So Money Alone Couldn't Buy It After All

Fortunately, Chanel, which Chi Qing had always quite liked, had a counter in her city. Chi Qing still put on a mask and headed straight for Chanel without hesitation. These days, many people bought luxury bags through purchasing agents, or went to bigger cities or abroad to buy them, where the savings were greater.

As a result, the Chanel store in Cloud City wasn't like those in big cities, where people sometimes had to queue to get in.

Luxury stores like this in Cloud City served more as brand showcases and didn't sell many bags. Of course, some people did buy them, but most paid with shopping mall cash cards they had received as gifts. Only a tiny minority spent their own money here.

After all, with higher prices and fewer styles, why bother?

So the moment Chi Qing entered, the male sales associate took one glance at her and knew she was a first-time visitor-and didn't look likely to buy anything.

Still, his professional standards prompted him to approach and greet Chi Qing politely, if distantly. "Hello, ma'am. Welcome to Chanel. What would you like to see?"

"Do you have the Square Mini Flap Bag with Small Gold Ball?" Chi Qing didn't know much about luxury goods, but she often saw wealthy influencers recommending this small gold ball bag while scrolling through Douyin.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. We don't currently have that bag."

"Oh, do you have the Gabrielle Bag, then?" "I'm sorry, we don't have that either." "What about the CF?" "I'm sorry." "Uh... what do you have, then?" Chi Qing was getting a little impatient. Were they treating customers differently based on appearances, or did she need to buy other items first? Why didn't they have anything?

"I'm sorry. The styles you've asked about really are among our brand's most popular. If you really like one, I can arrange a transfer for you, but it will take time, and transferred items cannot be returned or exchanged. If you'd like something in stock, you could take a look at this handbag. It would suit you very well too." The sales associate was inwardly suffering.

He thought, Even though I don't think you can afford one, I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. We really don't have them, and even if we did, you'd still have to buy other items first...

Looking into his sincere eyes, Chi Qing realized he might not be lying. She tried on the bag he recommended and thought it looked quite nice. It was black, too, so it would go with anything.

"I'll take this one, then. Oh, right, how much is it?" Chi Qing was ready to pay with a flourish when she suddenly remembered she only had 45,000 in her account. It would be awkward if that wasn't enough and she had to put the rest on a credit card. "Ma'am, this bag is 41,000. Will you be paying with a bank card or a shopping card?" Relieved that it didn't exceed 45,000, Chi Qing immediately answered, "Bank card."

"Certainly, ma'am. Please give me a moment." Surprised, the sales associate responded quickly. He had never expected the bag he'd casually recommended to sell, let alone so quickly. Although this bag was pretty, it wasn't popular. Being unpopular meant it didn't hold much value on the secondhand market, so people generally wouldn't buy it unless they were particularly rich.

Particularly rich? Looking at Chi Qing, who really didn't look particularly rich, the sales associate warned himself never to judge by appearances! Thank goodness he had greeted her politely.

After Chi Qing paid, the sales associate carefully packaged her bag in an elegant black gift box, with a classic white ribbon and a white camellia. Isn't this the most inauspicious color combination in China? Yet at Chanel, it's sophisticated, grand, and upscale, Chi Qing grumbled inwardly.

Once he finished wrapping it, Chi Qing left the mall carrying her bag and the sales associate's contact details. She still had 4,000 waiting to be spent.

After happily exchanging that 4,000 for a bag of ingredients at an upscale Japanese supermarket she had never even dared enter before, Chi Qing clicked her tongue in amazement. What extravagance. So even beef came in different grades-a tiny piece like that actually cost over a thousand.