Shanghai in the Republican Era

Chapter 111 Exquisite Attire: The Turbulent Times of the Republic of China - Mysterious Assistance,

"Splendid Costumes: Lin Fangfei and Gu Zixuan's Turbulent Republican Era"

Subtitle: Mysterious Helper

The footsteps grew closer, each step feeling like a blow to my heart, making my heart race uncontrollably. I stared nervously at the direction of the passage, not daring to blink. Today I was wearing a beige cheongsam, the color of which appeared somewhat pale in the dim light, much like my tense expression.

Gu Zixuan shielded me behind him, his body tense like a cheetah ready to pounce. The people who had been surrounding us also looked warily in the direction of the footsteps, their guns still pointed at us, but a hint of panic was in their eyes.

As the footsteps drew closer, a figure came into view. When I recognized the person, my eyes widened in surprise. It was Shen Wanqing.

Shen Wanqing had a resolute expression on her face, and she was still holding a bloodstained dagger in her hand. Clearly, she was the one who had saved us just now.

"Wanqing, what are you doing here?" I asked in surprise.

Shen Wanqing looked at me, her eyes filled with a complex emotion. "Miss Lin, now is not the time for explanations. Let's deal with the problem at hand first."

When those people saw that Shen Wanqing was just a weak woman, their faces turned fierce again.

The leader of the henchmen shouted at Shen Wanqing, "You meddlesome woman, you won't leave here alive today either."

Shen Wanqing, however, remained unfazed, letting out a cold laugh. "Do you think you can succeed? The workers outside have already surrounded this place; you won't be able to escape today."

Gu Zixuan seized the opportunity to say, "If you put down your weapons, you might receive a lighter sentence. Otherwise, once the police arrive, you'll be doomed."

After hearing what we said, those people began to hesitate. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with struggle.

Just then, a police siren suddenly sounded outside.

"Oh no, the police are really here!" someone shouted in panic.

Those people panicked completely and began searching everywhere for a way to escape.

However, this small room had no other exit besides the passage we came in through.

I looked at them, my heart filled with rage. "Now you know fear? You've done so many bad things, you deserve to be punished."

Seeing that they had nowhere to escape, those people laid down their weapons.

The police rushed in quickly and took them all away.

The matter was temporarily resolved, and I looked at Shen Wanqing, my heart filled with doubt.

"Wanqing, what's going on with you? How do you have such great abilities?" I asked.

Shen Wanqing sighed and then said, "Miss Lin, actually I am a member of an underground organization. We have been secretly investigating these forces that are destroying national enterprises. My approach to you is also to protect the textile factory."

Gu Zixuan and I both looked at her in surprise.

Shen Wanqing continued, "This textile factory is very important to Shanghai's economic development, and we cannot let it be ruined by these bad people. The previous accounting problems were also their doing. They want to control the textile factory and thus control Shanghai's textile industry."

I nodded, my heart filled with gratitude towards Shen Wanqing. "Wanqing, thank you. If it weren't for you, we might be in danger today."

Shen Wanqing smiled. "Miss Lin, this is what I should do. However, we cannot let our guard down yet. Although these people have been arrested, the forces behind them may still have other plans."

Gu Zixuan frowned and said, "You're right. We must strengthen security measures at the textile factory to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

In the days that followed, we implemented a series of reforms and restructuring at the textile factory. Security was strengthened, accounts were reviewed, and the factory's business gradually returned to normal.

However, the peaceful days did not last long.

One day, I was designing new fashion samples in my office when Gu Zixuan rushed in.

"Fangfei, something terrible has happened. I just received news that a batch of our important raw materials has gone missing during transport," Gu Zixuan said anxiously.

My eyes widened. "How could this be? This batch of raw materials is crucial to our upcoming production."

Gu Zixuan frowned and said, "I suspect that the forces behind those people are retaliating against us. They don't want our textile factory to recover."

I bit my lip, my heart filled with worry. "What should we do? Without this batch of raw materials, we can't complete many of our orders."

Just when we were at our wits' end, a mysterious person delivered a letter to the textile factory. The letter read: "If you want to retrieve the raw materials, come to the abandoned factory in the suburbs tomorrow, alone, or you will bear the consequences."

Who is this mysterious man?

(End of this episode)

"Splendid Costumes: Lin Fangfei and Gu Zixuan's Turbulent Republican Era"

Subtitle: A Rendezvous at an Abandoned Factory

The letter felt like a demon's summons, heavy in my hands. I stared at the words, my eyes filled with turmoil and worry. Today I was wearing a light blue cheongsam, its color mirroring my complex emotions—seemingly calm yet turbulent beneath. My fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the letter, leaving it slightly wrinkled.

Gu Zixuan watched me from the side, his eyes filled with worry and opposition. "Fangfei, this is clearly a trap, you can't go."

I bit my lip, my heart filled with conflict. "Zixuan, I know this might be a trap, but if we don't go, we'll lose the chance to retrieve the raw materials. These raw materials are a matter of life and death for the textile factory."

Gu Zixuan frowned, his hand gripping my arm tightly. "Fangfei, I can't let you take such a risk. We can think of other ways."

I looked at him, my heart filled with emotion, but I was also resolute. "Zixuan, there's no time. If we can't complete the order on time, the textile factory's reputation will be damaged, and it will be even harder for us to survive in this industry in the future."

Shen Wanqing also came over. She looked at me and said, "Miss Lin, Mr. Gu is right, this is too dangerous. Maybe we can ask the police for help."

I shook my head. "Wanqing, the letter says I should go alone. If we go to the police, they might not hand over the raw materials."

Gu Zixuan's expression turned extremely pained; he knew he couldn't change my decision. "Fangfei, if you insist on going, I'll accompany you to the vicinity and protect you secretly."

I thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay, Zixuan. But you must be careful not to let them find out."

The next day, following the instructions in the letter, I went alone to the abandoned factory in the suburbs. Sitting in a rickshaw, watching the scenery rushing past the window, I felt a deep unease. I kept encouraging myself, hoping this time I could resolve the problem smoothly.

When we arrived near the abandoned factory, I got out of the car and walked towards it. The abandoned factory looked eerie and terrifying, the mottled marks on the walls like the tears of time. I took a deep breath, mustered my courage, and went inside.

The factory reeked of decay, and the lighting was dim. I walked cautiously, my eyes scanning my surroundings warily.

"You've finally arrived, Miss Lin." A voice came from the darkness.

I was startled and looked towards the source of the sound. A man in a black trench coat slowly walked out. He wore sunglasses, making it impossible to see his expression.

"Who are you? Where are my raw materials?" I asked.

The man smiled. "Miss Lin, don't be in such a hurry. Answer me one question first: why are you so fixated on this textile factory?"

I frowned. "This textile factory is my life's work, and the livelihood of many workers. I can't let it be destroyed."

The man nodded. "Miss Lin, you are very responsible. However, this world is cruel, and sometimes your persistence cannot change anything."

I looked at him, a surge of anger rising within me. "What exactly are you trying to say? If you're not going to return the raw materials to me, don't waste my time here."

The man chuckled again. "Miss Lin, don't be so hot-tempered. I can return the raw materials to you, but you have to agree to one condition."

"What are the conditions?" I asked.

The man looked at me and said, "Leave Gu Zixuan and be with me."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you say? This is impossible."

The man's face darkened. "Miss Lin, don't refuse so quickly. You need to understand that Gu Zixuan's family business is also facing many problems. If you're with me, I can help him solve those problems and also help your textile factory develop better."

I said angrily, "My feelings for Zixuan are not something that can be traded. You shameless person."

The man sneered. "Miss Lin, you will regret your decision."

Just then, Gu Zixuan suddenly rushed out from the shadows. "You despicable bastard, you actually dared to make a move on Fangfei."

The man wasn't flustered when he saw Gu Zixuan. "Mr. Gu, you still showed up. I knew you wouldn't let Miss Lin come alone."

Gu Zixuan stood in front of me, protecting me. "You won't be able to hurt Fangfei today."

The man shook his head. "Mr. Gu, do you think you can stop me?"

As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and a group of thugs surged out from all around.

Gu Zixuan looked at the thugs, his eyes filled with vigilance. "Do you think you can succeed with these people?"

My heart was filled with worry. Although Gu Zixuan was skilled, the other side had a large number of people.

Just as the two sides were about to fight, a burst of gunfire suddenly rang out from outside.

The thugs panicked when they heard the gunshots.

The man's face also turned grim. "What's going on?"

Has the police arrived, or has some new force intervened?

(End of this episode)

"Splendid Costumes: Lin Fangfei and Gu Zixuan's Turbulent Republican Era"

Subtitle: The New Force Behind the Gunfire

The gunshots, like the footsteps of death, put everyone on edge. I gripped Gu Zixuan's clothes tightly, my eyes wide with terror as I looked around. Today I was wearing a deep purple cheongsam, its color appearing even more somber in the dim, abandoned factory, much like the gloom that hung over my heart.

Gu Zixuan turned slightly to the side, shielding me even more tightly. His eyes scanned the surroundings warily, his tall and handsome figure now exuding power and determination.

The man in the black trench coat shouted to his men, "Go see what's going on!"

Several thugs cautiously moved toward the direction from which the gunshots were coming.

I prayed silently that someone would come to help us.

A moment later, one of the thugs ran back in a panic. "Boss, something bad has happened! It's a group of people in strange uniforms. They're very powerful, and several of our brothers have already fallen."

The man in the black trench coat frowned. "Strange uniform? Could it be..." Before he could finish speaking, a group of people rushed in.

These men were dressed in identical dark uniforms, with cold, stern eyes, and carried guns; their movements were extremely swift. They quickly dispersed, surrounding us.

The leader stepped forward, glanced at us, and then fixed his gaze on the man in the black trench coat. "What are you doing here?"