Chapter 12: 12

The costume rental place was a three-storied clothing rental store, carrying everything from historical costumes to wedding dresses. The three stories were all luxurious and beautifully decorated, while the salespeople, knowing about the prestigious S University, all enthusiastically rushed to receive their newly arrived customers.

Qin Juran and the rest of the theatre members were led to the room housing Western aristocracy wear on the second floor. Feng Jing and Huang Ying immediately picked out the two most grand, rose-embroidered princess gowns to try on.

The shop assistant regarded the two with a professional smile on her face: “Peter was just telling me that your play starred two princesses and a knight – might you two be the two princesses?”

“…..”

“Can’t I try it on, at least?” Feng Jing rolled her eyes and pressed on.

“My apologies, Miss. The rack on the left has dresses of more varieties, feel free to try any of those on. However, the gowns for the main roles were specially made, so there is only one of each.”

The shop assistant continued with a small smile: “So as to better differentiate between your characters’ statuses.”

Qin Juran coughed lightly, holding in a laugh. The saleswoman had noticed the two girls arrive and promptly walked up to Qin Juran: “Miss, I’m sure you’d like to try these dresses on?”

Laughing softly, Qin Juran gazed at the endless racks full of elegant evening dresses. The gorgeous fabric seemed to glow under the warm lights, and she couldn’t help sighing in awe.

Too bad it wouldn’t make a difference in the end.

Qin Juran softly sighed, then selected a simple gray half-sleeved European style ball gown from the rack on her left: “I’ll take this one.”

The saleswoman seemed astonished: “You’ve already decided so soon? This dress also comes in purple and white, and since your skin is fair…”

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“No, thank you.” Qin Juran politely turned the saleswoman down, then peered at Ruan Nan, who was still browsing around beside her. The warm light shone on her hair, casting off a gentle elegance that matched that of the pretty gowns surrounding her. Qin Juran raised an eyebrow and teased, “I like the smokey gray color.”

At her words, Ruan Nan’s hands, which were holding up a dress, trembled a little.

Ruan Nan selected two dresses and went to try them on. Since the costume selections for men were rather limited, Fan Chuan had already chosen his and was resting in the lounge area. After watching Qin Juran choose a dress so indifferently, he frowned and stalked towards her.

As Qin Juran braced herself for the next plot event, she hurriedly walked back a few steps.

Suddenly, Fan Chuan pressed a hand against the wall behind Qin Juran, his sharp eyes gleaming with 30% coldness and 70% voraciousness. He spoke in a deep tone: “Qin Juran, is this your new way of trying to catch my attention?”

Qin Juran looked at Fan Chuan’s hair, brushed in such an adult-like manner, then blinked and bluntly replied, “Fan Chuan, your hair is so greasy.”

“…..”

Just then, Ruan Nan walked out of the fitting room. Afraid that she would misunderstand, Qin Juran slapped Fan Chuan’s hand from the wall and stared at Ruan Nan’s reflection in the mirror as she walked back to the sofa.

She couldn’t look more like a princess – all she needed was a head of thick curls to top it off.

She was wearing a wine-colored short sleeve princess gown, deep neckline hugging her bodice, a shining ruby necklace adorning her porcelain collarbone. Her entire aura emitted a natural-born sense of nobility and elegance.

Just as Qin Juran opened her mouth to express her admiration, the sales assistant suddenly raised another gown in front of her, this one of black muslin. “Miss, your classmate seems to be conflicted between these two dresses – why don’t you help her decide?”

Qin Juran jutted her chin: “Of course, this red one is the most gorgeous.”

“The black one.” Fan Chuan interjected icily as he walked up from behind.

Qin Juran paused for a moment, then suggested, “Whether visually or symbolically, the color red emulates a bright fire, a burning passion – its utter beauty incites a sense of maddening desire and is noticeable eye-catching, so it’ll be perfect for the stage. Thus, my appeal for the red gown. What about you, Fan Chuan?”

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Fan Chuan seemed to ponder for a long moment, then eased back on the sofa and examined his love rival Qin Juran. He curled his lips and look over at Ruan Nan. “I like the color black.”

“Then black it is.” Ruan Nan flashed Fan Chuan a smile, sparing a quick glance at Qin Juran, then turned back towards the fitting room.

Tch….

              As Qin Juran stared at Ruan Nan’s back, the sales assistant quickly replenished her glass of water, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Don’t worry, student. The black dress is also quite beautiful. It compliments your grey dress well.”

Qin Juran took a sip from her glass and gently signaled for the shop assistant to come closer. She muttered a sentence into her ear, then collected her clothes and prepared to leave.

As Lisa watched the scene before her, the hoard of students picking out pretty clothes they liked, faces bright with youthful smiles, she suddenly felt a bit nostalgic.

More and more students began filing back in the bus, costumes in hand, as the bus prepared to depart at 6 o’clock.

Linda picked up the discarded, tried-on pieces of clothing and replaced them on the racks. Hands on her hip, she walked into the lounge and heaved, “That was exhausting! Those young people sure have it nice, being able to play prince and princess – unlike us, taking care of all these pretty dresses with no opportunity to wear them.”

Lisa also sighed. “Just look at their faces! Those three students playing the lead roles – just by standing there, they attract all the attention. Anyone can tell that there’s a love triangle going on.”

At this, Linda became excited. In the middle of folding the dress in her hands, she quickly raced over to Lisa, exclaiming, “What do you think is the relationship between those three? I overheard some female students talking – apparently, the tall girl is the campus belle, who likes the boy, the campus beau. And then the shorter girl is a rich second-generation heiress, so she’s fighting against the campus belle for the boy.”

Lisa frowned: “Is that so? But before, I got the feeling that the campus belle wasn’t interested in the beau at all. But when she looked at the other girl, there was not only admiration in her eyes, but another emotion that I can’t seem to pinpoint…”

As Lisa spoke, she saw Linda’s eyes begin twitching back and forth frantically. Lisa quickly asked worriedly, “Linda, are your eyes okay? Did your conjunctivitis flare up again? Don’t tell me you stayed up all night secretly watching…”

A soft coughing sound came from behind her.

Lisa whipped around to find the exact “rich second-generation heiress” she was going on about standing there, even though the rest of the students had clearly left a while ago. Lisa’s face quickly morphed into a bright but embarrassed smile.

Ruan Nan curled her lips and pretended to look around. When she was certain no one else was around, she held up the bag in her hand: “Please exchange this for the red gown.”

“Do you mean the one that Student Qin liked?” Lisa asked with a sweet smile.

“…..”

After Ruan Nan personally paid for the extra rental cost, she glanced at the awkward smiles plastered on the shop assistants’ faces, then pulled out a couple of bills. “Thank you for your hard work this afternoon.”

Linda’s eyes lit up. Before she could receive it, Ruan Nan’s fingers lightly brushed against the bills as she spoke proudly, “That student is indeed the campus belle, but too bad the campus beau doesn’t like her.”

“What about you?” Lisa blurted.

“…..”

Once Ruan Nan finally left, Lisa let out a long exhale: “I’d thought they all left long ago – why’d she come back?”

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Linda laughed as she massaged her head: “Back then, that campus belle was just telling me to alert the girl about the shop’s closing time. She was saying that the rich girl was bound to be back to exchange dresses – looks like she really was spot on.”

“So it’s like that, huh…” When Lisa heard the rumble of Ruan Nan’s car zooming off, she continued, “Their relationship seems quite complicated. Whatever, whatever – anyone who leaves such a good tip is a good customer. Linda, let’s go eat something good today!”

Linda dramatically furrowed her brows, then brushed her nose with a finger: “When have I ever let you eat anything less than ‘good’?”

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