Chapter 378: "It had started kicking in." (2)
“My opinion, and strictly subjective, is that there are a lot of clothing stores in the area gearing toward bargain shoppers but there will be some students who are wealthier than others and can afford nicer clothes. In addition, there are a lot of pocket areas around City Nan University and people living in these areas will go shopping on the weekends. There are wealthy people among them. Isn’t selling a few a day better than dozens a day?” Shu Yan didn’t understand why it was so difficult for others to grasp this concept.
“Yes, I was nervous. Perhaps I didn’t have what it takes to start my own business. I get frazzled too easily. I should just keep my job. In my shop loses money, I will still have an income.” Juggling between going to work, taking care of her child, and remodeling, Lin Hui had seriously thought about quitting.
“I’m glad you think that way.” Have realistic expectations. That’s the way to go.
As she had free time, Shu Yan went with Lin Hui to check out her shop. It was, indeed, immediately next to the shopping mall and the location was great. The storefront was quite spacious. She trusted that business would be alright if the décor was good.
As work was being done inside, there wasn’t much to look at. The two bought some snacks and headed back.
As soon as the two had left, Wu Xiuyue came over and asked the workers, “Did the boss lady come?”
“She just left. Are you looking for her?”
“No, I’m just asking.”
Walking outside of the shop, Wu Xiuyue turned, looked, and gritted her teeth before she headed back toward her own shop. She regretted deeply. She shouldn’t have gloated so much and now Lin Hui was going to open up a shop to compete with her. And that Lin Hui, City Nan was a sizeable city, why must she open her shop up right next to hers?
Lin Hui had no idea that Wu Xiuyue had found out about her shop and that she was upset at her over it.
Her stop was quite far from Wu Xiuyue’s, at least 2 miles between them. Shu Yan didn’t feel that there’s anything wrong with it. Had it not been Lin Hui, there would be Li Hui. One couldn’t stop everyone else from opening up shops.
The very next day, when Shu Yan went into the office, Hu Ruixue wasn’t there yet. She thought perhaps Hu Ruixue was tied up at home. Another hour pass and there was still no Hu Ruixue. That was odd. Hu Ruixue would for sure had told her if she wasn’t going to come into the office. She immediately called Hu Ruixue on her phone. It was disconnected after four rings. What was that?
Shu Yan called Hu Ruixue’s house right away.
“Hi Aunty, it’s me, Shu Yan. I just want to see if Hu Ruixue had taken off yet?” Shu Yan had a bad feeling.
“Xiao Xue? She left early this morning. She hasn’t arrived yet?” Mother Hu sat up and asked, worried.
“I haven’t seen her yet nor did she call me. I tried to call her but it was disconnected after four rings. If she is not home and not at the office, where could she be?” Shu Yan’s bad feeling got tronger.
“You said her phone was disconnected after four rings? That’s not good. I’m afraid Xiao Xue is in trouble. I’ll just say that for now. Let me give Huiyang a call.” Mother Hu hung up quickly to call Hu Ruiyang.
Were four rings some sort of a signal? Worried, Shu Yan called up Feng Zeyu.
“Something’s wrong. I had an inkling when I didn’t see her this morning. Can you help us look for her?” Feng Zeyu had a lot of employees and better odds in finding Hu Ruixue.
***
Inside the mansion in the countryside, Hu Ruixue put down her cellphone and smiled at Ji Fansheng. “Don’t worry, I didn’t pick it up.”
Ji Fansheng took her phone, took a look at it and asked, “Who was it from?”
“Shu Yan. You’ve met her. She was probably calling to check on me as I didn’t go into the office today.” Hu Ruixue sat there elegantly. Ignoring the ropes that were tying her down on her arms and legs, the two of them were chatting like friends.