As someone who grew up in this neighborhood, Liu Chin and her mother are very familiar with dresses and shoes. They spent most of their time traveling around the world to watch fashion week. Most of their money was also spent buying luxurious clothes and shoes.
Some of which are dresses that they haven’t even worn once. To Liu Chin, this was not burning money. To her, this is an investment. Her designer bags and shoes are something that even her great-great-granddaughter could inherit.
Normally, during tea parties, some women in the neighborhood would show off their newest limited edition clothes. This is not because they are bragging about their money. No… they don’t need to do that. This is mainly to brag about the influence of their family or their husbands.
Buying limited edition clothing that can only be bought through invite is a very good way to tell everyone that their household was influential. This is not about who had more money in their bank account. It is about who is more influential in the fashion world.
Everyone expected Lily to wear something extravagant. Maybe the latest summer collection of a reputable brand. Or wear a piece of jewelry from her friend’s exclusive line. Yet she did nothing of those. Instead, she wore a seven hundred dollar dress that was released almost two years ago! Isn’t this an insult to everyone’s effort?
Liu Chin frowned as she looked at Lily’s sandals. It was a simple Chanel lamp skin one. This immediately made her more irritated. She tried to keep her irritation to herself as she smiled and talk to other people. But when Lily asked to go to the powder room to freshen up, she was not able to stop herself from following her.
They were already inside the Liu Family’s mansion and her mother was about to open her closet so she could show everyone her newest collection. This one is a collection of dresses that she purchased from Milan fashion week. While Liu Chin was pretty excited to see everyone’s reaction, her anger made her chose to confront Lily instead.
“That was very rude of you,” Liu Chin said when she noticed that Lily was alone in the room that could accommodate two people. She closed the door and made sure to lock it so no one would disturb them.
“Excuse me?” Lily smiled.
“Everyone here is wearing branded and expensive clothes. They made an effort to buy those limited edition ones so they could wear them at this party. While you…” she narrowed her eyes at Lily. “I know you are rich, Miss Lily. I also know you are worth more than all women here. So… I just want to know if you are deliberately doing this to provoke us. And make us exclude you the next month’s tea party.”
“Miss Liu… I don’t see any reason why I should explain my clothing to you or anyone else in this house.” Lily’s casual tone only made her more irritated. How could she be so calm? Liu Chin is the host. This is the Liu Family’s mansion. Isn’t she afraid that Liu Chin will ask her to leave? “Plus, I didn’t see you included such standards in your invitation,” Lily added.
“It is an unspoken rule.” Liu Chin said. She really wanted to ignore Lily nad her behavior. However, she saw how much her mother prepared for this party, and Lily was just not making any efforts to blend in. Everyone else was so excited and yet this woman…
Lily’s nonchalance is really bothering her.
“Miss Liu… let me tell you something.” Lily finished applying her lipstick. “My clothing… does it really offend you because you think they do not belong in this party.” She eyed her reflection and lifted her small handbag from the marble sink. “It offends you because… despite out-earning everyone… I was not wearing anything worth staring at.” Lily looked at Liu Chin’s carefully arranged hairdo and her jewelry.
“Wouldn’t that make you and everyone else here… a materialistic bitch?” Seeing Liu Chin widened her eyes at her language, Lily let out a low chuckle. She knew that like most women at this party, Liu Chin had been glaring at her for a few minutes now. To be honest, Lily did not deliberately do this. She didn’t actually know that this would be a freak show of who wears the most expensive summer dress.
“There is nothing wrong with living the way we are living.” Liu Chin hissed. Lily’s words actually made her realize that she actually hated the fact that Lily was not acting like them.
“Of course,” Lily smiled. “But there is something wrong in being shallow. Miss Liu… growing up in a privileged household does not excuse you from thinking that the outside world will bend just to follow your ‘unspoken rules’.”
“You are in my property, Miss Lily. I think it is only fair that you follow the rules here…” Liu Chin was not someone that would just swallow bullying like this. “You can’t bully me in my own house.”
“Now… why is it that when you demand someone to wear something just to please your ego it’s called an unspoken rule. But when someone says no… they are bullying you?”
Once again, Liu Chin was speechless at Lily’s words.
“I was originally planning to leave after this… but because of this… I decided to stay. You know… to irritate you.” Lily smirked before gently pushing the woman away and walking out of the powder room.
For some reason, this reminded her of a TV show where women living in the same neighborhood get judged based on their material possessions. Lily would not be a hypocrite and say that she hated those.
She loves dresses and shoes and bags and everything that glitters. However… she is buying dresses and designer bags for herself and not for anyone’s approval.
She wears clothes and chose her bags based on her mood and not to show it off to the world. Okay, maybe she does show it to the world… sometimes. But that does not diminish her point… she would always choose comfort over the price tag.
…
Want to buy me a coffee? https://ko-fi.com/theblips
Discord: https://discord.gg/kXsa2DN
