"You have money on you?" Song Yao found it quite strange. How much pocket money did her brother usually have? Although Song Yao didn't know the exact figure, she had a rough idea. Seeing Song Ziwen acting so smug now, she wondered if he was just being careless with his words. "Or did she find out?" That seemed to be the only possibility.

Wang Qiqi looked over, astonished, at Song Ziwen, who was still driving. Hadn't this guy previously said he planned to treat that money as his little private stash? How could he change his mind just after a holiday, especially with that nonsense about women being fickle? Maybe men could be fickle too. "Brother, you're the good man. What does a man need a private stash for?"

Song Yao didn't know how to react to Song Ziwen’s internal musings. As a wife, she naturally didn't want her husband to have a secret stash, but if that man was her younger brother, she felt he should save some private money. These were profoundly contradictory feelings. However, with Luo Hongjuan sitting in the back, she couldn't possibly endorse her brother saving private funds. What would Luo Hongjuan think? Would she tell Han Tao he should save his own private money too? That was absolutely out of the question.

"Whether a man keeps a private stash really depends on the situation," Wang Qiqi felt Song Ziwen had justification either way. "If the marital relationship is good, and there is mutual understanding, then when it comes to spending—legitimate spending—there shouldn't be any conditions attached to withdrawals. I think there's no need for a private stash. You have to know that a private stash has both pros and cons. For my brother, I think there’s absolutely no need for one. For example, if Sister-in-law is good to his in-laws, what does my elder brother need to save for?" Wang Qiqi could vaguely guess why Song Ziwen might have kept a private stash before, but she thought that now that Song Ziwen had brought this up with Yang Jing, this expenditure would likely come from the household savings, meaning he wouldn't need money from his stash at all. She was curious how much money was in Song Ziwen’s private stash and whether he would declare it now. If he didn't declare it, what did he plan to use the money for? "Is my brother looking into a new investment opportunity?"

A new idea? Song Yao glanced hesitantly at Song Ziwen. She wondered what ideas he could possibly have other than buying property, but property matters were already public knowledge and wouldn't require touching his private stash. Could it be that he... Thinking of this, Song Yao’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment. If he were truly planning something like that, she would definitely give him a severe talking-to. He was an adult; how could he act without thinking? That was too irresponsible.

Song Ziwen hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to question him so quickly about having a new plan. To be honest, the initial reason he considered telling Yang Jing was that he knew this investment would be quite large, possibly exceeding what his private stash could cover. Plus, he did have some intentions of his own, which led him to inform Yang Jing. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I do have some plans. A friend of mine mentioned..." If it had been anyone else, Song Ziwen wouldn't have said anything, but because Wang Qiqi and the others asked, he spoke up.

"Ah, what's the investment prospect?" Song Yao hadn't expected him to get connected with someone running a mine. If it truly succeeded, then her brother’s private stash would truly become something to worry about—a continuously flowing private stash, no less. But if his money could be used to invest in mining, didn't that mean his private stash held a considerable sum?

After hearing Song Ziwen’s words, Wang Qiqi felt like she had forgotten something crucial, but she just couldn't recall what. Still, she felt a faint unease in her heart. "Brother, have you looked into it? If this kind of mineral deposit is genuine, shouldn't there be many investors already?" Wang Qiqi mused that Song Ziwen’s family background shouldn't allow him to know such a major player, and if the news got out, would there really be a lack of investors? "If it were me, I would use the asset as collateral; the bank wouldn't refuse the loan."

Song Ziwen didn't dwell on Wang Qiqi's caution. "I haven't gone to see it yet. It was just mentioned by a friend during a Spring Festival gathering. He said there's some kind of certificate that proves how much mineral reserve is inside." Although Song Ziwen was worried himself, "My friend said the owner is afraid of introducing collaborators with significant capital, which would dilute his say in the matter."

"If I had that mining concession, just the concession itself would secure me the lion's share. Failing that, I could take out a bank loan," Song Yao admitted she was tempted when she heard Song Ziwen's news, but she also knew some things weren't as simple as just getting rich. Moreover, mineral investments wouldn't be small; their modest funds put in would barely make a ripple. It would be better to focus on stabilizing the factory, after all, that was their own established business.

"Ziwen, you need to think this through. This is out of town, not local. What if something goes wrong...?" Gong Peixing wasn't overly enthusiastic about such supposed windfalls. "Be careful when you go."

"I know, don't worry. I'm not a novice." Honestly, Song Ziwen had been in a good mood lately, precisely because of this news. But after hearing the analysis from Wang Qiqi and the others, he suddenly hesitated. Yes, what they said made sense. What if he was tricked? The potential loss would be hundreds of thousands. But that was all money he saved before marriage, and he had even downplayed the amount when he first told his sister. "Maybe I just won't go then. I'll just stick to doing other things honestly?" Yet, Song Ziwen felt deeply unwilling. What could he do by just keeping this money? Renting out houses? Compared to the potential returns from mining, Song Ziwen felt they were incomparable. But what if he was truly duped? Wouldn't all his hard work be wasted? Even if the amount wasn't huge, it was his entire private stash, a loss he couldn't afford.

Although the person claiming he might not go had a look of reluctance slowly spreading across his face, Wang Qiqi noticed it. She coughed slightly. "Of course, this is just what we think. Maybe he can secure part of the funding through a bank loan, and then attract some small-scale investors to disperse the equity, which would allow him to maintain control." If that mining venture wasn't a scam and turned out to be highly successful, how could Song Ziwen remain completely indifferent?

Wang Qiqi certainly didn't want to see Song Ziwen looking at her with the expression of a wronged wife for the rest of their days. She had given the advice she felt necessary; whatever choice Song Ziwen made afterward wasn't her problem anymore.

"I know, I know," Song Ziwen muttered, pursing his lips seriously. "I plan to go alone first to inquire around. I feel such a big deal couldn't possibly have absolutely no rumors floating around, right?" Even if they tried to keep it quiet, the procurement rights had already been secured. Rumors should have surfaced. The supposed wealthy people who came knocking wouldn't be few. If no one showed up, then there was likely a problem.

"Is it safe for you to go alone?" Song Yao asked worriedly. "Should I ask your brother-in-law to come with you?"

"No need. Brother-in-law is busy too. I'll be careful about my safety." Song Ziwen thought, I'm just a small fish, not a big catch. Surely, they wouldn't pay attention to me? "I hope it's real." That would be the best outcome.

Song Yao stared at Song Ziwen for a moment before withdrawing her gaze. "Then be careful."

Watching Song Ziwen walk away into the distance, Song Yao sighed. "I wonder if that kid actually took any of our advice to heart." Earlier, Song Yao had wanted Gong Peixing to accompany Song Ziwen to gather information, not because she wanted a stake in it, but because Song Ziwen seemed to have a preconceived notion about this matter. She worried he would only focus on the positive aspects and not seriously investigate the actual situation. Gong Peixing, on the other hand, would analyze things objectively. But she couldn't keep pressing him to take his brother-in-law along, as that would make him feel like she was trying to muscle in on the deal.

Gong Peixing patted Song Yao’s shoulder as he looked at her worried face. "It will be fine. Ziwen listened to our analysis; I'm sure he'll be cautious." This brother-in-law was probably quite timid. As long as it involved money, he was usually careful.

Song Yao knew her brother's nature well. He was careful when money was involved, but the real issue was, "If he were cautious, would he even pay attention to such news? This message just screams 'scam' to me; only he would believe it." If it were her, she would have just laughed it off as a joke. Even if it were real, what could Song Ziwen do with his meager savings? But he just couldn't let it go. Song Yao knew her brother felt a bit insecure about lagging behind Wang Qiqi and herself, but she worried he didn't need to rush this much just to try and surpass them. Song Yao was anxious; the investment sum wasn't small.

Wang Qiqi didn't know if Song Ziwen would actually invest, but she knew if it was real, Song Ziwen would profit. If he got scammed, although it would be a significant loss for Song Ziwen, he would definitely be much more careful and cautious in the future.

After hearing Wang Qiqi’s perspective, Song Yao could only sigh. "Let's hope so."

"Don't worry, Ziwen will be fine. That amount isn't a huge figure for him; at worst, he'll be down his private stash," Gong Peixing said, though he too felt worried. He suspected that if someone had set up this scheme, they wouldn't have gone without local preparations—otherwise, how would they swindle money? He hoped Song Ziwen would be lucky enough to find out something concrete.

"My brother will probably cry himself to death then," Wang Qiqi covered her mouth and laughed. "And he can't tell his wife about the loss either." It was a good thing men didn't have private stashes; if they wanted to do something bad, they wouldn't have the means. "Sister, the boarding call is starting; let's go." Hearing the boarding announcement over the loudspeaker, Wang Qiqi picked up her carry-on bag, preparing to board. Worrying about Song Ziwen could wait until they saw how he handled things.

Song Yao sighed and also picked up her luggage, taking her son's hand as they prepared to board. As for Song Ziwen's vexing affairs, overthinking them was useless. She could only hope that even if something went wrong, the boy could handle the fallout. Otherwise, if his sister-in-law, Yang Jing, found out Song Ziwen had a private stash—and such a substantial one at that—a family feud would be inevitable.

Back at school, Wang Qiqi formally handed in the second draft to her professor. She had already sent the electronic version for preliminary review, so this was the final, formal submission. Although the professor had commented in his reply email that it was acceptable, she had reread it meticulously, immediately revising any phrasing that carried ambiguity.

After reading Wang Qiqi’s paper, the professor’s face slowly broke into a smile. "You revised it again, didn't you? Good, much better than last time. You had too much theory before, but after your internship, you’ve overcome that flaw. This paper blends theory and practice very well." This girl only improved when pushed. The resulting paper was much better.

Wang Qiqi smiled shyly, lips pursed. "Thank you for your guidance, Professor." A weight lifted from her heart; she had finally passed. Her graduation thesis was essentially finalized; next was preparing for the defense. Wang Qiqi had actually been quite busy these past few days. Shi Man only suggested studying abroad in Canada during the Spring Festival. After returning to Beijing, they discussed it and decided to submit applications to two programs. Whether they would go or not was yet to be determined. This meant a lot of materials needed preparation, but since they started relatively late, both knew the chances of successfully studying in Canada were slim.

Seeing a classmate approach with documents, Wang Qiqi assumed it was about handing in papers or asking related questions, so she prepared to leave. "Wait, Wang Qiqi, are you still planning to study abroad?" The professor was very satisfied with Wang Qiqi and had hoped she would stay for her master's degree. But since her boyfriend was studying in the US, and rumors circulated that she was going abroad—especially since she hadn't registered for the postgraduate entrance exam—he knew her focus was overseas. However, US visa applications were difficult now, which sparked hope in the professor’s heart again.

When the approaching person heard the professor ask, her ears immediately perked up. She hadn't expected that the tedious task she thought would earn her a scolding from the professor would yield such explosive gossip. After all, there had been plenty of unpleasant talk in the class about whether Wang Qiqi would study abroad; it was rumored she was aiming for the UK, but no one knew if she’d actually succeed, especially since all her initial preparations pointed toward the US.

Wang Qiqi knew the nearby classmate was listening to her plans, and there was nothing to hide. She nodded. "Yes, I plan to continue studying abroad."

"Continue to the US? Visas there are a bit tricky right now." The professor worried if Wang Qiqi could really secure a visa.

"Besides the US, I plan to apply to universities in the UK and Canada as well." Some letters of recommendation needed to be solicited from professors, and Wang Qiqi trusted this thesis professor, a reputable scholar in China, to write them. "Professor, I’ll need you to write a few recommendation letters then."

Universities in Canada? Wang Qiqi’s classmate was initially surprised by the sudden pivot to Canada, but then she quickly understood why Wang Qiqi might favor Canada: it was close to the US.

The professor, of course, had no issue with his favorite student's request. "No problem at all. I was actually hoping, if you weren't going abroad, that I still had a postgraduate spot reserved here." Many people had tried to lobby for that spot, but the professor only wanted Wang Qiqi. He hadn't expected her to still choose to study overseas.

Wang Qiqi was surprised that her professor had reserved a spot for her. "Thank you for your kindness, Professor." Professors nowadays were truly excellent; they weren't just motivated by money. She knew that if the professor chose to give that spot away, many people would eagerly offer bribes. "It's a pity I still have to go abroad." Staying in the country would be agonizing for Wang Qiqi; the UK or Canada seemed preferable.

The professor waved his hand, signaling Wang Qiqi could leave. He understood Wang Qiqi's mindset perfectly. He had taught many students over the years; many smarter and more capable than Wang Qiqi had gone abroad and mostly stayed there to work, with few returning.

After saying goodbye again, Wang Qiqi left the office. She knew that what the professor had just said would spread throughout the class by the afternoon, reaching even those doing internships at work units. "Sigh, I'm a target again." Wang Qiqi thought the professor had asked out of goodwill, not wanting her to delay, but it was so troublesome.

Bai Ge was just heading to submit her second draft when she heard Wang Qiqi muttering about targets. "Qiqi, what's wrong?" Didn't she say she was submitting the second draft today? Why was she talking about being a target? "Could it be that your paper received high praise from the professor, and someone overheard?" After all, when the professor rejected her initial outline, the nasty whispers in the class were very audible. Now that Wang Qiqi's paper had suddenly garnered high praise, what would those narrow-minded people think?

If it was just praise for the paper, that would be fine. Wang Qiqi thought that compared to the news the professor had just revealed, the paper was a minor issue. In a bad mood, she recounted what had been discussed in the professor's office. "Do you think I’m unlucky?" It was utterly miserable—she had been in the professor's office for a long time without anyone entering or exiting, yet precisely at such a critical moment, someone came in while she was discussing issues.

Bai Ge was stunned speechless by what Wang Qiqi told her. "Didn't the guaranteed admission spots come out ages ago?" How could the professor still have a spot? Even though Bai Ge wasn't planning on pursuing postgraduate studies, hearing such news suddenly sparked a flicker of jealousy. Even someone not planning on grad school felt that way, let alone those who had taken the entrance exam.

Wang Qiqi hummed in confirmation. "I think the professor must have had some discretionary spots left. Now I'm famous again." Wang Qiqi thought how fortunate she was to have stood firm in her decision. If she had been tempted by that spot and accepted it, she probably would have become a bigger target.

Bai Ge patted Wang Qiqi’s shoulder and gestured with the materials in her hand. "I’m going to talk to the professor about my paper. I’ll come over to your place tonight for dinner; I have something to discuss." The busy school hallways weren't the right place for serious talks. "You’re buying dinner tonight."

Me buying dinner? Wang Qiqi pointed at herself in surprise. "Why am I treating?" I’m already unlucky enough; my wallet shouldn't suffer too, right?

Bai Ge patted Wang Qiqi’s shoulder again. "Congratulations on potentially becoming an (guaranteed admission) postgraduate at our alma mater. How can you not treat for such good news?" She noticed Wang Qiqi’s expression wasn't great and she seemed on the verge of exploding. "Okay, fine, I meant congratulations on your paper passing the professor’s review. Either way, you have to treat, right?"

Wang Qiqi understood; she had to treat regardless of the professor’s little drama today. "Then let's celebrate the latter reason. I absolutely don't want to celebrate the former." The first reason wasn't good news at all; it was bad news. "We’ll have hot pot tonight, whatever is convenient."

Hot pot? Bai Ge hadn't expected the cuisine she had been looking forward to to be something as simple as hot pot. "Isn't that a bit too casual?" Wait, what had Qiqi been busy with lately? Wasn't she preoccupied with preparing her thesis? Now that the thesis was approved, there shouldn't be anything else keeping her busy. "Has your workload suddenly increased?" That was the only possibility.

"No, I'm planning to submit a few more applications." Wang Qiqi explained briefly. "During the Spring Festival, Manman and I discussed it, and we thought going to Canada wouldn't be so bad."

Bai Ge’s eyes widened, and she even reached out to touch Wang Qiqi’s forehead. "Are you serious? You're only submitting applications now?" It was already April; university admissions would start in September. How could she just be submitting materials now? Most universities would already be sending out acceptance letters. "Did any of the applications you previously submitted get a response?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "A few from European schools and some from the US, but I'm not very satisfied." Let alone scholarships, the schools contacting her now were the ones she had applied to as backups initially. Because the US visa rejection rate was so high this time, some people were diverting to Australia, Europe, and Canada, so Wang Qiqi was genuinely worried that rushing her submissions now wouldn't yield results. "I'm just trying Canada as a backup too. Maybe, perhaps, I won't go there either."

"If you won't go, why apply? Isn't that wasting money?" Bai Ge thought Wang Qiqi had lost it. Submitting applications cost money! "With that money, she could treat us to a proper meal instead." A spendthrift, definitely needs to be disciplined.

Wang Qiqi certainly knew this behavior was excessive. "It was Manman who wanted to go to Canada, that’s why I thought of it." Another reason Wang Qiqi wasn't keen on Canada was that she felt the latitude was too high, meaning winters would be freezing cold. It wasn't like Beijing, where heating costs were low; heating bills there would definitely be steep. The mere thought of paying exorbitant heating fees every winter made Wang Qiqi's heart ache. "She insisted on dragging me to apply. Right now, I'm praying none of them get through..."

After chatting with Bai Ge for a while, they parted ways, knowing they would meet again that evening to discuss the details.

A figure suddenly darted out from somewhere just after they left. "No way, the Professor still had a graduate student spot available, and he gave it to Wang Qiqi?" A voice dripping with envy questioned, "But didn't the Professor say her thesis was substandard before? How could he give her that spot?" She truly couldn't comprehend it; usually, if the Professor was dissatisfied with Wang Qiqi, he wouldn't have granted her the position. How could this slot suddenly be hers? Could something have happened between them? The newcomer mused, stroking their chin thoughtfully.

"I never thought she would have such incredible luck," that person sighed, clearly lamenting the situation. Someone who was supposed to be studying abroad—why was the Professor so set on reserving this spot for her, while those of us eager to stay at the university had to rack our brains? The discrepancy was far too stark.