Carrying a nervous heart, Jin Zhi still decided to knock on the door. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

She glanced at the job advertisement posted outside. The conditions were quite favorable. Such attractive terms made her willing to give it a try. Although this job didn’t provide meals or accommodation, the hours were reasonable, with no shifts at night and two days off a month. To her, that was already a considerable amount of freedom. As for the job duties, they were just the usual tasks of a sales assistant—greeting customers, introducing products, and so on.

The base salary was 20 yuan, with commissions on top. This concept puzzled Jin Zhi.

She couldn’t help thinking she was too inexperienced, not understanding much about base salaries and commissions.

"Hello, I’m here to apply for the sales assistant position." Jin Zhi waited until the store’s customers had left before standing outside the door and speaking somewhat timidly. She didn’t step across the threshold.

Tian Sangsang was momentarily taken aback but then gave her a gentle smile, saying, "Come in and talk."

Just as Mr. Zhao had mentioned, his friend turned out to be pregnant, her belly visibly large. However, she seemed very kind—short hair, a round face, almond-shaped eyes, fair and delicate skin, strikingly beautiful features, and excellent demeanor.

She was like a luminous pearl, so dazzling that Jin Zhi felt inferior and yet drawn to her.

This was Jin Zhi’s first impression of her: a woman with both beauty and good character.

Tian Sangsang observed the girl standing across from her who had come to apply for the job. She was somewhat surprised. By far, this young woman seemed to be the best applicant she had seen over the past few days—quite Qingxiu, wearing a long dress, and behaving appropriately.

She didn’t ask questions such as whether the girl had previous experience; after all, this era was different from later generations, so there was no need to set overly stringent requirements. Tian Sangsang herself felt that the concept of base salary plus commission, inspired by modern ideas, was unnecessary. The store had a stable flow of customers, and introducing commissions wasn’t essential. Business was good enough; she didn’t need tricks to push products quickly.

But offering a base salary might motivate people more.

Who knows? She might encounter someone with a passion for striving forward.

It could even be a way of creating opportunities for those who wanted them.

Tian Sangsang took paper and a pen from the counter and handed them to her: "Fill out this résumé first. Once you’re done, we’ll talk further." She had personally written this résumé template; it wasn’t a printed one.

"Alright." Jin Zhi nodded politely.

Tian Sangsang gestured toward her: "Go write it inside; it’ll be more convenient."

Jin Zhi walked into the private room with apprehension. The room’s decor was elegant, filled with a faint aroma of flowers and tea. She had already noticed the scent when she entered the store earlier; it was quite pleasant. She liked this environment but was also cautious, fearing to disrupt its serenity.

She placed the paper on the table. The handwriting on it was dainty and graceful. She couldn’t help but think that it must have been written by the owner herself. How attentive and diligent, she thought—the handwriting was just as lovely as its writer. She slowed her pace and wrote carefully, trying to produce her best penmanship.

**

Jiang Jinghuai’s death wasn’t only known to Tian Sangsang and her acquaintances.

Many people, both inside and outside of the military, had received the news, including Hua Jun.

Initially, Hua Jun was utterly devastated, almost to the point of losing her will to live. But she soon found that she couldn’t truly let go—her emotions were tumultuous, teetering on the edge of madness. She couldn’t accept Jiang Jinghuai’s sacrifice as reality; her feelings grew suffocated and she desperately needed a release.

It was as if without a release, she might lose control in the next moment—considering even suicide.

Jiang Jinghuai was gone, but the world was still filled with people connected to him—people like Tian Sangsang, who was closest to him.

Yes, Tian Sangsang.

She was the one Hua Jun minded the most—more than anyone.

Every night, Hua Jun murmured Tian Sangsang’s name to herself. As she repeated it, the thought of living stayed with her.

That thought was layered with complexity—rage, sorrow, despair, unwillingness, envy, jealousy, and hatred all intertwined.

It was what kept her grounded in this world.

This marked her first visit to Tian Sangsang’s small shop.

Tian Sangsang was about to head to the private room when she heard footsteps. She looked toward the door and saw Hua Jun dressed entirely in black—a pair of black bell-bottom pants and a black cropped top, exuding a sharp and cold beauty that accentuated her stunning figure.

Brow slightly raised, Tian Sangsang’s gaze deepened: "Hua Jun, what an honor to have you here."

Hua Jun sneered, walking into the shop with an air of superiority.

Such a headstrong attitude—the way she didn’t trip over the threshold was almost miraculous.

When rivals meet, sparks fly.

Tian Sangsang certainly didn’t like Hua Jun—not at all.

Her dislike had nothing to do with Jiang Jinghuai but rather stemmed from Hua Jun’s character.

Simply put, her previous conduct toward Tian Sangsang—and let’s not forget the time she caused such a commotion—could hardly be believed unrelated to Hua Jun. That incident thankfully ended with Jiang Jinghuai’s timely intervention; if he hadn’t shown up, Tian Sangsang might have been dragged off for tea-drinking—or maybe poisoned tea.

And if Tian Sangsang remembered correctly, Hua Jun seemed to have feelings for her husband.

But instead of witnessing Tian Sangsang utterly devastated to the point of miscarriage, there she was, still radiant and composed. Hua Jun was furious. In a tone laced with disbelief, she said, "Jinghuai is dead, yet you still have the mind to operate a store here."

So it turned out that she had come because of Jiang Jinghuai.

Feigning deafness, Tian Sangsang smirked faintly: "Well, well, what brings you here, Hua Jun? There are no men for you to snatch from me here."

Sighing softly, she added, "Even my husband—you wouldn’t be able to steal him now."

"So, if there’s nothing pressing, kindly leave. I won’t be seeing you off."

Her indifferent attitude infuriated Hua Jun to no end. How could Tian Sangsang remain so composed while she was suffering so much? This proved that Tian Sangsang never cared enough about Jiang Jinghuai. No one loved him more than Hua Jun herself did. But what difference did that make? He had chosen this woman who didn’t even truly value him. What kind of love was that? If it had been Hua Jun instead, she would have cherished him deeply, raised a family, and taken care of the household—everything would have been perfect.

"You’re lucky. Your fortune truly amazes me." At that moment, Hua Jun couldn’t deny the truth.

"Had Jinghuai still been alive and seen you like this, he might’ve regretted marrying you," she rasped, her eyes burning with intense hatred. "I truly hate you."

"If it weren’t for you—if you hadn’t appeared out of nowhere—I would have already married Jinghuai by now."

Her gaze softened with longing as she spoke dreamily: "I would have given him many children... I would have supported him forever... While he went on missions, I would have missed him... I would have kept our home in perfect order... He might not have loved me at first, but over time, he would have been moved. Even if he never loved me, as long as I could stay by his side, I’d be satisfied."

These were words Hua Jun had never uttered aloud. With Jiang Jinghuai gone, there was no point keeping them inside. She wanted to share them with someone—to vent the depth of her feelings.

Tian Sangsang let out a chuckle, curling her lips scornfully: "Hua Jun, I suggest you see a mental health professional. You’re seriously delusional. Even if he were still alive, I’m telling you—you still wouldn’t stand a chance."