Gu Nianzhi only carried a small red Hermès Berline bag that she always carried with her. Inside it were her wallet, phone, sunscreen, some change, and a bag of disinfectant wipes.
There were many people waiting in line for security checks, and the line went around the entrance several rounds.
Huo Shaoheng didn’t want to wait in line for security checks.
He thought about it for a moment, then pulled out his phone from his pocket and called a certain boss of a Swiss Bank.
Gu Nianzhi looked at Huo Shaoheng curiously. She didn’t know what he had said to that person over the phone but not long after, a tall and elegant woman rushed out of the Gu Mu department store.
She didn’t look young anymore, but she had an elegant aura about her that made it impossible for anyone to notice her age.
She glanced around the entrance, then approached Huo Shaoheng and Gu Nianzhi. She smiled and spoke in English, “May I ask if you two are friends of Lucas?”
The Swiss banker who Huo Shaoheng had called was named Lucas.
Huo Shaoheng nodded and replied in English, “Yes, I’m Alex and this is Cereus. Do you know Lucas?”
The woman waved her hand gracefully. “This way, please. I’m Anna, Lucas’s former assistant. I got homesick and returned home to work in Russia.”
She led Huo Shaoheng and Gu Nianzhi around the long security line and walked to the side door of the department store.
..
With their eyes and mouths wide, Vladimir and the driver had been waiting in the jeep to watch the show. They were so shocked by the turn of events that their faces turned pale.
“This, this, this… they went in just like that?! They didn’t need security checks? And they were picked up by someone? ” The driver was so emotional that he almost jumped out of his seat. “That woman looks so familiar!”
Vladimir took out his phone with a sullen expression. After connecting with the KGB intelligence system, he searched for information about the Gu Mu national department store.
Soon, he saw photos of the tall and elegant woman from moments before.
Anna Ivanova, the CEO of Gu Mu National Department Store.
Vladimir sucked in a breath and punched the car window. “When did Huo Shaoheng meet the CEO of Gu Mu National Department Store?! ”
..
Standing at the side door of Gu Mu national department store was a guard with a gun. He wore a black beret and black ray-ban sunglasses. He was very tall, at least two meters tall, and his bulging arm muscles made him look like a giant.
Anna showed her business card to the guard.
The guard was shocked. He quickly stood up and saluted her as he said, “So you’re the CEO. Why did you come down personally? If you had given us a call directly, we would’ve found someone to invite your two friends in.”
Anna nodded bashfully. “You have your own jobs. How can I trouble you? ——Work hard, and lunch is on me.” As she said that, she gave the guard a lunch voucher. It was a lunch voucher for the management’s exclusive restaurant. The value of the voucher was large enough for a meal for four to five people.
The guard, who was as tall as a giant, looked at the lunch voucher with a satisfied smile on his face.
The corners of Gu Nianzhi’s mouth twitched.
Huo Shaoheng took out a credit card that had been charged beforehand and stuffed it into the guard’s hand. He smiled and said, “Then dinner is on me. ”
The guard looked at the amount on the credit card and immediately felt a sense of respect. He saluted Huo Shaoheng and said respectfully, “You’re too kind, sir, but we can’t accept it… ”
Anna was watching from the side. The CEO was here, so would he dare accept a “bribe”? He would lose his job.
However, Anna raised her head and said, “Take it. Mr. Alex means well. Remember to take good care of him and his friends.”
“Don’t worry. ” The guard immediately picked up his walkie-talkie and mumbled into it. Soon, he called over four tall and burly guards armed with guns, then he said, “These two are our department store’s distinguished guests. Their safety will be in your hands today.”
Anna nodded with a smile and explained to Huo Shaoheng, “Our department store is like this for important customers. We have dedicated service staff and bodyguards to accompany them throughout the entire shopping process. You can shop without worrying about anything.”
Gu Nianzhi was shocked by Anna’s “thoughtful” service. That meant she didn’t have to worry about thieves or carelessly dropping things. She also didn’t have to worry about being targeted by criminal gangs and becoming a victim to these people.
Gu Nianzhi was amazed by this “thoughtful” service.
She had thought this service was unique to them.
However, when she entered the store, she saw quite a few people receiving the same service. Many Middle Eastern men in white or black robes were accompanied by armed guards.
The Middle Eastern oil barons were rich, of course, but they also valued their lives the most.
Immediately after, a blonde Russian saleswoman walked over with a very polite smile, and she said to Huo Shaoheng, “I’m Lika. I’ll be taking you shopping today. If you need anything, please feel free to ask. We’ll definitely try our best to satisfy your needs.”
Anna said with satisfaction, “Lika, these two are my good friends. You must treat them well and show them the best quality of service Gu Mu department store has to offer. ”
“Don’t worry, president. I won’t let you down.” Lika made a promise to Anna.
Anna was the CEO of this big department store. It was impossible for her to accompany Huo Shaoheng and Gu Nianzhi shopping for the entire time.
It was already a huge favor for her to personally come down and lead them in.
After Huo Shaoheng shook her hand and said goodbye, he took Gu Nianzhi’s hand and leisurely strolled around Gu Mu department store.
He said to the salesgirl, Lika, “We’d like to buy overcoats to keep warm in the cold. They’re for women. What do you recommend?”
Lika asked carefully, “May I ask what weather do you need it for? We have all sorts of brands and all sorts of winter coats. Although it’s almost summer, there are still some stores that are selling winter clothes. Let me check for you.”
Lika took out her tablet and started to click on it.
After a while, she said, “Burberry’s winter clothes are on display for the last week. The season will change next week. Would you like to take a look? I’ll have to contact the other brands to see if they still have winter collections in stock. In addition, our own Russian brands also have some winter collections of good quality and design. However, I think this lady’s figure is too good, so I don’t think our own Russian brands have her size.”
She pursed her lips into a smile.
Gu Nianzhi also understood and thought that this salesgirl was really amusing.
All she had to say was that Russian private label brands had larger sizes. With Gu Nianzhi’s petite figure, she probably wouldn’t be able to wear them..
Huo Shaoheng actually didn’t have much time to shop for clothes. He looked at his watch and said, “Then let’s go to Burberry. We’ll buy whatever’s fitting. We’re in a hurry.”
“Oh, I understand.” The salesgirl, Lika, didn’t look for other brands and took them directly to Burberry’s flagship store.
Upon entering Burberry’s flagship store, Gu Nianzhi was immediately attracted to Burberry’s signature cashmere plaid scarf.
Huo Shaoheng saw that her gaze kept drifting towards the cashmere plaid scarf, and thought about how Gu Nianzhi had a lot of scarves, but not many thick cashmere scarves.
Of course, that was because Gu Nianzhi had never been in a truly cold environment. There was heating at home and at school in the winter, and she got around in a car, so she didn’t need many thick cashmere scarves.
But since they were in Moscow, in the future, he might take Gu Nianzhi on trips to various places on Planet Blue. Huo Shaoheng felt that it was better to stock up on thicker cashmere scarves for her.
What if she needed them?
She could wear them differently every day for the entire winter.
Besides, in Moscow, Burberry’s cashmere scarves and even cashmere overcoats were thicker than those from other places because Moscow was colder than other places, so it was worth stocking up on them.
The products sold by a brand had to meet the needs of the local residents in order to be sustainable.
“Go check out the cashmere scarves over there. You’ll need them when we go to Siberia as well.” Huo Shaoheng pulled Gu Nianzhi over to the counter where the cashmere scarves were kept.
Gu Nianzhi was immediately elated. She happily thought about how Huo Shao had probably seen her peeking at the cashmere scarves over there just now..
Therefore, women had different standards in terms of romantic words from men, but one sort of romantic word had the same effect on all women.
That was, buy, buy, buy.
Choosing the appearance and pattern that she liked, Gu Nianzhi smiled as she looked at the scarves.
The pink and blue checked scarf with light gray stripes appeared clean and refreshing, like the Siberian winter sky. The light blue sky with light gray clouds that showed it could rain at any moment.
Looking valiant and heroic, the scarf with the pink and white checked pattern and big red stripes was also like a flag fluttering in the heavy snow.
The light green checked scarf had snow-white stripes. When she caressed it with her hand, it felt as soft as water, but was also extremely warm.
There were also seven to eight other color combinations. Gu Nianzhi was dazzled by them all and couldn’t help but ask Huo Shaoheng, “Which color is the best? ”
Huo Shaoheng glanced at them and said to the salesgirl beside him, “Which ones just came out this year?”
“These are all the new ones. ” The salesgirl pointed at the seven to eight different styles of cashmere scarves in front of her. “The old ones from last year have already been sent to outlets, and the flagship store has all the new ones. ”
Huo Shaoheng nodded. “Wrap all these up, two of each.”
This way, if Gu Nianzhi’s friends liked them, they could also give one as a gift.
Gu Nianzhi: … ”
“Why do you need so many? ” Gu Nianzhi’s face blushed. She tugged at Huo Shaoheng’s arm and shook her head. “One is enough… ”
“If you like them, then I can buy them all. It’s not like I can’t afford it. ” Huo Shaoheng reminded her. “You traveled abroad, but you’re not bringing gifts for your friends? I think Ma Qiqi will like this scarf too. Just think of it as picking out a few for her.”
Gu Nianzhi felt ashamed by his words.
She really hadn’t thought of Ma Qiqi earlier.
She was completely immersed in the joy of spending a holiday alone with Huo Shaoheng.
She quickly said, “Then I’ll pick out some small things. ” As she spoke, she picked out some leather gloves, wallets, and belts for men and women, then paid with her own card.
Huo Shaoheng paid for the scarf.
The sales associate happily wrapped two of each of the scarves in different shapes and carried them as she followed behind Huo Shaoheng.
Huo Shaoheng then took Gu Nianzhi to look at winter coats.
He immediately took a liking to a long maroon wool coat. It was a slim military style coat up to the knees. The quality of the wool inside was very good. It was warm to the touch, just like a natural gas temperature regulator.
Even minus fifty degrees celsius wouldn’t be a problem, not to mention zero degrees celsius.
The coat also had a wide military belt.
Gu Nianzhi walked out of the fitting room while wearing the coat. Her waist was slim, the belt was high, and her long hair draped over her shoulders. She was beautiful, but also had the fierceness and toughness of a soldier.
Huo Shaoheng felt his heart grow warm as he looked at her. Some inappropriate thoughts flashed through his mind..
For example, Gu Nianzhi was lying on the bed in the coat. She was only wearing the coat, and when she took off the coat, she was wearing nothing inside…
