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Novel Catalog
Chapter 41
The voice was calm, yet carried with it an undeniable authority that seemed to make the air around them shift. Both Lin Yuzhen and Su Mei turned around in surprise, and the salesgirl’s haughty expression immediately faltered.
Jiang Ning stood there, his presence commanding attention. The moment he entered the store, the atmosphere seemed to change, like the tension had lifted and been replaced by something more intense, almost tangible. He walked up to the counter with a purposeful stride, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
The salesgirl, momentarily stunned, quickly masked her surprise with a tight smile. “Excuse me, sir, may I help you?” she said, her voice faltering slightly.
Jiang Ning didn’t look at her, but instead turned to Lin Yuzhen, his voice gentle yet firm. “Yuzhen, don’t let anyone treat you like this. You deserve better.”
Lin Yuzhen felt a warm rush spread through her chest at the sound of his voice. It was the first time in a long while that someone had stood up for her, and in such an unexpected way. She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding her breath until it escaped in a soft exhale.
Su Mei, on the other hand, looked at Jiang Ning with a mixture of confusion and awe. She had no idea who he was, but the way he carried himself made it clear that he was not someone to be trifled with.
Before the salesgirl could say anything else, Jiang Ning addressed her again, his tone still calm but edged with authority. “Wrap up all these clothes and charge them to my account. Now.”
The salesgirl’s eyes widened. Her mind raced, trying to process the shift in the situation. A man like him—who could probably buy out the entire store without batting an eye—was telling her to wrap up the clothes. But something in his tone told her that this wasn’t a request; it was an order.
Her initial reluctance quickly gave way to fear as she realized the mistake she had made by underestimating the women in front of her. She fumbled for a moment, then hurriedly began to gather the clothes.
“Right away, sir!” she said, her voice now noticeably more respectful.
Lin Yuzhen’s heart skipped a beat. She had never imagined something like this happening. What was even more surprising was the casual way in which Jiang Ning had handled the situation. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t lose his composure, but the effect he had was undeniable.
Su Mei, still in a daze, took a step toward Jiang Ning. “You… you don’t have to do this. It’s not worth it. We don’t need to make a scene.”
Jiang Ning smiled lightly, his eyes warm yet resolute. “It’s not about making a scene, it’s about respect. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, especially you.”
Su Mei blinked, taken aback by the sincerity in his words. She had never known such warmth from a stranger, and for a moment, she was unsure how to react.
The salesgirl, her hands trembling slightly, continued to pack up the items without further objection. The atmosphere in the store had completely shifted, from one of hostility to uneasy compliance.
Jiang Ning turned back to Lin Yuzhen. “You and your mother don’t need to apologize. Just choose what you like. No one will judge you here.”
With that, Lin Yuzhen finally let out the breath she had been holding. She exchanged a look with her mother, who still appeared a little overwhelmed, but then gave a small, grateful nod.
“Thank you,” she whispered, not sure what else to say.
Jiang Ning gave a simple nod in return, and for a brief moment, everything seemed to calm. The salesgirl wrapped up the clothes, carefully placing them in bags, and handed them to Jiang Ning with a much more subdued demeanor than before.
As they made their way out of the store, Jiang Ning’s voice broke the silence. “You two should have fun today. No one should ruin your day, especially not some rude salesperson.” His tone was light, but there was an underlying seriousness.
Su Mei, now holding the bags, could only smile, her gratitude shining through. “We’ll be careful, thank you.”
As they walked out of the store, Jiang Ning led them to the car, and for the first time in a long time, Lin Yuzhen felt a sense of calmness wash over her. She had just witnessed a simple, yet powerful act of kindness, and it had changed her perspective on what it meant to stand up for others.
As they drove off towards their next destination, Lin Yuzhen couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Ning, wondering who this man really was, and how someone like him could have come into their lives at the perfect moment.
