Chapter 1: Changes After the Unexpected

"Zhang Jie, I have designed a new hairstyle that suits you perfectly. I guarantee it will make you look younger and more beautiful..."

"Alright, alright, A Jie, don't make me look like a busybody. I don't want people to think I'm an indecent woman."

"How could that be? The new hairstyle I designed will only make you look elegant and noble..."

"Oh, I have something to do. Let's cut my hair another day."

Watching Zhang Jie hurriedly leave the hair salon, hairstylist Li Weijie couldn't help but sigh with a mix of amusement and frustration. Was it really necessary? After all, I'm offering free designs!

Li Weijie put down his tools, shook his head, and chuckled to himself. Geniuses are often misunderstood!

It was his first day back at work after a month of training, and Li Weijie, who had made great progress in his hairstyling skills, was not affected by this little mishap. Even though Zhang Jie was his first customer of the day.

He knew very well that in this small town, even if he had undergone professional hairstyling training seven or eight times, and even if his hairstyle designs were creative, very few people needed them. Everyone just wanted traditional, simple haircuts.

However, Li Weijie was not disappointed because he didn't have great ambitions. He loved hairstyling as an art form, but he didn't want to make a living solely from hairstyling. He was content with living a leisurely life like this, pursuing his happiness.

Of course, from time to time, he couldn't help but want to showcase his skills and offer customers free designs of beautiful hairstyles, sharing his creations with others. But no one wanted to be his "model." They all felt like he was experimenting on their heads, and many familiar customers in the neighborhood would say that about him.

Li Weijie's good mood lasted until the afternoon.

In the afternoon, there were no customers in the small hair salon. Li Weijie was playing with scissors in front of the mirror when a girl walked in.

Seeing her clearly in the mirror, Li Weijie couldn't help but whistle and then turned around with a smile. "Xiao Lan!"

Xiao Lan seemed preoccupied and only managed a forced smile without saying anything.

Li Weijie stood up, took Xiao Lan's hand, and led her to sit on a nearby bench. Xiao Lan was his girlfriend, and one of the reasons he was willing to settle in this small town and work as a hairstylist was because he could see Xiao Lan every day.

He was in a good mood because they hadn't seen each other for over a month. He came back late yesterday after training and only had a phone conversation without meeting in person.

"Xiao Lan, I've missed you so much after all this time. Come, kiss me!" Li Weijie smiled and put his arm around Xiao Lan's shoulder and waist, ignoring the fact that the shop door was wide open, and quickly leaned in for a kiss.

Xiao Lan's body trembled slightly but didn't say anything.

After kissing Xiao Lan, Li Weijie's hand on her waist became restless and slid under her clothes, touching her skin. He reached under her bra...

Xiao Lan remained silent, preparing to let him do as he pleased.

This was happening in the shop. Under normal circumstances, Xiao Lan would stop him. Sensing her uneasiness, Li Weijie stopped and withdrew his hand, holding her hand instead. He lowered his head, looked into her eyes, and asked softly, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Xiao Lan was hesitant and didn't dare to meet Li Weijie's eyes. After a long pause, she finally whispered a sentence that shocked Li Weijie, "A Jie, let's... break up."

Like being struck by lightning on a clear day, Li Weijie remained stunned for a full minute without reacting.

"A Jie, don't be like this..." Xiao Lan couldn't help but shed tears and gently shook Li Weijie's arm.

"Why?" Li Weijie took a deep breath and forced out a sentence, his voice slightly hoarse. His inner turmoil was still raging.

Xiao Lan silently shed tears and, after a while, intermittently said, "A Jie, I know you've been good to me, and I like you... but... my parents don't like you... they see you as carefree and irresponsible..."

Li Weijie couldn't help but snort and inwardly sneer: I'm carefree? I'm irresponsible?

"Everyone is always thinking about making money, but you... you're just a hairstylist. It would be fine if you were a guy, but you're not grounded, always playing around... You don't make much money here, to begin with, and I don't see you saying I'm sorry, but I can't generate that story for you.

After half a day had passed, Li Weijie struggled to calm himself and asked two questions, "Xiaolan, is this your intention or your parents' intention? How should I change?"

"It's useless!" Xiao Lan suddenly cried out loudly.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally clenched her teeth, wiped away her tears, and looked at Li Weijie seriously.

"A-Jie, this is both my parents' intention and my own. Although I am happy being with you, I dare not think about the future. Whenever I do, I feel uncertain... You don't need to change for me. You should think about it yourself. I have decided to break up. We are not children anymore. Let's be rational."

After Xiao Lan finished speaking, she glanced at Li Weijie one last time and then turned and ran out.

Li Weijie slumped into a chair. He couldn't accept the enormous change that occurred in just a few minutes. He would rather believe it was a dream, definitely a dream!

Li Weijie didn't know how he closed the shop or how he made his way back home. It was as if he had become somewhat lifeless, completely unaware of what his parents had said to him.

The following days were spent in a daze for Li Weijie. It wasn't until his father brought him some news.

His parents had started to find his behavior strange, but they usually let him be and didn't say much. However, somehow they found out about their breakup.

His father shared some news with him: the son of a comrade-in-arms of Xiaolan's father came to visit a month ago on behalf of his father. This person was said to be a boss and ended up staying here, claiming to be assessing the investment environment. Now, Xiao Lan has gone to a big city to work with that boss.

Upon hearing this news, Li Weijie, who still had a glimmer of hope, felt completely hopeless. But for some reason, his heart became completely calm.

His father didn't try to persuade him much, only saying, "Xiao Lan's choice is not wrong. This is the reality of life. You should think it over."

Of course, his mother followed with a harsh scolding. Naturally, his mother felt that Xiao Lan had let her son down.

Li Weijie spent a whole night seriously contemplating. Perhaps the impression he gave to others was indeed like that! If he was content with mediocrity, not only would he fail to gain societal recognition, but it would also make those around him feel insecure. Did he still want to continue like this?

Perhaps in this restless era, everyone needs financial security.

Am I going to lose myself in frivolous pursuits and fail to earn money? Li Weijie sneered inwardly, unsure if he was saying this to himself or the departed Xiao Lan.

Although it pained him, he wasn't defeated. On the contrary, it ignited his fighting spirit!

After realizing this, Li Weijie didn't indulge in heartbreak. He immediately took action, searching through all the business cards that could potentially help him, and eventually called one named Xu Rong.

"Is this Sister Rong? I am Li Weijie... Yes, yes, it's me... Um, I heard about your salon and wondered if you need any help... Okay! Great, great! Thank you so much!"