Xia Xiaolan glanced at her after hearing this.
She was quite perceptive—Room 307 truly harbored hidden talents.
Of course, decoration added value. The same clothes, like a shirt selling for 20 yuan at a street stall where customers would be picky, could easily sell for 30 yuan in a store like this without raising eyebrows.
Yang Yonghong couldn’t see it because she lacked experience, but with her intelligence, she’d understand once she gained more exposure.
But Chen Yiyi was surprisingly sharp about this. The usually quiet girl impressed Xia Xiaolan with her insight.
Everyone had secrets. When Chen Yiyi introduced herself, she’d only mentioned that her father worked and her mother was a housewife. Xia Xiaolan sensed a refined elegance about her, unlike her own energetic nature—Chen Yiyi was gentle yet observant.
There wasn’t time to analyze her roommates now. After the first customer confirmed her purchase, Xia Xiaolan approached:
“Congratulations on being our first opening day customer. In addition to the 10% discount, these stockings are complimentary—no charge.”
Ah?!
Both joy and surprise showed on the female customer’s face.
If told about free stockings before paying, one might think it wasn’t enough—that’s human psychology.
But after accepting the concept of paying for stockings, when Xia Xiaolan announced them as a gift for the first customer, the pleasant surprise was multiplied.
Yang Yonghong still didn’t quite understand.
Wasn’t this just losing 7.2 yuan?
But she kept quiet—Xiaolan’s family must have reasons for running such a successful business.
Kang Wei slouched in the car: “Look at that—over a few yuan, this female customer will think of Blue Phoenix first whenever she wants to buy clothes. I admire Sister-in-law’s brain. Lucky she hit me instead—if Sister-in-law Xiaolan had hit her head, that would’ve been a real loss!”
Few people could make such self-deprecating jokes, yet Shao Guangrong nodded seriously.
“That’s right. Different people think differently. If you’d opened that building materials store alone, I wouldn’t have dared invest.”
The two chatted idly in the car. With the first successful sale, Blue Phoenix’s business couldn’t go wrong today.
After 10 AM, Blue Phoenix’s Xidan store was bustling.
As the store got busy, Xia Xiaolan had no time for Kang Wei and Shao Guangrong. Yang Yonghong and the other two proved useful—without their help, the two shop assistants would surely have made mistakes on their first day of “real combat.”
Xia Xiaolan had Chen Yiyi handle the money while she joined in selling—though selling wasn’t really necessary. Sometimes two customers would want the same item. If there was extra stock, fine, but if the size didn’t fit, Xia Xiaolan had to quickly convince one customer to choose another style, keeping both satisfied and shopping rather than leaving angry after losing out.
Zhou Yi arrived during the busiest time.
Shao Guangrong nudged Kang Wei, “Have the sisters-in-law made up? Did she invite her?”
Probably not—Kang Wei hadn’t heard anything about Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Yi becoming close.
“Must be a coincidence… let’s stay quiet.”
It was indeed a coincidence.
Zhou Yi didn’t know Blue Phoenix belonged to Xia Xiaolan, and Guan Hui’e wouldn’t have told her.
Even without shopping companions, Zhou Yi wanted to browse Xidan. Without career ambitions, her weekends consisted of showing face to Zhou’s parents or shopping.
“Business is really good here. Let’s wait outside a while.”
Zhou Yi didn’t want to squeeze inside. The new store’s success was unexpected, partly due to its location.
“Should’ve gone to Xiushui Street instead.”
“No way, Xiushui Street isn’t as lively as Xidan, and this store looks quite grand.”
In broad daylight, the store was brilliantly lit, with a wide entrance and elegant display windows—different from other street shops. The owner must have distributed countless flyers to attract so many customers.
Such stores should have few customers browsing and trying on clothes leisurely.
In hindsight, they should have avoided the grand opening special during the 17th-20th. Without discounts, there wouldn’t be such crowds, right?
Zhou Yi initially didn’t know Tong Lili was coming. Seeing her, she scowled: “Well, well, you all tricked me. I said it’s either her or me!”
Tong Lili’s expression soured, “Zhou Yi, that’s enough…”
Completely separating Zhou Yi and Tong Lili would split their social circle, so mutual friends tried mediating.
Shao Guangrong and Kang Wei hadn’t expected this development, making it even more awkward to leave the car.
“…Quite a lively opening day.”
Tong Lili hadn’t spotted Xia Xiaolan yet—would there be trouble when she entered?
Both men vividly remembered the incident at the Beijing Hotel.
Shao Guangrong wondered if Tong Lili came to cause trouble.
Xia Xiaolan had let him invest and shared her study notes. Acknowledging her position, he couldn’t watch Tong Lili disrupt things. He rolled down the window, pretending to just notice them:
“Sister Zhou Yi, you’re here too!”
That bastard Shao Guangrong.
Earlier Zhou Yi wanted to leave; now Tong Lili wanted to go.
Everyone knew about Tong Lili’s failed matchmaking with Shao Guangrong. The official story was that she declined, but Tong Lili knew the truth—Shao Guangrong had rejected her!
Few didn’t know, but they spared her face by not exposing it.
For pride’s sake, Tong Lili couldn’t leave—was she now barred from places where Shao Guangrong appeared?
Shao Guangrong ignored Tong Lili’s hostile glare, greeting everyone as if the matchmaking had never happened.
“Shao Guangrong, bringing your girlfriend shopping?”
Zhou Yi glanced at the car, startled to see Kang Wei. Tong Lili relaxed seeing him. If Shao Guangrong had brought a date, she’d have felt doubly humiliated.
“Sister Zhou Yi, we came to deliver flower baskets, wishing Sister-in-law Xiaolan’s store success. Unlike you ladies who can support the business, we can’t wear women’s clothes!”
Kang Wei laid it out clearly.
No more pretending ignorance or claiming surprise if trouble started. He’d made it plain—this was Xia Xiaolan’s store. Anyone planning mischief should think twice!
Zhou Yi stared at the bustling store, processing slowly… This was Xia Xiaolan’s store?!
Tong Lili nearly choked with rage.
This was Xia Xiaolan’s store?
Looking at its size and decoration, how much money did it cost?!
—It must be the Zhou family. They doted on Xia Xiaolan so much they’d fund her store? Not just in Xidan—the flyers mentioned another store on Xiushui Street.
Tong Lili turned and left. She’d rather die than let Xia Xiaolan earn a single cent from her!
Wasn’t this the only clothing store in Xidan? She’d specifically patronize other stores!