The white dress was made of Chiffon, so light that when she grasped a corner, it nearly slipped from her hand, as delicate as a drifting cloud.
So light, and it felt so nice to the touch. Lin Yiren’s fingers traced the embroidery along the hem, inwardly marveling at the quality of the material.
“All right, stop examining it. No matter how nice a dress is, it’s not for admiring in your hand—it only comes alive on the right person.” Chen Zhaoyue placed her hand on Lin Yiren’s shoulder and gently pushed her toward the Changing Room.
“W-wait, I don’t know how to put it on!” Lin Yiren blurted out, speaking so fast she almost tripped over her words.
But she immediately regretted showing such panic.
Because after hearing her, Chen Zhaoyue shifted her hand from Lin Yiren’s shoulder directly to her waist, and instead of pushing, walked alongside her.
Lin Yiren could see the joy sparkling in those peach blossom eyes.
“Then let me help you.”
As expected!
“I can figure it out myself.” Lin Yiren tried to shake off the warm palm pressed to her waist.
But the young lady’s strength was as overwhelming as ever, easily subduing her. In the end, the two of them entered the Changing Room together.
***
I need to train—double the training!
Hearing the door of the Changing Room creak shut, Lin Yiren berated her powerless body in shame and anger.
She was clearly already working out, so why was she still no match for Chen Zhaoyue—and even felt a little weak? It must not be enough; a few sets of exercises at home were clearly just a drop in the bucket.
Chen Zhaoyue took in the shifting expressions on the girl’s face, doing her best to suppress the smile tugging at her lips—Yiren’s look of renewed determination after each failed struggle was far too amusing.
“It’s time to change.”
“Hand it to me, turn around, and just tell me what to do.”
“It’s less likely to go wrong if I’m watching.”
Chen Zhaoyue’s gaze dropped, landing on those clear, deer-like eyes. Lin Yiren met her gaze, refusing to back down.
A few seconds passed.
“All right, but be careful, okay?” Chen Zhaoyue seemed to admit defeat, turning to face the white partition.
Seeing her standing obediently still, Lin Yiren also turned and began undressing.
The Changing Room was spacious enough for two to move comfortably, but it was still an enclosed space—the sound of fabric sliding against skin was especially clear in both their ears.
Lin Yiren started undressing slowly, a bit uneasy, but the slow, lingering sound was so embarrassing she gave up, yanked her clothes off, and tossed them onto the nearby chair, then sped up taking off her pants.
“I’m putting it on now.” Lin Yiren picked up the white gown.
“Good, first unzip the zipper in the back.”
The zipper slid open smoothly.
“Step in and pull the dress up.”
Her feet, wrapped in black ankle socks, lifted and dropped again, then the dress was gathered up her smooth legs.
“Is it in place?”
“Yeah, as long as it fits, right?”
She adjusted the bodice with her small hands.
“That’s right. Now hold the front part together.”
“With one hand?”
“With both—cross your arms.”
“Huh? But how do I…”
“I’ll help you with the zipper.”
Chen Zhaoyue’s lips curled silently into a smile. Before Lin Yiren could react, her steps turned lightly.
“What are you doing?!”
Lin Yiren heard the scrape of heels on the floor and realized Chen Zhaoyue had already turned around. She shivered, and the fabric in her hands slipped down—she hastily grabbed it, clutching it to her chest like a lifeline.
Her back felt as if it were burning.
But Chen Zhaoyue was silent for a moment.
The girl’s back was smooth and delicate, the gentle curve extending downward before narrowing at her waist. Her arms couldn’t completely cover herself, and some pure white fabric drooped at her waist, dimmed in comparison to her fair skin.
A faint pink hue slowly emerged amidst the white.
Chen Zhaoyue reluctantly tore her gaze away, her voice a little hoarse. “You can’t zip it up by yourself.”
“You could’ve said that sooner.”
Lin Yiren gritted her teeth—Chen Zhaoyue was definitely doing this on purpose.
She could sense Chen Zhaoyue moving closer, but all she could do was cover her chest, unable to do anything else.
Chen Zhaoyue reached out and swept the girl’s long hair over her shoulder, then gently gathered the fabric on either side of the zipper.
In the process, her hand inadvertently brushed the warm skin, making the girl in front of her shiver and instinctively lean forward, deepening the curve at her waist.
Chen Zhaoyue pinched the zipper.
A little reluctant, her gaze deepened.
But in the end, she pulled the zipper up, covering that beautiful scene.
***
Sensing the dress was finally on, Lin Yiren quickly shook off Chen Zhaoyue’s hand.
Chen Zhaoyue watched as the girl in the white gown turned around, amazement flashing in her eyes.
“Go have a look in the mirror,” she said softly.
Lin Yiren saw her dazed expression and found it a little funny, but after what had just happened, she didn’t want to laugh so quickly.
Wouldn’t that look like she didn’t mind at all?
She pursed her lips and walked out in silence.
There was a mirror right outside. Lin Yiren stood in front of it and looked at her reflection.
The white dress hugged her figure, highlighting the softness of a young girl, while the skirt was so light and airy, it exuded a kind of ethereal charm.
So beautiful.
Everyone loves beauty, but when that beauty is your own, it’s only natural to feel a sense of pride.
Lin Yiren stood before the mirror, rising up on her toes and admiring herself from side to side. The skirt spun, the lines were graceful—she was almost entranced.
She only stopped spinning when she glimpsed Chen Zhaoyue approaching out of the corner of her eye.
“Yiren, you’ll outshine everyone in this.”
“I don’t want to outshine everyone.”
Lin Yiren pouted. She could appreciate herself, but that didn’t mean she liked being stared at by a crowd.
“Then let’s try on another one next.”
“No, just this one.”
If she changed again, wouldn’t she have to go through the same ordeal as before? Remembering how blank her mind went and how sensitive her body felt, Lin Yiren’s face grew hot.
“But there are other beautiful dresses. Don’t you want to see how you’d look in them?”
Following Chen Zhaoyue’s gaze, Lin Yiren saw a rack of sparkling dresses in all different styles.
She hesitated—not because she liked wearing dresses, but because she wanted to see beauty in things.
“And we can also see which dress matches mine best, so we’ll look more like a pair when we dance.”
Chen Zhaoyue dropped a bomb, leaving Lin Yiren dizzy.
She knew Chen Zhaoyue meant ‘a pair of dance partners’, but those two words kept echoing in her heart, making her inner defenses waver.
“All right,” she finally surrendered to the lovely idea.
***
They picked out another dress and went into the Changing Room again, one after the other.
When they came out, Chen Zhaoyue led the way, and Lin Yiren, wearing a new dress, followed behind with her head down, the tips of her ears bright red.
After trying several dresses, they ultimately settled on another white one. This time, there was a subtle golden pattern at the waist, and crystals decorated the hem.
Leaving the store at last, Lin Yiren changed back into her own casual clothes and stretched her arms, feeling like she’d just emerged from a cave into the daylight.
Chen Zhaoyue smiled and said, “Let’s eat now.”
“Where should we go?”
After trying on so many dresses with Chen Zhaoyue’s help, Lin Yiren was exhausted.
“Last time, you took me to try street food. Today, let me take you to the Restaurant I often go to.”
Chen Zhaoyue took her hand and led her forward.