Chapter 93 Matters of the heart cannot be forced.

He doesn't even dare to look her in the eye?

The problem is, he just refuses to face reality.

There was no point in her trying to talk; she couldn't just drag him into asking questions, could she?

When it comes to matters of the heart, you can't force them.

She sighed softly, so softly it was almost inaudible.

This conversation also ended in failure, with no progress whatsoever, and even worse than the last one.

She simply didn't have the time to wait for him to figure things out or to realize his mistakes.

She remembered the favor Yao Mingzhu had promised to lend her.

The money has already been transferred to the account.

She needed to hurry up and get on with her own business, such as signing contracts, decorating, and stocking up on goods for the shop.

None of these things can be delayed.

Zhou Shufen slowly stood up, picked up her bag from the sofa, and squeezed the shoulder strap hard with her fingers.

She took a deep breath, walked to the door, and reached out to turn the doorknob.

With a click, the door opened, and she walked out without looking back.

Until the door slammed shut, completely isolating them from the outside world.

Only then did Zhou Hairong dare to peek out from the bathroom.

He tiptoed out, like a thief, and stood in the center of the living room, his eyes fixed on the tightly closed door.

Suddenly, an inexplicable anger surged up, making him dizzy.

He roared and kicked the small wooden table next to him hard with his right foot.

That one strike used all the strength of my body.

"Ouch! That hurts so much!"

He screamed and jumped up, clutching his right foot.

The table was made of solid wood and was sturdy enough to not budge.

Instead, a piercing pain shot straight to his brain from his toes.

He was in so much pain that he squatted on the ground, his face pale.

Zhou Shufen pushed open the door to the business manager's office.

The manager was looking down at a document.

Upon seeing it was her, his eyes immediately lit up.

The manager quickly stood up from his chair.

"Oh, you've arrived! Are you here to complete some paperwork? I've prepared all the necessary documents for you."

Zhou Shufen nodded.

“I visited the shop last time, and I was quite satisfied with the location, size, and lighting. I’ve decided to rent this shop.”

The manager began to have doubts.

It's only been a few days!

You've already raised the rent so quickly?

He looked up at Zhou Shufen and realized that the woman in front of him was no ordinary tenant.

"No problem, I'll arrange it right away!"

He spoke in a solemn tone.

He skillfully pressed the number and conveyed several instructions.

Less than ten minutes later, the secretary walked in with the contract documents in her hand.

"Please take a look first. All the details of the expenses and the responsibilities of both parties are clearly written down."

The manager took the contract and turned to face Zhou Shufen.

"Everything is clearly listed, including rent, property management fees, breach of contract clauses, and renovation restrictions. Please take a look carefully, and if there are no problems, please sign it. We will make two copies, and it will take effect on the spot without any delay."

The reason this shopping mall has grown so large is because of its reputation.

It has an excellent reputation in the industry and has won a large number of high-quality merchants with long-term cooperation.

Zhou Shufen flipped through a few pages of key terms and then signed her name at the signature area.

"Check it; the money should have arrived in your account."

The manager quickly turned on his computer and logged into the financial system.

A smile instantly bloomed on his face.

"The money's in! I'll take you there to get the keys right away. The shop is yours now!"

He walked ahead to lead the way.

Zhou Shufen followed behind, looking around at the surroundings.

The shop she rented was on the third floor, in an excellent location, a prime spot in the entire mall.

She paid several hundred yuan more in rent each month for this prime location.

She stood in front of the shop, a sense of peace welling up inside her.

She nodded in satisfaction.

"The key is here."

The manager took out a brand new set of keys and respectfully handed them to Zhou Shufen.

"Okay, thank you."

Zhou Shufen reached out and took it.

The little key lay in my palm, light and airy.

But for Zhou Shufen, it was an immense burden.

This key represents all her hopes for the future.

She immediately contacted a renovation team, planning to do a simple renovation inside.

She didn't want it to be too luxurious, but she wanted the space to feel comfortable.

For the next few days, she went to the construction site almost every day.

She knew that starting a business was not easy, and only by being dedicated could one succeed in the long run.

She wanted every floor tile and every arrangement to be exactly how she envisioned it.

She hopes this place is not just a shop, but also a battleground for her to declare war on life.

Zhou Hairong was also busy.

He followed Zhou Shufen around every day, helping her with chores.

Although he was tired, he often had a smile on his face.

For him, it gave him something to look forward to, so he wouldn't just drift through life aimlessly.

The craftsman we hired, surnamed Huang, was in his fifties and had been in this line of work for over thirty years; his skills were decent.

With more experience, they always think they know the most and are always ready to "guide" homeowners.

That day, Zhou Shufen had just entered the store when she heard him muttering to himself.

"Oh dear, what did you choose? It's too dark, all gray and dull. It looks awful and makes the space feel small and cramped! If you trust me, how about a light beige? It's bright, doesn't show dirt easily, and looks more upscale!"

"These are the ones I chose, you can just lay them out like this."

Zhou Shufen has no intention of making any further changes.

"I really don't understand young people these days... Who's going to come in with this color? Do they even want to do business anymore?"

The master frowned, his face showing complete disapproval.

He clearly disapproved of Zhou Shufen's aesthetic sense.

However, he eventually took action.

After all, we still have to work and earn money.

Zhou Shufen simply pretended not to hear.

Saying more is pointless and will only lead to more arguments and make the situation more tense.

But not long after, she realized something was wrong.

The way the floor tiles were laid was completely different from the blueprint I had drawn.

Her heart sank.

The original design featured an alternating gradient patchwork pattern, which had a modern feel and a visually extended effect.

The craftsman didn't follow her design at all.

She said in a steady voice.

"Master, this pattern is wrong. I drew a diagram before, please take a look."

As she spoke, she casually pulled out a drawing with the paving method clearly marked from her folder.

The other person slammed the shovel to the ground with a "thud".

The old master craftsman suddenly stood up, his face full of anger.

"If you're so good, then you do it! I've been in this business for over ten years, do you think I know less than an outsider like you?"

Zhou Shufen's anger was instantly ignited, but she quickly suppressed it.

She took a deep breath, her voice steady and clear.

"I paid you to do the work. How the floor is laid and how it's laid are up to me. You're just doing what I say. I didn't ask you to do anything impossible, so why are you so angry?"

"I have a bad temper? I just act based on experience!"

The old master stiffened his neck and his face turned red.

He pointed at Zhou Shufen, his voice rising higher and higher.

"What kind of woman are you, pointing fingers here? Do you even know anything about materials? Do you know anything about thermal expansion and contraction? Huh? You don't know anything, yet you dare to order me around?"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and eventually brought up the strike.

"If you won't let me do it my way, then I'm not doing this job!"

Zhou Shufen did not respond immediately.

She shifted her gaze from the old craftsman's indignant face to the carelessly laid floor tiles.

She knew perfectly well that the other party was taking advantage of her to manipulate her and force her to compromise.

She had seen this kind of tactic far too many times.