Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

"This …" Li Xue stared at the shop label before turning to look at Chen Rui on her side. "We are going to shop in this one?" She asked.

Chen smiled and nodded. "Don't go on its look, sweetheart. Believe me, even though this shop doesn't look like having a crowd, the collection of designs this hold would be hundredfold than others." She said before excitedly leaning to her to add in a slow whisper, "Believe me when I say this for the owner of this store is my and your father's best friend. And her style is something that I have praised since our young years."

Li Xue heard her and her brows raised at the particular word before she repeated it to confirm. "Best friend?"

"Yes!" Chen Rui nodded with a smile. "She was our best friend since we were in our university. And from there on, our friendship has been continuing. Although she doesn't stay back in the country for long, this time her stay has remained more than what she had in the past years."

She said and Li Xue read the enthusiasm in her eyes. "Then this store of hers?"

"Ah, this one. Must be just out of a hobby, I guess as she had a lot of other important business to look after. And also, that explains why the store doesn't have many people." Chen Rui said, looking at the empty store that was still waiting to welcome its customers.

Li Xue also turned to look at the shop. Her eyes held a depth whose meaning was hard to comprehend. Before Chen Rui could notice the depth in her eyes, a voice from a distance interrupted.

"Ladies, you are here standing out of the store. Don't say you are also planning to be like the ones who hold the craving to enter once inside but then push it again for the next time."

Both Chen Rui and Li Xue turned at the sleek, elegant voice only to find the woman standing there with a pair of big gasses over her nose while a mysterious smile over her lips.

Chen Rui looked at the lady and her lips tugged into a welcoming smile on their own. Unhooking her arms with Li Xue, she didn't hesitate in taking a walk to hug her friend into a hug.

Then pulling back from it, she said in a half fun way, "You are caring for the customers in your shop. Did the sun take an extra nap and didn't come on time today, for it's rare to see you serious like this for a mere hobby?"

Yun Yunchun chuckled. "Haha … what are you speaking? After all, I am the owner of this store and have opened it with the intent of earning money. How can I not care for it?" She said as once again bother ladies chuckled together.

At a distance, not too far away, Li Xue stood there watching them. To any eye, the two looked like the pair of old friends who were meeting after too long but, Li Xue could easily see the mysteriousness the lady held in her demeanor. It was not simple and based on their past encounters, Li Xue doesn't have to doubt it since she knew she wasn't wrong to guess it.

"Don't worry, you will soon have more customers." Chen Rui said, and nodding to her Yun Yunchun accepted.

"Of course, I couldn't doubt it anymore. Especially after seeing you giving me such a grand promotion. I am sure today I would be having huge sales, especially after people would see you, Her Grace shopping from here."

Chen Rui smiled when she remembered something and turned to look at Li Xue. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We are here to shop around and I was just telling my daughter how your collection has kept me charmed since back from times." She said, gesturing her to look at Li Xue.

Yun Yuchun quirked her brow as she turned to look at the girl with some interest. "Your daughter?" She questioned with some surprise to which Chen Rui hummed, nodding.

"Yes, my daughter. I came with her here to shop. Hope you would help us select something good." She said but Yun Yunchun's eyes stared just at the girl, still with some hint of surprise. As if this was the first time, she was seeing her and also the first time of her knowing her identity which in both scenarios, Li Xue knew was a lie.

Be it on their very first meeting or the other that came subsequently after, strangeness was the last thing that Li Xue felt. From the very first day, the woman has been giving her hints of familiarity. And now that finally, she had understood what that sense of familiarity was all about, she was making it look like this was just their first meeting and she had never seen her before.

Wasn't this itself very mysterious?

Li Xue stared at her as her eyes slowly turned sharp at the woman. "Hello, Auntie. It's nice meeting you but seeing you looking at me with such surprise, I feel like you have yet not remembered me." Since Chen Rui has already introduced her, Li Xue bowed a little to greet before getting back up to add more while giving a smile towards Chen Rui. "We have met before as well."

Chen Rui turned to look at her friend before asking with some surprise. "Really? Have you both met before."

Yun Yuchun's expression didn't change, neither did her smile. Instead, she simply stared at Li Xue waiting for her to speak more.

Li Xue understood her unsaid request very easily. Maybe it was the connection that every woman shares, but sometimes just looking into the eyes of other women, one is able to guess what they might be thinking in their head. Li Xue understood it as well.

Smiling, she walked to the side of two ladies, before hooking her arms with Chen Rui to nod, "Yes, Ma. This is not my first time meeting her. In the past, I have met her and she has helped me in finding you." She said and at her words, Chen Rui's brows tugged in confusion before she turned to look back at her friend.