196: A family of three

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, making her look full of youthful energy.

Xue Wanrong wore a light purple silk shirt paired with white wide-leg trousers; her hair hung loosely, and with light makeup on her face, she looked like an exquisite woman in her twenties.

Standing together, the two didn't look like mother and daughter at all, but rather like a pair of twin sisters.

"Brother Chen!" Bai Li saw Wang Chen return and immediately ran over to grab his arm. "How was your chat with Grandpa?"

"It was alright; the old man was quite happy." Wang Chen patted her hand and looked at Xue Wanrong. "Auntie, have you been waiting long?"

"Not long." Xue Wanrong walked over, her eyes discreetly scanning Wang Chen. "The clothes fit quite well, but the color is too dull. Today, Auntie will help you pick out a few nice pieces."

Today, Wang Chen was still wearing the dark blue suit he had bought on short notice yesterday to meet the old man; it was indeed on the formal side.

"Mom, you have the best taste!" Bai Li flattered her with a giggle. "You must dress Brother Chen up to be super handsome!"

"Of course." A beautiful curve formed at the corner of Xue Wanrong's mouth. "My son-in-law must be the handsomest."

Flanked by the mother and daughter on both sides, Wang Chen felt an immense amount of pressure.

Especially the way Xue Wanrong looked at him; it always made him feel a bit uneasy.

"Then... where are we going?"

"Let's go to Guomao." Xue Wanrong naturally took his other arm. "The brands there are more complete, and the styles are newer. Chenlong, drive."

Chenlong and Tiger had already been called over by Bai Li and were waiting in the car.

Seeing this situation, Chenlong's eyes flickered, but he said nothing and silently pulled open the car door.

Bai Li slipped into the back seat first, and then Xue Wanrong naturally sat down next to Wang Chen.

With three people in the back seat of one car, it should have been a bit cramped by logic.

But both Xue Wanrong and Bai Li had slender figures. Wang Chen sat in the middle, with his girlfriend on his left and his future mother-in-law on his right; instead, he felt... at a loss.

"Brother Chen, what are you nervous about?" Bai Li leaned on his shoulder and blinked. "Your palms are sweating."

"Are they?" Wang Chen feigned composure. "Maybe it's a bit hot in the car."

Xue Wanrong took a wet wipe from her bag, naturally took his hand, and carefully wiped it a few times. "There is a bit of sweat. Young people have a lot of vigor; it's normal."

Her hands were very soft, and her movements were very gentle.

But Wang Chen's muscles were tensed all over.

This treatment... was a bit much, wasn't it?

Seeing this, Bai Li didn't get jealous; instead, she laughed even more happily. "Mom, you're even better to Brother Chen than you are to me!"

"Of course." Xue Wanrong didn't even look up. "Xiao Chen is a boy, so he's bound to be careless. You're my daughter; don't I know you? You usually can't even take care of yourself."

"I do not!" Bai Li immediately pouted and voiced her protest.

"How do you not?" After wiping Wang Chen's hands, Xue Wanrong put the wet wipe away. "The last time I asked you to get something for me, you got the wrong thing. And the time before that, I asked you to cook some porridge, and you almost burned the kitchen down..."

"Mom! How long ago was that!" Bai Li blushed. "And Brother Chen is here; give me some face!"

Wang Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"You're still laughing!" Bai Li gave him a huffy pinch... Guomao was very crowded on the weekend, bustling with shoppers.

When Wang Chen got out of the car, Chenlong and Tiger immediately followed, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far on either side.

Bai Li held Wang Chen's left arm, and Xue Wanrong naturally held his right.

The three of them walked into the mall side by side, instantly attracting countless gazes.

"Wow, look at that family of three. Their looks are so high!"

"What family of three? That's clearly a couple with an older or younger sister, right?"

"Could it be... two girlfriends?"

"No way? But that guy is really handsome..."

Whispers continued to drift over.

Wang Chen's lips twitched as he listened.

Bai Li, however, was quite proud, hugging Wang Chen's arm even tighter and intentionally leaning closer to him as if marking her territory.

Xue Wanrong's expression was natural, but she didn't let go of Wang Chen's arm either.

The three of them first walked into a men's clothing store.

The clerk was a young girl in her early twenties. When she saw the three enter, her eyes lit up, and she immediately came forward to greet them. "Welcome! How can I help you?"

"We're picking out some clothes for him." Xue Wanrong let go of Wang Chen and began browsing the racks. "Something casual, not too formal."

"Certainly!" The clerk looked at Wang Chen, her face reddening slightly. "The gentleman has a great build; anything would look good on him. We have some new arrivals here, would you like to try them on?"

Bai Li had already picked up a light gray knit sweater. "Brother Chen, this color suits you!"

Xue Wanrong also chose a light blue shirt. "This one feels high-quality; the fabric is very comfortable."

One on each side, the two held the clothes up against Wang Chen to gauge the fit.

Wang Chen felt like a model.

"Try them all on." Xue Wanrong stuffed the shirt into his hands. "The fitting room is over there."

Holding the two items, Wang Chen walked into the fitting room under the clerk's suggestive gaze.

He first tried on the knit sweater Bai Li had picked.

When he stepped out, Bai Li's eyes lit up. "It looks great! Brother Chen, you look so elegant in gray!"

Xue Wanrong looked him up and down and nodded. "It's not bad. But the neckline is a bit wide; try this shirt next."

Wang Chen went back in to change into the shirt.

The light blue shirt complemented his skin tone, making him look composed and noble.

"This one is even better!" Xue Wanrong walked over and reached out to help him adjust his collar. "The color is right, and the cut is good. Wrap it up."

Her hand inadvertently brushed against Wang Chen's neck.

Wang Chen's body stiffened for a moment.

Xue Wanrong seemed not to notice and continued to tidy it for him, her fingers lingering on his collar for a few seconds before she let go as if nothing had happened.

"Auntie, I can do it myself." Wang Chen took half a step back.

"Why be so polite with me?" Xue Wanrong turned to the clerk. "We'll take this one. Let's look at some others."

For the next hour, Wang Chen experienced what "women's passion for shopping" meant.

Bai Li and Xue Wanrong seemed to be competing; you pick one, I pick one, and both insisted Wang Chen try them all.

From shirts to T-shirts, from pants to coats, he tried on no fewer than twenty outfits.

The chairs outside the fitting room were already piled high with clothes the two thought looked good.

The clerk couldn't stop smiling.

This single order was enough to cover three months of her sales targets.

"Brother Chen, how about this one?" Bai Li held a white hoodie with an exaggerated pattern printed on it.

Wang Chen glanced at it, and his lips twitched. "Isn't this... a bit too youthful?"

"You're only thirty-three, you're not old at all!" Bai Li stuffed the hoodie into his hands. "Go try it on!"

Helpless, Wang Chen slipped into the fitting room again.

When he came out wearing the hoodie, Bai Li let out a direct "Wow."

"So handsome! You look like a college student!"

Xue Wanrong's eyes also lit up.