The shop Xi Shenlian walked into—
Calling it a shop felt like an understatement.
In truth, it resembled more of a comprehensive fashion mall.
It was a flagship megastore belonging to a major luxury brand, divided into multiple departments covering every category of apparel.
Seven floors in total, each floor bigger than a football field.
In such a prime location, this building alone was worth as much as a large, well-managed corporation. Acquiring it would take tens of billions of yen—minimum.
As he followed the shopping guide inside, Xi Shenlian quickly noticed:
There were dozens of staff members—sales assistants—all waiting to serve customers.
Even though they were all wearing similar uniforms, they each had great figures and attractive looks.
If beauty were scored out of 10, the average rating here was easily a 7.
Clearly, the so-called shortage of beauties was all relative. Depending on the region—and more importantly, the wealth concentrated in it—the ratio could change dramatically.
For men with money and power, beautiful women were never in short supply.
In this store—
Every customer was greeted personally and directed to different areas based on their needs.
From that moment on, one shopping guide would stay with you, handling everything from recommendations to checkout.
It was basically a private shopping experience for every guest.
Naturally, as Xi Shenlian walked through the store, passersby glanced at him with curiosity and some confusion.
His outfit didn't fit in at all.
Even the security guards and delivery staff here were dressed better than him.
But nobody said anything.
At most, they'd frown slightly or whisper to their companions. No one was stupid enough to yell and act out like some brainless villain in a TV drama—handing out free experience points.
Because after all, if the security guards let him through, there had to be a reason.
Xi Shenlian didn't care what others were thinking.
He simply scanned the store, observing the styles and demeanors of each guest.
And silently made comparisons in his mind.
He understood something very clearly.
There was a huge gap between the nouveau riche and the truly powerful upper class.
You could tell just by the way they carried themselves.
Some of the men and women here had an air about them elegance, confidence, and refinement.
They exuded a kind of nobility that was hard to fake.
They stood out effortlessly from the crowd of showy upstarts.
And that… was exactly what Xi Shenlian was lacking.
Or rather, what he still needed time to accumulate.
At the same time, as he glanced at the people around him, a memory surfaced in his mind.
Something he'd read in a past life:
> "A true aristocrat often has a calm, indifferent expression—a look of quiet satisfaction after all desires have been fulfilled. Unbothered by material things, as if nothing really matters anymore."
That quote struck a chord with him.
And a faint smile crept onto his face.
He thought.
Maybe… he'd start to understand that feeling soon.
Because after all.
Everything in this world was going to be his eventually.
His desires would be fulfilled.
The only difference was when.
And why was he so confident?
Simple.
He was cheating.
Blatantly.
Take it or leave it.
He was going to cheat regardless~
And at that moment.
Seeing that sincere smile on his face, a young woman nearby, who had been frowning at his appearance, suddenly blushed.
An unexpected thought popped into her mind:
"He may not be well-dressed... but he really is handsome…"
She couldn't help but sneak a few more glances at him.
There was something in her eyes—interest, maybe even desire.
Xi Shenlian, however, felt a little confused.
---
Not long after—
On the seventh floor of the building.
Xi Shenlian arrived at the most exclusive area in the entire store.
The moment he stepped off the elevator, a row of staff in suits and ties bowed respectfully to greet him.
His shopping guide smiled and introduced the area:
"Sir, this is our core luxury section."
"Everything here is top-tier."
"Of course, the prices are far beyond what most people can afford. To ensure a tailored experience, we even have a full team to take personalized measurements for each customer…"
She paused for a second, then added politely:
"But before we proceed further, due to internal policy, we'll need to confirm your available funds—just a quick check."
Most of what she said was fluff.
That last line was what actually mattered.
As she spoke, she kept sneaking glances at Xi Shenlian's face, trying to gauge his reaction.
She understood: if he really had the spending power to shop on the seventh floor, her commission this month would be locked in.
So in addition to her formal tone, there was an unmistakable layer of flattery.
Xi Shenlian didn't say much.
He simply pulled out a card—out of nowhere.
A super card from the March Bank.
And not even the most valuable one—just the one with the lowest balance.
The shopping guide's heart skipped a beat the moment she saw it.
People in her line of work, though not rich themselves, were excellent at recognizing wealth.
One look at the card—its unique material, design, and insignia—and she knew exactly what level it was.
It was real. No question.
Her eyes practically scanned it like a built-in detector.
In an instant, she bowed deeply again.
"My apologies!"
"Please, feel free to shop as you like!"
Xi Shenlian didn't care what she was thinking.
He casually tossed the card over like he was playing cards and said:
"Let's pick some clothes."
"Of course! I'll arrange a full measurement right away."
---
What followed was a series of body scans.
"Height: 182 cm."
"Long legs... broad shoulders... solid build…"
Honestly—
Xi Shenlian wasn't really sure what they were doing.
But it looked professional enough.
There was just one small issue—
The tailor doing the measurements couldn't help but accidentally touch his chest and abs a few extra times.
A little inappropriate, sure.
But she was attractive.
And Xi Shenlian was a generous man.
Especially when she sincerely apologized and gave him her number.
Not to mention, when she bowed to apologize again, she made sure to show off a bit of cleavage.
Subtle, but deliberate.
Xi Shenlian kept a neutral expression, but mentally nodded:
"Not bad. I acknowledge your sincerity."
---
Just before finalizing the order, Xi Shenlian made one extra request.
For each item—clothes and shoes alike—he wanted two additional sets in slightly larger sizes.
Because as someone in the awakening phase, his body was developing rapidly.
It was only natural that his physique—and clothing size—would soon increase.