The Movie Queen's Silly CEO - Chapter 27

Upon hearing that the items would eventually be theirs to keep, the five people present immediately felt much better and even began urging the director to quickly specify the shopping requirements.

“Day one challenge: Use $500 to purchase five different types of wallets,” the director announced, along with the designated shopping mall. “You must complete the task within the specified area. Any purchases made outside the mall will be considered a failure, and tomorrow’s budget will be reduced.”

The task didn’t sound difficult just five wallets, and “different types” likely meant different styles.

They arrived at the mall in a business van, and to speed things up, Feng Xi suggested splitting into groups.

“Let’s group up according to our room arrangements. If someone picks a wallet, notify the group chat so we don’t accidentally buy duplicates,” Feng Xi said.

Her plan made perfect sense. Three of them Le Xiaoxiao, Feng Xi, and Su Xiu could speak English. Based on ability alone, Le Xiaoxiao should’ve gone solo, but she was still recovering from an injury and insisted on using a wheelchair to avoid complications, making solo action impossible.

Knowing Feng Xi’s task was at the mall, Mu Qing rescheduled her work to the next day. Shopping at a mall was the perfect excuse to spend money on Feng Xi!

To avoid interfering with filming, Mu Qing kept a bit of distance from Feng Xi not holding her hand or anything. But Mu Qing’s idea of “a bit of distance” wasn’t quite the same as others’, and the cameraman had to use all his skills to avoid filming her.

“If we need cheap wallets, let’s check the discount section first,” Mu Qing said, holding the mall map handed over by Chen Ning. “If I remember correctly, this store often has sales.”

Feng Xi leaned in to look at the map. “We’re on the first floor. That store is on the third. We need to find the elevator.”

“The elevator’s to the left. Let’s go,” Mu Qing said, instinctively reaching for Feng Xi’s hand but quickly pulling back when she saw the cameraman adjusting his angle.

Buying a wallet for $100 isn’t hard, but if it’s for yourself, it’s different. Mission items can be perfunctory, but gifts for yourself require careful selection.

Mu Qing and Feng Xi were lucky the store was having a 50% off sale. Unlike in China, foreign discounts are genuine; they don’t raise prices first and then pretend to offer deals.

“Does a coin purse count as a wallet?” Feng Xi asked, eyeing a caramel-colored palm-sized purse with a matching pom-pom on the zipper.

“The show said ‘wallet.’ If it holds money, it counts,” Mu Qing replied, essentially speaking for the production team.

As the show’s investor, Mu Qing’s word often carried more weight than the director’s.

“Great, I’ll take this one~” Feng Xi felt proud of her taste and decided on it immediately.

She checked the price tag casually, thinking it would be cheap after the discount. But when she saw the actual price $499 she froze.

Oops. Even with the discount, she couldn’t afford it!

Mu Qing noticed her putting it back and asked, “Don’t like it?”

“It’s too expensive. The budget’s not enough,” Feng Xi replied.

Mu Qing nodded. “If this store doesn’t have anything suitable, let’s try another.”

“Okay.” After that minor setback, Feng Xi began checking prices first, calculating whether she’d have enough money left for two meals after buying each wallet.

Chen Ning, watching Mu Qing do nothing but observe Feng Xi, sighed and whispered, “President Mu, have you considered buying the wallet Feng Xi liked?”

Mu Qing raised an eyebrow. “Why? It’s not suitable for the task.”

“…She liked it at first glance. That probably means she really wants it,” Chen Ning said.

Mu Qing was unmoved. “These are all discounted, out-of-season items. If Feng Xi wants one, I’ll take her to see the latest styles.”

“…President Mu, what’s more important price or Feng Xi’s preference?”

Mu Qing didn’t get it. “There are plenty of new styles. I’m sure she’ll like one.”

Chen Ning wanted to knock some sense into her boss. If Mu Qing weren’t her employer, she might’ve done just that.

Mu Qing didn’t think she was wrong. Feng Xi had already looked at more than ten wallets. Rather than buying ten cheap ones, it was better to wait and get her the best one later.

Eventually, Feng Xi found a suitable wallet at a clearance store for $49 and completed her task quickly. With others still shopping, she went to grab a bite.

“Can I join her for lunch?” Mu Qing asked the cameraman.

The cameraman hesitated. “Technically no, but if President Mu insists, we can edit it later and say a fan recognized her and Feng Xi treated them.”

Feng Xi realized the director had probably anticipated this and prepared accordingly.

The mall was in a busy district, meaning nothing inside was particularly cheap. Expensive doesn’t always mean good, but good things are rarely cheap.

Following that logic, Mu Qing chose a French restaurant in the mall. French cuisine is known for being pricey and small in portion. She ordered a full set meal and added five or six more dishes.

“If the task’s done, there shouldn’t be filming this afternoon, right?” Mu Qing asked, not liking silence during meals.

“Maybe,” Feng Xi said, noting that only two of the original four cameramen remained. “If the others finish shopping, we’ll probably regroup.”

Mu Qing nodded, thinking about how to make the most of the afternoon. As long as the others hadn’t finished, she and Feng Xi had time alone.

Meanwhile, the other two teams were still wandering aimlessly, circling the mall several times before entering any stores.

Zhao Qiushuang was torn between two wallets of different sizes and styles, unsure which to choose.

“Su Xiu, help me out. Which one looks better?” she asked, frowning deeply.

Su Xiu rubbed her temples. “The left one has better value. The right one looks nicer.”

“Ah, I like both. What should I do?” Zhao Qiushuang groaned. Curse the show for forbidding personal spending during the task!

“Close your eyes and pick one,” Su Xiu said, grabbing both wallets and hiding them behind her back.

“Left or right?” she asked.

“Which one has the cat?” Zhao Qiushuang asked.

“Pick quickly or we’ll switch stores,” Su Xiu dodged the question, knowing it would lead to another hour of indecision.

“Okay, I choose the right one!” Zhao Qiushuang declared.

“Great, buy this one,” Su Xiu said, handing it over.

“It’s the cat one!” Zhao Qiushuang cheered, then glanced at the other wallet in Su Xiu’s hand.

“…So greedy,” Su Xiu thought.

Instead of putting it back, Su Xiu added it to her own selection. “I’ll buy this one. Once the task’s done, I’ll give it to you.”

“Really?” Zhao Qiushuang blinked. “Su Xiu, I declare you my bestie of the day!”

“…Can I take that back?” Su Xiu thought. She didn’t want to be besties with someone this indecisive!

Thanks to Zhao Qiushuang’s indecision, by the time they finished, Mu Qing had already taken Feng Xi to a higher-end mall. Every store displayed the latest styles, with few discounts in sight.

Thinking of the wallet Feng Xi liked earlier, Mu Qing led her to a luxury boutique.

“Show us your latest coin purses,” she requested.

“Of course, right this way, ladies.”

Faced with a dazzling array of coin purses, Feng Xi felt overwhelmed.

“What do you think of this one?” Mu Qing asked, holding up a caramel-colored purse.

Thanks to the show, Feng Xi’s first instinct was to check the price.

$4999

Nope. Absolutely not.

Author’s note: Rubbing hands together today’s update is solid.

Also, here’s a preview of the upcoming story: “We were never meant to be, but I made it happen with money.” Available in the author’s profile.

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