Liu Yan took two dramatic steps forward in her glittering six-inch silver heels. She stroked the plush collar of her white mink coat with manicured fingers, blowing a ring of sour cigarette smoke toward Lin Mo’s face. Her eyes scanned his dark wool coat with biting contempt.
“What is the matter, Lin Mo?” Liu Yan sneered, her voice dripping with venomous amusement. “Cat got your tongue? You didn’t expect to see me living like royalty in the provincial capital, did you?”
She leaned heavily against the bald European man beside her, rubbing her cheek against his satin lapel like an affectionate cat.
“Let me introduce you to someone from a completely different tax bracket,” Liu Yan said loudly, making sure every wealthy customer in the salon could hear her. “This is Director Bernard. He is the regional merchandising vice-president of Starlight Luxury Plaza. He controls the regional allocation and boutique licenses for fifty European couture houses!”
Director Bernard puffed on an ivory cigarette holder. He looked down at Lin Mo with practiced European condescension, adjusting his heavy gold cufflinks.
“Young man,” Bernard said in heavily accented Mandarin. “You must understand the rules of high fashion. This flagship salon is an artistic temple for our elite VIP clientele. It is not a public shelter for rural factory workers.”
