Chapter 116

Chapter 116 - 116 110 Gentleness in the fitting room the zipper tugs Chapter 116: 110: Gentleness in the fitting room, the zipper tugs (second update) Chapter 116: 110: Gentleness in the fitting room, the zipper tugs (second update) There was someone in the fitting room, and a hand reached out from inside. The wrist was slim and white, clearly that of a woman.

“Has Xie Shang got himself a girlfriend?”

After blurtting it out, Tan Wanwan immediately looked at Fang Jiyin’s face for her reaction.

As expected, the comment displeased her.

She stared at the fitting room, her pupils seemingly fixed in place: “Just fooling around.”

Tan Wanwan shut her mouth and said no more.

Everyone in their circle knew that Xie Shang didn’t play with emotions.

To ensure quality service for one-on-one appointments, some stores limit the number of customers, so there were not many patrons present.

Wen Changling grabbed at the air a couple of times.

“Hand it to me”. She thought it was a store clerk outside.

However, the considerate store clerk had asked Xie Shang to come over.

Xie Shang moved a bit closer: “What do you need scissors for?”

“To cut my hair, it’s caught in the zipper.”

The store clerk stood aside, not handing over the scissors she held, fearing ruining the outfit was only a minor reason. Her sense of service told her it was better to have the client’s boyfriend step in, to offer the client a novel dressing experience, which could improve satisfaction.

“Are you done dressing?” Xie Shang asked from outside.

“Yes, I’m dressed.”

“Would it be inconvenient to let me in?”

After a few seconds, Wen Changling replied: “Come in.”

Xie Shang entered, closed the door behind him but did not shut it completely, leaving a sliver of a gap.

The attendant waiting outside understood why the door wasn’t locked; an unlocked door suggested that there was nothing questionable going on. She considerately moved to the side in order to be available to assist the customers.

Wen Changling was fully dressed, one hand pressing down on her collar, where the zipper wasn’t properly drawn up.

Xie Shang had her stand against the wall, where he could shield her.

“Let me have a look.”

Wen Changling turned around.

She was quite pale to begin with, and the red dress made her look even paler, her beauty cold and austere.

The zipper had been pulled up to her scapula, but it wouldn’t go any further, the zipper pull tangled in her hair because she had yanked at it violently, it was now knotted up.

Wen Changling said: “Better to cut it off, I’ve already tried to untangle it, but it won’t budge.”

Xie Shang brushed the untangled strands of her hair to the side of her neck: “You need to untangle it slowly.”

“It’s time-consuming.”

He laughed softly: “Miss Wen, would you please have a little patience?”

Miss Wen didn’t respond, looking down at her shoes instead. The movement of Xie Shang’s fingers as he untangled her hair was very light, not pulling at her, so it didn’t hurt; she just felt a tickling sensation when the ends of her hair occasionally brushed her skin.

Xie Shang was very patient.

Wen Changling felt this was simply a matter for a pair of scissors.

There was a mirror in the fitting room. Wen Changling could see Xie Shang’s face in it when she looked up; he was much taller than her, his head bowing down, his eyelashes drooping tranquilly.

Xie Shang’s hands were also more skillful than hers, painstakingly untangling each strand, the matted mess gradually loosening.

“There, it’s done.”

Wen Changling turned back around.

The dress she wore was a two-piece set, the top a camisole, the bottom a long skirt, double-layered; the outer layer was a red tulle, fluffy and loose. The layer beneath must have had some type of silk thread as it sparkled subtly under the light. The camisole was quite short, its hemline hugging her abdomen tightly, exposing her waist, and it was paired with a set of red, retro gloves that Wen Changling had tossed onto the chair next to her.

Bold, flamboyant, and fervent.

It suited Wen Changling very well.

Xie Shang did not skimp on the praise: “It’s beautiful.”

Wen Changling had an exceedingly slim waist, covered by just a thin layer of muscle, giving Xie Shang the impression that with a little effort, he could snap it with ease. He stepped forward, his hand wrapping around her waist, his fingertips inching along her skin.

A grown man’s hand was enough to completely embrace her. It usually wasn’t apparent, but this type of dress made the difference in their builds more conspicuous. In the mirror, he could completely envelop her.

Xie Shang suspected he might have some unknown fetish, as he quite liked the visceral impact of being able to hide her within his body.

She shrank away, dodging his hand: “It tickles.”

“You’re too beautiful. I can’t bear to let others see.” Xie Shang held her, looking at the fringe of red skirt peeking out from the edge of his clothes in the mirror, wishing he could hide it away. “But I’d rather you do as you please, wear what you like, do what you like, choose what you like.”

Wen Changling kept her eyes downcast and remained silent.

If you don’t have the strength to protect yourself, beauty becomes a sin. Those were the parting words left by her mother, Wen Yuan.

How do you strike down a pack of jackals and wild beasts?

Conceal your claws and wait for the opportunity.

Those were the words of her mentor, Mr. Meng.

But to do as one pleases, that’s easier said than done.

Xie Shang released his hold: “Let’s go out, it’s not good to stay too long.”

“Are you afraid of being misunderstood?”

“Misunderstood as what?”

Wen Changling always spoke provocatively with a straight face: “Misunderstood as the kind of person who would fool around in fitting rooms.”

Xie Shang said, “I don’t care.”

He never cared about his reputation, seen as a hopeless case in the eyes of others, capable of anything absurd, except—

“I can’t afford a misunderstanding.”

Xie Shang pushed the door open, leading Wen Changling out.

The store clerk was stunned to see her, quite dazzled by her appearance.

When Wen Changling changed her clothes, she had already taken off her glasses.

Xie Shang led her to the mirror, “Do you like this one?”

“Mm.”

“Then it’s this one.”

Looking at herself in the mirror, she seemed to see the unrestrained Wen Changling from seven years ago, and she was momentarily lost in a daze, “I’ll go change out of it.”

Xie Shang took the hair tie that she had carelessly slipped onto her wrist and tied her hair up for her, “Be careful with the zipper.”

“Mm.”

Wen Changling went to change clothes.

Xie Shang walked to the display cabinet on the left, “Do you have these shoes in size thirty-seven?”

The clerk said they did, and she brought out the shoes—red ones designed with pearl straps that matched the skirt the lady was wearing.

Such an original eye for detail.

The store clerk complimented, “Your girlfriend is very beautiful.”

“She is beautiful,” Xie Shang thanked her politely.

*****

Wen Changling’s shift schedule was five days a cycle, and this week she had the night shift on Thursday.

While changing the dressing for Yan Cong, she asked, “Have you spoken to your uncle about withdrawing the stocks?”

Yan Cong’s uncle had a long-term partnership with Dihong Hospital and still held a portion of the Dihong Group’s shares. Wen Changling did not want to cause harm incidentally.

“I have.”

“Then, did the withdrawal go smoothly?”

She had previously told Yan Cong that she would bear any losses incurred.

“Mm, there were plenty of people clamoring for them.” Yan Cong felt she was still too cautious, “You don’t have to worry about that side, just go ahead with your plan.”

She nodded.

“Who’s accompanying you to the weekend gala?”

Yan Cong had very fine veins, so Wen Changling slowed down the IV drip a bit, “Xie Shang will accompany me.”

Yan Cong had thought in the past about what kind of person would be a match for Wen Changling.

They must have a healthy body, as a basic requirement. They must have enough strength and must listen to Wen Changling unconditionally.

These three important points, Xie Shang met them all.

“Is Xie Shang good to you?”

Wen Changling fell silent for a moment, then hummed softly in agreement.

The head of the personnel department happened to pass by and, seeing the door to Yan Cong’s room open, stepped in to make his presence known—it’s never a mistake to network more.

“Xiao Cong,” the head of the department asked with concern, “are you feeling better today?”

The young man barely lifted his eyelids, noncommittally responding, “Not bad.”

“Xiao Wen is here too.” The head knew of the close relationship between Yan Cong and Wen Changling, “I heard from security that you were the one who persuaded that troublemaker at the entrance to leave.”

Security sure talks too much.

Wen Changling remained silent.

The head of the department, always in human resources, was chatty by profession, “I never imagined Xiao Wen had such eloquence. You really helped the hospital out this time. I’ll apply with the higher-ups to see if we can give you a special commendation at the gala.” After all, Yan Cong’s uncle was a partner and shareholder of the group; proper respect was due.

Wen Changling looked at the department head, her tone serious, “Is it just verbal?”

“Uh...”

He felt awkward; he was just being polite, planning to mention her at the ten outstanding employees event, without any real follow-through.

Wen Changling, looking the picture of simplicity and unaware of worldly affairs, “I was thinking of transferring.”

With the conversation turning this way, the head of the department had no choice but to climb aboard, “Where were you thinking of transferring to?”

“VIP building.”

That...

The assessment in the VIP building is very strict, Xiao Wen, don’t you remember being complained about by a VIP last time?

The reclining young man asked, “Is that a problem?”

Since Yan Cong’s uncle was both a partner and a shareholder of the group...

“...It’s fine.” What a mess one can make with a slip of the tongue—why show up uninvited, why give unwarranted praise, why make empty commendations?

The department head excused himself to take care of the complaint against Wen Changling from before.

After he left, Yan Cong said, “Changling, that was a quick reaction.”

“You were quick to react too.”

The two exchanged smiles.