In the end, Richard traded ownership of the "lift-high-high" photo for a set of custom-made clothes from Chioriya's Boutique.
However, Furina especially emphasized that only he was allowed to look at it and that it absolutely must not be shared.
Thus, what was supposed to be just him and Lynette going to Chioriya's somehow turned into an "office four-person team-building trip."
What was meant to be "It Takes Two"… became "It Takes Four."
"You don't look too happy?" Richard looked at the cat-girl's tail swishing irritably in the air. Even though Lynette's face showed no displeasure, the low-pressure atmosphere around her made it clear that she was not in a good mood.
"No," Lynette replied flatly, but whether she truly felt that way, only she knew. After all, when a peaceful two-person world suddenly gets gatecrashed by one person… or even two, who wouldn't be upset?
For this visit to Chioriya's, Lynette had gone out of her way to prepare. She had even personally booked an appointment with the owner, Fontaine's renowned designer, Miss Chiori.
Miss Chiori was no ordinary tailor. Her designs, both unique and full of aesthetic personality, shook the entire Fontaine fashion world upon release. The "foreign designer" earned herself a resounding nickname in the industry: "Chiori The Thundering Seamstress."
Because of her physiology, cat tail, cat ears, Lynette always had to worry about fit when buying clothes. In the past, when money was tight, she would buy ordinary clothes and then alter them herself.
But now that she had money, she could skip that hassle and simply commission a professional.
Still, even though she was the customer, Lynette was never good at dealing with Chiori directly. Normally, she would hide behind her brother Lyney while he handled negotiations.
But this time, for the sake of a "two-person world," she had contacted Chiori herself, only for Richard to suddenly tell her Furina and Clorinde were coming too…
To be honest, she could tolerate Furina. Lynette didn't see her as a threat. After all, ordering custom clothes was, in some sense, also a chance to show off one's figure. And though Lady Furina's face was breathtakingly beautiful, her body… was proof that the heavens were fair.
But Clorinde… oh, Clorinde. The strongest Duelist Agent, cold as ice in face, yet her figure was utterly indecent. A slender waist supporting two generous curves, a full and round bottom, long legs that seemed endless, every line of her body screamed of feminine allure.
Forget men, even Lynette herself sometimes wanted to reach out and grab her, just to check if it was real.
"Richard, sometimes you're so sharp. And other times… so slow." Lynette said suddenly.
"?" Richard blinked, not understanding.
"Never mind. With Lady Furina and Clorinde here, I don't need you to advise me anymore. I was originally going to ask you to help when they measured my size and drafted my patterns…"
Richard: "!!!"
"Wait, wait! We can just go on a different day! How about Saturday? They can go on Sunday, and we'll go on Saturday." Richard scrambled to salvage the private "eye candy" session that was supposed to be his.
But it was already too late. Lynette shook her head.
"Saturday, I have to return to the Hearth House to report to Father and help my brother prepare props. No time."
She had scheduled everything carefully; who could have expected Richard to pull this stunt? Now it was impossible to adjust. Lyney's side could be coordinated, but she couldn't stand up servants she'd already promised.
"…All right then." Richard sighed, realizing there was no changing the date. Still, he told himself he could advise her anyway. Everyone had opinions; who knew if Furina's or Clorinde's would suit Lynette better than his?
"By the way, why did you suddenly want to bring Lady Furina and Clorinde along?" Lynette asked.
"Well, that's a long story…" Richard really didn't want to admit the truth; it might damage his image in Lynette's eyes.
"Was it because of that phonograph?" Lynette recalled the day Clorinde had carried a phonograph into his office to get his authorization.
"You knew?"
"I guessed. I noticed the phonograph was running. Didn't you?" Lynette gave him a look. After all, he was the one who had once said: 'Whenever you see a phonograph, assume it's recording, no matter what.'
"…." Richard could hardly admit he had noticed, but simply ignored it.
"So to bribe Clorinde, you decided to buy her custom clothes… wait. Don't tell me, you actually just wanted to see her, didn't you?" Lynette's beautiful eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"What do you take me for?! It's just that Clorinde only has a handful of outfits all year, and since I was already going to Chioriya's, it popped into my head. That's all." Richard defended himself.
'See her? What nonsense is that!'
"…So it's true." Lynette sighed. Compared to Lady Furina, Clorinde was clearly the greater threat.
After all, Furina could be "one of the boys." Clorinde, though, was wife material. As they said in Liyue, a generous figure, good for bearing children.
For men, who were creatures of the eye, Clorinde's allure was overwhelming.
But the arrangements were set, and Lynette couldn't change them anymore. She could only plan how to create opportunities for private time with Richard.
She wasn't about to waste her weekend just like that.
Sunday.
Furina had a trial to attend, so she would be late.
Thus, Richard, Lynette, and Clorinde met first and headed to Chioriya's.
Custom clothes weren't like buying ready-made garments. Measurements, design consultations, drafting, test fittings, it could easily take all day.
"As agreed: when communicating design requests, state them clearly in one go. If you think of changes later, I won't charge extra, but my mood will turn sour." Chiori, the boutique owner, was exactly as rumored, sharp, proud, and headstrong.
But her work more than justified her attitude. Fashion was like that: if your designs were brilliant, customers would accept the service, as long as you didn't outright insult them.
In fact, Richard had heard some people even enjoyed her scoldings, coming here under the pretense of ordering clothes just to be berated.
He couldn't imagine their psychology.
"Lynette already told me her design requirements beforehand. What about you two?" Chiori turned her sharp gaze toward Richard and Clorinde.
"I trust Miss Chiori's sense of design. For work reasons, I need something understated and simple," Richard said.
"Understood." She nodded. She had dealt with many government officials before, so she knew the type.
"And you, Miss Clorinde?"
"Me? Anything's fine…" Clorinde honestly didn't care much about clothing. If she had one request, it was for stronger buttons.
"Please design several sets for her, work, daily wear, and formal occasions," Richard added.
By "formal occasions," he meant banquets, ceremonies, and diplomatic events. Everyone dressed in their finest for those. Clorinde showing up in a secretary's uniform would be absurd.
And off-the-rack gowns were too plain. Clorinde was Furina's secretary, which meant she represented Furina's image too. She had to look the part.
Chiori blinked. 'Who exactly was in charge here?'
"All costs go on my account." Richard clarified.
'Ah. So listen to him.'
She was about to say more, but Richard continued:
"Use whatever materials you think are best. Don't worry about price."
'…Was being a civil servant this lucrative nowadays?
Chiori knew Richard was the Secretary General of the Administration. His salary shouldn't cover such a massive order. She knew her boutique's prices well. He wasn't just asking for cheap custom wear; he was commissioning top-tier. Even in a year, she might only get a few orders of this scale.
"Are you sure?" She strongly suspected he was just posturing in front of the women. She had seen men like that before, one story when their date was present, another when she wasn't.
She hated such people and always charged them at the highest rate, not for the money, but because if they wanted to play tough, they could pay tough.
But then Richard pulled out a checkbook, not the one Ningguang had given him, but his own. The black-and-gold cover marked it as belonging to a Northern Bank VIP client.
Chioriya immediately understood. This man truly had spending power. For him, her prices were like pocket change.
"Very well. Please wait while I sketch some drafts."
She grabbed her board and, in front of them, quickly drew several designs.
Even as rough drafts, they were stunning. Even a layperson could tell these were top-class designs. Truly worthy of "Chioriya The Thundering Seamstress."
"Here are some options. Monsieur Richard, please choose the ones you like best."
"Wait… shouldn't I be the one choosing?" Clorinde raised her hand timidly. After all, the designs were clearly women's clothing.
"…Yes, the client's opinion is important." Chiori nodded.
"But the one paying decides more, huh…" Clorinde muttered.
"Both matter. Clothes express the self, but the recognition of others is important too. By the way, are you two a couple?" Chiori asked.
"?" Lynette's ears twitched. 'Excuse me, not even counting her?'
"Ah, pardon. I almost forgot you, Lynette. Let me rephrase. Are the three of you a couple?"
That somehow sounded even weirder!
"Not at the moment. Why do you ask?" Richard replied smoothly.
"It's just that my original appointment request was for a couple's clothing. Later, it was changed to standard custom. I was curious, that's all." Chioriya glanced meaningfully at Lynette, silently thinking: 'That's the most I can do for you, girl.'
Lynette was a regular; her brother Lyney's stage costumes were all made here. Seeing the obvious feelings in her eyes, Chioriya had chosen to "help out."
Lynette hadn't expected her to suddenly say that. Normally calm and aloof, the cat-girl now couldn't hold it in; her face turned red.
Still, she didn't refute it outright. Instead, she stirred her tea over and over, ears twitching as she stole glances at Richard, waiting for his response.
Clorinde, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all. She already suspected these two weren't "just friends." Now she was curious who Richard would choose, Lynette? Or Lady Furina?
But Richard gave neither answer.
"In that case, perhaps your designs can lean toward that theme. I'm curious what three-person couples' outfits might look like. Oh, and don't forget Furina, let's make it four."
"…He actually wants all of them? Even me?!" Clorinde thought, stunned.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu