Chapter 27: Strolling Through the Capital Department Store

An hour later.

In the capital city, at the largest department store.

“Sis, look! This is where my boyfriend works. The things they sell here are so expensive. You’ve never been shopping here before, right? Today, I’ll show you around properly,” Lin Xuefei said enthusiastically, pulling Lin Xiaodou inside.

Today, Lin Xuefei wore a blue-and-white striped dress. With her pretty round face, she looked vibrant and youthful.

Standing beside her, Lin Xiaodou was a stark contrast. She wore a faded blue short-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and green rubber shoes—clearly someone unaccustomed to city life. The striking scar across her face made her even more conspicuous.

These two, standing together, were like night and day.

Inside the department store, many curious eyes were drawn to them, wondering how two such mismatched people could be together.

Lin Xiaodou paid no mind to the stares. Ever since she had first inhabited the original owner’s body, she had mentally prepared herself to accept this face. Later, after finding the Celestial Beauty Pill left by an immortal in her secret space, her confidence only grew. To avoid suspicion, she hadn’t used the pill yet. When the time was right, she would. The scar would fade; it was only a matter of time.

So, no matter what strange looks people threw at her, she remained unbothered.

Lin Xuefei, unaware of Lin Xiaodou’s thoughts, was secretly pleased. She relished the attention, especially with such an ugly “foil” by her side.

Wu Ya trailed behind, not wanting to be associated with Lin Xiaodou. She wanted to warn Xuefei, but seeing her so delighted, she held her tongue.

The department store had three floors: the first with trendy foods, the second with household goods, and the third with appliances and furniture.

Lin Xuefei first led Lin Xiaodou to the clothing section on the first floor.

“Sis, see if you like anything. Let Mom buy you a couple of outfits.”

Lin Xiaodou glanced over the display. The styles were unremarkable. The most expensive set—a short-sleeved shirt and trousers—cost only five yuan and eighty cents. To an average family, that might seem pricey, but the Lin family, renowned in medicine, was far from poor. The dress Lin Xuefei wore today alone cost over ten yuan.

If even a counterfeit could wear something so expensive, why should she settle for cheap clothes?

“I don’t like the clothes here,” Lin Xiaodou said, pointing toward the high-end counter opposite. “I want to buy from there.”

Wu Ya’s face darkened instantly. This wretched girl really dared to choose!

That counter sold luxury clothing shipped in from the coastal city—new and stylish, but also outrageously expensive.

It was the priciest place to buy clothes in the entire department store. She and Xuefei had shopped there before, and the staff all recognized them. She had no desire to bring this ugly girl over—not just because she didn’t want to spend the money, but also to avoid gossip among acquaintances.

“I didn’t bring that much money today…” Wu Ya began to refuse, but Lin Xiaodou was already walking over, leaving her speechless and forced to follow. She couldn’t let the girl make a scene there.

Lin Xuefei, seeing the commotion, followed as well.

“Mrs. Lin, you’re here! We just got in a few new styles today. Please take a look!” The saleswoman immediately greeted Wu Ya with a smile, ignoring Lin Xiaodou entirely, as if she didn’t exist.

Back then, only those with connections could work at such a department store—these saleswomen were no ordinary people. Besides the wealthy, they ignored everyone else, displaying no shortage of arrogance.

“Yes, I’m here to buy some clothes for the two girls,” Wu Ya replied, her expression a bit strained.

The saleswoman was surprised, glancing at Lin Xiaodou. She’d assumed this young woman was just browsing, not with them.

Lin Xuefei smiled sweetly. “Sister Li, my sister said she likes the clothes here. She’s never really bought clothes outside before—could you help her pick out two suitable outfits?”

The saleswoman understood instantly. So, the Lin family’s poor relative had come to take advantage. But this relative really had no sense of propriety—did she dare ask for such expensive clothes?

She hid her disdain behind a pleasant face, casually selecting two of the cheapest dresses and placing them on the counter. “Here, these were last year’s newest styles. They’ll suit you well.”

Lin Xiaodou didn’t even glance at them. “Didn’t you just say you had some new arrivals today? I want to see those.”

The saleswoman’s smile faltered. This girl certainly dared to ask—those new arrivals were the most expensive of all.

Wu Ya’s face was now pitch black. She glared at Lin Xiaodou, whispering angrily, “Why buy something so expensive? Your face is ruined. No matter how nice the clothes, it’s useless.”

She’d expected those words to crush Lin Xiaodou, but instead, the girl only smiled faintly at her.

Under Wu Ya’s confused gaze, Lin Xiaodou’s eyes suddenly reddened. She raised her voice, wailing, “Mom? Are you really my mom?! After being switched at birth for seventeen years and finally finding my family, you won’t even buy me a dress?!”

If she couldn’t silence the old woman with her fists, she’d use another method.

Let’s see if she dared keep nagging now!

Wu Ya panicked. “Shut up… What nonsense are you spouting?!”

This was the largest department store in the capital—if any acquaintances saw this, she’d lose all face.

“You want me to shut up? I won’t!” Lin Xiaodou turned, facing the curious onlookers who’d gathered. “Please, everyone, help me judge what’s right!”

So they wanted people to think she was a poor relative, and were afraid of losing face? She’d do just the opposite!

“My name is Lin Xiaodou, the biological daughter of Lin Zhengmin, deputy director of Capital City First Hospital. This is my mother, and this is their adopted daughter—the one who was switched with me for seventeen years!”

A gasp swept through the crowd. What had they just heard?

The deputy director’s daughter had been switched at birth? For seventeen years?

“Hey, isn’t that Mrs. Lin, the head nurse herself?”

“What’s going on? Why is a daughter publicly accusing her own parents?”

“She must have been wronged. Let’s listen!”

The crowd, eager for gossip, perked up their ears.

Seeing the situation, Wu Ya dared not stop Lin Xiaodou, only glaring daggers at her.

Lin Xuefei was even more frantic. She had agreed with her parents not to announce the truth for now. After Lin Xiaodou took the blame, they’d explain things simply, and it wouldn’t affect her. She never expected Lin Xiaodou to reveal everything in public! If her friends heard of this, they’d ridicule her. How could she show her face in society from now on?

Lin Xiaodou had no idea what her stepsister was thinking. Even if she knew, she’d have only one reply: “Not my problem!”

“I just found my family yesterday. When my real mother said she’d take me shopping, I was so happy. But when I finally found some clothes I liked, she refused to buy them. She said my face was ruined, and that no matter what I wore, I’d always look ugly—she didn’t want to waste her money. She even said I wasn’t as well-behaved as her adopted daughter, and told me not to embarrass her in public. But what she doesn’t know is that my face was ruined by her precious adopted daughter’s real mother. I felt so wronged, I just wanted everyone to judge whether I really deserved such treatment. Am I really so repulsive? So unforgivable?”