Chapter 39: Master Fan's New Work

To complement Wei Zi, Xing Haotian also chose a black suit. Afterward, the stylist trimmed his eyebrows and styled his hair, making him look even more strikingly handsome.

Naturally, men’s grooming is simple, and Xing Haotian soon wandered back to Wei Zi’s side. Wei Zi saw his transformation in the mirror and couldn't help but part her lips slightly in surprise.

"What do you think?" Xing Haotian asked, leaning in with a cheeky grin.

At that moment, even Wei Zi, who held strong opinions about him, could not utter a dishonest word. Xing Haotian was truly a perfect man. Without his military uniform, though he lost that imposing grandeur, he felt more grounded in reality. His handsome face and cold, stern aura were encased in a suit, his figure low-profile yet impossible to ignore—enough to make a woman catch her breath.

It was a suffocating kind of masculine charm.

If his military uniform made him someone to be worshipped and feared, his suit made him someone to make one’s heart race and cheeks flush.

"It’s pretty good," Wei Zi said. However, she couldn't help but add, "Though, the uniform still looks better."

She always felt that Xing Haotian didn't quite suit a suit, or rather, that a suit constrained his aura, failing to reflect his high-ranking status. In her eyes, Xing Haotian had always been on a pedestal, invincible.

Although she added that comment, Xing Haotian caught a flicker of something in her eyes. He smiled, looking even more dashing.

"Does Wei Zi like me in my uniform?" Xing Haotian asked.

The atmosphere suddenly turned intimate. With the makeup artist still nearby, Wei Zi felt a bit flustered.

"I didn't say anything!" she said, deliberately keeping a straight face.

"Heh!" Xing Haotian was in a very good mood. On the other side, as Wei Zi began to have her hair styled, he had to step aside to drink tea and read a magazine while he waited. Seeing him retreat, Wei Zi finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Miss, you are truly so fortunate. Is General Xing really your boyfriend?" the makeup artist teased, smiling kindly at her.

Working in an industry accustomed to celebrities and big names, the makeup artist wasn't overly starstruck by a general. Her casual tone made the topic feel less awkward for Wei Zi.

"We’re just acquaintances," Wei Zi replied. She wouldn't even admit they were friends; she didn't want to acknowledge such labels.

"Then I must do a wonderful job styling you!" The makeup artist skillfully changed the subject, knowing Wei Zi didn't want to discuss it further; she was a professional who respected her clients' privacy.

It took an hour to finish Wei Zi's hair. To make her look more mature and poised, the stylist created large, outward-curling waves, braiding one side and letting the rest fall over her chest.

Xing Haotian looked up inadvertently and saw the finished Wei Zi.

Through the change in makeup, Wei Zi no longer looked youthful. Her eyes were brilliant, enhanced by cocoa-colored eyeshadow that made them look even deeper. Every glance seemed to carry endless allure. Her red lips gave her a cold, glamorous appearance, and the black evening gown made her look mysterious and unfathomable.

Such a woman was truly too eye-catching.

Though the makeup artist didn't overdo it, the hair and the wardrobe change took another hour. Afterward, Lawyer Zeng took them to a high-end jewelry store, as Wei Zi needed accessories. Even the top styling salons only had costume jewelry, so the lawyer decided to visit a jeweler. Naturally, he chose the most luxurious one in the Imperial Capital.

As soon as they entered, Xing Haotian spotted a diamond set. The design featured platinum-encrusted snowflake patterns that looked exceptionally brilliant. It included a bracelet, a pair of earrings, a necklace, a ring, and a hair clip.

"Frozen," Wei Zi whispered.

"Miss, you’ve likely seen this necklace before. It was released just this month, designed by Master Fan. It is his only piece of jewelry this year; it is said he was inspired by the snowscapes he saw during his travels to the Far North," the saleswoman explained. "However, this set is not for sale. You surely know Master Fan’s rules. Of course, you are welcome to try it on and have your image captured; perhaps Master Fan might choose you."

Master Fan was a renowned figure in the jewelry world, and all his works were sold only to those he felt a connection with. Wei Zi knew the name of the set because it had been on display in this store for some time. Many socialites from wealthy families had coveted it, but Master Fan had claimed that none of them were "cold enough," or pure and white enough like snow.

Wei Zi didn't consider herself pure either. After ten years as a mercenary, her hands were stained with blood, and her heart was cold and ruthless. She felt she didn't fit the description at all. Her attire today was mature and poised, her lips a vibrant red—hardly the style for this set. She knew many wealthy ladies had dressed in pure white, trying to look innocent, just to try it on, yet none had passed Master Fan’s judgment.

Besides, even if she did win his favor, she likely couldn't afford it. It was said this set was worth twenty million. The Cheng family’s business, with its 73% stake, was only valued at 120 million. Even with rental income of 30 million a year, that money would barely cover three months of the highest-standard supplies for a practitioner. She was long past the age of being impulsive.

However, trying it on was free, and Wei Zi was quite pragmatic.

With the saleswoman's help, the precious diamond set was placed on her. The cold light of the platinum complemented Wei Zi’s aura perfectly; it was as if the set had been tailor-made for her. It had nothing to do with her makeup or her gown.

"Wei Zi, you look truly beautiful wearing it," Xing Haotian said.

"Anyone would look good wearing it," Wei Zi replied with a light, easy laugh, seemingly indifferent to whether the necklace belonged to her.

"The gentleman is not wrong. You are the woman I have seen who wears this necklace the best!" the saleswoman added excitedly. "I can give you a few photos I took of you wearing it!"

The girl winked kindly. The store’s recording device had captured the video of Wei Zi trying on the jewelry; the saleswoman had snapped a few photos from the feed and offered them to Wei Zi as a keepsake.

Wei Zi was very grateful. Even if she couldn't own the set, these photos were a unique memento.