"Miss Xie must look very nice in a dress," Si Mo suddenly chimed in after tidying up the table. The topic came out of the blue, leaving Rong Lan and Xie Xinxin both taken aback.
Rong Lan: "???"
This guy had never even complimented how good she looked in a wedding dress. Why was he suddenly complimenting a human girl?
Xie Xinxin pursed her lips. "I don't really like wearing dresses."
Rong Lan took out the piece of paper that Xie Xinxin had written on from the drawer. "Why don't you like wearing dresses? Can you share it with me, miss?" Her voice was gentle yet carried a power that made people willing to believe her.
Si Mo glanced at the little fox. He could actually sense the fluctuation of spiritual power from the little fox's words. It seemed that this little fox was really about to regain her cultivation.
"Maybe it's because I've been used to dressing like a boy since childhood. They've always treated me like a boy since I was young, cutting my hair short and buying me clothes in a more neutral style," Xie Xinxin recalled those messy things from the past and couldn't help laughing at herself. "Do you know, master? I used to have very good grades when I was a kid. I was always at the top of the class in every exam. When my mom took me out to play and people asked about my grades, the uncles and aunts would always praise me for my good grades and say that I would definitely get into a good university in the future. Every time this topic came up, my mom would always add, 'It's a pity she's a girl. It would be better if she were a boy.'"
Rong Lan could clearly hear that Xie Xinxin's voice was trembling slightly when she said the last sentence. She frowned, exchanged a look with Si Mo, and reached out to hold Xie Xinxin's hand resting on the beer bottle.
"Let's not talk about these things. Do you like shopping, miss? We've just finished eating. How about I take you out for a stroll?"
Digging out all the grievances hidden in a person's heart was a bit too cruel. Moreover, judging from Xie Xinxin's state, it was obvious that these things were like thorns deeply embedded in her heart. They didn't hurt when left untouched, but once touched even slightly, all the thorns would pierce deeper into her heart.
She asked if there was any wine, perhaps because she had always lost control of her emotions every time she talked about these things with others. As time went by, she learned how to stabilize her emotions.
"Shopping?" Xie Xinxin was stunned and looked up at Rong Lan.
Only then did Rong Lan notice the red - rimmed eyes of the other person. She smiled even more innocently. "Yes, yes. Let's go out for a stroll together. I want to buy some drinks." She came up with an excuse at random.
Xie Xinxin hesitated for a moment. Was it inappropriate for her to be here for a free meal and then go shopping? This was completely contrary to her original intention of coming here. However, the warmth on the back of her hand was so comforting that she couldn't bear to refuse. In the end, she nodded. "Okay."
Having received Xie Xinxin's response, Rong Lan cheerfully moved the beer can out of Xie Xinxin's hand. "Si Mo, the task of watching the store is up to you. If there are any customers coming, you should treat them well."
Si Mo waved his hand pretending to be obedient. "Got it, got it." Although he didn't think there would be any more customers, he couldn't resist the little fox's inexplicable confidence, so he had to cooperate with her.
After getting Si Mo's assurance, Rong Lan happily hooked her arm through Xie Xinxin's and walked out of the store.
Once outside the store, Xie Xinxin suddenly realized a very important problem. She lowered her head and sniffed her collar. "Master, does the smell of alcohol on me smell strong?"
Rong Lan shook her head. "I can't smell any alcohol."
Xie Xinxin let out a sigh of relief. "That's good."
In the bustling place, Xie Xinxin's emotions gradually calmed down. When it came to the things related to her restless younger brother at home, she was prone to losing control of her emotions. However, her self - esteem didn't allow her to lose control in public.
However, the person who said they were going out to buy drinks dragged her into a women's clothing store.
Xie Xinxin immediately remembered the topic brought up by that good - looking young man and instinctively tried to pull Rong Lan away.
But Rong Lan had been insisting on fitness, and with nearly five hundred years of cultivation about to be regained, Xie Xinxin failed to pull Rong Lan away. She watched helplessly as Rong Lan entered the women's clothing store and headed straight for the area where the dresses were displayed.
Seeing a salesperson following them, Rong Lan let go of Xie Xinxin's arm. "Please help me find two dresses that suit her," she pointed at Xie Xinxin. "Only dresses!"
The salesperson responded with an official and polite smile.
Xie Xinxin was both amused and helpless. "Master, I'm really not used to wearing dresses. You don't have to spend money. I should be the one paying you for the fortune - telling. It's not right for you to spend money on me."
Rong Lan looked serious and casually picked up a dress to compare it in front of Xie Xinxin. "You're the first customer we've received since the store opened. Of course, you're entitled to special treatment."
"Master, why don't you ask me how I found your store?" Xie Xinxin asked.
Putting herself in the shopkeeper's shoes, if she were the owner, she would be very curious about how the first customer found a store in such a remote location.
Rong Lan put the dress back in place, took the dress handed over by the salesperson, and smiled brightly. "Whether you found it accidentally or someone told you to come and give it a try, from the moment you lifted the bamboo curtain and stepped into the door, there's only one thing that can be proven - we're fated. As for why we're fated, it's not that important."
—
The bamboo curtain rustled. Si Mo calmly straightened his sleeves, raised his eyes towards the store entrance, and was surprised to see only the little fox coming in. "Did you scare away the first customer of the store?"
Rong Lan rolled her eyes upon hearing this. "What are you talking about? Do I look like such an unreliable person?"
Si Mo nodded. "You look exactly like one. So where's that human girl?"
Rong Lan sat down on her exclusive 'boss's throne' and then answered Si Mo's question. "We've completed a deal. She has to go back to the company to work, so she didn't come back with me."
Si Mo raised his eyebrows. "What deal? What's the specific content of the deal? Tell me."
"The specific content of the deal is that I'll help her beat up her annoying younger brother, and she'll decide how much to pay me herself." Xie Xinxin had asked her how much the consultation fee was for so long, and she had only said to pay as she saw fit. Because in her memory, when her aunt set up a stall to tell fortunes, she never mentioned money actively. Usually, the customers would decide how much to pay according to the final result of the fortune - telling.
Of course, mainly because she didn't know how much to charge.
Si Mo sighed. "It's a pity you haven't reached that level yet. I've checked. The top fortune - tellers and feng shui masters charge by the hour. The consultation fee per hour ranges from tens of thousands to millions."
Rong Lan thought the price Si Mo mentioned was unrealistic. "I think I'm a top - notch fortune - teller, but it's not easy to build a reputation. Unless there are a few big deals that can make me well - known."