Chapter 14

Wei Xia stopped trying to pull her arm free.

After hearing Xiao Qi’s explanation, she even felt that she had been terribly unprofessional.

Even in her original world, Wei Xia had rarely been this physically close to anyone, including other women. She generally preferred being alone. Of course, she had a few very close friends, but they rarely had opportunities to spend time together and barely even saw one another.

She also understood Xiao Qi’s concerns.

With filming drawing closer, if the two of them still behaved like complete strangers, it could cause enormous trouble for Xiao Qi, who had helped her so much.

Wei Xia knew she needed to adapt to her role as Xiao Qi’s “partner” as quickly as possible.

After being reminded, she felt both guilty and ashamed of herself.

She silently resolved to make every possible effort to repay Xiao Qi’s kindness.

Feeling Wei Xia’s stiff body gradually relax, Xiao Qi turned her head away to hide the smile she could no longer suppress.

Shencheng was a city of steel and concrete, operating like an intricate machine that never stopped.

Whether it was the bustle behind glass curtain walls during the day, the surging heat of nightclubs after dark, the laughter over late-night snacks in the early hours, or the oil sizzling in food carts beneath the morning sun…

Every one of its twenty-four hours was filled with activity.

This hardworking city drew young people from all over the country, and their presence constantly infused Shencheng with new vitality.

Liuguang Plaza was a shopping mall at the heart of it all. It occupied a vast area and served the most prosperous residential and commercial districts nearby.

Wei Xia and Xiao Qi had barely reached the mall entrance when countless curious and astonished gazes began landing on them.

As a luxury shopping center, even the revolving doors were attended by uniformed staff.

Afraid they would be recognized, Wei Xia hurriedly pulled Xiao Qi inside.

The moment they entered, melodious piano music drifted from the center of the first floor.

Wei Xia looked up and saw a towering glass dome and a massive crystal chandelier.

The hall was crowded with people—fashionably dressed young adults, couples holding hands, and parents accompanied by their children.

Voices filled the air, and the entire place was bustling.

Wei Xia’s breathing tightened.

There were far too many people.

If they were recognized, they were finished!

Xiao Qi, however, didn’t seem worried in the slightest.

She continued linking her arm through Wei Xia’s and pointed in different directions, sharing everything she saw through the thin fabric of her mask.

Whenever people heard her voice, they turned curiously toward them.

Several people even tried to approach, only to be held back by their companions.

“How about this shop?”

Xiao Qi pointed toward one of the stores.

Its floor-to-ceiling windows had been polished until they gleamed.

A mannequin in the display wore a mint-green silk dress decorated with two pearls at the collar.

It looked as refreshing as a lotus leaf floating on a summer lake, making people instinctively glance at it more than once.

Wei Xia looked slightly surprised but quickly nodded.

Xiao Qi smoothly changed from holding her arm to taking her hand.

When their fingertips touched, she could feel the coolness of Wei Xia’s palm.

Xiao Qi didn’t dare go too far.

She only held Wei Xia lightly, curling her fingers discreetly before gently pulling her into the shop.

Wei Xia lowered her eyes to their joined hands.

It felt as though she were holding a ball of cotton—soft and warm.

She didn’t pull away and simply followed Xiao Qi inside.

The shop owner was a young woman sitting in a leather chair behind the counter.

Seeing them enter, she smiled and said, “Take a look around. Everything here is from this year’s new collection.”

Xiao Qi removed her mask.

The owner froze, then turned toward Wei Xia.

Wei Xia sighed and removed hers as well.

Then she asked Xiao Qi, “Which one did you like?”

“The one in the front display.”

Xiao Qi pointed directly toward the green dress.

Once the owner confirmed that it truly was Xiao Qi, her earlier casual attitude disappeared.

Her gaze repeatedly drifted toward Wei Xia, revealing her surprise.

However, she quickly composed herself and smiled.

“Miss Xiao has excellent taste. This piece only arrived recently.”

“Look at how beautifully the shoulders fall, and how perfectly the waist is fitted. The skirt was also designed in an A-line shape. It looks incredibly lively when you walk.”

Wei Xia studied it for another moment before curiously asking Xiao Qi, “You like this kind of dress?”

She had only known Xiao Qi for a few days, but everything she had seen her wear Read on BaiLianTales was restrained yet refined.

Xiao Qi also seemed to prefer low-saturation colors, such as the ivory dress she was wearing now.

“You like it,” Xiao Qi answered casually.

After speaking, she told the owner to take the dress down.

Wei Xia froze and turned toward her in confusion.

“I like it?”

A faint smile rippled through Xiao Qi’s eyes as she glanced sideways at Wei Xia.

“Ever since we came up to the second floor, you’ve looked at this dress several times.”

“Wei Xia, do you like girls who wear this kind of clothing?”

She had been caught just for looking?

Wei Xia choked and awkwardly touched her ear.

“Not exactly. Green just happens to be my favorite color, so I looked at it a few more times.”

The owner had already brought the dress over, her gossipy gaze continuing to move between them.

People were also beginning to gather outside the shop.

Xiao Qi behaved as though no one else existed and proudly said, “Then I’ll try it on for you.”

Wei Xia reached out to stop her, but Xiao Qi had already taken the dress into the fitting room.

Wei Xia stared at her hand, suspended uselessly in midair, while trembling internally.

Best Actress Xiao, please look at your surroundings!

There are more and more fans gathering outside!

The noise behind her began to rise.

Wei Xia closed her eyes, not daring to turn around.

The owner walked over with a meaningful expression.

“You’re quite lucky.”

This was Best Actress Xiao, after all.

The corner of Wei Xia’s mouth twitched.

“Owner, please focus on selling your clothes.”

“My customers can’t even get inside,” the owner replied.

She turned to look at the entrance, which was already blocked.

Fortunately, Xiao Qi’s fans were relatively well-behaved. They only crowded outside instead of swarming into the store.

“I’m sorry,” Wei Xia instinctively apologized.

The owner burst into laughter.

“Why are you apologizing? They’re not here because of you.”

Wei Xia: “…Sorry for being an unknown eighteenth-tier celebrity.”

The owner laughed even harder.

Voices also began drifting in from the entrance.

“Look, it really is Wei Xia.”

“It’s her! Then was that figure we saw earlier really Baby Goose?”

“Are they… on a date?”

“No way! They only announced their relationship a few days ago, and Baby Goose has already brought her shopping?”

“Bitter Summer is way too lucky.”

Wei Xia didn’t dare turn around.

She could only sit on the velvet sofa in the corner of the shop with her back toward the crowd.

Directly in front of her was the brown curtain of the fitting room.

Combined with the cedar fragrance inside the store, it helped ease her nervousness slightly.

The owner brought Wei Xia a cup of tea and smiled.

“Don’t worry. She’ll be out soon.”

Was that what she was worried about?

She was worried about the crowd outside!

Wei Xia looked through the full-length mirror and checked behind her.

Wonderful.

People were no longer gathered only at the entrance. The entire glass wall was now surrounded as well.

Wei Xia’s head began to ache.

“I’m not in a hurry,” she explained.

“Wei Xia.”

Xiao Qi’s voice came from the fitting room.

“Ahhh! It really is Baby Goose!”

“Waaah! Our Baby Goose actually came out shopping!”

“That’s Baby Goose’s voice! I recognize it!”

Apparently, the fact that Xiao Qi rarely went out was widely known.

Wei Xia answered guiltily, “…I’m here.”

Xiao Qi’s muffled voice came through the door.

“Come over here.”

“Is Baby Goose calling her?”

“If she dares go inside, I’ll chop her up.”

The words were spoken through gritted teeth.

“Hah. As if she deserves to. Let’s see whether she dares move.”

The tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Wei Xia: “…”

No, with all of you threatening me like this, I genuinely don’t dare move!

After waiting for quite some time, Xiao Qi pulled the curtain open slightly and poked her head out.

She looked clearly displeased.

But her beauty was so overwhelming that even while sulking, she looked charming and adorable.

“Why didn’t you come over? I can’t pull up the zipper.”

“AAAAAAAH! BABY GOOSE!”

“AAAAAAAAAH!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“AAAAAAAAAH!”

The instant Xiao Qi appeared, waves of screams erupted from the shop entrance.

Wei Xia sucked in a breath, startled by the deafening noise.

She looked seriously at Xiao Qi.

“How about we stop here for today?”

Xiao Qi immediately became unhappy.

She pouted, her eyes shifting before she complained, “It’s your first time accompanying me shopping, and you’re already getting impatient.”

Her acting was so fake that even Wei Xia could see through it.

But the fans behind them immediately became indignant.

“What kind of person is she?”

“If I had the chance to accompany Baby Goose…”

“Bitter Summer doesn’t appreciate how lucky she is!”

“She dares reject our Baby Goose?”

“She dares act impatient?”

Good heavens.

This ancestor was going to be the death of her!

Wei Xia leaped to her feet and pushed Xiao Qi back toward the fitting room.

“I’ll help you! I’ll help you!”