"It's okay! I too can pay for you." With that, Shirley dragged Molly into the elevator despite her
hesitation. "Don't shy from spending on a few luxuries here and there. It would hurt pride to be a penny-
pincher," she advised. We are here to indulge today. In any case, both Richie and Brian only care about
themselves, unless you know what to get from them. C'mon Molly. After all the disheartening things
we've been through, we need a treat! And today, I am sad, very sad!"
Shirley was talking on and on, while Molly on her part was a little more on the cautious side. On a few
occasions when she tried to air out her skepticism about overspending, Shirley simply drowned her out
with bubbly talk.
In her senior high school, Molly, like many other girls, had dreamed that she'd one day have enough
money for indulgent spending whenever she wished. Now, her big day was here, and yet she hesitated.
She once worked part time in Falloon Mall, so she knew the consumption level here. A simple T-shirt
might cost tens of thousands, let alone those costing millions.
Shirley nudged her to go round different stores and try out various clothes. When Molly was done
trying, they bought the clothes and asked for home delivery.
When Molly realized that she begrudged the money, she suddenly wondered whether she was
destined to be poor! Thinking about it, she smiled ironically. Right now, in the fitting room, she was
trying on a mink dress going for slightly over a million dollars. Looking at it and feeling it, Molly frowned.
Perhaps, in her mind, she despised such extravagance. Her thoughts trailed off. It was a painful, bitter
memory.
"Little Molly, do the clothes fit you?" Shirley's voice came from outside.
Startled out of her reverie, Molly responded and hastened out. Shirley had picked a similar mink dress,
except for color. Shirley's was purple, while hers was pink beautifully and smoothly patterned with blue.
Looking into the mirror, they felt more like mother and daughter.
"Madam and Miss, you two look great in this dress, especially madam. It seems you two are sisters..."
The shop assistant flattered them with a bright smile. The texture and quality of the dress were
fabulous. "Madam, you and your daughter look stunning in the dress," the assistant appraised.
Molly thought of her previous part-time work experience here. Part of her job was to flatter customers
this way. There would be a handsome commission to a salesperson who sealed a sale for such a
dress. It was a big deal for the sales staff.
"Daughter?" Shirley savored relation by the sales staff. "I'm glad to hear that. I'll take both of the
dresses," she replied, eyes gleaming with pleasure.
"Aunt Shirley..." Molly wrinkled and touched Shirley slightly.
Hearing how Molly called Shirley and seeing the expression on Shirley's face just now, the witty shop
assistant flashed with comprehension. Now, she quipped," Whoever marries this beautiful, intelligent
lady will certainly be happy the rest of his life."
By the sparkle and smile on Shirley's face, that last statement must have quite impressed her. With no
more hesitation, she paid, without even bargaining.
The shop assistant courteously saw her two charming customers off, promising timely home delivery.
"Little Molly, life is not always a party. Sometimes, we may have to give up things that we value much."
As they went around, arm in arm, like mother and daughter, Shirley continued," As long as we have
faith within, and step out courageously, we'll always land safely."
Molly looked at Shirley and blinked thoughtfully.
Shirley clasped Molly's hands and went to another store with her. "If a person only focuses on
unhappiness in the past and the sadness now, then... she will never see the sunlight ahead... Little
Molly, everyone has their own sunlight. The only difference is that some can catch it, but others can't!"
Then Shirley looked at Molly, who was still in confusion, and smiled.
She felt compassion for this girl. Their experience might not be the same, but she privately hoped Little
Molly could get on well with Brian. As a mother, she could always see clearly what her son was thinking
about. He wanted Little Molly thoroughly!
She didn't know whether they could finally marry, but it was certain that Little Molly was more suitable
than Becky for Brian!
"Wow... Look, who is here?" Suddenly, there came a loud and shrill voice. It was quite unsettling.
The shriek distracted Molly from what Shirley had said just now. Then she realized they had just walked
into the store where she used to work. It was Eda Mi, with her usual look down attitude towards Molly.
Molly looked at Eda Mi. They had not seen each other for about a month, and Eda Mi had been
promoted as assistant store manager now.
Eda Mi walked to them arrogantly and saw that Shirley was holding new clothes worth millions in her
hand. She greeted with an undisguised sneer. "Molly, where have you been the whole month? Where
did you make such a fortune? Wow, you are a customer instead of a shop assistant now..." she said
with an obvious green eye. They all knew Molly fairly well.
She had a gambling father, a mother with serious health complications, and a little brother who was still
in a junior high school. She needed to support the whole family and repay her father's debts. Such a
girl could only afford the cheapest clothes in the night market, let alone Falloon Mall. But now, only after
a month, it seemed she was swimming in money!
Thinking about that, Eda Mi sneered again," These clothes are damn expensive. If you smudge them...
you know, you can't repay for the loss!"
Molly pursed her lips slightly, feeling her earlier humbleness again...
Shirley put the clothes back to the hanger. This time, she didn't keep Molly behind her like a mother.
Instead, she was waiting for Molly to deal with it by herself. But after a long time, it seemed Molly was
still lost and numb.
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