This Bad Luck is Awesome!

The store manager seemed to have forgotten Chen Mo and Xia Shiqing were still there, unleashing a tirade at the person on the other end of the line.

The profanity was impressively creative—a fine export of our national culture.

’Damn, the manager’s really something else. What a silver tongue.’

Chen Mo couldn’t help but marvel.

Xia Shiqing and Chen Mo exchanged a glance, and she couldn’t help but smile faintly.

"If I don’t get you thrown in jail for this, I’ll take your damn last name!"

After venting for a bit, the store manager finally managed to calm down somewhat.

Only then did she remember that Chen Mo and Xia Shiqing were still standing by, and a look of embarrassment flashed across her face.

"Sorry about that. We have a mole in the store. I got so angry I... kind of lost it."

The store manager explained, smiling awkwardly at them.

"Don’t worry about it. It’s understandable."

Chen Mo shook his head with a look of understanding.

’She’s worked hard for years, hitting who knows how many sales targets to climb to her current position.’

’And now a mole shows up and nearly destroys all those years of hard work in one go.’

’Anyone would snap in that situation.’

"Well, since things are sorted out, we’ll be heading off."

Chen Mo figured the store had a lot on its plate, so he announced their departure to the manager.

"Mr. Chen, wait a moment."

The manager seemed to have an idea. After a moment of thought, she came to a decision.

She turned and went to the stockroom, then quickly came out with a gift box in her hand.

"I’m sorry your shopping was disrupted today. Please accept this small gift, from me personally."

The manager took a handbag from the gift box and turned to a nearby sales associate. "Xiaozhao, ring this up for Mr. Chen. I’m paying."

’She was so glad it was Chen Mo who discovered the fake bag today. Otherwise, this might not have been resolved so smoothly.’

’When she’d requested the funds from corporate just now, they had been very satisfied with how she handled the situation.’

’It sounded like she would be able to keep her job as manager, so she was incredibly grateful to Chen Mo.’

’The company had covered the compensation, so she figured she’d pay for a gift out of her own pocket to show her gratitude.’

"You’re too kind."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo’s eyes widened in surprise. He looked at the manager and replied with a polite smile.

’This is why she’s the manager,’ he thought. ’Her grasp of social etiquette is perfect. You can’t find a single fault in how she handles things.’

Soon, the cashier rang up the purchase. After the manager paid, she handed Chen Mo the bag along with the receipt.

The two then added each other on WeChat. The manager promised that from now on, whatever Chen Mo needed—even limited-edition items—she could get for him.

Chen Mo also thought having another contact in his network was a good thing; it could be much more convenient if he needed something later.

"Thanks. Well, we’ll be on our way."

Carrying the bag the manager had gifted him, Chen Mo left the store with Xia Shiqing.

"Please take care."

The manager watched them leave with a smile, but the moment they were gone, her expression turned to ice.

Right there, in front of all the sales associates, she dialed the police.

’A mole needs to be put away.’

’Otherwise, people won’t learn their lesson.’

「...」

Once they were out of the store, Chen Mo took out the receipt the manager had given him and took a look.

"WTF... a ’Small Gold Ball’ bag... 23,900 yuan."

It was only then, seeing the receipt, that Chen Mo realized the bag the manager had given him cost over twenty thousand yuan.

"That bag is very popular. Usually, you have to buy other items with it just to be able to get one."

Xia Shiqing explained, glancing over at the receipt.

That meant you had to buy other products along with the bag, even if you didn’t want them.

Hearing that, Chen Mo realized the manager had put some real thought into the gift.

"Here, it’s for you."

Chen Mo smiled and handed the gift box to Xia Shiqing.

’Xia Shiqing gave him a smartwatch worth 23,999 yuan, so returning the favor with a 23,900-yuan bag was just about perfect.’

’Gifts are only fun when there’s some reciprocity.’

’Technically, he’d even come out 99 yuan ahead. Enough for two KFC Crazy Thursday deals.’

"I already have this bag."

Xia Shiqing refused with a charming smile. "Besides, I already got 100,000 yuan in hush money thanks to you. You should save this bag for chasing some other girl."

"Alright."

Chen Mo nodded, thinking she had a point.

’She already has the same bag, so she doesn’t want it. But other girls don’t.’

’Now he wouldn’t have to buy one when he meets a girl he likes in the future.’

’It wasn’t like he was planning to use this bag to pursue her anyway. Xia Shiqing wasn’t the type you pursued. It was useless.’

’All you had to do was offer her the right price, and she’d be the one setting the honey trap.’

「...」

Leaving the mall, Chen Mo wanted to get a haircut and a new style.

’After all, a total image makeover starts from the top. His wardrobe was taken care of, so naturally, his hair was next.’

Xia Shiqing drove him directly to a high-end chain hair salon that she frequented.

The salon was huge. Just standing at the entrance, you could feel a wave of style and sophistication from the decor alone.

"Welcome. Right this way, please."

As soon as they walked in, a handsome attendant in a uniform greeted them warmly.

Inside, the air was filled with a faint, pleasant scent.

It wasn’t strong or overpowering—it smelled like shampoo, but not like any he was used to.

It was a nice smell, though.

Soothing music played at a moderate, comfortable volume.

’Unlike the barbershops he usually went to, where the music was always blasting.’

’The barbers there always looked like they wanted to start a rave on top of your head.’

’Goes to show, you get what you pay for,’ Chen Mo concluded after a quick mental comparison.

"Do you two have an appointment with a particular stylist?"

The handsome attendant asked with a smile and a slight bow.

"I let Mark know we were coming."

Xia Shiqing nodded lightly.

"Of course. Please have a seat. He’ll be with you in a moment."

The attendant said politely, then turned to leave.

As he walked away, he keyed the small microphone on his uniform. "Mark, your appointment is here."

Seeing this, Chen Mo couldn’t help but chuckle.

’He’d seen skits online before: some tiny, 200-square-foot barbershop where the stylist wore a headset and used the mic to talk to someone standing right next to them.’

’If they just spoke up a little, the whole shop would hear them anyway.’

’Wearing a mic was completely pointless.’

’But this place was genuinely huge, with two floors.’

’A mic would actually improve efficiency here.’

Soon enough, Mark came downstairs.

"Miss Xia! You’re here."

The moment Mark saw Xia Shiqing, his face broke into a wide smile. He strode over, greeting her warmly.

Even though this wasn’t her first visit, he was stunned by her perfect looks every single time he saw her.

When she’d texted him earlier to say she was coming over, he had immediately canceled an appointment with a regular client just to be available for her.

After all, what straight man wouldn’t be captivated by a great beauty like Xia Shiqing?

As Mark approached, Chen Mo sized him up.

’Mark looked to be around thirty. His name tag identified him as a "Director," though in this industry, anyone could call themselves that.’

’He was stylish and good-looking, with a certain mature charm.’

’But the way he looked at Xia Shiqing... that was very familiar to Chen Mo.’

’He’d seen that exact same look on countless other men’s faces when they saw her.’

’Looks like this one has ideas about her, too.’

’Too bad. Another one’s heading for heartbreak.’

Chen Mo smiled, his gaze toward Mark now tinged with a hint of pity.

"Style my friend."

Xia Shiqing said coolly, ignoring his effusive greeting.

"Hi, Mark."

Chen Mo said with a small smile, extending his right hand.

"A friend of Miss Xia’s... Hello."

Mark’s expression froze for a second before he shook Chen Mo’s outstretched hand.

Chen Mo noticed how the look of eager anticipation in the stylist’s eyes was instantly replaced by disappointment.

’Did he mistake me for her boyfriend?’