"Being right isn’t about being loud. I may not understand fashion, but I do know that no decent girl would be caught dead in such flashy black stockings, right? Aren’t we college students? Why make ourselves look so cheap?! And is your idea of fashion to wear another layer of leggings under those black stockings? Then pair it with white sneakers... TSK TSK. Alright, alright, I don’t get it. Ting Ting, do you understand?"
Xi Luting snorted coldly and continued to pile dirt onto the grave mound. "She’s a top student and the daughter of a wealthy family. Why would I be qualified to understand?"
My, oh my, aren’t you just devastating! Han Lie felt a chill crawl up his spine at Naiyun’s sheer audacity, completely shaken by her shamelessness. She usually loved wearing clothes that showed off her figure, like V-neck T-shirts, tight tank tops, demi-cup bras... Just three days ago, it seemed she even wore thigh-high boots with stockings. And today, just because you finally dressed more modestly, you dare to bill yourself as a ’pure and innocent girl’?!
But Han Lie knew what was going on. Ding Xiang, however, hadn’t the slightest clue. Yu Yun’s words hit her hard, breaking through her defenses. It was as if steam were rising from the top of her head; she was completely overwhelmed and unable to utter a single word.
Look at her, clenching her little fists... Good grief, with those skinny arms and legs, you’re actually thinking of fighting Naiyun? Give me a break! It’s not that I look down on you, but she could probably flatten you without breaking a sweat! Han Lie felt sorry for Ding Xiang for two seconds, and then... that was it.
Taking the hit for her is out of the question, and breaking up the fight is even more so. If I don’t want to be caught in the middle and hated by both sides, it’s best not to get involved and let them sort it out themselves. This damn dog of a man, thinking he’s playing it safe by trying to hide for a bit, actually just shows his severe lack of experience. A measly Level 3 in Psychology certainly didn’t cover this.
Han Lie didn’t step in, but Ding Xiang still didn’t come out losing. Her ally was too reliable.
Chen Yanfei was furious but didn’t lose her composure. She calmly took over the battle, not bothering with details like figure or looks, but instead directly targeting her opponent’s greatest weakness. Her points were clear, her voice calm, yet every word struck home with devastating precision.
"There are indeed many things you don’t understand. Those stockings are genuine Balenciaga, originally priced at 249 Euros. Xiang Xiang bought them during the National Day holiday when the Euro to RMB exchange rate was 8.382. An elementary school math problem: one pair of stockings costs 2,087 RMB. What kind of young delinquent could afford to wear them?
"As for those white sneakers... Just because you don’t understand why they’re paired that way doesn’t mean it’s not fashionable. Since last year, Gucci has released only 500 pairs of limited-edition sneakers annually in mainland China. Out of these, only 100 pairs are white sneakers, a continuation of the classic Stan Smith design that dates back to 1974. Two hundred pairs in two years, each with a five-figure price tag. You can’t afford them, nor do you move in circles where people can. So you think—ah, how strange! Why would anyone dress like that? ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel⸺fire.net
"You can only accept the ’correct combinations’ that are commonly seen everywhere. In your eyes, those are the dazzling, mistake-proof, orthodox trends. But what’s the reality? Back at the end of the last century, when AS Monaco FC reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals at the Stade Louis II, the Princess of Monaco strolled across the pitch wearing Trasparenze patterned stockings and Givenchy red-tailed white sneakers. Tell me, does the Princess of Monaco look cheap?
"And it’s not just her. Since complex patterned stockings were invented decades ago, countless celebrities have experimented with various ways of wearing them in their daily lives. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. The sad thing is, even if they continue to exist for decades more, you still won’t see it. Because your world is only so big.
"As for what you called ’leggings’... Those are flesh-toned Cashmere fitted undergarments. They’re quite expensive; one set costs enough to cover your four years of tuition. Xiang Xiang is afraid of the cold and doesn’t want to freeze for the sake of beauty. Is there anything wrong with that?"
While Chen Yanfei calmly delivered her explanation, no one dared to utter a sound.
Good heavens, what kind of fearsome beast is this?! If you had her guarding your house, what minor demons would dare to act up?!
If I hadn’t been reborn, Han Lie asked himself, I probably wouldn’t have dared to cross her. This sense of pressure is just ridiculous!
As for Naiyun, who had just been verbally ’slapped around’ head-on, she felt like she had a Grade 2 concussion and severe hysteria. Someone should probably call 120 for her. She wasn’t afraid of being cursed at, but she especially couldn’t stand this kind of crushing defeat stemming from family background, financial status, and worldly knowledge. It made her feel like a clown. And so, she truly panicked.
"Bullshit! I’ve been to Balenciaga stores. They don’t sell stockings at all!"
"It’s true they don’t stock them in domestic boutiques." Chen Yanfei nodded calmly, her smile still amiable. "Balenciaga’s stockings have always been a minor player among hosiery brands, releasing a few styles every couple of years to cash in. However, they’re rarely sold in China because they simply don’t sell well here. It’s normal that you haven’t seen them; they weren’t meant for your eyes. The logo stockings Xiang Xiang is wearing are an old style from the last century, recently re-released this year in a limited production run. They aren’t even fully distributed to all European boutiques. Xiang Xiang happened to see them during her trip abroad over the National Day holiday and thought they were interesting, so she bought a few pairs to try. I think they look quite good. Yun Yun, do you have any other questions?"
Yun Yun is dead! Yun Yun is no more!
Naiyun was utterly crushed by this house-guarding beast. Her breathing was like an eighty-year-old woman playing a trumpet—completely out of breath. She looked utterly dejected, as if she wanted to bury her head in a ditch. She absolutely couldn’t stand Chen Yanfei’s all-encompassing, dimension-crushing attack. It wasn’t just heart-wrenching; it was like having a syringe the size of a beer bottle jabbed straight into her lungs. She felt utterly inferior, on the verge of a complete mental shutdown.
As for Han Lie, there wasn’t much to say. He simply clapped enthusiastically. That was it.
Sister Fei is awesome!!!
Moreover, Han Lie sneaked several glances at Ding Xiang below the waist. He wasn’t sure if it was the ’commentary halo’ effect, but the more he looked, the nicer it seemed. However, there was one thing— In his future life, Han Lie would see many beautiful women wearing black stockings with lettering. While they looked good, he always felt they were different from what Ding Xiang was wearing now.
Maybe because Ding Xiang is prettier?
He couldn’t figure it out, so he decided not to dwell on it. In both his lives, he had always been a complete amateur in this department.
Among those present, the other fashion amateur was Xi Luting. Logically, she shouldn’t have been, but that was the reality. It was particularly difficult for Xi Luting to find clothes that fit, so she had gradually grown accustomed to casual mix-and-match styles and didn’t pay much attention to trends. Now, after Chen Yanfei’s AOE attack had wiped out her remaining half health bar, she was seething. If I can’t win with reason, why bother reasoning at all? Remember, you all forced me to do this!
She glared at Chen Yanfei, her face cold, her voice dripping with disdain as she squeezed out three words through her teeth, "Little. Chubby. Girl!"
Then, turning her cold gaze to Ding Xiang, she uttered another three words, "Little. Shorty!"
Han Lie was dumbstruck, completely floored.
HOLY CRAP! Are you really trying to leave me no way out at all?! So, a ’Holy Warrior’ can just go off like a bomb whenever she feels like it?!
Sure enough, Chen Yanfei was fuming, her nostrils flaring, but she didn’t retort. Instead, she turned and confronted Han Lie directly. "Old classmate, you saw what happened. I came here happily with my best friend to see you. I don’t think I offended anyone. But first, it was Yu Yun, and then this ’Ting’ of yours. One was being sarcastic and passive-aggressive, the other had ’impressive’ manners. Now, I ask you, am I your guest or not? If I am, please give me an explanation. If not, I’ll leave immediately."
Logical, articulate, polite, and commendable.
Not a single word was a threat, yet the threat was palpable.
Han Lie’s head throbbed; he wished he could just faint on the spot. He glanced back at Xi Luting and Yu Yun. Good grief, they were really full of themselves, practically radiating arrogance. One had her hands in her trouser pockets, one long leg extended diagonally in an at-ease stance, chin up, face cold—looking impossibly cool and aloof. The other had her arms crossed over her chest, which seemed to strain impressively, teeth gritted—looking fierce.
Then he looked at Chen Yanfei and Ding Xiang; they had a different style altogether. Chen Yanfei had her hands in her coat pockets, her expression calm, her eyes fixed on Han Lie. She completely ignored the two bickering hens, just waiting for an answer from the main person involved. Ding Xiang stood with her hands clasped, fingers twisting together, lips pouted, long eyelashes fluttering—looking aggrieved and on the verge of tears.
Han Lie no longer found her cute; he just felt his scalp tingle.
Finally, he looked for Ding Yu, wondering if he could drag her over to use as a scapegoat or something. Even if she’s not much use, at least she can take the blame, right?
But... she was standing three meters away. Quietly, head down, shoulders hunched, as meek as a lamb.
Damn it, can’t you be less of a coward?!
Seeing that he couldn’t rely on anyone, Han Lie could only grit his teeth hard.
Damn it, I’ll go all out!