Not long afterward, the shopkeeper came out from the back room carrying several bundles and set them on the counter. Then he slowly unwrapped them.
Inside were several neatly folded women's kimonos in different styles and colors, along with several long skirts in a variety of designs.
Shi Xiu stepped forward and carefully examined the clothes.
First, he picked up a rather plain-looking kimono. Its understated color and simple pattern reminded him of the JK uniforms he had seen in his previous life.
However, this world clearly hadn't come up with such fashionable, modern designs yet. He gently set the kimono down and turned his attention to the long skirts beside it.
Some fell to the ankles, while others ended just above the knees. Their hems seemed to flutter in the breeze, like fairies dancing.
Shi Xiu couldn't help imagining what Haku would look like wearing them.
Haku, who had been standing quietly off to the side, watched the skirt in Shi Xiu's hands with a complicated expression.
He didn't think much of the kimonos, but when he saw the brightly colored, unusual skirts, his expression grew conflicted.
"Shopkeeper, these are all quite nice, but... do you have anything a little cuter?" Shi Xiu asked hopefully, gesturing with his hands.
At once, the shopkeeper's face lit up with a welcoming smile. He nodded repeatedly. "Of course! Just wait a moment. I'll go get some for you!"
With that, the shopkeeper hurried into the back room. Before long, he returned carrying a pile of even more exquisite and adorable clothes.
Shi Xiu stepped forward and took one of the dresses from him.
He gently unfolded it and examined it carefully. It was a pale pink dress, with delicate flowers embroidered along the hem and a ring of tiny pearls around the neckline. Altogether, it looked elegant and sweet.
Holding the dress up in front of Haku, Shi Xiu looked at him admiringly and asked with a smile, "Haku, what do you think of this one? I think it would suit you."
Haku's gaze lingered on the pretty dress for only a moment before he quickly looked away.
He lowered his head and nervously fidgeted with the hem of his clothes, seeming to wrestle with himself. After a long while, he finally looked up and answered softly.
"Sir, I... I still don't think it's suitable." Haku tried to keep his voice steady, but Shi Xiu could still hear the faint tremble in it.
Seeing how hesitant Haku was, Shi Xiu couldn't help smiling.
He stepped closer, gently placed the dress in Haku's hands, and patted his head in encouragement.
"Don't worry, Haku. Why don't you put it on and see how it looks?" After saying that, Shi Xiu turned to the shopkeeper.
Haku lowered his gaze to the dress in his hands, still feeling a little uneasy.
But in the end, Haku finally worked up the courage to nod, agreeing to give it a try.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper, who had been standing nearby, hurriedly told an employee to prepare a fitting room for Haku.
While they waited, Shi Xiu beckoned to the shopkeeper. When the man came over, Shi Xiu leaned in and lowered his voice.
"Shopkeeper, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. I was hoping to have a few outfits custom-made. Would that be possible?"
The shopkeeper was taken aback at first, but his face quickly broke into a smile. Nodding repeatedly, he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together meaningfully.
"Of course! It's just that custom-made clothes might cost a little more."
At that, Shi Xiu reached into his clothes without hesitation, pulled out several crisp banknotes, and slapped them down on the table with a flourish. "The price is no problem at all!"
When the shopkeeper saw the thick stack of bills on the table, his eyes lit up like stars in the night sky.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a flattering smile, and his manner grew even warmer than before.
The shopkeeper eagerly asked, "Tell me, what kind of clothes would you like made?"
Shi Xiu didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked the shopkeeper for paper and a pen.
The shopkeeper promptly handed them over.
Shi Xiu took them and thought for a moment, then began sketching a JK uniform from his previous life.
As his pen moved across the page, a rough but recognizable design gradually took shape before them.
When the shopkeeper saw Shi Xiu's sketch, his eyes widened. He couldn't help marveling at how daring the design was.
Even so, with such a lucrative order on the line, how could he let it slip by?
So he suppressed his surprise, adopted a professional air, and continued discussing the design with Shi Xiu with a smile.
Soon, Shi Xiu and the shopkeeper were enthusiastically discussing all sorts of details. They exchanged quiet words and gestured as they spoke, the atmosphere lively.
Meanwhile, Haku waited quietly inside the fitting room. He carefully picked up the beautiful dress and slipped it on. When the soft fabric settled against his skin, a strange feeling rose within him.
Haku slowly turned to face himself in the mirror. For a moment, his feelings were a jumble.
The dress's clever tailoring had softened his naturally androgynous appearance.
It accentuated his figure just right, preserving his original delicate features while adding a touch of feminine grace.
Haku couldn't help turning gently, the skirt swaying lightly around him like a butterfly in flight.
In that moment, he seemed to see a completely new version of himself—one he had never imagined or expected to see.
As Haku stared at his reflection, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: Could Sir have some sort of unusual fetish? The thought made his heart beat a little faster.
Still, Haku took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. Then he reached out and slowly pushed open the door to the fitting room.
When Haku stepped out, Shi Xiu, who had been talking, immediately brightened.
Shi Xiu's gaze fixed on Haku, open admiration in his eyes. "You look wonderful, Haku!"
The shopkeeper hurriedly chimed in, smiling broadly as he showered Haku with praise.
"Exactly! This young lady is just so adorable! It's as if this dress was made just for you. It suits you perfectly!"
Haku's snow-white cheeks took on a faint blush. He glanced quickly at the shopkeeper, then lowered his head and said softly,
"Thank you for the compliment, Sir. It's just... I'm still not quite used to it."
Shi Xiu smiled and nodded, understanding.
"It's all right," Shi Xiu replied with a smile. "It takes time to get used to something new. There's no need to be nervous."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Xiu's gaze fell on the delicate dress again, satisfaction in his eyes.
Without hesitation, Shi Xiu decided to buy it.
After paying, he turned and asked the shopkeeper if the store had anything suitable for men as well, then carefully picked out several pieces.
Once he had finished, he left the clothing store with Haku, wearing a deeply satisfied smile.
On their way back, Haku kept lowering his head to study the new skirt he was wearing, his gaze focused and curious.
Each time he noticed the soft fabric and delicate decorations, a new and indescribable feeling welled up inside him.
Haku looked up at Shi Xiu, hesitated for a long while, then tugged at his sleeve.
Shi Xiu looked down at Haku in confusion. "What is it?"
Haku looked at him, his eyes darting away. After a long hesitation, he asked in a quiet voice, "Sir, why are you so curious about me wearing women's clothes? Could it be that you..."
At that, Shi Xiu realized Haku had gotten the wrong idea about him. He quickly explained, "Haku, don't misunderstand. I was just curious about what you'd look like in women's clothes."
Haku relaxed at Shi Xiu's answer, then looked down at the dress he was wearing. Although Shi Xiu had already praised him at the shop, Haku couldn't help asking, "Sir, do you think I look good like this?"
Shi Xiu smiled and patted Haku's head. "You look wonderful. You're beautiful."
Haku looked at Shi Xiu in confusion and couldn't help asking, "Sir, why do you always pat my head?"
Shi Xiu smiled, then reached out and ruffled Haku's hair. "Because you're so cute, Haku!"