Changing his image

Upon returning to the Ji Family home, Ji Mingzhu was assigned a room in its most secluded corner.

Fortunately, although Ji Mingzhu had been pampered since childhood, he was no stranger to hardship. In fact, his parents' strict upbringing had given him far greater perseverance than most.

For instance, his family had once invited a highly respected scholar from the Court to teach him calligraphy. Ji Mingzhu had risen at five every morning to practice with a pouch of water and sand hanging from his wrist. Even when his delicate, fair wrist chafed and blistered, he had never once complained of being tired.

Ji Mingzhu did not ask for much when it came to his accommodations, but he truly could not stand his excessively avant-garde appearance. Soon, he asked to go out and get himself a new outfit.

At first, the Ji Family refused. But Ji Mingzhu did look shabby, and marrying him off like this would disgrace the family, so they reluctantly agreed.

Yet as soon as they arrived at the clothing stores, Ji Mingzhu rejected the recommendation of the younger brother he had acquired out of nowhere.

Ji Zhian's expression stiffened for a moment before he said, "All right, then. Have a look for yourself, brother."

The two walked around the floor, with two bodyguards trailing neither too close nor too far behind them, until Ji Mingzhu stopped in front of a store with a more artistic style. "This one."

Ji Zhian's brow twitched twice. "...Why has your taste changed so suddenly, brother?"

Ji Mingzhu raised an eyebrow. "Why do you seem so reluctant to let me change my style?"

Ji Zhian struggled to maintain his smile. "...I'm not. I was just curious, so I asked."

Ji Mingzhu gave an "Oh," then ignored him and began browsing on his own.

He was not particularly picky and soon selected a white outfit. It looked rather unremarkable, and the top even seemed a little oversized. Two ties hung at the side of the waist, though he did not know what they were for.

Ji Zhian scoffed inwardly. Ji Mingzhu's taste is still mediocre. Aloud, however, he said, "Why don't you try it on and see whether it fits, brother?"

Ji Mingzhu had not expected buying clothes here to be so accommodating-they even let customers try them on. He readily agreed.

Modern clothing was convenient, with fewer layers, and quick to put on.

After a little fumbling, Ji Mingzhu changed into the outfit. The two ties at the side of the waist could be crossed into a gentleman's knot, giving it a neat, stylish look. The top, which had initially seemed loose and bulky, instantly looked refined, outlining the young man's supple, slender waist. This was Ji Mingzhu's first time wearing something that revealed the contours of his body as outerwear. Still possessed of an ancient person's mindset, he felt somewhat ill at ease, and a shy blush appeared on his face.

The trousers were a well-cut, smoky gray pair with a slight drape, and the fabric looked particularly soft to the touch.

When the young man emerged from the fitting room, he looked like an elegant gentleman who had stepped out of a painting, peerless and set apart from the world.

Ji Zhian froze for only a few seconds before declaring firmly, "This style doesn't really suit you, brother. Let's try another store."

But Ji Mingzhu seemed determined to oppose him. He shook his head. "Forget it. I'm not picky, and I can't be bothered to keep shopping. This will do."

He quickly selected another outfit in a similar style to change into later. "Hello, I'd like to pay."

Ji Mingzhu had just learned that phrase from watching another customer pay.

The woman at the counter took the card Ji Zhian handed her and ran it through the card reader, then said apologetically, "I'm sorry, sir, but this card doesn't have enough available credit. Could you use another card?"

At her words, Ji Mingzhu knitted his finely shaped brows.

Ji Yonglin had given him a gold card with a credit limit of only fifty thousand. He had only gotten a haircut earlier, yet now it was not even enough to buy two outfits.

Perhaps Ji Yonglin thought his good-for-nothing son would never dare buy such expensive clothes. Or perhaps he simply thought this son did not deserve to wear expensive clothes, so he had carelessly given him a card with such a low limit.

The smile on Ji Zhian's face finally became a little more genuine. "Oh dear, is there not enough money?"

"Honestly, how could Dad give you a card with so little money on it, brother? Even mine is a platinum card, yet yours has such a tiny limit. How could that possibly be enough?"

Ji Zhian seemed to have forgotten the nonsense he had spouted before they left about paying if there was not enough money. Not only did he refuse to pay, but he also stayed where he was, quietly raising his voice. "Brother, if you don't have the money, why don't we go home for now? Don't make things difficult for the staff. If you really like these clothes, I'll plead with Dad for you when we get back. He dotes on me so much that he'll definitely agree to buy them for you, all right? Let's just go home for today."