Gao Kai froze when he heard Wang Rui’s words. “Wang Qiqi is actually willing to rent out the apartment?” Impossible. Just recently, Wang Qiqi had sworn she wouldn't rent it to him. How could she change her mind so quickly? Gao Kai could hardly believe it.

Seeing Gao Kai’s expression of sheer delight, Wang Rui felt immensely pleased. “Yes, I pleaded with Wang Qiqi downstairs for hours before she finally agreed.” Wang Rui knew that when it was time to claim credit, one must be bold.

Gao Kai sighed inwardly as he looked at the smug Wang Rui, yet he was still quite happy that she was so infatuated with him. He pulled her into an embrace. “Thank you, truly, thank you. But even at double the price, our family might not be able to afford it.” They still needed to negotiate breaking the contract on the other place, and the termination fee alone would be substantial. “Besides, my family already has a favored option in mind.”

Gao Kai knew the property under Wang Qiqi’s name was excellent, but factoring in the breach penalty, the rent, and renovation costs, it was a significant expenditure—a considerable burden for his family. The teahouse his parents had pinned so many hopes on hadn't even approached its projected earnings. Even money made in the stock market wasn't enough to cover the shortfall. The place Mengmeng recommended, though larger and not prohibitively expensive, with decent foot traffic, somehow just didn't feel right in terms of location. After weighing all factors, the family leaned towards the latter option.

Wang Rui hadn't expected Gao Kai to respond so quickly. She was surprised and looked at him with astonishment. “Who introduced it?”

Gao Kai lost his enthusiasm facing Wang Rui’s interrogative stance. “Does it matter who introduced it?” Gao Kai thought that if Wang Rui knew the source, he would never have a peaceful day, given how jealous this woman was.

To pre-empt further questions from Wang Rui, and because he’d been consumed by the shop business without a proper break lately, Gao Kai shifted focus. Although Mengmeng was clearly infatuated with him, Gao Kai knew that once he got entangled with Mengmeng, disentangling himself wouldn't be easy. He certainly didn't want to be placating two women. “I missed you. Do you miss me?”

Gao Kai kissed Wang Rui relentlessly, his hands never ceasing their movements. Having spent six months together, Gao Kai knew exactly where Wang Rui’s trigger points were. Wang Rui desperately wanted to press him on his earlier question, but her body betrayed her entirely. Soon, they were lost in the throes of desire.

Han Tao understood that Wang Qiqi had her reasons for saying what she did to Wang Rui, so he didn't press the matter. Wang Qiqi, in fact, was in a surprisingly good mood. “Gao Kai’s new shop might open as early as April.”

Han Tao looked at Wang Qiqi in surprise, wondering how she knew. “He’s going for that apartment?” Unlikely. It was February; even if negotiations concluded by the end of the month, would renovations really be that fast? Hiring chefs and waitstaff, admittedly, could be quick.

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “Yesterday, the Gao family hosted Wang Rui’s rival’s family to thank them for their help with the property matter.”

She got this news that morning when Shi Man called to offer New Year greetings. Shi Man had mentioned that the other girl was practically dying to throw herself at Gao Kai. There was another tidbit: “The other party might also contribute funds for the new restaurant.” For the Gao family, money was the single most crucial constraint on their growth.

Han Tao grasped it, but then asked, “Then just now…”

“Dog-eat-dog is quite entertaining,” Wang Qiqi replied, gesturing for Han Tao to close the windows and turn on the air conditioning. “I deliberately withheld that information. Hmph. In short, the seed of doubt has been sown, and the Gao family clearly favors Mengmeng. Given Wang Rui’s temperament, can she tolerate that?”

The Gao family had been so cordial to Wang Rui previously only because of the apartment situation. Now that she had helped them, would the mercenary Gao family still treat Wang Rui kindly? Gao Kai likely saw Wang Rui as little more than a convenient body to warm his bed, requiring little investment. In her past life, Wang Rui had money and still ended up supporting Gao Kai; now, without money, she was still clinging to him. What a curse.

Han Tao understood. “So, you intentionally said that earlier. By the way, around when are you leaving after the holidays? I plan to leave after the tenth. Dai Lijun called yesterday; he said they should arrive in the capital around the eighth, then find a place to rent and set things up.”

Leaving on the eighth? Wang Qiqi was weary of staying home, but what was the rush to return to the capital? She might as well stay home and keep her parents company. “Should I have my cousin buy the train tickets?” Wang Qiqi fully intended to have her cousin handle the tickets when the time came. Whether she could get the student discount didn't matter much; the point was, she couldn’t bear spending an entire night on the train to the capital—it was too exhausting.

“No need, I’ll buy mine tomorrow.” Han Tao knew Wang Qiqi had a cousin working at the train station, but he only bought sleeper berths, which weren’t eligible for discounts. “I’m young; staying up one night is fine. Also, if there are no special events on Lantern Festival night, would you have dinner with my mom?” Han Tao knew his mother hoped he’d spend the Lantern Festival dinner with her before leaving, but Han Tao felt he couldn't just casually delay his departure by so many days.

A different girl might have been coy, asking what their relationship was, whether they had been intimate, and if it was appropriate to dine with a potential mother-in-law. But Wang Qiqi, strictly speaking, was a woman in her thirties who had experienced a great deal; she wouldn't agonize over such details. “No problem. We’ll have hot pot then.”

Ever since Luo Hongjuan felt unwell last time, Han Tao had forced his mother to switch to day shifts. Life at home wasn't difficult; there was no need to ruin her health for a small amount of money. Wang Qiqi felt her cooking paled in comparison to Luo Hongjuan’s skills—her mother-in-law was genuinely talented. To avoid embarrassing herself, Wang Qiqi decided on hot pot, which was warm besides. Moreover, deciding how much food to prepare for two people was always an issue; even with the heating on, the dishes cooled quickly.

“My mother likes mild flavors.” Han Tao knew this was Wang Qiqi’s favorite type of meal to make in winter. “Do you have anything to eat at your place today?” He hoped the girl wasn't planning to just eat hot pot alone at home. Han Tao knew that if Wang Qiqi was eating alone, she could subsist on pickled vegetables and congee.

The thought of her leftovers gave Wang Qiqi a headache. “How about you come over to my place for dinner today? I have quite a bit of yesterday’s food left.” There were leftovers from lunch takeaways, and she’d bought some ready-made dishes in the evening. Despite having three men and one pregnant woman, they still had a lot of food left over. Wang Qiqi dreaded the thought of eating leftovers until the tenth. Throwing it away felt wasteful; she might as well invite the Han mother and son over.

“Okay.” Han Tao wouldn't be fussy just because they were leftovers. “I’ll go call my mom over.”

“Call her,” Wang Qiqi instructed, pointing to the telephone, signaling Han Tao to use the phone.

Han Tao was startled by Wang Qiqi’s suggestion. “It’s only two steps away; you’re being too wasteful.”

Wang Qiqi shot him a look. “The commotion you’ll make going out will be huge.” Wang Qiqi considered the current dynamic between them and suddenly found it amusing, letting out a soft laugh.

Han Tao, hearing her laughter, was perplexed. He realized her amusement wasn't connected to anything he had just said. Han Tao raised an eyebrow and asked her what was funny. When he heard the reason for her laughter, his face darkened.

Wang Qiqi found the situation rather amusing, but to Han Tao, it felt like an insult. “It’s hilarious, isn't it? Your man is becoming a gigolo.”

“Aren’t I a lustful woman?” Wang Qiqi retorted dryly, mocking herself. “In any case, in their eyes, the Wang family’s upbringing is questionable.”

Ever since her argument with Wang Dagui that day, Wang Qiqi noticed that some of the more established neighbors looked at her coldly, and their children tended to give her a wide berth. If Wang Qiqi didn't realize what was happening by now, she’d be truly foolish. However, Wang Qiqi had no regrets. What could outsiders say about the Wang family's discipline? Furthermore, the more brazen thought was that she wouldn’t be returning here often anyway. Only Wang Dagui, left behind, would feel the sting. But to them, these things were merely fleeting worries—concerns that since Wang Rui and Gao Kai’s affair was so public, the Gao family would surely take responsibility for Wang Rui.

When Luo Hongjuan received her son's call, she immediately thought the young ones were too extravagant. As Luo Hongjuan knocked and entered, she was met with the rich aroma of cooked food. Her son was busy setting the table, helping out, while Wang Qiqi was warming dishes in the kitchen—it gave the impression of a loving young couple hosting the mother for dinner.

“Aunt Luo, I’m so sorry to make you eat leftovers on the first day of the New Year,” Wang Qiqi apologized as she brought the last dish out and turned to Luo Hongjuan, who was standing nearby.

“It’s fine. Come to my place for dinner tomorrow evening; we have leftovers too,” Luo Hongjuan replied, unbothered. If Wang Qiqi had specifically cooked fresh dishes, Luo Hongjuan would have felt uneasy, thinking Wang Qiqi treated them like formal guests. “Your grandmother called this morning, asking us to come over for lunch tomorrow.” Honestly, Luo Hongjuan was startled by the call from her mother-in-law, especially the rare, gentle tone, which only made Luo Hongjuan’s own nerves stand on edge.

Han Tao chimed in, “We’ll bring some fruit tomorrow. We can arrive just after eleven. My grandmother will definitely tell you, her eldest daughter-in-law, to come early.” Han Tao figured that old shrew inviting them for a meal wouldn't pass up a chance to gain some easy labor.

Luo Hongjuan hummed in agreement. “But I didn’t commit. It’s not our treat, after all. With her most 'virtuous' younger daughter-in-law present, why should I go and make a fool of myself by cooking?” Hmph, the old woman spoke sweetly, wanting her own cooking. Hmph, did she think she was a kitchen maid? This annoyed Luo Hongjuan greatly. “Tomorrow, just buy a case of ordinary apples, maybe twenty or thirty per case, and a box of oranges. I also have some tonic supplements. We’ll take it all.” While the gifts seemed numerous, they weren't truly substantial. Luo Hongjuan had learned her lesson and wouldn't be foolish enough to just hand over cash like before. They would get the real value, and people would just say, 'Oh, they just brought a box of apples to visit the elders.'

【A Season of Splendor in the Red Chamber】 Author: Ye Yu Jing He Synopsis: The cannon fodder family from Dream of the Red Chamber, along with their children, stages a powerful comeback.

【Floral Kitchen】 Author: Fang Leyuan Synopsis: Using flowers as delicious food, flowers as a path to wealth, and flowers as the bond that ties them together.