Chapter 167 - 165: Guess What?
"Don’t be so polite. We girls should help each other out!"
With that, Jane Sterling generously extended her hand. "Hi, I’m Jane Sterling. I just got back from Occidenta."
Cecilia Sterling also extended her hand. "What a coincidence! We share the same last name. I’m Cecilia Sterling."
"Cecilia Sterling?"
Jane Sterling froze for a moment, a scene from Grandpa Thorne’s birthday flashing through her mind.
’My girlfriend’s last name is also Sterling. Her name is Cecilia Sterling.’
’Could it be such a coincidence?’
"Is something wrong?" Cecilia couldn’t help but ask with concern when she saw her expression.
Jane Sterling snapped back to reality and quickly shook her head with a smile. "It’s nothing. I just like making friends with beautiful women."
Cecilia was amused. Based on her appearance, the other woman seemed a few years older than her, but she gave off a quirky, mischievous, and slightly reckless vibe.
’She’s a bit like Estelle Goodman, but different. She seems smarter than Estelle.’
Author: "Estelle, don’t look! That’s a bad review!"
"You just got back from Occidenta, do you know any sales associates here? Why don’t I introduce you to my handsome one? You can just tell him what you want to buy."
Hearing this, the young sales associate nearby quickly turned to Jane Sterling with a smile. "Hello, Miss Sterling. Please let me know if there’s anything you need."
But Jane Sterling just pouted and sighed. "I came for the limited-edition Crescent Bag, but another associate already told me it’s out of stock."
"The Crescent Bag?" Cecilia Sterling blinked, turning to pick up the box the associate had already packed for her and opening it. "Is it this one?"
Jane Sterling’s previously crestfallen expression instantly turned to excitement when she saw a "Crescent Bag" lying quietly in the box Cecilia was holding.
"That’s the one! You actually managed to get it. You’re so lucky." Jane Sterling looked at Cecilia with envy.
Her reaction was proof enough of how rare the bag was. Even the sales associate beamed with pride. "I only had one, and the first person I thought of was Miss Sterling."
Cecilia knew he was just trying to get on her good side, but seeing how much Jane loved the bag, she blurted out almost without hesitation, "Since you want it, why don’t I let you have it?"
With that one sentence, both the sales associate and Jane Sterling froze.
One could only imagine what a globally limited-edition bag meant to a woman; otherwise, Jane Sterling wouldn’t have had such a strong reaction.
But what had Cecilia just said?
Give it to her?
"No, that’s not right. How could I take your bag?" Jane Sterling shook her head repeatedly, refusing. "I appreciate the thought, but that’s really not appropriate."
A gentleman doesn’t take what another loves.
And neither does a lady.
But Cecilia just smiled nonchalantly. "It’s just a bag. You were so brave to stand up for me just now. Consider it my way of thanking you."
"And to be honest, I’m not that fond of this bag. I only bought it because it’s a limited edition and my sales associate was thoughtful enough to save it for me."
"Since you love it, you should have it. Its true value is being owned by someone who loves it. Otherwise, it would probably just end up in a box in my collection at home."
At first, Jane Sterling was genuinely opposed to taking someone else’s bag, but after hearing Cecilia’s sincere explanation, she began to waver.
"You really don’t like it?" she asked again, uncertain.
The smile on Cecilia’s face deepened as she nodded in confirmation. "That’s right. I’m not a big fan of this style."
"Oh, I still feel a little bad about it." Jane Sterling’s crescent-shaped eyes curved, making her smile particularly adorable. Though her words expressed hesitation, her hands were already reaching out to take the box from Cecilia.
"I’m letting you have it, not giving it to you for free. There’s nothing to feel bad about. Didn’t you say you like making friends with beautiful women? Me too. So now we’re friends," Cecilia said.
At that, Jane Sterling nodded forcefully and turned her head to the still-stunned sales associate. "Alright, I’ll buy this bag. The commission is still yours. Could you wrap it up for me again?"
The associate snapped out of it. "Oh, oh, right! Please wait a moment while I draw up the invoice."
Jane Sterling was overjoyed. She was a total bag fiend, and getting a bag she loved was the thing that made her happiest.
"Thank you so much, Cecilia! Let me treat you to a meal!"
Cecilia hesitated for a moment before replying apologetically, "Sorry, I’m meeting some friends. They just haven’t arrived yet."
"Are they girls?"
Cecilia nodded.
"Then let’s all go together! I’ve lived in Occidenta my whole life and don’t really have any friends here in the country. You’re the first friend I’ve made since coming back, so your friends are my friends!"
Perhaps because she grew up abroad, Jane Sterling’s innate warmth and generosity seemed to be part of her very bones. It wasn’t overwhelming, just a natural, fiery spirit.
Cecilia thought about her two best friends.
’One is a total airhead.’
’And the other one is easygoing about everything except letting me spend money.’
In the end, she smiled and nodded. "Alright. I’ll let them know."
In the end, Jane Sterling got her limited-edition Crescent Bag.
And Cecilia, no longer in the mood to browse, was impressed with the handsome young sales associate’s performance. She simply told him to pack up everything he had shown her today and have it sent to her address.
The sales associate nearly shed manly tears of joy as his colleagues shot him envious looks.
A single shopping trip from this Miss Sterling earned him nearly a month’s worth of commission for anyone else. It was enough to make one’s eyes red with envy.
They chose a high-end Chinese restaurant nearby for their meal.
Jane Sterling was very talkative, complaining to Cecilia the whole way about how bad the food in Occidenta was. Even though she grew up there, she had a thoroughly "Chinese stomach."
So, since returning to the country, she had eaten Chinese food every single day and never got tired of it.
Cecilia listened quietly, chiming in occasionally. Although they had just met, their interaction was remarkably natural, as if they were old friends.
She had only ever felt this way with Estelle; even with Blair, their relationship had only grown closer after they got to know each other deeply.
They had just sat down at a table by the window when Jane Sterling’s phone rang.
"Remember to send the location to your friends! Look at the menu first, I have to take this call. It’s my grandpa!"
Cecilia nodded lightly, a silent smile on her face as she watched Jane trot out with her phone.
Once she was at the door, Jane Sterling answered the call. "Grandpa?"
"I’m calling to ask, have you contacted Saul Thorne? Asked him out for a meal or coffee or something?"
The old man was straightforward, getting right to the point.
Jane Sterling’s brow furrowed. "With Saul Thorne?"
"That’s right. Didn’t I give you his WhatsApp? You should add him and be proactive. I know that kid Saul Thorne. If you don’t make the first move, he won’t either."
Jane Sterling let out a dry laugh. "Well, guess what? I haven’t seen Saul Thorne, but I’m having a meal with his girlfriend right now!"