Wang Qiqi didn't pursue the previous topic with Li Qian. She closed her eyes, feeling the wind on her face, knowing perfectly well that the sun was reddening her delicate cheeks. Wang Qiqi handed the digital camera on the side to Li Qian. "Sister Qian, could you snap a few pictures for me?"

Li Qian, who had been preoccupied, arms crossed, thinking deeply, instinctively took the camera when Wang Qiqi called out. Click, click, click—several shots were taken. As she handed it back, Li Qian’s expression was one of disdain. "You look like a ripe tomato, what's there to show off? Even a Fuji apple has better color than you." Youth was truly a blessing; not a single line marred her face. Li Qian felt a sharp pang of jealousy looking at Wang Qiqi’s dewy complexion. However, recalling her friends from the capital who had visited recently, their faces etched with numerous wrinkles despite meticulous care—this realization instantly lifted Li Qian’s spirits. Despite running a small hotel and being a divorced middle-aged woman, Li Qian felt genuinely unburdened. Her friends, though constantly proclaiming their blissful marriages, lived in constant anxiety, always fearing the day their husbands would serve them divorce papers and cast them out.

Wang Qiqi took the camera back, scrolled through the images, and selected a few good ones. "I need to send these to my man, let him see how leisurely my life is right now." This served a dual purpose: to subtly prod the certain man to work harder, as his wife's comfortable, free existence depended entirely on his effort.

Watching Wang Qiqi transfer the photos to her laptop and start composing an email reminded Li Qian of her own past travels. Her first impulse upon returning home used to be rushing to develop the pictures to show Li Xiangdong. She couldn't quite recall his exact expression or mood back then, but she knew it couldn't have been pleasant, as he constantly nagged her about how inappropriate it was for a wife and mother to be gallivanting off all the time. Gradually, under the weight of his complaints, Li Qian stopped going out, or only accompanied him when he decided to travel. "Han Tao is really good to you." If it had been Li Xiangdong, faced with the mountain of debt owed to the bank, he would have certainly harped on how someone in debt should be home working diligently to earn money, not thinking about leisure.

"That’s true, but even if he disagreed, I wouldn't follow his wishes anyway." Wang Qiqi admitted that she was quite self-directed in many matters, rarely considering her companion's viewpoint too deeply. Although she was constantly compromising and yielding, slowly altering her temperament, some core beliefs remained unyielding for Wang Qiqi.

"That’s still better, at least you aren't nagged," Li Qian said with envy. "Regarding your previous suggestion, I think I should talk to Shi Man about it. Say, why don't you test the waters for me first?" Li Qian worried that she might pour out her heart discussing this beautiful future venture with Shi Man, only to be met with a flat "I have no interest in investing in a hotel." Li Qian imagined the subsequent awkwardness and pity she would feel.

Wang Qiqi readily agreed. This kind of bridging was precisely what she excelled at. "Fine, I’ll ask her. As for the specifics of the cooperation, you two can hash that out later."

Wang Qiqi emerged from the bathroom after towel-drying her hair, and as expected, found Shi Man glued to her computer, grinning foolishly—clearly deep in conversation with her man. "Manman, there's something I need to ask you."

Shi Man was currently engrossed in a lively chat with her significant other and didn't dedicate much mental energy to Wang Qiqi’s interruption. "What is it?"

Wang Qiqi knew this friend was the type to prioritize romance over friendship. This was a serious matter, yet Shi Man seemed entirely unconcerned. Wang Qiqi felt frustrated. "Are you interested in co-opening a hotel? Right here in Lijiang." Wang Qiqi stated it plainly, thinking: Hmph, let’s see if you can stay so indifferent when I drop such huge news, you little thing, while you're still chatting with your boyfriend.

"Interested, sure. Why, are you opening one?" Shi Man replied vaguely at first. "But didn't you say you were short on cash, Qiqi?" Shi Man knew Qiqi’s funds were perpetually tight. Moreover, even if she wasn't short, Shi Man couldn't imagine Qiqi actually setting up shop here. Neither Shi Man nor Qiqi would be staying to manage the place long-term. While Lijiang's scenery was lovely, the problem was that Qiqi couldn't possibly linger here for long; she still harbored dreams of global travel. And Shi Man truly dreaded the thought of continuing her journey alone, missing such a wonderful travel companion.

The thought of traveling the world solo sent a chill down Shi Man's spine. Deeply worried, she abandoned her chat with her boyfriend and hurried over to Wang Qiqi, scrutinizing her face, hoping the other woman was merely joking.

"I'm not joking. What I said is the absolute truth," Wang Qiqi emphasized, speaking each word with gravity. "But opening the hotel wasn't my idea; it was Li Qian's..." Wang Qiqi then recounted the entire conversation she’d had with Li Qian that day. "I’m certainly keen on investing, but you know my financial footing. I genuinely have no money. My brother-in-law’s workshop is scheduled to start production after the New Year, and I don't even know where that money is coming from yet." Previously, when funds were tight, she could transfer money back from the US, but that wasn't feasible now; the US economy was also under considerable strain, forcing her to sort things out domestically.

So, it was a joint venture with Li Qian. Shi Man admitted she was intrigued. But after some thought, she asked, "What do you think about partnering with Li Qian?" Frankly, when it came to business partnerships, Shi Man valued character highly. If it were Qiqi or Nana, she wouldn't hesitate. But Li Qian... Shi Man admitted she hadn't interacted much with Li Qian and didn't know her well enough.

"I think Li Qian is a decent person. It’s just that I’m broke; otherwise, I’d genuinely want to partner with her," Wang Qiqi reasoned. Having stayed for two days, she observed that Li Qian was well-liked locally and managed her staff effectively. Wang Qiqi meticulously listed the pros and cons of partnering with Li Qian. "Of course, the final decision is yours." After laying out all the variables, Wang Qiqi placed the choice squarely on Shi Man, making it clear that any future outcomes, good or bad, were none of her concern.

Wang Qiqi’s candidness left Shi Man feeling even more uncertain, yet she knew that some things couldn't be determined without trying. "She wouldn't just abscond with my money, would she? And even if there’s no profit sharing normally, selling the establishment later should still recoup at least the principal, right?"

Although Shi Man didn't know Li Qian intimately, she noticed that even in winter, tourists were plentiful in Lijiang. She was confident that the business prospects here would only grow, giving early entrants a significant advantage. She had considered opening a guesthouse herself but dismissed the idea due to capital constraints and, more importantly, the management issue. The fact that Wang Qiqi was bringing this opportunity to her—a chance to invest in Lijiang—was immense. She felt nervous about partnering with Li Qian, but recalling that Li Qian had once helped Qiqi, and Qiqi spoke well of her, she felt she should take the leap.

Wang Qiqi picked up on the drift of Shi Man’s thoughts. "So, should I tell Li Qian you're interested?"

Shi Man affirmed with a slight nod. "But I need to talk this over with Feng Xuanxiang first." This money wasn't entirely hers; her boyfriend was contributing a portion. She also needed to know the required capital contribution; if it was too high, she likely wouldn't invest.

"While you’re at it, ask your man what aspects I should be aware of so you'll have a clearer picture when you talk to Sister Qian." Since Shi Man studied management, she should know how to approach this negotiation.

"I know that part." Shi Man actually had several questions for Wang Qiqi, given that Qiqi held shares in her brother's and brother-in-law's companies. But she also knew Qiqi might not divulge specifics. They were friends, and Qiqi also seemed to have a good relationship with Li Qian. "Qiqi, how did you negotiate your terms with your brother and the others?"

How did she negotiate with Song Ziwen? Wang Qiqi genuinely couldn't recall the specifics. The only memory that surfaced was: "My brother-in-law said he was starting a renovation company and asked if I wanted to join. Once I agreed, my brother handled the rest. I just waited until he said he needed investment funds, and I transferred the money. We’ll sign the agreement when I go back for the Lunar New Year." Wang Qiqi admitted there wasn't much to tell Shi Man; her cooperation had been straightforward, lacking drawn-out negotiations. "I only partner with family. There are certain things you can't negotiate too much over. Besides, as long as they see value in me, they won't deliberately harm me. Moreover, while the collective investment funds are substantial, it’s not my entire fortune. What do I have to fear? If they truly wronged me, at worst, I'll consider the money spent and the lesson learned about that person."

Shi Man almost countered that Wang Qiqi sounded overly pessimistic, but she paused, ultimately keeping silent. Indeed, Qiqi had her safety net; she didn't need to worry as much. But the last part resonated deeply with Shi Man: she was still young and could afford failure. "Thanks, Qiqi. If Shi Man and Li Qian strike it rich with this venture, I'll treat you to a fantastic meal."

The next day, Wang Qiqi relayed Shi Man’s tentative interest to Li Qian. After that, the rest was out of Wang Qiqi’s hands. She knew this initial discussion would only cover rough estimates—rent, renovation costs—details that would only materialize once concrete negotiations began.

Upon receiving Wang Qiqi’s message, Li Qian immediately arranged a meeting with Shi Man that evening. Wang Qiqi figured they would talk for at least an hour or two about equity splits and perhaps Li Qian’s management fee—small details, but necessary to iron out. She wondered why Shi Man returned so quickly. Had negotiations collapsed? "How did it go?" Wang Qiqi asked cautiously.

"Pretty well. We just agreed on the intent to cooperate. We don't even know the total investment yet. I’ll take a small stake. I was very clear about my situation: I have no time for management; I’m purely an investor looking for returns." Shi Man recalled how frankly she had stated her terms. Li Qian’s initial surprise had melted into a look of relief. Shi Man figured this partner couldn't be bad, as someone who just writes checks and stays hands-off was preferable to someone constantly giving unsolicited advice. Furthermore, one hotel or two connected ones—it was all the same management effort for Li Qian, who would surely manage the connected properties excellently.

"That’s precisely why she chose you as a partner," Wang Qiqi said, recognizing the shrewdness of Shi Man’s move. "Don't trouble yourself with the rest. Just get ready to fund your share. Li Qian is much better than Li Xiangdong. Even when she was married to him, she helped me significantly under the most challenging circumstances." Wang Qiqi never forgot the contract Li Qian had helped her secure back then. Even though the contract was short-lived, ending when Li Qian divorced and Wang Qiqi found a new boss, that incident proved to Wang Qiqi that Li Qian was fundamentally a good person.

Shi Man nodded steadily. "I think so too. You know, that one sentence you said yesterday truly convinced me."

Wang Qiqi racked her brain; she’d said so much yesterday, she couldn’t recall which specific statement swayed Shi Man. She shook her head. "I don't know." I don't have the energy to replay that.

"If they truly wronged me, at worst, I'll consider the money spent and the lesson learned about that person," Shi Man repeated coolly. "I talked to Feng Xuanxiang yesterday. He said if I’m going to partner with anyone, trust is essential. So, I feel I should give this a shot. You know me—I won't take a regular job. Translation pays, but after a few months, I realize I can’t sustain that pace long-term; it’s exhausting. So, I’m seriously considering a partnership."

Shi Man had spent the last couple of years contemplating her future path. She couldn't pin all her hopes on Feng Xuanxiang; even if he treated her well now, who could guarantee his affection decades down the line? She had long since abandoned the idea of opening her own shop. When Wang Qiqi brought up this investment opportunity, Shi Man briefly wondered why none of her relatives had suggested starting a business. Even if they had, she probably wouldn't have invested, knowing that capital put into family businesses rarely saw a return.

"Investing is the best path," Wang Qiqi mused internally, wondering if her man might know the famous Mark in the US and manage to hook up with him. Wang Qiqi wasn't greedy; just one percent ownership would mean becoming a billionaire measured in US dollars. But she knew it was just wishful thinking. Her man was a workaholic; even knowing industry peers meant nothing to him, as he had zero interest in such pursuits. Alas.

"Then you should invest too," Shi Man suddenly asked excitedly, recalling something from her earlier discussion with Li Qian. They had tentatively mapped out their respective contributions and realized their combined capital was slightly short. Both simultaneously thought of the same person: Wang Qiqi.

Wang Qiqi pointed dumbly at herself with her finger. "Me, invest?" Surely not. Didn't they know how broke she was? "I genuinely have no money. I have to take out bank loans even for my brother-in-law's workshop?" I'm not the central bank; I can't just print money. "Even investing a few months from now—I truly have nothing available."

"Really?" Shi Man looked at Wang Qiqi’s continued display of poverty, thinking, This little sneak thinks I’m a fool. "The commercial properties your mother left you—the rent is collected annually, right? The contracts are usually signed and the year's rent collected in March?" Wang Qiqi’s mother, for ease of management, had aligned the contract signing and rent collection in March, which was also the time Shi Man often teased Wang Qiqi about being the wealthiest. "I figured you'd have the funds to invest by then." Those few shops alone brought in nearly two hundred thousand a year in rent.

Wang Qiqi had honestly not factored that lump sum into her budget. To have Shi Man, who knew her assets so intimately, bring it up, Wang Qiqi felt completely exposed. "I still have the mortgage on my apartment to pay! I can't invest everything." Actually, Wang Qiqi wanted to say that Song Yao might need even more capital. The current budget included buying two lathes, one planer, and retaining funds for raw materials. If business boomed, equipment upgrades would be necessary—all costly endeavors. "Don't expect any dividends from my brother-in-law's workshop for at least the next two years." While parts processing sounded profitable, that profit relied on continuously upgrading machinery, and equipment investment was no small matter.

Wang Qiqi realized her protest might have sounded excessive, but she quickly tempered it. "I'll see how much I have then, but don't expect too much." She sighed. They were friends; perhaps Shi Man believed that if Qiqi also bought in, Li Qian would be less likely to make any drastic moves against them. "Money, oh money, I love Chairman Mao so much!"

Shi Man bit her lip, realizing she had been too direct about Wang Qiqi's income and perhaps overstepped. Luckily, Qiqi didn't seem angry. "Qiqi, Sister Qian and I just feel that if we’re going to do something, we should do it best. We plan to make the restaurant quite stylish. We also intend to run it as a proper eatery during lunch and dinner, and transition into a bar scene at night..." Shi Man revealed the plans derived from Li Qian. "And we want to renovate the hotel rooms to be more spacious to attract tourists with higher accommodation standards..." Shi Man gleefully shared the inside scoop she’d gotten from Li Qian.

One niche medium-class, one high-end—Wang Qiqi thought this dual positioning was clever. Li Qian’s current hotel was nicely decorated, but Wang Qiqi always felt it was a bit small. It was perfect for average tourists or backpackers where price was key, but high-roller tourists were also a significant demographic. "A bar and a restaurant simultaneously? How will the tourists move in and out? It won't be connected to this place, will it?" Wang Qiqi felt that since the positioning was different, they shouldn't share an entrance; they needed to be clearly segmented.

"We'll put in three separate doors so they don't mix. Why don't we call Sister Qian over and discuss the specifics together?" Seeing Wang Qiqi asking questions one after another, appearing genuinely interested, Shi Man suggested, "We three shareholders can hold a meeting to strategize."

I just asked a few questions—how did that turn into me becoming a shareholder? Wang Qiqi reviewed her inquiries; nowhere had she indicated an intention to invest. Just as she was about to press Shi Man for clarification, she realized Shi Man had vanished. "Shi Man! Shi Man!" She didn't actually go fetch Li Qian, did she?

Wang Qiqi could only take a few deep breaths. Damn it, she was supposed to be traveling, not turning into a walking ATM! She was so poor she felt like robbing a bank, but instead of robbing anyone, she was the one getting robbed. Wang Qiqi profoundly felt that she no longer needed to bother with bank loans. She might as well sell her old house in the south—even though property values were set to soar, Wang Qiqi hated the feeling of having her balance slightly increase only to have it immediately wiped out by bank deductions.

Moments later, Li Qian followed Shi Man into the room. "Qiqi, Manman said you’re thinking of buying in too." The two of them had briefly discussed renovating the adjacent space, realized their respective financial capacities were strained, and immediately focused on how to pull Wang Qiqi into the loop. They hadn't actually finished their meeting; they were waiting for Wang Qiqi to fall into their trap.

Seeing the cheerful looks on Shi Man and Li Qian's faces, Wang Qiqi finally understood their scheme. "Whether I invest or not isn't the main point; the key is that you two already planned this out, didn't you?" Wang Qiqi remarked pointedly. Yet, neither woman showed a flicker of shame; they simply presented themselves as inevitable. After all, events were unfolding precisely as they had envisioned. Anyone would be upset to be outmaneuvered.

"Fine, fine, I admit I’m tempted, but I really don't have much cash," Wang Qiqi conceded, though she wouldn't let the two have it easy. "And the earliest I can put money in is after next March."

"That's not a problem," Li Qian said, satisfied that Wang Qiqi was willing to invest, even if the commitment was three months away. "Negotiating with the landlord, dealing with the New Year holiday—construction probably won't even start until March once the designs are finalized. Besides, I can temporarily cover some of the wages."

Shi Man knew that Wang Qiqi was all bark and no bite. "Qiqi, you're the best, I love you the most! Sister Qian, let's discuss how to set up the bar and the inn." With Qiqi joining them, she felt genuinely relieved. For some reason, Shi Man always felt much more secure with Qiqi nearby.

The three of them naturally had no objections to this proposal. Wang Qiqi brewed another pot of Pu'er tea and brought over some pastries. The three of them, armed with paper and pens, continuously sketched and jotted things down, recording all their individual ideas. Of course, any utterly outlandish thoughts were immediately discarded; practicality was the primary goal, with adjustments made only after the practical foundation was established. However, there was one other crucial factor they had to keep in mind: funding.