Su Mu stood frozen, Xu'er's whispered "I love you, Sister Su. You're mine!" echoing in the changing room. 

Her mind struggled to catch up with the claim's audacity and sheer possessiveness. Love? Already? And mine? 

Before she could even begin to untangle the knot of shock, thrill, and utter confusion in her chest, Li Wei's calm but firm voice cut through the haze, calling them out.

Xu'er, ever composed, merely shot Su Mu a final, lingering smirk that promised more to come, then turned with a fluid grace. 

Su Mu, still reeling, took a shaky breath. 

Her fingers instinctively smoothed the black leather of the corset, a futile attempt to compose herself. 

She didn't know how to reply to Xu'er, how to even process such a declaration, but she couldn't ignore Li Wei. 

With a silent nod, more to herself than to Xu'er, she followed the half-Succubus out.

As Su Mu stepped out behind Xu'er's vibrant red figure, a collective hush fell over the small gathering of her new "sisters." 

Mei Lin, Jia Li, and Xiao Fei, who had been animatedly discussing something near the front counter, their voices and laughter filling the air moments before, all turned in unison. 

Even little An Rui, who was meticulously arranging a display of colorful, scented candles, paused and looked up, her eyes wide.

All eyes were fixed on Su Mu.

The black leather corset hugged her torso, cinching her waist dramatically and pushing her generous bust upwards, creating an almost sculpted silhouette. 

The matching mini-skirt, with its delicate black lace trim, offered a tantalizing counterpoint to the assertive leather, ending high on her thighs. 

From beneath its hem, the smooth, dark sheen of black stockings encased her long legs, disappearing into unseen footwear, making them seem even longer, more elegant. 

Her long, silver hair, a striking contrast to the dark outfit, cascaded around her shoulders and down her back, catching the store's ambient lighting and framing her face, which was now flushed a delicate pink. 

The entire dress transformed her from the somewhat reserved style into a figure of breathtaking, if slightly intimidating, allure.

"Oh... my..." Mei Lin breathed, her usually cheerful expression changed to pure awe. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide.

Jia Li, typically the shyest of the group, simply stared, her cheeks coloring slightly as if reflecting Su Mu's blush. 

Xiao Fei, usually more direct, let out a low whistle.

"Wow, Su Mu... just... wow," Xiao Fei finally managed, shaking her head slowly. "That outfit was made for you."

"So beautiful!" Mei Lin finally exclaimed, the words tumbling out in a rush of genuine admiration. 

"The silver hair with the black leather... It's absolutely stunning! Like a queen from some dark fairytale!"

Li Wei, who had been observing from near the staff area with Yang Shi, also approached with a slight, appreciative smile on her usually composed face.

Su Mu, now the undeniable focal point of all this attention, felt the heat rise in her cheeks even further. 

This was infinitely more intense than looking at herself in the mirror. 

These were real people. She wanted to shrink, to become invisible, yet the part that was beginning to explore this new femininity felt a strange warmth bloom under their praise.

"Th-thank you," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. 

She tried for a smile, but it likely came out as more of a shy, awkward twitch of her lips. 

She could feel Xu'er's presence beside her, a subtle pride radiating from her. 

It was as if Xu'er was silently saying, "See? I told you."

Su Mu hadn't noticed the gradual changes in herself, but gradually, she found herself becoming more and more feminine as she adjusted to her new life.

The subtle shifts in her appearance and demeanor were like the gentle brushstrokes of a painter, creating a canvas of her evolving identity. 

Yang Shi, who was outside, also approached Su Mu with a soft smile on her face. "Mu'er, you look absolutely beautiful."

"I had a different dress in mind for you, but you look stunning now. Honestly, I'm tempted just looking at you..."

"Hahaha. I can't wait to see how many customers will become your fans. Let me know if you find someone interesting; I'll be more than happy to arrange a date for you."

"No, sister Su is mine!" Xu'er, who was standing behind, interjected with a playful protest.

Her voice held a hint of possessiveness, but it was accompanied by a mischievous twinkle in her eye, adding to the lighthearted banter that surrounded Su Mu.

"Xu'er, it's okay, stop teasing her. Or she will be afraid to work here," Yang Shi said, stepping in with a caring tone.

"Sister Shi, it's fine. I'll let you know once I find someone interesting," Su Mu replied, with a gracious smile.

Yang Shi returned Su Mu's smile with a nod of approval. "Perfect, Mu'er. We're all here to support each other, also don't think that you're wasting your time working here…"

"You can actually earn more cultivation resources working here than going out with adventure ot mercenary guilds to hunt Cloud beasts outside."

"These resources can help you accelerate your cultivation in the initial stages after Awakening."

With a collective laugh, everyone nodded their heads in approval, and then they began to disperse, returning to their own work.

After hearing Yang Shi's words, Su Mu took a moment to compose herself, glancing around the store with a newfound confidence.

The enticing array of products and the open-minded spirit of RomantiX became her backdrop as she waited for her first customer.

Soon, the bell above the entrance jingled, signaling the arrival of a new customer. 

Su Mu took a deep breath, ready to embrace her first customer… 

Stepping into the RomantiX Store was a dandy-looking young man with long blond hair, exuding an air of arrogance, followed by two beautiful women, adding an intriguing dynamic to the trio.

"Hello and welcome to RomantiX. Ah, it's Young Master Zhao! How may I assist you today?" Li Wei, who was positioned beside Su Mu, extended a warm and professional greeting to the trio.

The dandy-looking young man casually nodded his head to Li Wei's greeting, showcasing a familiarity with both the place and its members.

"Thank you, Sister Li. I've brought some new friends today. I'll take the usual services, and how about this beautiful lady? A new addition?"

His voice carried a subtle hint of intrigue as his eyes, filled with a suggestive gleam, lingered on Su Mu.

He observed her from top to bottom, unabashedly displaying an air of lust in his eyes.

The young man seemed completely indifferent to whether Su Mu felt uncomfortable under his scrutinizing gaze, like looking at a commodity in a store.

Su Mu, though aware of the young man's lingering lustful gaze, met his eyes with a slightly indifferent look.

Li Wei, skilled in navigating the nuances of RomantiX, still maintained her professional composure in the sudden situation.

"Certainly, Young Master Zhao, the usual it is. Just give me a few minutes to check the details."

"Oh, and let me introduce her—this is Su Mu. She's our boss's relative." Li Wei's introduction calmly, blending the formality of the customer service role.

Su Mu observed the exchange between them.

However, an uncomfortable feeling crept over her as the young man's sharp gaze lingered on her more and more.

His eyes, filled with unrestrained thoughts, scanned her from top to bottom, creating an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

As a man in her previous life, she could clearly understand what the man in front of her was thinking in his mind.

However, it's also her first time being stared at by a man after she woke up as Su Mu.

With a half mentality of being a man, now stared top to bottom with undistinguished lust by another man, her somewhat terrified.

Inwardly, Su Mu's heart surged with strong disgust and discomfort.

The unsettling gaze made her acutely aware of the vulnerability that came with her being a woman.

"Maintain composure, Su Mu," she reminded herself, forcing a professional smile. Yet, her inner thoughts echoed with a dialogue of conflict.