Not sure if Yang Rui has had a prick of conscience, wanting to leave a last shred of dignity for both of us, or if itâs an agreement to part ways and never see each other again.
This time, Wang Tianxue returned home and, unusually, didnât run into anyone. The key was still under the flowerpot where it used to be.
Wang Tianxue only packed her and her childâs belongings, not taking anything they had bought together.
In Wang Tianxueâs words, another glance at this home made her feel sick.
After moving everything to the place she shared with Qin Juan, looking at the small living space, Wang Tianxue hesitated before speaking.
"Mr. Lin..."
"How many times have I told you, just call me by my name, Lin Chuxia, Chuxia is fine too."
In her previous life, Lin Chuxia and Wang Tianxue were close friends who could talk about anything. They struggled through hardships together, sometimes sleeping head to head on a pile of clothes or sharing a bowl of noodles when exhausted.
She felt uncomfortable with the formal address of "Mr. Lin".
Wang Tianxue smiled, finding Lin Chuxia to be a righteous and straightforward person, which made the following words seem easier to say.
"I plan to resign and not work at the Bun Shop anymore."
"What do you want to do?"
Lin Chuxia did not ask why, knowing that Wang Tianxue was different from her elder sister.
"Iâm thinking of starting a small business. I had a job before I got pregnant and have saved some money. Now the market is open to everyone for business, and I want to give it a try. What do you think?"
"Of course, itâs a good idea. Tell me, what kind of lucrative business are you planning to do? Maybe you can bring me along to make a fortune together."
Lin Chuxia acted like an excited fangirl, almost making Wang Tianxue lose her train of thought.
"Chuxia, I donât have any lucrative deals. Just before having the child, I worked in a Department Store selling clothes. I know a bit about the clothing business. I just want to get some clothes from a clothing factory to sell in a stall, to make some profit, enough to support myself and Xiao Long."
As in her previous life, Lin Chuxia did not participate further in this topic but instead retorted, "Is it really just for supporting you and Xiao Long? If thatâs the case, wouldnât it be better to work at the Bun Shop? No capital is required, no risk of losing money, and youâve got colleagues from the Bun Shop looking out for you. You wonât have to worry about wind, rain, or sun..."
Wang Tianxue looked at her and finally sighed, "Itâs not just for that. Iâve always had an unresolved anger inside me. I had a job before giving birth to Xiao Long, which was at the Department Store. It was Yang Rui who, taking advantage of my advanced pregnancy, told me to stay at home to rest and not worry about work. He said heâd find someone to fill in for me and after the baby was born and got a bit older, he would have that person return the job to me..."
She did not continue, but the hatred in her eyes was evident.
Lin Chuxia finished her unspoken words, "So, he gave your job to Tang Lili?"
"Iâm not satisfied. Even if I win the lawsuit and gain custody of Xiao Long, I wonât let them go for everything theyâve done. I want them to pay back for the injustice done to my brother."
"Alright," Lin Chuxia clapped her hands, "Tianxue, I support you. Itâs not fair they make mistakes and you and your child have to suffer. Watching that scumbag and that cheap woman live a good life... Actually, Iâve been looking for a shop lately. I was planning to open another branch of Qinâs Restaurant or something else. Iâve decided now, letâs open a clothing store."
Wang Tianxue turned her head abruptly to look at her, "A clothing store, you want to go into business with me?"
"Yes, if not with you, then with whom?"
Wang Tianxue thought, was Lin Chuxia always this capricious in making decisions?
Whether helping her back then or starting a business now.
"Arenât you afraid to open a shop with someone like me who has never done business before, losing money in the end?"
Lin Chuxia waved her hand generously, "In business, thereâs no such thing as a sure win without losses. But I believe, with our combined wisdom, we wonât lose money. Not to mention making a huge profit, but at least weâll be sound businesswomen."
Her words made Wang Tianxue laugh, "Lin Chuxia, you really have a thick skin. Who talks about themselves like that? But youâre already a well-known businesswoman now, thereâs really no need for you to get involved in this mess again."
She was about to embark on an unknown path, and she knew that Lin Chuxia pitied her, and although she was thankful, she didnât want Chuxia to take on any more burdens for her.
"What do you mean by stirring up trouble? I call this being visionary. Give me a straight answer, can you do it or not? First of all, if you say no, I wonât think youâre looking out for me because youâre afraid Iâll lose money. Iâll just assume you have a profitable business and youâre not including me. If thatâs the case, then our sisterhood is over."
Lin Chuxia pretended to be angry and stood up to leave.
"Alright, alright," Wang Tianxue said, looking at Lin Chuxiaâs unreasonable demeanor and quickly held her back to compromise, "Letâs do it together then. But I really donât have that much money to open a shop."
"Donât worry about the money. When the time comes, you just need to put in more effort."
"Okay then, you put in the money and Iâll put in the effort; Iâll work for Boss Lin."
"Much obliged, Boss Wang," Lin Chuxia extended her right hand.
Wang Tianxue, looking at the delicate and fair hand, suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears.
It was this very hand that pulled her out of the abyss, and now it was reaching out to lead her forward again.
She shook it firmly, her voice choked with emotion, "Chuxia, thank you."
...
In the following time, Lin Chuxia began preparing to open a clothing store.
She hadnât developed any new business recently. Partly because the Qin Family Villageâs vegetable greenhouses and Xiaoqingshan Villageâs yellow peach trees were just getting started, and even though she wasnât managing them directly, she needed to contribute ideas in many aspects.
Now that both ventures were flourishing, she could take some time to open a clothing store.
Actually, this move was already part of her plan.
In her past life, she had opened a clothing store with Wang Tianxue, and they had worked their way up step by step to eventually own a department store.
Only that happened years later in the past life.
In this life, since she met Wang Tianxue, she had moved the plan forward.
Not only had she brought it forward, but she also planned to take bigger steps.
When Zhang Guilan heard they were going to open a department store, her eyes lit up, "Sister-in-law, is there anything I can help with?"
She had been resting at her sister-in-lawâs place during her pregnancy, doing nothing but eating and sleeping.
Her sister-in-law took such good care of her that she didnât even let her cook.
Used to being busy at the Bun Shop, she felt uncomfortable having nothing to do.
Sometimes when she was unbearably bored, she would go to Qinâs Restaurant to see if there was anything she could help with.
But instead of finding something to do, both Lin Chu and Qinâs Restaurant, with Qin Jianjun and Qin Juan watching over her, wouldnât let her lift a finger.
The staff followed their lead and didnât allow her to touch anything.
Even when she returned home, Qin Juan, worrying about her, would personally escort her back.
If she couldnât make it, she would have Jianjun go instead.
It turned out to be more trouble than help.
After that, Zhang Guilan didnât feel right going to Qinâs Restaurant anymore.
But now, it was perfect; her sister-in-law was about to open a new store and would certainly be very busyâshe could finally be of help.