"Where to, buddy?"
"Bailian Shimao!"
That was where he used to work—just an ordinary salesperson in a high-end clothing store.
Jiang Chen rolled down the car window and let the rushing wind hit his face. At this moment, it was the only way to cool down the excitement bubbling inside him. The driver tried to roll the window back up and switch on the AC, but Jiang Chen stopped him. After shooting Jiang Chen a sideways glance like he was crazy, the cabbie gave up and said nothing.
"Heh, looks like someone's having a good day, huh?"
"Something like that. Just so-so," Jiang Chen replied with a laugh, letting the wind fill his lungs.
When they arrived, Jiang Chen casually tossed a hundred-yuan note at the driver, showing all the signs of a nouveau riche.
"Keep the change."
Under the driver's stunned gaze, Jiang Chen swaggered out of the car.
Damn, I've been wanting to say that for ages! Finally, I've got the cash to back it up.
Now that he had offloaded the gold, Jiang Chen felt nothing but pure satisfaction.
…
As the saying goes, "Fine feathers make fine birds." Without a decent outfit, things are hard to get done. If he had walked into that gold store earlier dressed to the nines, that salesgirl probably would have…
…treated him like an idiot. Seriously, wearing a full suit in this heat? Only a fool would do that.
But the point stood—first impressions matter. People judge you by how you look, and that impression often sets the tone for all interactions to come. The whole "billionaire in rags" thing? That only happens in novels.
Having grown up dirt poor, Jiang Chen found more joy in showing off than keeping a low profile. Putting on a stylish outfit made flirting, doing business, or whatever else much easier than walking around in cheap street-market clothes.
So, Jiang Chen returned to the clothing store where he used to work.
Before stepping inside, a cold smirk tugged at his lips.
He was curious—what kind of face would that smug woman who fired him make if she saw how well he was doing now?
If he was going to slap someone in the face, it had to be loud and satisfying. Besides, he needed some decent clothes anyway—to help him get things done more smoothly.
"Welcome, sir." The girl at the entrance had changed. It was late June—college students were on summer break, and many of them came here to work part-time. Luxury stores were always a favorite among pretty girls: elegant environment, no hard labor, and who knows? Maybe they'd land a sugar daddy…
Heh, damned capitalism.
Of course, rich guys often came here, but not many shopped alone. Honestly, most men didn't care much about clothes. Stores like this mainly existed to help those tycoons spend lavishly in front of their dates—to warm up for their evening hotel "activities."
Jiang Chen wasn't that vulgar—he was just here to make a statement… okay, maybe a little vulgar.
As Jiang Chen casually picked out clothes worth tens of thousands without even blinking, the young, beautiful salesgirl trailing behind him grew visibly more excited. When his hands were almost full, she rushed over to help him carry the clothes, flashing him a sweet, inviting smile. She might as well have said, "Wanna go out sometime?"
But Jiang Chen, too busy scanning the store for a "familiar face," missed all her little signals. Not that he'd mind if she did ask him out—he wouldn't say no, heh.
Her figure wasn't as full as Miss Sun Jiao's, but she had that vibrant, urban university-girl charm. Probably one of those campus belles from some Shanghai college, though with so many universities in the city, Jiang Chen had no clue which one.
With a stack of clothes slammed down on the counter and still no sign of that woman, Jiang Chen's patience wore thin.
Where the hell was she?
She was gone. Swinging at air was so damn pointless.
His mood took a nosedive, and his face darkened.
Thinking she had offended this high-roller customer, the salesgirl cautiously watched Jiang Chen's expression, wondering where she'd gone wrong.
"The total is 157,000 yuan. We've waived the change for you, sir. Would you like to pay by card or in cash?"
What a stupid question. Who carries 150,000 in cash?
Jiang Chen pulled out his bank card, glancing again around the store. Hardly any familiar faces. Did the staff turnover really change that fast?
"Card… What's your manager's name?" Jiang Chen handed over the card and asked casually.
That question made the salesgirl behind him tremble. Had she done something wrong? Was he about to file a complaint?
The cashier, catching the awkwardness, froze for a second. She exchanged a glance with the salesgirl, then smiled politely at Jiang Chen.
"Xu Liping. Would you like me to call her for you?"
For big-spending customers like this, a complaint was more than enough to warrant the manager's presence. The cashier clearly misunderstood Jiang Chen—she thought he was about to complain about the salesgirl.
As a full-time employee, she didn't know much about the seasonal hires and wasn't about to defend them. Every summer and winter break brought in new faces.
Clearly, she thought Jiang Chen was unhappy with the salesgirl and wanted to escalate it.
"No need… Do you know someone named Xia Shiyu?" Jiang Chen stopped her, entered his PIN, and signed the receipt.
The cashier frowned in confusion, seeming not to recognize the name.
Guess not.
Feeling a mix of emotions, Jiang Chen turned to leave. But just then, the cashier suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! Right! The previous store manager's last name was Xia. Her name was… Yes! Xia Shiyu!"
"And where is she now?" Jiang Chen asked, puzzled.
"She was laid off, I think—part of a round of staff cuts. We were brought in from headquarters after training, so we're still getting used to this location. If we've offended you somehow, sir, please forgive us…" She smiled politely, continuing with some fawning corporate babble, but Jiang Chen wasn't really listening anymore.
So… she lost her job too?
Heh… hahaha… That bitch only lasted two steps longer than me. Hahaha…
Right now, Jiang Chen just wanted to burst out laughing. But after that fleeting rush of satisfaction, a strange hollowness crept in.
Bored? Not quite… It just felt like throwing a punch and hitting nothing but air.
In the restroom, Jiang Chen shoved the bags of clothes into his storage space, then left the place that had once held so many memories for him.
Pushing open the elegant glass door, a wave of cool air washed over him. Since he had just bought new clothes, Jiang Chen figured he might as well get a haircut too, and stepped into a personal styling salon.
Of course, Jiang Chen didn't have an appointment. But the moment the receptionist saw his outfit worth tens of thousands of yuan, she immediately greeted him with a bright smile and led him straight into the VIP room. After all, it was just a haircut—he could've gone to any roadside barber, but Jiang Chen only wanted to spend money now, and naturally chose the most expensive option.
At this moment, only consumption could ease the tension that had built up in his tightly strung nerves.
Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel a little more understanding toward those corrupt officials who threw money around. When you live every day on edge, as if a gun were pointed at your head, what's the point of hoarding money if you don't spend it like mad?
Understanding, of course, didn't mean forgiveness. But this... this was probably the state of mind Jiang Chen was in now.
Lying back in a soft reclining chair, a beautiful stylist walked over.
Her Korean-style loose curls perfectly framed her delicate face. Her stylish uniform hugged a graceful figure. Just one glance and Jiang Chen couldn't help but silently compliment her.
Naturally, one wouldn't expect any "extra services" at such a reputable salon. But the scent of jasmine from her swinging hair, the gentle touch of her fingers massaging his scalp, and the elegant music playing in the background—it was still a luxurious experience.
To be able to turn even a shampoo into a form of art—it was definitely worth the price.
What Jiang Chen didn't know was that the beautiful stylist washing his hair was also studying him closely. Being in the fashion industry, she had a keen sense of how much someone's outfit cost. But that wasn't the most important part. Rich men weren't rare; rich and handsome men, however, were a rare breed.
From her experience, rich clients were usually balding men with beer bellies accompanied by trophy wives twenty years younger, or pale second-generation heirs clearly hollowed out by indulgence, requesting celebrity hairstyles.
Peeking at Jiang Chen's toned chest—clearly visible even under his shirt—the stylist couldn't help but blush. Her mind began to wander…
What would it feel like to be under him, galloping wildly…
"The water's a little hot," Jiang Chen suddenly said.
"Ah! I'm so sorry, sir!"
Jiang Chen was a little confused. He had been so relaxed he was about to fall asleep. In a place like this, the staff were supposed to be professionals, weren't they?
Still, Jiang Chen didn't dwell on it. While he did have a bit of a vengeful streak, he wasn't petty. There was no need to make a fuss over something so small.
After the shampoo, the stylist gently draped a towel over his forehead, and with a soft voice, dried his hair carefully.
Every detail was flawless. It wasn't just hair washing—it was a full-on luxury experience.
Especially when her bare thighs—exposed beneath tight hot pants—briefly brushed against his hand. That cool, supple sensation…
After finishing the haircut, the stylist gave Jiang Chen a scalp treatment as well. He didn't know what kind of liquid it was, but the sensation on his scalp was incredibly soothing. When her soft fingertips massaged in rhythmic circles, Jiang Chen nearly groaned aloud from how good it felt… Ahem.
After everything was done, Jiang Chen admired himself in the mirror, striking a few charming poses. Then he happily paid. Though he couldn't quite describe how the hairstyle had changed, his overall aura felt completely different from when he'd first walked in. Combined with his expensive outfit, he exuded the confidence of a refined, wealthy man—far from the flashy upstart look he had earlier.
Of course… it could've just been psychological.
Next, Jiang Chen wandered around the bustling plaza. Back in the day, he had passed this place with empty pockets, unable to buy anything. But now, with a wallet full of cash, he stood in front of the dazzling shops—yet didn't know what to buy.
If only Sun Jiao were here…
Jiang Chen gave a self-deprecating chuckle. That thought was far from realistic.
Let alone how to explain things, he didn't even know if it was possible to bring a living person across worlds.
Shopping alone was rather lonely.
All his old college buddies had gone their separate ways—some back home, some to Beijing, some overseas… He was the only one left in this bustling, impersonal city. Maybe a few had stayed, but they hadn't kept in touch.
Though his contact list was full, he stared at his phone for a long time and didn't know who to call.
Still, there was a certain freedom in being alone. He'd stop and look at anything interesting, buy any snacks that looked tasty. At one point, he nearly walked into a women's boutique but awkwardly backed out.
A guy, with no girlfriend, shopping for women's clothes? Too weird.
His plan to buy clothes for Sun Jiao and Yao Yao was shelved, for now.
As the sky dimmed, it was lunchtime.
Sitting alone in a luxurious restaurant, Jiang Chen studied the menu and picked only the most expensive dishes—spicy catfish, chilled lobster, Sichuan-style spicy chicken, sizzling stone pot beef… He didn't even know if he could finish them all, but he ordered ten dishes in one breath. Under the waitress's skeptical and surprised gaze, he slapped his bank card on the table, signaling to pay upfront.
Ever since taking the gene enhancement serum, all of Jiang Chen's bodily functions had been significantly strengthened. Naturally, his appetite had increased too.
As the servers watched in astonishment, Jiang Chen dug in without a care and polished off more than half the table.
As for the rest…
He left it.
Patting his hands clean, Jiang Chen walked out of the restaurant—bill already paid.
The server clearing his table stared blankly at Jiang Chen's retreating back. She had seen big eaters before, but it was her first time seeing someone so well-dressed and fit who could finish off nearly an entire table's worth of food.
Like seeing a ghost—especially considering all those dishes were heavy on meat, the kind that filled you up fast.