Chapter 81: The Dress of a Lifetime
Lan Yu Studio, as the top styling team in the country, has always served only super-rich individuals and top-tier celebrities.
Even though Xu Youyou was an unfamiliar face, they did not dare show the slightest neglect. At this moment, a group of stylists surrounded her, eager to shower her with praise.
“Miss Xu, your skin is incredible! It’s so fair it practically glows—how do you maintain it?”
“Miss Xu, you’re even more beautiful than a superstar! If you joined the entertainment industry, you’d outshine all the top idols!”
“Miss Xu, with such a great natural beauty, you’d look stunning in anything—you suit every outfit perfectly!”
Surrounded by these attractive male and female stylists, Xu Youyou almost started believing their flattery. However, she knew she wasn’t comfortable being in the spotlight. Even after opening an entertainment company, she had never considered launching herself as a celebrity.
All morning, she had lost count of how many haute couture dresses she had tried on. Finally, when she put on an emerald green gown, Xi Yu’s breath visibly hitched.
“This is the one.”
Xu Youyou looked into the mirror and saw the chief stylist’s face light up with excitement.
At that moment, she understood Xi Yu completely. She had looked beautiful in other dresses too, but this one was different. It was as if she had encountered her dress of a lifetime. The woman in the mirror seemed to glow with an otherworldly radiance.
Xu Youyou never hesitated to spend money on things that truly moved her. Without a second thought, she said, “Contact the brand for me. I want to buy this dress.”
The gowns in the styling team’s collection were usually borrowed from brands under the name of Lu Jingyao. This time, they had borrowed several dresses in his name.
Hearing that Xu Youyou wanted to purchase the dress, Xi Yu was about to agree immediately but suddenly hesitated. “Miss Xu, Mr. Lu has already bought this dress. He specifically instructed that anything you liked would be a gift to you.”
Xu Youyou had always known that Lu Jingyao was generous, so this didn’t surprise her at all.
But this dress felt different to her. Just like the Zeng Gong calligraphy piece, she desperately wanted to own it herself. At this moment, the meaning of making money became tangible—this dress embodied it.
She didn’t want someone else to pay for this dress, not even Lu Jingyao, whom she didn’t dislike. She wanted to place it somewhere prominent, where she could see it at a glance, as a reminder that she was no longer the girl who let others dictate her fate.
“Please tell Mr. Lu that I’d like to pay for this dress myself,” Xu Youyou said, immediately pulling Xi Yu aside to transfer the payment.
Xi Yu couldn’t refuse, and when he saw the transfer of ten million yuan, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “This is too much!”
Xu Youyou dismissed it. “Consider it a deposit for my next appointment with your studio.”
As a top-tier styling team, Lan Yu Studio didn’t accept just anyone’s booking, but Xi Yu immediately replied, “Miss Xu, if you ever need our services again, just say the word. As Mr. Lu’s friend, you’re our honored client.”
Xu Youyou raised a brow. “Are you and Mr. Lu close?”
Xi Yu gave an awkward smile. “Mr. Lu is the major shareholder of our studio. Without him, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Xu Youyou hadn’t expected this connection. But thinking about it, Lu Jingyao had always been known in the business world as an investment genius. Recognizing the potential of top stylists early and investing in them wasn’t surprising.
At 4 PM, Lu Jingyao arrived on time. Xu Youyou was already fully prepared. Her hair was styled in an effortlessly elegant updo—though, in reality, it had taken two stylists an hour to perfect. Around her neck was an emerald gemstone necklace.
The jewelry alone was eye-catching, but it still couldn’t outshine Xu Youyou herself.
Assistant Liu took one glance at her and immediately looked away.
Lu Jingyao, however, made no effort to hide his astonishment. He watched as Xu Youyou walked toward him.
Her figure was graceful, her movements mesmerizing. The delicate play of light danced upon her, and even the floating dust in the air seemed enchanted by her presence. For a fleeting moment, she resembled a forest goddess stepping out from lush greenery.
Lu Jingyao’s heart pounded violently, as if it would leap out of his chest. Everything around him felt surreal, as though he had fallen into the most beautiful summer night’s dream.
He suddenly regretted inviting her to this banquet. He wanted to keep this rare treasure hidden—somewhere only he could see.
“The heels are too high and too thin. I’m not used to them,” Xu Youyou’s soft complaint snapped Lu Jingyao out of his daze.
He glanced down at her shoes—emerald green satin stilettos with a delicate eight-centimeter heel.
He turned to Lan Yu Studio’s team. “Are there no other options?”
Xi Yu shrugged helplessly. “Mr. Lu, these shoes match the outfit best. Don’t you think Miss Xu looks absolutely flawless right now?”
Lu Jingyao was about to protest when Xu Youyou stopped him. “These shoes are fine. I don’t want to change them. I’ll just walk a little slower.”
Xi Yu immediately beamed and chimed in, “Miss Xu truly understands us! A perfect look is worth any sacrifice—walking on blades would still be worth it!”
Lu Jingyao didn’t understand the logic at all, but he chose not to argue.
Though he didn’t quite get it, he deliberately slowed his pace to match hers.
From the elevator to the car, a short distance, Xu Youyou gradually adjusted to the high heels. However, even with the extra eight centimeters, she still had to look up to see Lu Jingyao’s jawline. She couldn’t help but wonder just how tall he really was.
As soon as they got into the car, Lu Jingyao said, “It’ll take at least half an hour to get there. Take off your shoes and rest your feet.”
He suddenly regretted forcing Xu Youyou to attend this banquet—if not for him, she wouldn’t have to endure this discomfort.
Xu Youyou shook her head. “I can’t take them off. If I do, I won’t have the courage to put them back on later.”
Lu Jingyao: …
He could only assume this was another mysterious trait of beautiful women.
After half an hour, the car smoothly entered a villa district.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, Xu Youyou realized she had been here in her past life—though not until several years later.
Back then, she had attended a banquet with the Gu family. The hosts were none other than Gu Xueying’s in-laws—specifically, Lu Shaoyan, whom she had met before.
It was at that very banquet that Gu Xueying had fallen down the stairs and suffered a miscarriage. Xu Youyou had been blamed and expelled from the Gu family. Every job she found afterward had been sabotaged by Gu Xueying’s husband.
Even now, Xu Youyou couldn’t understand—at that point, she was no longer a threat to Gu Xueying. Why would Gu Xueying go so far as to sacrifice her own child just to frame her?
