After Li Qian left, Li Xiangdong sulked alone in his office. What infuriated him was Li Qian’s lack of help. She clearly knew his relationship with Wang Qiqi wasn't as close as hers with Wang Qiqi. He was genuinely worried about how he would talk to Wang Qiqi without Li Qian acting as a buffer between them. There was no way he could truly give up on Wang Qiqi, and the mere thought of the awkwardness when they met was agonizing.

Li Xiangdong was furious with Li Qian, but he was even more incensed at that young mistress. He felt that if it weren't for her, he wouldn't be in such a pitiful mess. Of course, he wouldn't bring the mistress along. Although he had done things a married man shouldn't, he still hoped to leave a good impression in Qiqi's heart. "Forget it, forget it, I'll go alone. It's my position as the boss; subordinates making mistakes is an internal matter. Externally, I’m still the boss."

Li Xiangdong lost the appetite to remain at the company. He drove to Qiqi's residence, but after waiting and waiting, he never saw Wang Qiqi. He considered staying longer, but a call from a client forced him to leave. Barely a moment after his car pulled away, Wang Qiqi returned. It must be said that Li Xiangdong was quite unlucky; he waited so long, and if he had held on just another minute or two, he would have met the person he was waiting for.

Seeing the departing car, Wang Qiqi found it peculiar. That looked like Li Xiangdong’s car. Had he come waiting for her, and why leave without seeing her? Besides, it wasn't even that late, just past eight o'clock; this wasn't a typical time for a client meeting. Li Qian was quite drunk, and Wang Qiqi had escorted her back. But watching her asleep, considering Li Qian’s current state plus her bad mood, Wang Qiqi couldn't imagine her calling Li Xiangdong to tell someone to go take care of her. Ruling out these possibilities, Wang Qiqi concluded that he was rushing off to meet his mistress.

Wang Qiqi didn't call out to Li Xiangdong. After stewing in so much anger all day, he hadn't offered a single apology, yet he was rushing off to see his mistress. What a man. It was a pity Li Qian still talked about how wonderful this man used to be. Look at his current deplorable state, sigh.

“How did the talk go?” Shi Man asked as soon as she entered the room. She had expected some good news, but the look on Wang Qiqi’s face screamed intense anger. “Did they give you a hard time, or did they try to lower the price? Or perhaps they presented some harsh demands?”

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “We didn’t even talk. I ran into a big-shot receptionist who wouldn't even let me in to see anyone.” As for Li Xiangdong's infidelity, Wang Qiqi felt there was no need to bring it up. Regardless, it was an ugly affair, and she was doing it more for Li Qian's sake than Li Xiangdong’s.

The receptionist? “No one let you in?” Shi Man wondered. What kind of receptionist was so high and mighty? It wasn't a foreign-invested enterprise; it was just a domestic one. Did they need to act like a multinational corporation? “She didn’t recognize you?”

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “Actually, the person who used to be the receptionist also handled general affairs. Today, I found a beautiful young woman there, and she didn't recognize me either.” Perhaps that young woman only had a pretty face and absolutely no brains. Wang Qiqi truly suspected that someone thought his career was going well enough that his mind was starting to deteriorate. If that were the case, it might explain why his approach to my issues kept shifting—one day this idea, the next day another. It’s entirely possible that Li Xiangdong’s strategy against me was partially fueled by that girl’s instigation. Hmph. She’s just the boss’s woman, trying to pull rank as the boss’s wife. Besides, even if she were the boss’s wife, we wouldn’t be intimidated.

“Was that at Li Xiangdong’s instruction?” Shi Man asked doubtfully. “He was trying to give you a small show of force, perhaps?” That seemed the only possibility.

Wang Qiqi thought for a moment. “It probably wasn't Li Xiangdong’s doing. However, that receptionist seems to have some sort of connection. I can't believe I was the only one blocked at the door.” Wang Qiqi thought that this time it was her being blocked, but what if a female client went to see Li Xiangdong about business one day and this receptionist said the same thing? Wang Qiqi didn't believe the other party would have the same good temper she did; they would either barge right in demanding an explanation or simply walk away, saying, "Sorry, Mr. Li, maybe we’ll have a chance to work together some other time."

“Really?” Shi Man sensed a playful nuance in Wang Qiqi’s expression, as if she knew some inside scoop but wasn't willing to share. In that instant, Shi Man’s curiosity flared. She looked at Wang Qiqi again, thinking that no matter how much she pressed, Qiqi probably wouldn't give an answer. “So, what’s your plan?”

“I’ll let nature take its course. I’m busy with work right now anyway, and I don't have that much time to keep running downtown—the travel costs are too high.” Wang Qiqi didn't disclose a firm plan. “I’ll take it one step at a time. If Li Xiangdong thinks this employee is worth keeping, he’ll come to me. If he thinks I’m too high-maintenance, not easily managed, then so be it.”

Li Xiangdong busied himself for several days and finally sorted out the mess. He also learned that he was about to lose clients due to his young mistress—the one he thought would be jealous if other women sought him out. Every time she saw a beautiful girl or a woman with a decent presence, she wouldn't give them a pleasant look and would deliberately stall. After several incidents, those clients naturally grew dissatisfied, especially those whose company representatives already had their own agenda; they took the opportunity to switch to a different partner. Initially, Li Xiangdong blamed his competitors, but now he realized it was partly their fault and partly his own. Because of this, Li Xiangdong had been extremely busy lately.

While the mistress was nice to pass the time, the moment Li Xiangdong calculated how much money he lost because of her, his mood soured. More significantly, once Li Qian resumed working in the office, she took firm control of all internal company affairs, managing everything from logistics to finance. Li Qian also played the role of the diplomat’s wife, frequently chatting or dining with the wives of executives from partner companies. With her help, a few clients resumed cooperation. Although the current order volume seemed small, Li Xiangdong knew this was just the beginning. Through these events, Li Xiangdong understood one thing: a wife is a wife, incomparable to a mistress. A mistress is only good for passing time and receiving admiration, but that’s where it stops. For building wealth, expanding the company, or even stabilizing it, Li Qian was the most suitable person. Moreover, she was his wife, and everything she did was for the family’s sake. Letting her manage the finances wasn't a big deal. With this realization, Li Xiangdong’s complaints toward Li Qian diminished. As for the mistress crying about the boss’s wife harassing her, Li Xiangdong offered only a little comfort—just a little, nothing more. Things would continue as they were.

Li Qian felt the resentful stares from the front desk countless times as she passed by every day. Regarding this, Li Qian thought, No matter how much you resent it, what difference does it make? However, Li Qian was no longer the naive woman she used to be, foolishly thinking that since everything was for the family, she shouldn't keep any private savings. After experiencing these events, Li Qian learned to hold her money tightly. She scrutinized every expense meticulously. If she found a receipt that didn't seem to be for a client but rather for something bought for the mistress, she would record it and then reimburse the excess amount spent later—invoices were easy enough to acquire anyway.

Seeing the radiant Li Qian, Wang Qiqi couldn't help but marvel at her resilience. Li Qian’s mental fortitude was immense; not only had she not collapsed, but she had also adjusted her mindset so well. “Auntie Li, you seem to be doing quite well lately, very flourishing,” Wang Qiqi said, ordering a coffee and pastry before sitting across from Li Qian.

“A friend recently recommended a beauty salon; the results are quite good. Although it’s a bit pricey, sometimes a woman has to rely on her looks to get by.” In the past, Li Qian’s first reaction to such a high price would be to forgo it. But now, her reaction was about the effect: if the results were good, the price didn't matter. “Qiqi, once you’re over thirty, don’t avoid expensive skin treatments just to save a little money. Li Xiangdong used to be just like Han Tao. I always thought he would be a good man, but reality proved that men are all pretty much the same.” Li Qian had always thought highly of Han Tao, feeling he was like the Li Xiangdong of the past. But thinking about it now, perhaps he would end up walking the same path as Li Xiangdong. And Qiqi was different from her; Qiqi’s parents died when she was young. Though she didn't discuss it much, she rarely mentioned any relatives, letting Li Qian know she must have endured a lot. After finally meeting a man who was kind to her, facing something like this, Li Qian worried if Wang Qiqi could persevere.

“Women inherently need to treat themselves well. If we don't look out for ourselves, how can we expect a man to?” Wang Qiqi didn't realize that Li Qian was telling her all this partly to offer a preemptive warning. “My ideal was that you would be responsible for earning money, and I would be responsible for being beautiful. Of course, now it seems I can earn my own money too. Since that’s the case, I don't see the need to mistreat myself. If Han Tao ever has someone else outside one day, then I think it would be best for everyone to part ways amicably. That way, he won't feel wronged, the mistress won't feel wronged, and certainly, I won't feel wronged. Who knows what diseases he might pick up while he’s out carousing.”

Wang Qiqi’s comments startled Li Qian considerably. She had intended to give Qiqi a warning, but instead, she heard Wang Qiqi’s perspective on marriage. “You’re still young; you’ll understand when you have children…” Perhaps when there are no children, one has this impulse, but once there are, things change.

“So what if there are children? It’s not good for a child to grow up in a cold household, is it? Besides, children have their own future; should I sacrifice my happiness for the sake of my child’s future?” Wang Qiqi deeply felt that the low divorce rate in this country wasn't due to the strength of marital bonds but rather the consideration of children and many other issues unrelated to affection.