My Classmates Wanted to Rent My Mom's $60,000 Dress for $3

Chapter 6

I sat in the surveillance room on the second floor and watched Serene urge everyone to start signing.

Every time a staff member brought out a gown, they read the notice aloud according to the rules.

"Chanel haute couture evening gown from 1935. Insured value is 600,000 dollars. Comes with authenticity certificates and complete ownership records. Once confirmed, the fitting will be arranged."

Someone below whispered, "They're really making a big deal out of this."

Serene waved her hand with a smile. "Private exhibitions all do things this way. They're just worried something might go wrong. Just sign it. Don't be nervous."

They signed their names while holding up their phones to take pictures.

"Oh my goodness, this fabric is incredible."

"Quick, take one from below. I need a picture to post."

The staff members carefully helped them measure their sizes, adjust the waistlines, and demonstrate how to put on the gowns without damaging the beadwork.

Someone asked, "What about the shawls? The handbags? The dust bags?"

William looked at her. "Do you need those accessories as well? All additional items will be listed separately in the rental agreement according to their prices."

Serene waved her hand. "We want everything. Lindsay already said they're all free."

In front of everyone, William repeated clearly, "Accessories are not included as complimentary items. The silk shawls, hand-embroidered evening bags, and dust bags will all be added to the rental agreement at their listed prices."

Serene cursed under her breath. "Enough. Stop talking so much. Just bring them over."

She thought the staff would be intimidated by her.

Instead, that only made everyone else become even more careless.

Someone secretly added another gown to the list, saying she wanted to bring one home for her older sister.

Someone switched to the Dior fitted dress, complaining that the Chanel gown was too hard to move around in.

Jonathan was the last one to stroll in.

His attitude made him look like a supervisor coming down for an inspection.

"Is everything almost settled?"

Serene immediately walked over with a bright smile.

"Almost. We just need to finish signing them out and wrap things up."

Jonathan looked around the exhibition hall and raised his phone to take a picture of the bronze sign bearing my mom's collection name.

"Lindsay's family really does have an impressive place."

Someone immediately chimed in, saying, "Just one word from Jonathan, and we all really do get the 300-dollar discount."

Jonathan's lips curled into a faint smile. "As long as everyone is happy."

Half an hour later, the exhibition hall was filled with gowns that had been taken off, opened accessory cases, and dust bags tossed into messy piles.

Everyone had already finished showing off on their social media.

A: First time wearing a Chanel antique gown in my life. Thank you so much, Serene.

B: Got a 600,000-dollar haute couture gown for 300 bucks. This deal is insane.

I grabbed my water cup and slowly finished the last sip while staring at the monitor.

Finally, William printed out the complete cost breakdown from the system.

A thick roll of thermal paper hung down from the counter all the way to his knees.

He placed the card machine directly in front of Serene.

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the exhibition hall could hear every word.

"Chanel haute couture evening gown from 1935, appraised value 600,000 dollars. Standard rental deposit is held at the full appraised value. Dior fitted antique gown from the 1950s, appraised value 45,000 dollars. Eight haute couture collection pieces, total appraised value 400,000 dollars. 42 silk shawls, hand-embroidered evening bags, dust bags, and other accessories, total value 3.68 million dollars. The total appraised value of all items is 3.68 million dollars. According to the exhibition hall rental policy, the security deposit is 50 percent of the total valuation, which comes to 1.84 million dollars. The 126,000 dollars Ms. Serene previously paid has already been deducted. The remaining deposit amount is 1,827,400 dollars."

William raised his eyes and looked at her.

"May I ask whether you would like to settle the full amount, or would everyone prefer to pay separately?"