Chapter 5: Wow~

As the hairdryer was switched off and the barber’s cape removed, the final result was revealed. Lin Ran looked in the mirror.

“Excellent. I’m very satisfied, thank you, Mr. Li.”

“You’re welcome.”

Beside him, Jane Vivian made a wiping-sweat gesture. “Thank goodness it turned out well. I was so worried you’d leave the salon in tears.”

Lin Ran laughed. “Was it really that serious?”

Jane Vivian replied earnestly, “I recommended this place to you, and you even bought a big membership. Then you went straight for a challenging style—if it turned out badly, you’d blame me for setting you up.”

Lin Ran smiled. “I didn’t expect you to have such a strong sense of responsibility. Don’t worry, I’m good-looking enough to pull off any hairstyle.”

“Oh, listen to you! You get a new haircut and your confidence shoots through the roof.”

“It has to.”

“I do admire your confidence.”

“Oh?” Lin Ran asked curiously. “I thought girls usually find confident men to be full of themselves?”

Jane Vivian rolled her eyes. “I’m not that kind of woman. Some people say men with money are confident and those without are just arrogant. But I think we ordinary people have nothing to start with. If even our one bit of self-assurance is a mistake, then one day we’ll be told that even breathing air is wrong.”

“Well said!”

Applause echoed through the salon.

Jane Vivian had spoken from the heart, not expecting others to overhear. Her cheeks flushed as she turned away, bashfully tossing Lin Ran aside and slipping out.

Lin Ran’s eyes sparkled—this woman had such a righteous view of life.

“Wait for me!” He hurried after her.

“That was a great speech. Come on, let me treat you to some milk tea as thanks for recommending the hairdresser.”

“That’s more like it.”

They bought two cups of “Little Jasmine Milk” at the HeyTea next door. Lin Ran handed one to Jane Vivian.

“Thank you~” Jane Vivian took the cup, pierced the seal with the thick straw, plunged it to the bottom, parted her red lips, and took a long, noisy sip of the creamy drink.

Lin Ran smiled. Even the way this woman drank milk tea was captivating.

“By the way, future mother-in-law, I—”

“Hold it! What ‘future mother-in-law’? That was just a misunderstanding. I don’t agree. Call me Vivian, everyone does.”

“Alright, future mother-in-law.”

“You—!” Jane Vivian bit her lip, shook her fist in mock threat, then snorted, “Stupid man, what do you want?”

“Have you always lived around here?”

“I just moved in yesterday with my best friend.”

Yesterday, she’d mentioned leaving the civil affairs bureau, moving in with her friend, and later showing up at East Lake Park, where she’d first met her ex-husband, before posting about a fresh start late at night.

Too coincidental.

Was she really his ex-wife?

They’d just met; it would be too abrupt for Lin Ran to ask directly about her past. The ten-times-manly mission needed to be completed, and he needed to find his ex-wife. Otherwise, if he succeeded in his self-improvement and the system asked him to show up his ex-wife, who would he show up? Himself?

“Vivian~”

At that moment, just outside the salon, Jiang Shuyou came running over with an adorable backpack. Lin Ran’s eyes lit up.

She was pretty in a gentle, delicate way, wearing a black pleated skirt and a strappy top under a sun-protective jacket. As she ran, the jacket slipped to her wrists and the top swayed with each step.

Whoa! That’s impressive. At least a D cup, by the look of it!

Lin Ran took a big sip of his milk tea.

“Vivian, waah…” Jiang Shuyou threw herself into Jane Vivian’s arms, feigning tears.

“What’s wrong now?”

“I failed the interview. Half a month’s effort for nothing. I feel awful.”

Jane Vivian patted her back to comfort her. “There, there, don’t be upset. Just keep looking.”

“Huh?” Jiang Shuyou lifted her head from Vivian’s embrace, her large eyes blinking as she gazed at Lin Ran.

“Hi~” Lin Ran waved.

“You’re…” Jiang Shuyou pointed at him. “Oh! You’re the jerk!”

Pfft—

Lin Ran almost spat out his milk tea.

He shot Jane Vivian a look. “What did you tell your best friend about me?”

Jane Vivian covered her mouth, giggling. “Nothing much, just how your husky bullied my Baibai yesterday. Let me introduce you: this is my best friend, Jiang Shuyou.”

Lin Ran smiled at the busty girl. “Hello, Miss Jiang. As expected, a beauty’s best friend is also a beauty. Vivian, are you accepting any more male friends? I’d love to join you two.”

Jane Vivian sniffed. “No way.”

Jiang Shuyou said, “Last night you were wearing a mask, so I only saw your eyes. Now I get to see your whole face…”

“Isn’t it breathtaking?”

She burst into laughter. “You’re so funny!”

Her laughter made her whole body shake, which in turn made certain assets bounce.

Lin Ran intentionally played the clown. Being humorous on a first meeting helped break the ice.

Girls often determined how to interact with a guy based on his personality. If he was shy and withdrawn, she’d quickly lose interest and leave. But Lin Ran’s lightheartedness made the atmosphere easy and natural, and Jiang Shuyou responded in kind.

“You’re not bad-looking, and this haircut by Li Tao suits you. But… hmm…”

Jiang Shuyou suddenly went into expert mode, propping her chin as she examined him, then pursed her lips.

“Your head looks like a stylish guy’s, but your outfit screams homebody. Big T-shirt, beach shorts, Crocs—you look totally out of place.”

“Good point!” Lin Ran didn’t feel embarrassed at all.

This was his usual attire. Except for job interviews, he dressed like this most days, especially when just walking the dog or picking up deliveries. The perfect homebody look.

He’d dressed this way today because he was out to reinvent himself, and it was more convenient. Running into Jane Vivian had been an accident.

Lin Ran bought another milk tea and handed it to Jiang Shuyou.

“Thank you~”

“Just saying thanks isn’t enough. I came out today specifically to upgrade my wardrobe. Vivian says she’s starting over, so I should too. You two beauties, would you be my advisors on what to wear?”

When it came to hairstyles, Lin Ran knew what suited him. But for clothes, to reach that next-level, godly look, he needed a woman’s eye. After all, a true heartthrob is defined by how women see him. The same goes for a goddess: it’s men’s opinions that count.

So, he wanted these two as his style consultants to help with his transformation.

“Milk tea isn’t enough; at least buy us a meal,” Jiang Shuyou said sweetly.

“Don’t be like that, we just met.” Jane Vivian tugged her sleeve. She was calm and reserved.

The two girls complemented each other—one lively, one steady.

“Friends as soon as we meet,” Lin Ran said with a smile.

Jiang Shuyou grinned, “I like straightforward guys like you. There’s a clothing store right across the street. Let’s take a look.”

“OK.”

The shop Jiang Shuyou suggested wasn’t expensive, with average prices around a thousand or two.

Not luxury goods.

After all, luxury brands were still out of reach for ordinary girls like Jiang Shuyou, and none of her friends were rich kids covered in designer labels.

So, the store she recommended was the best she could access in her circle.

After buying three milk teas, Lin Ran had just over 32,900 yuan on his card. What could he buy in a luxury boutique? Only the most basic entry-level pieces.

It was better to buy the best at a mid-range store than an entry-level item at a luxury shop. Otherwise you’d spend a lot, get little attention from the sales staff, and come off as pretentious.

As the saying goes—do what you can afford, don’t be impatient for instant success. Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big one.

Luxury brands? Lin Ran wasn’t in a hurry. He’d save that for later, when he was ready to conquer LV, Hermès, and—what was it? Vaseline? No, Givenchy!

Lin Ran walked ahead.

The two girls followed behind.

“Vivian, what does Lin Ran do?” Jiang Shuyou asked.

“He just graduated. Not sure, maybe a model?”

Jiang Shuyou snorted. “A model, with that physique? Really?”

“He’s looking for work and just had a makeover. The only job I can think of that requires a guy to rely on his looks and style is modeling.”

“Or maybe it’s something else…”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Just pay attention to the price tags when you help him pick. Don’t steer him wrong.”

“Alright, alright. I won’t. But, sigh…”

“What now?”

“Vivian, you’re a little rich lady. I don’t want to work. Will you support me?”

“I don’t even have money myself, how could I support you?”

“You could find a rich boyfriend—then he’d support you, and you could support me!”

“Why don’t you do it? With your figure, rich guys would definitely like you.”

“I… have an allergy to rich guys.”