As soon as Fu Yuan finished speaking, he leaned back as if awaiting judgment. He wasn’t exactly calm inside, but he wasn’t about to grovel either. As he said, if this business worked out, great; if not, so be it.
“Are you being too polite? I really am willing to cooperate with you. I was already planning to find several factories,” Shen Suyu replied.
“I just hadn’t found the right candidates. Now that you’ve proactively brought this up, it would be ungracious of me to push it aside,” Fu Yuan said. Shen Suyu couldn’t hide her excitement at his words—truly, just as sleep brings a pillow, Gu Yanshen had once again been her lucky star.
“Really?” Fu Yuan looked slightly surprised but delighted. He had expected a refusal, but this outcome exceeded his expectations.
“Don’t act so surprised. I trust you’ve already made your calculations. Given my current situation, you should know how I’ll respond,” Shen Suyu said shyly. “I’m grateful that you presented this to me directly. I wouldn’t have known how to bring it up otherwise. Rest assured, once I succeed, your contribution won’t go unrewarded.”
Fu Yuan smiled, leaning back a little, still feeling a bit uneasy. “Miss Shen, don’t joke. I don’t even know what decision you’ll make—I have every reason to be anxious.”
“This isn’t just about you benefiting. All of us gain something from this. So there’s no need to thank me so profusely,” Fu Yuan said humbly, which made Shen Suyu all the more pleased.
Gu Yanshen watched silently nearby. Seeing the deal settled, he finally smiled sincerely. It felt good to have helped; the worst fear had been all the effort ending with nothing accomplished.
“Well, our basic deal is settled. Since it’s not too late, you two should get some rest,” Fu Yuan said. “Miss Shen, have you found a location for your shop? When it opens, be sure to send me an invitation.”
“Alright,” Shen Suyu replied. After a brief chat at the restaurant, the two returned to their hotel. Shen Suyu expressed her thanks and shared her plans, which Gu Yanshen wholeheartedly approved of.
“You truly have a talent for business. I don’t know much about it myself, but I know what you’re doing will succeed. Have you already found a store? Do you need any help from me?” Gu Yanshen asked thoughtfully, offering help without imposing his opinion. Shen Suyu’s heart swelled with gratitude.
“There’s nothing you need to worry about. The store is settled. Once I receive the garments, I’ll prepare for the official opening. When it happens, you must come—you being there gives me confidence,” Shen Suyu said casually. She didn’t notice the slight blush creeping across Gu Yanshen’s face, though it was subtle on his tanned skin.
The next few days passed smoothly. Fu Yuan’s garments were delivered successfully, and Ye Chen’s silkworms were on schedule. Shen Suyu spent her days holed up in her small room, embroidering nonstop. Gu Yanshen couldn’t stand to see her overworked and knocked on her door.
“I know you’ve put a lot of effort into your business, but your health comes first. You need to rest when necessary,” he said. “Don’t overexert yourself. I heard embroidery can strain your eyes. Why not step out for a while and return later?”
His tone was gentle but firm—there was no room for refusal. If he had known how hard Shen Suyu would push herself, he would have done more to ease her burden.
“It’s not a big deal. You’re overthinking. Since you say I should rest, I’ll rest—I can’t sit cooped up inside all day anyway,” Shen Suyu said. “I just have one last garment left. It’s scheduled for tomorrow’s opening. I’ll give you the address afterward.”
“Alright,” Gu Yanshen said, pausing as she rubbed her tired eyes. She was exhausted, but it was a worthwhile sacrifice to see the shop open successfully.
The store officially opened on the scheduled day. The streets were bustling, and not only did Gu Yanshen cheer her on, but Fu Yuan and Ye Chen were also present. Many young women in the crowd were excited at the sight of the three handsome men, while the local youth cadre watched with a mix of envy and resignation—Shen Suyu was truly in a league of her own.
“Miss Shen, we’re not trying to discourage you. But you still have work at the youth center. Going into business—won’t that interfere?” some women asked, feigning concern.
“You should just give up the business. Your youth center salary is enough to survive. It’s not worth the risk,” they added, but their eyes betrayed their jealousy. Shen Suyu smirked coldly, finding them nauseating.
“My life isn’t any of your concern. The youth center issues are already settled. I’ll do business if I want to,” she replied coldly. “No one will trouble me as long as you don’t manipulate things behind the scenes.”
Their expressions soured, about to argue further, but Gu Yanshen intervened.
“Everything you’re worried about is nonsense. No one forbids youth center workers from starting businesses. If survival requires it, why not? You’re all free to do as you please,” he said sternly. At his presence, their mouths clamped shut—they dared not oppose him.
“Gu Yanshen is right. We overstepped. Please don’t be angry. We meant well,” they stammered, trying to save face. They had known Shen Suyu and Gu Yanshen were close but hadn’t expected it to this degree. Shen Suyu had truly climbed high beyond their reach.
“Just speak openly if there’s a problem. No one should sneak behind my back,” Gu Yanshen said, giving them a glance before leading Shen Suyu away. These people weren’t worth interacting with—bringing them along would lead to nothing but trouble.