in irritation, then turned and left.

Pei Xixia’s skin could now be considered well trained. She immediately followed after her. “Momo, you’re not looking anymore? There are other collectibles on the second floor!”

“Not interested.”

Half an hour later, the two of them arrived at a light luxury designer buyer’s shop in a high-end shopping center downtown.

Pei Xixia had some impression of the area. The old Pei Xining had often come here to spend money, but this shop Lu Yimo chose did not seem like one she had entered before.

She had thought that, based on Lu Yimo’s usual dressing style, she would choose one of those shops filled with feminine, elegant, luxurious evening gowns. Unexpectedly, Lu Yimo led her into a buyer’s shop full of bold, unruly urban nomad-style clothing. Everywhere the eye landed was a fusion of freedom and wildness.

Pei Xixia kept feeling that something was strange. Of course these clothes looked good, but they felt too distinct in personality, and the styling was also very complicated. They did not seem suitable for a stage like the midyear gala.

At least in her impression, female celebrities attending this kind of midyear gala all wore sexy little dresses that showed their chests and shoulders, carrying delicate little handbags. They did not wrap themselves in leather waist cinchers and hold horse-catching poles.

Did she have some misunderstanding about fashion?

“Pei Xining, seeing you act so timid really makes me curious.” Lu Yimo noticed her hesitation and suddenly took a step forward, leaning beside her ear. Her breath, cool yet carrying a soft warmth, wound around Pei Xixia’s neck like a strand of silk. “Did Qi Wanbai not give you money?”

Pei Xixia stiffened, and her face reddened again. “She did. But not much.”

“Oh? Not much?” Lu Yimo stared into her eyes. “Am I worth that little?”

Pei Xixia nearly bit her own tongue. “Y-you’re obviously worth a lot! No, this isn’t a question of money at all. How can you objectify yourself…”

“Who exactly objectified whom?” Lu Yimo refused to let it go.

Why were there so many lethal questions? Pei Xixia’s brain was almost unable to keep spinning. In her heart, she silently repeated that sincerity was the ultimate weapon, trying to jump out of this verbal trap. “Momo, I’m not worrying over money. Can we not bring up the past anymore? I just simply feel that these clothing styles don’t seem very suitable. Don’t you want to wear a pretty little dress?”

“If I wear a pretty little dress, what about you?” Lu Yimo’s gaze seemed to land faintly on Pei Xixia’s arm.

Pei Xixia froze. Only then did she remember that circles of white bandages were still wrapped beneath her sleeve.

If Lu Yimo chose a cool, elegant little dress, then Pei Xixia would inevitably have to match her with a similar style. Even if she wore a long-sleeved cover-up, it would be easy for people to see that something was unnatural.

But most of these urban nomad-style outfits were casual and loose. They would not be too restrictive and were very suitable for Pei Xixia, an injured person.

Could it be… this was Lu Yimo’s unique form of thoughtfulness?

Pei Xixia’s heartbeat sped up.

Sob, sob, sob, her cub was truly too gentle! Beautiful and kind! Repaying resentment with virtue! This old mother’s heart was about to melt!

In her daze, Lu Yimo had already selected two matching couple outfits from the rack: white linen shirts, misty pink handmade crocheted long openwork vests, and suede fringed half-skirts. Among all the free and wild styles, they added a bit of sweet-cool flavor and were more suitable for everyday wear.

She held both sets in front of herself to compare, then handed one set to Pei Xixia. “Pei Xining, go try the clothes. Don’t waste time.”

It was clearly a commanding tone that left no room for refusal, yet when it fell into Pei Xixia’s ears, it sounded as warm and sweet as syrup.