Brother! This is the adoption certificate. I don't want your sister-in-law!

On December 1st, Su Xiao's shop was finally ready.

He stood at the shop entrance, looking up at the newly hung signboard.

The sign features a white background with pink trim, the two characters "圈圈" (Quan Quan) are round and plump, and the logo is a large pink cat with squinting eyes, lazily lying in the lower right corner of the sign.

On this tech street, all the shops are blue with white lettering and bold black font, advertising "XXX Electronics" and "XXX Digital." His shop, standing there, looks so young and inexperienced, like he'd wandered onto the wrong movie set.

When the renovation team first arrived, the workers looked at the blueprints over and over again, confirming them repeatedly.

Are you really going to paint it this color?

Su Xiao was too lazy to explain too much to them; she just told them to focus on their work.

As for whether the store's renovation will be successful, only time will tell.

Pushing open the glass door and walking in, the testing station, repair station, shelves, and counters were all arranged according to his drawing.

The store's decor is also completely out of step with the times.

The walls are decorated in macaron colors, and warm-colored LED strips run around the edge of the shelves. The display stand is not one of those old-fashioned glass cabinets, but a minimalist display shelf that was designed by myself and built by a carpenter.

It's not an exaggeration to say it's a case of "dimensional reduction attack".

There was also a slogan hanging on the wall.

"We don't produce good phones, we're just good phone carriers."

Yellow background with black lettering creates a strong visual impact.

Now we only need to take the last step.

Su Xiao pasted the printed job postings on the glass door and pressed the four corners with tape.

A used mobile phone inspector is needed, with a monthly salary of 1,500 yuan.

Two used mobile phone repair technicians are needed, with a monthly salary of 1,500 yuan.

A receptionist, with a monthly salary of 600.

We'll hire this many for now, and add more as our business expands.

After he finished applying the sticker, he stepped back and dusted off his hands.

Just as I was about to lock the door and leave, a bald man suddenly appeared beside me.

He was in his early forties, with a short, thick neck, wearing a black jacket, and sporting a smile that made you want to slap him.

He stood at the shop entrance, looked up at the signboard, then peeked inside at the interior, and scoffed.

"Your shop is decorated like a karaoke bar. Is it a legitimate mobile phone recycling business?"

Su Xiao put the key in her pocket and glanced at him.

There aren't many bald people on this street, which makes it easy to remember.

He didn't reply.

The man probably sensed that Su Xiao's silence indicated fear, so he took another step forward.

"My name is Zeng Ran, but everyone calls me Boss Zeng. My shop is right across from yours."

He curled his lip in a smirk. "When you took over, didn't the guy surnamed Qian tell you how this shop was closed?"

Su Xiao looked across the street.

Across the street was a shop called "Zeng Ge Secondhand Recycling," which had a much larger storefront. The shelves were piled high with secondhand phones and accessories, and there were two or three employees working inside. Business seemed to be doing well.

The reason Qian Yuan's store closed down wasn't just due to poor management.

He thought for a moment, then twirled the key around his finger and gave a mocking look.

"He told me, so he specifically begged me to come and fuck you to death."

Zeng Ran's grin froze for a moment.

Looking at Su Xiao's nonchalant demeanor, he felt it wasn't like she was making threats, but rather like she was stating a fact that was about to happen.

If they were to continue applying pressure, they would all be blocked.

His expression changed, and finally he let out a snort of laughter through his nose.

"Alright, kid, you've got guts. As long as I'm here, there can only be one secondhand recycling shop on this street. Let's see how long you can keep it up."

After saying that, he turned and left, the hem of his black jacket billowing in the wind.

Su Xiao watched him cross the street and walk back into the noodle shop across the street. As the glass door closed, the wind chimes on the door frame jingled.

The smile on his face gradually faded away.

Damn it, you think I'm afraid of you?! Who have I ever been afraid of? Ask around, who have I, Su Xiao, ever been afraid of? It's been going on and on for days.

Su Xiao couldn't help but complain in her heart.

Today is really not a good day!

As if a prophecy had come true, Su Xiao's phone rang the moment Zeng Ran left.

Su Xiao glanced down at the caller ID: Wu Cheng.

Su Xiao didn't add Wu Mengmeng's phone number, but she did add Wu Mengmeng's brother, Wu Cheng.

He answered the phone as he walked toward the intersection.

Wu Cheng usually only sought him out for two things: to borrow money or to ask for help after being beaten up. His tone was either playful or flustered.

The voice sounded different today; it was low and muffled, as if the microphone was being covered.

Wu Cheng said, "Brother Su, are you free tonight? Let's go out for dinner."

Su Xiao was about to decline, saying that Su Wan Ning had already cooked dinner at home.

After a moment of silence, Wu Cheng added, "My mother wants to meet you."

Su Xiao paused for a moment.

Wu Mengmeng's mother.

Su Xiao remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"OK."

……

It was 7 p.m. at a hotel in the city center.

Su Xiao glanced at the storefront when she got out of the taxi.

It wasn't one of those roadside food stalls; it was a proper five-star hotel, with dazzling crystal chandeliers inside the revolving door.

He looked down at his school uniform, zipped it all the way up, and went inside.

When I entered, the waiter at the door looked at me with disdain.

However, after Su Xiao gave out the room number of the private room, the waiter's expression immediately changed.

Along the way, the waiter respectfully led him to the door of the private room on the third floor.

Su Xiao pushed open the door. The round table was large, but only two or three people were sitting there.

A middle-aged woman, whose eyebrows and eyes resembled Wu Mengmeng's by about 50-60%, but was thinner, with slightly protruding cheekbones and deep wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, showing that she had worked hard for many years.

But she had a natural beauty; she was definitely a great beauty when she was young.

She was wearing a simple dark blue sweater and holding a cup of tea. When she saw Su Xiao come in, she only raised her eyelids slightly.

A middle-aged man sat next to her, dressed in a sharp suit, exuding a powerful aura. He held an unlit cigarette between his fingers, leaning back in his chair and scrutinizing Su Xiao.

Su Xiao had seen this kind of temperament many times at the dinner table in his previous life.

He's not a nouveau riche; he's a businessman who's truly seen the world.

Wu Cheng was sitting on the far side. When he saw Su Xiao come in, he quickly stood up and pulled out a chair for him.

Su Xiaochong and Wu Cheng nodded, but before they could speak, Zhou Zhi's gaze fell on them.

Her voice was neither cold nor indifferent, revealing no emotion.

"You're Mengmeng's boyfriend?"