Chapter 56 These Are My Rules!

Just as Ye Tianci and Lin Qingqian’s lips were about to meet, footsteps suddenly echoed from the staircase above.

“Qingqian!” Lin Changli shouted as he descended.

The two separated instantly, as if shocked by electricity. Lin Qingqian tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, feigning calm. “Dad, what’s wrong?”

Lin Changli held up his phone. “Your uncle just called. He said if we recover the funds lost from the previous Lin family project, we’ll be allowed back into the family.”

“Dad, I already know about this.”

“Then hurry over. Your uncle said he needs to speak with you in person.”

Seeing her father’s impatience, Lin Qingqian grabbed Ye Tianci’s hand and walked out of the villa.

Instead of heading to the Lin family estate, she drove to a bustling commercial street.

“Aren’t we supposed to see your uncle? Why are we here?” Ye Tianci asked.

“I want to buy you some nice clothes and shoes. Society only respects appearances, not people. If you dress well, no one will look down on you.”

Ye Tianci smiled gently. “Doesn’t being respected have nothing to do with what you wear?”

“Of course it does! Clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse. Look at Zhao Hui from earlier—suit and tie, everyone assumes he’s upper-class.”

“Upper-class, but full of lies and scams?” Ye Tianci chuckled.

Lin Qingqian shot him a reproachful look. “You’re my fiancé. If you’re mocked for your clothes, it means I haven’t done my job well.”

“You’ll have to listen to me about this!”

Her gaze was a little domineering, but Ye Tianci liked it.

He smiled. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

They got out of the car. Lin Qingqian intended to enter a menswear store, but Ye Tianci pulled her into a Chanel boutique.

“I’m supposed to buy you clothes. Why are you taking me to look at women’s fashion?”

“I haven’t given you any gifts since coming down the mountain. How can I let you buy clothes for me first? See if there’s anything you like—I’ll buy it for you,” Ye Tianci said.

Lin Qingqian’s lips curved into a smile. “It’s rare for you to be so thoughtful, but this is Chanel. Do you have enough money?”

Ye Tianci waved his phone with a mischievous grin. “I came into some unexpected money yesterday. Should be enough for clothes.”

Zhang He had swindled a million from Zheng Mei’s mother, but Ye Tianci seized it and had it transferred to his own account, now resting in his mobile wallet.

“Then I won’t hold back.”

“No need to be polite. Choose whatever you like.”

Even if all that million was spent, Ye Tianci wouldn’t feel the slightest pang.

Lin Qingqian quickly found a white silk dress—the style and color suited her temperament perfectly.

Ye Tianci took the dress down, intending for Lin Qingqian to try it on, but a short, stout middle-aged woman hurried over, snatched the dress from his hands, and scowled. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“We like this dress and want to try it on,” Ye Tianci explained.

“Try it on?” The woman glared fiercely. “Do you know how expensive this dress is? Look—eighty thousand!”

She brandished the price tag, her small eyes scrutinizing Ye Tianci with ridicule. “Look at what you’re wearing. Is your entire outfit worth three hundred? And you want to try on my eighty-thousand dress?”

Ye Tianci’s brows furrowed. “What I wear has nothing to do with trying on your dress.”

“Of course it does!” the woman snapped. “I’ve seen plenty like you. You talk big, try it on, and the moment you hear the price, you run.”

Her tone was mocking and sour.

Ye Tianci’s voice turned cold. “Is this how you run your business?”

The woman raised her eyebrows defiantly. “I don’t need your advice on how to do business. If you want to buy, pay. No trying on! No touching!”

“How can you know if it fits if you don’t try it?” Ye Tianci was annoyed.

“If you dirty it by trying or touching, how am I supposed to sell it?”

“No trying on, no touching! That’s the rule here!” she barked even more forcefully.

Ye Tianci’s lips moved ever so slightly. “Your rule is no touching, no trying on, correct? Fine.”

He pointed at the wall of clothes with a commanding air. “I’ll take all of these.”

The woman looked him up and down, her eyes full of contempt. “Do you know how much all these clothes cost? At least a million!”

“And you dare say you’ll take them all? Stop pretending to be rich and get out!”

Ye Tianci calmly opened his mobile wallet and displayed the balance to her. “Is this enough?”

The woman’s tiny eyes went wide at the sight of the long string of numbers. Her face, swollen with fat, broke into a beaming smile. “More than enough! I didn’t expect you to be so wealthy!”

“My attitude was off earlier. So, you’re taking all these clothes, right?”

Ye Tianci nodded coldly. “Yes, pack them up.”

“My, you really are generous!” she gushed, flattering him while hastily packing each item.

She busied herself for quite some time, sweat breaking out on her face before she finished.

“All packed up, young man. I’ve tallied it up: ninety-eight thousand one hundred and thirty. I’ll waive the three hundred. Just pay ninety-eight thousand one hundred.”

She smiled obsequiously.

Ye Tianci’s lips curved slightly. “What payment?”

“The money for the clothes,” she replied.

Ye Tianci pointed at the bags on the floor, his voice cool. “I was going to buy these, but you touched every piece while packing. Now they’re dirty.”

“They’re all dirty—why would I buy them?”

With that, Ye Tianci took Lin Qingqian’s hand and left.

The woman grew frantic, rushing to block their path and jabbing a finger at Ye Tianci’s nose. “Are you playing games with me?”

Ye Tianci replied icily. “The clothes I buy mustn’t be touched by others. That’s my rule.”

“You broke my rule, so naturally I won’t buy.”

For such a nasty shop owner, Ye Tianci fought fire with fire.

The woman’s small eyes narrowed. “You dare show off in Zhu Yan’s shop? Try leaving!”

Ye Tianci pulled Lin Qingqian along.

Zhu Yan lunged, grabbing Ye Tianci’s wrist and biting down like a mad dog.

Crack!

Thud!

Crash!

Three sounds echoed in quick succession.

Crack—Zhu Yan’s tooth broke off. Ye Tianci’s body was protected by his inner energy; Zhu Yan couldn’t harm him.

Thud—Zhu Yan was bounced away by his protective energy and fell to the floor.

Crash—her bulky frame knocked over two clothing racks, pinning her underneath.

“Murder! Somebody help! Call for help!” Zhu Yan howled like a slaughtered pig.

Two shop assistants immediately called for reinforcements.

Soon, the property manager of the commercial street arrived with several security guards.

The manager, a man nearing fifty, had a receding hairline and a lecherous look.

“Brother Wu, this guy said he’d buy the clothes, I packed them up, then he refused to pay, just to mess with me!”

“I argued with him, and he hit me. Look, he knocked my tooth out!” Zhu Yan played the victim, clutching her bleeding mouth.

Manager Wu glanced at Ye Tianci and, without asking for details, barked imperiously, “Pay for all the packed clothes!”

“And compensate Boss Zhu with fifty thousand for medical expenses!”

“Or you won’t leave this store!”