"Mmm." Ting Fei’s expression remained neutral, but she could see the hint of amusent in his eyes.
The fitting room door opened, and Chen Xiao erged wearing a blue button-down shirt and dark pants. He looked... normal. Like any other well-dressed five-year-old boy. But the wonder on his face suggested this was anything but normal to him.
"It fits," he said, amazed. "It actually fits right."
"It does," Shuyin agreed, her chest tightening slightly. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," Chen Xiao said earnestly. "Can I really keep it?"
"You can keep everything we pick today," Shuyin promised. "Now, let’s find you at least five more outfits like this one."
An hour later, they’d accumulated a substantial pile of clothes. The associate was carefully folding and packing each item, her professional deanor now mixed with genuine warmth as she watched Chen Xiao’s delight with each new piece.
Casual wear, dress clothes, pajamas, socks, underwear, and shoes for every occasion. Chen Xiao had been overwheld at first, but Yuyan had taken charge, pulling him around the store and insisting he actually choose things instead of just accepting whatever was offered.
"The green one or the navy one?" Yuyan held up two jackets.
"Both?" Chen Xiao suggested hopefully.
"Both," Yuyan agreed. "Good choice."
Shuyin watched them with satisfaction. This was what normal should look like, children shopping for clothes without fear, without having to calculate costs or worry about consequences.
"Will that be all?" the associate asked, gesturing to the impressive collection.
"For him, yes," Shuyin said. "Ring it up."
The total made the associate’s eyes light up, commission, probably. But Shuyin just handed over Ting Fei’s card without flinching. Lu Yuze had said sothing reasonable, and this was reasonable. This was necessary.
"Will the young lady need anything as well?" the associate asked, glancing at Yuyan.
"Next stop," Shuyin said. "She needs more than what a children’s boutique can offer."
They left Little Emperors with Chen Xiao carrying a small bag himself, he’d insisted, wanting to hold at least so of his new treasures, while Ting Fei and another security guard handled the rest.
"Where to now?" Yuyan asked.
Shuyin scanned the street. There, a boutique called Silver Threads, known for contemporary young won’s fashion. Not as aggressively trendy as so places, but stylish enough for a twelve-year-old with opinions.
"There," she decided. "Your turn."
Yuyan’s expression shifted, not quite reluctant, but sothing more complicated. "I don’t need much. I have... a lot of clothes already. Father made sure of that."
It was true. Lu Yuze had an entire section of the villa dedicated to Yuyan’s wardrobe, halls of carefully curated clothing, shoes, and accessories. Everything a pampered daughter of the richest man in the city could want.
"You have clothes from before," Shuyin corrected gently. "From before you were in the coma. But you’ve been awake and Fashion changes. You’ve changed. And besides, this is about the experience, not necessity."
Yuyan considered that, her silver eyes thoughtful. "I suppose... I haven’t really looked at what I have yet. Haven’t felt like myself in any of it."
"Then let’s find things that feel right now," Shuyin said. "Not what your father thought you’d like six months ago. What you actually want today."
They entered Silver Threads, which had a completely different aesthetic from Little Emperors, modern, slightly edgy, with darker colors and more dramatic lighting. The sales associate here was younger, more casual, with an undercut and multiple ear piercings.
"Hey," she greeted them.
"Looking for anything specific?"
"My daughter wants to explore current trends," Shuyin said. "She’s been... out of circulation for a while. We’re looking for pieces that feel fresh and modern."
The word daughter landed easily now, naturally. Yuyan’s silver eyes flicked to her briefly, sothing warm passing through them before she schooled her expression back to neutrality.
"Cool," the associate said, sizing Yuyan up with an experienced eye. "What’s your vibe? What makes you feel like yourself?"
Yuyan hesitated. "I don’t really know anymore. Before, I had... preferences. But that was before. Now I’m not sure what fits."
"Then let’s figure it out," the associate said kindly. "What colors do you gravitate toward? What fabrics feel good? Do you like standing out or blending in?"
It took ti with Yuyan, she was more guarded, clearly working through sothing internal as she considered each option. But gradually, with gentle prodding from both Shuyin and the associate, a picture erged.
She liked dark colors but with interesting textures. She liked clothes that moved well, nothing too restrictive. She liked modern cuts with unexpected details. Nothing too feminine, nothing too masculine, just... her own aesthetic. Similar to what she’d had before the coma, but evolved, more mature.
The associate pulled together options, and Yuyan began trying things on. Each ti she erged from the fitting room, she looked more like herself, or rather, like the person she was becoming. More confident, more grounded in this new version of herself.
"That one," Shuyin said when Yuyan appeared in black pants and a silver-gray top with an asymtrical hem. "Definitely that one."
"It’s nice," Yuyan admitted, examining herself in the mirror with sothing approaching approval.
"It’s perfect," Shuyin corrected. "Get it in multiple colors if they have them."
Chen Xiao, sitting on a display ottoman with his stress ball, looked up. "You look really pretty, Yuyan-jie."
Yuyan’s expression softened. "Thank you, Chen Xiao."
They spent another hour building Yuyan’s wardrobe, tops, pants, jackets, a few dresses that Yuyan actually liked despite her protests that she never wore dresses, boots, sneakers, and one pair of elegant heels that made her look unfairly sophisticated.
The total climbed higher, but Shuyin noted with satisfaction that they were still well within Lu Yuze’s "reasonable" limit.
Barely.
"One more stop," Shuyin announced as they left Silver Threads. "I need a few things myself."
"A few things," Yuyan repeated skeptically. "Right."
"I’m being responsible," Shuyin protested. "Very responsible. Lu Yuze would definitely be proud of my restraint."
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