Listening to Mu Xiaoxiao's exaggerated words, Ruan Shiyu couldn't help laughing again. "Aren't you my mom? How did you turn into a sister again?"
Instead, she received a glare from Mu Xiaoxiao. "Get in the car!"
"Huh?" Ruan Shiyu looked bewildered. "Are you serious? You're rushing me out of the car out of embarrassment?"
Unable whether to laugh or cry, Mu Xiaoxiao reached out and pinched Ruan Shiyu. "You silly goose, we've arrived!"
Only then did it dawn on Ruan Shiyu. She hurriedly pushed open the car door and hopped out. Seeing Mu Xiaoxiao looking at her with a mix of exasperation and affection from inside the car, Ruan Shiyu felt a surge of childish mischief and made a funny face at her.
Mu Xiaoxiao felt a love-hate relationship toward her airheaded best friend, but seeing that silly face, she couldn't help laughing out loud. She shook her head and got out of the car as well.
Ruan Shiyu quieted down, watched Mu Xiaoxiao lock the car, and the two of them linked arms and walked toward the shopping mall ahead.
After taking a couple of steps, Ruan Shiyu suddenly sighed with emotion. "Xiaoxiao, it's so great knowing you."
This sudden, heartfelt confession caught Mu Xiaoxiao off guard. Keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead, she said, "You better know it. When your mom gets old, you'd better show me some filial piety, you hear?"
Though it was said in jest, Ruan Shiyu clearly saw the tips of Mu Xiaoxiao's ears turn red.
Chatting and laughing, the two entered the mall. Mu Xiaoxiao dragged Ruan Shiyu to the front of a designer clothing store. Looking at the exquisite interior decoration, Ruan Shiyu instantly lost her nerve. "This is so high-end! It's just a class reunion, we don't need all this, do we?"
"What are you afraid of? My treat today, I'll pay for whatever you buy." With that, Mu Xiaoxiao boldly pulled Ruan Shiyu inside.
"Hey! That's not how this works—" Ruan Shiyu wanted to refuse, but before she could finish, she was dragged into the shop.
A store clerk hurried over. "Welcome, ladies. Is there anything I can help you with?"
With an outsider present, Ruan Shiyu felt too embarrassed to horse around with Mu Xiaoxiao anymore, so she quickly stood up straight and put on a well-behaved look.
Mu Xiaoxiao pushed Ruan Shiyu forward and said, "See if there's anything suitable for her here, and bring out some recommendations."
The clerk looked Ruan Shiyu up and down, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.
Ruan Shiyu glared instantly. Even if her figure and looks were just average, it wasn't like she couldn't even pick out a single fitting outfit?!
Sensing Ruan Shiyu's displeasure, the clerk hurriedly said, "We just got in some new summer styles. Would this beauty like to try one on?"
Mu Xiaoxiao waved a generous hand. "Bring it here and let's see."
The clerk quickly brought over a pink skirt suit. It was pretty enough, but by no means matched Ruan Shiyu's style.
Holding the clothes in her hands, Ruan Shiyu looked nervously at Mu Xiaoxiao.
Mu Xiaoxiao stood right up and pushed her into the dressing room. "I think this outfit looks great. Try it on first."
Just like that, Ruan Shiyu was shoved into the dressing room with no room for refusal.
With no other choice, she could only change into the outfit inside.
The skirt the clerk gave her was somewhat bubble-shaped, fitting tightly against her body at every point. Once she put it on, Ruan Shiyu's little belly was exposed for all to see.
Looking at herself in the full-length mirror, Ruan Shiyu felt a bit deflated. The clothes were lovely indeed, but her figure just wasn't up to the task!
Outside, Mu Xiaoxiao waited for ages without seeing Ruan Shiyu come out, growing a little anxious. She knocked on the dressing room door and called out, "Are you done yet? Come out and let me see."
Hearing Mu Xiaoxiao's voice made Ruan Shiyu feel even more mortified. Pressing her back against the door, she said, "This outfit doesn't suit me. I'm going to change back out of it!"
Hearing this, Mu Xiaoxiao grew anxious. "Get out here right now, or I'm breaking in by force!"
Having no other choice, Ruan Shiyu timidly pushed open the door and stepped out. Fortunately, there were very few people in the store, which barely managed to preserve her dignity.
Looking at her in the outfit, Mu Xiaoxiao frowned and said, "I just feel like something's not quite right."
With a miserable expression, Ruan Shiyu said, "I told you, this outfit isn't for me..."
Seeing her like this, Mu Xiaoxiao burst out laughing instead. Pulling Ruan Shiyu toward her, she said, "Don't rush, we'll try them one by one."
With that, she turned to the clerk and asked, "Do you have anything else? The kind of styles that are a bit looser—bring them all over for us to look at."
The clerk turned and left, returning a moment later with an armful of clothes.
Ruan Shiyu was pushed back into the dressing room by Mu Xiaoxiao to try them on one by one.
Unfortunately, the store's entire aesthetic leaned toward a proper, ladylike style. Ruan Shiyu was used to lounging comfortably at home, and the moment she put on formal wear, her whole vibe felt wrong. After trying things for ages, not a single piece was suitable.
Half an hour later, Ruan Shiyu had changed back into her sweats and collapsed limply onto the store's sofa. Seeing Mu Xiaoxiao still enthusiastically discussing things with the clerk, Ruan Shiyu felt like crying. "Big sis, spare me today, will you? Trying on clothes is even more tiring than running!"
Mu Xiaoxiao turned back and glared at her, and was just about to lecture her when she saw how pale Ruan Shiyu's face looked. A wave of pity washed over her, and she hurriedly pulled her up from the sofa. "Alright, alright, we won't try anymore."
A look of joy crossed Ruan Shiyu's face, and she was just about to speak when she heard Mu Xiaoxiao say, "We'll try another store. The style here probably just doesn't suit you."
Ruan Shiyu: "..."
Forget it, she might as well just let herself collapse and die on the sofa!
In the end, she was hauled back up by Mu Xiaoxiao anyway. The two of them wandered through the mall, found nothing they liked, and then headed to the shopping street behind it. After wearing out their feet pacing the entire length of the avenue, the sky gradually began to darken.
Ruan Shiyu's stomach let out a rumbling growl, and she couldn't help pleading, "Good Xiaoxiao, let's not try anymore today, how about we continue tomorrow?"
"No way, finish today's work today. This is the last one. If this still doesn't work, we'll just take that blue one from earlier." Mu Xiaoxiao remained persistent. Showing no mercy, she pushed Ruan Shiyu into the dressing room and ruthlessly shut the door, crushing any hopes of escape.
With no choice, Ruan Shiyu slipped into the clothes she was holding.
It was a light green two-piece dress. The top was predominantly white, with tender green little flowers embedded at the cuffs and collar. The skirt was a light green, somewhat like a fluffy tutu, but not overly exaggerated.
The fresh, tender color perfectly matched Ruan Shiyu's skin tone, and since it wasn't a one-piece dress, it also expertly concealed her little belly.
Emerging from the dressing room in the new outfit, Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes instantly lit up. "This one's good!"
After trying on clothes all afternoon, to finally hear the word "good" made Ruan Shiyu want to drop to her knees right then and there. She nodded frantically. "Then let's go with this one! How much is it?"
The nearby clerk smiled faintly. "One thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight."
"What?" Ruan Shiyu gasped in shock. "So expensive?!"
It was just a little dress! Ruan Shiyu instantly felt uncomfortable wearing it.
Beside her, however, Mu Xiaoxiao pulled out her wallet without hesitation. "This one, and that blue one from earlier—wrap them both up."
Faced with such a generous customer, the clerk couldn't keep the smile off her face and eagerly led Mu Xiaoxiao over to pay.
Ten minutes later, the two of them emerged from the shop carrying large bags and small parcels. Ruan Shiyu still felt a twinge of heartache over the cost. "It was so expensive, and you didn't even try to bargain."
Mu Xiaoxiao reached out and pinched Ruan Shiyu's cheek. "You little ingrate, it was all for you. You think I wasn't tired?!"
After trying on clothes for half a day, they had finally found a suitable piece—who cared about bargaining? Buy it and get home already!
Hearing Mu Xiaoxiao say this, Ruan Shiyu felt a bit sheepish again. She let out a couple of sheepish laughs and said nothing.
Mu Xiaoxiao went on, "You have to dress up properly for this class reunion. I won't nag you about how you usually dress, but you have to seize this opportunity! A person needs to stand up for their dignity, you know?"
"I know, I know." Ruan Shiyu nodded and bowed in agreement. She glanced at Mu Xiaoxiao's profile and asked with a smile, "But why? You never used to push me during past class reunions. Why are you so proactive this time?"
Ruan Shiyu was just asking offhandedly, but who would have thought that Mu Xiaoxiao would instantly freeze up? She stammered and stuttered for ages before finally squeezing out, "Anyway, as long as you dress up looking pretty, that's all that matters!"
With that, she grabbed Ruan Shiyu's hand. "Let's go, let's go eat, I'm starving."
Before she could puzzle it out, Ruan Shiyu was dragged away by Mu Xiaoxiao, leaving her no time to wonder about the reason. "Don't pull, don't pull, I'll walk with you."
The two of them had dinner at a small eatery by the side of the road. After finishing and paying the bill, Mu Xiaoxiao suddenly received a phone call. "Hello? Who is this? Yeah, I'm outside. Huh? Go right now?"
Hanging up, Mu Xiaoxiao offered Ruan Shiyu an apologetic smile. "Shiyu, I'm so sorry, something came up at my company, they want me to go over right now..."
As she spoke, Mu Xiaoxiao glanced at her watch. "It's eight o'clock in the night, can you get home by yourself? I have to make a trip to the office."
Ruan Shiyu hurriedly nodded. "It's fine, go ahead. My place isn't far anyway, I can just flag down a cab and go back by myself."
"Alright then." Mu Xiaoxiao stood up. Eager to leave but still uneasy, she instructed, "Send me your license plate number once you get in the cab, and remember to text me when you get home safely so I know you're okay."
True to her mother-hen nature, she could never quite let go. Amidst a wave of warmth, Ruan Shiyu found it a little amusing. "Stop nagging, I'm not a real child. It's just going home, I'll be fine. Go on."
Hearing this, Mu Xiaoxiao gave her nose a little pinch and turned to leave the restaurant.
Yet, despite Ruan Shiyu's confident words, the moment Mu Xiaoxiao left, her expression instantly crumpled into one of distress as she looked down at the pile of large bags and small parcels on the floor.
They had spent the whole afternoon shopping, and besides clothes, they had bought all sorts of miscellaneous items—shoes, hats, accessories, and even two large plush toys won from a lucky draw. How on earth was she supposed to lug this massive pile of things back all by herself?
After hesitating in the restaurant for ages, Ruan Shiyu finally picked up all the items and wobbled her way outside.
She wasn't very tall to begin with, and dragging this much cargo gave her a top-heavy feeling. When she finally reached the streetside, not a single taxi was in sight. With no other choice, Ruan Shiyu pulled out her phone to summon a ride via a ride-hailing app.
Just as she unlocked her phone, she received a text message from the System: "Going for a walk after a meal is great for fitness and body toning~"