"Count all these suits."
Kenward's words snapped Callista out of her reverie. Kenward was going to buy twelve of these suits? With one suit worth the standard price of a car? He was too extravagant. But of course, Callista didn't stop him. After all, the man beside her looked so rich that he could even buy everything in this store.
Kenward handed over his account card and the two clerks rushed to process the payment.
"I'm not extravagant, it's just that buying five suits is not worth the time I've wasted going all the way to the mall."
Callista just nodded in understanding. Indeed, nothing is more expensive than time. As the saying goes, time is money. Especially for a billionaire like Kenward.
Kenward stepped out of the store that only sold men's clothing. The two bodyguards who were carrying three paper bags kept their mouths shut and only moved after the boss. They wouldn't open their mouths if it wasn't important. It was a requirement to work under Kenward.
"Do you want a certain brand of clothing?"
Callista shook her head. "No, I don't. There is no particular brand that I prefer. As long as the clothes match my taste, I will buy them regardless of the brand."
Kenward nodded his head. Earlier he had searched for the most high-quality and well-liked brand of women's clothing. And now they were turning the corner to enter the shop Kenward was referring to.
"Did you choose it yourself or did I help you choose it?"
Callista looked at Kenward with one eyebrow raised. It was the same question she was hearing for the second time.
"I'll choose it myself," Callista replied in the end. She did not trust Kenward's dress sense.
This time it was their turn to be confronted with the dresses recommended by the store clerks. Kenward couldn't stop staring at the two male employees who were looking at Callista with adoring eyes.
"Are there only male employees here?"
The two clerks immediately lowered their heads once they realized what a mistake they had made.
"There are also female employees here," replied one of them still with his head bowed. Their hairs stood on end. The gaze cast by the VIP buyer seemed to skin them.
"Call the female staff to serve."
"Okay." They bowed their backs for a moment and then walked away.
Callista stared at the two female clerks who stepped so quickly to take their friend's place. They seemed to be frightened.
"Why did you kick them out? They did their job well."
Kenward gave an eye code to one of his bodyguards. One of them, who had received the order, immediately excused himself by paying his respects first.
"You don't need to care about them. You should focus on choosing clothes for yourself." Kenward tried to divert the topic even though he could not stop thinking about that view. He should at least teach the two male employees a new lesson.
Callista shrugged her shoulders. Her fingers were busy sorting through the clothes hanging on the hanger stand with the help of the two female employees who had come to serve them. Time passed quickly, but the time it took Callista to pick out clothes was not as long as the time it took her to pick out clothes for Kenward. Of course, that was because she could not try on clothes one by one and go to the changing room. Her condition did not allow her to do that.
"I'll buy two dresses and one suit. These suits will be suitable for visiting the festival later."
Kenward smiled slightly at the bright smile rising on Callista's lips. Though the girl chose at least five for him, she only bought three for herself. That was too little.
"Thank you very much for your purchase, please come back another time," said one of the waitresses kindly.
Along the road they passed, Callista did not see a single person other than the staff. The underground parking lot was very crowded. Why didn't they go inside the mall? Or had they finished visiting the mall?
Callista's eyes rounded fully. "Did you book this mall, Kenward?"
Kenward glanced at Callista and then straightened his eyes.
"Yes."
Kenward's very short answer left Callista in shock. "Why are you so extravagant?"
This must be worth a house. This crazy man booked the mall for the price of a house! Just for these few hours?
"It's not extravagant. I just don't like being jostled with other people."
Callista was at a loss for words hearing Kenward's reason for wasting his money. Just because of that reason? A one-sentence excuse? He should have had many reasons that would have taken up a paragraph if he wanted to waste that much money.
Callista tapped her forehead. Never mind, what was she thinking right now? After all, it had nothing to do with her if Kenward lost a lot of money.
***
Clap! Clap!
"You guys have put in a lot of effort. We will take a short break for ten minutes." Mrs. Sisil's words echoed through the large, enclosed hall.
Those who had not sat down for a moment to get the perfect demonstration immediately sat their tired bodies on the floor. There were even some who immediately laid down their bodies not caring if their clothes would get a little dirty.
The milky-white hands gently wiped the beads of sweat on her forehead and neck with a handkerchief. It had been a very tiring day.
"This is even more tiring than learning new material even if it's difficult material," Chennie grumbled. Of course, she hadn't stopped practicing for a second either. She was playing the lead who had a lot of scenes. She slightly regretted her decision to replace Callista's role just because of a momentary emotion.
Chennie frowned at a cold mineral water bottle in front of her. She raised her gaze to see who the owner of the hand that was holding out the mineral water to her was. And well, the answer she had guessed.
"Thank you," Chennie replied briefly. She downed the mineral water slowly, not turning her head when Aric moved to sit beside her.
Chennie put the lid back on the partially empty mineral water bottle. She looked at Aric who somehow still looked fresh. There was no trace of fatigue on that charming face.
"If I had to choose, I'd rather be in a basketball competition or working on problems from material I don't understand than doing this. My voice was almost made to break because of the very long dialog."
Aric gently stroked Chennie's hair. He already thought of the girl beside him as his sister.
"You've done well."
Chennie nodded steadily. "Of course. I've put all my energy and patience into practicing this character."
"But I felt something was missing in your expression earlier."
Chennie looked at Aric and then looked at the play script in her hand. She handed hers to Aric.
"Which part of the dialog?"
Aric took over the script in Chennie's hand. After watching carefully for a few minutes, he handed Chennie's manuscript back to her.
"This part."
Chennie immediately lay down as soon as she saw the sentence pointed out by Aric.
"I know that part too. It's very difficult. I've tried many times but always feel like I'm lacking."
"It's okay, you've tried hard enough today."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Students, get back together!" Mrs. Sisil half shouted.
Chennie couldn't help but rise to her feet and stagger off. Aric who saw her made a small chuckle. The girl leaned her head on his shoulder and walked lazily.
"I want this day to end soon."
"You want to perform on the festival stage?"
Chennie sighed. Right, there was still tomorrow which would be no different from today. Or maybe more tiring?
"Huh, I hate it," Chennie muttered softly which was still clearly audible in Aric's ears.