CHAPTER 56: LIVE-IN LOVER - PART 20

"You idiot, why are you taking me here?"

"Because we have an appointment here."

Jess and Jeff stood right in front of PoruMerc Women’s Fashion Store, located within the shopping mall.

But rather than looking like a boyfriend accompanying his girlfriend shopping for clothes, their image looked more like a mother dragging and forcing her introverted NEET daughter to buy new clothes.

"I thought you would love to visit this store, so I booked us an appointment."

"What does that even mean?"

Of course Jess would love to visit and shop at PoruMerc Women’s Fashion Store, considering it was her dream company to work for. In fact, the dress she was wearing was something she had bought from the same store before.

However, going there right now actually made Jess nervous and embarrassed, thinking that Jeff might be setting up an appointment with Nubia.

With everything she had learned about what Jeff and Nubia did—along with her agreement to have Nubia as her girlfriend—Jess wasn’t ready to meet her yet.

But no matter how much she resisted with her overwhelming strength, since she was wearing high-heeled sandals that didn’t give her any foothold, Jeff easily dragged her inside the store while holding both of her hands.

"Is your senpai here? At least let me prepare myself before meeting her—"

"Nubia-senpai is not here—ouch!"

"—Then why didn’t you say that first, idiot!"

Jess immediately switched from her shyness to her violent instinct, pulling her hands free from his grip and smacking him straight on the head.

"Let’s go shopping then."

Even though Jeff still hadn’t recovered from the pain in his head, Jess grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the store.

But right before they could enter, Jess halted, remembering that Jeff had already spent too much money on her today—buying her a new gaming computer. She felt reluctant to ask for more. And it wasn’t like she had extra money set aside to buy new clothes.

"On second thought, I don’t really feel like shopping for clothes today, Jeff," she said, dragging him away—only for Jeff to stop her before she could even leave.

"I said we’re here for an appointment, not for shopping—well, you’re still shopping either way."

"Once again, you idiot, what does that even mean?"

Earlier, before they left the house, Jeff had noticed Jess being jealous of him for all the PoruMerc branded clothes Nubia had given him. That gave him the idea to bring Jess to PoruMerc Women’s Fashion Store to shop for clothes—and at the same time, message Nubia if she could meet them.

[Stop being an idiot, Jeff. I just told you the other night that I can’t meet Jess yet after what we did. At least give me a week to prepare myself...]

That was the reply Jeff received from Nubia, followed by a suggestion—or rather, a command.

[...I’m sending my assistant to the store. Just have Jess get measured and try some clothes so I can figure out her style and which category she would be more suited to as a model.]

"And lastly, you get to keep all the clothes you try on."

"Wait, seriously?"

Hearing Jeff’s explanation—especially the last part—delighted Jess. She was overjoyed at the thought of having as many clothes as she wanted from the brand she loved, for free. But at the same time, she felt suspicious of why Nubia was treating her so nicely, almost spoiling her.

"Don’t tell me she’s feeling guilty for both of you cheating on me?" she said, glaring at him as she once again grew annoyed, remembering that Jeff did it with Nubia before getting her permission.

"Yes, she feels guilty, but that’s not the reason she’s being nice. Besides, we didn’t do it, so that doesn’t count as cheating."

"Idiot! You put the head inside—"

At that instant, Jeff immediately covered her mouth and glanced around, silently telling Jess that everyone in the store was looking at them.

Feeling embarrassed that everyone had probably heard their conversation about her boyfriend cheating on her, Jess retreated into her violent instinct, punching Jeff right in the gut.

"Ouch!—Was that really necessary, Jess?"

"Shut up, cheater."

While Jess and Jeff waited for Nubia’s assistant to arrive, their conversation returned to Nubia as they window-shopped in the store.

"She’s not giving you all those clothes because she feels guilty," Jeff said. "She’s just actually nice and a good person—"

"Is that the reason you fell in love with her?" Jess interrupted, cutting his explanation short. The tone of her voice was lonely, and her eyes were filled with jealousy.

A girl with a nice and good personality, not to mention rich and obviously beautiful—that was the kind of girl every guy dreamed of.

With that thought, Jess grew even more jealous. Until Jeff embraced her again to calm her down and whispered something in her ear that made her realize what she had overlooked earlier.

"I hope that’s enough reason for you to fall in love with her too."

A girl with a nice and good personality, not to mention rich and obviously beautiful—that was the kind of girl every guy dreamed of, and every girl as well.

That thought reminded Jess that she had agreed to Jeff’s request—for Nubia to be one of her girlfriends.

It wasn’t that Jess was a gold digger, but having a rich girlfriend—or rather, a nice older sister figure—who would spoil her rotten was definitely something she wanted.

"Sister fetish, right?" Jeff said with a grin on his face, as if reading the thought behind her silence.

"Shut up, pervert."

"Anyway, she’s giving you all those clothes—"

"—Because we can’t have our models wearing other branded clothes, even in their regular days."

A woman wearing a gray suit that complemented her beautiful looks and short, blondish-brown ponytail cut in and took over Jeff’s explanation.

"You did a good job bringing us such a perfect model, Jeff," she said, eyeing Jess from head to toe.

The woman introduced herself as Lena, Nubia’s assistant, who was also Jeff’s acquaintance—considering he was one of Nubia’s gofers.

Lena told Jess to pick clothes she wanted to try on, while she herself talked to the staff, asking them to bring out outfits she wanted Jess to wear. Jeff, meanwhile, sat at the boyfriend-designated waiting area of the store.

After a while, Lena guided Jess toward a private fitting room, together with Jeff.

"Why are you here too, perv?!"

"Because I’ll be the one taking your pictures."

"Ehh?"

Confused by the situation, Jess shifted her gaze to Lena, asking for an explanation.

"I thought you’d be more comfortable with your boyfriend taking your pictures, so I didn’t bring a professional photographer. But don’t worry, Ms. Jess, your boyfriend has the skills of a professional."

Jeff’s wide set of skills mostly came from the different odd jobs Nubia had forced him to do over the past four years, not to mention his experiences from his original timeline twelve years in the future—and one of those was working as a model photographer. But that wasn’t exactly what Jess had been asking.

"This will be used for your profile, Ms. Jess," Lena said, handing her the first outfit before closing the curtain so Jess could get dressed.

While Jess changed, Jeff prepared the photography camera Lena had brought.

From casual styles like denim jeans, soft t-shirts, and comfortable shoes—a simple yet stylish look—to formal outfits like a fitted blazer with stylish pants, to romantic styles embracing a soft and feminine feel, to minimalist fashion all about simplicity and functionality.

Jess wore different clothes, all of which suited her, and she didn’t fail to showcase the beauty and style of each. Even vintage, retro, and sporty outfits looked perfect on her.

"Nice... a little inexperienced, but definitely perfect for modeling."

Jess felt happy hearing Lena’s compliment, and even from seeing Jeff so focused on taking her pictures.

However, the next set of clothes was something she didn’t expect to wear in a photoshoot.

"Jeff..." she said, looking at him reluctantly as Lena handed her the next outfit.

"That red nightdress will look good on you, Jess."

With Jeff’s encouragement, Jess set aside her embarrassment, put on the nightdress, and posed for his camera.

It was followed by even more daring nightdresses, which Jess wore while thinking that Jeff would like them.

However, what came next—

"—Jeff!"

"Those white bra and panties will look good on you, Jess."

"Pervert!"