Wang Dagui got out of the car and glanced at the items in Li Cui's hands. "Go on up. You and Qiqi need to smooth things over. No matter what, we can't afford to fall out with her right now." Wang Dagui had mulled it over all afternoon, and finally, his thinking had straightened out again.

Li Cui shot Wang Dagui a look. "So now you realize your mistake? And look at your daughter—she still hasn't come back." She truly was someone who vanished once money was involved. "If she doesn't come home tonight, or sneaks back in the middle of the night where people can see, there will be quite a show."

Wang Dagui almost wished his daughter would stay at the Gao family's residence forever. "What are you mumbling about? Isn't she studying just to marry into a good family? The Gao family is a gold mine now. If you miss this chance, I guarantee you won't find anyone better than the Gao family, will you?" What an ignorant woman.

Li Cui didn't want to argue with Wang Dagui; they truly were a pair of thoughtless father and daughter. "Fine, let's go up."

When Wang Dagui and Li Cui entered, they found only Wang Damei and Gong Peixing in the kitchen. Song Wenbo was sitting in the living room reading a newspaper; the others were nowhere in sight.

Li Cui went into the kitchen, ushered Gong Peixing out, and started helping Wang Damei while asking about Song Ziwen and the others. Of course, Wang Qiqi also asked when she heard the three of them had gone for a walk. "Their sibling bond is truly strong."

There was a time when Wang Qiqi and Wang Rui had a good relationship, but now it was all thanks to the Song siblings' connection. Conversely, their own relationship with Wang Qiqi was drifting further and further apart. Wang Damei hadn't failed to scheme against Wang Qiqi back then, it just hadn't succeeded. Afterward, her family had managed to get closer to Wang Qiqi through Song Yao, completely changing the dynamic.

"Yao Yao and the others care about Qiqi too. Even heavily pregnant, she specifically knitted a sweater for Qiqi. People's hearts are flesh and blood; everyone can see who treats whom well and whether it’s sincere," Wang Damei said, feeling awkward about telling Li Cui that her family had become wealthy and arrogant, looking down on everyone. They wanted favors but offered no care and even tried to slander people; no one would be happy about that. "Oh yes, where is Xiao Rui? I don't see her."

"She went out, said she had a date with a friend," Li Cui replied vaguely.

A date with a friend. Wang Damei snorted. "How were the exam results? She's in the second year of high school now; you, as the mother, need to manage her. We can afford to pay for high school, but for university, there's no amount of money we can throw at it. But that's fine too; marrying rich and becoming a young mistress is a good path. The stock market has been good lately, earning quite a bit, right?"

Li Cui hummed in response. "It's okay, but all the money is in Gao Kai's mother's joint account." Li Cui suddenly felt something was amiss, but she could only vent a little to Wang Damei.

When Wang Damei heard that the money was in Gao Kai's mother's account, her heart leaped. She desperately wanted to curse Li Cui out. Li Cui didn't seem like a foolish person and was usually very concerned about money; how could she entrust so much money? Wasn't she worried? "It’s better to keep the money in your own hands. Although Wang Rui and her son have a good relationship, she's only a girlfriend. Even if they marry, a divorce is just a matter of words. What happens to all that money then?"

Li Cui knew Wang Damei was also against it, but what could she do? Wang Dagui and his daughter were worried that if Li Cui asked too many questions, she might offend her future in-laws, so they had readily agreed. And Li Cui, considering the substantial benefits she'd received, didn't press the issue further. "Their family has deep pockets, and Dagui said..."

"Dagui said, Dagui said—he has no brains, and neither do you," Wang Damei glared at Li Cui. "But I'm just voicing my opinion. How you handle it is your family's business. If they ask for the money later, they'll ask your family. We won't help you pay it back."

What Wang Damei was truly worried about was this: what if the Gao family needed the money for business, moved it, and then chased Li Cui for repayment? If the Gao family just shrugged, having no money, only Li Cui would end up crying. And after dealing with Li Cui for so many years, didn't Wang Damei know her character? Wouldn't she try to lead them to their own house or Wang Qiqi's house? "Don't think that just because we're relatives, we must help you. I still remember what you did at Yao Yao's wedding."

After saying this, Wang Damei didn't elaborate further. Suddenly, Wang Damei had a thought: could Wang Qiqi have intentionally used that incident to sever ties with Wang Dagui? If an uncle slandered his niece's reputation, Wang Qiqi, no matter how wealthy, wouldn't help Wang Dagui pay his debts. Wang Damei gained a whole new level of understanding regarding Wang Qiqi's calculating nature, though she knew Wang Qiqi wouldn't have acted this way if Wang Dagui hadn't made the first move.

Li Cui inwardly thought that if things truly came to that point, even if Wang Damei hadn't said it, she shouldn't expect any help with debt repayment. However, what she said made sense. Even if Li Cui held an IOU from the Gao family, so what? IOUs are only useful when repayment is made. She hated dealing with people who neither defaulted nor repaid. If the Gao family pulled a stunt like that, Li Cui wouldn't know what to do.

Thinking this, Li Cui, who had confidently planned to direct the neighbors to Wang Qiqi's place to demand money if the Gao family refused to pay, realized that after such a major incident, which all the neighbors had witnessed, executing her plan would be difficult. Moreover, ever since this girl went to university in the capital, she was always throwing around phrases about going to court. In a situation where her side was clearly in the wrong, it would be hard to argue. Thinking of this, a sudden idea struck Li Cui: could this girl have even taken supplementary law courses at university?

Considering this possibility, Li Cui felt it was highly probable. She decided she needed to go home and seriously figure out how to get the money back.

When Wang Qiqi and the other two returned from their routine walk, they were surprised to find Li Cui helping Wang Damei with housework in the kitchen. "Well, you can tell just by looking at this that they need something," Song Yao murmured quietly. "Auntie, it's been a while since I've seen you come to my house to help with chores."

Song Ziwen picked up the thread. "That's right. Now that Xiao Rui has a boyfriend from a rich family, Auntie needs to be mindful of her status. Why would she bother helping us with chores? By the way, where is Wang Rui?" Song Ziwen surveyed the house and noticed only three men in the living room, with all the bedroom doors closed. This brought him a small measure of relief.

Song Yao observed the scene and realized it was true. However, since Gong Peixing was sitting on the sofa talking to Wang Dagui, she knew Wang Rui couldn't be in the room, otherwise her husband wouldn't be sitting so calmly. "She's a busy person now; why would she bother coming to our shabby place?" Hmph, it was better if she didn't come at all; it would just lead to more showing off.

Wang Dagui bristled at the words spoken by the Song siblings. "Wang Qiqi, did you say something about your sister again? Is that how you act as an elder sister?" Wang Dagui knew they were at the Song family's house, so he naturally wouldn't say the Song siblings were wrong. Besides, Wang Dagui was convinced that Wang Qiqi must have badmouthed Wang Rui during their walk, otherwise, why would Song Yao and the others target Wang Rui this way?

Wang Qiqi could only roll her eyes. "Which ear did you use to hear me badmouthing Wang Rui? Is your brain malfunctioning lately? I was asleep when you knocked, so you assumed I was out sleeping with a man? Today, when I went out with Sister Yao Yao, you assumed I was talking trash about Wang Rui. You’re truly sick. Besides, what right do you have to speak to me like that? What does Wang Rui's character have to do with me? Why don't you mention how Wang Rui evaluated Sister Yao Yao the day before her wedding?" Hmph, everyone saw Wang Rui's look of disdain that day; it hardly needed mentioning. "Also, we have severed ties. Stop always putting on that airs of an elder."

Wang Dagui looked at Wang Qiqi's contemptuous expression and turned to Song Wenbo, who was sitting silently beside him. "Brother-in-law, look at Qiqi."

Song Wenbo hadn't missed what just happened. Even if Wang Qiqi had spoken ill of Wang Rui, had she said anything disrespectful to Wang Dagui to his face? "Dagui, you’re an old man now. You need to use your brain when you act and speak; don't act rashly and do something stupid. But Wang Rui really needs discipline. She's only in her second year of high school and is already so arrogant. When I got off work today, I saw her hugging a boy; that's utterly improper." Song Wenbo had held back when Wang Dagui mentioned Wang Rui's good grades and how she often visited Gao Kai for study sessions during the winter break, but now he couldn't hold back. Having such a muddled old man around explained why he raised such a brainless and tactless daughter.

Wang Dagui was completely silenced by Song Wenbo's words. He had just been boasting to Song Wenbo about Wang Rui's excellent grades and her frequent tutoring with Gao Kai during the holidays, only for Song Wenbo to have witnessed that scene. Wang Dagui secretly cursed Song Wenbo—truly an old fox, sitting there watching his joke unfold.

Wang Qiqi, Song Yao, and Song Ziwen were secretly amused, admiring Song Wenbo immensely. Wang Qiqi thought the 'old fox' certainly deserved his reputation; striking Wang Dagui down right at this moment.

Li Cui, in the kitchen, had heard Wang Dagui's boasting, but she never expected her brother-in-law to so bluntly expose the lie, especially in front of several juniors, particularly Wang Qiqi. Li Cui was speechless.

During the subsequent dinner, Wang Dagui dared not utter another word about Wang Qiqi disrespecting her elders. It wasn't that Wang Dagui didn't want to speak, but every time he tried, he felt Wang Qiqi’s chilling gaze upon him. Wang Dagui knew if he dared to lecture Wang Qiqi, she wouldn't hesitate to make him thoroughly discipline Wang Rui.

Wang Dagui could only console himself that he wasn't speaking out because he didn't want further conflict with Wang Qiqi. Once Wang Qiqi rented the house to the Gao family, he would deal with her then. Hmph, she could forget about the rent; as her uncle, he would 'safely hold it' for her.

Just as he was about to leave, Wang Dagui remembered something. "Everyone is free for New Year's Eve dinner, right? I've already booked a table at the Gao family's restaurant."

Wang Qiqi acted as if she hadn't heard, supporting Song Yao as she returned to the room, indicating through her actions that she would not be attending. Wang Dagui, assuming Wang Qiqi would reconsider later, didn't press the issue. Besides, Wang Dagui reasoned, why should an orphaned girl stay home alone? Isn't it a good thing to have someone invite her to New Year's Eve dinner?

Bu Bu has reached a major milestone where subscriptions are expected to increase significantly, and she has also promised the editor three extra chapters, so Bu Bu will be releasing bonus content for these three days, with the third extra chapter coming at ten at night (To be continued).