Wang Qiqi yawned again, taking another sip of Pu'er tea that had faded to almost plain water. "Let's call it a day here." Three pots of tea had already been steeped, and Wang Qiqi had no desire to brew a fourth. Although tea could refresh, it wasn't an energizer.

Wang Qiqi thought to herself that it had been a long time since she’d pulled such an all-nighter. Not only was her brain protesting, but her body was sending waves of complaint. Sigh, getting older meant she couldn't sustain late nights anymore. "I'm tired." Wang Qiqi noticed she seemed to be the only one whose stamina was failing and who wanted sleep. The other two had their eyes wide open, looking completely energized and ready for an all-night discussion. Regarding this, Wang Qiqi understood that since they were the major shareholders, she, the minor one, could empathize with their excitement, but she just couldn't keep up. "Why don't you two continue talking? I'm going to bed." Since they were keen, they should carry on.

Shi Man and Li Qian exchanged a look and called out to Wang Qiqi, "Qiqi."

Wang Qiqi worried they wouldn't let her sleep—that would be incredibly inhumane. She hesitated, reluctant to turn around. "Help steep another pot of tea." Shi Man saw Wang Qiqi's tense back and knew she must assume they wouldn't let her rest. Hmph, would I really be that inhumane? That’s overthinking it.

So it was just about making more tea. Wang Qiqi felt zero pressure; that five-minute job was easily done. "So, you two aren't sleeping?" Being young was such a blessing.

Wang Qiqi certainly wouldn't lecture them about taking care of their health or going to bed early. That would be a joke. They were currently strategizing how to best run the inn and restaurant. If successful, their income would increase significantly, so why should she play the villain?

After placing the freshly steeped teapot on the table, Wang Qiqi grabbed her change of clothes and dashed into the bathroom for a shower. Once nestled in the blanket, already pleasantly warmed by the electric blanket, Wang Qiqi let out a soft groan of contentment. A warm bed was the best; in the dead of winter, nothing beat lying under the covers—all that cozy fireside chatter wasn't for her.

Although Shi Man and Li Qian still had the energy to continue discussing, watching Wang Qiqi wriggling happily in her duvet, emitting soft sounds of satisfaction, made them feel that nothing was more important than sleep. "Maybe we should sleep?"

"Or should we discuss it tomorrow?"

Though their words differed, the meaning was the same. "Then we'll pick this up tomorrow night." Li Qian knew Shi Man had plans to go shopping during the day, and she also needed to manage the inn. Plus, there was a crucial task awaiting her tomorrow. "I'll contact the landlord tomorrow and try to secure the lease for the house as soon as possible." Although this news hadn't been broadcasted, if a keen party inquired, the landlord might not agree. However, one small comfort was that although the house looked large, its expansive yard meant fewer interior rooms, making it less appealing to many tenants. Furthermore, the landlord wouldn't allow tenants to build anything in the yard or alter the original layout. This condition would weed out many potential renters. Li Qian's advantage was that she had lived next door for over a year and had a good relationship with the neighbors; under equal terms, the landlord would likely lease it to her.

"Mmm-hmm, if Sister Qian takes charge, it'll definitely succeed." Shi Man knew that much of their discussion today hinged on whether they could secure the neighboring property. If they couldn't, everything they discussed was just empty talk. "Sister Qian, you need to sleep early so you can negotiate with the landlord in peak condition tomorrow." Shi Man suddenly realized Sister Qian had a heavy task ahead; how could she stay up late? Alas, she had been so thoughtless.

Wang Qiqi woke up to find Shi Man gone from beside her. Rubbing her eyes, Wang Qiqi wondered if the other two had really stayed up all night negotiating. Good heavens. Wang Qiqi recalled Shi Man also had plans with Zhao Rongrong to go horseback riding. Wang Qiqi worried if she might fall off the horse—that wasn't a laughing matter.

Wang Qiqi lay half-asleep in the covers, looking pensive, her hair a messy tangle, with sleep crust still visible in her eyes. Shi Man, pushing the door open from outside, saw Wang Qiqi looking exactly like that. "I'd say this look would scare off a batch of your suitors, Qiqi." From a delicate young lady to practically an old auntie.

Wang Qiqi let out a yawn and saw Shi Man standing by the bed, looking quite alert. She closed her eyes and opened them again. "You didn't stay up late?" This state definitely didn't suggest an all-nighter.

"No. Sister Qian has to discuss the lease with the landlord today, so how could I stay up?" Shi Man glanced at the time; it was getting late. "Hurry up and get up. I've already bought breakfast, and then we're heading out for that ride." Shi Man felt a surge of excitement just thinking about riding soon.

Regarding horseback riding, although Wang Qiqi knew it was excellent exercise for maintaining shape, the problem was the intense pressure it put on her. Sitting atop a towering horse—what if the animal went rogue? Wang Qiqi admitted she lacked the superb skill needed to command a horse. However, when Shi Man signed up, she casually booked spots for three people and even paid the fees. Driven by the desire not to waste money, Wang Qiqi had no choice but to participate. "What's the plan for tomorrow?" Sigh, when two sports enthusiasts got carried away, Wang Qiqi felt immense pressure.

"To the snowy mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain." Shi Man said excitedly. "I've never climbed a snow mountain in my life; I really want to experience it." Besides, the scenery near the foothills was lovely for sightseeing. Also, since they were planning to go to Tibet anyway, this was a chance to test how her body would cope at such high altitudes beforehand.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain? Wang Qiqi’s face instantly paled. "Oh no, I can't climb that high." The process of climbing was arduous enough, and on the plateau where oxygen was scarce, forcing a climb would certainly be more taxing than walking at the same elevation. "Well, I..."

"No excuses! You're not backing out. We're still going to Tibet; consider this a rehearsal." Just kidding, Shi Man wouldn't let Wang Qiqi skip. She just wanted to see Qiqi struggle a bit.

Treating it like a military drill or a rehearsal—"I know, I know. I was just mentioning it," Wang Qiqi thought. She did want to see if she could actually manage a snow mountain climb. If it proved too strenuous, Wang Qiqi felt her plan to push on to Tibet might need reevaluation.

Li Qian was sipping tea in the courtyard, mulling over the news she'd gathered from the next-door neighbor that day. Although the neighbor hadn't given a definitive yes on leasing the property, her expression suggested it was mostly settled.

When she saw Wang Qiqi and the others entering, Li Qian was about to share the good news when she noticed all three walking with a noticeable limp. She was about to ask why they were walking like that when she instantly remembered they had gone horseback riding today. But even many first-time riders didn't limp this badly. "What's wrong with your legs?"

"From riding horses." Wang Qiqi knew her current gait was definitely unflattering; the odd looks she’d received on the way were already plentiful. Alas, Wang Qiqi was now worried. "We have to climb a snow mountain tomorrow. Oh my god." The thought of tomorrow's activity made Wang Qiqi despair. At this rate, walking on flat ground would be a stretch; mountaineering seemed impossible.

Wang Qiqi's words jolted Shi Man and Zhao Rongrong as well. They glanced at each other. Honestly, they had planned to rest for two days after conquering the snow mountain before doing some more sightseeing, then heading to the "Kingdom of Women," on to Shangri-La, then to Chengdu, and finally Tibet. Calculating the time, it was indeed tight. "Maybe we should skip Tibet this time?" Shi Man said hesitantly. Rumor had it the scenery in Shangri-La was spectacular, and if they took more time there, the window for Tibet would shrink considerably.

"I have no objection," Wang Qiqi said dismissively. "We can just reschedule for later." Since she and Shi Man were freelancers, traveling anywhere was relatively easy. The issue was Zhao Rongrong; after all, they had promised to go together.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man turned toward Zhao Rongrong with apologetic looks, but she just smiled. "It's fine. Actually, I was already considering whether going to Tibet was a good idea." Although Zhao Rongrong had a strong urge to visit Tibet, she knew the schedule was tight, and even if they went, it would be a rush. "Since you all agree on skipping Tibet, how about we rest for two days and then climb the mountain?"

Now that Zhao Rongrong agreed, everyone relaxed. "Sister Qian, do you know the tour guide? Can we postpone?" Li Qian usually handled booking these one-day tours because the price was better than booking independently, so perhaps an extension was possible now.

Li Qian saw their pitiful looks as they turned to her and knew exactly what they needed to ask. She had arranged the snow mountain trek herself. "Don't worry, I'll contact him right away." Luckily, she had a good relationship with the operator; otherwise, even if they agreed to postpone, there might be cancellation fees, as they held the spots while declining three other potential bookings—a loss. Still, it wasn't peak season, which was a significant factor.

Over dinner, Li Qian informed Wang Qiqi and the others that they needed to discuss something that evening, so the two put aside their plan to stroll along the night river. Though, truthfully, they lacked the energy for an outing; their gait was too awkward, attracting too much attention on the way.

Wang Qiqi timed everything perfectly, brewed the tea, and then settled in front of her laptop to earn money online and chat. When Li Qian entered, seeing them both engrossed in their computers, she asked, "Still working?" Li Qian poured herself a cup of tea and slowly drank it, gazing at the moonlight outside. She had grown accustomed to nights like these. When she first arrived, she thought the local people were perhaps too lazy—life was so leisurely, the whole rhythm sluggish, completely unlike the hustle of the capital. But after a few months here, she had fully integrated into the environment. Yet, looking at Wang Qiqi, who couldn't stop translating manuscripts even while traveling, felt like viewing a life entirely alien to her own. Though Wang Qiqi constantly preached 'slow living,' her actual life felt anything but slow; rather, she seemed like a workaholic, always needing her laptop and the internet wherever she went. Anyone seeing her would think she was running a massive business.

Wang Qiqi typed the final letter, proofread one last time, connected to the network, and sent the email. Wang Qiqi couldn't afford to stay online constantly; it was too expensive, and she wasn't earning enough to let those greedy network operators pocket it all. "Done and done." She mentally tallied four more completed manuscripts—a great income boost. Wang Qiqi never expected that the boss she stumbled upon in the States would actually be so good. She had initially worried that a translation service without an office wouldn't get many assignments, but orders kept pouring in, and payment was settled promptly. Being paid reliably was the main thing for her. "Sister Qian, did you get good news? Did the landlord agree to lease us the house?"

Shi Man also put down her laptop, looking eagerly at Li Qian.

Li Qian shook her head. "We haven't signed the agreement."

Li Qian's words stunned Wang Qiqi and Shi Man, who had been about to erupt in celebration. Their arms were still raised mid-cheer, only to crash instantly from heaven to hell. "What? You didn't sign?"

"No way." Wang Qiqi and Shi Man were dumbfounded. How could negotiations fail? Was the landlord's demand too high, or were there other conditions?

"While we didn't sign the agreement, the landlady said she couldn't decide; she has to wait for her son to return to discuss it. But judging by her expression, it shouldn't be a major issue," Li Qian said, though her tone was relaxed. With contracts, nothing is certain until signed; there's always a chance for things to reverse.

"When is her son coming back?" Shi Man asked anxiously. She had expected everything to be settled today so they could conduct an on-site inspection and begin designing plans based on reality. Now, another decision-maker had surfaced, making her anxious about whether the son had his own ideas. "Isn't he local?"

Li Qian didn't know the neighbors intimately, but she knew the son seemed successful. "He's apparently at a research institute in Kunming; I don't know exactly what he does. But he's very busy. In the several years I've been here, he's returned only a few times, and those visits were rushed. Usually, his sister handles things for the elderly lady. Now that the mother is getting older, the son wants to move her to Kunming, which is why the house here has been vacant."

So that was the situation. Wang Qiqi and Shi Man understood, but the next question arose: "Since his work is demanding, when will he come to pick up his mother?"

"Right, if he's so busy, won't this drag on for a long time?" Wang Qiqi mused that Lijiang hadn't reached its tourism peak yet. As more people visited, more would notice this area. It was relaxed, and making money wouldn't be hard. Wealthy people tired of big-city noise might buy property here to open shops, which would inevitably drive up the rent and even the sale prices of older houses.

Li Qian was actually quite anxious, but she had just received a piece of information that eased her mind considerably. "He’s coming to pick up the elderly lady the day after tomorrow." This meant everything would be settled the day after tomorrow, and she felt very confident.

The day after tomorrow? Wang Qiqi hadn't expected things to move that fast. "Sister Qian, do you have enough cash on hand?" At minimum, rent would likely be required semi-annually, and that wasn't a small sum. Unfortunately, Qiqi didn't have much money herself.

"I have enough for the rent," Li Qian thought, assuring them she could cover the initial deposit. "Don't worry. I'm the major shareholder, so I've put in the most capital. I'll cover this first, then wait for Manman's share, then Qiqi's. By April, I expect renovations to be finished. Then we can calculate the total expenditure and divide the shares proportionally."

"Deal." Shi Man thought Sister Qian was very generous, as typically, investments were required proportionally upfront. "Actually, Sister Qian, I have some money on hand now; I can transfer it to you."

"No rush, no rush. I'll only need funds when it comes to the appliances and furnishings. I've estimated the capital required; we can buy in bulk for things like appliances, and labor costs can be settled upon completion, so the pressure isn't too high." Li Qian continued, "Don't worry; I'll call you when my funds run low. When you come over next April, you'll see a thriving inn. Oh, I plan to decorate the place in an ethnic style." The initial renovation had been quite haphazard, only ensuring private bathrooms were included; little else was considered. Now, with experience, Li Qian was determined to do the interior design properly.

Regarding room decoration, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man genuinely lacked experience. "Sister Qian, you decide everything. I'm just here to fund it and wait for dividends," Wang Qiqi stated unapologetically. As the minor shareholder, she should behave; provide the money, take the returns, and stay out of the details. The major shareholder, eager to maximize profit, would certainly work hard to manage the inn well.

Shi Man had some ideas, but as a young woman with no prior experience in this line of work, she deferred to Li Qian. "Sister Qian, we trust you completely."

Seeing the look of complete faith on both their faces, Li Qian knew she had found genuinely good partners. But why did she feel these two partners were perhaps too lazy? "Are you two just waiting around to collect money?" Li Qian felt she was being perverse. Didn't she seek out Wang Qiqi and the others precisely to avoid someone constantly second-guessing her decisions? Now that she had partners who didn't meddle, she found their laziness excessive.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man were puzzled by Li Qian's sudden outburst. Didn't she want partners who wouldn't interfere? Why was she unhappy now that she had them? Although they didn't understand the sudden change in mood, they honestly nodded, their expressions conveying, Didn't you know this is what we wanted?

Li Qian nearly choked seeing their honest confirmation. "You two will have a lot of free time next semester, so you need to come over and help me. After all, you are investing capital; aren't you worried I might cook the books?" No one else would be this trusting. If she decided to play a clever trick, they could lose a lot of money, perhaps if she invested just a little more than them, she could secure a much larger shareholding. Why weren't they concerned?

"Sister Qian, would you?" Wang Qiqi countered, her expression sincere. "If you really did that, we would accept it."

Wang Qiqi’s genuine expression made Li Qian realize why they were so relaxed: these two trusted her implicitly. The feeling almost brought Li Qian to tears. "Don't worry. I'm not wealthy, but I won't abandon what is rightfully mine, nor will I meddle with what isn't. However, since you are shareholders, if you can't be here to oversee things regularly, I don't mind. But during renovations, one of you must be present." Li Qian caught herself, realizing she was about to steer Wang Qiqi down the wrong path again. No, she needed to maintain her boundaries. "I need to supervise the store here; it's going to be busy. You know renovations aren't easy."

The three debated for a long time, mainly Wang Qiqi and Shi Man trying to push the other to stay and supervise. "Forget it, let's all come. We can roam around then." Since they couldn't convince the other to stay alone, they might as well all come. After all, they had no classes next semester, only waiting on their theses—though Wang Qiqi's thesis posed a small issue. "I have to wait for the second draft to be approved." Wang Qiqi thought she wasn't trying to reveal secrets, but if her professor wouldn't release her, she had no choice.

"Ah." Shi Man realized why Wang Qiqi had suddenly offered that everyone should come: it meant she could stay away to deal with her thesis. Shi Man couldn't possibly tell Wang Qiqi to ignore her academic work. "Hmph, I will supervise your thesis process from beginning to end. And while you're here, ask Feng Xuanxiang for help often; isn't he an expert in that area?" Why not use a readily available expert? Shi Man wondered if she should discreetly contact Feng Xuanxiang and ask him to draft a thesis for Qiqi, claiming it as Qiqi's work. Since Qiqi wasn't submitting it for publication, there wouldn't be any copyright infringement issues.

Wang Qiqi watched Shi Man, who had betrayed Feng Xuanxiang without hesitation, and immediately understood how anxious Shi Man was to keep guard here. In truth, if it weren't for her thesis, Wang Qiqi wouldn't have minded guarding the place alone at all. Life here might even be among the most leisurely she would look back on in the future. "Don't worry, I'm working hard on my thesis. The research direction I sent to my professor a few days ago, he said it was good." Even while traveling and translating manuscripts, Wang Qiqi hadn't let up on her thesis at all. Moreover, away from the confines of books, Wang Qiqi found her thinking becoming clearer and clearer. The professor's critique confirmed that her direction was correct; as long as she continued down this path, even if she couldn't produce a thesis that completely satisfied the professor, getting a reasonably satisfactory one shouldn't be difficult.