The afternoon sun shone brightly over Imperial with a constant cool breeze. Zhao Ya"Er"s car finally parks in front of a shopping mall and the doors push open.
A valet worker walks over to the car, but he slightly tilt his head at the four women. Each woman was laughing at one another like no one else in the world mattered. However, what he does not know it that, they had just had a heartfelt moment.
On the way to the shopping mall, they were quiet and decided to enjoy the scenery, but Zhao Ya"Er decided to brighten the quiet mood. She played famous songs from the olden days that her mother and aunt often listened to.
When the first song played, Zhao Ya"Er went into singer mode and pour her heart out into singing. After the first two chorus, Yue Ling shrugs her shoulder and joins in with her friend.
Seeing that Yue Ling and Zhao Ya"Er did not care, Madam Lu and Madam Zhao glance at one another. Both middle-aged women were speechless at first, but in the next second they were the ones singing like there was no tomorrow in the backseat.
Remembering what happened during the long drive, Zhao Ya"Er laughs as she hands her car keys to the valet worker. She then joins Yue Ling, her mother, and aunt near the curbside.
The four women finally calm themselves down. If they continue to laugh, those pa.s.sing by and sees them will only think they had become crazy.
Yue Ling wipes her tearful eyes and turn to face the shopping mall. She quietly gasp when she saw the abstract structure with windows of all sizes.
This is the same shopping mall she had come with Lu Tian when they encountered Balance. If she remembers correctly, this out of the world building is owned by one of Lu Tian"s close friend.
What was his name again? Ah, that"s right, Zhi Yifan.
"Ladies, shall we go spoil ourselves?"
Interrupting Yue Ling"s thoughts, Zhao Ya"Er spoke cheerfully as she locks one arm with Yue Ling"s. Even before the retired model could answer, she was already pulling Yue Ling towards the mall entrance.
Like time had rewind to their moment at Harmony Destination Spa, Madam Lu and Madam Zhao were struck dumbfounded being left behind again.
No matter how many times they tried to get close to Yue Ling, Zhao Ya"Er would suddenly appear and keep Yue Ling all to herself.
"Ya! Wait for us too!"
Madam Lu calls after and sped walk to catch up to the two younger women. Without any care, she strongly but at the same time gently pushes her niece to the side and lock her arm with her daughter-in-law.
She smiles and looked as if nothing had happened. Her other hand lightly pat Yue Ling"s arm and she spoke sweetly.
"Ah Ling, no need to worry. Anything you like, I, your mother-in-law will buy it for you."
Yue Ling parted her lips to say something, but before she could, she felt another arm lock with her other arm. She turns to see who it is, and she is met with Madam Zhao"s cheesy grin that was the same as her daughter"s.
"Your mother-in-law is right. Today, we are going to spoil you even if you don"t want us to."
"…"
Yue Ling was left baffled by the two women. She wanted to tell them it was okay, and she could pay for herself as she is not short on money, but… Seeing their happy and serious expressions, she couldn"t bring herself to ruin their good mood.
Unable to tell them, she could only nod her head agreeingly. If she were to really tell them no, she knows that she will never hear the end of it.
Once they are actually shopping, she will sneak in and pay for their things as they have been too good to her.
As Madam Lu and Madam Zhao held Yue Ling arm in arm, it was Zhao Ya"Er"s turn to be dumbfounded.
She could not believe that her aunt and mother actually s.n.a.t.c.hed Yue Ling away from her. How can they do this to her? All she wanted to do was spend time with her best friend and sister-in-law, is that too much to ask?
However, knowing that she cannot fend off the two women, she heaves a sigh. She will wait until they are distracted and then squeeze her way and steal Yue Ling back.
Upon entering the shopping mall, the place was not as crowded as it was a workday. It didn"t take long before the four women arrived in front of a store. This store had two huge floor-to-ceiling windows and a gla.s.s double door in the center.
When Yue Ling saw this store, a faint and soft smile curls on her lip. It was her store. Her brand De L"amour was carved in bold white letters at the top and really stood out.
Looking at the display windows, she notice that it was different from the last time she had come here.
Inside both of the display windows, there were two mannequins on either side of a large portrait. However, these two portraits were not of anyone else, but herself.
One was of her during her photoshoot for Beauty"s magazine cover as the other was of her wearing her closing design for the Fall Fas.h.i.+on Show.
She was grateful that the visual merchandiser took the time to even put up her portraits.
However, what Yue Ling did not know is that it was done by Liu Shan.
The a.s.sistant had been waiting for the day she revealed herself as the owner and designer of De L"amour. He wanted to hang her photo in all of her stores to let the world know what a capable woman and gem she is.
"Ah Ling, there is something I need to tell you."
Madam Lu spoke as she looks at her daughter-in-law. Her hand lowers and she holds onto the girl"s hand.
"I have been a huge fan of De L"amour since it first started. Even when it was only at its starting point."
She softly chuckles and her other hand pats over the back of Yue Ling"s hand.
"I am Z."
"…"
Hearing her sudden words, Yue Ling"s eyebrows arch up and shock flash on her face. She stares at Madam Lu before her eyes turned moist and she chokes out her words.
"You are Z?"
She could not believe what she is hearing at all.
When she first started De L"amour, it was only a small boutique, but she always had a mysterious buyer by the name Z. Even though her skills from back then were not as great as now, this mysterious person was always the first to support her.
Even when her brand became a big hit, Z never stopped supporting her designs. She told herself that one day she will meet this mysterious person and pay him or her back for all the faith they had in her.
If she told Liu Shan to look for Z, maybe she would have met Madam Lu a long time ago.
Seeing Yue Ling"s tearful eyes, Madam Lu lightly pat the girl"s hand again. She sighs a smile and softly spoke.
"Everything is fine now. It was fate that brought us together and be a family. Even if you know that I am Z, I will continue to support your dreams."
She never knew who De L"amour"s designer was, but when she first saw the designs, she knew that this person had great potential and will become a big figure in the fas.h.i.+on industry. This was why she started supporting De L"amour.
However, if she had known that this designer was her deceased best friend"s daughter, she would not have remained anonymous. She would have gone to find Yue Ling sooner to meet the life her friend left behind in the world.