After seeing the last guest out, Wang Qiqi just wanted to find a place to properly rest and get some deep sleep, while Song Yao, standing beside her, looked quite unwell. "Sister, why don't you and brother-in-law go back first."

Wang Damei was directing people to pack up the remaining items—what needed boxing up, and what liquor, cigarettes, and drinks needed to be brought back (naturally, to guard against the Gong family seizing the Song family's provisions in the chaos). Hearing Wang Qiqi speak and noticing Song Yao's pale complexion, she said, "Little Gong, take Yao Yao back. Come over for dinner later tonight."

Originally, Song Yao and Gong Peixing were supposed to eat dinner at the Gong family's home tonight, but the Gong parents hadn't mentioned it at all. Wang Damei wasn't going to be polite either; if they were going to push their daughter and son-in-law away, there was no need for her to stand on ceremony. "Oh, and bring Qiqi along."

Just as Wang Qiqi was about to agree, Wang Rui rushed out from the side. "Qiqi, let's go shopping this afternoon. I have some things to talk to you about while we're out."

Wang Qiqi found Wang Rui's sudden closeness very jarring. "I've been busy non-stop since I got back yesterday, especially today. My legs are aching, and I have absolutely no interest in shopping. Besides, I don't think someone who frequently visits Shencheng would be interested in the department stores here." Didn't the people who run around Shencheng prefer shopping locally? Hadn't she spent the entire dinner table yesterday raving about clothes from a certain brand at a certain mall in Shencheng?

Wang Rui was utterly blocked by Wang Qiqi's response. Although she hadn't visited local malls in a while, Wang Qiqi's implication was clear... "It's not just about the malls, though. We could find a place to sit down and really chat. Oh, Kai is back too. Aren't you high school classmates?"

Wang Qiqi simply lacked the energy to entertain her further, especially with that calculating expression on her face that was frankly annoying. "No, I'm going home to rest. We can discuss it when I come back for winter break."

Wang Rui couldn't let Wang Qiqi postpone this discussion until winter break. There was still a month left, and the stock market was booming. Entering even a day earlier meant making significant money, especially with how much money Wang Qiqi had. "The stock market is so good; if you delay until the break, won't you lose out on a lot of money?"

Gao Kai, standing nearby, heard Wang Rui's blunt tone and knew it was trouble, but he certainly wouldn't step in to smooth things over. If he mediated, either Qiqi or Wang Rui would end up dissatisfied with him.

Wang Qiqi scoffed at Wang Rui's impolite remark. "When did I ever say I was getting into the stock market? As for the twenty percent annual return your mother mentioned yesterday, I don't need to earn that money. Stocks carry risk; I think keeping it in the bank is more secure. As for Auntie saying she has inside information, that strikes me as odd. If you have inside information that nets twenty percent a year, and the market is this hot, wouldn't the money I make trading stocks myself be more than that? Not to mention, Auntie keeps talking about bringing relatives and friends along to get rich. While it's higher than bank interest, she's talking about stock trading—isn't that essentially soliciting pooled investment?"

Li Cui had been pulling aside a relative from the Song family, whispering about her supposed inside tips for getting rich, when she suddenly realized her brainless daughter was causing trouble again. Li Cui hurried over and grabbed Wang Rui. "Qiqi, think of Xiao Rui as your sister..."

Great, so I'm the one causing trouble again. "Wang Rui is my sister, yes, but she's in her second year of high school. Moreover, she already has a boyfriend and needs to start growing up. Think about the social obligations after she marries into the Gao family—not everyone will defer just because of the Gao family name." Wang Qiqi thought to herself that the Gao family was merely a merchant family, but to Li Cui, marrying into it now felt like an upward move. "Xiao Rui, I am living off my parents' old savings and compensation. No matter how well the market is doing, I won't invest, especially if it means handing money over onto someone else's card, which makes me feel very unsafe. If you really have this 'inside information,' why not share it with everyone, and then those who buy stocks could give you a twenty percent cut on every trade? I think the returns over a year wouldn't be small either, right, Auntie?"

After saying this, Wang Qiqi helped Song Yao retreat, leaving behind a mother and daughter who were both awkward and angry. Wang Qiqi certainly wasn't going to bother with how things developed afterward.

Wang Qiqi slept until six in the evening. She thought she had overslept, only to find Song Yao and the others hadn't arrived yet. Song Ziwen was lounging in the living room watching TV. When he saw Wang Qiqi emerge, he immediately beckoned her to sit beside him. "Do you know how awkward Li Cui and her group were after you left?" Song Ziwen found the memory quite amusing.

Wang Qiqi obviously knew that. "But I don't think they needed to feel awkward. Isn't it true, according to Wang Rui's wishes, that the Gao family is very pleased with her and will definitely marry her?" Had Gao Kai never given such a promise?

Wang Damei happened to walk out carrying a plate of food. "It's thanks to what Qiqi said today. Otherwise, your maternal aunt’s family would have been thoroughly duped by your second aunt." Wang Damei remembered the things several relatives said to Li Cui after Wang Qiqi left and felt angry. She thought her younger brother was unreliable enough, but who knew his wife was just as bad.

Duped by Li Cui? Wang Qiqi wondered if Li Cui had actually targeted the Song family relatives. "Oh my god, no wonder they looked at me like I was their father's murderer when I left. So that's what happened. But it’s not my fault—if Wang Rui hadn't stopped me, would I have had to say all that?" Wang Qiqi mused that it couldn't be such a coincidence that she derailed their scheme. "But actually, if Li Cui could really guarantee a pure twenty percent return, that would be quite good. I won't join for two reasons: first, I'm studying finance, so I can operate the trading myself; second, I'm worried that once the money is with Li Cui, getting it back won't be easy. After all the conflicts I've had with her, she won't be kind enough to help me get rich, and if I ask for my money back, she might turn around and say I'm making things difficult for her."

Wang Damei really wanted to tell Wang Qiqi that she was overthinking it—Li Cui didn't have the guts to do that. But then she remembered that since Wang Rui started involving herself with the Gao family, her whole outlook had changed. "She's gotten reckless now. If Xiao Rui really marries into the Gao family, fine. But today, when Wang Qiqi spoke about Xiao Rui, did the Gao family boy step up? No. Then he just patted his backside and left. Sigh, a man like that clearly isn't someone built for a steady life; she’ll have a hard time after marrying in."

Song Ziwen didn't care whether Wang Rui would have a miserable future or not; what concerned him was, "Are my sister and her husband coming for dinner today?"

"I called them; they said they're on their way." Wang Damei went back into the kitchen to continue cooking. "Qiqi, today we're just eating leftovers from the wedding banquet, is that okay?"

"Fine, I have no objection." The dishes from the wedding banquet were good, and reheating them would still taste quite nice. Some dishes even improved after a second heating. Of course, one or two meals were fine, but Wang Qiqi didn't like eating too much of the same thing. "People live their own lives. If she lives well, we don't gain anything. If she has a hard time, are we supposed to be responsible for raising her or backing her up?" Song Ziwen thought, there’s no such thing as an easy gain.

"Don't forget, she'll be the Gao family's daughter-in-law soon," Wang Qiqi teased.

"Oh, please. Who knows how long she can secure that position as the Gao family's young madam." Song Ziwen looked around stealthily. "The last time I was in Shencheng, I saw that boy sneaking out of a hotel with a very well-built girl," Song Ziwen said, giving Wang Qiqi a look that said, we both know.

Because the two were whispering about Gao Kai and Wang Rui, they didn't notice the sound of the front door opening outside. Song Yao walked in and immediately saw the two huddled together, speaking quietly. She quietly approached the sofa, intending to startle them, but instead startled herself: "Ah, you said Gao Kai has someone else on the side?"

Song Ziwen and Wang Qiqi hadn't expected someone to be standing behind them, and Song Yao’s sudden exclamation nearly made them jump. Both instinctively made a "shush" gesture toward Song Yao. "Be quiet! Don't let Mom find out."

"If Auntie finds out, she'll start lecturing again."

Wang Qiqi and Song Ziwen had no intention of telling Wang Rui this news. Why should they? Let her keep dreaming. Besides, Wang Rui might already have some inkling.

"No sibling affection," Song Yao remarked, tapping both their heads. "But I like it, haha! Song Yao, you were so blunt today, I’m genuinely happy."

Just as Song Yao was about to urge them to continue talking about Gao Kai, she heard Wang Damei’s voice behind them: "Song Ziwen, you said you saw Gao Kai going to a hotel with another girl?"

Although Wang Damei was dissatisfied with Wang Rui, she was still her niece. She couldn't just stand by and watch Wang Rui end up with such a man. How old was she already, to be so frivolous? If she were to take over the Gao family's business later, it would be a disaster.

Song Ziwen sighed, cursing why his mother overheard him. "Mom, I just saw it, but there's no proof. You're not planning on telling Uncle and the others, are you?"

"Yes, that’s exactly what I plan to do." Wang Damei sat down and reached for her phone to call Wang Dagui’s house.

Wang Qiqi reached out and covered Wang Damei’s action. "I think Wang Rui must already know Gao Kai is a flirt, so there's no need to inform them." She recounted Gao Kai’s behavior back in school. "I suspect the reason Wang Rui and Gao Kai progressed so quickly is because she and Gao Kai already..." Since Wang Qiqi was still a young woman, she refrained from elaborating further.

"Exactly, Mom, don't cause trouble. Li Cui is dreaming of marrying into the Gao family. If you tell them this, what will they think? I bet they'll just say you’re meddling," Song Yao bluntly pointed out. "Today, she spent the whole time boasting about her future son-in-law being from the Gao family and how good their financial situation is, without considering how young her daughter is."

Wang Damei recalled the scene at the banquet and shut up. "Fine. Song Ziwen, you can mention what you saw here at home, but don't say it outside." She decided to feign ignorance; then, if anything went wrong later, she wouldn't be blamed.

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