Song Yao patted Wang Qiqi’s face. “Qiqi, we’re home.” Song Yao looked at Wang Qiqi, already asleep in her seat, wondering how this girl, who just flew to France for a massive shopping spree, had such low stamina. Truthfully, Song Yao hadn't shopped enough; there were clothes she hadn't even tried on, but she couldn't argue with the girl constantly saying things like, “That’s enough, let’s stop buying, I’m tired, I’m hungry.”

Wang Qiqi wasn't truly sleeping heavily, nor was she so exhausted she absolutely needed to nap. It was just that the day of shopping was unbearable for her. She had been walking nonstop since getting up past eight in the morning, only sitting down during the two meal breaks—the intensity was far greater than shopping with Shi Man.

Wang Qiqi thought that if she hadn't put on this act of feigned sleep, she would probably still be wandering through some mall right now. Hearing they had arrived home, Wang Qiqi slowly opened her eyes (even though she was acting, she had to commit to the whole performance), then rubbed them. “We’re home?” She stretched languidly. “Finally home. That was quite the journey.”

Song Yao looked at Wang Qiqi, who appeared thoroughly awake and exhausted. How could she not realize part of this was an act? But Song Yao wouldn’t let her off the hook so easily. Her own mother had issued a decree: a young woman of sixteen should not dress like an old lady in dull, drab colors, even if she had a boyfriend. The fact that the girl refused to buy any new clothes today had annoyed Song Yao immensely. “I’ll help you buy some brighter things in a few days. It’s not good for a young girl to always wear dark colors.”

Wang Qiqi listened to Song Yao insist she buy bright clothes and repeated for the hundredth time, “Sis, I really did buy a bright red coat. I can take it upstairs for you to see if you want.” She had already bought a new coat; Wang Qiqi had no intention of buying more. What was the point?

“Show me next time then.” Song Yao glanced at the time; it was getting late, and she’d been out all day and missed her son. “I’ll call you later. Don't tell me you’re busy; you know what I mean.” Song Yao issued a warning. She knew her young cousin preferred being a homebody, and she liked to nest at home with her boyfriend too. Song Yao had discreetly inquired about her cousin’s dates with her future brother-in-law and was dumbfounded to hear they mostly stayed in, doing their own things. Her only thought was: Is this the secret to their successful careers? But this... they were practically colleagues, not a couple. Song Yao felt she was truly getting old and didn't understand modern dating dynamics.

Wang Qiqi looked steadily at Song Yao, realizing she had no choice but to go upstairs; her exit route had been completely blocked by her cousin. “Okay, I understand. I’ll bring the new clothes down then.” Wang Qiqi finished speaking and went upstairs.

Upon returning home, Wang Qiqi saw the meat she had left on the kitchen counter was gone, assuming Aunt Luo had taken it home to marinate. Wang Qiqi picked up the phone and left a message on Shi Man’s pager, hoping for a call back, but after waiting a long time, no call came. There were no new emails either. Wang Qiqi figured Han Tao must be resting without internet access and couldn't reply to her yesterday's email. She had received a reply from Li Xiangdong, stating the money had been transferred to her account for confirmation, mentioning that there likely wouldn't be much work for her until the New Year, urging her to rest well.

Wang Qiqi stared at Li Xiangdong’s email for a long time before closing the interface. “It seems my previous answer didn’t sit well with him.”

After talking with Li Xiangdong, Wang Qiqi had discussed it with Han Tao, and the conclusion they reached carried a subtle tone of refusal. Although Li Xiangdong verbally said it was fine and he could find someone else, Wang Qiqi noticed Li Xiangdong had frozen for a split second, or perhaps looked displeased, the moment she delivered her response. Afterward, he still gave her work, but the volume was slightly lower compared to the same period last year, especially after today’s email.

Wang Qiqi was somewhat prepared for Li Xiangdong’s actions. After all, his company had grown and hired more staff, and he was someone who liked to maintain tight control over everything. People like her, who showed a degree of rebellion, would naturally make him uncomfortable. However, Wang Qiqi hadn't expected him to retaliate this quickly.

Wang Qiqi leaned back on the sofa, staring at the wall, thinking for a long time. If Li Xiangdong stopped giving her translation jobs, it would indeed cut into her income, particularly while she was still paying off her loan. “Forget it, I’ll deal with it after the New Year. If he’s still acting this way, trying to force me to comply with his wishes, I’ll just find a new boss then.”

Over the past six months, other translation agencies had approached Wang Qiqi to discuss translating for them. However, Wang Qiqi considered that she needed to sell items through Li Qian, and more importantly, her current success was thanks to Li Xiangdong’s connections. Wang Qiqi remembered the kindness of the Li couple and had never considered changing employers. But if Li Xiangdong continued this way, Wang Qiqi felt she really needed to weigh her options, and she should discuss it with Juliana and the others too.

Of course, before anything else, she needed to consult Han Tao, as he was her boyfriend, and he was the one who initially introduced her to the Li family. Wang Qiqi reopened Li Xiangdong’s email, forwarded it to Han Tao, asked him what he thought she should do, and then shut down the computer.

Wang Qiqi had left a message for Shi Man before nine, but by the time she finished her own chores, it was past ten. She hadn't even thought about calling Shi Man’s home line. “Is that girl asleep, or did yesterday’s negotiation go badly?” Wang Qiqi couldn’t risk calling Shi Man’s house; if the girl was staying out with Feng Xuanxiang, how would she cover her tracks?

Unable to get a reply from Shi Man, Wang Qiqi resigned herself to taking a bath and getting into bed to sleep. But Wang Qiqi slept poorly all night, plagued by unsettling dreams that kept her tossing and turning.

Just as she finally stopped dreaming and tried to fall into a proper sleep, the phone in her house rang. Wang Qiqi wanted to ignore it, but she worried it might be her cousin calling, anticipating another unpleasant conversation. Reluctantly, Wang Qiqi stretched half her body out to answer the phone. “Hello?”

“Manman? Are you serious? I left you a message on your pager early this morning, and you didn’t call me back. Do you even know what time it is?” Wang Qiqi snapped at the caller, hearing Shi Man’s voice. Had she known it was her, Wang Qiqi would never have picked up; it was disturbing her sleep.

“Okay, okay, I get it. We’ll meet for lunch then.” Wang Qiqi hung up the phone and immediately went back to sleep. Nothing was more important than sleep, especially for someone who had rested so poorly all night; catching up on sleep was paramount.

When Wang Qiqi groggily hauled herself out of bed, she suddenly remembered something. “I think Manman asked me out for lunch today.” But where they were meeting—Wang Qiqi racked her brain but couldn't recall. She looked at the time; it was already ten-thirty.

Giving up on trying to remember the location, Wang Qiqi called Shi Man’s pager again, leaving a message asking where they were meeting. When Wang Qiqi finished washing up and returned to her room, she found Shi Man had already replied to her pager.

Wang Qiqi grabbed her coat and bag and rushed out. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she nearly bumped into someone. Wang Qiqi was about to apologize when she realized it was Wang Rui. “You...” Was Wang Rui looking for her?

Wang Rui watched Wang Qiqi rushing past, then held up a textbook. “I don’t understand a few problems and wanted to ask Han Tao for some advice. Is that okay?” Wang Rui looked at Wang Qiqi, noticing she seemed much prettier than before, clearly a woman surrounded by affection.

Asking Han Tao for advice? Wang Qiqi found the suggestion hilariously funny. A cold smirk played on her lips as she just stared at Wang Rui. Did this girl think she was out of the loop? “You don’t know Han Tao isn’t home? I thought you kept up to date through my cousin and the others.”

Wang Rui found Wang Qiqi’s unwavering stare almost unbearable. She admitted she was jealous of Wang Qiqi. She had initially assumed that because Wang Qiqi was blind or seeking revenge for Wang Rui stealing Gao Kai, she would end up with the penniless Han Tao. But who knew that guy would become so successful, even going abroad? Wang Rui actually regretted saying what she did in front of Wang Qiqi. “Um, well...”

“You wanted to ask again, right? Don’t worry, what my cousin and the others said is true. Han Tao is interning in the US and will be there for all future winter and summer breaks. If you want to see him, you’ll have to get into a university in the capital,” Wang Qiqi advised kindly. If the girl really wanted to try for a university in the capital, let her; based on her grades, she shouldn't even dream of the top universities, and if she got in, it would only be an associate degree, leading only to self-humiliation.

Wang Qiqi stepped up to Wang Rui, whispering near her ear, “If I were you, I wouldn’t bother applying to the capital. Do you really think Han Tao would be interested in you? Don’t end up with a reputation as rotten there as you have here. I managed to deal with you once; I can do it in the capital too.” Wang Qiqi threatened without hesitation. “Don't even think about my man, or you won't know how you died.”

Wang Rui stared at Wang Qiqi in shock. She hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to speak to her so bluntly, with a hint of killer instinct in her eyes. When Wang Rui had told her she was going to take Gao Kai, Wang Qiqi had acted detached. Wang Rui told herself that Wang Qiqi was just trying to scare her and she shouldn't listen, but her body trembled. She was no longer the overconfident girl she once was; she had learned a great deal from Gao Kai. “I understand. But I don't believe I won't find a man better than Han Tao.” Hmph, Wang Rui thought, given how beautifully she could clean herself up, surely she could find a rich man. “Oh, right, Gao Kai and I broke up.”

Broke up with Gao Kai? Wang Qiqi hadn't expected things to escalate that far; Wang Rui, who once swore she’d marry no one but him, had just kicked Gao Kai to the curb. “That’s your business. Who you are with is up to you.” Wang Qiqi turned to leave. “And about me and Han Tao—don’t waste your time inquiring further.” (To be continued.)