“Of course I know this job is good. But the question is… do you really think someone like me stands a chance?”
“I’m just a shampoo girl. If I had a choice, I’d never want to spend my whole life washing people’s hair.”
Lin Sui didn’t see it that way. “So what if you’re a shampoo girl?”
“You’re pretty, and you know how to talk. Didn’t you say before that every customer whose hair you wash ends up coming back again and again?”
“I tried it myself once, and honestly? You do a really good job. What does that tell you?”
“It tells me you’re hardworking and dedicated. You also know how to make customers feel at ease. Isn’t that exactly what sales and client relations are all about?”
“Really? You’re more precious than pearls themselves! By the way—can you hold your liquor?”
“One catty of white spirit? No problem at all.”
Lin Sui slapped her thigh in delight. “Then that settles it! You already made an impression on Factory Director Yang last time. I’ll go sound out my uncle about it. If there’s a chance, you can go for an interview.”
She’d already had this in mind for a while—that was why she’d asked Luo Feifei to come along to the factory that day.
Luo Feifei had been feeling quite confident just moments before, but as soon as she heard the word “interview,” she shook her head firmly. “No way, no way. I know absolutely nothing about making shoes.”
Lin Sui smiled. “You don’t need to know anything. You’ve got me. Give me two evenings to train you, and I guarantee you’ll understand everything you need to.”
In her past life, the shoe factory she’d run with Gu Shaonan had been far larger than any factory in this county. She had more than enough knowledge about the industry.
But the moment she thought of that unfaithful man, her heart turned cold and heavy all over again.
If Gu Shaonan could be so heartless, then she didn’t have to keep her sense of honor toward him either. Besides, Chen Qinghe and her brother were lazy and arrogant—they offended more people than they ever helped. If people like them could hold down a position, then Luo Feifei was more than capable. Why shouldn’t she get a chance?
And so, Lin Sui pushed her best friend forward to take a leap of faith. But then Luo Feifei suddenly thought of something. “Wait a minute—what about you? If this position is really that good, why don’t you apply for it yourself?”
“What are you planning to do instead?”
Lin Sui sighed, a little helpless. “Ah… my aunt already found me a job as a ticket seller at the bus station. It’s almost finalized. If I turn it down now, my mother will skin me alive.”
“Since my aunt went to so much trouble to arrange it, I’ll just stick with it for a year or so first.”
“Besides, the new market is going to be finished and open for rental soon. It’s a major project for the county, and the leaders are paying close attention. To make sure it gets off to a good start, the rent is going to be very low at first.”
In her past life, she’d regretted not renting a stall there. This time, she wasn’t going to miss that opportunity.
Now that she had a chance to start over, she didn’t have to follow the exact same path as before.
Without Gu Shaonan in her life this time, why shouldn’t she live it the way she wanted?
The new market was located along the route leading toward the southern city and Shenzhen. In time, it would become the county’s new commercial center—bustling and prosperous. She’d make sure to secure a stall first.
Even if she couldn’t open a shoe factory right away, she could still sell clothes, shoes, and bags.
But for now, since rental applications hadn’t officially opened yet, she decided not to mention it to anyone else.
That evening, Lin Sui went with her aunt to the restaurant at Guanghui Hotel as arranged. Her uncle would join them later, and after dinner, she planned to bring up the idea of Luo Feifei applying for the order coordinator position.
The station manager, Director Wang, was an easygoing man. And her aunt was good at building relationships—whenever she brought produce or goods from the countryside, she’d always give some to the wives of the local leaders.
Add to that the fact that Lin Sui had dressed neatly and properly that evening, carrying herself with a polite, hardworking air, speaking clearly and naturally, and even managing to make everyone smile now and then. So the matter of her new job was settled easily.
As they walked out of the private dining room after the meal, a voice suddenly called out: “Little Gu? You’re here too?”
Stepping out from the next room was none other than Gu Shaonan.
Lin Sui’s heart tightened instantly. At the same moment, Gu Shaonan looked over as well and replied, “Yes, I am. Uncle Liang.”
Standing right beside him was Chen Qinghe. On Gu Shaonan’s other side was Ma Qiurong—the mother-in-law from her past life—with a small baby strapped to her back. It was Gu Yan’s son, a child Lin Sui had carried and looked after many times in her previous life.
Further over were Chen Qinghe’s younger brother and her aunt.
Lin Sui recognized the aunt because, in her past life, Chen Qinghe’s brother had stayed with this aunt when he first came to work at the shoe factory. She knew her well—an extremely sharp, formidable woman.
It was clear now: this was a meeting between both families, most likely to discuss their marriage plans.
Lin Sui forced herself to stay calm and put on a gentle smile. “Uncle, isn’t that Team Leader Gu from your factory? We met just yesterday.”
Gu Shaonan’s gaze naturally fell on Lin Sui’s face. She didn’t look like the ordinary village girls around here—her skin was fair and smooth, with bright, almond-shaped eyes and a faint pink flush at the corners. When she smiled, her eyes curved, carrying a kind of lively, vivid charm that seemed to draw people in.
She wore a simple white top and black trousers, with straight legs and a slender waist that looked as if it could be snapped with just one hand.
A sudden thought crossed Gu Shaonan’s mind, and he quickly looked away, feeling a little awkward.
Chen Qinghe noticed the way his eyes lingered on the other girl, and the expression on his face felt different somehow. There seemed to be an invisible tension passing between them, and it left her feeling uneasy. With a polite smile, she asked, “Shaonan, are these friends of yours?”
Gu Shaonan came back to his senses. “Ah, yes. This is Uncle Liang, the factory director’s driver. And this is his niece, Lin Sui.”
Liang Junsheng nodded in confirmation.
So she’s just the driver’s niece? Chen Qinghe had thought she might be someone of higher standing. Her expression visibly relaxed. Then she turned to Lin Sui again. “Have you known Shaonan for a long time?”
Lin Sui almost blurted out: Yes, we’ve known each other for a whole lifetime.
Instead, she looked at Gu Shaonan and smiled even more brightly.
“We only met yesterday. But somehow… it feels as if I’ve known him forever.”
Gu Shaonan’s heart skipped a beat. Could she also have been reborn?
He glanced behind her—there stood Director Wang, the station manager. So she really had accepted that ticket seller job.
But if Lin Sui had also come back to the past, judging by her character, she wouldn’t just go along with the usual routine.
Probably not reborn then, he told himself. Just like in the past life, she’s fallen for me at first sight again.
He couldn’t quite explain the strange feeling in his chest, but all he wanted now was to leave this place as quickly as possible.
Ma Qiurong also wanted to go. The baby was fussy, wriggling restlessly on her back. Besides, there was no point wasting time chatting with the driver’s family.
And that girl—wearing lipstick, with eyes that seemed to tempt men just by looking at them. If Gu Shaonan married someone like that, she’d definitely turn her son against his own mother. Ma Qiurong took an instant dislike to her.
And Gu Shaonan was handsome; girls had always been drawn to him. If this one started liking him too, it would only cause trouble.
“Time to go home. Little Bao is getting sleepy,” she said.
“Right,” Gu Shaonan replied, nodding politely to Lin Sui and Liang Junsheng. “We’ll be on our way then.”
Chen Qinghe still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off between Gu Shaonan and Lin Sui. Her jealousy flared up, and she spoke with a sweet smile: “Since we’re all friends now, Shaonan and I are getting married at the end of the year. You must all come and drink to our happiness then!”
The meal they’d just finished had indeed been for discussing the wedding. Originally, they’d planned only an engagement first, but Gu Shaonan felt confident about their future and even promised to find work for Chen Qinghe’s brother. So, urged by her aunt, Chen Qinghe had agreed to set the wedding date.
Even though Lin Sui had mentally prepared herself, the words still struck her like a sharp blow. If she hadn’t held herself back, she would have stepped forward and slapped Gu Shaonan right across the face.
But what good would one slap do anyway?
Instead, she kept her smile steady. “Is that so? Congratulations! When exactly is the date?”
Gu Shaonan noticed a flicker of disappointment in her expression, but it was far less than he expected. She definitely hasn’t been reborn, he thought. Otherwise, she’d never be able to hold back—she’d have already rushed over and hit me.
But he’d forgotten: Lin Sui had always been capable of great patience. In their past life, she’d endured his mother for years. She’d thought that since Ma Qiurong had raised her children alone after becoming a widow, she should be more understanding and make allowances. She’d tried her best to avoid conflict and keep the peace.
She’d given everything she could to that family—and this was how it had all ended.
Gu Shaonan himself hadn’t expected Chen Qinghe to say something so direct. How could he invite Lin Sui to his wedding?
He forced a dry laugh. “Ah… the exact date hasn’t been decided yet.”
To bring this awkward meeting to an end quickly, he turned to Chen Qinghe and said, “You go ahead first.”