"Alright, then." The shop assistant was delighted, both by the person and even the dresses she chose. Being working in the shop of such beautiful dresses, the best feeling had always come when dresses went to their rightful owner.
"Let me pack these. Till then, why don't you wait in the lounge?"
"Sure."
Zhao Yuhui and Chen Peiling moved to the lounge area.
At this time, a choir of hushed whispers was heard from downstairs. Several people talked among themselves before silence instantly dawned. Their confused eyes met. It was weird, talking in whispers and then getting silent abruptly.
Curiosity getting the best of them, they tiptoed to hide behind the pillar from where they could overlook. Down there several shop assistants were lined on both sides of the entrance with their heads bent to a certain angle.
"What's going on? It's giving me creepy vibes." Chen Peiling whispered.
Zhao Yuhui wasn't sure. Was some important figure coming?
The next moment, a man in black clothes got into the store and went to the lady standing in the middle of the line. Her outfit followed the same pattern but it was different from other shop assistants. She must be a shop manager.
The man talked with the lady for a minute and after getting the affirmations, he said something from ear-in-piece. Soon two men who were bodyguards entered and following them was a lady.
An old lady...was somewhere in her late sixties or early seventies. She walked with the support of a cane. One of her hands held it while another was set on her back. The sound of her cane hitting the marbled surface at a fixed pace echoed an underlying pressure.
The wrinkles on her face were assembled to give out a stern look, her curly short hair and the black dress having white straps at the edges along with stockings underneath, it seemed to be representing a particular protocol.
Who was she? Zhao Yuhui did not know.
But witnessing how everybody bent their heads to welcome her, one thing was sure that.... she needed to be respected!
When they came, not a single person besides the shop assistant was in sight. However, the second this lady was about to appear...if she can cause all the shop assistants and the shop manager that were hiding till now to bow to her, Zhao Yuhui did not even wish to know the identity of hers.
Tossing a look at the old lady again, Zhao Yuhui commanded in a hushed tone. "Let's go."
"Ok."
For people like them, the more they stay far from powerful people...the more their life would be at peace.
They soundlessly got back to the lounge. A few minutes later, the shop assistant came with bags in her hands.
"Miss Zhao, here are your dresses. Thank you for waiting."
"Thank You for your assistance." Chen Peiling grabbed the dresses as Zhao Yuhui expressed her gratitude.
"It was my duty, Miss Zhao. I would be glad to assist you next time as well."
The shop assistant smiled and asked. "Would you like to look around the store or go back?"
"Can we go back?" Zhao Yuhui asked doubtedly. They were still downstairs, weren't they?
"Sure, if you want to." The shop assistant replied and proceeded towards the staircase. Chen Peiling and Zhao Yuhui exchanged a glance but went with her anyway. They tacitly walked a few steps behind the shop assistant, just in case.
Walking on the back of the landing of the staircase, the shop assistant felt weird and paused. Sometimes instincts worked the best.
Before was the break time, that's why she was the only one available. But now, it was the prime time for the customers to appear. Then why the environment was freezing in silence?
She walked to the front of the landing and spontaneously looked down. On instinct, she backed away and hid behind the huge pillar. Worry flashed over her eyes as she signalled both of them to go back.
Zhao Yuhui and Chen Peiling did not say anything and went back.
The shop assistant waited for a minute to analyse the movements going downwards before making her way to the lounge.
"What happened?" Zhao Yuhui saw her coming and asked.
The shop assistant moved to the windows without saying anything. Surely, three exceptionally noticeable cars were stationed right on the front of the store.
The same black cars that came here every month.
She sighed and progressed to stand by Zhao Yuhui. "I am sorry, Miss Zhao. I had forgotten that today a very important customer was scheduled to arrive. And no one besides them was supposed to be here at this time."
"That means..."
"It is my fault to not take the timings into consideration."
"It's alright to us but how can we go back now?"
"Sorry for the inconvenience again but I would advise you to stay here till they are here."
Chen Peiling pointed out. "What if they came up here too?"
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
"Fine. We can wait." Zhao Yuhui agreed. Her reluctance to come across someone like that lady was still bigger than her patience to wait. The lady looked like someone whose gaze would be enough to bury a man alive.
Unlike Zhao Yuhui who had reacted normally and indifferently, Chen Peiling wanted to get to the depth of the old lady's information.
She leaned in after hearing the shop assistant's request, "That's all fine but...who exactly is that lady?" She whispered the last part.
Zhao Yuhui stared at Chen Peiling. It was not necessary to get each detail out.
"The old lady...you don't know her?" The shop assistant furrowed her brows. She didn't think much of as how they saw her because they were right behind her.
If she saw the face clearly then why couldn't have them?
However, she didn't know how her tone impacted those two.
Chen Peiling blinked. She had inquired thinking she might be the wife of some politician. But now the way the shop assistant reacted changed her thoughts.