After Transmigrating for the Third Time, the Real Young Master Decides to Slouch - Chapter 13

After lunch, they rested until three-thirty, and then Jiang Zao took Jiang Tong out.

They went to a comprehensive shopping mall in the city center, one that combined leisure, entertainment, and shopping. Jiang Zao estimated that after buying clothes, they could conveniently have dinner here too.

Jiang Tong did not often come to large shopping malls like this. Following behind Jiang Zao, he appeared somewhat restrained. Looking at his older brother strolling as leisurely as if he were walking through a courtyard, he asked cautiously, “Brother, are we really buying clothes here?”

He looked around. Seeing that no one was paying attention to this side, he lowered his voice and said, “It’s too expensive. Why don’t we go to the boutique street near home instead…”

Jiang Zao stuffed a British-style outfit into his arms. “We’re buying here. You’re grown up now. You should have at least a few decent outfits—go try it on.”

Jiang Tong accepted the clothes, and the first thing he did was flip over the price tag. His eyes widened, and even his voice became a little unsteady. “So expensive…”

“Brother…” Jiang Tong clutched the tag and asked hesitantly, “This is really expensive. Your salary…”

Before he could finish, he received a knock on the head. Jiang Zao said, “Stop asking about my salary. In any case, it’s enough to buy you a few sets of clothes.”

After being hit, Jiang Tong felt wronged. He was not trying to ask about Jiang Zao’s salary. He was worried his brother’s salary could not afford it.

Jiang Zao picked up two more outfits and shoved them over. “Try these two as well… This one works too…”

Holding a pile of clothes, Jiang Tong called for a stop. “Stop stuffing things at me. I can’t hold any more. Let me try these on first!”

After saying that, without waiting for an answer, Jiang Tong carried the clothes and jogged into the fitting room. Anyway, just because he tried them on did not mean he had to buy them.

After Jiang Zao lowered his head and replied to Rong Jingcheng’s message, he sat down on a chair in the waiting area.

Bored, he idly turned his neck. Suddenly, a figure passing by the entrance entered his line of sight.

Dai Chu was wearing a T-shirt and denim skirt, with her hair tied into a bun. A small bag was slung diagonally across her body. Compared to the quiet, well-behaved image she showed at school, her entire person had gained a few traces of playfulness.

She did not notice that her homeroom teacher was only separated from her by a glass display window and walked forward with light steps.

Jiang Zao did not intend to greet her. After she passed the store, he withdrew his gaze and continued turning his neck.

There was movement behind him. He turned his head. Jiang Tong had changed into the first British-style outfit and come out. Probably because it was his first time wearing this kind of clothing, he was a little unused to it and kept tugging at the hem and sleeves from time to time as he came in front of Jiang Zao.

Jiang Zao looked him up and down once. Under Jiang Tong’s uneasy gaze, he said, “Go look in the mirror yourself and see if you’re satisfied. If you like it, we’ll buy it.”

Jiang Tong was surprised. “Eh? You’re not going to help me look?”

“What is there to look at? Clothes only have value if you like them yourself. If you accommodate other people’s taste, then in the end, are you the one wearing them, or are other people wearing them?” Jiang Zao yawned and said lazily.

Jiang Tong struggled for a moment, then nodded. “Then I’ll go look.”

He ran over to the fitting mirror. The shop assistant originally wanted to follow, but Jiang Zao stopped her. “Let him look by himself.”

The assistant hesitated before giving up on following.

Jiang Zao watched as Jiang Tong stood in front of the mirror for a while, then struck a few poses. Finally, he took a photo in the mirror and scratched his face embarrassedly before starting to operate his phone.

Jiang Zao pursed his lips and turned his head away. Out of sight, out of mind.

After a while, Jiang Tong floated over, his tone a little dreamy. “Brother, this set is pretty good.”

Jiang Zao asked him, “Lu She likes it?”

Jiang Tong turned pale with shock. “How did you know?!”

Jiang Zao’s gaze drifted to his phone. Jiang Tong blushed and said bashfully, “I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to judge well myself, so I asked Lu She to help me take a look…”

“Oh. Then keep taking his advice.” Jiang Zao waved his hand, signaling for him to continue trying things on.

Jiang Tong originally wanted to say something, but after gripping his phone, he turned and left without saying anything. He was only trying the clothes on. He would not buy them.

By the time Jiang Tong returned after trying everything on, he reported the battle results. “Lu She said the first and third sets look good. The other two are average.”

“Mm.” Jiang Zao nodded and said to the shop assistant, “We’ll take these two. Write up the receipt.”

“All right.” The shop assistant agreed with a pleasant smile.

“Eh?” Only after the assistant took the clothes away did Jiang Tong come back to himself. He hurriedly shouted, “Brother, no, I don’t want them!”

“If you don’t want them, why did you try them on?” Jiang Zao glanced at him, annoyed.

“But they’re too expensive…” Only after seeing the assistant walk farther away did he whisper, “I was just trying them on. I didn’t plan to buy them.”

Jiang Zao interrupted him. “I plan to buy them. Wait here.”

Jiang Tong wanted to continue persuading his brother, but Jiang Zao’s light, airy glance made him stop in place. He obediently waited until Jiang Zao came back.

Jiang Zao lifted his chin at him and said, “Carry your own things.”

Jiang Tong could only carry one bag in each hand and follow behind Jiang Zao. Behind them, the shop assistant called with a bright smile, “Welcome to visit again next time.”

Jiang Tong looked at the shopping receipt and bit his lip, thinking that with prices this expensive, only a ghost would come again next time!

He wanted to tell his brother that this was enough and that they should go back. But when he looked up, Jiang Zao had entered the store next door.

“Brother—?” He was greatly alarmed. Again?

Jiang Zao was already picking clothes. Jiang Tong bit his lip and could only follow him inside.

Jiang Tong trailed behind Jiang Zao, dragging large and small bags with him. His brother had bought him clothes, shoes, and even a baseball cap. Even if they left now, he could say they were returning with a full load.

Unfortunately, they still could not return yet.

“Brother, are we still not done buying?” Jiang Tong asked. Since when did his brother love shopping this much? His feet were sore from walking.

Jiang Zao looked over with one glance and said faintly, “Once your clothes are bought, that means we’re done? We’re not buying anything for your mom? Unfilial son.”

Jiang Tong got stuck for a second, then hurriedly said, “Buying for Mom? Good, good, good. Mom hasn’t bought new clothes in so many years. Brother, if you buy her clothes, she’ll definitely be especially happy!”

Jiang Zao shook his head and said helplessly, “Then hurry and follow.”

They entered the women’s clothing area. The moment they entered, Jiang Tong immediately felt dizzy. Women’s clothing was so bright and gorgeous.

However, the style of clothing here clearly was not suited for older women, so the two of them continued forward.

“Eh?” Jiang Tong looked left and right, then suddenly called out.

“What?” Jiang Zao asked.

Jiang Tong struggled to lift the hand covered in shopping bags and pointed at a girl in a nearby store. “Isn’t that Dai Chu?”

Jiang Zao followed where he pointed and looked over. Dai Chu was putting her bag over her shoulder. Beside her, the shop assistant was holding a long dress with spliced colors, both praising and persuading her. “Beauty, you really look amazing in this dress. I’ve never seen anyone wear this dress better than you. This dress is currently on promotion, and after the discount, it’s very cheap…”

Dai Chu shook her head. “I was only trying it on. I didn’t plan to buy it.”

“Ah?” The shop assistant opened her mouth wide. She was not surprised by the words themselves, but felt that this little girl was too honest. Most people who tried something on but did not buy it would find all sorts of reasons, yet she actually said it directly and truthfully.

Dai Chu smiled at her. “Thank you for letting me try on this dress. Sorry to trouble you.”

After saying that, she was about to leave, but as soon as she turned around, she stopped. Outside the store stood two people. One of them had both hands full of shopping bags and was still pointing at her with a finger.

Jiang Zao swatted Jiang Tong’s hand down and nodded at her. “Hello, Student Dai Chu.”

Dai Chu had already restrained her surprised expression and walked over to greet them. “Teacher Jiang, Student Jiang, hello.”

The shop assistant, who had come back to herself, chased after her and called, “Beauty, this dress…”

Jiang Zao pointed at Dai Chu and said to the assistant, “She’s still a high school student. You’re trying to persuade her to buy such an expensive dress. Do you want her parents to come looking for you?”

The assistant looked at Dai Chu with a strange expression, then returned to the store resentfully.

Dai Chu’s gaze lingered on that dress for a few extra seconds before she turned to thank Jiang Zao. “Thank you, Teacher Jiang, for helping me out.”

“You’re welcome.” Jiang Zao nodded. “Are you here to buy clothes?”

Dai Chu’s hand tightened around her crossbody bag, and she shook her head. “Just here to look around.”

After she said this, she suddenly fell silent. In order to prevent the atmosphere from becoming too awkward, she asked again, “Teacher and Student Jiang are here to buy clothes?”

“That’s right.” Jiang Zao said, “We came to buy some clothes for the change of season.”

Dai Chu understood and tactfully said goodbye. “Then I won’t disturb you. I’ll leave first. Take your time shopping.”

After saying this, she nodded and turned to leave.

Jiang Zao spoke. “Dai Chu.”

Dai Chu stopped.

Jiang Zao asked her, “Are you busy?”

“Me?” Dai Chu did not quite understand what he meant. “What are you referring to?”

“If you don’t have anything to do next,” Jiang Zao smiled, “Teacher wants to ask you for a favor.”

Confusion was written across Dai Chu’s face. She looked at the homeroom teacher in front of her. A faint smile hung at the corners of his lips. It would not make people feel that he was friendly, nor would it make them feel that he was cold.

This was the same impression he gave others at school. Yet at this moment, Dai Chu inexplicably felt something difficult to describe, as if the person before her was someone worthy of trust. It had nothing to do with appearance or identity. It was a reliability that came from the soul.

She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. A moment later, she lifted her head and smiled. “All right, if I can help.”