Chapter 63: Buy the whole store?

Kai had rented a car for today’s outing since there were several places they needed to visit. Taking a taxi often meant leaving them to walk considerable distances between stops, and that irritated Elara as well.

So, for once, they had a small sedan at their disposal. Jean sat in the back with Elara since there was no child seat in the car, and having her in the front would have been unsafe.

"Almost feels like I’m making you drive us around," Jean joked, glancing at Kai through the rear-view mirror.

"Well, my salary expectations are high, so beware."

Jean shook her head with a smile before asking, "Did you talk to your previous landlord?"

"Not yet. I’ll need to visit the place and call him over to settle everything." Kai could already imagine the old man making a fuss over the damage he had left behind and, more importantly, finding some excuse to keep the security deposit Kai had paid when he moved in.

Still, Kai did not care much about the money. As long as the old man did not nag him for too long, he was willing to let it go.

"I’ll probably go there tomorrow."

Jean’s voice softened. "Be safe."

Kai nodded. That place might still be under surveillance, which meant he would have to take a detour after finishing his business there.

’I’ll probably go after the hunt.’

He was scheduled to assist a team in exploring an E-rank dungeon. Once that was over, he would settle matters with his old landlord and put the whole affair behind him once and for all.

"Hmm? This place?" Jean asked, raising her brows.

They had stopped in front of a clothing store known for its wide selection and quality. Jean had visited the place several times in the past, though it had been a long while since her last visit.

"We had a shopping date planned, remember? Come on. Let’s see what we can find."

Kai stepped out, opened the door for her, and carefully took Elara from her arms so she could get out comfortably

The moment Elara saw the store, her round eyes widened as she stared up at the imposing building. She clapped her little hands and let out a delighted giggle, seemingly impressed by the grand structure.

Thankfully, there was no rush today. Perhaps it was because it was Monday, but the store was relatively quiet, making it the perfect time to shop with Elara.

"Kai... are you sure I’m dressed well enough to be here?"

Her question prompted him to look her over once again.

Blue denim jeans, a simple black top with a round neckline, and her hair tied neatly into a ponytail. A subtle touch of lipstick accentuated her naturally velvety lips, giving her appearance a quiet elegance without making her look overdressed.

"I don’t see anything wrong with how you’re dressed. Unless you want to get embarrassed hearing compliments again, let’s just get going."

She was instantly reminded of what had happened back home, and warmth spread across her cheeks.

Trusting his judgment, she nodded and followed him into the store.

"Welcome, sir."

A woman dressed in a neat black suit approached them with a polite smile.

"We’d like to browse some casual clothes," Kai said.

The staff member nodded without hesitation and gestured toward the interior.

"This way."

As they followed her, Jean noticed that the woman never once looked at them with the faintest trace of judgment, despite clearly being accustomed to dealing with wealthy customers.

’Thankfully, there are still people who don’t judge others based on their clothes.’

Jean had found herself in several uncomfortable situations lately, enough to make her appreciate the simple courtesy of being treated like anyone else.

The staff member’s behavior was nothing extraordinary, yet that was precisely what made it so reassuring.

She simply treated them as customers.

They were led to a different section after crossing the entire floor, eventually reaching a more secluded area toward the back of the store.

"There are twelve categories for you to choose from. Once you select a dress, we can have it adjusted to your preferred size," the staff member explained politely before adding, "My name is Blena. Please call me if you need any assistance."

Kai nodded as Blena stepped aside, giving them room to browse.

Kai turned toward Jean. "Well, we don’t go out often, so I thought we should start here."

Jean hesitated. "...But aren’t these too pricey for regular wear?"

Even a simple shirt cost a thousand dollars here, which was certainly more than she was comfortable spending on everyday clothes.

Kai quickly reassured her. "Even if you bought everything in this section, we’d still be under budget. So go ahead and choose whatever you want."

He had more than enough money sitting in his account, and there was nothing particularly significant he needed to spend it on. There had been a time when he would have hesitated over a purchase like this, just as Jean was doing now. But things were different for him now.

Jean slowly turned her attention back to the dresses and began looking through them. After a moment, she reached for one.

It was a black sleeveless dress made from soft fabric. Even at a glance, it looked comfortable to wear, while its simple design gave it an understated elegance.

"Do you want to try it?" Kai asked before turning toward Blena.

The woman stepped forward and gave Jean a brief glance, assessing her proportions with a professional eye.

"Considering madam’s height and shoulder measurements, I believe this one should fit her perfectly."

Jean raised her brows. "Where is the fitting room?"

Blena gestured toward the nearby corridor. Jean glanced at Kai once before following the woman inside.

Kai watched her disappear before letting out a quiet sigh and turning toward another section.

"What do you say, baby? Should I buy something for Mama too?"

"Mm..."

Kai chuckled at Elara’s little mumble, taking it as silent agreement.

"All right. I think I’ve found something she might like."