The jadeite boutique finally opened, with only a few delicate flower baskets outside the door, giving Huayan's small shop a somewhat desolate appearance. Some university students on a stroll would occasionally venture inside to explore.
Every customer who stepped through the door immediately heard soft music echoing in the quaint and elegant house. The cozy seating area connected to the cashier counter was exquisitely decorated, irresistible to most girls. Some bolder individuals would inquire about sitting down, but they were politely declined by Huayan's father. He wouldn't dare allow anyone into his beloved daughter's cherished space.
In the afternoon, some upper-class ladies and socialites came, eager to witness the jadeite hairpins crafted by the Feicui Studio. When Gao Ruqing excitedly called Huayan late at night, she was initially disoriented from being awakened but soon shared his joy like a child upon understanding that her jadeite had yielded a rare treasure. Why they hadn't noticed it before was unclear to anyone.
Gao Ruqing wanted to purchase it at a high price but was firmly rejected by Huayan. She was resolute in her decision, and Gao Ruqing didn't resort to any underhanded tactics because someone had warned him against it. Even if Huayan knew about this, she wouldn't have cared. In her mind, if she allowed herself to be bullied, it was because she was weak. Only when she became strong could she strike back fiercely at her enemies.
With the inclusion of the jadeite, the hairpin remained jadeite. Huayan promptly informed the guild of this news.
The last woman, who exuded an aura of elegance and strength, finally purchased the hairpin for a low price of one million eight hundred and eighty thousand. What would the price be if the hairpin were put up for auction? Even Gao Ruqing didn't dare to speculate. Only someone as carefree as Huayan would treat such a treasure so casually.
The other ladies who didn't obtain the coveted hairpin purchased one or two unique jadeite pieces selected by Huayan. Additionally, the jadeite accessories designed by Huayan using leftover materials were also popular among ordinary people who could afford them.
On the first day, with the appearance of the hairpin and the influx of university students returning with their living expenses, the daily turnover exceeded two million three hundred thousand. Although the number of customers remained low in the following days, according to Huayan's father's statistics, anyone who entered the store, whether spending a few dozen yuan or tens of thousands, would make a purchase. This validated Huayan's strategy of prioritizing quality over quantity.
Huayan's father mainly managed the jadeite boutique, while Huayan handled procurement and the creation of handmade accessories. The father-daughter duo worked together to settle down in Hai Bin City, gradually putting their business on the right track.
In the midst of such simple and joyful days, Huayan welcomed the first day of school. In the days leading up to the start of classes, she went to H University to complete some paperwork.
On the first day, after meeting with her counselor and completing all the procedures for living off-campus, Huayan familiarized herself with her class. Walking alone along the tranquil path under the canopy of trees, she marveled at the facilities and atmosphere of H University, one of the top universities in the country.
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Passing through the shopping district of H University, Huayan bought herself an ice cream and sat under a large umbrella outdoors, enjoying her treat while basking in the afternoon sunlight. Suddenly, as she immersed herself in this pleasant moment, she felt as though someone was staring at her from behind. Among the tables and chairs under the umbrellas around her, only a couple diagonally across from her and a girl sitting three tables behind her, with furrowed brows and flushed cheeks, caught her attention.
Upon careful consideration, Huayan realized who the person staring at her was. Sensing that the girl didn't harbor any ill intentions, despite suspecting she might be someone familiar with her current body, Huayan decided not to approach her and continued with her own business.
Not long after, a shadow blocked Huayan's path, and when she looked up, she saw the girl from behind with a somewhat awkward and hesitant expression.
After waiting for a while without the girl saying anything, Huayan asked, "Do you need something?"
"Can I sit down?" The cute girl asked cautiously, her face turning red.
"Please, go ahead." The girl sat down but still didn't say anything. Huayan started to feel annoyed by this inexplicable girl and quietly resumed eating her food, ignoring her.
After a while, the girl, with a flushed face, cautiously stared at Huayan's strawberry ice cream and said, "Um... Can I borrow some money from you?" Seeing Huayan's surprised expression, the girl blushed even more. "I forgot to bring money when I went out today, and it's so hot today that I don't even have money to buy a bottle of water."
Upon hearing the girl's words and seeing her delicate appearance and pure eyes, Huayan realized she had encountered a sheltered girl who didn't know much about the world.
Initially not harboring any resentment towards the girl, Huayan smiled slightly and said, "I'll treat you to ice cream. What flavor would you like?"
"Oh? You're so kind. I also like strawberry flavor, just like my sister." The girl smiled sweetly.
After a while, as Huayan and the girl ate and chatted, she learned that her name was Cheng Qingqing, a sophomore majoring in Chinese language and literature, and that they were in the same class.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before, but I can't remember?" Cheng Qingqing bit her spoon, pondering hard. In fact, Cheng Qingqing had indeed seen Huayan once, but at that time, Huayan was pretending to be the wife of Cheng Jie at a banquet, where they had a brief encounter.
At that time, she was betrayed by her elder brother and taken to be a temporary companion for Shangguan Ning. On that day, she finally stood side by side with the man she had secretly loved for many years, and only she knew the happiness she felt. Since then, every year on that day, she would buy herself a small cake.
"But I don't remember seeing you."
"Well, maybe I'm mistaken," Cheng Qingqing smiled and continued to enjoy her food.
On this day, Huayan made her first friend in university. The longer she spent time with Cheng Qingqing, the more she realized how innocent and carefree Cheng Qingqing was, like a free bird, joyful every day. Huayan's own demeanor became more lively under her influence.
Half a month later, Huayan still didn't know anyone other than Cheng Qingqing in her class. Several times she heard her classmates say she was arrogant, and some even said she was a kept woman, supported by an old man in his fifties.
These rumors puzzled Huayan. When did she start being supported? Moreover, did she still need to rely on a wealthy man now that she had her own wealth?
One day, on a weekend, after eating the meal prepared by Chang Ma, Huayan was about to go to the bookstore from the jadeite boutique when she met some classmates from her class outside. These classmates noticed her coming out again, and their gaze was as if they had caught a cheating spouse. It was then that Huayan realized people were probably referring to her father as the wealthy man. They thought that because she usually dressed modestly, she must be supported by her father to live in such a nice house and frequent the now somewhat famous jadeite boutique.