Chapter 9: Pick out whatever you like and take it home.

After breakfast, Kong Chengyi headed off to work on his own. About an hour later, Hua Lianxi and Fang Xiufang left the house together, hand in hand, ready for a shopping trip.

The car pulled up at a fancy shopping mall. Hua Lianxi helped Fang Xiufang as they stood in the lobby. For a second, Hua Lianxi was taken aback. She couldn't help but look up at Fang Xiufang, her eyes full of confused suspicion.

"Come on in, dear! Let's take our time browsing," Fang Xiufang said, leaning on her cane with one hand and squeezing Hua Lianxi's hand with the other, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

Looking around the bright and luxurious lobby, Hua Lianxi was sure it was the kind of place young people raved about for shopping. She jokingly said, "Grandma, this place sells trendy clothes for young people. Are you thinking of buying a mini-skirt?"

"Don't be disrespectful!" Lin Xiao, clutching a sapphire blue designer handbag, chided Hua Lianxi in a deliberately low voice. She then turned to Fang Xiufang and suggested softly, "Mom, even I'd think the clothes here are too young and flashy. Why don't we go somewhere else?"

"Did I say I was buying for you? Today, I'm buying for my girl!" Fang Xiufang shot Lin Xiao a displeased look, then pulled Hua Lianxi along, not even checking if Lin Xiao was following.

Afraid Fang Xiufang might fall, Hua Lianxi hurried after her, glancing back at Lin Xiao as she said softly, "Grandma, I have plenty of clothes. I really don't need to buy more!"

Hua Lianxi never imagined that Fang Xiufang bringing her shopping was actually about buying clothes for her. A warm feeling suddenly welled up in her heart, making her feel much closer to Fang Xiufang.

"Having more is still different! These are from your grandma, not the same as what you buy yourself," Fang Xiufang said, her round eyes glancing sideways at Hua Lianxi. She then chuckled softly and whispered, "Hey, dear, should Grandma buy you a super short skirt? How about we make Chengyi's nose bleed when you wear it back home?"

Caught off guard by Fang Xiufang's mischievousness, Hua Lianxi was speechless for a moment, then could only call out playfully, "Grandma!"

"Oh my, hahahaha..."

Fang Xiufang suddenly burst into laughter. Lin Xiao caught up, but she had no idea what the two women were up to. Looking at the seemingly shy Hua Lianxi, Lin Xiao felt a little uneasy, like she'd suddenly become an outsider, but she could only force a smile.

Taking Hua Lianxi's arm, Fang Xiufang headed straight for the high-end designer stores on the second floor. She immediately instructed the store manager to bring out all the limited-edition pieces from the next season.

Casually gesturing towards a whole rack of elegant and gorgeous cocktail dresses, she told Hua Lianxi, "Lianxi, take your time and pick out whatever you like!"

Stunned, Hua Lianxi's heart pounded. She couldn't stop calculating that just one of these dresses could probably cover her living expenses for two years. Besides, with Fang Xiufang's attitude, it seemed like she wanted to buy out the entire store!

Hua Lianxi looked at Lin Xiao for help, hoping she could help her refuse Fang Xiufang's generosity. After all, she really didn't need so many extravagant dresses.

Meeting Hua Lianxi's gaze, Lin Xiao simply maintained her smile, as if she didn't understand the unspoken plea. After a few short seconds, her eyes returned to the dazzling array of dresses, completely ignoring Hua Lianxi's silent cry for help.

Getting no rescue, Hua Lianxi could only gently tug on Fang Xiufang's sleeve and pleaded softly, "Grandma, Lianxi rarely attends banquets. These dresses will just sit in the closet and go to waste. Let's not buy them!"

Her eyes crinkling with delight, Fang Xiufang was overjoyed by Hua Lianxi's childlike pleading. "You're the Kong family's granddaughter-in-law now! How can you have few opportunities to attend banquets? Besides, isn't the Cheng Zai Group's tenth-anniversary celebration coming up in a few days? As the president's wife, you're the hostess. We have to make sure you look the part!"