Chapter Thirty-Nine: An Expensive Disguise

I stormed downstairs, furious, and confronted Hu Jingjing in front of the Ferrari. “Are you out of your mind? It’s Saturday—I can’t even rest properly. What’s the matter now? Isn’t your friend’s birthday still days away?”

Hu Jingjing pursed her lips, annoyed by my outburst. “You’re the crazy one! Have you looked at yourself? Are you really planning to embarrass me when the time comes? At the very least, you need to be tidied up.”

“Tidy up? Me? Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not a woman.”

She laughed. “I’m not talking about beauty treatments. Look at what you’re wearing—what even is all that? Everything together probably doesn’t add up to a thousand yuan. Please! It’s a high-class gathering, and you’re my boyfriend. If you show up like this, they might not even let you in the door. Wouldn’t that be an embarrassment?”

I glanced at myself. “I think I look fine—neat enough. Besides, I’m just pretending to be your boyfriend, not the real thing. No need to take it so seriously.”

Hu Jingjing made a face as if she couldn’t stand me, bemused. “When we’re at the party, you are my real boyfriend—at least you need to act like it. If you dress so shabbily, who would believe you’re my boyfriend?”

I snorted. “Does being your boyfriend mean I have to be impeccably dressed? This is how I am. If it’s not good enough, then forget it. Who cares?”

Hu Jingjing rolled her eyes, exasperated. “Tang Qian, could you please take this seriously? You won’t go back on your word, will you? You promised me. You don’t want me to fire Cheng Jia, do you?”

“Stop threatening me with Cheng Jia! I never said I wouldn’t go. It’s just your standards are too high—I can’t meet them.”

“My standards are high? All I want is for you to dress decently, so you don’t stand out in a bad way. I don’t want people to see through the act immediately.”

“These are already my best clothes. If you’re not satisfied, there’s nothing I can do. Unlike you, I can’t afford designer brands. For us poor folks, just having clothes is enough.”

Hu Jingjing chuckled at that. “So that’s what all your stubbornness is about? Honestly! That’s why I came to find you first thing this morning. Come on, let’s get you some proper clothes. Otherwise, people will think my boyfriend is shabby.”

I spread my hands. “Sorry, I have no money. Even if I had some, I wouldn’t spend it on something so pointless. Forget it.”

Hu Jingjing laughed and sighed. “Who asked you to pay? You’re helping me, so of course I’ll pay for your makeover. Don’t be so stubborn! Now, are you relieved?”

I felt uneasy and shook my head. “There’s no need. Why should I spend your money? I’ll just go as I am. Anyway, I’m just a lowly employee—I can’t handle such a big scene. If I’m dressed up too well, I’ll only feel more out of place and make a fool of myself.”

Hu Jingjing grew genuinely annoyed seeing I still refused to dress up. She snapped, “If you want to embarrass yourself, fine, but you should also think about my reputation, shouldn’t you? Why did I ask you to pretend to be my boyfriend in the first place? To outshine my friend’s new boyfriend! If you go like this, what’s the point? Might as well admit defeat now.”

I sneered. “Exactly! Why go through all this trouble? There are plenty of rich men—why not pick one of them? Why bother with a poor guy like me? You’re just asking for trouble.”

Hu Jingjing retorted, “But I just want you to be my boyfriend!”

Her words stunned me into silence, and Hu Jingjing herself froze as well. For a long moment, we just stared at each other, unable to speak.

I watched her cheeks flush deeper, her expression painfully shy. After a while, she pretended to cough and said, “I mean, it doesn’t really matter to me, but when you refuse, it makes me angry, and now I insist you go. Remember, you promised, so you have a duty to help me save face and play your part. If you’re going to slack off and just muddle through, tell me now—I can find someone else. But then my oath won’t count, and I’ll fire Cheng Jia immediately. I can’t stand her!”

With that, she started the car, pretending to leave.

I felt a pang of anxiety and sighed. I reached out and pressed the steering wheel. “Wait a minute.”

Hu Jingjing barely contained her satisfaction, turning to ask, “Well? Have you decided?”

Though I was resentful, I had to say, “Fine, I’ll buy them. But I won’t spend your money. Consider what I buy as a loan—I’ll pay you back.”

Hu Jingjing’s mouth dropped open. “Pay me back? You… you really do have pride! Fine, consider it a loan. Let’s see when you pay me back. Get in, we need to hurry—some items might not be in stock.”

“Wait, let me tell my family first.” I took out my phone and dialed home. My sister Tang Ying answered. “Ying, let Mom and Dad know I’m going out for a while. I might not be home for lunch, so don’t wait for me.”

Tang Ying giggled ambiguously. “Yes, brother. Is that your girlfriend? I saw her! Wow—a beauty with a Ferrari! I didn’t expect you—”

I cut her off irritably. “Enough chatter. That’s my boss. We have work to do. Just tell Mom and Dad, okay? I’m hanging up!”

I ended the call, got in the car, and asked, “Let’s go! Where to?”

Hu Jingjing started the engine with a smile. “Your sister? I saw a pretty girl peeking out your window just now—was that her?”

I was in no mood, snapping, “Just drive! Why ask so many questions?”

Hu Jingjing, slightly miffed, pouted and mumbled complaints as she drove.

Very soon, I regretted agreeing to buy nice clothes, because Hu Jingjing clearly had it all planned out. She drove straight to the Ermenegildo Zegna boutique. Two tailors came over to take my measurements for a custom suit. At first, I didn’t pay much attention, but after they finished, I overheard the manager discussing with Hu Jingjing, “Miss Hua, I know you’re in a hurry, but even if I fax the order to Italy right now, the earliest we could airship it would be Thursday next week. You want it for Monday—it’s really not possible.”

Hu Jingjing snorted. “You just want more money, right? How much?”

The manager, hearing money mentioned, grinned. “Not at all, Miss Hua! A rush order will increase the price by thirty percent. Seventeen thousand, after rounding. Is that okay?”

I thought there must be something wrong with my ears. “What? Did you say seventeen thousand?”

Hu Jingjing quickly grabbed my hand. “No problem. But if it’s not here by four o’clock Monday afternoon, I won’t pay a cent.”

The manager smiled. “Rest assured. I’ll fax the request now and make sure the factory works overtime.”

I tried to protest, but Hu Jingjing dragged me out of the shop.

Just outside, I shook off her hand. “How much is that suit? Seventeen thousand? I don’t want it. I can’t afford it. Cancel the order, or I refuse to wear it.”

Hu Jingjing laughed. “I never expected you to pay—it’s your stubbornness that insists on paying. If I’m competing, of course I want you to wear the best. Otherwise, what’s the point? Just bear with it and wear it.”

I smiled bitterly. “Bear with it? Seventeen thousand! Even if I save every penny for four years, I couldn’t afford it. I don’t want it—let me go. Let’s just buy a set for a couple thousand. Why be so extravagant?”

Hu Jingjing looked at me helplessly and sighed. “A couple thousand? Oh, you really make things difficult. Fine, how about this: everything I buy for you today counts as a costume. After Monday night, you return everything to me and I’ll handle it. How’s that?”

I figured if I was only borrowing them for one night, it wasn’t really for me. They were just props for Hu Jingjing’s rivalry, so I didn’t need to feel guilty.

So I nodded. “Alright, but remember, these things aren’t bought for me. I won’t feel indebted to you.”

Hu Jingjing laughed. “Exactly! You owe me nothing. I bought these voluntarily for you to wear in this competition. All good?” She opened the car door. “Come on, let’s get you some decent leather shoes.”

Her idea of decent shoes cost fourteen hundred—dollars! The brand was something like Attiori, not that I knew or cared. Since I wasn’t paying and didn’t need to worry about it, she could buy whatever she liked.

So, all day, Hu Jingjing spent money like water, buying me an overcoat, shirts, ties, belt, scarf, wallet, socks, underwear, and more. Including the suit and shoes, I calculated that she spent a total equivalent to 230,000 yuan.

In other words, the outfit I’d be wearing to her friend’s birthday party on Monday night was worth enough to cover six years of my total income!