Jiang Liuyue returned from her run to find Feng Xiaoman still standing by the roadside, fiddling with her phone as if chatting.
She stopped and walked over, calling softly:
"Xiaoman, are you going to keep running?"
Feng Xiaoman was too absorbed in her chat to notice Jiang Liuyue.
Startled by the sudden voice, she jumped back a few steps.
When she looked up and met the other's porcelain-white, almost flawless, pretty face, she guiltily turned off her phone screen.
"I'm a bit tired, I'll stop for now."
"Um... Liuyue, I just noticed the soles of your sneakers are a bit worn. Let's go shopping."
"I'll buy you a new pair, as a thank you for running with me."
What she really thought was: consider it payment for contributing that photo of your back.
After all, Yaochuan had just transferred another fifty thousand; how much could a pair of sneakers cost?
Jiang Liuyue wasn't one to be coy.
She smiled gently and said:
"Xiaoman, you're too kind."
"I actually have a pair of sneakers I really like and want to buy, but they're too expensive. I've been saving up."
Feng Xiaoman was surprised. "Expensive? How expensive can they be? It's fine, I have money. My treat."
One hour later.
At the brand counter in the mall, Feng Xiaoman listened as the saleswoman said with a smile, "Hello, this pair totals thirteen thousand. Will that be Alipay or WeChat?"
Feng Xiaoman was stunned.
She couldn't believe it. "Are you robbing me?! That's so expensive."
Hearing this, the salesperson's expression turned sour.
She looked Feng Xiaoman's outfit up and down with disdain and sneered:
"We are a professional-grade running shoe brand, and this pair is a limited anniversary edition."
"If you can't afford it, you can go down one floor. That brand is more affordable."
Feng Xiaoman couldn't help but mutter, "...Still, it shouldn't be that expensive. They're just shoes."
Jiang Liuyue, standing beside her, gently patted her shoulder.
She said softly,
"It's alright, Xiaoman. I'll pay for it myself."
"I've saved up some money, and next month's commission should be decent too."
It wasn't that Feng Xiaoman didn't have the money.
After all, Yaochuan had transferred her fifty thousand.
She could certainly afford it.
It was just that she thought, out of a compensatory mindset, buying Jiang Liuyue a pair of shoes couldn't cost that much—a few hundred, maybe a thousand at most. She never expected it to be over ten thousand.
Spending that much made her heart ache.
After this, she'd only have thirty-seven thousand left.
But the saleswoman's scornful look and Jiang Liuyue's understanding words made her feel even more embarrassed.
So she pushed Jiang Liuyue's hand away, snorted at the saleswoman, and said in a forceful tone,
"Who says I can't afford it?!"
"I just think your service attitude is poor."
"Get someone else! I want another person to ring me up. I'll pay right now, immediately."
The saleswoman didn't make a fuss either; after all, any sale counts for the store.
She waved over another girl.
The other salesperson had a kind, baby-faced appearance and said with a smile,
"Alright, then I'll process the payment for you."
"Thirteen thousand total. How would you like to pay?"
Feng Xiaoman lifted her chin, opened her phone's payment interface, and said, "WeChat."
The balance displayed in her wallet was the fifty thousand Yaochuan had transferred.
She not only showed it to the new salesperson but also deliberately waved it in front of the original one.
Only after hearing the payment successful notification did she speak.
She looked at the first saleswoman with a triumphant sneer.
"Who can't afford it?"
"Don't judge people by their appearance next time."
The original saleswoman maintained professional composure and smiled.
"Thank you for your patronage. Please think of us next time you need professional-grade sneakers."
Feng Xiaoman curled her lip.
She snorted again.
After taking the bag, she handed it to Jiang Liuyue, her tone full of smug satisfaction.
"Liuyue, the sneakers I got for you."
She deliberately wanted to show her generosity towards Jiang Liuyue in front of others.
Having spent over ten thousand, she was deeply pained by it.
She also hoped to receive Jiang Liuyue's gratitude.
To her surprise, Jiang Liuyue simply took the bag and said lightly,
"Thanks, Xiaoman."
"..."
Feng Xiaoman was incredulous.
That's it?!
She had just bought her a pair of thirteen-thousand-yuan sneakers.
Especially after seeing her balance drop to just over thirty thousand, she felt the sting intensely.
Even though this money came from Yaochuan's transfer, once transferred, it was hers!!!
"Then let me treat you to lunch," Jiang Liuyue said, curving her lips into a smile.
"Okay! Let's go for a buffet. Haven't had one in ages..."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaoman felt much better.
She specifically found the most expensive seafood and wagyu beef buffet in the mall.
It turned out to be only 1,688 per person.
If it were her own treat, she'd never be willing to spend that much, but since Jiang Liuyue was paying, she still thought it was too cheap!
After all, she had just bought the other girl a pair of thirteen-thousand-yuan sneakers.
Coming out of the buffet restaurant, Feng Xiaoman was so full she had to walk holding the wall.
Her stomach was stuffed to the brim.
The roasted durian was so delicious!
She had eaten five or six plates of sweet shrimp, salmon, and sea urchin alone.
Not to mention the wagyu beef hot pot and the fresh king crab.
Jiang Liuyue across from her had also eaten quite a bit, but she looked completely at ease.
A hint of barely detectable envy colored Feng Xiaoman's voice.
"Liuyue, I really envy you. You have a good appetite too, but you never seem to gain weight no matter how much you eat."
Jiang Liuyue turned her head and smiled, shaking it.
"Xiaoman, it's not that I don't gain weight."
"It's just because I go for a morning run every day and do a set of yoga before bed at night."
Feng Xiaoman listened, then silently lowered her head and muttered softly,
"If only I had a figure like yours."
Jiang Liuyue: "Then come for morning runs with me every day."
Feng Xiaoman seemed to regain her energy.
She nodded vigorously.
"Okay!"
...
Jiang Liuyue wasn't streaming tonight.
She took one day off each week, the timing varied.
But she would always post a notice on her Douyin account a few hours in advance.
Just after posting, the comments were filled with laments.
[Can't hear sister sing tonight, so disappointed.]
[Ah, was looking forward to more of Liuyue and Young Master Ye. Well, see you tomorrow then.]
[Sister, rest well. Take care of your voice.]
A small notification dot suddenly appeared on her Douyin account's private messages.
She clicked to check.
Weimian Ye: "Add me."
Very concise, just two words.
It's important to know that strangers can only send one private message.
He seemed really confident that Jiang Liuyue would definitely add him.
Exiting the chat interface.
She didn't reply.
On the other end of the phone, Zhou Che had been staring at the screen for almost three hours.
Why hadn't she replied to his message?
When Zhou Che first saw the notice about the day off, he felt a bit nervous, thinking something might have happened to her.
It wasn't until other fans explained in the comments that he learned she took one day off every week.
He immediately felt relieved.
But the thought of not seeing her tonight made Zhou Che feel restless and agitated.
After much internal debate, he finally decided to take the initiative.
Maybe he should message Yi Liuyue first.
What should he say?
Couldn't seem too eager, couldn't be too forward.
Hesitating for a moment,
Zhou Che finally typed two words: "Add me."
The moment he sent it, he immediately regretted it!!!
Isn't this coming off a bit too cold? What if Yi Liuyue gets angry after reading it?
Wait, hold on—he's the top supporter in the livestream.
Why am I being so timid?
