Rise To Stardom: My Villainess

*Three Days Later*

[ October 28, 2019; Monday ]

With all the concerts, shows, and music releases coming from all directions, one can say that the Muse of Beauty only has stress-filled days ahead of her. And since Ember Wang is a busy person, of course, I think it's fair that she should be given a day wherein she can have the time all for herself.

Fortunately for her, her manager Keina-jie is kind enough to give her that day off. They have come into the decision wherein every 28th day of the month, she can take a break off from work and do her shopping spree tradition with her best friend Kielle Xu.

Although there are times that Kielle fails to go alongside her at times— especially when she is out of the country— Ember will still continue to regard the tradition of shopping even when she's out doing her world tour.

She never fails to accomplish that as shopping has always been a stress outlet for her because while others' cheat day consists of sweets, hers is composed of clothes, accessories, and shoes. Despite the hectic schedule these past few months and years even, she always makes sure to spare some time for her monthly cheat day.

Currently, Ember and Kielle are wandering around right now in the most luxurious mall of Country A. It's so extravagant that only the VIPs are allowed to enter inside the building. Although there are times that their biggest fans are privileged enough to be among the elite status, that's why it's still much incredibly safer for Ember and Kielle to put on their disguised outfits while strolling around the halls to not be disturbed by any unwanted strangers

"How about this one?"

Her soft, sultry voice rings out inside one of the private, spacious fitting rooms of GUCCY. These fitting rooms are unlike the ordinary ones' as it is designed to maintain privacy, along with luxury, for every privileged guest.

Surrounded by racks of expensive clothes, shoes, and bags, Ember gracefully twirls around to show Kielle the whole design of the outfit she is wearing.

Kielle's light jade eyes shine in appreciation. The champagne-colored dress is beautiful on her. With glitter accents that make of a thin belt, it accentuates just how slender her waist is. Nodding, he light-heartedly answers, "It looks really good on you, Em. Gorgeous even! I don't think anything won't look terrible when you wear it."

Ember smiles, flattered, before turning to the large mirror for herself. Sometimes Kielle is a jokester, but his words most of the time hold the truth, especially when it's about her. She nods, agreeing to his former statement, as she gets pleased by the dress. Without letting any second thoughts enter her mind, she chooses to buy that dress for herself.

"I'll take this."

Leaving Kielle alone in the fitting room to spend more money on random things, the Manager of the branded store is there to assist her wherever she goes. Right now she's in the shoe section of the stores as she holds up a pair of nude-colored boot to meticulously observe.

"Do you have this in size seven?" Ember asks, gently c.a.r.e.s.sing that footwear in her hands. Its measurements are three inches above the ankle with its heel, no shorter than four inches. It almost looks nothing unique other than the gold imprinted logo 'GUCCY' it carries.

"Certainly, Miss Wang," the manager politely answers as she sternly orders another salesperson to bring in the size the beauty wanted. The woman in dignified uniform courteously leaves as she sets out to search for the requested size.

After going through so many shops and repeatedly trying on clothes, it's not surprising to know that the exhaustion will finally take a toll on her. Walking back to the private room, she takes a seat beside her friend. Taking a deep breath of relief, she closes her aurous eyes for a moment of rest.

"Tired?" he light-heartedly asks despite knowing the answer himself. "Do you wanna go home now?" The concern is laced in his voice as he looks at her with gentle green eyes. A hand is on Ember's arm as he seems to worry about her exhausted state.

Despite having a little less energy due to earlier events, the beauty just shrugs off his hand as she already knows what he's trying to do.

She raises a perfectly trimmed eyebrow at him. "You think that I'll finally let you off since I'm tired. Hah! That's what you think, but I'm not yet done with shopping. You have to accompany me until the day is over" She mischievously smirks, causing Kielle to groan for having been caught.

He pouts at her, quite adorably, but her cold heart won't succ.u.mb to that. Sure, he did miss her and miss escorting her while she shops; but she isn't the only one tired right now. He has always been the one who is in charge of carrying her shopping bags; and sometimes, if he's unlucky, he ends up carrying twenty of those just with his two hands.

"Ughh, when is this going to be over?!" Kielle w.h.i.n.es as the manager enters inside the fitting room to deliver the size seven boots.

"I'll take this too."

When the manager leaves, that is when the amber-haired girl chooses to speak. "Four more hours at most; I haven't bought my u.n.d.e.r.g.a.r.m.e.n.ts yet," she intentionally teases, sending a wink to her rather flushed friend.

Kielle feels his face go warm, and he looks away from his friend.

"I didn't accompany you to torture me like this. This shopping tradition of yours is supposed to be an excuse for us to bond, but it seems like you're just inviting me just so you can make me your dog!"

He helplessly turns his gaze to the shopping bags that he has been carrying since earlier. His poor heart is crying for being taken for granted, and his hands are all red from all the hard work he gave. His feet are also starting to ache, but he still continues to tag along for the sake of this friendship.

Ember fakes a frown. "Are you telling me that you're not having fun?"

Of course, Kielle is a bit softie for his friend in his heart— so when he sees her solemn expression, he can only shake his head.

"No! No! It's just that… I'm tired right now, and you're also tired. And I also don't want to go to any lingerie shops!" He says in all honesty as he thinks back to the times when he has to endure embarrassment for accompanying her there every time.

Seeing the sincerity in his jade eyes, Ember stops the urge to tease his friend. Also, he indeed is tired. She feels slightly guilt and can only apologize for causing him trouble. "Sorry about that. Don't worry. After all this, I'll treat you to that favorite restaurant of yours. You also don't have to come inside with me at Tori's Secret. You can just wait outside."

"Deal!" he says.

After retrieving the bags from the manager, Ember seems to regain the vigor that she has lost earlier. With a huge smile on her face and eyes sparkling in mysterious glee, she grabs Kielle's arms as she pulls him to the closest store that she can find.

"Do you think that for our Halloween costumes, we should just ask someone to customize it for us?" Ember enthusiastically asks as, like a storm, the pair quickly disappears from the high-branded shop, leaving a chaotic private room in their wake.

"Ma'am Qi, she didn't pay for a thing," a worker reminds the shop's manager in helpless confusion as she fails to recognize the disguised person as the famed idol. She just sees the woman as a stranger or more of a thief that their manager just seems to not care about. She jolts when the experienced woman suddenly and gently slaps her in the arm.

"You clueless girl! That's Ember Wang! She always pays a huge sum in advance to all the shops she goes to before the 28th day of the month. She hates it when she gets bothered by swiping her cards from left and right, so she decides to transfer her money in advance. If she sends more than what she originally bought, then we reduce the remaining amount in her next purchase," the manager patiently lectures.

"But what if she gave less than what she bought?" the woman innocently asks, not intending to sound it offensive, as she is clearly clueless of the ways of the rich.

The woman rubs her temples. "Always remember this, A Wang never falls short. Also, Ember wearing a brand's clothes is already the best promotion they can get. She can literally get everything for free if she wanted to as a gratitude for wearing the brand's clothes, but she opts not to."

The manager herself already went through a phase of not knowing what to do when a sixteen years old Ember had entered GUCCY, buying everything she sees and leaving without paying a cent. She, as a new worker, at that time only discovered the truth when she asked the manager at that time as well, so she can not blame this girl for being such a curious cat right now.