Chapter 131: Envy, Jealousy, and Resentment

Lin Xiao had already known that Wan Caixuan was planning to buy him clothes, so he didn’t display any particular emotion. However, upon hearing Wan Caixuan’s intentions, the hearts of the men in the store felt as though they were being stampeded by a horde of imaginary beasts.

“Damn!”

Among them, some emotionally fragile men were so devastated they clutched their chests and almost lost their balance.

They could hardly believe that this ethereal beauty, this unapproachable goddess, had entered a men’s clothing store for the sole purpose of buying attire for a man, an extremely average looking one at that.

This wasn’t just a case of putting a rose in a pile of manure, this was like a warty toad hitching a ride on a graceful white swan.

“Maybe he’s just her lackey or something. Yeah, that’s it. She’s only buying him clothes as a token of appreciation for his servitude,” one man said, seeking internal comfort.

Unaware of everyone’s inner thoughts, Lin Xiao still keenly sensed that the atmosphere changed the moment Wan Caixuan pointed him out. All eyes in the store turned hostile, especially those of the men. Their eyes glowed red, their breaths hastened, as though he were their arch-nemesis.

“Miss, do you mean to purchase clothing for that gentleman over there?” the sales clerk cautiously asked, worried about potentially misunderstanding Wan Caixuan’s intentions.

“Yes, that’s precisely what I mean,” Wan Caixuan confirmed, beckoning Lin Xiao. “Lin Xiao, why are you just standing there? Come over here.”

Her words struck another emotional blow to the men in the store.

Nonetheless, Wan Caixuan seemed unfazed. She proceeded to select a sleek black suit and placed it before Lin Xiao, inviting him to try it on.

“Go ahead, try this one on.”

Lin Xiao accepted the suit, but upon spotting the price tag, his eyelid involuntarily twitched: 188,000.

Although he expected the clothing to be pricey, given that he was shopping with Wan Caixuan, the astronomical figure still caught him off guard.

In Wan Caixuan’s perspective, the suit might not even qualify as expensive, but in Lin Xiao’s view, the price was not merely high, it was exorbitant.

The salesperson paid no mind to what Lin Xiao might be thinking. Her face lit up with a warm smile as she energetically introduced the suit. She knew that while this was the most upscale mall in Jinghai City, clothing at this price point was a rare find. If she closed this sale, the commission alone would cover her salary for an entire month.

“Miss, Sir, this is the pinnacle of our collection. Rest assured, the quality is top-notch. And if you find the fit unsatisfactory, our tailor is on standby for any necessary adjustments.”

Wan Caixuan nodded her approval, then turned to Lin Xiao, who remained motionless. “Go on, try it. See if it fits.”

“Sorry, President Wan, but I can’t accept this suit,” Lin Xiao responded, shaking his head. “You gave me a bank card yesterday; I should buy my own clothes.”

Had it been a suit costing just tens of thousands, Lin Xiao would have had no qualms about accepting it. After all, Wan Caixuan had told him she would buy him clothes.

But a suit priced close to 200,000? He couldn’t bring himself to let Wan Caixuan pay for it. That would essentially make him a man living off a woman’s wealth.

Wan Caixuan was momentarily stunned; she hadn’t expected Lin Xiao to turn her down.

Meanwhile, the other shoppers in the store were seething with indignation, cursing Lin Xiao silently.

“What an idiot. A goddess is buying you clothes, and you find it too expensive? He’s beyond foolish.”

Others were consumed by envy, jealousy, and bitterness. “Am I hearing this right? She even gave this guy a bank card? But what a fool he is, upsetting the goddess. Just proves that even if you latch onto a goddess, you can’t change your impoverished nature.”

Some were inwardly thrilled. “He actually turned down the goddess? Maybe there’s hope for me.”

As they thought of Wan Caixuan’s breathtaking beauty, her graceful poise, and her generous spending, they all started daydreaming. How amazing would life be if they were the ones being pampered by her?

As for being labeled as men living off a woman? That’s just petty envy talking.

And let’s be real, even if they were kept men, being with such a goddess would make it entirely worth it.

Wan Caixuan clenched her teeth, gazing at Lin Xiao’s impassive face. A sense of inexplicable hurt swelled within her.

‘This is the first time I’ve stepped into a men’s clothing store to buy something for a man, and you’re not even appreciative? You don’t even have to pay for it yourself, so why are you rejecting me?’

These were the thoughts racing through Wan Caixuan’s mind at that moment.

“No, it’s non-negotiable. We have to buy it.” Wan Caixuan stared intently into Lin Xiao’s eyes, standing her ground. “You don’t have to pay for it yourself. What’s wrong with me buying it for you?”

At this, Lin Xiao’s brow slowly furrowed.

For some unknown reason, seeing Lin Xiao’s frown made Wan Caixuan’s heart jolt. She began to feel nervous. ‘Could he be angry?’

As it turned out, Lin Xiao was indeed upset. Wan Caixuan’s statement made him appear as if he were a man living off a woman’s money.

He could acutely sense the scornful looks from those around him. Even though he knew the crowd’s disdain stemmed from jealousy and had no real impact on him, Wan Caixuan’s words undeniably wounded his pride as a man.

If it had been anyone else, Lin Xiao would have turned and walked away by now. But he couldn’t do that with Wan Caixuan.

Lin Xiao understood that Wan Caixuan had good intentions, and she was also his employer. There was a clear professional relationship between them, and he couldn’t simply set aside his own work ethic.

“If you insist on buying it, then go ahead,” Lin Xiao’s voice took on a noticeably icy tone. “You don’t need to buy it for me. I’ll pay for it myself.”

Wan Caixuan felt a pang in her heart. She now realized her phrasing had been less than tactful, but it was already too late for regrets.

What should have been a joyful moment had taken a wrong turn. She had meant well, so why did things go awry?

Before she met Lin Xiao, Wan Caixuan had never interacted closely with men. Consequently, she was at a loss to understand his reaction. Before she knew it, her eyes began to mist, and a shimmering tear rolled around her eyelid.

She didn’t want to cry or show her vulnerability, especially not in front of so many people. Yet, she couldn’t help feeling wronged. It was as if her emotional resilience waned when she was with Lin Xiao.

Although her eyes brimmed with tears, Wan Caixuan still held her head high. She looked at Lin Xiao, biting her lower lip in defiance, leaving a neat row of indentations from her teeth.

Two trails of tears slid down her porcelain-like cheeks.

Lin Xiao was caught off guard when Wan Caixuan suddenly teared up. Her behavior was so different from her usual demeanor that he was momentarily stunned.

The other men in the store could no longer contain themselves. Seeing their goddess distressed, they were consumed by rage. A few even rolled up their sleeves, ready to give Lin Xiao a beating as a form of retribution for upsetting Wan Caixuan.

However, Wan Caixuan broke the silence, “Lin Xiao, why are you angry? I had good intentions. Why?”

Her words left the men who were so righteous in their indignation utterly bewildered. It seemed as if their goddess was conceding defeat.

Was there no justice left in the world?

How could a nobody like Lin Xiao not only turn down the expensive clothes that the goddess was willing to buy for him but also make her back down?

Several men were grinding their teeth, internally cursing Lin Xiao, this man who seemed poised to reach the pinnacle of life just by having the goddess by his side.

Faced with Wan Caixuan’s questioning and seeing the still-drying tear stains on her cheeks, Lin Xiao remained silent. He didn’t understand the sudden change in Wan Caixuan. The female psyche was a realm he’d never ventured into. Sometimes silence is the best answer.

However, his anger began to dissipate. It seemed that a woman’s tears truly were the most effective weapon to soften a man’s heart.

Wiping away her tears and feeling that her previous outburst was somewhat unbecoming, Wan Caixuan reverted to her cold demeanor. “I’ll ask you again, buy it or not?”

“Buy!” Lin Xiao said immediately, without a second thought.

“You made me angry, so I won’t pay for you. You’ll pay for it yourself,” Wan Caixuan said with a chilly glance. The icy façade on her face melted away as she turned to the salesperson, who had been watching the drama unfold. “Wrap this suit up for me.”

Lin Xiao’s lips twitched, but he had learned his lesson and chose not to object any further.

After a period of observation, Lin Xiao finally internalized a critical lesson: never try to reason with a woman because it’s a fruitless endeavor.

Awakened from his stupor, the salesperson hurriedly retreated and returned a few minutes later with the black suit wrapped up.

In the end, despite declaring that Lin Xiao would pay for it himself, Wan Caixuan still took care of the bill when it was time to check out.