Wang Qiqi had initially assumed Ye Ruizhi wouldn't send her an assignment so quickly. After celebrating with Han Tao that she was finally back to work and arriving home, she habitually checked her email, only to find a message from Ye Ruizhi, and another from Li Xiangdong.

"No way, is today actually my lucky day? I just signed a cooperation agreement and already have work lined up."

Wang Qiqi had intended to open Li Xiangdong's email first. She knew anything from him now would either be a tough nut to crack or an urgent matter. However, the moment she was about to open it, she clicked on Ye Ruizhi’s email first, discovering three manuscripts requiring translation—two of which were marked urgent.

Although the third was not urgent, Wang Qiqi decided to work overtime to rush all three pieces to make a good impression on her new boss. As for Li Xiangdong’s email, she could only apologize internally; if she still had the time and energy later, she might be able to help with the translation, but for now, it would have to wait until tomorrow.

Shi Man noticed that Wang Qiqi hadn't emerged from her room since coming home, which she found unsettling. Had she found work? Or had Li Xiangdong finally realized that continuing to clash with Wang Qiqi was pointless and sent her a new assignment? With that thought, she brought a cup of coffee to Wang Qiqi’s desk, then peered over, confirming it was indeed English. "Whose job is this?" "Mr. Ye’s."

After thanking Shi Man, Wang Qiqi took a sip. "Your technique has improved significantly; it's quite good."

Mr. Ye? Shi Man wondered if Qiqi had already finalized her partnership. But she hadn't heard Qiqi mention this Mr. Ye before. Could it be the company she interviewed with today? Yet, Qiqi had said she planned to investigate further before making a comprehensive decision about which one or two companies to work with. Before Shi Man could voice her confusion, she heard Wang Qiqi praise the coffee, which left Shi Man feeling unexpectedly flattered.

"Qiqi, what good thing happened to you today?" Shi Man figured Wang Qiqi must just be in a good mood to compliment her. After all, both Shi Man and Zhu Lina had tried her coffee before and hadn't found it particularly outstanding; it tasted the same as usual.

Wang Qiqi hummed an affirmation. "I signed a new cooperation contract today. The rate is excellent—payment upon completion—and it’s fifty percent higher than Li Xiangdong’s offer."

Wang Qiqi said this with palpable excitement.

What?

Fifty percent higher than Li Xiangdong’s rate? This revelation thoroughly shocked Shi Man. Although everyone knew what a skinflint Li Xiangdong was, they hadn't expected him to be this cheap.

"Holy hell, their offered rate was that low?" Qiqi had mentioned before that Li Xiangdong didn't pay much, but everyone assumed even if it was less, it wouldn't be drastically so, and the monthly income would still be considerable.

"Ahhh, I want to be a translator too! Qiqi, your income is getting higher and higher."

Zhu Lina walked out of the study just as Shi Man cried out, finding her behavior strange. "Manman, what stimulated you?"

Zhu Lina remembered Shi Man used to talk about becoming a translator but gave up when she saw how Qiqi sometimes had to stay up until the early hours. Why was she suddenly going crazy about being a translator today? She couldn't figure it out.

"Didn't you always say the pay didn't match the effort?" Shi Man rushed into Zhu Lina’s arms when she heard her voice. "That was before. I only realize now that Qiqi made the absolute right move switching employers. The rate jumped by fifty percent instantly! Fifty percent!"

How could Shi Man not be tempted by such a figure?

"If I had known the rate was so low back then, I would have done it too, even if it was just for experience." But now, who would give her an internship? Only that heartless boss, Li Xiangdong, might have, but unfortunately, she missed that golden opportunity.

Zhu Lina was also stunned by the news Shi Man shared. "Wait, really? That black-hearted?"

A boss that unscrupulous actually dared to give Qiqi a hard time? He must have become incredibly audacious, thinking Qiqi had no other options and was forced to cling to his shaky boat. Hmph, he needed a reality check. He shouldn't assume Qiqi was too lazy to change employers just because she hadn't bothered before.

Shi Man chimed in excitedly, "I wonder what he’ll think when he finds out Qiqi landed such a high-paying gig. Will he regret it?"

"Definitely," Zhu Lina asserted confidently. "After all, which boss doesn't love an employee who is obedient, sensible, does good work, and costs little?"

Li Xiangdong, at that very moment, was genuinely miserable. Although he had acted dismissive and unconcerned during his last conversation with Qiqi, he had secretly held a deep grudge against her. His subsequent actions were intended to show her that some things and some people were not to be defied. Qiqi hadn't sent him a single email or made a single call begging for mercy. The occasional emails he sent her were replied to quickly, and the quality of her work was quite good. This led Li Xiangdong to believe he should remain patient; he knew Qiqi disliked trouble. Others had given her business cards before, but she never contacted them. Now that Qiqi was back to her studies, she hadn't even called him, and even after the Lantern Festival passed without him sending her any work, she showed no sign of displeasure. This made Li Xiangdong feel uneasy.

Li Qian brought a late-night snack into the study and found Li Xiangdong standing by the window, smoking—and smoking heavily, judging by the thick haze filling the room. She set the bowl down, walked to the window, and opened it, chiding him, "Really, the doctor told you to smoke less, yet you’re filling the study with smoke. Are you trying to kill yourself?"

Was there something he couldn't just say out loud? Li Xiangdong knew her current condition made smoking inadvisable, but he was truly agitated. He sighed. "Has Qiqi called you recently?" Li Xiangdong knew that many of the items Qiqi brought back from abroad were often sold through his wife, which was one reason he felt he could press Qiqi.

Qiqi? Li Qian found the question odd. "No. She called on New Year's Day to offer greetings. She said her cousin is getting married soon, and she needed to help with procurement and offer advice on the renovation of the new house. Why?" Li Qian wondered why Li Xiangdong was suddenly so tense about whether Qiqi had called her. Had something happened between them? But Li Qian dismissed the idea; besides the limited chances Qiqi and Li Xiangdong had to meet, Han Tao was a good young man, and he was heading to America—it seemed unlikely Qiqi would abandon Han Tao for Li Xiangdong. Still, the fact that Li Xiangdong was so upset he was chain-smoking in his study, seemingly neglecting his health, suggested that something major might have occurred.

Li Xiangdong looked at Li Qian's scrutinizing gaze and offered a bitter smile. "Last time, I suggested Qiqi switch to translating books, but after thinking it over, she refused."

Li Qian knew about that; she had been home when Qiqi visited. "Didn't you say it was fine?" That issue was past. Why bring it up now? Could it be...? "You didn't do anything to Qiqi, did you?" Li Xiangdong nodded, recounting how he hadn't given Qiqi work recently, yet she hadn't reacted at all. "I had an urgent job today, one I sent her without preamble, but I haven't received any email yet. I paged her pager, and she hasn't replied either." This made Li Xiangdong deeply unsettled. If Qiqi had delivered the manuscript back on schedule as usual, he wouldn't have been so worried. But now, he felt a sense of crisis.

Li Qian hadn't expected him to admit this, especially since she had privately asked him several times, and he had impatiently insisted he wouldn't do such a thing. But looking at his current confession, Li Qian was furious. "Did you really think Qiqi was that easygoing, or that she wouldn't bother looking for new employers because she’s too lazy to compare rates elsewhere?" Li Qian helped Qiqi sell the imported goods precisely because the compensation from their side wasn't high enough. But now Li Xiangdong had done this! "Look at the result now. You should know Qiqi isn't desperate. If you don't give her work, she can easily find a new boss. Do you really think she can't find someone else? You know the market rates outside."

Li Xiangdong staggered back two steps, intimidated by Li Qian's intensity, but he quickly regained his composure. "How could that girl do that? Doesn't she know who helped her get where she is today?"

Li Qian scoffed at his words. "If everyone were truly grateful, why did you bother breaking away to start your own business in the first place?"

Honestly, Wang Qiqi wasn't clueless about the pricing. She had initially felt indebted to him, but Li Xiangdong’s current behavior had completely wiped away any lingering obligation. "Think about it yourself—who is being unreasonable? If you refuse to give Qiqi work, it frees her up to find a new employer. Do you think their offers will match yours? You know the going rate right now. What you should be thinking about is how you’re going to face Qiqi."

"Are you suggesting Qiqi has already contacted a new boss, which is why she’s ignoring my assignments...?" Li Xiangdong considered that this possibility couldn't be ruled out. Otherwise, why the long silence? He realized the money he was earning from Qiqi was substantial, and suddenly losing that potential income stream was unbearable. "I really shouldn't have let a petty fit of temper dictate my actions." That fit hadn't achieved anything except causing him a significant financial loss. "I should..."

Li Xiangdong found it impossible to bring himself to beg Qiqi for forgiveness. Furthermore, under the current circumstances, him stepping forward personally might not resolve things. The best person to intervene was Li Qian.

Li Qian looked at the pleading in Li Xiangdong’s eyes. She didn't want to deal with it; it wasn't her mistake, so why should she clean up the mess? But in the end, she could only nod in agreement.