Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: The Hundred Thousand Cloak

Page 1 of 3

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Ding Wen had given Feng Xi advance notice that Gu Qingchen needed to attend the company’s evening gala, so everyone left early.

Feng Xi had recovered completely. Liu Wanwan said the school had really invited a mysterious celebrity guest and that the New Year’s gala was sure to be spectacular. When Feng Xi said she wanted to return to school for the celebration, Ding Wen merely reminded her to stay safe and let her go.

By noon, Gu Qingchen had sent someone over with a great many clothes. Wu Feng came in carrying bag after bag, and Feng Xi nearly spat out her water.

The dazzling assortment covered the entire floor.

Feng Xi was at a loss. After putting everything down, Wu Feng turned to leave. “There are still some shoes and handbags. I’ll make another trip to the garage.”

Feng Xi hurriedly waved him off. “No, no, that’s enough. There’s far too much. I could never wear all these clothes.”

Wu Feng went anyway.

Overcoats, down jackets, trousers and skirts in every imaginable fabric, fitted and loose cuts, sweet and sophisticated styles, shades of caramel and macaron pastels—the latest autumn and winter designs from every major luxury label...

Gu Qingchen really was extravagant. As expected, even the tiniest bit that slipped through his fingers would be enough to support Feng Xi for the rest of her life.

“Mr. Gu said you should choose a few things you like.” Wu Feng set down one last stack of shoes. At last, he had finished carrying everything in.

Feng Xi was somewhat dazed. She had seen so many clothes and shoes only in wholesale markets, but the gilt logos on these bags all proclaimed their staggering prices.

She rummaged through the selection. Some of the clothes were far too daring, with necklines as wide as washbasins, and most of them were very thin. Yet the fabric felt wonderfully soft in her hands. In the end, she chose the simplest item she could find: a fitted black sweater with a relatively high neckline and a vivid red rose embroidered at the small of the back.

Once she put it on, she felt as though the warmth of her body had been sealed inside. It was unexpectedly cozy. Feng Xi suddenly understood. So this was how wealthy people dressed lightly in winter without feeling cold—they managed to have both style and warmth.

She chose a pair of jeans as well. Once she had them on, her legs seemed to have lengthened by several centimeters. The cut was miraculous, making her calves look slender, her thighs slim yet full, her hips high and shapely, and her waist narrow. She looked tall and alluring.

Standing before the mirror, Feng Xi sighed at the truth of the old saying: people rely on clothes, just as horses rely on saddles. The moment she dressed herself, she felt she had become a stunning beauty worthy of a nine out of ten.

The shoes, at least, were understated. They were all casual styles. Feng Xi let out a long breath of relief. High heels frightened her; they were simply too conspicuous.

She picked a black-and-white pair. The size was a perfect fit.

As a child, Feng Xi had always run around barefoot, so her feet had grown somewhat large. But she had never felt inferior about it. She could simply wear the men’s shoes her older male cousin had outgrown, and she had never lacked footwear while growing up.

So it was difficult not to be tempted. Gu Qingchen’s thoughtfulness was so meticulous that anyone would have struggled to resist it. Feng Xi was already close to surrender.

Still, for the moment, Gu Qingchen had not pierced that final layer of restraint between them.

Looking at the luxury goods scattered across the floor, Feng Xi thought it over carefully. Perhaps being a substitute for his former beloved was not such a bad thing. At least she would have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear. If she pleased him, he could even become her protector.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

Gu Qingchen was especially elegant, refined, and well-mannered, with a handsome, distinguished appearance. He was unquestionably an exceptional rich second-generation heir.

If she could remain by his side for long, she might well earn a great deal of money. Then, after graduation, she could bring her grandfather from their hometown to Shangjing and let him enjoy his later years in comfort.

Feng Xi shook her head, laughing at herself for getting carried away. A man as exceptional as Gu Qingchen could never possibly choose someone like her.

As evening approached, she remembered that she had arranged to meet Liu Wanwan and Lin Xin. She grabbed a low-key overcoat and headed to the school.

Along the way, bursts of laughter drifted through the air. Groups of students walked together in twos and threes, their steps light and eager, their conversations revolving around the upcoming New Year’s gala. The same question was endlessly debated: who exactly was the mysterious celebrity guest?

Feng Xi’s outfit was deliberately simple and restrained, yet its distinctive elegance was impossible to conceal.

The tailoring was perfect, as though every inch of fabric understood precisely how to outline the grace of her figure. It complemented her unique bearing while subtly revealing her beautiful contours. Though Feng Xi wore no makeup, she still drew a great many eyes as she walked.

In front of the auditorium, Feng Xi spotted Lin Xin. They had not seen each other in quite some time, and she jogged over to her.

Lin Xin widened her eyes in surprise. “Wow, Xi-Xi, you look gorgeous!”

Feng Xi turned around once in front of her. “Pretty, right?”

Lin Xin noticed the tag hanging from the hem of her coat and reached out to grab it. “Why is the tag still attached?”

Feng Xi gave an embarrassed smile. “It’s new. I forgot to remove it.”

Lin Xin untied the tag and saw a picture of a horse-drawn carriage on it. After examining it for another moment, she tossed it into the nearby trash bin, then took Feng Xi by the arm. “Come on. Wanwan already went in to save us seats. We’d better hurry, or there won’t be any good places left.”

Feng Xi and Lin Xin followed the crowd into the auditorium. Liu Wanwan had taken the best seats in the entire hall. Her exaggerated makeup made her impossible to miss, and Feng Xi spotted her at once.

The two of them squeezed in beside Liu Wanwan and patted her shoulder. “Wanwan, we’re here.”

Seeing that Feng Xi was safe and sound, Liu Wanwan excitedly threw her arms around her and spun her around. “Xi-Xi, I’m so glad you’re all right.”

Feng Xi accidentally bumped her foot against a nearby student. Embarrassed, she urged Liu Wanwan to put her down. “Help! Put me down already!”

Liu Wanwan cupped Feng Xi’s face in both hands. “How did you gain weight?”

Remembering how well she had been fed over the past few days, Feng Xi bashfully covered her cheeks. Lin Xin said, “Gaining weight is a good thing. Xi-Xi is beautiful even with a little extra weight. Lots of people were staring at her on the way here!”

Liu Wanwan noticed Feng Xi’s clothes. “This outfit is really nice. Who gave it to you? Don’t tell me it was that rich fool of an employer?”

Feng Xi glared at her indignantly. “Hey, don’t call him a rich fool. Mr. Gu is a very good person. He was the one who rescued me, and he’s taken wonderful care of me in the hospital these past few days.”

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

Lin Xin said, “That’s wonderful. Our Xi-Xi really did meet a good person.”

Liu Wanwan pulled some cosmetics from her bag. “Forget about all that. You aren’t wearing any makeup today, and it doesn’t do justice to your outfit. I’ll do your makeup for you. I guarantee you’ll steal the show!”

Feng Xi was in high spirits. She obediently leaned her face toward Liu Wanwan. Liu Wanwan loved all things beautiful and was extremely skilled at makeup. Feng Xi had never had time for cosmetics before, and Liu Wanwan always felt she was wasting such a lovely face.

The auditorium gradually filled with people. It grew noisy and crowded, and the heating was turned up high. Feeling warm, Feng Xi took off her coat.

Bored, Lin Xin reached out and stroked the soft fur inside it. She could not help exclaiming, “Wow, the lining of this coat is so soft. It must be incredibly warm.”

Liu Wanwan glanced over in passing, then looked again more carefully. She took the makeup brush from Feng Xi’s hand, picked up the coat, and turned back its collar.

“Good grief, Xi-Xi, your employer really went all out. He got you the latest Hermes coat.”

Feng Xi and Lin Xin had no idea what Hermes was. Lin Xin asked, “What’s Hermes?”

Liu Wanwan displayed the soft fur lining. “This is the latest Hermes mink coat. It must have taken at least three mink pelts to make one coat like this. No wonder it’s so warm.”

The other two were still staring blankly, so Liu Wanwan explained bluntly, “This coat probably costs well over a hundred thousand.”

At that, their expressions changed. They exchanged a glance, both of their jaws practically dropping to the floor.

Liu Wanwan kindly pushed their jaws back up. “Don’t make such a fuss. Keep it down.”

Feng Xi suddenly remembered something and turned to Lin Xin. “Xin-Xin, do you remember which trash bin you threw the tag into?”

Lin Xin adjusted her glasses. “The second bin east of the auditorium entrance. It was full, so I didn’t put it inside—I left it on the lid. I also looked at the tag at the time because the logo seemed familiar. I’d seen that design on Wanwan’s bag before.”

Feng Xi immediately rose to retrieve it, but Liu Wanwan pulled her back down. “You’re not actually planning to look for the tag, are you?”

Feng Xi nodded. “A coat this expensive is far beyond what I can afford to wear. I need to tie the tag back on and return it exactly as it was.”

Lin Xin began to stand as well. “I’ll go with you.”

But Liu Wanwan pressed them both back into their seats. “Once this coat has left the store, there’s no way to return it. This is a luxury item, not something bought from a roadside stall. What are you two thinking? Besides, anyone who can get their hands on such a sought-after piece isn’t going to return it.”

Feng Xi sat frozen. A single coat cost well over a hundred thousand, and there was still an entire floor covered in luxury goods back in the hospital room. Even if she worked for Gu Qingchen for the rest of her life, she could never repay him.