"What do you mean! There's none left of course! I don't have an amazing job like you. Do you have any idea how high the prices are now? You don't expect me to be well off, do you? You know what, it really hurts me when you say things like that. Ever since I graduated, mom has halved my pocket money. I couldn't even keep my head above water if dad didn't help me out. Every time I go out, I have to pinch pennies and watch what I spend, in case I run out of my money at bill time and make a fool of myself. I can't remember exactly how many dresses have struck my fancy. The problem is, I'm too poor to buy them!" Claire was hurt. She couldn't understand what her mom was thinking. Why did she have to find a job now? Shouldn't she be able to enjoy her free time for a while before going to work? She was just fresh out of school! She shouldn't have pushed her so hard.
"I don't think mom's off-base. You're an adult and should be disciplined if you don't know how to act properly and be responsible for yourself," said Kevin gloatingly, his words far from sympathetic. His words also came as a surprise to Leena. Because she thought that all brothers in the world would act like Mr. Cold, who had lavished all his love and affection on his sister a lot. He'd do his best to make her happy. But it seemed that Kevin was doing quite the opposite. This made her realize that there could be more than one way for a brother to show that he loved his sister. Superficially, Kevin had been hard on Claire and they had a bad relationship. However, the truth was that they adored each other, and Kevin was only showing how much he cared by being strict with her. It was different from her intimate connection with Mr. Cold, but it was also love between siblings.
"I knew it!" snorted Claire, "I knew you wouldn't take my side! Fine, I don't need your support as long as you buy me clothes. Here we are, and get out now!" said Claire, looking at the busy street in front of her. It was full of dazzling luxury goods. Although things were very expensive here, it attracted many buyers who darted to and fro through the crowds. This just proved that there were more rich people than Claire had expected.
"Great. Thanks Claire. There we go, Leena." Opening the door, Kevin got out of the car first. He soon turned around and gently extended his hand to Leena. To his surprise, Leena again ignored him. She opened the opposite door and got out, turning a blind eye to Kevin's hand. He was left feeling torn between laughing and crying. Staring at his empty hand, he found that he could do nothing but accept the fact. He then shook his head helplessly. It was clear that Leena had decided to push him away. If he hadn't figured it out by now, then he would be really oblivious.
"So this is the high street of the capital? It looks very nice," Leena exclaimed. Looking around, she found that the urban environment here was far better than that of their city, and looked like a rich place. The area was also really clean. Though the city had some gray to it due to pollution, the buildings here looked like they had been scrubbed clean. But every coin has two sides. As Leena saw it, it was a bit crowded due to a dense population. It was still morning, when many people were indoors. Leena could imagine the street being even more jammed at noon.
"Of course, that's what makes it the capital city," Claire replied hearing Leena's compliment. It was the first time that she talked to her without disdain, though she still sounded proud with a sense of superiority.
"I can see that. Let's go now, I can't wait," Leena urged. Leena loved going shopping, even window-shopping, for it was easier for her to find inspiration in the process. After all, art was closely connected with reality and it imitated life. Kevin breathed a sigh of relief when seeing them get on well. He didn't have to worry about them getting into it, and fighting all the time. Even though Leena was courteous and reasonable enough, she'd been catered to all her life, and was the baby of the family. So Kevin was afraid that she might lose her temper if Claire went too far. As Leena's husband and Claire's brother, he thought it would be better if he kept an eye out and stepped in if things got too hairy.
Relaxed, Kevin decided to grab his chance, as well as Leena's hand. He held it so tightly that he was sure she wouldn't wriggle out of his grasp. He finally got the chance to enjoy a little lovers' time for him and Leena. Unfortunately, he got a bit too carried away and forgot about Claire. The mischievous and stubborn Claire. The moment she saw them walking hand in hand, she went up indignantly and forced their hands apart, ruining Kevin's plan.
"I want to go to LN FASHION first. All my friends have told me that place is incredible. It is said that clothes there are wonderful, and its designs are both attractive and elegant. Everyone's going there. Although it is a little bit expensive, I really want to have a look," Claire said, pursing her lips. All she thought about now was that shop. She didn't notice Kevin's grim expression. She kept looking at him excitedly, as if she had done nothing to piss him off.
"Your friends like LN-brand clothes?" Leena really liked what she heard. Claire seemed to be telling the truth, and so Leena was overjoyed. As the designer of that very brand, she felt that there could be no greater pleasure than knowing that people liked her designs.
"That's for sure. But what a pity that I can barely buy a scrap of cloth there with the pittance I get from my mother," Claire said, sounding very disappointed. But this time, she noticed that Leena was unusually excited, and she wondered why she would look so happy. Was it something she said?
"It can't be that expensive!" Leena was quite confused now. Although it had become a world famous brand, LN's prices were much lower than similar brands. It was unlikely that even someone from an affluent family couldn't afford one. Leena frowned lightly, lost in thought. She had made some price adjustments specially in accordance to popular consumption concept, so as to make this brand more accessible and increase people's desire to buy. This strategy had been working very well under her management. She now wondered whether the agents here were doing their job and pricing things appropriately.
"Oh come off it! Don't talk like that. You couldn't know what I'm on about. LN is famous around the world, so certainly its prices are higher. Please don't lump it in with those cheap clothes of yours. You can't expect to own a LN at the same low price," blurted Claire, squinting at Leena in contempt. Her sense of superiority was brought back to life by Leena's words. She really hated to see Leena pretend to be an expert when she knew nothing at all. This made Claire despise her even more.