Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Who said I was going to send you off? ...

Zhao Manzhi got off the car at the alley.

No matter how hot it is in the south of the Yangtze River in July and August, it is always cool when it rains. This is very different from Hong Kong Island. When it rains in the tropics, it only makes the air more humid and stuffy.

She wanted to take off the shawl and return it, but when she opened the door, a cool breeze blew in her face, and she quickly gave up the idea. Zhao Manzhi stood on the side of the road, bent over, half tilted her head to look inside, "Boss, can you lend me this shawl? I will wash and dry it and return it to you."

Zhuang Youkai nodded, then thought of another thing and said, "Have you washed the suit too? Did you wash it yourself?"

"No, I asked after-sales service to do it." She pinched a corner of the shawl and was a little nervous when he asked, "I think it shouldn't be damaged this way..."

When Zhao Manzhi was not stubborn, she was indeed careful and thorough in doing things, which was impeccable. But Zhuang Youkai knew that the Zhuang family's food, clothing and daily expenses were always high, at least not something that ordinary people could touch. Zhao Manzhi was able to find after-sales service without his permission. Was it because of her own wealth or connections?

"Then tell me, what kind of tigers and dragons are hiding in your school that are still trying to pursue you?"

"Sunny and energetic, with A-levels and a good family background, but never arrogant." For

no reason, he thought of the conversation that night. At that time, Zhao Manzhi raised her chin slightly, with a look of youthful pride, like a rose blooming in the moonlight.

It seemed that only when she talked about this person did she show such a lively expression.

The words seemed to be stuck in his heart, making him feel a little depressed. After a long time, Zhuang Youkai finally opened his eyes and said with an inexplicable concern, "Ask that kid for help?" "

Hmm? ... Hmm."

Zhao Manzhi looked at his stinky face and thought, your clothes are so precious, how can you just dry clean them? You're always choosy.

Seeing that he didn't mean to say anything else, Zhao Manzhi said goodbye and closed the car door. Lu Qianning didn't start the car immediately. He looked up at him in the rearview mirror and asked with a smile, "Are you going home now?"

"Wait for me to smoke a cigarette."

Before Lu Qianning handed over the ashtray, there was a slight sound, and the back seat was empty.

*

"The fabric should be brocade, with a slanted lapel." Zhao Manzhi took out the memo and handed it to the old tailor. "Here are the measurements, but I don't know if they are accurate." The

gray-haired old man pushed his reading glasses down a little and squinted. "If you are worried that it will not fit, then make it a full-lapel one. I often make it using the ancient method."

"Okay, just make your order. How long will it take?"

"There haven't been many orders recently, maybe a month or so."

"A month or so..." Zhao Manzhi calculated the time in her mind, and it was just around the time when she returned to school. "Okay. But if it is not convenient for me to come to Sucheng at that time, I will trouble you to mail it for me." "

No problem. Are you giving it to someone, little girl? That's thoughtful."

"Yes, for my mother."

"What a filial girl, your parents are so blessed!" The tailor wrote down the number and returned the phone to her. "Wait a moment, I'll go and make you a deposit receipt."

"Thank you."

Although the internship salary is not high, it is also money earned by herself. Every time Zhao Manzhi gets the first salary from the internship, she will think about buying gifts for her parents.

Now Ms. Ding's is ready, but she has no idea what to give Lao Zhao. He likes the fishing gear given last year. Should he give it again?

Zhao Manzhi thought while looking around. The shops in the narrow alleys are cramped, and there is still a green and wet smell of moss when it rains, but the cheongsams decorate this place, leaving marks for the years.

About thirty or forty years ago, when the old tailor was still a small tailor and this place was not called the old city of Sucheng, the scene was roughly like this, quiet and eternal, like a jar of dusty old wine. The longer it is, the more reluctant it is to open it.

Just when she thought that this rainy afternoon would remain so peaceful, the door of the shop was pushed open, and the wind chimes for reminders jingled.

Zhao Manzhi turned around at the sound, her expression changed from vacant to surprised, "Boss?"

"Welcome!" The old tailor also came back, and after greeting, he handed Zhao Manzhi the receipt, "I will notify you when it is ready. If you come to pick it up yourself, bring the receipt. If you want to mail it, give me the address."

"Okay, thank you." She folded it casually, put it in her bag, and looked at Zhuang Youkai, "What are you doing here?"

The man raised his eyebrows, "Making cheongsams, can't you tell?"

"Making cheongsams?"

"Making cheongsams, are you giving them to people?" The old tailor quickly took the business, "Do you have the size? You can choose any material in the store. For the placket, there are patterns here-"

"No size." Zhuang Youkai pointed casually, "Make it according to her."

"Her? Oh, you..." The old man who had been in the world for a long time quickly understood, his eyes narrowed into a slit, "Okay, okay, I'll take down the tape measure." What is

Zhuang Youkai doing? What does he want to do?

Zhao Manzhi was completely confused. The person in front of her didn't look like she was joking. So even if he was going to make a cheongsam as a gift, how could it be for her?

"I don't like wearing cheongsams. I'm making clothes for my mother." She hesitated for a long time and made a tactful hint, "Besides, this is too sudden..."

"Who said it was for you?" Zhuang Youkai glanced at her condescendingly, his voice was restrained and almost cold, as if he wanted to expose her self-conceit.

Zhao Manzhi's face flushed after being inexplicably rejected. She grabbed the bag strap and tried to walk out, but Zhuang Youkai took a side step and blocked her way.

"Mr. Zhuang, whoever you want to give it to, let that person come and measure the size in person." She was angry and didn't want to, nor dare to look at him. Her thoughts were fermenting randomly, and she suddenly remembered the scandal that Jiang Yu mentioned, "Oh, could it be that she is not convenient to show up? She has an assistant, so it's not difficult to get her body measurements. If it doesn't work, just search on Wikipedia. Anyway, the information of artists is public."

She still had a lot to say, such as Miss Ada must be much thinner than her. A woman who can be thin and beautiful under such a harsh camera may weigh only 40 kilograms... But before she could express herself, she heard a low chuckle above her head. If it weren't for the slight blowing of the hair ends by the breath, she would almost think it was her own hallucination.

"It's for my mother." Zhuang Youkai said.

"Oh..." Zhao Manzhi lowered her eyes in dismay, "Then, Auntie's body shape won't be the same as mine. What if it doesn't fit her if I cut it according to mine?"

"No." Zhuang Youkai turned sideways, fiddled with the hangers displaying fabrics, and began to choose, "She passed away when I was born, and I don't know what she looked like or whether she could wear it. But your body shape is very similar to yours, and it's not much different."

As he spoke, he was calm and composed, but it stirred up a lot of emotions in her heart.

So this is what Mr. Zhuang is concerned about? It was completely different from the gentleness he showed when he called the client, and even seemed a little cold, but it was very different from his usual self.

But what was different, his eyes, or his tone? She looked at his profile, but couldn't find any trace for a moment, as if her intuition was pulling her, making her feel that Zhuang Youkai was particularly lonely today.

"Are you going to measure the size?"

The old tailor's words broke the silence. She came back to her senses and realized that her gaze was offensive. Her face became hot again. She hurriedly left him and walked over. "Measure it, you do it." "

Okay, stand up straight and relax. I'll measure the width of your shoulders first."

Zhuang Youkai looked back and saw Zhao Manzhi like a well-behaved puppet, cooperating with the old tailor to measure her body and tailor her clothes. He suddenly found it very interesting. She was beautiful but sharp, like a rose with thorns on a branch, but in just a moment, she would put away all her sharpness and show a soft heart.

She was kind, so she could empathize with other people's circumstances. Zhuang Youkai had no doubt that if someone sold misery to gain sympathy and asked her for money or affection, she would open her heart without hesitation.

It was simply stupid and passionate, and she had no regrets.

But it was special enough.

After ordering the cheongsam and coming out, the rain had stopped, and the thick clouds scattered the sunlight, leaving a precious sunset glow.

"It took so long. I have to change my high-speed train ticket."

Zhao Manzhi didn't expect that measuring the size would be such a troublesome thing. After measuring, she had to choose the fabric placket. Zhuang Youkai was picky and looked back and forth for a long time before he was satisfied.

Hearing this, Zhuang Youkai narrowed his eyes, "Zhao Manzhi, do you really dislike riding in my car?" "

Ah? That's not what I meant." She just said it casually, but she didn't expect this man to be so stingy that he would even care about this, "Besides, how can you ask me for a ride? It seems so ungrateful."

"..." Seeing her fearful look, Zhuang Youkai was too lazy to blame her and walked straight forward, "Then stop talking nonsense and let's go."

"Wait a minute!"

After the rain stopped, there were obviously more people on the street, and the stall selling bubble wontons was set up again. The white steam was flying in the mist, and it was the hot fireworks of the world.

The moment Zhao Manzhi saw the wonton stall, her eyes lit up and she looked at him with a bright look, "

This is a specialty of Sucheng. Do you want to try it?" "What's so delicious about it?" Zhuang Youkai had never eaten in such a place before, and the stool was so low that he didn't know if he would fall down if he sat on it.

"Try it, boss. It's a small portion. Try it." Zhao Manzhi coaxed her like a child, "Let's order one portion. If we can't finish it, I'll eat the rest."

"Do you want to eat it so much?"

"Yeah!"

"No."

"Then ask Uncle Ning if he wants to eat it. There are three of us, and the minority must obey the majority."

Zhuang Youkai laughed angrily, "Are you discussing the minority obeying the majority with your boss?"

"It's non-working hours now." She blatantly pretended to be stupid and looked at Lu Qianning, "Uncle Ning, do you want to eat it?"

Lu Qianning's eyes moved between the two of them, as if answering, "I'm a little hungry."

"See, two to one!" Zhao Manzhi even compared two and one with both hands to remind him of the voting result, "Let's go, there's no harm in trying it."