Going Power Shopping – Part 7
Anna suddenly remembered the price tags she had seen on some of the outfits she had tried on. A wave of unease swept over her. Would there be enough room on the cards Hou Yi had given her to pay for everything? She didn’t want to be in a situation where the cards were declined, especially after such an extravagant shopping spree. The thought of it was enough to make her blush with embarrassment. She knew it was time to discuss this with Hou Yi.
Taking her new phone out of her handbag, she scrolled through her contacts and found the one labeled “Darling Husband.” She smirked at the name—she’d have to tease him later for making her call him that. With a quick press of a button, the phone rang. After only two rings, Hou Yi picked up.
“Darling, you know your offer before…” Anna began.
“Yes, about repeating our wedding night?” Hou Yi’s laughter came through the phone, teasing her.
Anna rolled her eyes, despite the smile tugging at her lips. “Yi, you need to get your mind out of the gutter. We can talk about that later. I have something more important to discuss.”
Hou Yi’s voice shifted, now genuinely curious. “How much you love me, and how much you need me?”
Anna shook her head, though he couldn’t see it. “Yi, are you trying to embarrass me? No, it’s about what I’m about to purchase.”
Hou Yi let out a knowing laugh. “Okay, I get it. The power shoppers have struck again. They’ve dragged you through racks and racks of designer clothes, shoes, and more, and now you need me to increase the limits on one of the cards.”
“Yes, please,” Anna said, her tone sheepish. “But the personal shopper we had today really understood me. She made sure to include lots of casual and mix-and-match pieces, not just formal dresses. She really knows what I need.”
“Wait a minute,” Hou Yi said, typing in the background. After a few seconds, he returned to the phone. “Okay, sweetheart. The card ending in 8797 has had its daily limit raised to 100 million. The other card is now at 70 million. But—” He paused, his tone turning serious. “Do not, I repeat, do not let my mother or Aunt know about the limits on these cards.”
Anna couldn’t help but chuckle. “Okay, darling. Once we’re done here, we’re going for lunch and then heading to a market the bodyguards recommended. I’ll let you know as soon as we’re done.”
After they ended the call, Anna sat quietly for a moment, listening to the low murmur of conversation around her. Du AnLing and Leng Xi were deep in discussion about lunch and what store to hit next. It was clear to Anna that they knew Hou Yi must have given her significant funds for the shopping spree, and they were planning to enjoy every bit of it.
A few minutes later, Rebecca returned to the room, holding a final bill. “Miss Anna, here is your bill, which you can pay at the desk when you leave. We’ve arranged for everything to be delivered to your home, as requested. Some of the stores, given the volume of your purchases, offered a discount, which has been reflected in your account. As for my tip, most personal shoppers would expect a percentage of the total, but I’ll leave that to your discretion. It’s been a pleasure working with you today.”
“Thank you, Rebecca,” Anna said, feeling a twinge of gratitude. “Could you please contact me through the details on the card or via my husband when the tailor gets in touch to arrange the first fitting?”
“Of course, Miss Anna,” Rebecca replied.
With that, Anna, Du AnLing, Leng Xi, and the bodyguards made their way to the foyer. Anna handed over the card Hou Yi had increased the limit on, adding a 400,000 tip for Rebecca, even though it was only about one percent of the total bill. As the desk clerk handed her back the card, Du AnLing glanced at it and did a double-take.
“You mean my son gave you one of these cards?” Du AnLing said, astonished. “I can’t believe it. He took mine from me, but now he’s given you one? Come on, we can have a lot of fun with that.”
Anna smiled wryly. “Mother, remember what he told me about these cards,” she said. “And I’ve already almost maxed out this one with today’s shopping.” She grabbed the bill and nearly passed out at the total: over 45 million.
Du AnLing shook her head in disbelief. “I need to have words with my son. You’ve only been married a day, and it looks like he’s already given you cards with daily limits of 50 million! Things have really changed, and he’s being far too generous with the money we have access to now.”
“Mother, remember,” Anna said quickly, trying to deflect the conversation, “I’m supposed to return the cards today. I only have them to do this shopping. I’ll be getting a regular card with a monthly limit, just like you.”
Anna knew this wasn’t entirely true, but Hou Yi had warned her to keep the details of her credit cards private, especially from Du AnLing and Leng Xi. The last thing she wanted was for them to find out exactly what she had access to.
With that, she hurried them out the door. The female bodyguard followed close behind as they exited the store, where they found the male bodyguard waiting with the car. The group quickly slipped into the backseat, and the car drove away.
Ten minutes later, Anna felt a sense of relief wash over her. The shopping was over—for now. But the realization that she was about to head into another shopping adventure was starting to feel like a never-ending cycle.
