Wang Qiqi had spent most of her recent energy immersed in listening to gossip and resolving the resulting disputes, barely sparing a thought for the fact that Li Xiangdong hadn't bothered her again. Or perhaps, as the assignments from Ye Ruizhi increased, Wang Qiqi became even less concerned about whether Li Xiangdong would ever offer her an answer.

Wang Qiqi might not care, but Li Xiangdong certainly did. Don't let his recent silence and composed demeanor fool you; it was all an act. He knew that if he let slip even a hint of reconsideration, Li Qian would urge him to think things over again. As time passed, coupled with information gathered from competitors and clients, Li Xiangdong realized that after returning to the capital for the winter break, Wang Qiqi had interviewed with several agencies. None of those agencies had leaked news about hiring her, and the rates they quoted were comparable to what he had previously offered her. Yet, even so, Wang Qiqi remained composed and hadn't returned to negotiate. Li Xiangdong was forced to wonder if he had overlooked something crucial.

One day, Li Xiangdong ran into a former client. This client didn't conduct a high volume of business annually, and to Li Xiangdong, whose workflow was increasingly heavy, losing their infrequent business wasn't a major concern; he hadn't made a special effort to court or maintain that relationship. But Li Xiangdong, for some inexplicable reason that day, chatted with the client for a few minutes. The tidbits gleaned from those brief exchanges were enough to send a jolt of panic through him. He never expected that it was Ye Ruizhi who had managed to bring Wang Qiqi under his wing.

If it were anyone else, Li Xiangdong wouldn't have been this flustered. But if it was Ye Ruizhi, he knew Ye Ruizhi must have thoroughly vetted Wang Qiqi. Furthermore, Ye Ruizhi was known to be ruthless; he would certainly offer a higher rate. However, he never proactively poached talent. Once someone approached him with an offer, he would undoubtedly present a compelling counter-proposal.

The price Wang Qiqi mentioned must have been the one Ye Ruizhi offered.

Li Xiangdong sank onto the sofa, pondering for a long while. "I’ve thought it over. We’ll proceed with the cooperation based on the price Wang Qiqi quoted last time."

Although the profit margin would shrink significantly, Li Xiangdong’s real fear was that as time went on, some of his existing clients, especially those Wang Qiqi used to manage, would follow her, resulting in ever-increasing losses for him.

Li Qian was stunned by this answer after Li Xiangdong had mulled it over for so many days. She gently rubbed her ear and looked at him with deep confusion.

She wondered if she had misheard. When Wang Qiqi first named that price, hadn't he erupted in fury, accusing her of highway robbery?

"Didn't you say we couldn't meet her price, that she was just trying to inflate her value?" Had a client finally complained? Li Qian had reviewed Wang Qiqi's previous translations, comparing them to what others were producing now. While the meanings were largely similar, Wang Qiqi’s work was consistently superior and more nuanced. It was truly a pity that they couldn't continue working with her. Li Qian couldn't fathom why Li Xiangdong had so abruptly changed his mind.

"Ye Ruizhi. Do you know? Wang Qiqi might be going to Ye Ruizhi’s firm."

Li Xiangdong rhythmically pounded the armrest of the sofa, demonstrating his intense anger. It was fortunate that he was only striking the armrest. Had he hit the coffee table, Li Qian truly feared he might shatter it and injure his hand, leaving his internal rage nowhere to vent.

"Ye Ruizhi? What does he have to do with anything? Didn't he join the Translation Bureau? Wasn't he doing well there?" Li Qian tried to recall what about Ye Ruizhi could elicit such fury and resentment from Li Xiangdong. Outside of that one notorious individual, she couldn't think of anyone else. But the idea of Ye Ruizhi abandoning such a stable position to start a private translation agency seemed unlikely. While translation agencies were profitable, that money was hard-earned, requiring constant appeasement of clients and worrying about being undercut. Ye Ruizhi's job offered substantial pay and comparable hard work, yet without the constant anxiety of business competition.

Li Xiangdong wasn't entirely clear on the specifics, but one thing he knew for certain: "Ye Ruizhi resigned at the end of last year, supposedly due to stress. But if he genuinely felt stressed, there was no need for him to open a translation agency. Taking on just a few projects annually, combined with his prior savings, should have been more than enough for him."

Li Xiangdong simply couldn't grasp it—someone who was clearly successful resorting to competing for his livelihood. Competition was one thing; their resources differed. But the fact that Ye Ruizhi lacked any decorum, attempting to poach his top talent! While he hadn't started stealing clients yet, it was only a matter of time.

Li Qian could only shake her head watching the agitated Li Xiangdong. In his view, Ye Ruizhi was targeting him in every endeavor. But Li Xiangdong forgot who initially disliked whom. "Then I'll call Qiqi. You two can discuss it yourselves?" Li Xiangdong huffed an affirmative. He knew he was acting a bit childish, but he didn't feel his anger was unwarranted. Ever since their school days, he had been relentlessly compared to Ye Ruizhi, always told he fell short. Finally graduating, he heard Ye Ruizhi planned to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He thought the Translation Bureau would offer a secure path. Yet, after circling around, Li Xiangdong also ended up at the Bureau, only to see Ye Ruizhi promoted faster despite having less seniority. In a fit of pique, Li Xiangdong resigned to follow a former superior into the private sector. Though Li Xiangdong was now considered successful, he sometimes regretted that impulsive decision. Had he stayed at the Bureau a few more years, he would have amassed greater resources. The worst part was working for someone else post-resignation; even though his boss was polite, it was only professional courtesy. The real financial benefits weren't substantial. If he had opened his own agency right out of school, things might be different now. But now, the nightmare returned: his old rival, his nemesis, had also started an agency—and his rival already commanded better resources and clients than Li Xiangdong possessed. Under these circumstances, poaching his key person felt like a deliberate provocation.

Leaning back, Li Xiangdong closed his eyes, mentally rehearsing how he should approach the conversation with Wang Qiqi. He was determined to insist on one condition if she returned: she could not collaborate with external translation agencies, especially not Ye Ruizhi's.

Wang Qiqi had no idea Li Xiangdong was formulating such plans. She was astonished that Li Qian had sent her a pager message after such a long silence, agreeing to the exact price she had initially demanded, and even suggesting a face-to-face meeting.

Han Tao noticed Wang Qiqi standing still, staring blankly at the pager. "Who sent the message?"

"Li Qian."

Wang Qiqi found it highly suspicious. They had stubbornly clung to their 'highest price' stance before. Now that she had ignored them, they suddenly agreed to her initial terms. Had something happened?

"Li Qian?" Han Tao found it strange too. "They hadn't made a sound until now. How could they suddenly agree to Wang Qiqi's opening offer?"

"No haggling?" Impossible. When had Li Xiangdong ever been so agreeable? Wang Qiqi considered this. "They probably will haggle. Otherwise, why add the part about meeting in person?"

Perhaps the meeting was intended to mend the strained relationship or to leverage their personal connection to push the price down. Wang Qiqi didn't believe Li Xiangdong would accept the price easily or that he wouldn't attach certain conditions. As for what those conditions might be, she had no clue, but the initiative was no longer in his hands. What could he do to her now?

"Don't worry about it. Thinking too much is useless. Me agreeing to meet is already giving him face, right?"

Han Tao nodded, admitting he felt conflicted. On one hand, from Qiqi’s perspective, he felt she shouldn't partner with Li Xiangdong again, or at least not so deeply; the man was too calculating. But on the other hand, he had a good relationship with Li Zhe, making him feel that Wang Qiqi completely cutting ties with Li Xiangdong was excessive. "Yeah, go talk. If the terms are decent, you can work for both. If his demands are too unreasonable, just treat it as visiting an old boss."

Wang Qiqi agreed. Her mindset had shifted, fundamentally changing how she felt. She felt less deference toward Li Xiangdong now. "Then we’ll meet tomorrow."

Wang Qiqi disliked delays. Whether her eagerness to meet Li Xiangdong gave him a false impression was not something she needed to consider.

When Li Qian received Wang Qiqi's confirmation message, she smiled. Li Xiangdong grinned brightly as well. "I told you Qiqi is a good girl. She remembers the help we gave her back then. People must be grateful. If it weren't for us initially..."

Li Qian hated hearing Li Xiangdong say that most of all. She interrupted him, annoyed. "Tomorrow when Qiqi comes over, keep those speeches to a minimum. She's already done enough. How much were her tuition fees? The translation work she did this year has already covered that. You should be discussing future prospects for cooperation with her. Besides, how much gratitude does she owe you? People are practical. Not to mention she needs to raise funds for the US and still has mortgage payments—that's all real money."

Li Xiangdong thought, Am I that dense? "Even if I wanted to negotiate the price down now, I couldn't. With Ye Ruizhi stirring things up, even if Qiqi agrees to continue, the volume of work she takes on, or when she takes it on, will be entirely up to her."

Time was money. Li Xiangdong’s sole focus now was steering Wang Qiqi back onto the path of working exclusively for his firm; he didn't want to contemplate anything else.

"Really?" Li Qian eyed him suspiciously. After a pause, she conceded, "I'll join you in talking to Qiqi tomorrow." She didn't want things to escalate further into a mess where they would have no recourse. If Li Xiangdong hadn't been highly motivated to keep Wang Qiqi at the beginning, Ye Ruizhi's sudden intrusion now made him even more determined to retain her.