Just as the door closed, a torrential rain poured down. A suitcase lay overturned on the floor. Yan Xixi stood by the window, gazing at the ink-like sky as raindrops hit the glass with a PITTER-PATTER. She felt relieved to have reached home before the downpour, sparing herself the embarrassment of getting drenched. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NoveIꜰire.net Her heart was surprisingly calm, as if an invisible aura swirled around her, hinting at a pivotal change. She thought, My luck should be changing now. The bad luck that’s followed me like a shadow for so many years... it must finally be time for it to be chased away. In her wallet was a stack of cash and a debit card under her mother’s name. She hadn’t requested Wan Donglin’s credit card or the luxury car, nor had she taken any jewelry or handbags with her. However, this card held a substantial amount of cash. That was from the first cash account Wan Donglin had given her on the previous New Year’s Eve. She hadn’t dared to leave the money in the card he had provided. Instead, she immediately transferred it to her mother’s account. Using her mother’s name and an uncancelled ID card, she opened a separate safe-deposit box and, after several transactions, secretly deposited the entire sum into it. As for the unlimited credit card, luxury cars, and other significant cash accounts that came later, she didn’t dare touch them. Those are mere illusions. You have to consider the price you might pay. Money is essential, but when there’s a risk of disfigurement or death, it’s better to be cautious. Knowing Wan Donglin’s character, he would never let anyone take too much advantage of him. Even with this particular sum, she had been extremely cautious, transferring it multiple times. Therefore, even if Wan Donglin were to retaliate by, say, freezing her accounts, it probably wouldn’t be easy for him to do so immediately. Years of living as a con artist had turned her into something of a female secret agent. She wasn’t overly ambitious, just an ordinary person doing what was necessary to survive. She had quietly made some preparations a while ago to avoid being driven into a desperate situation again. With this money, she wasn’t worried about immediately finding a job, nor about tomorrow’s rent, and certainly not about going hungry. It was the self-preservation instinct of a little person, like a mouse preparing for winter by quietly hoarding a large pile of food in a dark, gloomy cave. The doors and windows were closed. The small potted flowers were fresh and vibrant, the fridge was full of food, the shower room was sparklingly clean, and the bed was comfortable and warm. Finally, she had her own little nest. Lying on the bed, she felt a sliver of security for the first time. Without security, there is no dignity. She slept exceptionally soundly that night. When she received a call from Xu Xiaoya, she rushed to the boutique. Uncharacteristically, Xu Xiaoya wasn’t attentively greeting customers. Instead, she looked bewildered. Next to her stood her parents, her younger brother, and her sister-in-law. Their eyes practically shone as they scanned the room filled with luxury goods. "Xiaoya, you’ve really made it big, owning such a nice boutique! Have you made a lot of money?" "Look at the professional attire you’re wearing now! It’s so high-class and elegant, we almost didn’t recognize you." "This is an honor for our Xu Family! Daughter, our family is counting on you now that you’re doing so well. TSK, TSK, TSK... look at this shop! It’s more like a palace than a store, so grand and luxurious..." "And look at all these nice things to drink—coffee, juice! Can all the customers here really drink as much as they want?" Everyone drank coffee and then juice. The sister-in-law picked up a handbag, examining it from every angle before asking, "Sister, I’ve never seen such an expensive bag before. Is there a discount?"