My Virtual Wife Stepped Out of My Phone to Find Me - Chapter 18

Shi Yu’s eyes lit up when she saw the mermaid dress. She reached out and gently touched the rhinestones on it. Under the spotlight from above, the champagne-colored gown sparkled like a piece of jewelry in a display case.

“Oh my god, it’s so beautiful!” Shi Yu couldn’t help but exclaim. “This is the most gorgeous dress I’ve ever seen!”

Qi Ying, standing behind her, smiled and said, “I’m glad you like it, Miss Shi.”

Shi Yu couldn’t wait to try on the stunning mermaid dress. Qi Ying carried it into the fitting room for her, drew the curtain, and said, “Go ahead and change, Miss Shi. I’ll wait outside.”

Shi Yu glanced at her lightly and asked, “Aren’t you going to help me?”

Qi Ying looked at her calmly.

Shi Yu pointed at the mermaid dress hanging nearby and said, “This dress is so complicated. I definitely won’t be able to put it on properly by myself. You should stay and help me.”

Qi Ying also glanced at the dress she had made, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

Shi Yu took off her own dress, her skin glowing snow-white under the spotlight. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, brushing against her smooth skin and fair chest. Qi Ying noticed her white lingerie and awkwardly averted her gaze.

The sound of rustling fabric filled the air as Shi Yu changed. Fortunately, the fitting room was spacious enough that Qi Ying could simply turn her head to avoid seeing her.

“Where should I hang the clothes I took off?” Shi Yu suddenly asked.

Qi Ying cleared her throat softly and extended her hand. “Give them to me. I’ll hold them for you.”

Shi Yu smiled, her eyes curving as she stepped closer and draped her dress over Qi Ying’s arm. Their skin brushed lightly against each other. “Thanks, A-Ying,” she said sweetly.

Qi Ying felt goosebumps rise on her arm but managed a slight nod.

Now clad only in white lingerie, Shi Yu had an enviable figure. She clasped her hands behind her back and chuckled at Qi Ying, who still refused to look at her. “Do you always avoid looking at your female customers when helping them change?”

Left with no choice, Qi Ying shifted her gaze to Shi Yu’s face. But even without deliberately looking, her peripheral vision still caught glimpses of Shi Yu’s current state.

The white lingerie draped lightly over her, accentuating her curves beautifully.

Qi Ying said calmly, “Let’s try on the dress first.”

Shi Yu, slightly disappointed by her lack of reaction, went ahead and slipped into the dazzling mermaid dress.

The champagne-colored gown was adorned with rhinestones, especially below the knees and across the chest, where large clusters of them shimmered like the scales of a beautiful mermaid. The fitted waist was accentuated by an oversized, dramatic bow at the back, making it particularly eye-catching.

Qi Ying zipped up the back for her and casually styled her hair. When Shi Yu saw herself in the mirror, her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“It’s absolutely stunning!”

Shi Yu turned from side to side, admiring the exquisite gown, then spun around to face Qi Ying. “I made the right choice picking you for this dress. It’s the most perfect gown I’ve ever worn.”

Qi Ying smiled back at her. “I’m glad you like it.”

Shi Yu pursed her lips and smiled. Holding up the hem of her skirt, she stepped down from the circular platform and linked arms with Qi Ying, her bright black eyes sparkling as she gazed at her. “Last time I asked you out for dinner, you said you were busy. Could you spare some time for me tonight? I really want to thank you properly for making this dress and would love to treat you to a meal.”

Last time Shi Yu had tried to invite Qi Ying out, she had been turned down. Now that Shi Yu was making the same request again, refusing would seem unreasonable.

After a brief hesitation, Qi Ying nodded and said, “Dinner is fine, but there’s no need for you to treat me, Miss Shi. This was part of my job anyway. Let’s just split the bill.”

Shi Yu’s eyes lit up, her smile curving into crescents as she leaned in closer. “Sure! As long as I get to have dinner with you, splitting the bill is fine by me.”

Once they confirmed there weren’t any major issues with the fishtail skirt, Qi Ying began working on the final touches. Shi Yu, eager about their dinner plans, spent the entire day at the shop, lounging on the sofa playing with her phone. At noon, she even ordered takeout for Qi Ying and Xia Ruoxin, and the three of them ate together, chatting and laughing.

Xia Ruoxin knew she was the third wheel, but Qi Ying wouldn’t let her leave. It wasn’t until around 4 or 5 p.m. that Xia Ruoxin finally made her escape after setting an alarm. Before leaving, she said to Qi Ying, “Make sure to lock up properly when you leave. Don’t forget anything. I’m off now—you two should wrap up early too~”

Shi Yu waved at her, and suddenly, the shop was left with just the two of them.

Qi Ying was busy cutting fabric at the worktable when Shi Yu approached. The two-meter-wide solid wood table was cluttered with tools. Shi Yu perched on a high stool nearby, resting her chin in her hands, silently watching Qi Ying work.

A woman focused on her work is truly captivating.

Shi Yu tapped her cheek lightly with a finger, smiling as she observed Qi Ying and the project she was working on. Curious, she asked, “Ying, what are you making?”

Without looking up, Qi Ying replied, “There’s some extra fabric. I thought I’d make a set of autumn workwear—simple and versatile—to display in the window.”

Shi Yu grinned. “Anything you make will look amazing. Can I be your first customer when it’s done?”

Qi Ying paused and finally looked up at her. “Miss Shi,” she hesitated, wanting to ask what exactly this girl saw in her, but ultimately changed the question. “Where should we go for dinner tonight?”

“I booked a Japanese place, but if you prefer Western food, we can do that too. Or hotpot—whatever you like.” Shi Yu waved her phone. “We still have plenty of time to decide.”

Qi Ying wasn’t particularly fond of Japanese or Western cuisine, and hotpot in the middle of summer seemed like torture. After some thought, she remembered a small eatery nearby—a humble place with only four or five tables, serving a fusion of Chinese and Western flavors that was surprisingly delicious.

“There’s a nice little place nearby,” Qi Ying suggested. “If you don’t mind, we could eat there. It’s close, and you won’t have to move your car.”

“Perfect,” Shi Yu said with a smile. “As long as I’m with you, anywhere is fine.”

Xing Xiaochu was absentmindedly poking her draft paper with the tip of her pen when she felt something soft and furry gently brush against her ankle.

Looking down, she saw a tiny figure rubbing against her with great effort. The little orange kitten lifted its head with a whimper, and upon noticing Xing Xiaochu watching, it perked up and began meowing incessantly.

“What’s wrong?” Xing Xiaochu bent down and scooped the little creature from under the desk onto the table. Four tiny white paws stepped onto her test papers as the kitten tilted its head back, still meowing.

Xing Xiaochu stroked its head, kissed its little nose, and asked with a tilt of her head, “Are you hungry? Do you want some canned food?”

The kitten: “Meow, meow, meow—”

Xing Xiaochu fetched a can from the fridge. The freshly taken-out food was too cold for the kitten, but the little furball yowled as if it were starving. With no other choice, she scooped out half and microwaved it for thirty seconds.

“Alright, alright, I’m warming it up for you. Stop yelling.” Xing Xiaochu sighed, cradling the tiny troublemaker. She couldn’t understand how something so small could be so loud—screeching like a little tiger.

As soon as the food was warmed, before she could even check if it was too hot, the kitten pounced on it, devouring the meal in big, eager bites.

Watching this, Xing Xiaochu sighed. She had only fed it half a can at noon—how could it be hungry again? She worried it might overeat.

Gently stroking the kitten’s back as it wolfed down its meal, she rested her chin on her hand and chuckled. “Slow down, slow down. It’s all yours. No one’s taking it from you.”

The kitten flicked its tail, happily munching away.

“Door unlocked—”

With a soft click, the long-quiet door opened from the outside. Qi Ying stood at the entrance, stepping inside to find Xing Xiaochu feeding the kitten. Xing Xiaochu seemed surprised to see her home so early and froze for a moment before straightening up to greet her. “Sis? You’re back already?”

Qi Ying nodded. “Not much going on at the shop today, so I came back after dinner.”

She had just eaten with Shi Yu, and afterward, the two had strolled around the nearby shopping district. As dusk settled, Qi Ying had sent her off. Shi Yu had looked reluctant but eventually drove away.

After tidying up, Qi Ying had planned to log into the game.

Now, she eyed the little orange kitten hunched over its bowl, eating like there was no tomorrow, and walked over, puzzled. “Did you starve it all day? Why’s it eating like this?”

Xing Xiaochu blinked innocently, explaining that she had fed it half a can at noon.

Qi Ying worried the kitten might overeat. She reached out to feel its belly—already round and firm—then lifted the kitten with one hand, glancing at the remaining sauce in the bowl and the kitten’s dramatic wails. Finally, she set it back down to let it finish licking the plate clean.

“No more food after this,” Qi Ying said. “It’ll burst if you keep feeding it.”

Xing Xiaochu nodded, then stood and walked over to Qi Ying, looking up at her. “Did you already have dinner, sis? Want some fruit?”

Qi Ying smiled, reached out to ruffle the child’s hair, and said to her, “No need, I just came to see you.”

Xing Xiaochu’s hair was tousled, but as long as she could see Qi Ying, she was in a good mood.

Just then, Xing Xiaochu keenly caught a scent—unlike the previous cloying peach fragrance, this pheromone seemed to carry the aroma of roses.

Her pupils trembled slightly as she stared at Qi Ying in disbelief, wondering if she had switched to another Omega again.