Rich Woman, But Got Dumped By A Jerk Three Times. - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Target Person

Winter was just beginning to be felt, and already spring had arrived.

A rainstorm, like the Milky Way pouring down, not only washed away the brief winter in the ancient city of Yeyu (a city famous for tourism) but also practically killed all the businesses that relied on tourism.

Shops along the street were closed, and the few that managed to stay open were deserted.

However, there was one exception.

Even with the torrential rain, the entrance to Yun Ji Private Cuisine was still packed with people. The long queue snaked onto the street, and the shouting of the queue machine echoed in the rain, lingering for a long time.

The waiter at the order window, looking at the grayed-out queue screen, pressed the intercom with a troubled expression: “Sister Xiao, today’s numbers are full, but there are still so many guests at the door. Should I tell Boss Jiu to come and handle it…”

Before she could finish, a response quickly came.

“I’ll handle it.” A short three-word reply mixed with static, and the sound of footsteps followed in the earpiece.

The waiter’s hanging heart dared not slacken. She put on an apologetic smile and faced the window: “We apologize, everyone, but we have no more available tables for today.”

This announcement was like a stone shattering the ice in winter, and bad feelings instantly erupted.

“What do you mean? I waited in the rain for an hour, and you tell me it’s full? Get your boss out here to talk!”

“No way, Little Red Book says this is the best restaurant in all of Yeyu! Add a number! I’ve already come all this way; I must eat here!”

“Is Boss Jiu in the store today? I came specifically to check her out. If there are no tables, it’s fair to ask her to come out and say something, right?”

“Exactly, exactly! I’m leaving Yeyu in four days, and I haven’t gotten a number for your place once. If I can’t eat, I can at least see the boss, right?”

Soggy from the rain and disappointed, the customers’ emotions were extremely unstable. The waiter was powerless to cope and could only offer a forced smile.

Just as the waiter was about to strain her face from smiling, a cold female voice came from behind: “I apologize, everyone. Yun Ji is full today. To make up for your disappointment, Yun Ji will provide complimentary hot water for everyone to ward off the cold.”

With neat, ear-length hair, the girl’s frost-like cold eyes maintained a sense of distance even while apologizing.

The harassed waiter looked at Yun Xiao with gratitude. This Sister Xiao was supposedly Boss Jiu’s biological younger sister, and though she seemed young, her every gesture already carried a resemblance to Boss Jiu.

Unfortunately, this group of customers was clearly not so easily placated.

As soon as Yun Xiao finished speaking, the curses coming from the rain grew louder.

“Don’t give us that! Who cares about hot water? Can’t I drink it at home? Either add a number or have the boss come out to talk.”

“Your place is ranked number one for private cuisine in Yeyu. How can you afford to market but not afford to add more tables? Bullying customers because you’re a big store, right?”

“Where’s the boss? Call your boss out.”

As the rain grew heavier and the customers’ mood became increasingly unstable, it was clear that Yun Xiao and the waiter alone couldn’t control the situation.

“Sister Xiao, you should quickly go get Boss Jiu,” the waiter, a part-time worker for the winter break, was pale with anxiety. “I can hold the fort for a bit longer.”

Accusations mixed with the falling rain.

Bad emotions poured down like a sudden shower, making the already dark sky even gloomier.

Yun Xiao’s hands clenched at her sides, then she released them weakly.

…

In the warm room, a faint sandalwood scent was burning.

The huge temperature difference isolated the indoors from the outside world. Clear tea boiled on the purple sandalwood table, and women surrounded a mahjong table.

“Aiya, it’s Boss Jiu winning again. I’m not playing anymore.”

With this smiling complaint, the pushed-down mahjong tiles made a scattering, clattering sound.

“Boss Nuo, you don’t cherish this now, but Boss Jiu is going to Chuncheng tomorrow. You’ll regret not being able to play with her later.”

“No way, A-Jiu, are you really going to Chuncheng? How can you bear to abandon your business in Yeyu?”

“Exactly, exactly! Aren’t you going to ditch your new fling too? That math teacher?”

The sound of shuffling tiles, the chattering voices, and the occasional clear clang of a jade bracelet hitting the tiles made the warm room lively.

The center of the conversation, surrounded by glances, was reaching out to draw a tile.

The gilded Qipao of Shu brocade shimmered subtly under the warm light. Her long, slender fingers were like carved jade, and an expensive glass-jade bracelet hung on her delicate wrist, beautiful enough to make people unable to look away.

“What fling?” Yun Jiushu raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled. “I broke up with her last week.”

This topic was far more interesting than playing cards. The bosses at the table were instantly eager for gossip.

“No way. I thought that girl was so sweet and pretty,” asked Boss Nuo, who had just complained about not playing. “Why did you break up with her?”

Tapping the table lightly with her fingertip, Yun Jiushu said with a hint of casualness: “Too similar.”

Her words were vague, but these old card players immediately understood the meaning of the word “similar” and chuckled knowingly.

Especially Boss Nuo, who had the best relationship with Yun Jiushu, laughed teasingly: “I remember your last breakup was because she wasn’t similar enough. So you won’t take not-similar enough, and you won’t take too similar? What exactly do you want?”

Boss Nuo voiced the common curiosity of the group, and three pairs of eyes watched intently.

The sound of mahjong tiles lessened. The shuffled tiles were pushed forward.

“Hmm…”

Yun Jiushu narrowed her eyes, her long finger gently tapping a new tile in front of her. Then, she smiled: “Feeling.”

“I want that feeling.”

Her answer was more annoying than saying nothing. The crowd, whose appetites were fully whetted, groaned in frustration.

Boss Nuo’s eyes darted around, and she said thoughtfully: “You haven’t forgotten about that guy named Ye Ge, have you? It’s been a few years. Did you actually fall for her?”

When she said this, the other two bosses instantly held their breath, taking on the serious attitude of expecting a multimillion-dollar contract to be signed.

The expensive jade bracelet lightly tapped the tile. Yun Jiushu gave a dismissive laugh: “Does she deserve that?”

“Then why do you care so much?” After saying this, Boss Nuo felt it was inappropriate and shook her head. “I don’t understand you.”

Seeing her friend’s worried expression, Yun Jiushu slightly pursed her lips and smiled: “Boss Nuo, you know I’m fickle and love to play around.”

“I just feel that when it comes to relationships, who you play around with doesn’t matter? Once I get bored, I want something fresh. It’s the same principle as opening a store.”

She spoke with such unrestrained arrogance, not concealing her sharpness at all, which made the expressions of the people at the table richer.

Especially Boss Nuo, who had brought up the question, had an even stronger look of inquiry in her eyes.

Boss Nuo was in the vegetable business. She was five years older than Yun Jiushu, inherited her family’s business, and monopolized the vegetable supply chain for all private banquets in Yuncheng. They had known each other for as long as Yun Jiushu had run her store, and their friendship spanned a considerable number of years.

Business is essentially a transaction between people’s hearts. Boss Nuo considered herself a good judge of character, yet she had absolutely no confidence in saying she fully understood Yun Jiushu.

This woman was truly formidable.

In five years, she used word-of-mouth among individual customers to build the Yun Ji brand, monopolizing all private banquet business in Yeyu. Everyone thought she would develop it to an unshakeable degree in Yeyu, yet she quietly opened a new store in Chuncheng.

Just like how she treated that outsider back then, Sister Nuo had personally watched Yun Jiushu disperse the people around her and, after three rounds of drinks, tell her she wanted to be serious with the person named Ye Ge. But what was the result? Six months later, Yun Jiushu was playing even harder, changing partners like changing clothes.

Perhaps it was exactly as Yun Jiushu said: she loved to play. She had earned enough from the small business and relationships in Yeyu and was bored, so she had to change.

“If others heard that, they would definitely call you a heartless, bad woman,” mindful of the others at the table, Boss Nuo sighed softly and changed the topic. “But it’s just a childish temper. Going to Chuncheng is fine, too. I won’t have to constantly run to Yeyu for you. Hurry up and sign the contract for the next quarter with me.”

The other two bosses, who weren’t as close to Yun Jiushu and hadn’t dared to interrupt, were also in the food supply chain business. Now that they had an opening, they laughed and shifted the conversation to business cooperation.

Yun Jiushu nodded in agreement to everything.

She had a pair of extremely beautiful fox eyes that crinkled when she smiled, like captivating curved knives.

When Yun Xiao knocked on the door, she was met directly by this smile, and her frosty eyes melted into a look of childlike helplessness: “Sister, things are getting rowdy downstairs.”

“If you have something to do, go take care of it first.”

Before Yun Jiushu could speak, Boss Nuo considerately called a halt to the card game: “I’ll leave once the new quarter contract is signed. Anyway, this fox has already won all my private money. I’ll just see you in Chuncheng tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Yun Jiushu smiled and agreed. “Then you can’t fight me for the drink bill tomorrow.”

Sister Nuo scoffed and waved her hand: “Stop rambling and go handle your business. Remember to wear a jacket.”

…

Smilingly apologizing to the bosses, Yun Jiushu and Yun Xiao headed downstairs.

As the elevator was about to descend to the first floor, Yun Jiushu deliberately removed the tassel shawl from her shoulder, exposing her pale wrists and neck.

Yun Xiao caught the thrown shawl and was about to caution her when the elevator doors opened.

“Boss Jiu is in a good mood today.”

Accompanied by the crisp sound of high heels landing, Yun Jiushu’s cheerful smile echoed through the lobby: “20% off the entire menu! Anyone paying now can also choose a complimentary dish!”

This lively, fish-like presence stirred the stagnant water that had been dulled by the rain.

Everyone’s spirits instantly lifted. Some customers who had already finished eating and were just waiting for Yun Jiushu’s appearance had their eyes light up. Their gaze followed Yun Jiushu, and people began to stand up to pay.

The desperate waiter, guarding the door, finally heard the sound of salvation.

“I am truly sorry for keeping everyone waiting for so long.” A pair of gentle, soft hands rested on the door frame.

The waiter subconsciously stepped back, following with her gaze.

She watched as those jade-like fingertips suddenly pulled the door open. The high heels sliced through the heavy rain curtain, and the person with smiling eyes stood on the rain-drenched steps: “Xiao’er, hand out the items.”

Shu brocade Qipao, fox eyes, red lips, dark hair, and an oval face.

The moment Yun Jiushu appeared, the previously noisy crowd miraculously fell silent.

This woman, beautiful as a supernatural being, was like a sudden flash of light that quickly calmed the gloom brought by the heavy rain.

Yun Xiao dared not delay, descending the steps into the rain.

Small cards with gilded prints were handed out, like tiny stars shimmering in the night sky.

“Thank you all for your kind support, for visiting Yun Ji even in such heavy rain,” Yun Jiushu bowed sincerely, the smile in her eyes and eyebrows undiminished. “The little store’s space is truly limited, and we’ve failed to accommodate your immense support. If you are still willing to give Yun Ji a chance, you can use this voucher at any time to claim a free first meal at the new Chuncheng store, which opens three days from now. If your travel plans don’t include Chuncheng, you can also use this voucher to enjoy one free meal at Yun Ji on any day.”

“To make up for the inconvenience caused today, Yun Ji has specially prepared a small gift, hot towels, and ginger tea to ward off the cold. We apologize again for the inconvenience caused today.”

Yun Jiushu’s apology was extremely sincere. The people who were just shouting about exposing Yun Ji instantly changed their expressions.

A little girl in the crowd shouted, “You’re so pretty.” Yun Jiushu, standing on the steps, suddenly smiled, her slender figure even more moving in the rain curtain.

Yun Xiao, standing in the rain among the customers, looked up. The cold rain blurred in her eyes, but the smile became clear in her heart.

This minor crisis ended with the last customer who received a hot towel and left.

The newly arrived customers filled the seats again. The 20% discount and the joy of seeing the boss finally dispelled the dampness lingering in the lobby.

The queue machine was no longer busy, and the waiter at the door secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The extreme temperature difference between the indoors and outdoors finally resulted in a sneeze when Yun Jiushu re-entered the elevator.

Yun Xiao hurriedly caught up with the elevator and put her own jacket over Yun Jiushu.

“I’m sorry, Sister,” the already guilty Yun Xiao looked at Yun Jiushu’s red, frozen wrist and was close to tears. “I still couldn’t help you.”

Gathering the jacket around her, Yun Jiushu smiled softly: “It’s fine. You did very well.”

Still blaming herself, Yun Xiao shook her head: “It’s not enough.”

“It’s true that it’s not enough,” Yun Jiushu looked at her sister’s lowered head and patiently said: “The customers didn’t want an apology; they wanted action. It’s okay, you’re still young. Sister will teach you slowly, and you will learn slowly.”

The slight knot of anxiety in her heart was smoothed away. Yun Xiao firmly agreed: “Sister will teach, and I will learn. I want to follow my sister forever.”

“I doubt that will last,”

Yun Jiushu was amused by her childishness. “Are your things packed? School starts tomorrow. I’ll drive you to Chuncheng.”

This promise of “forever” was treated as a joke by Yun Jiushu. Yawning, Yun Jiushu didn’t notice that Yun Xiao pursed her lips, wanting to say something.

Naturally, she also didn’t notice the look of loneliness in Yun Xiao’s eyes.

The elevator stopped on the ninth floor.

Yun Jiushu smiled as if nothing had happened, pushing the door open and calling out affectionately: “My dear ones, I’m back.”

…

The spring rain came quickly and fell all night.

Until the next day, the rain from Yeyu followed them all the way to Chuncheng.

Now in her second semester of university, Yun Xiao’s studies didn’t require Yun Jiushu’s worry. After dropping her off at campus, Yun Jiushu went to the new store that was about to open.

The new store occupied a total area of three thousand square meters.

Yun Jiushu invested heavily in the decoration. The elegance and splendor of the Suzhou-style garden were fully displayed the moment the lights were turned on. The store’s structure and soft furnishings were already complete, but Yun Jiushu’s standards were strict. She preferred to delay rather than take shortcuts. Even the smell in the store had been completely aired out, and it was just waiting for the auspicious day to open.

Verification forms flowed in. Yun Jiushu, who didn’t have time to sit down, tied up her long hair with a pen and began to check the lists right there in the store.

By the time she finished everything, the sky outside was completely dark.

“A good person like you, Boss Jiu, deserves to get rich,” the contractor, who had received the full final payment less than half an hour after signing the last verification form, said sincerely: “I wish you a flourishing business, and I hope we have a chance to cooperate when Boss Jiu opens a new branch in the future.”

Hearing the blessing, Yun Jiushu didn’t put on airs: “Alright, then for a second cooperation, Boss Chi, you’ll have to give me a discount.”

After a few rounds of mutual compliments and well wishes, Yun Jiushu walked out of the store side-by-side with the contractor. The car sent by Boss Nuo to pick her up was already waiting.

With a new store opening, Yun Jiushu had too many things to attend to, and nothing related to business was trivial.

Tonight’s dinner party seemed like a welcome arranged by Boss Nuo, but it was actually Boss Nuo setting up a connection to introduce her to people in Chuncheng’s network.

However, for some reason, the moment she got in the car, Yun Jiushu’s right eyelid twitched.

Never superstitious, she pressed her hand to her brow, feeling a sudden, inexplicable premonition.