Dazzling

In the past few days, Liu Nian and Du Qiyan had become completely obsessed, spending all their time together studying techniques like air perms and spiral curls. They even made a special trip to the county town to buy some supplies. So when the batch of perm and dye materials Qing Ye ordered online arrived, everyone felt an eager restlessness, as if they were about to embark on some grand undertaking.

The headache, however, remained the question of who would serve as their test subject. Du Qiyan’s hair had already been straightened and curled back and forth at least three or four times by Liu Nian, and even the two wigs in the shop had been nearly ruined by their experiments. So they turned their attention to Boss Li. But Li Lanfang shook her flowing red hair and said earnestly that it wasn’t that she didn’t want to cooperate, but they were short one player for mahjong and couldn’t keep the people waiting outside.

With that, she breezed away like a gust of wind. Finally, Qing Ye, seeing the two at a loss, undid the hair tie holding up her hair and said, "I’ll do it."

Du Qiyan hesitated. "Is that a good idea? You still have to go to school. What if it turns out like mine did last time?"

Qing Ye walked over, sat down in the chair, and looked at their reflections in the mirror. "Then you’d better do it right. You’ve been studying this for so long—if you ruin my hair, you’ll have to shave my head with me."

The two of them shuddered and began bustling about, preparing their tools.

Qing Ye didn’t waste any time either. While they were busy, she put on her headphones and picked up a book. She had that kind of self-discipline—no matter how many distractions surrounded her, if she wanted to, she could instantly block out everything and immerse herself in her own world. Especially since transferring to Anzhong, she found this ability had improved even more; otherwise, she probably wouldn’t have lasted a single day there.

Qing Ye’s hair had never been permed or dyed. It was naturally straight, black, shiny, and smooth, with excellent texture. Because of this, Liu Nian and Du Qiyan were extra cautious, afraid of ruining her beautiful long hair.

Later, at Liu Nian’s suggestion, he decided to try giving Qing Ye an air bang perm. Qing Ye had no objections and let him do as he pleased. After all, she was the guinea pig today. As long as they didn’t burn her hair off, she was fine with whatever.

The most nerve-wracking moment was when they removed the perm rods. Even Qing Ye, who had been immersed in chemical formulas, took off her headphones and stared anxiously at her reflection in the mirror.

Just like with Du Qiyan last time, it was impossible to tell whether the perm had been successful while her hair was still wet. The fear was that once it dried, it would puff up like dough on her head.

So when Liu Nian started blow-drying her hair, Qing Ye kept her eyes closed, afraid that watching the process would be too cruel.

However, when she heard Du Qiyan calling out beside her, "Qing Ye, Qing Ye, take a look! Is this what you wanted?" Qing Ye cautiously opened one eye and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes suddenly lit up. In the mirror, she saw herself with soft, slightly wavy air-permed curls that weren’t overly voluminous. The delicate, lightweight curls, paired with wispy air bangs, complemented Qing Ye’s perfect face shape and lively, large eyes. She looked sweet and spirited, with a touch of vintage charm—like a little fairy who had just stepped out of the forest.

Even Liu Nian stared dreamily at her reflection and said, "Qing Ye, you look really beautiful like this."

Qing Ye immediately gave him a thumbs-up. "Your third aunt wasn’t wrong—you really are a little genius."Liu Nian said somewhat shyly: "Actually, it's mainly because your hair quality is good. If you had less hair, the volume at the crown wouldn't be this full. Too much hair would make the curls too puffy and hard to manage. This hairstyle really suits you."

Qing Ye also felt this hairstyle suited her well. She stood up and examined herself in the mirror again before clapping her hands: "Great, let's discuss pricing."

So she pulled over a stool and started setting prices for their newly developed hairstyles. Originally she planned to set it at over four hundred, but both Liu Nian and Du Qiyan stopped her, saying the price was too high. They thought 150 to 200 was appropriate and couldn't go higher.

Qing Ye once again marveled at the price differences. Back in Beijing, at her regular salon, you couldn't even get bangs permed for that price.

Xing Wu returned quite early today. Seeing the rolling shutter half-closed with lights still on inside, he knocked from outside. Qing Ye happened to be standing by the door. She bent down and pulled open the shutter. When the rolling shutter went up and Xing Wu saw her, he froze completely. They stood there - one outside, one inside - gazing at each other.

Xing Wu's dark, bright eyes sparkled with fine light as he stared intently at her. He had never seen Qing Ye with this look before. Just by changing her hairstyle, her whole person seemed to glow - fresh, transparent, and captivating, making it impossible to look away.

Qing Ye tilted her head somewhat awkwardly and touched her hair, asking softly: "Does it look good?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xing Wu's mouth as he walked in. Passing by her, he casually remarked: "Don't ask such pointless questions next time."

Qing Ye turned around and raised her hand, about to punch him, but Xing Wu sidestepped slightly to avoid it. Putting down his toolbox, he told her: "I'm dirty, don't touch me."

Only then did Qing Ye notice he was indeed quite dirty, as if he had gotten some engine oil or similar substance on him. Even his hands were black. So Xing Wu went directly to the backyard to shower after returning.

Qing Ye tore a page from her notebook and started calculating membership card systems with Liu Nian and the others - like how much discount for different prepaid amounts, how to design haircut cards, how to calculate perm and dye cards.

After all the complicated explanations, she completely confused both Liu Nian and Du Qiyan.

When Xing Wu came out after showering, he saw Liu Nian pointing at the discount rates and saying: "I don't really understand. We currently charge 10 yuan for a haircut, but now we're raising it to 12? Customers will see we're more expensive and won't come."

Qing Ye tapped on the written plan: "That's why we need promotion, to encourage regular customers to get membership cards. With cards, haircuts cost only 8 yuan - isn't that better for them?"

"But we'll lose money," Du Qiyan said.

Qing Ye made a disapproving sound: "Why can't you understand this? When customers prepay for membership cards, don't they have to come back next time? This way we secure our customer base and get cash flow."

"Let's make a hypothesis. Suppose our hairstyles become popular in Zhazha Pavilion, and lots of people come for perms. Can you two handle the workload? Can our current shop keep up?"

"If we suddenly get a surge of customers in a short time, what should we do?"

"Huh!"Qing Ye tapped the paper again: "This is when we need our cash flow to help solve potential problems. Cash flow is a more important indicator of profitability than profit margins. Have you heard the saying 'before the troops move, provisions must go first'? Cash flow is our provisions. With this, whether it's solving existing problems, expanding operations, or wanting to do something else, we have security."

Liu Nian said: "Qing Ye, aren't you overthinking this? What if no customers come at all?"

Qing Ye immediately stood up and tapped his forehead: "Do you know why it took until today for you to realize you're a genius? Because you've been constantly doubting yourself. Why doubt yourself? We haven't even tried anything yet and we're already doubting ourselves. Who does things like that? If everyone were like this, how would society develop? How would new enterprises establish themselves? Do you know why people in Zhazha Pavilion remain poor? Because they're all living life backwards."

Xing Wu sat leaning to the side with his legs crossed, lighting a cigarette as he quietly listened to the three of them engaged in heated discussion.

Li Lanfang's rundown hair salon had been open for several years, basically operating at the mercy of fate. As for what business management meant? The moment the shop door opened, it was all left to heaven's will.

Yet now Qing Ye was actually preparing to treat their shabby shop as a proper enterprise, even putting on the airs of employee training like some brainwashing organization.

Gradually, Xing Wu's gaze settled on Qing Ye. She stood before Liu Nian and Du Qiyan, gesturing animatedly while she spoke, her spirited appearance making her seem to glow.

Actually, Qing Ye wasn't wrong. Their county was relatively underdeveloped to begin with, and Zhazha Pavilion was the poorest slum in the county with the worst living conditions. Most people here just lived day by day, content with having enough to eat and wear. Everyone had this attitude of drifting along, so naturally they lacked confidence in both life and work, with self-doubt and suspicion becoming the norm when facing challenges.

But in Qing Ye, Xing Wu saw a vitality and positive energy he had never encountered before, as if her small frame contained limitless drive. This feeling of constantly pulling people upward made Xing Wu fall into deep thought.

Finally, they assigned tasks: Du Qiyan would create promotional posters to display tomorrow, Liu Nian would practice the newly developed perming and dyeing techniques, then they both looked at Qing Ye: "What about you?"

Qing Ye tossed her curly hair proudly: "I'll bring in customers for you."

Xing Wu found it amusing watching from the side, looking at the three of them as if they were fools, with the rhythm of three cobblers combining to equal one Zhuge Liang.

Before Du Qiyan left, Qing Ye saw Xing Wu hand her an envelope at the shop entrance. Du Qiyan seemed to refuse several times, but after Xing Wu said something to her, she finally accepted it and left.

When Xing Wu came back in, he pulled down the rolling shutter door. Qing Ye organized the items around the shampoo station and asked him: "Did you give Yanyan money?"

Xing Wu happened to be walking behind her and casually handed her a clip while making an affirmative sound.

Qing Ye took the clip and glanced back at him before heading to the backyard to bathe.Qing Ye's emotions were complicated. She had never experienced poverty—to be precise, she had never worried about money since birth. But Xing Wu was different. He seemed to live casually, indifferent to everything, yet after learning about her plans to study abroad, he hadn't let her spend a single cent. Whether it was the not-so-cheap daily necessities or her intention to give money to Du Qiyan this time, he took care of it all.

Qing Ye wasn't unaware that Xing Wu was making plans for her. She couldn't even fathom why he would do so for her. At most, she was just a temporary guest staying at his home, destined to leave sooner or later. She didn't even know if, after the college entrance exams and her departure abroad, she would have any further connection with Xing Wu or the people of Zhazha Pavilion. This thought made Qing Ye feel restless.

Just then, her phone rang. Qing Ye picked it up and saw it was Sun Hai calling. She quickly answered. Sun Hai asked how she had been lately. She said everything was fine—school had started, and all was going smoothly.

Hearing Sun Shu's voice again, thinking of her former life, and then looking at this dimly lit bathroom, Qing Ye suddenly felt everything was surreal.

She sat on the small stool in the bathroom and chatted with Sun Shu for a while. Sun Hai had been quite worried about her adapting to life in Anzi County, but hearing Qing Ye's voice seemed to put him somewhat at ease.

Over the phone, he told Qing Ye that there had been some progress in her father's case. Meng Ruihang's father had found a key witness currently in Japan. A friend of Father Meng would be going to Japan next month, and he planned to ask his friend to speak with the witness. If that person was willing to testify in court for Qing Ye's father, it could play a crucial role in the case.

On one hand, Qing Ye felt excited—at least Sun Shu and the others hadn't given up on her father and were still making various efforts. On the other hand, she felt conflicted about the Meng family's actions. Initially, they had refused to take her in, yet now they were still trying to help her father. She didn't know whether to thank them or blame them, especially after Meng Ruihang had gotten together with He Leling behind her back. If her father really managed to get through this safely, she had no idea how she would face the Meng family in the future. Fortunately, these issues didn't need to be considered for now.

Before hanging up, Sun Hai added with concern, "Xiao Ye, don't worry about your father's matters. The most important thing for you right now is your studies. I'm not worried about your abilities, but I am afraid that the environment around you might wear down your fighting spirit. I saw your dad last month, and he was still talking about you. You can't let your father down."

"Understood."

After hanging up, Qing Ye remained seated in the bathroom for a while until there was a knock on the door. Xing Wu asked from outside, "Are you planning to sleep in there and never come out?"

Only then did Qing Ye open the door and realize that it had started drizzling outside at some point. Xing Wu was holding an umbrella, waiting for her. She stared blankly at his distinct features, the heavy feeling inside her growing more intense.

She picked up her clothes and phone and stepped under the umbrella. They stood very close, and Qing Ye could clearly smell his clean, pleasant scent. She didn't know when she had become so sensitive to his presence.Through the back door, Xing Wu closed his umbrella and set it aside, shutting the door behind him. As he turned around, Qing Ye was leaning against the doorframe. Her hair was damp, with wispy bangs clinging slightly to her forehead. The soft, fluffy curls framed her eyes, which gleamed like clear springs in the dim light. Her skin was as pale and smooth as a peeled egg, translucent and captivating. For a moment, Xing Wu stood frozen, one hand still resting against the door as he gazed at her.

Qing Ye had been waiting for him to lock the door, but when he didn’t move, she looked up and asked, "What are you staring at?"

"Just wondering how you manage to look more like a temptress every time you change your hairstyle."

With that, he locked the door and headed toward the stairs. Qing Ye followed, retorting, "Xing Wu, do you have to be so sarcastic? Would it kill you to just say I’m pretty? Don’t you realize how annoying you can be sometimes?"

"If I’m so unlikable, why not just fall for me and get it over with?"

Silence. A sudden, heavy silence, broken only by the creaking of the wooden stairs beneath their feet. Neither of them spoke again.

Back in their room, the curtain hung between them. Qing Ye pulled out her workbook and stubbornly worked through problems for another hour before finally turning off the light. Xing Wu’s side had long fallen quiet.

Lying in bed, Qing Ye blinked a few times before her voice cut through the darkness: "I won’t let anyone hold me back."

She wasn’t sure if the words were meant for Xing Wu or herself. Perhaps it didn’t matter. Xing Wu gave no response—maybe he was already asleep.

…

The next morning, as soon as Qing Ye arrived at school, her class erupted into chaos. The principal, Miss Yu, and a group of school administrators stormed into the classroom. The commotion made it clear something major had happened.