53: Chapter 53 LV Spokesperson Privileges

2:30 PM.

Li Li knocked on the door of Room 2005.

"Are you changed?"

Jiang Rumu stood in the doorway. She wore a loose black hoodie, gray cargo pants, and white canvas shoes. The bandage on her right shoulder was mostly covered by her collar, with only a strip of white gauze visible near her neck.

Her high ponytail was tied neatly, with loose strands of hair hanging by her ears. She wore no makeup.

"Where are we going?"

"To buy clothes." Li Li shook his phone, the screen showing a screenshot of a message from Fahd—the dinner banquet was at 7:00 PM tonight at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, and the King would be attending. "You don't have any formal wear in your suitcase."

"Did you go through my suitcase?"

"Just an observation. The zipper wasn't closed properly, and I saw it."

Jiang Rumu didn't press the issue. She followed him toward the elevator.

In the underground parking garage of the Burj Al Arab, a matte black G-Wagon was parked in a VIP spot.

It was the vehicle arranged by Fahd. Bulletproof glass, reinforced chassis.

Li Li opened the back door.

"The back seat is safe."

Jiang Rumu didn't move.

"I'm sitting in the passenger seat."

"You are sitting in the back."

"I get carsick."

"You spent forty minutes bouncing around in an ambulance the day before yesterday, and when you got out, you were discussing the military structure of Israel with me. You don't get carsick."

Jiang Rumu tilted her head.

"I'm carsick today."

Li Li looked at her for a second.

He closed the back door, walked over, and opened the passenger door.

"Please."

The driver was a young Arab man from the hotel security department, in his early twenties, with a receding hairline. He glanced at the two of them in the rearview mirror, his mouth twitched, but he didn't dare to say a word.

The G-Wagon started and drove out of the hotel.

The main road of Palm Jumeirah outside the window was empty. The Sheikh Zayed Road, which was usually jammed, didn't have a single taxi in sight. There wasn't a soul on the benches by the roadside.

Jiang Rumu leaned back in her seat.

"After the bombing yesterday, all of Dubai has gone into hiding."

"A normal reaction."

"You're not normal."

"Thank you."

Eighteen minutes.

The G-Wagon pulled up to the VIP entrance of The Dubai Mall. One of the world's largest shopping malls, it was right next to the Burj Khalifa.

Li Li got out and looked up.

Eight hundred and twenty-eight meters. The reinforced concrete spire reflected the white light of the noon sun.

He stared at the tower for three seconds.

"What are you looking at?"

"Y-shaped cross-section, setbacks at each level, the wind load handling is beautiful."

"Can you not start calculating costs every time you see a tall building?"

"Occupational hazard."

"You're exactly like Han Xubai."

They walked into the mall. A blast of cold air hit them.

Looking down from the fourth-floor atrium, there were fewer than thirty people scattered about. Outside was a war zone; inside was a ghost town.

But the luxury goods section was fully lit.

Chanel, Dior, Hermès—the mannequins in the windows were wearing the latest seasonal ready-to-wear, illuminated by bright spotlights.

War is war, business is business. The French and Italians wouldn't close their doors even if the bombs were falling right over their heads.

Li Li was wondering where to go.

A line of blue text jumped onto his left wrist.

[Side Quest Hint: Dinner Banquet Look—Select a dinner gown for Jiang Rumu for the Abu Dhabi royal banquet. Current progress: 0%.]

[System Suggestion: Turn left for LV, turn right for Dior. Given the thickness of the host's wallet, I suggest heading to—never mind, it's the same everywhere.]

Before he could move.

His arm was grabbed.

Jiang Rumu pulled his sleeve and headed left.

LV. Golden logo, warm white lights.

Li Li's steps faltered.

Jiang Rumu had already pushed the door open.

He followed two steps, lowering his voice.

"Uh, listen... I have less than 300,000 in my account. LV formal wear might be a stretch."

Jiang Rumu didn't even look back.

"Follow me."

Just two words.

Li Li twisted his wrist.

He stepped inside.

The warm lighting of the store spread across the floor. The scent of leather and wood mixed in the air.

A male manager in a dark gray suit emerged from behind the counter. When he saw Jiang Rumu, he perked up significantly.

"Miss Jiang! Welcome back!"

Speaking English with an Arabic accent, he clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

Jiang Rumu replied in English.

The manager turned to Li Li, scanning him from top to bottom—a professional eye scan, estimating his height, shoulder width, waist circumference, and leg length in half a second.

"Hello, sir—"

"His." Jiang Rumu pointed at Li Li. "Formal wear, two sets. Banquet specifications."

Li Li opened his mouth.

Jiang Rumu had already walked toward the menswear section.

The manager looked at Li Li, then at her back, and followed.

Jiang Rumu's speed in picking out clothes was faster than Li Li drawing construction blueprints.

She moved the hangers with her left hand, her right arm hanging still due to her shoulder injury.

Three seconds per item. Take a look, pass. Take a look, pass.

Stop.

A dark gray suit with a subtle pattern. Italian high-count wool fabric, single-breasted with two buttons, narrow lapels.

She picked it up and held it against Li Li's chest to compare.

"This one."

She turned around.

Fifteen seconds later. The second set. Black, more slim-fitting, with the shoulder line widened by half an inch.

"I want this one too."

Li Li stood in place the whole time, arms open, like a human mannequin.

"I'm saying—"

"Try it on."

He was pushed into the fitting room. The curtain was drawn.

He looked down and flipped over the price tag.

110,000 AED.

Converted to RMB—about 210,000.

For one set.

Li Li flipped the tag back. He closed his eyes.

He changed.

He put on the dark gray one. He glanced at himself in the mirror. The fabric fit amazingly well, the shoulder line sat right at the acromion, the waist was tapered, and the pant legs draped cleanly.

Things are expensive for a reason.

He pulled the curtain open.

Jiang Rumu was sitting on the sofa outside, her left leg crossed over her right, elbows resting on her knees, chin propped in her palm.

Seeing him come out.

She moved her hand away from her chin. Her back straightened.

"Turn around."

Li Li turned in a circle.

Jiang Rumu didn't say a word.

Four seconds.

"Change into the next one."

Li Li went back inside.

He came out three minutes later. The black one made him look slimmer. The shirt collar was slightly open, revealing a section of his collarbone and the tan line on his neck from the sun.

Jiang Rumu stood up from the sofa.

This time she wasn't just watching while sitting.

She walked two steps closer. She circled him halfway. Her gaze slid from the shoulder line to the cuffs, then from the waistline down to the pant hem.

Then she stepped back.

"Keep them both."

Her voice was half a degree softer than before.

The manager took out an iPad to record the transaction.

Li Li twisted his wrist.

"Keep both sets?"

"Do you have an opinion?"

"No. It's just—"

"Then you don't."

Jiang Rumu stood up and walked toward the women's section.

"Wait here."

He waited for about ten minutes.

The curtain of the women's fitting room was pulled open.

Jiang Rumu walked out.

Li Li's mind went blank.

A wine-red floor-length gown. The neckline had an asymmetrical cut—fully covering the left shoulder while leaving the right shoulder bare, perfectly avoiding the wound covered by the bandage. The waistline was extremely tapered, and the skirt flared out in a slight A-line arc. It was a dark shade of true red, revealing a matte texture under the warm light.

Her black ponytail was undone, and her hair cascaded over her left shoulder.

The manager stood nearby, his hand holding the iPad frozen.

Jiang Rumu looked down and smoothed the hem of the dress.

"How is it?"

Li Li's throat felt tight for a second.

"It's good."

"Just 'good'?"

"Very good."

Jiang Rumu stared at him for two seconds. She pursed her lips, couldn't help it, and then they curled up.

She turned around and went back into the fitting room to change.

The manager came over, the list on the iPad ready.

Two men's suits: 220,000 AED.

One women's evening gown: 500,000 AED.

Total: 720,000 AED.

Converted to RMB—about 1.4 million.

Li Li stared at that number.

He had just over 280,000 in his account. It wasn't even enough for the fraction of the price of that dress.

His severance package, in front of LV, was equivalent to a fraction of a fraction.

He took out his phone and opened the payment page.

Jiang Rumu had already changed and walked out.

She walked straight to the manager and said a few words in English.

The manager was stunned for a moment. He looked down and checked the system.

Then he smiled. He smiled ten times brighter.

"Of course, Miss Jiang! No problem at all!"

He waved his hand.

Two shop assistants began packing. The suits went into garment bags, and the gown went into a rigid gift box.

The whole process—there was no card swiping involved.

Li Li's phone hovered in mid-air. The payment code was still glowing.

"No need to pay?"

Jiang Rumu took the paper bags handed over by the manager.

"No need."

"I can pay for it myself." Li Li pushed his phone forward a bit.

Jiang Rumu didn't stop holding the paper bags; she tilted her head slightly.

She rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm an ambassador. I have an annual quota. It's free."

Li Li's payment code was still glowing.

"You're an LV ambassador."

"Global ambassador."

"...You didn't say that earlier."

"You didn't ask."

Li Li slowly withdrew his phone. Locked the screen. Put it in his pocket.

He glanced at the three dark brown paper bags in Jiang Rumu's hands. Items worth 1.4 million, being carried by her like she was carrying groceries.

"Let's go."

Jiang Rumu stuffed the largest paper bag into his hand. The weight of the two suits pressed into his palm.

Li Li looked down and glanced at the garment bag peeking out of the bag opening. He pursed his lips.

He followed.

The manager stood at the door, bowing to see them off.

A line of blue text jumped onto his left wrist.

[Side Quest Completed: Dinner Banquet Look. Reward Issued—Mastery of Makeup.]

[System Comment: Didn't spend a penny, and got 400,000 worth of clothes for free. Host, you really know how to eat soft rice with a hard attitude.]

Li Li pulled his sleeves down.

In the G-Wagon. The air conditioning was turned to the lowest setting.

Jiang Rumu sat in the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

The car started.

The Burj Khalifa grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.

"Li Li."

"Hmm."

"When you were wearing that black suit earlier."

"Hmm."

"It wasn't just 'good'."

She withdrew her gaze back to the front.

"It was very good-looking."

The roar of the V8 engine filled the cabin.

Li Li rested his left hand on the armrest, not saying anything.

His fingers twitched.

His phone lit up.

Fahd's message.

"Dinner banquet schedule confirmed. 7:00 PM tonight. Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the King will attend."

A line of small text below.

"The smell of the Hotpot base has drifted to the third floor. My uncle asked if there was a fire. Hahaha."