Upon receiving the call from Juliana confirming the car was arriving soon, Wang Qiqi called Han Tao over to help carry the boxes downstairs.

The old ladies chatting nearby watched Qiqi and Han Tao with curious, darting eyes. Qiqi knew Han Tao had stood up for her yesterday; even though they hadn't seen her hiding at his place, their burning gossip fire was raging nonetheless.

Qiqi truly wished to ignore them, but after a moment's thought, she decided, "I'm sorry about yesterday. Although I really wanted to open the door, he was drunk. I don't know why he came looking for me, but I genuinely think he and Xiao Rui are a perfect match." Since they loved to gossip so much, she might as well state it plainly to prevent them from conjuring up their own narratives.

They hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to speak so frankly. In truth, they had waited for a long time yesterday without seeing her emerge, assuming she wasn't home. But now, she knew everything. Still, they conceded that if it were them, few people would open the door to a drunken man knocking, unless there was a man inside the house.

"Qiqi, you were home yesterday?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Yes, I was packing my things, so I went to bed quite early. The knocking was what woke me up. After listening to Han Tao, I didn't dare open the door. Plus, my door is very sturdy, so I just went back to sleep. Han Tao told me about everything that happened last night."

No one had imagined Qiqi's absence was due to her simply going back to sleep. Was that evasion, or just extreme nonchalance? "You weren't worried at all?"

Worried? Wang Qiqi nodded. "I suppose my parents would complain about me. But I never realized what kind of person Gao Kai really is. It looks like I need to talk to Wang Rui. Gao Kai’s character is truly questionable, isn't it?" Though, Wang Qiqi privately thought that even if she said something, Wang Rui wouldn't believe her.

When Wang Rui received the message, her immediate reaction was that Wang Qiqi was trying to seduce Gao Kai again. Otherwise, why would Gao Kai seek out Wang Qiqi while drunk? She felt Gao Kai could have simply called her; she certainly wouldn't have refused him, nor would she have embarrassed him. But why did he...?

Fuming, Wang Rui marched over to Qiqi's place, intending to confront her about humiliating Gao Kai. Even though they were no longer a couple, her actions felt...

When Wang Rui arrived at Qiqi’s, she found Wang Qiqi moving boxes, and that pauper was actually helping her carry them. "Qiqi, you..." School wasn't starting until the middle of the month; was Qiqi preparing to check in early? And where was she planning to take so many boxes? "You’re not planning to empty this place and rent it out, are you?" That was Wang Rui’s first thought. If that were true, she absolutely had to inform their parents. It had only been a little over a year since their uncle passed away.

"Rent it out?" Wang Qiqi stared, bewildered. "I'm going north for classes. I need to take my clothes with me; I can’t just travel north and buy a whole new wardrobe! Lina’s family has a car going to the capital, so of course, I’m asking them to transport my things there. That way, I avoid either spending money on new items or paying for shipping." Wang Qiqi wondered what went through Wang Rui’s mind to see her many bags and immediately assume she was moving house.

Wang Qiqi paused. "Besides, even if I were to rent out the house, what business is it of yours? I recall that I, Wang Qiqi, am the owner of this property. By what right are you questioning me? Oh, and by the way, your man Gao Kai threw a drunken fit yesterday. Too bad I was busy packing my luggage too late and missed seeing his ugly display. If I had, I guarantee I would have knocked him out with a cudgel and kicked him down the stairs. I truly don't understand; I already congratulated him on potentially becoming my brother-in-law, what more does he want? And Wang Rui, though you might not like what I’m about to say next, as your elder sister, this is my final warning: Gao Kai might not be the best match for you. Think about it carefully."

Wang Rui bristled at Wang Qiqi’s demeanor, which suggested that any opposition was just wind. Then, Qiqi had the audacity to advise her to give up Gao Kai. "I will not give up Gao Kai. Your understanding of him is completely wrong. He is not a playboy; it's those other people who keep bothering him. Qiqi, I know you're jealous of me."

Wang Qiqi pointed at herself. "Jealous of you?" Good heavens, Wang Qiqi couldn't fathom what Wang Rui possessed that warranted jealousy. Besides having parents, did she really have anything Qiqi needed to envy?

"Gao Kai," Wang Rui said haughtily. "Don't think Gao Kai came looking for you yesterday because he wanted to reconcile. Let me tell you, he just knocked on the wrong door and called out the wrong name." Yes, that was it. Wang Rui nodded forcefully as she spoke, whether to confirm the truth of her words or to comfort herself, only she knew.

Knocking on the wrong door and calling the wrong name—that excuse could only come from Wang Rui. "Since it was someone who mistook the door and called the wrong name, that’s fine. But please ask your future brother-in-law not to mistake doors or names, especially when he’s drunk. Otherwise, next time, I’ll knock him out first and then call Xiao Rui to come claim him." Wang Qiqi stared hard at Wang Rui for a long moment, then sighed. "Little sister, there are many paths you must walk before you marry Gao Kai. I hope that six years from now, I’ll be able to drink to your and Gao Kai’s wedding wine."

"You will wait, but the question is, who will be my brother-in-law?" Wang Rui glanced mockingly at Han Tao, who was busy helping move things. "My rich older sister, who disregards her relatives—don’t tell me you’re going to end up with some pauper who’s trying hard to help you study, whose grades are decent but who has no father and is dirt poor?" Wang Rui cast a look of pure disdain at Wang Qiqi.

What good were good grades in this day and age? Good grades didn't guarantee food. Perhaps he’d land a decent-paying job, but could he buy two houses? "Of course, my sister is rich. You don't need to worry if she chooses a pauper."

Wang Qiqi was taken aback by Wang Rui’s words. "Apologize, Wang Rui. I demand that you apologize to Han Tao."

"I apologize? Why should I apologize? Wang Qiqi, what do you mean by this?" Wang Rui certainly wouldn't apologize. In her view, Han Tao was only helping Wang Qiqi review her lessons, and he even had the nerve to confront Gao Kai yesterday. "He threw a few punches at Gao Kai yesterday; did he apologize?"

"Are you losing your mind?" Wang Qiqi managed a strained laugh. "Gao Kai was drunk, causing trouble at my doorstep. Han Tao hitting him a few times was restrained. If it were me, I would have knocked him unconscious with a club immediately. What could he have done to me? Do you want Gao Kai to kick down my door and barge in to do something immoral? Would that make you happy?"

This accusation was quite harsh, and Wang Rui refused to concede. "I just feel that if I have to apologize to Han Tao, then shouldn't he apologize first for his rude actions yesterday?"

The two women glared at each other, locked in an argument over who should apologize first. In essence, neither thought the other had behaved correctly.

Han Tao gently restrained Wang Qiqi. "You're not being very ladylike. You don't need to argue with her; it lowers your own stature."

Wang Qiqi let out a small laugh. Although it looked like she was backing down, Han Tao’s implication was that Wang Rui’s own stature wasn't high, and arguing with her would degrade her own character as well.

Wang Rui didn't grasp the nuance immediately. When she finally did, Han Tao stared at her for a moment. "My family might not be wealthy, but don't you think stating that I will never be rich in the future is too absolute? Past wealth doesn't guarantee future wealth, just as past poverty doesn't guarantee perpetual poverty. The key is whether that person strives diligently to earn money and change their fate, or if they are wasteful." Han Tao was confident he would earn a great fortune and provide a good life for his mother, wife, and children.

Hearing Han Tao speak with such conviction, Wang Rui inwardly scoffed. "Don't assume that getting into a good university changes your destiny. Fine, perhaps you’ll find a decent job, but I can guarantee you, Han Tao, you will never catch up to Gao Kai. Based on Gao Kai’s current assets, you’d have to work for three lifetimes to equal him." Gao Kai owned such a large restaurant, and his private room alone was half the size of their entire home. Plus, there was the teahouse. These were just the visible assets; to put it bluntly, Gao Kai’s liquid savings probably exceeded the value of Qiqi’s house plus all her savings. Especially since the hotel and teahouse operated daily, their booming business generated enough annual income to buy several houses. Even if Han Tao attended a top school, he wouldn't find a job paying that much.

Wang Qiqi watched Wang Rui calculating costs with a proprietary look and secretly chuckled. Yes, the Gao family seemed wealthy, but the crucial point was whether they were willing to part with the money, or if Gao Kai was independently wealthy. "Sister, you’ll have to find a way to manage money from Gao Kai’s parents, unless Gao Kai himself is rich. You need to learn how to please your future in-laws." Good luck, Wang Qiqi thought, unsure if Wang Rui could manage Gao Kai’s parents, but knowing that pleasing in-laws was a necessary strategy to overcome so many rivals.

Finally, Wang Qiqi managed to move all the boxes down and load them onto the minivan Juliana had driven over.

Juliana looked at the seven or eight large boxes. "You... you didn't seriously decide to bring all your summer, autumn, and winter clothes, did you?" She almost said "your things," but seeing the old ladies observing them, she kept the comment unspoken.

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Yes, I think these clothes can last me another two years. There's no reason to buy new ones." Fortunately, some of the styles were simple, the kind that wouldn't easily look dated, although they were decidedly unexciting and definitely not trendy.

Juliana looked at Wang Qiqi. "If someone had told me two years ago that you would turn out like this, I wouldn't have believed them." Back then, Wang Qiqi bought new clothes every year and absolutely refused to wear anything two years old.

【Paper Gold and Glitz / Qingfeng Lingxin】Beauty’s fragrance surpasses fallen flowers, withered by the wind. The fragrance of ink and paper spans thousands of years and flows through eternity. She is reborn on the path of death; watch how she carves out a new life (To be continued)