Wang Qiqi originally thought they would call her over after finishing the meal, but unexpectedly, after Wang Qiqi completed the manuscript, checked it for errors, sent it to Li Xiangdong's email, and then called Li Xiangdong to inform him, no one had called her to eat. "Could it be that none of them finished cooking?"

Wang Qiqi touched her stomach, which had started rumbling, opened her door intending to ask the cooks when they could start eating, and was met with the fragrant aroma of food. "No way, you all ate without even calling me?"

Everyone in the living room was devouring the food, especially Juliana, who had already joined the dinner party, which stunned Wang Qiqi.

Shi Man’s mouth was stuffed, and she mumbled something unintelligible, but the way she waved her hand clearly indicated she was urging Wang Qiqi to come eat.

Wang Qiqi first washed her hands and casually sat down next to Han Tao. As soon as she sat down, Han Tao handed her a bowl containing jellyfish skin and chicken feet—Wang Qiqi’s favorites (which she had pickled a few days prior). "Eat up. Is the manuscript finished?" Han Tao noticed Wang Qiqi’s weary expression and knew the work she’d just done must have been a tough bone to gnaw on.

Wang Qiqi wasn't in great spirits either; her mind had been tense for so long, it actually ached. "I finally understand why people in finance who get rich quick often die young. Of all things, I'm involved in both." It was truly exchanging life for money. Shi Man gave Wang Qiqi a look of disdain and made a gesture. "Then why keep doing it? Really, you're not short of a few bucks." A woman who was clearly wealthy insisted on working part-time jobs, not realizing that the men around her weren't working themselves to death anymore.

"This time is a bit special; I need to discuss it with President Li. I want to live a more relaxed life." Sigh, Wang Qiqi had initially planned that once the business stabilized, she would cover tuition and living expenses from the business income while traveling later, but now she felt rather naive.

"Don't push yourself. Eat quickly and then go to bed..." Han Tao placed a few dishes into Wang Qiqi's bowl. At this moment, Wang Qiqi was truly exhausted, as if she hadn't slept for days.

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Mhm, I plan to go to sleep shortly. By the way, did Duan Xiaomin tell you?"

"She did. I plan to go over in a few days, but I need to make sure I have the time." Han Tao looked at Wang Qiqi, who was clearly tired yet still concerned about these matters, and reached out to stroke her hair. He wasn't surprised to receive a few eye-rolls from Wang Qiqi. "Actually, her situation now is just like yours when you first started the business: an opportunity has arisen, and it's all about whether she seizes it."

Bai Ge and the others hadn't overheard Han Tao and Duan Xiaomin's earlier conversation. Now that they knew, perhaps this was a dividing line separating them from Duan Xiaomin. However, they didn't dwell on it. Just as Qi Qi was doing well with the business, Duan Xiaomin, who also tutored, could teach high school students. To them, this was just a difference in personal ability; more importantly, they felt their major was finance, and what Qi Qi and the other were doing wasn't related to their specialties, so there was nothing to envy.

"It was just a fluke. By the way, Han Tao, how did you end up becoming a tutor?" Duan Xiaomin, though she couldn't see any change in Bai Ge and the others' expressions, felt uncomfortable being the focus of attention and quickly changed the subject. "Qi Qi, do you know?"

Honestly, Wang Qiqi had no idea why Han Tao had become a tutor; she had never asked before. "I don't know. All I know is my man has been earning his own money since high school." Haha, if she hadn't known him from her previous life, Wang Qiqi might have thought he was also reborn.

Regarding Duan Xiaomin's question, Han Tao initially didn't want to elaborate. To him, those were past matters, unnecessary to bring up. But he couldn't resist Wang Qiqi's wide-eyed stare, so he conceded. "Actually, becoming a tutor was simple for me. My deskmate in the first year of high school often copied my homework and knew my family’s difficult circumstances. He asked me to tutor him; he would give me money. To be honest, I was quite annoyed at first." Han Tao recalled his younger self and felt he had been rather naive, but he was grateful to that boy; otherwise, his family’s situation might have been even worse.

"And then you agreed?" Wang Qiqi watched Han Tao drift into his memories. After a long silence, she nudged him to continue. "Or did you deliberate for a long time?"

Han Tao shook his head. "No, I didn't even consider it; I flatly refused. I felt it was an insult at the time."

An insult? Wang Qiqi felt sympathy for the young boy. It was clearly a win-win situation, but why would Han Tao see it that way? "I think he meant well; it could help you and him both."

"Yes, I thought about it for a long time but still didn't agree. But when tuition was due at the end of the semester, I understood the value of money, so I agreed. However, I told him not to tell anyone." Han Tao didn't know how his ferocious and intense expression back then hadn't scared the boy away; instead, the boy readily agreed.

"After that, I continued tutoring him. But when his first year of high school ended, he was going to study abroad in the U.S. At that moment, when I thought I would never be able to earn tuition money again, he recommended me to two other families. They were both middle school students. To be honest, if he hadn't recommended me, who would hire a high school student as a tutor?" In Han Tao's heart, that deskmate was his benefactor, someone who completely changed his life. Although those three years of high school were very busy due to tutoring, causing him to miss out on many things, Han Tao didn't regret it, because during those three years, Han Tao learned a great deal.

Wang Qiqi had never imagined that Han Tao's tutoring career began in such a manner. She also knew that for a proud boy to humble himself to do something seemingly so pedestrian required immense effort, yet Han Tao achieved it. "Sometimes, dignity can't be eaten; it’s a pity few people realize that."

Shi Man rolled her eyes. "If you two want to be mushy, go do it elsewhere. Aren't you just provoking us single folks?" Hmph, too much. They were just talking about Han Tao's past, yet they looked at each other so tenderly—this was clearly raising the envy level.

"So what if we provoke you?" Wang Qiqi challenged. Besides, you aren't without suitors. Wang Qiqi wouldn't say this in front of Bai Ge and the others, but Shi Man must have known it in her heart.

"If you're provoked, go find someone." Juliana also gave Shi Man a look that said, 'You're not without a man.' "By the way, Bai Ge, are you going back for the summer?"

Bai Ge and the others were about to nod, but then they paused. "Something up?"

Juliana briefly explained the situation with the factory. "The place I'm interning at needs a few interns. Are any of you interested?" She then described the intern positions and the daily tasks. Wang Qiqi hadn't realized that the Zhu family had bought a factory in the capital to produce food, and they were even getting into the mooncake business. "If you aren't going back, it's a pretty good position. If I could also get some tutoring work, I could cover next year's tuition and living expenses entirely over the summer."

"That's what I was thinking. Because we need to rush for the Mid-Autumn Festival, we need a large workforce. Hiring full-time staff is a bit costly, so the management thought about hiring temporary summer help, and that's when I thought of it..." Actually, this idea came from Juliana, but she couldn't say that in front of Bai Ge and the others. However, the expressions of Shi Man and Wang Qiqi on the side seemed slightly off. Juliana suddenly realized she hadn't mentioned to Wang Qiqi and the others that her family had opened a food factory in the North. Bai Ge considered it; she couldn't make the decision immediately, but she was quite keen. If she could work a summer job, the tuition for her younger sister’s schooling would be covered, saving her sister from having to drop out to work. "I'll go back and ask."

Duan Xiaomin thought for a moment. "I'm staying." Earning money through work was good; it saved her from having to rely on her family for spending money.

Li Xin and Feng Yanjie didn't give an answer; they needed to go back and discuss it, just like Bai Ge, they needed to consult before replying.

After sending Bai Ge and the others off, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man stared at Juliana. Juliana poured a few glasses of milk for Shi Man and the others, then briefly recounted the recent family matters. "Is your family planning to shift their focus to the capital?" Shi Man found it strange. Her family had operated in their hometown for many years, with established connections; why move so far north?

"It’s better to bask in the emperor’s shade." Juliana offered only that one sentence. "Besides, you all know my family’s situation. We just want to expand the market, and the frozen food business has been doing well recently. Thank goodness we opened a factory in the North back then; otherwise, we would have lost a lot of business."

Since their venture took off, other manufacturers had joined in. Fortunately, there weren't many competitors yet, and the profit margins were acceptable. But the most crucial thing now was to establish the brand and occupy the market, then slowly consider recouping the costs. Therefore, the family was considering whether to open another factory in the West to save on transportation costs when capturing the Western market.

"Build more factories and acquire more land; it’ll be great for developing commercial buildings later," Wang Qiqi thought. The Zhu family's vision was truly excellent—buying land and building factories everywhere. In a few more years, even if the factories closed, building commercial properties on the land would definitely make them the second Vanke, a real estate giant.

Juliana smiled and nodded repeatedly. Her father had the same idea, saying land prices would only rise, and even renting out factory buildings would generate considerable income. "Oh, right, don't buy mooncakes this year; I'll bring some back." Juliana suddenly remembered something.

"You should bring them back; there's no reason for us to buy the mooncakes your family makes." Shi Man had a 'that's only right' expression. "Just bring one box is enough to observe the festival." Shi Man added the last sentence, otherwise, she was genuinely worried Juliana would bring back too many mooncakes, which would turn into a complete mooncake convention.

"Mhm." Wang Qiqi wasn't very fond of mooncakes either, unless they were freshly baked, in which case she might have a bite or two.

"Got it. I'll bring back a box that isn't too sweet." Juliana wasn't a huge fan of mooncakes either, but it felt odd not to have them during the Mid-Autumn Festival. (To be continued)