Qiqi Wang dragged her suitcase and said goodbye to Song Ziwén, who was heading off for work. She wanted to find a place to sit down; there was still over an hour before the train departed. Patting her full stomach, she spotted a Western fast-food restaurant adjacent to the station and decided to kill time there. Qiqi refused to wait in the bustling departure hall with its cacophony of luggage being dragged and children running around, plus she knew exactly which platform her train would depart from—there was no need for early arrival.

Qiqi held a tray containing fries, chicken wings, and a cola in one hand while managing her large suitcase with the other. As she settled into her seat, someone took the opposite chair—a familiar face.

"Going to Shen City?" Qiqi asked with a smile. The man was clearly trying to corner her; why concede when it was public space? However, something felt odd—where was his usual shadowy follower?

"Would you believe me if I said I came to see you off?" Gao Kai lifted the cola bottle toward her and spoke earnestly, "Could we start anew?"

Start anew? Qiqi was mid-sip when she heard this shameless declaration. She promptly sprayed cola everywhere—fortunately, she hadn't drunk much—and hastily grabbed napkins before creating a real mess.

After coughing several times, Qiqi leaned back in her chair to stare at Gao Kai: "Do you think I'd ever like a man who's slept with multiple women? Wang Rui visits Shen City every weekend. You were the one who cheated. What was I thinking getting involved with you?"

Gao Kai found her reaction amusing rather than alarming, "Does that mean you still care about me? Don't worry—this time, I'll definitely avoid such mistakes." Secretly, he thought it just meant being more discreet since Qiqi would only be in Beijing during summer and winter breaks.

Qiqi sighed at his shameless demeanor: "Unless Wang Rui had publicly announced your 'love story' while my cousin happened to spot you entering a room with someone—there's no way I'd even remember you. Besides, do I really need to subject myself to this pain of chasing down an ex who's now my cousin-in-law and a notorious playboy? You know there are plenty of excellent men at Capital University."

Suddenly struck by inspiration as she observed Gao Kai's self-satisfied expression: "I heard your father is just another migrant worker." She murmured the words softly, confident he'd still catch them.

My family consists of migrant workers? Gao Kai's heart jolted. He hadn't even learned this detail until recently and was stunned that Qiqi knew such private information. As he stared into her eyes searching for any sign of jest, he found none—no hint of falsehood.

"Qiqi, are you joking? Everyone knows..."

"You're mistaken about whose absence allowed your family to take over. Just because they hold the title doesn't mean migrant workers cease being migrants, Gao Kai." Qiqi interrupted, "You should know I'm currently rooming with Zhu Lina."

Zhu Lina? At the mention of this name, Gao Kai realized she wasn't joking around at all. Closing his eyes confirmed things were indeed dire at home—some evidence had been uncovered about unknown extent. Their once-cherished teahouse was actually a joint venture that hadn't yielded expected profits. Now they wanted to re-enter the food industry before conflicts erupted.

The most crucial factor in any business is the location. When Gao's parents discovered the property owner, both families were stunned. After extensive background checks, they learned Qiqi Wang possessed significant assets—more astonishingly, this key information hadn't reached Wang Rui's family. This revelation left Gao shaken; if only he had never abandoned Qiqi back then.

Gao knew today was critical—if rekindling their relationship failed, at least he could resolve domestic issues and secure his future through those rental incomes. Yet Qiqi's knowledge of these assets unsettled him: "If I told others you controlled so many properties, how would your uncles react?" If she remained stubborn, alternative measures were possible—after all, her branch was extinct beyond her...

Qiqi noticed the murderous glint in his eyes and understood immediately. She leaned closer to whisper: "Go ahead and talk to my uncle—I'm an adult now. When my parents died, I already safeguarded these assets. My will clearly designates them, of course excluding your girlfriend's family." Qiqi smirked, "Money moves hearts—a lesson even the dead understand. If anything happens to me, Wang Rui won't inherit a penny."

Having lived through her past life, Qiqi firmly believed her assets shouldn't benefit Wang Daguai's clan—not even strangers would expect gratitude from them.

Stunned into silence by these words, Gao opened his mouth in shock: "You..." After all, wasn't Wang Daguai still her closest relative? If anything happened to Qiqi, wouldn't Wang Rui be the sole heir?

"I?" Qiqi found his horrified expression amusing, "A person who's schemed from the moment my parents died—how could I possibly trust them? And while Wang Rui adores you... why would someone with such assets need to restart things with you? Remember your mother's face—I might as well be looking at a beggar pretending to be nobility. Did she really treat you so well?" Qiqi snorted, "Wang Rui probably caters to your every whim—feeding you, entertaining you on demand, enduring my mood swings without retaliation. Do you think I'd accept such terms?"

Gao was speechless—never had he expected these conditions from her.

"You... you..." Would he still hold any status under those circumstances?

"If you want a gentle wife, you've already chosen the right one. Wang Rui's interest in you includes your wealth," Qiqi shot back bluntly, "And do I need your money? What exactly did you come to say? I'm about to board." Curious how he'd discovered her assets—hadn't he overstepped by prying anyway? Perhaps his family wanted to rent one of her properties for business.

Observing Qiqi's transformation, Gao struggled to adapt. He couldn't risk missing this chance before the Spring Festival: "I'm interested in three storefronts on Shipi Street—the multi-level ones?"

Shipi Street? Qiqi recalled immediately—those were occupied by relatives of her grandfather who'd been renting them for food businesses with market-rate leases.

"They're already under lease."

"We can offer higher rent." Gao knew about the existing contract, but from the shopkeeper's tone, they wouldn't surrender it easily.

"Higher rent?" Qiqi studied him carefully. "What exactly are we talking? The current lessee is a relative of my grandfather. Triple the rate paid upfront for one year, then monthly payments with 20% annual increases." After reconsideration: "And half-year deposit. If you break terms or miss payment deadlines, out you go."

Gao was flabbergasted by these conditions—tripling rent? Why not just rob people?

"I'm the landlord. You're begging me to lease it, not vice versa." Qiqi's tone suggested she knew precisely what he wanted.

Gao tried calming himself: "What if I used Wang Rui's boyfriend status as leverage?" The area had many office buildings and was famous for its food street. If they created signature dishes...

Qiqi shook her head, finished the last of her meal, and stood up: "Same price whether you're my husband or someone else's boyfriend. That property isn't his to offer. Find Wang Rui if you want cheaper deals." She turned sharply, "My final answer—rent it or not. I'm leaving."

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