Xu Xiaoyue had only shouted a couple of times before a crowd quickly gathered around.
"What's going on?" A woman stepped out from the crowd, her gaze shifting from Xu Xiaoyue to the nearby shop assistants.
"M-Manager Yan."
The shop assistants panicked, not expecting Manager Yan to be inspecting today. They looked at each other, hesitatingly explaining what had happened.
The woman called Manager Yan was in her forties, her hair neatly combed. She carefully examined Xu Xiaoyue's modified clothes from top to bottom, a flicker of admiration flashing in her eyes.
"Little comrade, who taught you how to modify these clothes?"
Xu Xiaoyue shook her head. "No one taught me. I figured it out myself."
"You're Manager Yan, right? I want this dress. Name your price." Sun Ningning wore an expression of absolute confidence, believing that with her family background, this so-called Manager Yan would surely side with her.
"Comrade, this female comrade has already paid for the dress and had it modified. If you want to buy one, you can purchase one yourself and modify it."
"I want the one she's wearing!" Sun Ningning frowned, stamped her foot, and threw a tantrum.
"She modified this herself. Why should she give it to you just because you like it?"
"In our state-owned supermarket, all customers are equal. I cannot make decisions on behalf of this female comrade."
Manager Yan's words were blunt and unsparing, leaving Sun Ningning's face alternating between green and white.
Having made a fool of herself, Sun Ningning threatened Xu Xiaoyue, "You just wait."
Despite her harsh words, under the pointing and murmurs of the surrounding crowd, she slipped away as if her feet were greased.
Xu Xiaoyue raised an eyebrow and prepared to leave as well.
"Little Comrade Xu, please wait a moment…"
Xu Xiaoyue hadn't expected to encounter such a stroke of luck—just as she was thinking about finding a job, one came knocking on her door.
Manager Yan was quite impressed with Xu Xiaoyue's craftsmanship and aesthetic sense. She proposed making an exception by offering Xu Xiaoyue a temporary position.
The requirement was for Xu Xiaoyue to help revamp the supermarket and increase its profits. One was eager to find a job, and the other was eager to retain talent. The two hit it off immediately and settled the matter.
Meanwhile, Zheng Jiaojiao, who had said they should go their separate ways, secretly slipped out through the back door of the state-owned supermarket and dashed toward the compound to find Wang Hao.
"So, you mean you'll lure Yan Shuli away later and create a chance for me to be alone with Xu Xiaoyue?"
Wang Hao smacked his lips, looking at Zheng Jiaojiao with a hint of suspicion in his tone.
This morning, not a single member of the Yan Family had been friendly toward him. Now, this Zheng Jiaojiao had come to him on her own, claiming that Xu Xiaoyue fancied him. The change was too abrupt.
"Isn't it normal for female comrades to be a bit shy? Besides, with so many people around this morning, Sister Xiaoyue wouldn't have dared to speak her mind even if she wanted to."
"Anyway, I'm just the messenger. Whether you go or not is up to you. But let me remind you—if you miss this chance, there won't be another." As soon as Zheng Jiaojiao finished speaking, Wang Hao thought of Xu Xiaoyue's fair skin and slender waist.
He quickly nodded. "I'll go, I'll go."
It seemed his mother was right—these women from the countryside would eagerly fall for a little bait. Xu Xiaoyue might appear aloof, but she was no different.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Zheng Jiaojiao's lips. Once he took the bait, things would be easy.
After dealing with Wang Hao, Zheng Jiaojiao hurried back, just in time to bump into Xu Xiaoyue who was looking for her.
"Jiaojiao, where have you been?"
Xu Xiaoyue had changed her clothes, and her entire demeanor was completely different. Zheng Jiaojiao almost didn't recognize her.
Zheng Jiaojiao glanced up at Xu Xiaoyue's outfit, then looked down at her own pants with several patches. Gritting her teeth, she told herself there was no need to spend money on clothes—what she had bought would surely make the Yan Family look at her in a new light.
Though jealousy was eating her up inside, Zheng Jiaojiao remained calm on the surface. "I had a stomachache earlier and went to the restroom."
Xu Xiaoyue also noticed that Zheng Jiaojiao was still wearing the same clothes she had arrived in, and the bag she was carrying didn't look like it contained clothes either. "Did you finish shopping?"
Zheng Jiaojiao instinctively hid the things in her hand behind her back. "Yes, let's go back."
The two left the supermarket, but Yan Shuli, who had been waiting for them at the entrance, was nowhere to be seen.
"I think I saw Brother Shuli's classmate come to find him earlier. Maybe he had something to do and left first," Zheng Jiaojiao explained casually.
Xu Xiaoyue nodded and, without giving it much thought, followed Zheng Jiaojiao into the car.
After getting out of the car, Xu Xiaoyue was unfamiliar with the area and could only follow behind Zheng Jiaojiao.
Zheng Jiaojiao walked ahead, picking up her pace. The alleyways of the capital twisted and turned, and in the blink of an eye, the person in front of Xu Xiaoyue disappeared.
"Jiaojiao? Jiaojiao?" Xu Xiaoyue called out as she hurried to the end of the alley.
But the end of the alley split into three different paths. Not only was Zheng Jiaojiao gone, but there wasn't even a trace of anyone else in sight.
"Jiaojiao?" Xu Xiaoyue's expression grew darker. Given Zheng Jiaojiao's methods, this was definitely more than just abandoning her here…
"Little beauty, you've kept me waiting."
Before Xu Xiaoyue could react, a sweaty hand landed on her shoulder. The stench of sweat mixed with body odor made her instinctively take two steps back.
"Wang Hao?"
Xu Xiaoyue looked around. In the quiet alley, there was only her and the man in front of her.
Wang Hao chuckled twice, his eyes narrowing into slits as his lecherous gaze shamelessly roamed over Xu Xiaoyue's body.
"I know, you like me but are too shy to say it. Let me taste those sweet lips of yours first."
With that, the man stepped forward, intending to force himself on Xu Xiaoyue.
Xu Xiaoyue refused to let him succeed and quickly backed away. "Don't come any closer. This is a crime of indecency. I'll tell Aunt Liu and have her hold you accountable."
"Accountable for what? Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for you." As Wang Hao spoke, his large hand reached out to grab Xu Xiaoyue's shoulder.
Xu Xiaoyue let out a scream and slapped his repulsive face hard. The sharp sound of the slap turned Wang Hao's head to the side.
"You bitch, you dare hit me?" Wang Hao's face twisted with rage, his tone vicious as he roughly grabbed Xu Xiaoyue's clothes and pinned her head against the wall.
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. I wanted to be gentle with you." With that, he began tearing at Xu Xiaoyue's shirt.
Xu Xiaoyue's heart pounded wildly. She struggled briefly, but Wang Hao only tightened his grip, restraining her more forcefully.
Her shirt, tucked into her waistband, was pulled out, and Wang Hao started undoing his belt.
Xu Xiaoyue calmed down. As if giving up the struggle, she stopped moving entirely.
"Changed your mind? Good, I'll take good care of you…" Before he could finish, his face turned ashen, clutching his crotch, glaring at Xu Xiaoyue, unable to suppress a cry of pain.
Seizing the moment of Wang Hao's vulnerability, Xu Xiaoyue mustered all her strength to push the man away.
"Help, is anyone there?"
After the excruciating pain, only one thought remained in Wang Hao's mind—he wanted this bitch dead.
Driven by hatred, he caught up to Xu Xiaoyue in a few strides, his large hand gripping her neck tightly. "Dare to kick me? Die, you bitch."
Deprived of breath, Xu Xiaoyue's vision blurred, hearing only a cold, sharp command.
"Let her go."