Yang Jing, laden with bags, had just stepped off the car when she jumped, startled by someone rushing towards her. Before she could cry out, a familiar voice said, "It's me."

Hearing it was Song Ziwen, Yang Jing freed one hand to lightly slap his shoulder, "You scared me half to death! Don't you know that could give someone a heart attack?" Yang Jing had assumed it was some blind rogue planning to rob her given her heavy load.

Song Ziwen had intended to lecture Yang Jing about leaving the house without her pager. Even in a rush, one shouldn't be that careless. He had planned to finish work early—around two-something—take Yang Jing to a movie, grab dinner, and then go shopping. But his earlier message to her pager that morning remained unanswered. When he called the Yang residence, he learned Yang Jing had already been whisked away by Song Yao. Only then did Song Ziwen understand the strange look Song Yao had given him the day before, and the "good luck" look from his brother-in-law. In short, he realized his sister was retaliating for him abandoning her on New Year's Eve. As for Wang Qiqi, Song Ziwen could bet one hundred percent that she had cooked up this whole scheme.

After enjoying dinner at the Yangs', Song Ziwen judged the time to be right. He slipped downstairs and hid in the stairwell to wait for his girlfriend. Sure enough, after only ten minutes, she returned. Song Ziwen had wanted to give Yang Jing a good scare before delivering his lecture, but alas... Still, Song Ziwen drew his face long, "And you have the nerve to talk about me? I’ve been waiting here since I got off work until now. Tell me about yourself..." Song Ziwen stood with his arms crossed, looking utterly wronged.

When Yang Jing heard that her boyfriend had been waiting outside for so long, her heart ached. She had actually realized she’d forgotten her pager right after leaving the house, but Song Yao had said it wasn't anything important, and Yang Jing, agreeing, hadn't insisted on going back for it. "You idiot. If you knew I wasn't home, you shouldn't have waited up there..."

Hiding in the car, Wang Qiqi and Song Yao shivered when they heard Song Ziwen’s rare, spoiled tone, especially how aggrieved he sounded. They exchanged glances, each seeing disbelief reflected in the other’s eyes. Song Ziwen was the treasure of the Song family; how could he ever do something so pitiful?

Wang Qiqi watched Yang Jing continuously apologize to Song Ziwen, whose expression was now quite smug. She suddenly interjected, "What did Sister-in-law's family eat tonight?"

Song Ziwen certainly didn't fail Wang Qiqi's random query. "Mutton soup, braised beef, cola chicken wings..." He rattled off a dozen dishes, finally sighing, "Auntie’s cooking is really superb, Qiqi. I wish your great-aunt’s cooking could ever reach this level."

Wang Qiqi and Song Yao burst into loud laughter upon hearing Song Ziwen’s words, especially the last sentence. "Brother, you must have eaten quite a bit today," Wang Qiqi said, leaning against the car window. "Sister-in-law, we’re leaving now. If you need to discipline my brother, don't hold back. He needs a good talking-to."

As Song Yao started the car, she called out loudly, "Sister-in-law, try not to hit his face! Mom would be heartbroken if she saw it. You can do whatever you like to his soft spots."

Wang Qiqi and Song Yao laughed heartily as they drove away from the Yang house. Yang Jing, meanwhile, hadn't expected Song Ziwen to be deceiving her, especially right after she had been so meek. Yang Jing was furious. Waving her shopping bags, she began pelting Song Ziwen, "You good-for-nothing Song Ziwen! Do you think bullying me is fun..."

Song Ziwen was stunned. His situation had been looking excellent just moments ago, but he never expected it to turn out like this. He felt deeply wronged; the ones who betrayed him were his cousin and his own sister. Song Ziwen seethed inwardly, but that was something to deal with after they got home. For now, he needed to placate his girlfriend, or he wouldn't have an easy life ahead.

In the car, after Wang Qiqi stopped laughing, she asked, "Yao Yao Jie, how do you think Yang Jing will discipline Song Ziwen?" Given how smug Song Ziwen had been, Wang Qiqi was certain he was about to face a streak of bad luck.

Song Yao didn't care how the brat Song Ziwen would be punished. What concerned her was, "Qiqi, what do you think about me opening a clothing store in the second half of the year?" During their shopping trip that afternoon, she had overheard Yang Jing and Wang Qiqi constantly discussing foreign fashions, which had planted an idea in Song Yao’s mind. Ever since New Year's Day, she had been pondering what career path to choose. She felt there were many businesses worth trying, but she worried about poor sales and losses. However, if she could source clothing from abroad, business might pick up. But fashion truly required someone with keen insight to manage, and the currency exchange rate was another issue. "Specialize in selling foreign clothing."

"A clothing store?" Wang Qiqi wasn't sure how to react to Song Yao's idea. "Sister, honestly, your sense of style isn't the best." This business required a specific eye. What looked good on a foreigner might not suit local tastes, and foreigners were often either very heavy or very tall—how would she manage sizing? "Sister, you should go south and look at those brands. If something fits, you could become an agent, and then rent a counter in a department store to sell." While the initial cost would be higher, the profit margin was better, and the pressure would be lower. Of course, what Wang Qiqi hesitated to say was that the three of them were always scrambling for foreign currency, and Song Yao would face the same problem, one she couldn't solve for her.

Song Yao hadn't expected such strong opposition to her idea, at least partially. "If I sell in a department store, won't it be too busy?" Song Yao wanted to make money, but she had grown quite used to her leisurely pace over the past year and suddenly becoming swamped seemed overwhelming.

Wang Qiqi was speechless. "Sister, actually, if you put the clothes in a department store, that would be the easiest way." Although Wang Qiqi hadn't managed retail in her past life, she had heard people discuss the process. She briefly explained what she knew: "You’d need to ask for specifics, but I think once you secure the source and rent a counter in a mall, things get much simpler. But Sister, you must realize the capital pressure will be huge."

Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered that since Song Yao was planning to buy a house, she likely wouldn't have the funds for a clothing business. Stocking clothes cost money, renting a mall counter cost money—sums in the tens of thousands wouldn't even make a ripple. It could easily require three or four hundred thousand. Wang Qiqi didn't believe Gong Peixing would support it. Even if he did, Wang Damei wouldn't agree, insisting that she should just buy a house and earn rent instead. In fact, Wang Qiqi shared that sentiment.

Listening to Wang Qiqi’s analysis, Song Yao realized she had been too idealistic. The funding issue was severe. This realization drained Song Yao’s spirit. The family had money, but for buying a house, Song Yao knew they would overwhelmingly support that over investing a large sum in a business—it was reliable income and less physically demanding. Her parents had often said it was fine for her to be a housewife.

Wang Qiqi watched Song Yao sighing repeatedly, no longer yawning, staring intently at the road. She worried that Song Yao, lost in her distress, might not watch the road.

When the car finally stopped, Wang Qiqi immediately grabbed her purchases, ready to go home. But Song Yao also stopped, turned off the engine, and opened her door, startling Wang Qiqi. "Sister, aren't you going up?"

Song Yao looked at the tense Wang Qiqi. "I'm going up to rest for a bit. I heard you drink red wine every night..." Although Wang Qiqi publicly claimed not to drink, Song Yao knew there absolutely had to be red wine at Wang Qiqi's place. Who else would keep red wine otherwise?

"You can't drink," Wang Qiqi mumbled a few times, but she still led Song Yao upstairs.

Luo Hongjuan, sitting in the living room, heard the door opening across the hall. She looked over and saw Wang Qiqi, with Song Yao following behind. After exchanging a brief greeting, she closed the door again, understanding that Song Yao coming over at this hour likely meant she had something important to discuss.

After entering the apartment, Wang Qiqi immediately turned on the water heater and adjusted the air conditioning. "Milk or tea?"

"Just plain hot water," Song Yao instructed without ceremony. "Qiqi, you know what? Ziwen told me yesterday that they plan to move out after they get married." From yesterday to today, Song Yao had been very uneasy. What if this was only her brother’s idea and not Yang Jing’s? Although Song Ziwen claimed it was their decision, Song Yao thought that as the only son in the family, how could his marital home be elsewhere while she, the married daughter, still lived at home? What would people think? "Qiqi, you know we deliberately built the house with three floors so he would have a place when he married." So what did this mean now? What Song Yao didn't say was whether they were trying to push her out, but were too awkward to bring it up.

Wang Qiqi was surprised that Song Ziwen had acted so quickly to approach Song Yao. She knew Song Ziwen genuinely wanted to move out, but since she wasn't the primary party involved, any advice from her would be moot. The best approach was for Song Ziwen and Song Yao to discuss it directly. "Have you talked it over with Brother Ziwen?"

Song Yao shook her head. "We've had guests coming and going, and Mom and Dad are home—how could we discuss it?" Gong Peixing, seeing her unable to sleep last night, had suggested Song Yao talk things out with Song Ziwen at Wang Qiqi’s place. "Qiqi..."

Wang Qiqi saw the look on Song Yao’s face and understood what she meant. She shrugged, signaling she had no objection. "Can Sister-in-law watch Taotao?"

Song Yao waved her hand. "Your brother-in-law can handle it." Once she got Wang Qiqi's agreement, Song Yao immediately sent a pager message to Song Ziwen, asking him to come to Wang Qiqi’s immediately to discuss matters. (To be continued)