The moment Song Yao saw off the Wang Dagui family—who left far less smug than when they arrived—she immediately sat beside Wang Qiqi, several pairs of eyes fixed on her expectantly. "Qiqi, is the stock market really that lucrative?"

Seeing the earnest gazes upon her, Wang Qiqi sighed. "The market is viable right now, but no one knows how long this bull run will last. Of course, where there’s a bull market, there’s a bear market. Personally, I think taking a small dip to make some money is fine, but staking everything on the stock market feels precarious."

"I say, no matter how great the market is, earning money needs to be grounded," Wang Damei admitted, deeply envious of the profits, yet fundamentally uneasy. "The market has wins and losses; buying property is much safer, right, Qiqi?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Mm, actually, as soon as I received my parents' compensation money, I bought several apartments. I collect rent every month now. While the yield is a bit lower than the stock market's returns, I feel much more secure—money comes in like clockwork."

When Wang Damei and her husband heard about the properties Qiqi already owned (naturally, only the ones negotiated during the settlement, she kept quiet about the rest; sometimes withholding information is best for everyone involved), they were stunned. They hadn't expected that the girl they thought was being so carefully protected by Wang Dajun and his wife had actually been strategizing for her future while dealing with Wang Dagui and his wife.

Wang Damei felt honored by her decision to draw closer to Wang Qiqi. Such a girl was truly—too smart, and equally too difficult to handle. The same thought crossed Song Wenbo’s mind. "It seems, Qiqi, you are quite bullish on the property market's future?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "The stock market will fall, but will houses fall? Look at how property values have been steadily rising over the past two years, and rents too. I think if more outside people move in, housing prices will climb even faster." (Of course, other factors fueled the surge: land prices, bribery costs, taxes, and developer profits.)

Song Wenbo strongly agreed with Qiqi’s approach. "Earning money should be steady and grounded. While the stock market brings fast cash, I don't see it as a long-term solution. Buying property is better. Qiqi, are there any stocks dropping even now?"

"Yes, even when the market is overwhelmingly positive, some people still lose money. I think the stock market is similar to gambling, just marginally better than pure gambling." Wang Qiqi wasn't entirely fabricating; for instance, people who see their stock holdings trapped often cut their losses and switch, missing the big gains. "But property is different; it's a fixed asset. Aren't you tempted?"

Song Yao and Song Ziwen nodded, though they knew they lacked the funds to speculate even if tempted. Gong Peixing, despite his envy for such speculative gains, was keenly aware of his own weak foundation. In the past, he might have pursued this, seeking his in-laws' approval by earning more, but now that they treated him so well, and with Yao Yao pregnant, his focus had to be on stability—working hard to build a solid base. "We aren't trading stocks, nor do we have the skill for it. I'll stick to honestly saving money to buy property and renovate it for renting out."

Song Yao didn't strongly object to Gong Peixing's decision. "I have no objection. My future job is taking care of you and our son. Yours is to earn money. Although the stock market brings quick returns, Qiqi described it as quite grim, so let's focus on steady earnings. Neither of us has insider tips or the analytical mind for the market—let’s pass."

If Song Yao hadn't mentioned insider tips, Song Ziwen might have let it slide, but her mention prompted him to sneer. "Forget it. I suspect she just saw the market was hot and used the Gao family's name to get us to hand over money for investment. If it profits, we get twenty percent. But if it doesn't?"

"I’m worried we might not even get the principal back," Wang Qiqi chimed in with her own concern. "After all the unpleasantness between us and her, forget twenty percent dividends; even at a hundred percent, I wouldn't dare."

Wang Damei glanced at the time, realizing it was getting late. "Little Gong, go home and rest early. Come back early tomorrow morning, Yao Yao, you should go to sleep too; you have to get up early."

Lying in bed, Song Yao had intended to ask Wang Qiqi a few more things, but Li Cui's earlier outburst had already supplied some answers. Moreover, since becoming pregnant, though she hadn't experienced vomiting, she had grown quite sleepy. She drifted off shortly after lying down. Wang Qiqi, having missed her afternoon rest, knew she needed sleep to be fully alert for tomorrow’s half-day workload.

Wang Qiqi expected to oversleep, but perhaps aware of the day's schedule, she slept restlessly. As soon as she heard voices outside her room, she quietly rose. Though she didn't know the exact time, the fact that her aunt hadn't come to wake her suggested it was still early.

Wang Damei was already up early, preparing items needed for the morning meal. While her daughter and son-in-law would still come home for meals daily, the feeling was different today. Yet, Wang Damei had little time for sentiment; breakfast preparation needed to start now. When she heard the door move, she immediately quieted her movements, seeing it was Wang Qiqi. "Qiqi, you’re up?"

Wang Qiqi checked the time—it wasn't yet five. While early, she knew she wouldn't sleep much longer even if she tried, so she might as well help. Besides, watching Song Wenbo’s clumsy efforts, Wang Damei would be busy until much later. "Mm, I'm up. Sister Yao Yao is still asleep. What can I help with?"

Wang Damei felt a wave of relief seeing Qiqi emerge. She had considered asking Li Cui to help, but she knew the other woman might refuse even if asked, and the strong-willed Wang Damei wouldn't beg. As for Song Wenbo, he could analyze data impeccably, but domestic chores were beyond him.

Thanks to the efforts of Wang Damei and her niece, a large spread of breakfast was finally ready by 5:30 AM, requiring only reheating before the guests arrived. "Qiqi, go wash your face, then you need to help Yao Yao with her makeup."

Wang Damei rushed into Song Yao's room to wake her, then woke Song Ziwen. By the time all three were ready, it was already six o'clock. Song Ziwen sped off in the car borrowed from the factory—driven by Song Wenbo—heading for the bridal shop. Song Yao ate in the car, while Wang Qiqi managed a brief nap. After the inevitable flurry of activity at the bridal shop, Song Yao was back home just before 7:30 AM.

Although the new home was near the Song family residence, they first needed to pay respects to Gong Peixing’s parents before heading to the new house, and they had to reach the hotel by 11:00 AM. Thus, the plan was set: arrive promptly at 8:18 AM to pick up the bride.

The moment Wang Qiqi and the others returned home, Wang Damei hurried Song Yao back to her room to rest and eat a bit more. Then, she pulled Wang Qiqi aside, briefing her on several matters. None of the details were the main point; the focus was the monetary gifts—the lijin. Although some guests gave gifts in advance, many friends and colleagues presented them upon arrival, making Wang Qiqi’s task today quite crucial.

Wang Qiqi understood that being asked to serve as a bridesmaid was partially connected to these envelopes. Considering the number of guests, there would be many red envelopes. If even one or two went missing, the lost money would be minor, but it would have implications for future social obligations.

Wang Qiqi kept nodding, absorbing Wang Damei's instructions, unaware that a certain gaze had been tracking her since she walked in. If she had known, Qiqi would certainly have called it terrible luck to encounter that person on such a happy day, though his presence at Song Yao’s wedding was, perhaps, to be expected.

Wang Rui stood nearby, chatting animatedly with Gao Kai. In truth, Wang Rui felt just attending the wedding should suffice, leaving the morning free for other activities. But Gao Kai insisted on attending. As soon as Wang Rui entered, she started muttering complaints about the boisterous scene. Some of the Song family relatives nearby overheard her and cast judgmental glances, which Wang Rui disregarded. Hmph, so what if I'm dating early.

What truly displeased Wang Rui was that even now, Gao Kai couldn't stop looking at Wang Qiqi. She tugged at Gao Kai's sleeve impatiently. "Kai..." she purred, knowing this seductive tone was her advantage. Wang Qiqi couldn't manage such things; she had become rather strong-willed lately, never giving Gao Kai a pleasant look.

Gao Kai had only one thought about Wang Qiqi: she was growing more beautiful by the day. Even standing motionless in a corner, she was a painting, impossible to ignore. In contrast, Wang Rui couldn't achieve that level of presence. Moreover, Gao Kai was most disappointed by how clingy Wang Rui was. A high school sophomore, she insisted on calling him every night and traveling to Shencheng early Saturday only to leave Sunday, which was becoming tiresome for Gao Kai. While a woman’s obsession might be something a man boasts about, when that obsession suffocates his personal space, it

For more novels, visit storyread.net.