After watching Wang Qiqi get into the taxi and leave, Li Qian remained lost in thought for a long time. One idea dominated her mind: if Wang Qiqi were in her position, she probably wouldn't choose the path Li Qian was currently taking. It wasn't that she judged Qiqi’s choices, but Li Qian felt Qiqi was perhaps too aggressive. “Someone too rigid is easily broken.”

To most people, Wang Qiqi seemed like a gentle and compliant child. She listened to many perspectives and would often shift her opinions, yet there were certain things she held firm to, especially concerning relationships. Li Qian could guarantee that if Han Tao ever did anything to betray Wang Qiqi, Qiqi might very well leave him instantly. Li Qian could only hope Qiqi finds happiness, and she also hoped that Han Tao wouldn't change just because his status and standing shifted.

“You’ve decided to cooperate with Li Xiangdong again?” Shi Man had expected Wang Qiqi to be out wandering the streets and alleys. She was utterly stunned when Qiqi returned with her heavy camera and immediately announced this decision. “You weren't intercepted by Li Xiangdong downstairs, were you?”

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “No. I got a message from Li Qian, and we sat together at the cfe house and made the decision.”

“You didn’t let Li Qian soften your heart again, did you?” Shi Man asked, perplexed. She knew Qiqi was a soft-hearted person, susceptible to being manipulated. She had thought that since Li Qian hadn’t made a move for a few days, she had given up on Wang Qiqi, never imagining they were still waiting.

Wang Qiqi nodded. “Yes, I admit I was moved. Did you know Li Qian said we could place our items in the shop she opened with a friend, and she wouldn't charge us management fees?” To Wang Qiqi, this sounded like excellent news. Otherwise, she might not have agreed to continue working with Li Xiangdong.

Shi Man knew Li Qian had opened a shop with a friend in a good location, though she wasn't clear on the exact nature of the business. “It wasn't the cfe house you visited today, was it?”

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “No, it’s a handicraft store Li Qian’s friend opened, and our products could supplement their inventory.” Although it felt a bit like helping them stock their shop, the crucial point was the consignment aspect, which made Wang Qiqi hesitate. Even though Li Qian had offered some assurances, Wang Qiqi still felt uncertain about the outcome.

Shi Man also felt it wasn't ideal. “This way, we have no real idea how much of certain items we should procure and how much to scale back on others.” If everything sold out, that would be great, but what if they couldn’t move the stock?

“Li Qian said she would help us inquire, and we can price things slightly higher,” Wang Qiqi admitted that she might have acted impulsively at the time, but if this path truly opened up, it could be a fantastic source of income. Furthermore, Wang Qiqi had already considered that if they managed to forge a clear path forward, they could have Song Yao run a purchasing agency in the capital or even open an online store. “Let’s discuss it with Nana when we get back.”

It was already past nine when Juliet returned home. With the property launch date drawing nearer, Juliet felt increasingly pressed for time. Wang Qiqi and Shi Man glanced at each other as Juliet collapsed onto the sofa, looking utterly exhausted, unsure if this was the right moment to bring up their topic.

“What is it?” Just as the two were about to retreat, Juliet spoke up. “If you have something to ask, ask quickly. I still have documents to review later.” Juliet couldn't fathom how her parents had managed for so many years. She had only been seriously involved for a little over a year, and she felt immense pressure, so much so that she couldn't bear it any longer. She deeply understood why her cousin said women weren't suited for this line of work; even with his inherent biases, it was a potent illustration.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man quickly and concisely recounted Li Qian’s proposal in a rush of overlapping words, then looked toward Juliet, hoping for her verdict.

Juliet had no idea that opening such a shop had always been Qiqi’s aspiration. She had mentioned that although she studied finance, she never intended to work in investment banks or similar institutions. All she wanted was to work for herself, perhaps trading stocks, and her ultimate dream was to travel the world, see beautiful scenery, purchase things she loved and approved of, and display them in her own boutique. Viewed this way, it seemed the right time to establish their brand. “I think Li Qian’s suggestion is good. At the very least, we can print some business cards and start building our brand recognition. However, I think the best approach is for us to prepare some samples and then record customer requests, allowing us to handle procurement—maybe flying out once every one or two months. Even if the profit from each trip doesn't cover the airfare, I believe this business will expand over time.”

Exactly, that was what Wang Qiqi had been thinking too. She had considered opening a shop before, but staffing and the fixed expense of rent were prohibitive. Now, Li Qian suggested they didn't need to worry about those things, and she would even help introduce clients directly to them. Wang Qiqi genuinely felt, “I feel the same way. I have a strong sense that if I miss this opportunity, I will definitely regret it.”

Shi Man was surprised that even Juliet agreed. Well, if they agreed, so be it. “Anyway, Feng Xuanxiang is leaving the country in the second half of the year; he can help with procurement then.” Shi Man really didn't want to fly to Europe only to return shortly after; it would be exhausting. Especially since the air on airplanes is so dry, after a few trips, Shi Man deeply felt her skin would take a long time to recover. If she had to endure that once a month, Shi Man felt she might as well die. She worried that in a couple of years, when she visited the US, her man wouldn't recognize her, leading to a total loss! Luckily, she suddenly thought of something.

Right, Wang Qiqi had been pondering how to manage overseas trips in the future. Juliet was out of the question; just attending classes and her internship tomorrow already left her drained. A few times, when Wang Qiqi occasionally worked late translating manuscripts, she saw Nana still gulping down cffee past midnight, her dark circles growing thicker. In a past life, Wang Qiqi might have envied second-generation rich kids, but now that she was close to the wealthy Juliet, Wang Qiqi wholeheartedly declared she was no longer jealous. While some of those kids lived carefree lives, many, like Juliet, were thrown into the family business early, striving to inherit their fathers' enterprises. But with Juliet occupied, they would have to fly to Europe every two months at most, and Shi Man seemed strongly opposed to that. Fortunately, Feng Xuanxiang was scheduled to go abroad in the latter half of the year. “Feng Xuanxiang leaving for the States is truly timely news.”

With that, the three had no further objections, unanimously approving the proposal. As for Han Tao, who wasn't present, his voting rights were borrowed by Wang Qiqi—it passed unanimously.

Later, when Han Tao learned of Wang Qiqi’s resolution, he gave Feng Xuanxiang a look that conveyed, Brother, you’d better brace yourself, not realizing how serious the situation was. Watching how quickly Feng Xuanxiang had agreed, Han Tao thought, This brother is agreeing so readily now; I wonder if he’ll cry when he sees the long list of orders and has to repeat this process for two or three days straight.

Wang Qiqi, seeing Feng Xuanxiang agree so quickly, suddenly remembered something critical. She hastily called Shi Man and Juliet for an emergency meeting. “Do we really need to?” Shi Man hadn't considered this aspect but felt they shouldn't take an equity stake.

“We must,” Juliet insisted. This was a long-term endeavor. If Feng Xuanxiang helped out once or twice, that was one thing, but he couldn't be expected to assist for free indefinitely, especially since they would be making money. “If you rely on your man this much in the future, giving him a share will motivate him to work harder.”

“Exactly. Otherwise, we’ll feel too embarrassed to keep asking your man to procure things,” Wang Qiqi added. “Although the business isn't huge right now and the profits are small, if we scale up, the money won't be negligible. If you try to join later, we won't offer a share then.”

“Right, take a share while it’s easy. There won’t be such a good opportunity later.”

Shi Man watched her two friends remain firm. Although she didn't expect huge profits, maybe they could at least earn enough to cover Feng Xuanxiang’s living expenses in the US. Besides, no matter how good their relationship was, some things needed to be clearly settled. “Fine.”

When Feng Xuanxiang heard Shi Man’s words, his first reaction was to refuse the equity. Are you kidding? I’m doing this purely for Shi Man’s sake. Furthermore, over the time they had been interacting, he wasn't oblivious to the situation. Juliet’s family background went without saying, and Han Tao was absolutely capable, with a high probability of staying in the US eventually—that was networking. As for Wang Qiqi, who seemed the laziest, she was often a core figure. While appearing uninterested in everything, she only did what she loved most. Even after graduation, she planned to travel the world with just a backpack; one could discern from her casual words that she had a clear plan for her future life. Feng Xuanxiang wasn't naive; he understood this circle would become stable eventually. For someone to develop well, they needed connections. While Juliet seemed the most powerful now, who knew what the future held? Could he guarantee Wang Qiqi and Han Tao would never rise to prominence? Since they were insisting on giving him a share, and this seemed to be a venture they were starting together, Feng Xuanxiang didn't refuse excessively. Of course, he insisted on contributing his initial capital.

“Agreed. So now we have five partners, and we split everything equally.” Juliet looked around at everyone present and stated only this one sentence. As for contracts and agreements, no one mentioned them. Although contracts provided guarantees and constraints for everyone, Wang Qiqi and the others preferred this collaborative method. Their partnership was based on friendship; drawing up contracts felt too transactional, especially since their previous collaborations had been enjoyable.