Guangling watched the bright-eyed, energetic Bai Wanwan with a calm expression, not the least bit surprised.
He knew his granddaughter all too well.
No matter how exhausted she looked, the mere offer of a shopping trip would get her up for at least a couple of rounds.
Bai Wanwan scanned the shops on either side of the street, her gaze soon settling on an elegantly decorated clothing store. She pointed toward it.
"Grandpa~"
Bai Wanwan called softly.
"Let's go over there."
Guangling smiled and led Bai Wanwan straight over.
They had barely entered when a sales assistant approached them with a professional smile.
"Honored guests, our store offers every kind of clothing you could wish for. What would you like to browse?"
The sales assistant bowed slightly, her tone very respectful.
"Help my granddaughter choose something a little more formal. As for everything else, wrap up whatever she likes."
With that, Guangling sat down in the seating area off to the side.
The sales assistant's eyes lit up, as though she could already see her sales figures soaring and piles of money beckoning to her. Her professional smile instantly transformed into one of genuine warmth.
"Young Lady, please follow me."
The sales assistant gestured invitingly. Only after Bai Wanwan started walking did she follow, always keeping half a step behind her.
Under the sales assistant's guidance, Bai Wanwan went upstairs to the second floor.
She surveyed the clothes on display. The fabric alone made it clear that they were in an entirely different league from those downstairs.
Accompanied by the sales assistant, Bai Wanwan walked past one outfit after another before finally stopping to examine a Gothic dress in graduated shades of blue.
Its slightly vintage elements, paired with an elegant yet dreamy look, suited her tastes perfectly.
Noticing where Bai Wanwan was looking, the sales assistant took down the Gothic dress before she could even speak.
"Young Lady, you have an excellent eye."
"Both the fabric and the craftsmanship of this dress are exceptional. It suits your temperament beautifully, and it's perfectly befitting of your standing..."
Holding the Gothic dress, the sales assistant launched into an endless stream of praise.
Bai Wanwan nodded from time to time, seemingly agreeing with her.
Eventually, persuaded by the sales assistant's pitch, Bai Wanwan decided to try it on.
Soon, Bai Wanwan stood before the mirror in her new outfit. She studied her reflection, nodded in satisfaction, and gave a light snap of her fingers.
"I'll take this one."
"Do you have any other styles that are mainly blue?"
Bai Wanwan turned toward the sales assistant.
"Yes. Young Lady, please follow me."
The sales assistant gestured invitingly and led Bai Wanwan to another section.
After following her through a dozen or so different styles, Bai Wanwan snapped her fingers again and pointed at one of them. Before she could speak, however, the sales assistant jumped in.
"Young Lady, would you like this one?"
The sales assistant's eyes brightened.
"I don't want that one. I'll take all the others."
With that, Bai Wanwan headed downstairs.
The sales assistant hurried to wrap everything up.
When Bai Wanwan returned to Guangling, he looked at her new outfit and nodded approvingly.
After accepting the dozen or so bags the sales assistant handed him, Guangling paid without hesitation.
They left the clothing store.
Seeing Bai Wanwan head toward another shop, her enthusiasm undiminished, Guangling caught her wrist as though grabbing her by the scruff of fate.
"Wanwan, you only finished training this morning. Aren't you going to rest for a while this afternoon?"
"Rest?"
Bai Wanwan blinked her eyes a few times. "Grandpa, Teacher's training wasn't very intense. I could train for another few hours without any trouble. I don't need to rest."
"I think that shop looks pretty nice, too. Maybe we could go have a look. What do you think, Grandpa?"
Faced with Bai Wanwan's jewel-like eyes and rather innocent expression, Guangling hesitated only briefly before nodding.
"I think we could go have a look, too."
Guangling led Bai Wanwan toward that shop.
My granddaughter just wants to browse a few shops and buy a few things. Is there anything wrong with that?
Absolutely not.
As for Gold Soul Coins, to someone as powerful as him, they were nothing more than a string of numbers.
After another five hours of shopping in Spirit City, Guangling finally led Bai Wanwan, who still had not quite had her fill, back toward the Papal Hall.
They returned to the Papal Hall.
The Papal Hall was bustling. With the Inauguration Ceremony taking place the next day, the maids were busy decorating it.
The entire hall had an air of grandeur.
After glancing around the Papal Hall, Bai Wanwan was just about to follow Guangling back to the Worship Hall when she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned to see the Grand Elder, Qian Daoliu, and Qian Renxue approaching.
"Big Sister~"
Bai Wanwan looked up and greeted Qian Renxue, but when she noticed the dust on her clothes, a hint of confusion surfaced in her azure eyes.
"Oh, Grandpa Guangling took you shopping in Spirit City."
"Grandpa Guangling really has good taste. This outfit suits you so well, Wanwan."
"Next time you go shopping in Spirit City, invite me along. We can go together."
Qian Renxue came up to Bai Wanwan, looked her over, and took her hand with easy familiarity.
"Okay! I'll definitely invite you next time, Big Sister."
"By the way, Big Sister, what were you doing? How did you get dust on your clothes?"
Bai Wanwan walked toward the Worship Hall with Qian Renxue.
"I went with my grandfather to pay respects to my father."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue brushed the dust off her clothes.
Behind them, Qian Daoliu watched the two girls chatting and laughing. He did not interrupt, simply following them in silence.
Qian Renxue had barely had any playmates growing up, so finding one she got along with was naturally a good thing. Besides, Bai Wanwan was quite talented and could become a source of support for Qian Renxue in the future.
Qian Daoliu placed one hand behind his back, a trace of a smile in his eyes.
Guangling walked beside Qian Daoliu, quietly watching the two girls ahead.
They returned to the Worship Hall.
Apart from Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan, the elders were all preparing for the next day's Inauguration Ceremony.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
In the Papal Hall.
Inside a room furnished in an antique style.
Bibi Dong looked at the Pope's attire that had been delivered to her and gently ran her hand over it. A thoughtful look lingered in her eyes, though no one could tell what was on her mind.
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