026. Shop Till You Drop!

While the shop assistant was organizing her purchases, Lin Mi wandered over to the accessories section.

A delicate K-gold necklace shimmered with understated elegance, a pair of petite, hand-polished earrings radiated refined charm, and several uniquely designed silver rings were simply impossible to resist. With a generous wave of her hand, she claimed everything she fancied.

In the footwear section, she spotted a pair of nude pointed-toe high heels. The intricate strap design was both exquisite and stylish, the upper soft and comfortable—exactly the versatile style she loved, suitable for both daily wear and formal occasions.

She then casually picked out a brown genuine leather handbag, medium in size and classically styled, perfect for her everyday essentials.

After that, Lin Mi completely let go of any restraint. Each time something caught her eye, she said “I’ll take it” to the shop assistant without hesitation. The exhilarating freedom of buying to her heart’s content was like nothing she’d ever experienced before—she was finally living out the reckless indulgence of a rich heiress from a TV drama.

No more fretting over prices, no more endless deliberation—she chose everything by instinct and preference.

This kind of shopping was pure bliss!

Standing in the fitting room, Lin Mi gazed at her newly transformed reflection, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving upward.

She was no longer the “invisible girl” who quibbled over a few hundred yuan’s commission, nor the “pauper” scorned and belittled by others.

Now, every choice she made brimmed with confidence.

Clad in her new attire, she felt as though a new soul had been breathed into her. Her delicate features appeared even more gentle and intelligent, accentuated by her carefully selected outfit, and her long, dark hair fell naturally around her shoulders in lazy waves.

She no longer concealed her looks on purpose but allowed her radiance to shine freely.

She no longer had to worry about her boss’s “colored” glasses or hide her appearance and figure because of differences with her colleagues. The confidence and charm radiating from within left her in high spirits.

It felt wonderful to truly be herself!

Revitalized, Lin Mi walked out of the mall. Glancing at the time, she realized it was already half past twelve. The thrill of shopping had made her lose track of time. If her hands hadn’t been full, she might have bought even more. With limited time today, she had bought herself three complete sets of clothes, shoes, and bags—enough for her needs for the near future.

Once her new home was settled, she would come back to purchase a full autumn wardrobe.

Looking at her hands laden with shopping bags, Lin Mi suddenly realized there was one more necessity she needed.

A car!

Having bought a house worth over seven million, a car was hardly an extravagance.

Owning her own vehicle would make everything so much more convenient, especially given that she often needed to head out for tasks in her current situation. Without her own transportation, things were indeed troublesome.

Fortunately, last year her father had given her money for a driving course when the driving school near the university was running a student discount promotion, so she already had her license.

Without further ado, Lin Mi skipped lunch and hailed a taxi to the nearest large dealership.

Indeed, clothes make the person. With her new look, Lin Mi entered the luxury car dealership and did not, for once, encounter any disdainful treatment.

She had planned to browse on her own, but the sales staff greeted her warmly at the door, taking her shopping bags with attentive care.

They offered to store her things, served her drinks, snacks, and afternoon tea, and provided brochures while introducing models—no one was idle for a moment.

She almost felt like the center of everyone’s attention.

Indeed, money talks.

Faced with such enthusiasm, Lin Mi casually picked a pleasant-looking female sales associate to guide her.

“You’ll do,” she said.

After touring the showroom, Lin Mi narrowed her choices down to two models.

One was a Porsche sports car, with beautifully streamlined lines that were very appealing. It suited a woman well and came in a color she loved. But the car’s low chassis and only two seats meant it was really just for city driving—not practical if she needed to carry more than one passenger.

Though she now had money, Lin Mi’s attitude toward spending remained practical. No matter the price, utility was essential—otherwise, it felt wasteful.

The other option was a Mercedes-Benz CLS. This model was long and sleek, balancing elegance and dynamism. The price difference between the two was not significant, both around a million. There were, of course, more extravagant cars, but those were not under consideration for now.

After some internal debate, Lin Mi chose the Mercedes-Benz CLS in turquoise green. It had a distinctive British flair, was unique in design, and exuded subtle luxury without being ostentatious.

Since she would be driving it daily, she preferred something understated. The overall style and color perfectly matched her taste.

“I’ll pay in full by card,” she said, decisively handing her bank card to the saleswoman.

“Certainly, Miss Lin. I’ll process it for you right away.” The saleswoman beamed with delight—what a lucky day!

Not only had she closed a sale, but her customer was a refreshingly straightforward big spender, opting to pay in full and take the car immediately.

“Can I drive it away today?” Lin Mi asked curiously. After all, she had bought quite a lot and didn’t want to lug everything around town.

In hindsight, she realized she should have purchased the car before shopping for clothes—how impulsive!

“Yes, Miss Lin. Since you’re paying in full, you can use our express channel—it will take just over two hours,” the saleswoman replied warmly.

“Two hours? Alright then, I’ll have some lunch and come back. Please process everything as quickly as possible.”

Glancing at the time—just after one—Lin Mi calculated that she should still be able to finish the paperwork before the sales office closed.

Since she’d already bought the car, she certainly wanted to drive it home today. After all, she’d put down a two-million deposit on the house, so there was no rush on that front.

Upon hearing this, the saleswoman quickly offered, “Miss Lin, you haven’t eaten yet? We provide meals here—let me take you over. There’s also afternoon tea, and you can rest in the lounge while you wait.”

Such service? Lin Mi gladly accepted—it saved her the trouble of searching for food nearby.

At three in the afternoon, Lin Mi received the keys to her first car.

All told, the car cost a little over a million, as she chose the top-tier package, which increased the price somewhat.

It wasn’t extravagantly luxurious—certainly not in the same league as the ultra-premium brands—but to most people, it was nothing to scoff at.

Lin Mi’s requirements for cars were never high. If not for the confidence the system had given her, she would have been perfectly satisfied with a car worth only tens of thousands.

Even though the car still bore temporary plates, her joy was unaffected.

Sitting in the brand-new driver’s seat, Lin Mi felt her life was steadily getting better.

Because buying the car took some time, it was already three-thirty when she arrived at the sales office.