"I... I don't know!"
When Qin Chuan asked such a sharp question, Li Ya appeared very lost.
This clothing factory was a legacy her father had built with his life's hard work, even sacrificing his life for it. Li Ya had sworn to protect her family's clothing factory to honor her deceased father's spirit.
However, seeing others progress step by step while she remained stagnant, the gap between her and others widening, especially her boyfriend's rapid development, made Li Ya truly realize the crisis.
If this continued, perhaps one day she would indeed lose Qin Chuan. There were too many temptations outside; she couldn't guarantee her boyfriend would remain as steadfast.
Li Ya had studied abroad and knew the wonders and temptations of the outside world. Perhaps she didn't know how to do business, but she was very clear-headed about other aspects.
In relationships or married life, if there was a vast disparity in status, with one party being too dominant and the other too weak, it was bound to create conflicts and lead to various emotional crises.
Even if her partner was of good character, what about the people around them?
They would surely gossip, and there would be many alluring temptresses who would seize the opportunity to sow discord and then snatch away her most precious possession.
In Li Ya's understanding, the best way for a man and a woman to live together harmoniously for a long time was for both to maintain a certain level of equality. Even if there was a difference, it shouldn't be too vast.
For example, if you earned ten million a year, even if I couldn't match you, I could still earn six or seven million.
But now, her business was falling further and further behind Qin Chuan's.
Li Ya even discovered something more terrifying: she couldn't help Qin Chuan in any way now. Qin Chuan's network and business circle far surpassed hers.
In the past, when Qin Chuan's business was just starting, he still relied on her. At that time, Li Ya felt very happy because she could feel her own worth.
Now, she couldn't help Qin Chuan at all. Instead, she needed Qin Chuan's help constantly. Their current relationship relied solely on their mutual affection.
And this affection had always been initiated by Li Ya, from the beginning to the present.
What's more, she was four years older than Qin Chuan, a typical older woman-younger man relationship. Li Ya had tentatively asked Qin Chuan about marriage, and his answer was that he wouldn't consider it for a while.
Another thing was that as Qin Chuan's business grew larger and expanded into big cities, she saw him less and less.
Before, they were in the same small county town, meeting almost every day and enjoying each other's warm embrace. Now, the time between visits grew longer, with Qin Chuan away for two or three months at a time...
All these reasons combined to create Li Ya's inner anxiety and unease.
She was truly afraid that if this continued, one day Qin Chuan would kick her aside and elope with a more beautiful and capable woman. Then she would truly have nothing, and her life would be a complete failure.
"Sister~~"
Qin Chuan was confused by Li Ya's attitude, and he said with a wry smile, "You don't want to give up the clothing factory, yet you complain it's not making enough money. What can be done?"
"Business is built step by step. The path Butterfly Clothing Factory has chosen is destined to develop at a different pace than Xinhua Electronics Factory!"
Qin Chuan clearly hadn't realized what Li Ya truly feared in her heart.
Men were generally oblivious to such matters, completely lacking the complex and colorful inner emotional world of women, nor their constant anxieties.
"Actually, I think you don't need to compare yourself to others. The reason Director Ye could earn so much this time is entirely due to her highest shareholding in the Shentun locker project."
"Just in the locker project alone, I didn't earn as much as she did!"
Qin Chuan said, attempting to comfort her:
"Director Ye's immense returns today are all well-deserved. She invested all her assets into this locker project, a full six or seven million. Few people have such courage!"
Speaking of this, Qin Chuan looked at Li Ya seriously:
"Sister, Butterfly Clothing Factory is actually doing very well. In just over a year, it has developed five branches. This speed is far superior to other clothing factories."
"The profit this year is also substantial, at least close to two million. Considering the current national situation, you are definitely one of the women at the pinnacle of the pyramid."
"Tell me, how many women in our country can earn two million a year now!"
An annual income of two million, let alone in the era of '99, was still very impressive even twenty years later. Over ninety-nine percent of people couldn't earn that much.
Hearing Qin Chuan say this, Li Ya's distressed mood finally eased considerably.
"How about this, tomorrow I'll specifically go to your clothing factory and create a detailed development plan for our company. What do you think?"
Qin Chuan said, finally hugging Li Ya.
"Mhm!"
Li Ya nodded softly, nestled in his arms. A few minutes later, Qin Chuan had fallen into a deep sleep, letting out soft snores, but Li Ya couldn't sleep at all.
The conversation tonight made her realize that Qin Chuan had no intention of changing his mind about her; he was still as gentle and considerate as ever. This was her greatest gain.
However, Li Ya remained filled with uncertainty about her future. She didn't know if she should continue to persevere in the clothing industry according to Qin Chuan's plan or forge her own path.
The clothing industry was not something she particularly liked, nor could it help Qin Chuan in any way.
Perhaps, as Qin Chuan said, it required a process of accumulation and explosive growth, but Li Ya also knew herself that she wasn't cut out for business.
If the day came when the factory grew larger with Qin Chuan's help, it was still uncertain whether she could manage it.
That night, Li Ya slept restlessly, in a daze, having nightmares from time to time.
She dreamt of her deceased parents, and of Qin Chuan being intimate with other women, even having children in the end...
The next morning, while they were having breakfast, Qin Chuan looked at Li Ya's eyes strangely: "Sister, you didn't sleep well last night, did you? Your spirits are so low."
"Do... do I?"
Li Ya hurriedly went to the mirror and found that her eyelids were indeed slightly puffy, and her spirits were low. She subconsciously thought of the nightmares from last night.
In her dreams, her parents told her they were already very satisfied with the current scale of Butterfly Clothing Factory, and if their daughter truly wanted to pursue something else, she should do so boldly!
They would not blame her!