Chapter 139
After having drinks, Maisie then took Zinnia to the arcade, where they spent half the afternoon playing games. By late afternoon, they were finally ready to shop for clothes.
Maisie, knowing exactly where she wanted to go, grabbed Zinnia’s hand and led her straight to the elevator, heading up to her favorite boutique on the 13th floor.
“Ms. Jenkins, what a pleasure to see you. Our newest collection just arrived yesterday,” the salesperson greeted them warmly, her face lighting up with a professional yet genuine smile.
Maisie and Zinnia settled onto the plush sofa prepared for them. Maisie said, “Alright, help me pick out some outfits for my sister.”
“Oh my! I had no idea this young lady is your sister! No wonder she’s just as stunning,” the sales associate gushed enthusiastically.
Zinnia blushed slightly.
The salesperson said, “This young lady, may I ask what styles you prefer? Do you have any favorite colors?"
The sales associate’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Zinnia’s flushed cheeks. She thought, ‘Oh my god! She’s the dream child I’ve always wanted. She is so beautiful, just like a living doll.’
Zinnia replied, “Anything is fine. I’m not picky about clothes.”
“I’ll have our models try on some outfits for you. Then you can let me know which ones you like, alright?” the sales associate asked gently.
“Okay,” Zinnia agreed.
“I’ll arrange the fitting models right away. Ms. Jenkins, you and your sister can enjoy some refreshments while you wait,” the sales associate said warmly before heading off to prepare the fitting session.
The coffee table in front of them was lavishly spread with an assortment of pastries, fresh fruits, and premium beverages, while a sleek runway stretched out just ahead of their seating area.
Maisie and Zinnia didn’t have to try on the clothes themselves. The boutique provided models matching their body types to showcase the outfits. Whatever caught their eye, they could have it wrapped up to take home.
Leaning back on the sofa, Maisie grinned at Zinnia and said, “Zinnia, let’s pick out a lot today and give Mom’s wallet a good workout.”
“Yannis already got me clothes, so I don’t need to buy anything,” Zinnia said, leaning comfortably against Maisie.
Yannis had prepared a huge walk-in closet for Zinnia. It was filled to the brim with beautiful clothes, jewelry, handbags, and shoes, everything imaginable.
Maisie’s eyes widened in disbelief. She said, “Wait, Yannis even prepared clothes for you? Since when is he this thoughtful? There must be a catch. He didn’t lace them with anything, did he?”
Maisie thought, ‘Yannis, that sharp-tongued iceberg of a cousin, actually went out of his way to get clothes for Zinnia? I must have misheard.’
Zinnia said seriously, “No, there’s no poison. I checked. They’re perfectly fine. He just got me way too many; I can’t possibly wear them all.”
“Zinnia, you’re staying at Yannis‘ place now. He hasn’t been giving you a hard time, has he? If you’ve been wronged at all, why don’t you come home with me?” Maisie said, still not quite trusting Yannis.
“No, Yannis treats me very well,” Zinnia replied gently.
Zinnia felt confused. She thought, ‘It is odd. Why does Maisie look so shocked? It is as if, in her eyes, Yannis has done something completely out of character.’
But then again, thinking of Yannis’s handsome face, Zinnia thought, ‘With a face like his, all he has to do is snap his fingers and half the people around would be falling over themselves to get to him. He doesn’t need to do anything himself.’
Thinking about how Yannis cooked for her, stood up for her, and even picked out clothes for her, Zinnia felt that these actions just seemed so out of character for someone like him.
She thought, ‘Yannis should be like a work of art, meant to be admired from afar, not doing all these things for me.'
Soon, the fitting models arrived in two groups: one showcasing Maisie’s signature edgy and sporty styles, and the other featuring looks tailored for Zinnia.
Since Zinnia was open to any style, the sales associate used her sharp fashion sense to select outfits for the fitting models to try on.
Maisie’s eyes lit up as she saw the outfits on the fitting models. She felt every suit looked perfect on Zinnia. Grinning, she turned to Zinnia and asked, “Zinnia, which one do you like best?”
No girl could resist beautiful clothes, and Zinnia was no exception. The sales associate had an impeccable eye for fashion, and every outfit on the models looked so stunning that Zinnia found herself at a loss, unable to decide which one she liked best.
“We’ll take them all,” Maisie declared, waving her hand before Zinnia could even hesitate.
Zinnia said, “Maisie, I already have plenty of clothes. We don’t need to buy so many.” She’d never splurged on clothes like this before; the only thing she’d ever bought in bulk was medicinal herbs.
Maisie insisted, “Let’s buy them all. After all, it’s Mom footing the bill. Today, we’re going all out, Zinnia. Every one of these outfits is gorgeous, and you’ll look stunning in them. You’re our little princess, and princesses deserve to dress like royalty.”
Maisie grinned and ruffled Zinnia’s hair. “Next batch,” she casually instructed the sales associate standing nearby.
The sales associate beamed with delight and immediately ushered the fitting models away to change into the next set of outfits.
Eventually, Maisie stopped looking at clothes for herself altogether and focused entirely on picking out outfits for Zinnia.
“Not these two, and not this one,” Maisie declared, pointing at the off-shoulder, crop-top, deep V-neck, and high-slit outfits on the model.
She thought, ‘Zinnia is still too young for outfits like that. She is already stunning now. If she dresses in clothes like that, those guys would probably be vying with each other to take her home.
‘As her good friend and sister, I need to protect her. Those clothes are not allowed.’
Observing the clothes Maisie picked out, the sales associate quickly grasped her selection criteria and professionally arranged for the fitting models to change into alternative, more suitable outfits.
Maisie went through batch after batch of outfits. It took so long that Zinnia grew weary. Slumping lazily on the sofa, her eyelids heavy with drowsiness, Zinnia was barely able to keep her eyes open.
When Maisie called for yet another change, Zinnia tugged at her sleeve. Zinnia let out a sleepy yawn and murmured, “Maisie, isn’t this enough? We’ve already bought so many.”
Outside, the sky was growing dark, dusk settling over the city. With October approaching, night was falling earlier than before.
But in the dazzling metropolis of Jinston, even as night fell, a riot of neon lights came alive, turning darkness into day. The city became a world of glitz and glamour, so different from the simple, sun-up-to-sun-down rhythm of life in a small town.
Noticing that Zinnia was getting sleepy, Maisie chuckled and said, “Let’s finish this round and then go eat.” Spotting the new arrivals, her eyes lit up with excitement. Pointing at the outfit on the lead model, she said, “That one’s gorgeous. Bring that one over!”
Zinnia glanced over and saw that it was a matching set.
The outfit was a soft pastel green set: a loose, mint green top paired with a flowing skirt in the same delicate hue.
Casual yet elegant, comfortable yet graceful, it looked on the fitting model like the first tender buds bursting with life on a tree branch in early spring, full of youthful energy.
“Zinnia, go try it on now. After you change, we’ll go eat,” Maisie said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.