26: Chapter 26 This shop is mine

Su Ye rolled his eyes and then shared his concerns from last night.

Li Yi sipped his iced coffee with his pinky finger extended, then placed the yellow orchid he'd bought on the street under his nose to sniff it.

In a gentle, slightly high-pitched voice, he said, "Ye-zi, I really don't know what to say to you. Why do you seem so hesitant about everything lately?"

Su Ye pointed at his own nose and asked, "Timid? Where am I being timid?"

Li Yi didn't even look at Su Ye, continuing to fiddle with the orchid: "Don't be unconvinced. Just looking at our interactions over the past two days, you give me the impression that while you have confidence and seem laid-back, you're actually afraid. I don't know what you're afraid of. For instance, last night, calling so many lawyers with just one phone call—were you trying to show off? Also, my relationship with Jiang Bai isn't as close as you think. Besides, in this day and age, aren't one-night stands common? No one is forcing you to get married. This is about mutual consent. Why are you so worried?"

"The impression you give me now is that you aren't yourself; you're deliberately pretending to be someone else."

Li Yi's words struck Su Ye like a bolt of lightning, causing him to tremble all over, his heart skipping a beat.

Su Ye couldn't help but reflect on everything he had done since obtaining the System. No matter what he did, he was always putting on an act. It felt like gilding a clay statue; underneath, he was still just clay. He wanted to package himself as an elite, so he worked toward that, but would a true elite be as indecisive as he was? And what was it that he really wanted?

Li Yi watched the silent Su Ye. He didn't speak or play on his phone, just scrutinized Su Ye with a profound gaze.

Ever since meeting Su Ye yesterday, Li Yi had felt that he was acting a bit strange, even feeling out of place with him. In his memory, Su Ye was a gentle yet laid-back man, a man who was unrestrained, not the person he saw now.

Time ticked by, and before they knew it, it was three in the afternoon. A ray of sunlight filtered through the street trees and fell onto Su Ye's face. The dazzling sunlight felt like a beam of light breaking through his contemplation. Su Ye snapped to his senses instantly. Why was he thinking so much? Regardless, as long as he didn't break the law or violate his own principles, he didn't need to put on an act. He could do whatever he wanted; he could just follow his heart. Wasn't that what it meant to respect one's true self? Why should he pretend? With the System, as long as he didn't do anything stupid, he was destined to be the most noble person on this planet.

Having figured it out, Su Ye curled his lips into a smile. Unlike the polite, feigned smiles from before, this smile was natural, like that of a fresh-faced youth, full of sunny, gentle vibes.

Seeing Su Ye's smile, Li Yi couldn't help but smile as well. Although he didn't know what Su Ye had gone through, he knew his old, gentle, and unrestrained brother was back.

He picked up the iced coffee in front of him, casually opened the lid, and gulped it down. The light brown liquid flowed down the corner of Su Ye's mouth, and Li Yi pulled out a tissue and handed it to him.

After wiping the liquid from his mouth, Su Ye tossed the empty coffee cup into a nearby trash can.

"Let's go, Sister-in-law, come with me to buy some clothes. We used to be poor and wore stuff from Pinduoduo, so this time, let's see what it feels like to wear nice clothes."

Li Yi smiled, nodded slightly, and then picked up his LV bag and walked outside.

"Let's just go to my shop. I'm familiar with it, and I can give you a discount."

"Damn, Sister-in-law, isn't your home my home? Do I need a discount to get clothes from my own home? Can't I just take them and wear them?"

"You think too much. Clothes cost money, don't they? Business is business. I can give you a couple of pieces, but I'm afraid you'll clear out my shop."

"That won't happen. I have no use for the hangers."

Li Yi's family business had changed since Su Ye left. According to Li Yi, due to the special circumstances of the past two years, his family had bought out several brands at the bottom of the market. Now, they had fourteen shops in total. Ten of them followed a mid-to-low-end route, such as Yishion and Heilan Home, while four followed a high-end route, such as Lancy, ELLASSAY, MO & Co, and Ralph Lauren.

Upon hearing this, Su Ye raised an eyebrow: "Sister-in-law, why are the high-end shops basically all women's clothing?"

Hearing Su Ye's words, Li Yi rolled his eyes at him: "Who is my main customer base? Women! Besides, how many people buy high-end men's clothing? Plus, don't we have that Ralph Lauren shop?"

Su Ye touched his high, straight nose bridge. Li Yi's point was valid. It wasn't easy to earn money from men in Xia, but it was incredibly easy to earn money from women in Xia. They wouldn't blink at spending thousands or tens of thousands. Women could eat instant noodles for a month for a high-end dress, whereas men would only eat instant noodles for a month for something their beloved woman liked.

Moreover, Ralph Lauren was no ordinary brand. Many people might not have heard of it, but Su Ye happened to know it. Ralph Lauren, translated into Chinese as 'La'erfu·Laolun', was a brand that combined traditional American culture with fashion elements to create casual menswear with an American aristocratic flair.

Its Polo series T-shirts were particularly famous. In addition, it offered shirts, sweaters, jeans, jackets, and other products. The design style was classic and elegant, with colors primarily in earth tones and navy blue, suitable for various casual occasions. It had stores in shopping centers and high-end commercial streets in major cities around the world.

In Chengdu, on Chunxi Road, Li Yi's Ralph Lauren shop was located right there.

Men usually plan what they want to buy, head straight to the destination, and finish the task quickly. But this time, Su Ye didn't. The main reason was that the two had only walked a few steps on Chunxi Road, and beads of sweat were already clearly visible on their foreheads, even though Li Yi was holding a parasol, it was useless.

The heat in Chengdu was more like that of coastal areas; it was a heat that felt like being placed in a steamer. As long as you weren't in an air-conditioned room, you felt enveloped by countless scorching water vapors. You might not have a kidney deficiency, but you would definitely sweat.

"Sss-sss." Li Yi once again took out sunscreen spray and sprayed it wildly on his face and neck: "It's really too hot. If I weren't accompanying you shopping, I absolutely wouldn't have come out in this hellish weather. I don't know what's going on, but it feels like the weather in Chengdu is exceptionally hot this year. By the way, do you want some?"

Su Ye waved his hand quickly: "Don't bother. I'm not used to this stuff; it makes me feel uncomfortable all over after spraying it on."

Li Yi rolled his eyes at Su Ye: "Fussy."

Su Ye didn't argue with Li Yi but pointed to the crowd in the distance: "Let's go, let's buy two cups of Chagee to quench our thirst."

Li Yi looked at the long queue and shook his head quickly: "Forget it. With the time we'd spend waiting in line, we might as well have finished buying our clothes. Besides, isn't it more comfortable to stay in the air-conditioned room in my shop? If you want to drink something, we can just order delivery later."

Su Ye strode forward: "It's fine, I have connections."

Li Yi looked at Su Ye, speechless. Did one really need connections just to buy a cup of milk tea now?

Li Yi saw that Su Ye didn't even queue. After looking left and right, he walked up quickly and said a few words to a middle-aged woman. In less than two minutes, he came out carrying two cups of Chagee.

"You really do have connections."

Su Ye handed a cup to Li Yi and nodded.

"What kind of connection do you have?"

"This shop is mine."

"What!!!"