Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gu Xiang did not even look up as she answered, “Got it.”
After packing her things, she went downstairs, rushed by her mother. She put her luggage into the trunk of the car and stood aside to look at the sweet-scented osmanthus tree in the yard for a while.
She recalled her past. When she was very young, she had no one to rely on and was both uncertain and filled with anticipation towards this new home of hers. Over the years, she had always lived cautiously here. Now that she really had to go, she felt an explicable sense of relief.
Her mother came out of the house, saw her still standing and asked, “Why haven’t you left? Hurry up.”
She looked like she was afraid that the Jiang family would regret their decision. Meng Yan also followed out. She stood by the side and looked at Gu Xiang, her eyes quite triumphant.
After all, for her, the eyesore was finally leaving.
Gu Xiang said, “I’m leaving.”
She glanced at her mother, then opened the door, got in the car, and left. Old Du had already sent Jiang Chi’s address to Gu Xiang’s WeChat, but Gu Xiang did not go there directly. Instead, she drove to the store.
The store was busy. The anchor lady on duty for the live-stream today, Xia Xia, was standing in front of the camera and talking to everyone. “She is wearing a size 66 now, the fabric is very comfortable, and it looks really good when worn. If you like it, hurry and place an order. No. 79, right? I’ll wear it for you later.”
Seeing Gu Xiang enter, she moved away from the camera and said, “Boss Gu, why are you here now? Don’t you have something on today?”
“Don’t mind me. Get on with your work.”
Gu Xiang sat in front of the computer to the side and looked at the sales of the shop. Their sales were pretty good. The clothes in the store were all designed by her. She chose the fabrics, made them, and liaised with the factory. They had a physical store and also a premium-class Taobao online store.
Usually on their live-streams, Bai Wei would be in charge of the sales as Gu Xiang seldom cared about these things. Recently, Bai Wei had not been in a good mood because of Xia Wenxuan’s affairs, so she replaced her.
Xia Xia finished her two hour live-stream and packed up. She was ready to leave then she told Gu Xiang, “Boss Gu, I shall return now. Aren’t you going back?”
They had already clocked out from work.
Gu Xiang answered, “You can go back first. I’ll get some more work done. I haven’t been back in two days and there is still quite some work to be done. Let me handle it.”
“Then I’m leaving now. Leave early too! Don’t work too hard.”
In fact, Gu Xiang was younger than her, but she was too capable, so everyone admired Gu Xiang. She was an entrepreneur at such a young age and she even managed the store very well. Gu Xiang smiled. Seeing that Miss Xia Xia had left, she looked at her computer screen again.
It wasn’t that she did not want to leave work. It was just that she had nowhere to go. I can’t really move in with my husband because I’m not close to him!
Gu Xiang worked until 2am. There happened to be a bed in the lounge of the store. She lay on the bed and looked at the white light on the ceiling. She felt like she was in a trance and felt a surge of exhaustion overtake her.
She was now really… alone!
–
“Achoo!”
In the morning, Gu Xiang sneezed when Bai Wei entered. Seeing that she had slept at the shop overnight, Bai Wei was a little shocked. “Didn’t you go home last night?”
Gu Xiang sat on the bed. She was wearing a white t-shirt as sleepwear. She revealed her two long legs. “I worked till late last night so I didn’t return.”