Yansha Friendship Shopping Center.
Autumn had already arrived, but the mall's air conditioning was still blowing cold air, making it slightly chilly.
There were many customers coming and going. Perhaps because Qu Yunxuan was wearing high heels, when she dodged a woman carrying a child who nearly bumped into her, Aunt Xuan instinctively grabbed Dong Xuebin's upper arm, pinching his elbow with her hand. She still hadn't let go even after they entered Yansha. Dong Xuebin immediately grew nervous. He glanced at the arm Aunt Xuan was holding, then secretly peeked at her ample chest, swallowing hard to himself.
The first floor was probably eighty percent perfume and cosmetics counters. A wave of rose fragrance mixed with some unknown pungent scent rushed toward them.
They walked up the mall's glossy marble stairs. Passing an area selling suits, formalwear, belts, and leather shoes, the two stopped.
Qu Yunxuan pressed a finger against his arm. "Xiao Bin, Auntie suggests you buy a suit. It'll also leave your leaders with the impression that you're steady and reliable."
Dong Xuebin said, "Sure, I'll listen to you." With a Great Beauty like Aunt Xuan accompanying him shopping, what he bought hardly mattered anymore.
A female sales clerk came over. When she saw Qu Yunxuan, surprise flashed across her face. She's so beautiful... "...Hello, what style would you like to look at?" Dong Xuebin noticed that nearby sales clerks and several customers had also turned their astonished gazes toward them. Some stared at Aunt Xuan's devastatingly beautiful face, while others lingered over her full, shapely figure.
Qu Yunxuan had already started picking out clothes for him, looking at this one and then that one. "Do you have anything a little more casual?"
"Yes." The sales clerk pointed diagonally behind them. "This way, please."
Qu Yunxuan's eyes lit up. "Oh, this one's nice. Xiao Bin, come here." As she spoke, she picked up a suit jacket and held it against Dong Xuebin. "Heh, very handsome. Not bad, not bad."
The sales clerk smiled in agreement. "Yes, I think this outfit suits your friend very well too."
Friend?
Dong Xuebin was very sensitive to that word. In Beijing, people generally treated "friend" and "partner" as practically the same thing. For example, if Dong Xuebin started dating someone and introduced her to others, he would say, "This is my friend," meaning his girlfriend. Others said it the same way, like, "Hey, have you heard? The Dong Family's boy has found himself a new friend."
Thinking that far, Dong Xuebin's vanity could not help feeling a little satisfied.
Suit, leather shoes, belt.
Long-sleeved shirts, trousers, tracksuit top.
With Qu Yunxuan's advice, Dong Xuebin got himself a proper new outfit. Of course, he spent quite a bit of money as well.
When Dong Xuebin saw the sales clerk package up the clothes and shoes, he took out his wallet. "Where's the cashier?"
Qu Yunxuan tugged his arm and said with a smile, "Come on. Auntie paid while you were trying on clothes."
"Huh?" Dong Xuebin froze, then immediately cried out, "Aunt Xuan, what are you doing? No, no, how can I let you spend money? Give me the receipt. I'll pay you back, however much it was." He felt incredibly embarrassed. Aunt Xuan cooked for him and did his laundry, and he had been thinking that once he had money, he definitely had to buy her something decent. Who would have thought she would buy him clothes instead?
Qu Yunxuan raised her hand and put on a stern face. "Say another word and Auntie will smack you. Let's go."
Dong Xuebin helplessly smacked his lips, turned around to grab the several large plastic bags, and followed Aunt Xuan out in frustration. No, he had to buy Aunt Xuan something too, or he would feel bad about it. Right, it was time to replace her phone. Not only were the battery and buttons acting up, but this lousy knockoff phone was embarrassing to take out. Aunt Xuan's phone also seemed to be an old Nokia model from two or three years ago. Right, right—he would buy her one too.
"Aunt Xuan, I want to replace my phone. Want to take a look around the appliance store?"
"Sure. There's a Suning nearby. Let's go."
The sky gradually darkened, and stars sparkled overhead.
Two hundred meters away stood Suning Appliance.
National Day was approaching, and quite a lot of people had come to buy appliances. Cars were parked haphazardly beneath the satin banners outside the store. As soon as they lifted the thick cloth curtain and entered, they found the computer and cellphone counters crowded together right in front of them. Even the washing machine section in the corner was full of people. It seemed Suning was holding a half-month promotion in the days leading up to the holiday.
Qu Yunxuan thoughtfully took three of Dong Xuebin's bags. "What brand do you want?"
Dong Xuebin did not particularly care himself. The important thing was choosing one for her, so he said, "Which do you think is best?"
"Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola... those are all pretty good."
After walking around the first-floor hall, Dong Xuebin's gaze suddenly landed on the illuminated advertisement at the Apple display counter—iPhone 4. This was a model that had swept the world as soon as it was released. It had been out of stock for a while, and many Apple fans had lined up at four or five in the morning just to buy one. Dong Xuebin had also heard Tan Limei mention more than once that she was a die-hard iPhone 4 fan. Unfortunately, it was too expensive, leaving people with no choice but to sigh in longing.
Dong Xuebin blinked. "The iPhone 4 seems pretty popular?"
"Isn't it? Its design and specs are both top-notch. It's just too expensive."
"You think it looks good?"
Qu Yunxuan smiled gently. "Of course it looks good. Otherwise, so many people wouldn't buy it. I remember when the iPhone 4 first entered the domestic market, it was being scalped for ten thousand yuan apiece. Even now that the price has dropped a little, it still costs around six thousand yuan. Heh, anyway, Auntie thinks the iPhone 4 is quite nice. Mm, let's wait. Once the iPhone 5 comes out, the iPhone 4's price will probably go down. Auntie can consider getting one then. Forget it for now—I can't afford it."
Dong Xuebin made up his mind. "Want to go take a look?"
"Sure. Looking doesn't cost anything, heh." Qu Yunxuan truly seemed taken with the phone. When she reached the counter, her gentle, beautiful eyes could not leave the iPhone 4 behind the glass. She looked and looked, and in the end even asked the clerk to take out a display model so she could run her hands over it.
The clerk was a young girl with a sweet mouth. "Miss, the iPhone 4 now comes in white and black. We're having a promotion on the black version. The 16G unlocked phone is only 5,580 yuan. You're so beautiful, miss—only an iPhone 4 is worthy of you."
Qu Yunxuan played with the display phone without saying anything.
"If you buy it now, you'll also get a screen protector and a case, and..." Seeing a hint of temptation in the Great Beauty's expression, the clerk immediately began chattering on with more introductions.
Qu Yunxuan hesitated. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but after glancing at the price tag, she slowly closed her mouth again and shook her head uncertainly.
Dong Xuebin understood as soon as he saw it. He stepped forward. "All right, get us one... no... make that two."!!!
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