Chapter 54: She Turned Her Dream Into Reality

Jiang Ran's steps halted instantly, his gaze fixed on Su Ruan as if magnetized, nailed firmly onto her.

The water‑red silk glimmered temptingly under the dim yellow light, clinging to her delicate curves, half‑hidden, half‑revealed, adding a teasing, unspoken charm more than any nakedness could.

His Adam's apple throbbed violently, and a surge of hot blood boomed to the crown of his head, the fatigue of days of travel vanished in an instant, leaving only a blazing desire.

"Good… good looking…" his voice was hoarsely rough, his eyes deep as if to swallow a person, "My wife looks good in anything, but this outfit… especially good…"

He stepped closer, exuding a dust‑laden yet unstoppable aura, reached to clasp Su Ruan's waist, pulling her tightly into his arms, and whispered hotly into her ear.

"These past few days I've neglected my wife, that's my fault… tonight, I'll make it up to you properly…"

In the following days, Su Ruan clearly felt that Jiang Ran, though still busy, was in an excellent mood—one could even call it exhilarated.

At night he tormented her with increasing ferocity, as if his energy were endless.

Su Ruan's doubts deepened, but however she probed, Jiang Ran only smiled mysteriously, biting her ear, "In a few more days, in a few more days you'll know, I guarantee a big surprise!"

Seeing his tight‑lipped silence, Su Ruan stopped pressing, and refocused on her own career.

After Douzi and Yaya rested for four or five days, the seeking customers indeed, as Su Ruan had expected, had their desire lifted to the peak.

When Douzi and Yaya reappeared at the department store entrance, it almost caused a small sensation.

The previously hard‑to‑find regular customers, hearing the news, quickly surrounded the two little stall owners, fearing they'd miss out if they delayed.

Those novel, stylish hair clips and flowing silk scarves were snapped up almost the instant they were displayed.

Douzi held firm to his Premium price, yet people still gladly paid.

Yaya's "group‑order" game became even more masterful, even spontaneously developing an "old brings new" discount, making the scene exceptionally lively.

The name Chongsu, together with these delicate yet tasteful goods and this unique, tantalizing sales method, quietly spread among a segment of fashion‑forward women in the city, even acquiring a hint of mystery.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran continued to watch from the shadows, and seeing the booming scene, they both knew the Hunger Marketing strategy had succeeded.

The early groundwork of reputation and anticipation exploded completely at this moment.

However, the tree wishes to be still while the wind does not cease.

On the Su side, Su Yanhua and Wang Juhua, after days of Meticulous Plan and eager waiting, finally could no longer hold back and decided to act.

They did not choose to confront the Jiang Family directly, but opted for a more sinister method—spreading rumors.

Wang Juhua leveraged her talent as a gossip, beginning to "casually" reveal to familiar neighbors and market vendors:

"Ah, what an unfortunate family, you know… Su Ruan looks like a very proper girl, tsk tsk, who would have thought…"

"What's wrong, Sister Juhua?"

"Hey, I only heard it from others, not sure… they say she's out there… seems she has children, more than one!"

"What? Impossible! How old is she?"

"Who says not? Someone saw it with their own eyes, over in West City, two kids leapt into her arms, cuddling wildly! You think if they weren't her own, they'd act like that?"

"Oh my god… if this is true, the Jiang Family will be disgraced!"

These half‑true, vague yet explosively juicy rumors, like water dropped into a hot oil pan, quickly burst among neighbors, spreading and mutating at a staggering speed.

Later the rumors morphed into versions like "The Jiang family's new daughter‑in‑law had two Illegitimate Offspring at eighteen" and "Su Ruan behaved indecently, messing around before marriage," among other unsavory tales.

This gossip naturally reached the district where the Jiang Family resides.

That day, Li Huijuan came home from work, her complexion looking rather off.

She vaguely caught some rumors; though she didn't believe a single word, her heart felt like it was packed with cotton.

During dinner, she watched her son across the table happily serving dishes to Su Ruan, and observed the well‑mannered, gentle‑eyed daughter‑in‑law, unable to link those filthy words to them.

She opened her mouth to ask, but found it hard to speak, fearing she'd hurt her child's feelings…

Su Ruan keenly sensed her mother‑in‑law's unease, but she kept her composure and continued eating quietly.

Jiang Ran, however, was someone who couldn't hide anything, especially since the surprise he had been obsessing over was about to be completed.

He finished the last bite of rice, set down his bowl, his eyes glittering as he looked at the whole family, announcing, "Dad, Mom, Grandma, RuanRuan! Tomorrow afternoon you all clear your schedules, I'm taking you somewhere, I have a big announcement!"

Jiang Jianguo glanced at him: "What scheme are you up to this time?"

"Absolutely a good thing, the biggest good thing!" Jiang Ran pounded his chest, beaming, "I've been busy for half a month, guarantee you'll be shocked!"

Su Ruan looked at his childish bragging, and the gloom caused by her mother‑in‑law eased a bit, making her smile faintly.

The next afternoon, after Jiang Ran's repeated urging and guarantees, the Jiang family whole, including the curious Jiang Jiaojiao, were led out of the house by him.

Jiang Ran rode his bike ahead, leading the way, his mood so good he even hummed a tune.

He led everyone through several streets, finally stopping at a relatively quiet alley entrance not far from the main street.

Deep in the alley, a shop's doorway was draped with a cloth curtain, obscuring the interior, but the façade was clearly freshly painted, looking clean and tidy.

"We've arrived!" Jiang Ran leapt off the bike, his face unable to suppress excitement and nerves, he took a deep breath, looked at Su Ruan, his gaze gentle yet fiery, "Wife, this… this is the gift I bring you."

He stepped forward and ripped the curtain's covering cloth away!

In an instant, a brand‑new shop was presented before everyone!

The bright glass window was spotless, revealing warm yellow walls inside, with several of Su Ruan's usual design sketches hanging as decoration.

Against the wall stood several brand‑new wooden hangers and display cabinets, empty yet the layout already clear.

In the corner a screen partitioned off a small resting area with two comfortable rattan chairs and a small tea table.

The most eye‑catching feature was a fresh plaque on the wall opposite the entrance, bearing two bold characters—Chongsu.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, making the shop feel warm and bright, with a unique style.

Everyone was stunned.

Su Ruan looked at the shop, arranged exactly according to the design she had occasionally mentioned, her heart felt as if struck hard, sour‑tinged, then surged with a huge warm flow and surprise.

She finally understood what Jiang Ran had been disappearing on these days to be busy with!

He turned the dream he drew of her on paper, little by little, into reality!