Observing the couple's silhouettes as they left, Manager Zhao and Xiaodie's colleagues started gossiping earnestly.
"They don't seem that affectionate."
"It's all for show. Didn't you see her tossing the roses her husband gave her into the trash bin?"
"She's probably just after his money."
"I heard her husband is already forty, a case of an old man with a young wife."
"Really? He looks to be under thirty!"
"He just looks young. I heard he's got hair implants. Which novelist has such thick hair, huh~"
"Oh, that's true."
Outside, Shen Fu caught up with his wife, who had changed her hairstyle and even seemed to have put on lipstick. She wasn't the Bai Shanshan or Bai Shengnan he had met before.
Seeing her haughty demeanor, Shen Fu had his suspicions.
He moved around to face his wife and grabbed her arm, "Wife, I was wrong. I won't kiss you in the bank ever again. Get in the car, we'll kiss there."
Hearing these words, the oldest of the multiple personalities, Bai Jiaoyue, wasn't embarrassed but found Shen Fu a bit ridiculous.
Kiss, kiss, kiss, that's all he thinks about! Is this what a love-struck fool looks like? How did such a person manage to make tens of millions a year? Was he also a business genius like herself?
CEO personality Bai Jiaoyue preferred someone mature and steady like herself, someone who could support each other in their careers, not particularly fixated on gender.
When she first met him, Shen Fu seemed unreliable to her, a mere novelist, and an online one at that.
Of course, after Shen Fu established his studio and became his own boss, he proved her wrong, but Mrs. Bai still disapproved of the marriage, considering it all child's play.
But since the deed was done and she was currently representing Bai Xiaodie, she reluctantly agreed to play along with Shen Fu's act.
Bai Jiaoyue forced a smile at Shen Fu, "I'd rather not get in the car. I'm going to browse the mall next door."
"Sure, I'll come with you!" Not one to miss such an excellent opportunity to observe the switching of personalities, Shen Fu naturally wouldn't pass it up.
A husband accompanying his wife around the mall was only right and proper, and Bai Jiaoyue couldn't object. Luckily, Shen Fu wasn't as handsy as she had feared; he didn't even try to hold her hand.
This was tolerable; she certainly didn't want an extra hundred pounds clinging onto her.
Their first stop was the cosmetics store, "I'll take this lipstick, and this one..."
She was unsatisfied with Bai Xiaodie's attire, already 21 years old and yet, if not working, she'd dress like a high schooler.
Shen Fu glanced over, fiery red lips, huh? He felt Xiaodie couldn't pull off such a strong look. Her vibe was more pure and gentle.
However, as Bai Jiaoyue applied it, she turned to glance at Shen Fu, "How does it look?"
Shen Fu swallowed, though it was still the same face and body, she was completely different from Xiaodie.
That angle of her lips, the sparkle in her eyes, she exuded the mature charm of a sophisticated woman, the kind that could be fatal to men.
Shen Fu awkwardly nodded in approval, and then proceeded to pay for her.
Bai Jiaoyue appeared to dislike spending a man's money, frowning, "Do I look like I don't have my own money?"
That tone, it must be the Mrs. Bai Xiaodie had mentioned, Shen Fu was almost certain.
Bai Jiaoyue, the boss among her personalities, so domineering she even dares to scold Nan, was also a genius in business.
The reason Xiaodie didn't have to work her way through college and could focus on her double degrees was thanks to Mrs. Bai's business acumen, having made her first bucket of gold while still in high school.
Most importantly, she didn't stop making money even when she wasn't around; now that was impressive. Shen Fu wished he had a friend like that.
Next, Bag-Carrying Lackey Shen Fu followed Mrs. Bai as they continued browsing through shoe stores and clothing stores, mainly shopping for stockings.
Xiaodie disliked wearing high heels and stockings, thinking them too alluring and inconvenient to move in. Shen Fu had no particular fetish for them either, so she hardly wore them, at most sporting leggings under a skirt.
However, today, Shen Fu felt that he could add one more thing to his list of hobbies!
When Bai Jiaoyue walked out of the fitting room, her legs ensconced in black stockings and her feet in ten-centimeter high heels, Shen Fu felt the difference between her and Xiaodie was even more pronounced. This was a familiar yet unfamiliar mature lady!
She didn't just buy one outfit; besides the one she was wearing, she handed the rest to Shen Fu to take home.
Shen Fu couldn't tell if she thought he was easier to tease or if she genuinely didn't trust him, but in the end, she added, "Don't use them for anything naughty~"
Shen Fu blurted out, "You haven't worn any of these, what naughty things could I possibly do with them?"
Bai Jiaoyue: "..."
The two of them were embarrassed, and Shen Fu's strategy to defuse the awkwardness was, "Wife, tired from shopping? Let's go upstairs to eat. I have something I want to discuss with you."
Shen Fu wanted to choose a Sichuan restaurant, but Bai Jiaoyue pointed at a place called Wind of Magi-City and said, "Let's eat this."
Could she be from the Magic Capital? Shen Fu remembered Xiaodie had said that all these personas had independent identities and backgrounds, different food preferences, and lifestyle habits.
After ordering the dishes, Shen Fu glanced under the table and noticed his wife's legs twisted pretzel-style. How had he never noticed her legs were so long before?
"Had enough of looking~" Bai Jiaoyue's high heel accurately and gently tapped on Shen Fu's shoe.
Shen Fu restrained the impulse to reach out and touch, "No, there's money on the floor."
"Where, where?" Bai Jiaoyue immediately looked down.
Shen Fu laughed. Mrs. Bai didn't seem as aloof as she appeared to be.
After realizing she'd been tricked, Bai Jiaoyue stomped hard on Shen Fu's shoe. It didn't bother Shen Fu much, but it seemed to satisfy her.
"You said you had something to tell me, what is it?" Bai Jiaoyue didn't want to bother anymore with such an immature young man.
Originally, he had wanted to discuss resigning to help with his own business with Xiaodie, but now that he was talking to Bai Jiaoyue, Shen Fu changed his spiel.
"I'm planning to upgrade my studio to a company and enter the downstream of the entertainment industry to participate in film and television investment. What do you think?"
Bai Jiaoyue considered it for a moment, "That's fine. Although it won't be a huge success, your storytelling skills are good, so you probably won't lose money."
Shen Fu was left speechless by her retort, but just then the first dish arrived. He tasted it and then asked, "Then wife, what do you think would be a huge success?"
Bai Jiaoyue leaned back in a boss-like manner, "Either make a big impact in the financial market, stand out in the technology sector, or dominate the real industry. You should excel in at least one of those."
Shen Fu looked at Mrs. Bai, who seemed to glow, and he served her some food, "Eat up. Look at you, a mere bank clerk acting all capable."
Bai Jiaoyue glanced at the watch on Shen Fu's wrist, estimated his financial capacity, and then said, "I've got my eye on several stocks that should soar soon. Interested in throwing a few tens of millions into them?"
Shen Fu half-jokingly said, "Has your bank started targeting family members now when pulling in business?"
"I'm serious. It's just a short-term investment, no longer than a week. The minimum return should be 15%. I'm only bringing it up because you're my husband. Of course, my commission can't be short. I want half of the profit. Even between husband and wife, accounts must be clear."
Shen Fu fell silent for a moment, reminding himself to wake up. He wasn't dealing with his delicate wife, Xiaodie, but with an investment genius who had made a considerable fortune in her spare time.
This wasn't about romance; romance costs money. This was business!
"How much?"
"60 million should do, don't tell me you don't even have that much." Bai Jiaoyue taunted.
"You're that confident?"
"Yes."
"What if you lose?"
"Then, well, the stock market has its risks. Just be more careful next time."
(Mrs. Bai is online, send likes and little hearts! If you guys have any book recommendations, add them for the old Buddha too, much appreciated~)