Later, she heard that a clothing store in town was looking to sell. Clutching the over 2,000 yuan in her pocket, she decided to take a gamble.
She would go to the city's clothing wholesale market to buy some clothes and sell them by setting up a stall in town.
Even if she didn't earn much, it was better than staying at home all day.
Thus, she ventured alone to the Datong Wholesale Market in Nancheng.
It was there that she first learned about the profession of a fitting model.
Hearing that she could earn money just by standing and changing clothes, she was very tempted.
But fearing her grandmother's disapproval, she lied, telling her she had found a job in a department store in Nancheng.
She promised to send money back regularly and said she couldn't return home.
She rented a small room of about ten square meters there and lived there for several years.
In the meantime, the Datong Market underwent renovation and demolition, and she followed her former boss to the later Yinji Department Store.
It was also there that she met Lu Mingzhe.
For a young woman to come this far from a small town was truly not easy.
Lu Mingzhe listened with emotion, feeling both admiration and pity for her.
He couldn't help but tightly grasp her hand as she spoke.
Soon, Xiang Wan drove the car to where he had parked the previous night.
"Okay. You can get out. I have to go to work."
For the first time, Lu Mingzhe realized he had developed a sense of dependence on her.
He wished he could just sit by her side and watch her, not wanting to part.
"What time tonight? I'll pick you up after work."
"Why? Are you coming over again tonight?"
"It's not the first time, is it? What's one more night? Don't refuse me."
Xiang Wan thought about it. It was true.
It had been four or five years; what was one more night?
There was no need to be shy.
"I don't know. Don't pick me up. Come directly to my place after six. I'll be home by then."
"Alright, I'll wait for you at home after I've cleaned up."
"..."
Lu Mingzhe reached out, cupped her chin, turned her face, and pecked her lips.
"Drive carefully. Goodbye."
Xiang Wan was in an exceptionally good mood all day.
Although she didn't say much, her subtle expressions couldn't deceive anyone.
She would often break into smiles, her eyes and brows radiating tenderness.
Everyone gathered around her, teasing her.
"Sister Wan, why are you so happy? Is something good about to happen? Did your boyfriend propose?"
In their eyes, Xiang Wan was not young anymore, and her career was successful.
It was time for her to settle her personal life.
Xiang Wan didn't answer them.
"Are you all that idle? Have you finished today's orders?"
The wedding was tomorrow.
Even if the wedding dress was rented, the bride had to try it on for size in advance.
Lu Mingzhe was called home by his mother.
"Jiaojiao is from Jincheng, and the car will depart from Jincheng to our place that day. It's a bit rushed."
"Have you two discussed coming a day in advance? You can stay at your place, or at a hotel, but don't be late. What did you say?"
"Why does it seem like your wedding is a child's play? You don't take it seriously at all?"
Lu Mingzhe didn't consider as many things as his mother.
In his eyes, all he had to do was go to Chen Jiaojiao's house to get the bride on time.
As long as the bride was successfully handed over to him, this matter would be considered settled.
If not, he would definitely make the Chen family pay.
As long as the purpose of revenge was achieved, that was enough.
He didn't care about anything else.
Who cared about the wedding dress or whether it fit? That wasn't his concern.
"Don't worry about it, Mom. They have their own arrangements. You just get yourself looking beautiful and wait to be a mother-in-law tomorrow."
"I didn't sleep much last night, and I'm very sleepy now. Don't call me if there's nothing important."
After speaking, he yawned and went upstairs.
He didn't take it seriously, but as parents, they couldn't be so thoughtless.
Mrs. Lu couldn't help but call Mr. Chen.
Seeing that the Lu family had everything prepared while his side was in disarray, Mr. Chen felt very flustered.
He immediately agreed to send Jiaojiao over.
"We'll go with her too. Our in-laws' consideration is right. We'll stay at a hotel a day in advance to avoid missing the auspicious time for sending off the bride. We will cooperate fully!"
After hanging up the phone, Mr. Chen went to find Chen Jiaojiao.
Yesterday, Hu Jiasheng had worked for several hours and, along with other designers, calculated a reasonable data.
By adding two rows of pillars resembling skywalks to the existing building, the original hidden dangers could be offset.
Zhan Beijue gathered a group of experts, and the acceptance team came to discuss and calculate the plan together.
Chen Jiaojiao accompanied them throughout.
She returned after working until past midnight.
She was very agitated and couldn't sleep. Just as she was drowsily dozing off, her father found her.
Upon hearing that it was about her wedding, she was furious.
"I told you, I will not marry him. If you want to marry, you marry yourself. Why are you looking for me?"
Mr. Chen pointed at her nose.
"Chen Jiaojiao, don't force me to go find Hu Jiasheng."
"I've already had someone investigate him. Who does he think he is? Although he is nominally the executive president of Zhan's, he is actually an illegitimate child!"
"With Zhan Beijue suppressing him from above, and several of Zhan Beijue's direct children below him, he will never be able to step into the light in his lifetime!"
"What future can you have by following someone like that? Look at Lu Mingzhe, can't you be less short-sighted?"
Chen Jiaojiao didn't listen.
If she cared about these things, she wouldn't have started a relationship with Hu Jiasheng in the first place.
"Are you done? If you're done, you can leave. Unless you tie me up and take me there. Otherwise, I will not go."
She thought that as long as she was firm, her father wouldn't be able to do anything to her.
As it turned out, for the long-term interests of the Chen family, her father actually granted her wish.
"Fine. You said it yourself. Then don't blame me for being rude."
With that, he grabbed the crystal fruit bowl on the table and hit Chen Jiaojiao on the back of the head with a "clang."
She slumped onto the sofa with a thud.
He used Chen Jiaojiao's fingers to unlock her phone, found Hu Jiasheng's number, and dialed it.
Hu Jiasheng, like Chen Jiaojiao, was preoccupied and couldn't sleep, working overtime day and night.
Seeing his phone light up, he casually answered.
"Jiaojiao."
"I'm not Chen Jiaojiao, I'm her father. Hu Jiasheng, listen to me."
"Chen Jiaojiao's marriage to Lu Mingzhe has been decided by both our families, and it will be tomorrow morning."
"Her relationship with you was a mistake from the start. Lu Mingzhe already knows. Fortunately, he is magnanimous and doesn't intend to hold you accountable for the sake of both families' reputations."
"But don't be ungrateful. While there's still room for maneuver, you two should break up quickly."
"I'm taking Jiaojiao to Nancheng now. If you know what's good for you, don't contact her again. Otherwise, if the wedding can't proceed and both our families are embarrassed, you won't get away with it either."
Chen Jiaojiao had never told Hu Jiasheng that she was getting married, and it was tomorrow.
He was very surprised.
"She's marrying Lu Mingzhe tomorrow? Are you kidding me?"
"You can call Zhan Beijue to find out if I'm kidding. He's Lu Mingzhe's good friend and will definitely be there tomorrow."