Liang Huan was distracted in class for two consecutive days, thinking about her upcoming trip to the provincial city.

She wasn’t the type to focus on studies, and her family’s comfortable circumstances had turned her attention to fashion and appearance. Why did many pretty girls enter society early? Because beautiful girls received more attention than their peers before their worldview was fully formed.

No matter how lenient the family’s rules, without proper guidance, beautiful girls rarely devoted themselves entirely to studying.

Liang Huan hadn’t even finished her first year of high school. Her academic burden wasn’t as heavy as third-year students, and Liu Fang spoiled her too much, giving her everything she wanted, and fostering a self-centered personality. Add to that her good looks and family background – school teachers knew her father was a government official – teachers pampered her, classmates flattered her… Liang Huan was also somewhat clever, cramming before exams and still maintaining decent grades.

Her life was in easy mode – why work hard when she could effortlessly have things others couldn’t?

Besides, being so pretty, she should wear beautiful clothes, and expensive shoes, and make herself look gorgeous. Why did Liu Fang indulge her daughter’s fashion interests? This was how Liu Fang succeeded in life, unconsciously instilling in Liang Huan the belief that women could take shortcuts based on looks. But times were changing – in Liu Fang’s youth, people attended literacy classes, and being able to read was enough. Now, for girls to marry well, they needed both beauty and education with a career.

With the Liang family’s position, finding work would be easy. Education was for appearances, and if Liang Huan didn’t have it, Liang Bing’an would lose face.

Both being Liang Bing’an’s daughter, a high school graduate Liang Huan versus a college graduate Liang Huan would attract different qualities of suitors!

If not for this, Liu Fang would have spoiled Liang Huan even more. Now wanting Liang Huan to attend university, she occasionally urged her to study harder. But in a good mood, Liu Fang readily agreed when Liang Huan asked to visit the provincial city with classmates:

“Just don’t stay out too long, come back early in the afternoon. It’s not safe for girls to be out at night!”

The crackdown period wasn’t over yet, and troublemakers wouldn’t dare show themselves on the streets. Since Liang Huan was going with several classmates, Liu Fang wasn’t too worried about her safety. Though worried, she still nagged. After some more coaxing from Liang Huan, Liu Fang secretly gave her 100 yuan: “If your father asks, say I gave you twenty!”

Even 20 yuan was substantial – plain steamed buns cost less than 0.1 yuan each. With 20 yuan’s purchasing power, Liang Huan could have a feast in the provincial city, let alone the actual hundred yuan she received.

When Liang Bing’an heard his daughter was going to the provincial city, he indeed asked: “Did your mother give you money?”

Liang Huan pouted, “Mom’s so stingy, only gave me 20 yuan.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Is 20 yuan not enough for a day trip to the provincial city? The park doesn’t charge admission, and how much is a bus ticket? Liang Huan, you’re not taking money seriously!”

The Liang family wasn’t running a bank.

Who would give their children such generous pocket money?

Liang Bing’an scolded Liang Huan a bit, making her genuinely unhappy. Though strict with his words, he worried she might be short of money while out. Young girls cared about face – what if her classmates wanted to buy something and she couldn’t afford it? Liang Bing’an took out his wallet and counted out five large bills: “You get upset just from a few words of criticism. Don’t be stingy when you’re out with classmates, treat them if needed.”

Liang Huan’s mood immediately brightened.

She was heading to the provincial city carrying a month’s salary of a high-wage earner.

Liang Yu watched his sister getting money from both parents, quite impressed.

“Sis, are you going to see Cousin Xiaolan and Taotao? Take me with you!”

“I’m going to the park with my female classmates, not taking little kids.”

Liang Huan dismissed her brother in a few words – it was just one meeting, why was Liang Yu always thinking about them?

On a weekend morning, Liang Huan put together a nice outfit. Her father drove her to the bus station, only leaving after seeing she was meeting several female classmates. Xiao Yu kept her head down until Liang Bing’an left. That was close – she almost got spotted by him. Xiao Yu remembered Liang Bing’an visiting their house; she had even served him tea.

Someone as smart as Liang Bing’an must have noticed her relationship with Fan Zhenchuan.

If Liang Bing’an discovered she went to the provincial city, Fan Zhenchuan would soon hear about it, putting her in a difficult position!

As Liang Huan and her classmates boarded the bus, Xiao Yu gave her an ingratiating smile.

Liang Huan nodded.

Helping the housekeeper didn’t mean being familiar with her in public – the Fan family’s housekeeper was still just a servant, what could Liang Huan have to say to her? Xiao Yu also preferred Liang Huan not greeting her – the fewer people who knew about her meeting Liang Huan’s cousin, the better.

The young girls chatted away on the bus, plus one scheming Xiao Yu, heading straight for the commercial city.

Liang Huan was headed for “Blue Phoenix,” making a beeline for it after getting off the bus.

“See that? That’s my uncle’s store!”

Liang Huan lifted her chin slightly, and her classmates played along perfectly, exclaiming:

“Wow! What a beautiful store!”

“Liang Huan, your uncle is amazing!”

“All the lights are on even during the day, it looks even fancier than the department store…”

The county high school students still had a gap with provincial city students. When Blue Phoenix first opened, even provincial city residents found it luxurious. The visual effects from the decorations, lighting, and glass mirrors were enough to draw genuine admiration from the girls who lived in Hedong County.

Liang Huan’s vanity was thoroughly satisfied.

She raised her chin, being escorted into the store.

Li Fengmei wasn’t very surprised to see Liang Huan – Liu Fang had visited several times, so Liang Huan’s appearance was inevitable.

“Aunt, Second Aunt!”

Liang Huan was all smiles, showing no hint of reluctance.

Though Li Fengmei disliked her, she couldn’t quarrel with a junior in public.

“Huan’er, you’re here?”

Liu Fen was even more straightforward – her daughter Xia Xiaolan only became sensible at 18, not much better than Liang Huan before. Liang Huan wasn’t even 17 yet; in Liu Fen’s eyes, she was still a child. Liu Fen had forgotten Liang Huan’s attitude before the New Year. Besides, Liang Huan was greeting them so warmly, Liu Fen quickly responded: “Huan’er, did you come alone?”

“I’m with my classmates. They wanted to visit Blue Phoenix, so I told them it’s uncle’s store and brought them to look. Aunt, can we look at these clothes?”

The store’s clothes weren’t cheap.

Li Fengmei wanted to say it wasn’t within the students’ price range, but seeing Liang Huan so enthusiastic, she didn’t dare speak the truth.

The clothes had price tags anyway; let the students see for themselves.

“Of course, you can look, and try them on if you like any.”

The female classmates all cheered, grabbing the pretty clothes. Ma Wei helped fetch clothes and pants, keeping quite busy as the girls tried on endless outfits.

Liang Huan was also tempted but didn’t rush.

It was her uncle’s store after all – the clothes weren’t going anywhere, and she could try them anytime.

Remembering her promise to Xiao Yu, Liang Huan asked, “Second Aunt, where’s Cousin Xiaolan? Isn’t she helping at the store?”