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墨書 Inktalez
Ye Xiaohan glanced at him with a hint of skepticism. "What, you don't believe me?"
"Of course not," he quickly denied. "Whatever you do, I will support you." Realizing that sounded too intimate and fearing she might get upset, he added, "We, Liu Yang and Qi, will support you too."
Seeing Liu Bei's unnecessary embellishment, Ye Xiaohan felt a warmth in her heart. Ever since their temporary separation was made clear, Liu Bei had been honest and considerate of her feelings, never forcing her into anything.
Every time she thought of Liu Bei's kindness, Ye Xiaohan was increasingly astonished by the original owner's foolishness in making such brainless decisions. A man who was so understanding and caring was not something one could find just anywhere.
She urged Liu Bei to go home, closed the door, and went to find a loan shark.
"I only need to borrow three taels of silver and will repay double within ten days," she said calmly, facing a room full of intimidating figures.
The manager stopped his subordinates and laughed. "You think you can pull a fast one? I've heard that the Liu family has even mortgaged their house. What collateral do you have to borrow this three taels from me?"
Ye Xiaohan smiled slightly. "I have nothing but my life to offer as collateral."
"Get lost! Don't come here to cause trouble!" one of the henchmen shouted at her. "We deal in real business here; what do we want with your worthless life? Get out before I throw you out!"
Ye Xiaohan remained unfazed. "Please hear me out. My life may not be worth much, but it is still a living being. If I can't repay by the deadline, feel free to sell or kill me—do as you wish; I won't say a word against it. Three taels for a living person is a good deal for you."
"Alright! I'll take this deal just for your courage," the manager said readily. "Give her the silver."
Ye Xiaohan took the silver and confirmed, "Alright, I've received it. Until we meet again."
When she returned home, Ye Xiaohan didn't tell the Liu family about this matter, fearing they would worry. If Liu Bei found out, he would definitely disapprove of her actions. She planned to quietly repay the loan once she succeeded, and everything would be fine.
Ye Xiaohan smiled and said, "You'll find out tomorrow."
"By the way," she continued, "I need your help with something."
It was already 6 Bei's intention to assist her, so he readily agreed, "As long as I can do it, anything you need."
6 Yang looked at her with a strange smile and instinctively felt something was off. "Sister-in-law, you're not planning some bizarre scheme again, are you?"
"Hehe." Ye Xiaohan patted 6 Yang on the shoulder. "You're a promising one; it seems this task is up to you. I need you to bring me four women—preferably the uglier, the better. I want them to help promote the shop."
"Huh?" 6 Yang was taken aback. "Sister-in-law, did I hear you right? You want uglier women, not prettier ones?"
Ye Xiaohan nodded, confirming he had heard correctly. "Yes, the uglier, the better. I want ugly ones, not beautiful ones."
6 Bei was puzzled. "Xiao Han, why is that? If it's for promoting the shop, wouldn't it make more sense to find some pretty girls? Customers would be more likely to come in if they see attractive women. Hiring ugly women will only drive them away."
He suddenly thought of something and asked, "Is it because we don't have enough money? Can't afford pretty girls, so we have to settle for less?"
Ye Xiaohan decided to hire ugly women for a stark contrast. The greater the difference before and after makeup, the more pronounced the effect would be. When customers saw that even such unattractive women could become beautiful, they would naturally flock to the shop.
These hired ugly women would serve as living advertisements.
However, since 6 Bei thought this way, she was happy to leave it vague and avoid worrying him about her financial dealings.
The four ugly women were quickly found. They were all unattractive, often looked down upon, and their similar attire was far from appealing compared to other girls. Even when they sought work as maids in wealthy households, they were always the last ones picked. So when they heard someone was willing to hire them and even offered money upfront, they immediately agreed.
The next morning, the four ugly women stood at the entrance of the shop, instantly attracting a flurry of whispers and pointing fingers.
“Tsk tsk tsk, I think Ye Xiaohan has truly lost her mind. If her business is failing, she shouldn’t be ruining it like this. Just look at who she hired—so ugly that you wouldn’t want to look at them twice.”
“I don’t think Ye Xiaohan is foolish at all; she’s actually quite clever! It’s precisely because she’s so unattractive that she’s afraid of hiring beautiful girls who might overshadow her, so she deliberately chose these to highlight herself.”
Various derogatory remarks filled the air, but Ye Xiaohan paid them no mind, silencing 6 Bei, who was angrily ready to confront them. She stepped outside.
As soon as she appeared, there was a moment of silence before the whispers grew louder.
Ye Xiaohan ignored them and stood in front of the makeup station that had been set up earlier. She picked up various cosmetics and began applying them to the face of the first woman.
The most anxious person present was 6 Bei. He wanted to trust Ye Xiaohan, but everything happening exceeded his imagination. The success or failure hinged on this moment; no, this round could only end in victory, not defeat.
If this failed, the shop would have to close, and Ye Xiaohan would surely be heartbroken. Unconsciously, 6 Bei clenched his fists, nervously watching every move Ye Xiaohan made.
Ye Xiaohan worked swiftly and efficiently. After all, modern women generally mastered the art of makeup. For someone like Ye Xiaohan, who had long been immersed in the beauty industry, each application was akin to a cosmetic surgery transformation.
Gradually, as the makeup process neared completion, the laughter around them diminished. The men were merely surprised while some women held their breath, on the verge of screaming.
When the final stroke was completed, Ye Xiaohan paused and satisfiedly handed the mirror to the woman.
The woman lifted the mirror, stared at her reflection in disbelief, and rubbed the surface lightly. She moved the mirror closer and then further away, cautiously making a few expressions in front of it.
Seeing the person in the mirror mimic her actions, she finally managed to suppress her sudden excitement and looked up to ask, "Is this really me? I’ve never looked this good in all my years!"
Ye Xiaohan seized the moment to turn to the crowd and declared loudly, "There are no ugly women, only lazy ones. With a little effort and the right cosmetics, anyone can look as beautiful as a fairy descending from the heavens."
The woman, quick-witted, chimed in immediately, "Yes, yes! The things you showed me are truly amazing; I hardly recognize myself. And they smell so good—there’s a hint of... yes! The fragrance of peach blossoms."
Ye Xiaohan pointed to the products on the makeup table and introduced each one. Some powders and perfumes were familiar to everyone, but she emphasized the perfume and lip balm. The people around her were taken aback, their eyes sparkling with interest as they fixated on those items.
Noticing their reactions, Ye Xiaohan knew that today’s advertisement was already half successful: "These cosmetics are made from freshly bloomed peach blossoms of the new spring, with no additives whatsoever. Each use not only poses no harm but also enhances your beauty, making you as delicate and vibrant as a peach blossom."
She picked up a box of powder and held it out to one of the onlookers: "Miss, how does this compare to the rose powder or jasmine powder you usually use?"
The woman examined it closely while Ye Xiaohan generously allowed her to take some. After comparing them side by side, she remarked, "This one has a fresher scent; it doesn’t feel heavy like those floral powders. The color is beautifully red—light and radiant."
Ye Xiaohan praised her taste: "You have an excellent eye; it’s clear you’re particularly skilled. This Peach Blossom Powder not only has all those benefits but more importantly, it’s made entirely from peach blossoms. You see those rose powders? They may look good at first, but over time they can damage your skin, leaving it dull and yellowish—something even you wouldn’t want to look at, right?"
"Exactly!" Not just that woman; many others present echoed her sentiments. This issue had long troubled them, but they had no solution and could only let it linger.
Ye Xiaohan confidently reassured them: "Now there’s no need for worry anymore. Everything I offer here is completely natural and won’t harm your skin in any way. If you can stick with it consistently, it will even nourish your skin."
"Is that really true? Can it be that good?" Regardless of their doubts, their curiosity was piqued and they felt eager to try.
After promoting the products, Ye Xiaohan appropriately left some time for the customers to consider their choices. She then finished applying makeup on the remaining three individuals.
Time and again, she transformed decay into magic, leaving the onlookers in awe. Once all four were done and stood up to showcase their looks, everyone had to admit to the wonder of it all.
"When are you opening the store? Can we buy it now? I want to get that Peach Blossom Powder!" A woman couldn't help but ask about the store's opening time, fearing that if she waited too long, everything would sell out.
As she spoke, the women who had been circling around the models snapped back to reality and rushed over to Ye Xiaohan, eager to be the first to make a purchase.
Ye Xiaohan called out, "No need to rush! We have plenty of stock in our store; everyone can buy what they want. Feel free to choose and head over there to check out."
Before long, the store's inventory was sold out, and a long line formed at the checkout. Those who hadn’t bought anything were reluctant to leave until Ye Xiaohan assured them that they would open again as usual.
After sending off the last customer, Ye Xiaohan and Liu Yang collapsed into their chairs, too exhausted to move. Only Liu Qi remained lively, poking at this and that with her short fingers.
Liu Bei poured water for the two of them and took Liu Qi aside. "Qi, be good and let them rest."
Liu Qi obediently nodded. "Qi is good; I'll play by myself."
Ye Xiaohan struggled to get up, happily clutching the money box as if she wouldn't let go. Liu Bei worried she might tire herself out and advised, "You should go rest now; the money won't run away. Don't wear yourself out."
"Mm-hmm." Ye Xiaohan responded absently, not sure if she really heard him, but continued to hug the money box with a beaming smile.
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