Chapter 99 : Clothing Store
Clothing Store
"Mm, I still have tutoring classes tonight."
Gu Yanxi nodded, her expression betraying no change.
Unlike Chen Zixuan, she was a bona fide top student at school, ranking among the top twenty in the entire school. With the college entrance exam a year away, she stood a good chance of entering the best university in all of Xijiang City.
The summer vacation of the second year of high school was considered a crucial period in the three years of high school, and Yao Qian had already signed Gu Yanxi up for several summer tutoring classes.
No wonder since she had logged off yesterday at noon, she hadn't logged into the game at all.
"Then let's go."
Chen Zixuan didn't want to delay Gu Yanxi's classes. He also had his own plans in the game afterward.
"Mm."
The girl nodded slightly.
The two of them walked downstairs together.
At that moment, Chen Zixuan suddenly recalled that yesterday, he and Lin Wei had also gone downstairs like this.
He still remembered vividly the uneasy feeling he'd had back then.
Sneaking a glance at Gu Yanxi beside him, a thought suddenly emerged in Chen Zixuan's mind.
Could I... actually have the potential to be a playboy?
It seemed he'd better keep a greater distance from Lin Wei in the future.
In the quiet silence, Chen Zixuan felt as if something poked his arm.
He turned to look and saw Gu Yanxi holding out a sunshade umbrella to him, her gaze fixed ahead as she spoke softly: "There's ultraviolet rays outside. Once we're out of the building, help me hold the umbrella."
Holding the umbrella... wasn't this usually the boyfriend's duty?
Chen Zixuan felt a touch of joy in his heart, but maintained a calm expression as he nodded and took the umbrella from Gu Yanxi.
"Alright."
Stepping out of the hallway, the sunlight became suddenly intense and dazzling.
However, because of last night and this morning's heavy rain, it wasn't at all stuffy outside; instead, the air was filled with the fresh scent of rain.
"Where are we going?"
Chen Zixuan opened the umbrella and held it over Gu Yanxi's head.
They were standing so close that he could faintly catch the light fragrance wafting from the girl's black hair.
Chen Zixuan glanced sideways, thinking that her ink-black, lustrous hair must feel very smooth to the touch.
"To the commercial street, the one near Chang'an Plaza."
Gu Yanxi hadn't noticed that Chen Zixuan was stealing glances at her, gently biting her lip as she spoke softly.
"The newly built commercial street?"
Chen Zixuan asked in surprise, "Isn't the stuff sold there expensive and a rip-off?"
Chen Zixuan had lived in this city for two years and knew which commercial street Gu Yanxi was talking about; it wasn't far from where they both lived, just a few blocks' walk away.
However, he'd heard that the things sold on that street weren't great quality but were sold at high prices, so the locals rarely went there.
In Chen Zixuan's view, Gu Yanxi really shouldn't shop there. Even taking the subway to the city center would be better than spending a lot of money on a pile of junk.
"No, I mean the old commercial street, the one beside the new one. There are many good and cheap little shops inside. My mom used to take me there."
Gu Yanxi's lips curved slightly with nostalgia as she explained softly.
The new commercial street had already been built by the time Chen Zixuan came to Xijiang City, so it was normal that he didn't know about the old one.
Chen Zixuan nodded and quickly caught up with Gu Yanxi's pace.
The girl didn't walk very fast, so holding the umbrella wasn't too tiring even if he kept it up the whole way.
Although it was noon, there were still quite a few pedestrians on the street, all taking advantage of the cool weather after rain to run errands.
All the way there, the two of them chatted idly, and before long, they arrived at Gu Yanxi's destination.
It was a street that looked narrow and crowded. On both sides of the road were shops whose names Chen Zixuan couldn't even remember, starkly contrasting the modern flair of the new commercial street nearby.
In addition, the sidewalks were lined with street food stalls—selling things like liangfen, liangpi, and meat sandwiches, as well as popular new snacks like grilled gluten and iron-plate squid.
Many people sat at low tables by the roadside, eating heartily with disposable chopsticks.
It was bustling—much more crowded than the new commercial street.
Standing at the slightly run-down street entrance, Chen Zixuan found it hard to imagine that someone like Gu Yanxi, a well-off girl, would come here to buy clothes.
"Nice place, isn't it?"
Gu Yanxi looked at Chen Zixuan's surprised face and grinned with satisfaction.
"Mm, I never even knew there was somewhere like this nearby,"
Chen Zixuan nodded. He'd always had a fondness for streets filled with the lively atmosphere of everyday life.
"Let's go, I'll take you to my favorite shop."
Tugging Chen Zixuan's sleeve gently, Gu Yanxi took the lead into the street.
Chen Zixuan hurriedly raised the umbrella and followed after the girl.
From the outside, this street looked crowded, but after entering, Chen Zixuan realized it was actually quite spacious.
Nearly sixty percent of the shops along the road were different kinds of clothing stores. Behind the glass windows hung rows of the latest fashion items, all of which were this season's trendy new arrivals.
After walking a few dozen meters, Chen Zixuan was surprised to find that even in this unremarkable alley, there were many stores belonging to well-known fashion brands.
However, Gu Yanxi clearly didn't fancy these expensive brands; when passing their doors, she didn't spare them even a glance.
Though she was well-off, none of her clothes ever had those big conspicuous logos.
Those truly strong inside never need to rely on external things like clothing to show their worth.
Very soon, Gu Yanxi led Chen Zixuan to a shop that appeared quite ordinary from the outside.
Looking in from the door, the store didn't seem special, but once inside, Chen Zixuan saw how exquisitely it was decorated.
Rows of racks were hung with all kinds of women's clothing, and along one interior wall was a large display of underwear. Several young girls were there, scrutinizing and picking among them.
"Is it alright for me... to come in here?"
As soon as Chen Zixuan came inside and saw the wall of underwear, he instantly started to regret it.
"What's so bad about it?"
Gu Yanxi tugged his sleeve again, urging, "I'm just here to buy a few clothes and need your opinion. Come on."
Chen Zixuan helplessly shook his head and followed her in.
"Welcome, both of you~" came a gentle female voice.
Looking toward the sound, Chen Zixuan saw a woman in her forties sitting behind the counter, a lazy orange tabby cat in her arms.
"Hello, auntie. I'm just browsing,"
Gu Yanxi replied calmly with a nod.
"Alright, you're an old customer—take your time, try anything you like."
The shopkeeper aunt smiled and then glanced at Chen Zixuan, her smile turning a bit teasing.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Let's go."
Gu Yanxi's ears blushed and she softly said to Chen Zixuan, looking down.
She neither admitted it nor denied it.