Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 47. Soupy's Vest

October 1, 1996, Tuesday. Today was National Day and the last day of the four-day holiday. Guan Xuchen went to the department store with his parents.

The family first headed to the women's clothing section. Ms. Guan's eyes sparkled as if she had discovered a treasure. She rummaged through the clothes on the shelves, examined each one carefully, and tried on several in succession.

Guan Xuchen and his father sat on the chairs nearby, waiting. After sitting for over half an hour, Guan Xuchen yawned constantly. He asked impatiently, "Dad, how much longer is Mom going to be trying on clothes? I want to go home."

He was eager to get home and finish reading the new set of "Power Rangers" comic books. Otherwise, he wouldn't have time to read them when school resumed tomorrow.

Mr. Guan patted him on the shoulder and asked with a smile, "Xuchen, it's not often you go shopping with Dad and Mom during a long holiday. Why are you in such a hurry to go home? Be good. After Mom finishes choosing her clothes, we'll go to McDonald's for hamburgers and fries."

"Really? Dad, you're the best," Guan Xuchen said excitedly.

Just then, Mrs. Guan came out of the fitting room. She twisted and turned in front of the mirror and asked her husband, "Honey, does this look good on me?"

"It looks really great. You look as pretty as a young girl of 17 or 18," Mr. Guan replied with a grin.

"Nonsense!" Mrs. Guan said with disapproval, yet her face was beaming.

But then she took another look at herself in the mirror, frowned, shook her head, and said, "This one still doesn't look right. It makes me look fat."

Then she pointed to another dress and said to the salesperson, "I'll try that one, also a medium."

After his mother entered the fitting room, Guan Xuchen mumbled, "Why's Mom doing that? Didn't she pick it out before trying it on? Why does she say she doesn't like it after trying it on?"

Dad smiled and replied, "Just let Mom do as she pleases. Women are as serious about choosing clothes as you students are about solving math problems. You'll understand when you grow up."

"Oh," Guan Xuchen nodded thoughtfully.

More than an hour later, Mrs. Guan finally selected two dresses and a pair of pants, spending nearly 200 yuan.

Seeing that his mother had finally finished shopping, Guan Xuchen felt as if he had been granted a pardon and urged, "Dad, Mom, are we going to McDonald's for hamburgers and fries now?"

But Mrs. Guan said, "Xuchen, those are just junk food. Let's go have wonton noodles instead."

"Oh," Guan Xuchen felt a bit disappointed. Although he liked wonton noodles too, at the moment, he was craving hamburgers and fries more.

Just then, as they passed a children's clothing counter, Mrs. Guan stopped to take a look again. She pointed to a light-blue and white vest and said to Guan Xuchen, "Xuchen, this should look quite good on you. Try it on."

"It's just so-so. It doesn't look that good..." Guan Xuchen casually glanced at the vest and replied listlessly.

"It's a rare holiday to go shopping. Let's get you some new clothing," Mrs. Guan said with a smile, trying to persuade him. "Just try it. You'll see how good you look in it. I know what's best for you."

Guan Xuchen had no choice but to agree. Mrs. Guan mentioned Guan Xuchen's size to the salesperson, who quickly found a suitable vest and handed it to the boy. Guan Xuchen put on the vest and walked over to the mirror. Looking left and right, he thought the vest actually looked quite good on him. Just as he was about to tell his mother that he would take it, he suddenly saw another one of grass-green and white and really liked it. So he pointed to that vest and said, "Mom, can I try that one too?"