Xu Xiaoyue had only shouted a couple of times before a crowd quickly gathered.  

“What’s going on here?” A woman stepped forward from the crowd, her gaze shifting from Xu Xiaoyue to the nearby shop assistants.  

“M-Manager Yan!” 

The shop assistants panicked. They hadn’t expected Manager Yan to be inspecting today. Exchanging nervous glances, they stammered out an explanation of what had happened.  

The woman called Manager Yan was in her forties, her hair neatly combed. She scrutinized Xu Xiaoyue’s modified outfit, a flicker of admiration flashing in her eyes.  

“Young comrade, who taught you how to alter clothes like this?”

Xu Xiaoyue shook her head. “No one. I figured it out myself.” 

“So you’re Manager Yan, right? Name your price—I want that dress,” Sun Ningning declared with an air of certainty, convinced that given her family background, this so-called Manager Yan would side with her.  

“Comrade, this young lady has already paid for the clothes and modified them herself. If you want one, you can buy your own and alter it.”  

“I want the one she’s wearing!” Sun Ningning scowled, stamping her foot like a petulant child.  

“She modified it herself. Why should she hand it over just because you like it?”  

“In our state-run store, all customers are equal. I can’t make decisions for this comrade.”  

Manager Yan’s words were merciless, leaving Sun Ningning’s face alternating between green and white.  

Humiliated, Sun Ningning shot Xu Xiaoyue a venomous glare. “You just wait.”  

Her threat delivered, she fled under the crowd’s disapproving stares, slipping away like an eel.  

Xu Xiaoyue raised an eyebrow and turned to leave.  

“Comrade Xu, wait a moment—”

Xu Xiaoyue hadn’t expected luck to strike so perfectly—just as she was thinking about finding a job, one landed in her lap.  

Manager Yan, impressed by Xu Xiaoyue’s skill and aesthetic sense, offered her a temporary position on the spot. The condition was that Xu Xiaoyue would help revamp the department store’s merchandise to boost sales. One was desperate for work; the other, eager to retain talent. They hit it off immediately, sealing the deal.  

Meanwhile, Zheng Jiaojiao—who had insisted on splitting up—had secretly slipped out the store’s back door and sprinted straight to the compound to find Wang Hao.  

“So you’re saying you’ll lure Yan Shuli away later and leave Xu Xiaoyue alone with me?” 

Wang Hao rubbed his chin, eyeing Zheng Jiaojiao skeptically. That morning, not a single member of the Yan family had been friendly toward him. Now this Zheng Jiaojiao was claiming Xu Xiaoyue had feelings for him? The shift was too sudden.  

“Isn’t it normal for girls to be shy? Besides, with so many people around this morning, Sister Xiaoyue wouldn’t have dared to speak up even if she wanted to.”

“I’m just the messenger. Whether you go or not is up to you. But remember—opportunities like this don’t come twice.”  

As soon as Zheng Jiaojiao finished speaking, Wang Hao thought of Xu Xiaoyue’s fair skin and slender waist.  

He nodded eagerly. “I’ll go, I’ll go!”  

So his mother was right—these country girls were easy prey. Xu Xiaoyue might act aloof, but she was no different.  

Zheng Jiaojiao’s lips curled into a smile. Now that they’ve taken the bait, things will be easy.

After dealing with Wang Hao, Zheng Jiaojiao hurried back just in time to run into Xu Xiaoyue, who was looking for her.  

“Jiaojiao, where did you go?”  

Xu Xiaoyue had changed into a new outfit, her entire aura transformed. Zheng Jiaojiao barely recognized her.  

Glancing at Xu Xiaoyue’s clothes, then down at her own patched pants, Zheng Jiaojiao gritted her teeth. *No need to waste money on clothes—what I bought will impress the Yan family far more.*  

Though jealousy burned inside her, Zheng Jiaojiao kept her face calm. “I had a stomachache 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 seem to contain clothing either. “Did you finish shopping?”

Zheng Jiaojiao instinctively hid the items in her hand behind her back. “I’m done. Let’s go back.”

The two left the supermarket, but Yan Shuli, who had been waiting for them at the entrance earlier, was nowhere to be seen.

“I think I saw Brother Shuli’s classmate come looking for him just now. Maybe he left first because something came up,” 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 wasn’t familiar with the area, so she could only trail behind Zheng Jiaojiao.

Zheng Jiaojiao walked ahead, moving faster and faster. The twisting alleys of the capital made it easy to lose sight of someone, and in the blink of an eye, the figure in front of Xu Xiaoyue had vanished.

“Jiaojiao? Jiaojiao?” Xu Xiaoyue quickened her pace to the end of the alley while calling out.

But the alley split into three different paths at the end, and not only was Zheng Jiaojiao gone-there wasn’t even a trace of anyone else around.

“Jiaojiao?” Xu Xiaoyue’s expression darkened. Given Zheng Jiaojiao’s usual tactics, this definitely wasn’t just about ditching her here…

“Hey there, pretty girl. You kept me waiting.”

Before Xu Xiaoyue could react, a sweaty hand landed on her shoulder, the stench of sweat and body odor making her recoil in disgust.

“Wang Hao?”

Xu Xiaoyue glanced around. The alley was dead silent-only she and this man stood there.

Wang Hao let out a greasy chuckle, his eyes narrowing into slits as his lecherous gaze roamed freely over her body.

“I already know, sweetheart. You’ve got a crush on me but you’re too shy to say it. Let me get a taste of those pretty lips first.”

With that, he lunged forward, trying to drag Xu Xiaoyue into his grasp for his vile intentions.

Xu Xiaoyue refused to let him succeed, stepping back hastily. “Stay away! This is a crime-I’ll tell Aunt Liu and make sure you face the consequences!”

“Consequences? Don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility for you.” Wang Hao sneered, reaching out to grab her shoulder.

Xu Xiaoyue let out a sharp scream and slapped him hard across the face. The crisp sound of the blow sent his head snapping to the side.

“You bitch! You dare hit me?” Wang Hao’s face twisted with rage, his voice venomous as he yanked Xu Xiaoyue by her clothes and slammed her head against the wall.

“You had your chance to play nice. Now you’ll get it rough.” With that, his hands tore at her blouse.

Xu Xiaoyue’s heart pounded wildly. She struggled briefly, but Wang Hao only tightened his grip, pinning her harder.

Her tucked-in blouse was pulled loose, and Wang Hao had already begun undoing his belt.

Xu Xiaoyue forced herself to calm down. She went still, as if surrendering.

“Finally came to your senses? Good. I’ll treat you real nice…” Before he could finish, his face contorted in pain. Clutching his crotch, his eyes bulged at Xu Xiaoyue, and a cry of pain escaped his mouth.

Taking advantage of Wang Hao’s moment of weakness, Xu Xiaoyue used all her strength to push the man away.

“Help! Is anyone there?”

After the searing pain, only one thought remained in Wang Hao’s mind—this bitch must die.

Fueled by hatred, he caught up to Xu Xiaoyue in a few steps. His large hand clamped tightly around her neck.

“You dare kick me? Go to hell, bitch.”

Her breath was cut off, her vision blurred, and just then, a cold and commanding voice rang out—

“Let her go.”