Han Tao pretended not to notice the situation, completely engrossed in playing enthusiastically with Taotao, who had just arrived with Lu Qiaowei. He certainly wasn't going to be the one to remind Wang Qiqi that someone she disliked was waiting for her call.

"Auntie, Aunt Wei, let's build a model," Taotao exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder at the model kit his uncle had brought. He immediately grabbed it and asked Han Tao how to play. Although Wang Qiqi suspected the little guy hadn't grasped much, he seemed to know it was a ship model. This made Wang Qiqi wonder if she should find something else to occupy herself with.

It wasn't that Wang Qiqi lacked affection or patience; it was that she had bought a Swan Lake Castle puzzle in the US, intending to finish it within a week. After spending hours on it only to make negligible progress, she had utterly banished the puzzle to the cold storage, with no intention of ever picking it up again. While this model might be slightly easier than a jigsaw puzzle, Wang Qiqi genuinely dreaded any kind of manual work. She’d rather spend that time translating manuscripts to earn some money. Furthermore, Wang Qiqi felt that even making that call to Li Xiangdong right now would be preferable to this.

"Auntie, Auntie." Taotao had just placed the box on the coffee table, ready to start, when he noticed Wang Qiqi slowly drifting away from him. The little boy immediately became unhappy, calling out to her repeatedly. "Auntie, do you not like Taotao anymore?" He blinked his big, innocent eyes, an expression so utterly charming that if it were directed at someone else, Wang Qiqi would surely have cooed "Kawaii." But here, it felt like an accusation of bullying. She inwardly sighed, thankful the child was a boy; otherwise, it would be disastrous. Hmph, she thought, she really needed to discuss this boy's upbringing with her sister and the others. He couldn't keep acting like a girl all the time. It was fine now, but as he got older, people would see him as effeminate, not a real boy.

Little Taotao had no idea that the familiar gesture he’d just executed had prompted his aunt to consider parental intervention—he would surely regret it later. For now, however, he was thrilled that his "Uncle Tao" stepped in to help. "Qiqi, why don't you go help Taotao with the model?" Han Tao wasn't necessarily siding with the child; he had unfinished programming work waiting. Han Tao dreaded the thought of being deep in code only to have some kid bother him about the model. He felt he would absolutely collapse. Besides, Qiqi had her back to her mother-in-law, who wore an expression of pure reluctance.

Wang Qiqi was surprised her own husband wouldn't back her up. She pointed at herself, gesturing: Me? What was Han Tao thinking? He knew perfectly well she lacked the patience and skill for this; why was he selling her out?

Han Tao pointed to his wrist, then gestured toward the laptop in the room, signaling he had work to do. It wasn't that he wanted to shirk his responsibilities (though he certainly entertained the idea), but while building models was diverting, he had assembled two ships alone during the long, lonely nights after Qiqi went to the US. He really didn't want to do it again. He hadn't brought the models back for Taotao; he had intended to build them with Qiqi, using them as a way to explain how he passed the time while she was away. But now, little Taotao had found them. Han Tao felt a pang of possessiveness, but could he really refuse to give them up?

Since her own man had spoken, what choice did Wang Qiqi have? If her mother-in-law hadn't been present, Wang Qiqi would have told him to stop staring at the computer, to adjust his mindset and mood, and to remember the importance of balancing work and rest—like spending time building a model with a certain little one. But with an elder present, her mother-in-law would surely suspect that in the US, someone (meaning Qiqi) had often interrupted Han Tao's work, since a man's career must come first. "Auntie, I just wanted to go get a drink," Wang Qiqi pouted. Don't think I don't know that work won't suffer too much if the deadline is pushed back a bit. After all, people need time to adjust to jet lag after a long flight.

Han Tao caught Wang Qiqi’s silent protest and smiled. He knew that once she finished a delicious dinner, she would forget all about this. Moreover, he thought playing with models was definitely more engaging than puzzles, and with three people involved, Wang Qiqi certainly wouldn't feel lonely.

"It's quite fun, definitely more interesting than puzzles," Han Tao said, knowing Wang Qiqi’s main concern was Taotao mocking her for not finishing the task.

"Really?" Han Tao truly understood Wang Qiqi’s thoughts; hearing this answer immediately lifted her spirits considerably.

Han Tao assured her repeatedly, "I’m not lying. I finished that Swan Lake Castle puzzle and built those two ship models."

Wang Qiqi was astonished that Han Tao, who seemed so busy, had actually completed that puzzle. She covered her mouth in disbelief. She recalled when they bought the puzzle, Han Tao had commented that it required immense patience and suggested she reconsider. But Wang Qiqi had insisted, saying how much she loved the Swan Lake Castle, even though she’d never visited. She loved it simply because of the legend that Ludwig built it for Princess Sisi. Despite knowing it might be apocryphal, she had loved it since her past life and regretted never seeing it. Thus, when she saw the puzzle, even knowing the chances of completion were slim, she wanted to try. Although the result was disappointing, she never expected her own husband would finish it for her.

"Ahhh, Tao, you are a wonderful man, I love you to pieces!" If not for the presence of her mother-in-law and the child, Wang Qiqi would have rushed over to plant a solid kiss on him. Though she couldn't act on it, Wang Qiqi never stinted on verbal praise.

Han Tao accepted Wang Qiqi’s praise, but it wasn't the reward he was hoping for. The matter of remuneration would be better discussed and negotiated when they were alone.

For the next little while, Wang Qiqi and Taotao were completely absorbed in building the model. Lu Qiaowei, however, had an ulterior motive. Though she was helping build, even Taotao could tell that Aunt Wei was trying to talk to Auntie. Taotao sighed inwardly, watching Aunt Wei barely contributing while constantly pulling his Aunt Qiqi into conversation. He wanted to tell Aunt Wei to stop helping him with the model, and also to stop dragging his Aunt Qiqi aside to ask questions. Taotao had a tight schedule; he wanted to finish building one model ship before his parents arrived to show them how capable he was. But he dared not say it, knowing his aunt would give him a hard time if he did.

Just as Wang Qiqi finished giving a rough account of Dai Zi’s situation in the US, Shi Man emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes. "Weiwei, when did you get here?" Shi Man asked, pleasantly surprised.

"Just now," Lu Qiaowei replied, offering Taotao an apologetic smile before getting up to greet Shi Man. "Sister Manman, you look even prettier after being away for a while." Seeing that Shi Man and Feng Xuanxiang’s relationship, after two years apart, was still so strong—plus the fact that Feng Xuanxiang had already bought a house in the US—gave Lu Qiaowei great confidence in her own future with Dai Lijun.

Shi Man laughed. "You see? Don't worry, with Dai Zi’s capabilities, you’ll buy a house eventually too." Even converted to RMB, US homes were expensive, but that was a villa! "Qiqi’s place is truly beautiful. Dai Zi said the environment there is much better." Though she hadn't seen it firsthand, the description alone was tempting. Still, Shi Man felt a pang of regret: if nothing major changed, Qiqi would basically live there in the future. And Feng Xuanxiang hadn't said whether he'd return to China after graduation, but even if he stayed in the US, he’d likely go to an East Coast city like New York, far from where Qiqi was on the West Coast. The distance might mean seeing each other only a few times a year. Even with advanced internet and frequent calls, it didn't compare to talking face-to-face.

Lu Qiaowei wasn't sure how to respond to Shi Man’s comment. "By the way, Sister Manman, I have a few questions for you." To be honest, she was completely useless at handicrafts. Having finally waited for Shi Man to come out, she was eager to slip away.

Shi Man found it strange. If Lu Qiaowei had questions for her, they should concern English, shouldn't they? Wouldn't it be better to ask Qiqi, who had already aced the TOEFL? Seeing the meaningful glances being exchanged, and then looking at the big and small figures huddled by the coffee table, busy with the model, Shi Man realized they were occupied. Shi Man also wasn't particularly fond of models. "Alright, I'll go rinse my mouth, and then we can discuss the problems." If that little rascal Taotao noticed, he wouldn't let her off the hook.

Taotao, watching the model slowly taking shape, beamed with happiness. He then looked at the fact that only he and his aunt were left working on it. He sniffled, looked left and right, and whispered, "Auntie is the best. Aunt Wei and Aunt Manman think I'll call them, hmmph. I won't call them. This is my and Auntie’s boat; they can’t steal the credit." Taotao thought: when Mom and Dad get here, I’ll show them how capable Taotao is! They always say I can’t sit still, but today, I built a model boat with Auntie. I’ll shock them, and maybe they’ll stop talking like that.

Wang Qiqi watched the pile of parts and modules slowly take shape under her and Taotao’s hands, and a sense of achievement washed over her. "I never thought I'd live to see the day I built a model?" Wang Qiqi was truly impressed. At first, she had estimated Taotao’s attention span for this would last about three minutes, given how much time and energy it required, and that he was such an energetic child. But she hadn't expected him to endure this long—it was remarkable. Wang Qiqi thought about how much effort Song Yao and her husband must have put in to get the boy to settle down—art lessons, calligraphy, Go, and Weiqi—but nothing worked. Perhaps the issue wasn't that the boy truly couldn't sit still, but that no one had found something that genuinely interested him. A model, it seemed, was one of those things that could keep him anchored.

Wang Qiqi carried a cup of coffee and tapped on the study door. Hearing a reply of "Come in," she turned the knob and pushed the door open. "Have some coffee and take a break." Wang Qiqi had actually wanted to discuss matters with Juliana a few days ago, but either she was busy or Shi Man was home, so the conversation never happened. Wang Qiqi didn't want Shi Man to know until she had fully coordinated with Juliana.

Juliana moved her gaze from the computer screen, took off her glasses when she saw the coffee in Wang Qiqi's hand, and asked, "Something up?" Juliana knew that Wang Qiqi wouldn't come by at this hour without a reason.

Wang Qiqi affirmed with a nod, placed the coffee beside her, and found a chair to sit down. "Yes, I need to talk to you about a few things." Aware of Juliana’s busy schedule, Wang Qiqi quickly summarized the recent developments with the personal shopping business. Frankly, regarding the purchasing business, Juliana now only paid attention to the profits earned and helped cover capital shortfalls when necessary; otherwise, she acted like a completely hands-off manager.

After listening to Wang Qiqi, Juliana remained silent, slowly sipping the coffee from her desk. Truthfully, regarding the purchasing business, Juliana knew she had only contributed significantly at the very beginning when they were brainstorming how to start. But later on, Wang Qiqi secured all the procurement channels. Even though her parents’ friends occasionally sourced items, once going abroad became less difficult, most people managed on their own and stopped buying through them. Now, Shi Man was sourcing non-brand-name goods from small shops. "How is the business going with the items Manman procures?"

Wang Qiqi wasn't sure what Juliana meant by asking, so she answered truthfully. "It's going very well. According to my sister, many customers love the items, and some are even pre-ordering. But now that Manman is also back in the country, that part has stalled. However, I think if this segment is managed well, the business won't be bad." Although Wang Qiqi hadn't deeply investigated the general personal shopping market, she knew that entry wasn't difficult; the key was the channel. As the borders opened and more people traveled abroad, competition would inevitably increase, and profits would gradually thin out.

Wang Qiqi knew she could simply stop running this business if necessary, but what about Song Yao and Yang Jing? Wang Qiqi realized that withdrawing wouldn't cause her personal issues, just less profit. Frankly, if this income stream hadn't taken up so little of her time, she might have abandoned it already. But a comment from Han Tao when she mentioned it had jarred her awake: this business affected two other families; she couldn't treat it as solely her decision. And to truly make the purchasing business thrive, Wang Qiqi knew they needed to expand on what Shi Man was currently doing, which brought up the previously discussed profit-sharing issue.

What Wang Qiqi could envision, Juliana could too. She also knew that to make the business successful, she herself couldn't contribute much. As for capital, she knew the initial investment pressure for starting a business wasn't high; the money could usually be recovered within a month. "Actually, I've been considering whether I should continue cooperating with you all," Juliana stated. She didn't know what Wang Qiqi and the others were planning—whether they wanted to continue the partnership, adjust the terms, perhaps reduce her share, or something else—so she initiated the conversation to avoid putting Wang Qiqi and the others in an awkward position.

What? Wang Qiqi was stunned. Before one issue was resolved, another surfaced. "You want to withdraw your shares?" Wang Qiqi hesitated. Although Juliana contributed little labor, some things couldn't be settled merely by capital or effort. Besides, none of them relied on this business for their livelihood. "Are you worried that Manman and I are hiding something from you in this venture?" Wang Qiqi asked with a hint of bitterness. Honestly, partnership was a hurdle in business; even successful ventures among Chinese people often ended in splits, and failed ones certainly did.

Juliana hadn't expected such a strong reaction from her simple statement. "No, no, I trust you completely regarding that. It’s just that... " Juliana knew that given Wang Qiqi and Shi Man's character, they wouldn't play tricks. They weren't hurting for this small amount of money. "I will be even busier in the future. If the business develops in the direction you mentioned, I truly won't be able to help at all."

"So you're thinking of leaving the partnership?" Wang Qiqi breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Juliana’s reason. "You! I thought that was what I called you here to discuss today!" Wang Qiqi was annoyed, feeling Juliana was being excessive. Did she think so little of their friendship? "Do you think our friendship is just words?"

Wang Qiqi was angry, not because she wanted to flare up, but because certain issues, if left unaddressed, only allowed cracks to widen. But one problem followed another.

Wang Qiqi struggled to control her emotions. "Actually, based on what Nana said, perhaps I should withdraw too. If Manman handles the procurement, and my sister and sister-in-law manage the sales channels, the three of them could form a partnership." Although she tried to restrain her temper, she couldn't help but vent a little.

Juliana paused, realizing the logic in that. Sourcing unique non-brand-name items truly required a discerning eye, and among the three, Shi Man had the best vision, plus her focus on fashion and trends made her an excellent international buyer. "Are you willing to give it up?"

"What's there to be willing or unwilling about?" Wang Qiqi suddenly felt there was absolutely no need to worry that her sister and sister-in-law’s business would collapse if she withdrew. It would bury any potential problems before they ever surfaced.

Juliana was flabbergasted. She hadn't anticipated that a simple suggestion would prompt Wang Qiqi to propose leaving too. This startled her. "Qiqi, you don't actually feel the same way, do you? I was just mentioning it in passing." If only Juliana withdrew, Shi Man might not think much of it. But if both of them announced their withdrawal to Shi Man, Juliana couldn't guess Shi Man's reaction. She might even wonder if the problem lay with her, causing everyone else to quit. While everyone’s intentions might be good, miscommunication could lead to a disastrous hardening of relationships.

Juliana suddenly recalled that Wang Qiqi mentioned telling her about the current business progress when they first met, saying she had something to discuss. She wondered if Qiqi already had a solution but hadn't mentioned it, choosing to put her through this ordeal first. Perhaps she should hear Qiqi’s proposed solution first. "Right, tell me about the solution you originally wanted to discuss with me."

Wang Qiqi pouted, letting go of her internal worry. She explained her initial idea to Juliana. "So, this extra twenty percent—the five of us would split ten percent, and the other ten percent would go to Manman. But now I feel like Manman could completely handle that segment alone." In short, she admitted she was someone who liked to benefit from others' efforts.

Analyzing it purely from an economic standpoint, it was indeed better for her to go solo. Juliana wasn't Shi Man and couldn't make that choice for her. "Let’s talk to Manman tonight and let her decide." No matter how she and Wang Qiqi discussed it, they couldn't know Shi Man's preference. Since that was the case, they might as well leave the difficult decision to Shi Man. "No matter what, the three of us are still good friends, right?"

Wang Qiqi picked up the two empty teacups and nodded. "Yes, we will always be friends."

"But I bet Manman will choose the second option," Wang Qiqi and Juliana said simultaneously, then looked at each other.

"Then I think it's better for Nana to set the sales price. The prices for branded items can't be changed, but I think we can definitely mark up the prices on unique jewelry and clothing," Juliana said, leaning back in her chair, sharing her perspective. "Even if the prices are a bit high, the quality and styles should be excellent. Besides, people nowadays love buying foreign goods, so..." Juliana didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Wang Qiqi hummed in agreement. "That's what I was thinking too. My sister already adds a higher markup than we do. I'll ask her to see what the customer base's acceptable bottom line is." They couldn't change the prices on items already sold, but they could investigate the current situation to adjust future markups. "Oh, I made some cakes at my sister’s place; would you like some?" Wang Qiqi had intended to get a large oven for home, but realized there was no space for one. Moreover, Song Yao sometimes asked Wang Qiqi to bake, and the ingredients were always on hand there, so Wang Qiqi would bake extra to take home each time she visited.

Kiki’s homemade cake? Juliana’s eyes immediately lit up, but the memory of the clients she met today, coupled with the number staring back at her from the scale, caused her expression to dim. She shook her head. “I think I’ll pass. I’ve gone over my limit eating cake these last few days.” Sighing, Juliana mused that despite feeling immense stress herself, she ate significantly less than both Wang Kiki and Shi Man, yet she gained weight so easily. Conversely, the other two indulged in high-calorie foods without restraint and remained slender—it felt profoundly unfair.

Wang Kiki watched Juliana wrestle with the desire to eat but hold back, a situation she felt helpless to remedy. After all, Juliana was naturally predisposed to gain weight. However, Kiki didn’t believe Juliana was destined to be thin; in truth, if she, Kiki, hadn't made a point of walking after meals and exercising over the past few years, her own weight would have skyrocketed long ago. But Juliana? She ate heartily, stood around for a moment after dinner, and then settled into her chair for hours of desk work. How could she not gain weight?