Chapter 76: You

Su Yanhua ran all the way to the bus stop, squeezed onto the bus, and felt that every minute and every second was torment.

The Skirt, which had felt soft and smooth before, now felt as if soaked in scorching hot coals, burning her skin with pain.

The only thought in her mind was: go find Su Ruan to return the goods and get the money back! As long as she returns it, she can prove she isn't a fool, didn't waste money, and salvage some face for herself and Liu Wenbin!

Arriving at the entrance of the Alley where Chongsu is, Su Yanhua took several deep breaths, tried to calm her racing heart and swirling emotions, and tidied the hair that had become a bit disheveled from running.

She must not look too disheveled; she is here to return the goods, because Su Ruan's product is bad!

She straightened her back, tried to assume an accusing stance, and shoved open Chongsu's shop door.

The bell on the door rang with a crisp yet harsh sound.

Inside, two or three customers were selecting fabrics; Su Ruan stood behind the counter speaking with a middle‑aged woman, and Jiang Ran was at the back‑yard entrance arranging the newly delivered clothing racks.

Douzi and Yaya were absent, perhaps they went to play at the back.

Hearing the door chime, Su Ruan and the customers looked up.

Seeing Su Yanhua return, her face ashen and eyes fierce, Su Ruan slightly furrowed her brows but quickly regained composure.

The middle‑aged woman, seeing this, politely took the chosen fabric and moved aside to examine it.

"Su Ruan!" Su Yanhua rushed a few steps to the counter, slammed the bag in her hand onto the table, her voice sharp from excitement, drawing everyone's attention, "What a lousy garment you made! The quality is terrible! I've only worn it once, and… the threads are already frayed here! This material also scratches! It's completely unwearable! I want a return!"

She blurted nonsense, randomly pointing at a non‑existent flaw in the Skirt's hem, her tone aggressive, trying to overwhelm the other with her demeanor.

Su Ruan's gaze calmly swept over the Skirt Su Yanhua wore—clearly put on with care, even the pleats meticulously smoothed—and then rested on her flushed cheeks and flickering eyes, already understanding the situation.

This is certainly not a quality issue; she was probably offended elsewhere and came here to make a scene.

Before she could speak, Jiang Ran, at the back‑yard entrance, had already heard the commotion and walked over with long strides.

He kept his hands in his pockets, a half‑smile curving his mouth, while his eyes turned cold.

"Yo, Auntie, which act are you performing?" Jiang Ran's voice was lazy yet carried an invisible pressure, "Just now at the competition venue, weren't you still wearing our Skirt, basking in glory, receiving praise from all the leaders?"

"How did it turn in an instant into 'ripped clothes' and 'poor quality'? Your face‑changing speed is faster than flipping a book."

As soon as he said that, the few customers in the shop instantly showed expressions of understanding and as‑if‑watching a drama.

So this is the one who was showing off elsewhere earlier and now came back to cause trouble?

Su Yanhua, publicly exposed by Jiang Ran, could no longer keep her composure; she shouted with outward fierceness but inner timidity, "What are you talking nonsense about? Who was basking in glory! I only discovered the quality problem after wearing it; you must give me a return! Otherwise I'll sue you for selling inferior products!"

Su Ruan gently tugged at Jiang Ran, who was still about to speak, stepped forward, fixed her gaze on Su Yanhua, and said in the same calm tone, but with unquestionable firmness:

"Su Yanhua, the clothes from Chongsu, from material selection to workmanship, all stand up to inspection."

"The Skirt you're wearing is made of premium Simulated Silk Fabric; the workmanship is evident to all."

"You say the threads are frayed and it scratches—where exactly? Point it out and I'll see. If it's our quality issue, we won't shirk; we'll refund or replace according to the rules."

She paused, then said clearly, "But if it isn't a quality issue and you simply want a return for personal reasons… sorry, our shop has a policy: custom‑made garments, once sold, are non‑returnable and non‑exchangeable unless there is a definite quality problem."

"I already made this clear to you when you placed the order and paid."

Su Yanhua was left speechless by Su Ruan's orderly, airtight reply. How could she point to any specific quality problem?

It was merely a fabricated excuse made in her haste. Su Ruan had indeed said no returns or exchanges, and at that moment Su Yanhua was blinded by vanity and didn't care.

"You… you're exactly a big shop bullying customers! Bullying us ordinary people!" Su Yanhua began to rant, her voice trembling with tears, trying to elicit sympathy, "I spent so much money for this trinket… do you even have any conscience left!"

Seeing her flailing, Jiang Ran's disgust deepened; he sneered, "Conscience? Auntie, I think you're the one lacking it."

"Who was the one who arrogantly insisted on buying, looking down on department‑store clothes? Now that you find the money makes your husband's flesh ache and you can't save face, you come here to cause trouble? Is there ever such a thing in the world?"

Jiang Ran's words cut like a knife, precisely slicing open Su Yanhua's most vulnerable heart, exposing her scheming and embarrassment to daylight.

The customers in the shop murmured, their glances at Su Yanhua filled with contempt.

"Exactly, there's no reason to return custom‑made clothes."

"If you misjudged yourself, who can you blame?"

"Show off by wearing it out, then come back to return? Dream on…"

Those murmurs buzzed around Su Yanhua like countless flies, driving her to total collapse.

"Su Ruan! It's all you! It's you, Broom Star! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have…"

She screamed incoherently, the pent‑up resentment like a burst dam, trying to engulf the ever‑calm Su Ruan before her.

"Enough!"

A cold rebuke cut off her words.

The previously silent Su Ruan finally spoke again, her gaze calmly fixed on the frenzied Su Yanhua; her tone held no anger nor mockery, only a lofty indifference, as if watching a far‑capped drama unrelated to herself:

"Su Yanhua, your misfortune has always been your own choice, unrelated to others."

"Don't attribute the failures of your life to others; that only makes you appear more pitiful."

She paused, pointed to the entrance, her voice clear and icy: "Now, please leave. Our shop still needs to do business. If you cause more trouble, I don't mind calling the police, or asking the street office to arbitrate."

Call the police!

Street office!

Those words poured over Su Yanhua like cold water, instantly sobering her a few degrees.