Sarah skillfully maneuvered the BMW MINI through the bustling traffic and soon arrived at Madison Avenue.
Madison Avenue is one of the most prosperous commercial streets in New York. Despite the midday sun, the streets were teeming with people.
After getting out of the car, Sarah asked with a half-smile, "Ryan, what kind of watch are you planning to buy?"
She was eager to see how Ryan would respond.
Ryan didn't think much of it, but he did find Sarah's enthusiasm a bit excessive. Pointing to a store ahead, Ryan smiled and said, "That one."
He led the way towards the store, with Sarah and Emma following closely behind. The street ahead was lined with several high-end watch stores, including Audemars Piguet, IWC, and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Sarah knew that regardless of the brand, the prices in these stores were far from cheap. Even the entry-level watches at Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC would cost at least $3,000 to $5,000.
Emma, who knew little about watches, was just excited about the shopping trip.
"It's too hot outside. Let's go in quickly," Ryan said, gesturing for them to follow him into the Vacheron Constantin store.
In fact, there are many top watch brands, such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Blancpain. Ryan chose Vacheron Constantin purely based on personal preference.
The Vacheron Constantin store was worthy of its top-tier status. It covered an area of more than 2,000 square feet, with a simple yet elegant decor. The understated English signage gave an inexplicable sense of high-end luxury.
Once inside the store, they were greeted by a blast of cool air from the air conditioning. At the same time, a woman in a black business suit approached them.
"Good afternoon, sir, and ladies. My name is Sherry. How can I assist you today?" Sherry appeared to be in her thirties, with a scholarly air about her. Her long hair was neatly tied up, giving her a professional and approachable demeanor.
Ryan smiled and said, "Hi, I'd like to browse your watches."
Despite Ryan's casual attire, Sherry's professional smile didn't falter. Vacheron Constantin employees were trained rigorously, and given the number of wealthy individuals in New York, it was prudent never to judge a book by its cover.
"What's your surname, sir?" Sherry asked, still smiling.
"My surname is Smith," Ryan replied.
"Alright, Mr. Smith, please take a seat over here," Sherry said, guiding them to the reception area. "What would you like to drink?"
"A glass of ice water will do," Ryan answered.
"Two cups of black tea," Emma added, looking around the store with great interest.
Soon, Sherry brought over their drinks. Emma took a sip and exclaimed, "Hey, this black tea tastes really good."
Sarah inwardly rolled her eyes, thinking that with watches priced at tens of thousands of dollars, the least they could do was serve good tea.
At this point, Sarah began to doubt her initial suspicion. She initially thought Ryan was pretending, but his calm demeanor suggested he was genuinely there to buy a watch.
"As long as you like it," Sherry smiled. "Mr. Smith, do you have a specific watch model in mind?"
Ryan shook his head, "Not yet. Please recommend some models."
Sherry nodded, contemplating for a moment. "Considering your age, I wouldn't recommend a formal watch, as they tend to be serious, solemn, and meticulous, which doesn't match your current temperament. If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Smith, you're likely still in college. At this stage, men represent youth, adventure, and excitement. So, I recommend a sports watch."
As expected of a flagship store employee, Sherry's observation was spot-on.
"For sports watches, our Vacheron Constantin Overseas collection is highly recommended. It's no exaggeration to say that the Overseas series is tailor-made for young men like you. It perfectly matches your temperament."
"Can I take a look?" Ryan asked.
"Of course, please follow me," Sherry said with a slight smile.
At the display case, Sherry took out three watches and introduced them one by one. "Mr. Lin, these are the latest models from our Overseas collection."
Among the three watches, Ryan's attention was immediately drawn to one. It had a silver-white case with a royal blue dial, reminiscent of a calm lake—serene yet impactful, like a raging sea.
Seeing his interest, Sherry introduced the watch enthusiastically, "This model is 7900V/11..."
Ryan waved his hand to interrupt, "No need for details. How much is it?"
Top watches usually have similar configurations, and many brands share the same movements. The differences are minimal. Ryan wasn't well-versed in watches, so he decided based on what he liked.
"Um..." Sherry was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered. "The current price for this watch is $32,000."
$32,000?
Sarah was somewhat prepared for the price, given her knowledge of top watches. But Emma, who had no such awareness, was taken aback. In her mind, a watch usually cost a few hundred or thousand dollars at most. The sudden jump to over $30,000 was hard to process.
What Ryan said next shocked her even more.
"Alright, I'll take it," Ryan said, pulling out his bank card.
He had $35,000 in his account. If the watch had been any more expensive, he wouldn't have been able to afford it.
Sherry's smile grew even more enthusiastic. She had only encountered such straightforward customers a few times during her years at Vacheron Constantin.
"Mr. Smith, please follow me to complete the payment," Sherry said.
As Ryan followed her, he activated his special card.
"Ding~"
"You're spending $32,000. Would you like to use the [Purchase Rebate Critical Strike Card] for this transaction?"
"Yes," Ryan confirmed without hesitation.
"Successfully used the [Purchase Rebate Critical Strike Card]. The rebate will be issued after completing the transaction."
The system was thorough and left no room for loopholes.
After completing the purchase, Ryan rejoined Sarah and Emma, who were still processing the shock. He wore his new watch with a satisfied smile.
Emma, still stunned by the price, looked at Ryan with a mix of admiration and confusion. Sarah, on the other hand, was reevaluating her initial judgments about Ryan.
With their shopping done, the trio continued their exploration of New York City. They visited famous landmarks, enjoyed more culinary delights, and immersed themselves in the vibrant city life.
As the day went on, Emma found herself growing closer to Ryan. Despite her cousin's initial doubts, she believed there was something genuine and sincere about him.
And so, their adventure in New York continued, filled with laughter, discovery, and the promise of new beginnings.