In 1985, Wangfujing Street was broad and bustling with constant foot traffic.

The number of cars on the streets has increased compared to previous years. Going back a decade earlier, Wangfujing was filled with blue workers’ clothing and bicycles, no more upscale than other Beijing streets!

By 1985, Wangfujing had become a mature commercial district.

It housed the Beijing Department Store, various time-honored shops selling food, clothing, leather goods, hat shops, and antique art galleries. Every store has its history and reputation. Xia Xiaolan had wanted to open a shop in Wangfujing but couldn’t find a suitable location – even if she had, the rent would have been unaffordable given her limited capital at the time.

Ji Ya didn’t lack money and had connections, managing to squeeze out space for her studio in Wangfujing.

To put things in perspective, while Xia Xiaolan could rent an entire building at Shangdu Erqi Square for 2,000 yuan a year, this year’s new policy allowed private individuals to rent counters in state-owned stores or set up display cases under manufacturer names… When Chen Xiliang came to Beijing, he eagerly inquired about a counter in a well-known state-owned clothing store – one counter cost 2,500 yuan per month!

Chen Xiliang thought it was too expensive.

30,000 yuan a year, just for one counter in a store!

But while he hesitated, someone else rented it.

“Those Zhejiang people have money. Everyone knows they rent around Muxiyuan, yet they dare call their family workshops clothing factories!”

Chen Xiliang’s tone seemed disdainful, but Xia Xiaolan knew he was nervous.

Making small profits from the clothing trade was easy, but true industry competition was fierce. While Chen Xiliang complained about the 2,500 yuan monthly counter rent, Zhejiang’s clothing merchants had already united and advanced into Wangfujing’s department store.

If one counter was worth 30,000 yuan annually, Ji Ya’s multi-story personal studio represented a significant rental investment.

Old Chen reported back after scouting the competition:

“With such sparse customers, if she can earn back the rent in a year, I’ll take her surname!”

Could it be profitable?

Chen Xiliang, squatting outside Ji Ya’s studio, calculated for her: based on the customer flow, they’d need at least three customers spending over 500 yuan each day just to cover rent costs.

But business expenses weren’t just rent.

The luxurious decoration and numerous staff meant they’d need monthly revenues of around 100,000 yuan to turn a profit.

“You’re worrying too much about Ms. Ji. This is an initial investment – her studio isn’t so much for profit as it is for socializing.”

Through the studio, Ji Ya probably met many wealthy women.

Ordinary people couldn’t afford such high-end services.

It wasn’t meant for common people anyway. After thinking for several days, Xia Xiaolan knew she couldn’t underestimate Ji Ya.

While Ji Ya might lack business acumen, she could meet capable people through George.

Ji Ya didn’t lack capital – if she wanted to burn money and George was willing to pay, what could others do?

Chen Xiliang was anxious too, otherwise, why would he go scouting in Wangfujing?

“Wangfujing’s road is quite spacious. Ji Ya has already had people set up a platform extending from her studio’s ground floor to the sidewalk, forming a cross shape about 20 centimeters high – is that her runway? It’s quite different from fashion shows described in magazines. Severely limited by the venue, why wouldn’t someone with her money rent a larger space?”

Chen Xiliang came to find Xia Xiaolan while Zhou Cheng was present.

Though Luna was technically Zhou Cheng’s business, Chen Xiliang knew he was just an investor uninvolved in daily operations, so after greeting Zhou Cheng, he spoke only to Xia Xiaolan.

Zhou Cheng didn’t interrupt their conversation until Chen Xiliang asked such a naive question.

Even Zhou Cheng, an outsider to the industry, couldn’t stay silent:

“Where should she rent – the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse or a sports stadium? None of those places are better than Wangfujing. However crude the street platform might be, it’s secondary – what’s important is the sensation it will create on Wangfujing Street. If she had even more influence, she’d choose Tiananmen Square.”

Unfortunately, Tiananmen Square wouldn’t be available for Ji Ya’s fashion show.

Zhou Cheng had recently studied “fashion knowledge” and understood what fashion shows were about.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t explained this – these were Zhou Cheng’s insights.

Xia Xiaolan had always known Zhou Cheng was intelligent, but now she increasingly felt he was a wasted business talent. Zhou Cheng was too perceptive, seeing past surface obstacles to the essence.

Ji Ya’s fashion show on Wangfujing Street would indeed have a better effect than at the Beijing Hotel or Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

While those venues were prestigious and could attract media coverage, could ordinary people witness it?

A spectacle visible to common people would create more sensation!

Chen Xiliang, unfamiliar with Zhou Cheng, looked awkwardly at Xia Xiaolan, who showed him the invitation: “We’ll see what it’s like tomorrow. With this invitation, we might get some seats, though, given the venue limitations, I suspect many will have to stand!”

Chen Xiliang fell silent.

He planned to bring Zhang Xiao tomorrow – seats would be nice if available.

After Chen Xiliang left, Xia Xiaolan continued fussing over Zhou Cheng’s clothes. “I’ve noticed you learn anything quickly when you want to – your talent is enviable!”

Zhou Cheng gave her a puzzled look, “You’re the truly talented one. Whatever you do, you have your ideas, and they always prove right.”

Hearing Zhou Cheng praise her talent, Xia Xiaolan smiled without speaking.

Her talent?

It came from learning from mistakes and having foreknowledge – she’d already lived through one lifetime of experience.

Zhou Cheng had no such experience, and the Zhou family wasn’t business-oriented. Pure intelligence let him grasp everything quickly, often without even needing hints.

Zhou Cheng patiently let Xia Xiaolan pick his clothes, trying on whatever she suggested. While other men might find it annoying, Zhou Cheng saw it as intimate time with his wife.

After dinner, he wanted to linger at Xia Xiaolan’s home but was “firmly” sent home.

“Won’t we see each other tomorrow morning? You can’t come back to Beijing without visiting home.”

Xia Xiaolan felt like she was coaxing a child.

Zhou Cheng reluctantly waited until she drove away before contacting Shao Guangrong:

“Where’s Kang’s car? Bring it out, I need to use it.”

Shao Guangrong was delighted, “Brother Cheng, you’re back in Beijing? Where are you? I’ll bring his car right over.”

Zhou Cheng said he’d wait at home. Inside, only Sister Zeng and Guan Huie were present. Guan Huie asked the same questions and wanted to make his noodles, but Zhou Cheng quickly stopped her: “I’ve eaten at Xiaolan’s. Shao Guangrong is coming to find me – we’re going out for a drive, but I’ll be back to sleep tonight.”