Shi Man, having already gotten her paper's second draft approved yesterday, stayed home today to continue preparing materials. She paid little mind to the professor’s vague suggestion that the paper still had room for improvement. Shi Man felt she had already given the paper 120% of her effort and genuinely couldn't see how to revise it further, so preparing materials seemed like a better use of her time.

Shi Man poured a glass of milk and walked out of the kitchen, spotting Wang Qiqi struggling with several bags. “Paper approved? Celebration?” That didn’t sound right. Qiqi had sent the electronic copy of her second draft to the professor ages ago; the professor’s positive feedback was expected. It seemed excessive to buy this much food just for the two of them. “Isn’t this a bit much?”

Wang Qiqi wiped her brow, sighing at the inconvenience of not having a man around to carry these heavy things. “Bai Ge said she’s coming over. I figure she has something to say.” Although Bai Ge had given a reason for coming for dinner, Wang Qiqi sensed that Bai Ge was preoccupied, especially since she insisted on coming alone. This made Wang Qiqi suspect the matter concerned her upcoming visit to her future in-laws during the Spring Festival.

“Her man isn’t coming?” Shi Man wondered if Bai Ge coming alone implied trouble between them. “Didn’t they seem fine?” During their last dinner, they had been so sweet, even if they exchanged few sweet words; their eye contact alone had been so affectionate it nearly drove the three single women away. It seemed unlikely for things to go sour so quickly.

“Even if their relationship is good, the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship needs to be good too,” Wang Qiqi thought. If Bai Ge’s relationship with her man was strained because of that, it would be truly unfair.

Shi Man hummed in acknowledgment and didn't press the issue. Mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamics were notoriously tricky, as demonstrated by Wang Qiqi and Luo Hongjuan. Although their relationship seemed excellent—often described as more like mother and daughter than in-laws—they surely had to consider each other's feelings. For instance, regarding Qiqi’s study abroad plans, they each had their own ideas. As for Shi Man’s own dynamic with her future mother-in-law, it seemed fine for now. However, Shi Man knew that Feng Xuanxiang’s parents assumed she and Feng Xuanxiang might not end up together, so they hadn’t paid her much attention. If she actually married Feng Xuanxiang, Shi Man was certain they would immediately devise ways to deal with her.

Wang Qiqi opened the door to find Bai Ge carrying a small offering of fruit, confirming her suspicion that the girl wasn't just being polite; that fruit would likely be mostly eaten during their post-dinner chat. “Come in.”

Bai Ge expertly entered, shed her coat, and let out a deep breath. “Ah, it feels good to be here.” Being at home had become suffocating lately; the looks from her parents and the uncomfortable glances from her younger siblings made her feel breathless.

“What’s so great about here? Just two single women,” Shi Man thought, wondering if Bai Ge was subtly needling her.

“Soon there will be three single women,” Bai Ge replied. She knew her coming alone was strange enough, and this was bound to happen eventually, so there was no point in hiding it. Yet, she felt quite hurt. Although things were currently at a stalemate and her parents advised her to yield a little, Bai Ge felt she had no reason to back down; the fault lay entirely with the other side. And yet, he had simply stood by without saying a single word to support her. Bai Ge was furious, especially since, during all this time, he hadn't come to soothe her. Knowing she was angry and refused to answer his calls, he hadn't persistently called back, let alone shown up at her door.

Three single women? Since they were having hot pot, the workload in the kitchen was light, with only Wang Qiqi busy. When she heard Bai Ge say that, her heart skipped a beat, and she momentarily forgot about prepping the ingredients. “What’s wrong? Did you two fight?”

Shi Man also set down what she was holding and walked over to the dining table, handing Bai Ge a carton of milk. “Weren’t you guys doing great?”

A fight? Doing great? “That was before. I went back to see his parents this time, and they had long faces, treating me coldly, subtly implying they disliked me and found fault with me in every other word. And him, and him…” Bai Ge’s voice cracked with sorrow. “I can ignore what his parents think of me, because we’re the ones living the life, but he didn’t defend me! Not a single word! He just stood there, watching me get thoroughly scorned by his parents.”

Luo Rui didn't help Bai Ge? Wang Qiqi and Shi Man exchanged a look. This was serious. As a boyfriend, seeing his girlfriend so disrespected by his own parents, he couldn't say harsh things, but surely saying one or two sentences in Bai Ge’s defense was necessary. Yet, he stood there like a wooden block. “Did he talk to you afterward to explain his difficulty?” Although Wang Qiqi felt Luo Rui’s action was excessive, looking at it from his perspective, it was genuinely a difficult position to be in—caught between his parents and his girlfriend. The feeling of being a human sandwich was never pleasant.

“Exactly, speaking up for you in front of his parents would only make them angrier,” Shi Man chimed in, echoing Wang Qiqi’s sentiment. She recounted the cold reception Feng Xuanxiang received from her own parents. “See? Now my parents often praise how good he is.” Of course, her parents also offered Shi Man minor advice, urging her not to take feelings too seriously. Shi Man knew this was because her parents worried Feng Xuanxiang might change his mind later, leaving her devastated.

“That’s because Feng Xuanxiang is successful now,” Bai Ge murmured. “In a fit of anger, I stayed one night and then returned to the capital. He hasn’t contacted me since.” Bai Ge admitted her action was impulsive, but what was done was done. Besides, she was the woman; she shouldn't be the one to always yield first. Luo Rui wasn't offering her an olive branch either, leaving Bai Ge utterly unsure what to do. Don’t let her words of breaking up fool you; she genuinely didn’t want to. Except for his parents’ less-than-stellar attitude, Bai Ge found Luo Rui quite wonderful. But his current inaction left her floundering.

Wang Qiqi gasped. Luo Rui’s parents were out of line, but Bai Ge’s handling of the situation also seemed rash. However, Luo Rui’s complete inaction in the middle was truly baffling. “Not even once?”

“Shouldn't there usually be a phone call?” If he worried about being met with a cold shoulder and thus avoided visiting, at least a phone call should have been made. This complete silence was very problematic.

“He called twice, or maybe three times, but I didn’t answer, and then there was silence,” Bai Ge said sadly, tears streaming down her face. “Qiqi, what should I do? What should I do?”

Although Bai Ge wanted to seek out Luo Rui, she feared hearing something she couldn't bear. She was terribly conflicted. And she couldn't just abandon her parents and younger siblings; as the eldest sister, some responsibilities couldn't be discarded.

Luo Rui had called, but only two or three times. Wang Qiqi and Shi Man were speechless. Neither of them had experienced such a standoff with their partners. Wang Qiqi usually reconciled with Han Tao within minutes after a fight, as they were typically over trivial matters. When Shi Man argued with Feng Xuanxiang, Feng Xuanxiang usually yielded in the end. Bai Ge’s situation, however, was quite significant, and Luo Rui’s behavior was undeniably disheartening.

“You can’t avoid this forever. How about we ask him over for dinner today?” Wang Qiqi considered that, regardless of his reasoning—whether he needed space to cool down or had other intentions—sitting down to talk was necessary.

Bai Ge couldn't deny being tempted by Wang Qiqi’s suggestion, but she worried intensely about whether he would agree to come. “How about you call him, Qiqi? I can give you his number?” She felt she had to rely on Wang Qiqi to make the move. Whether he came or not was related to her, but at least if he refused, it wouldn't be to her face.

Wang Qiqi looked at the anxious Bai Ge and sighed internally. If she had known it would be like this, she shouldn't have acted so impulsively. “From his perspective, perhaps he has his own difficulties. When he gets here, we will all speak our minds clearly. No fighting, no storming out, and no saying hurtful things.” Words spoken during an argument were truly damaging, completely divorced from reason. Even if regretted afterward, they inevitably left a scar, which might seem healed on the surface but could erupt more violently the next time it was triggered.

“Got it, got it,” Bai Ge said dismissively, then looked pleadingly at Wang Qiqi, signaling her to make the call quickly and not waste time.

Wang Qiqi stared at Bai Ge, who made no move to speak, and reached out exasperatedly. “You won’t give me the number, how am I supposed to call?” Did she think Wang Qiqi was a deity who magically knew everyone’s contact details?

Bai Ge laughed sheepishly, clasping her hands together in an apologetic gesture, and slowly recited Luo Rui’s phone number to Wang Qiqi. Wang Qiqi immediately dialed the number. Wang Qiqi had expected Luo Rui to either give her a cold shoulder or offer polite formalities before agreeing to come to dinner. To her surprise, Luo Rui showed absolutely no reaction of shock at receiving a call from her. If Wang Qiqi didn't know Bai Ge well enough to trust her honesty, she might have thought the two were staging an elaborate act.

“He’ll be here shortly,” Wang Qiqi said after hanging up, looking at Bai Ge, who was sipping milk but whose tension was clearly visible on her face. “See how accommodating he is? I was even preparing how I would persuade him to come. Men are men; they have a big heart. Don't lose your temper when he arrives. Go prepare a few dishes he loves in the kitchen. Since he’s willing to humble himself, you shouldn't keep up that aloof front either. This needs to be a discussion where everyone sits down together.”

Bai Ge was about to protest why she should cook for him while they were in a cold war, but she eventually agreed. She decided to treat it as her way of apologizing.

When the doorbell rang, Shi Man was still engrossed in her laptop while the other two were busy in the kitchen. She immediately shut the laptop and darted to the main door. Of course, she first looked through the peephole. Only women were outside. She should be careful, but she was surprised to see two men. She recognized one as Luo Rui, but the scholarly, gentle man beside him was unfamiliar. Shi Man wondered if the girl had brought along her entourage to freeload off their meal, or perhaps he brought backup because he feared the three women might corner him. That seemed overly timid.

Wang Qiqi watched Shi Man hunching over, peering outside for an extended period, refusing to open the door. “Who is outside?” If it was Luo Rui, just open the door. If not, tell them to leave. It wasn't a wedding procession waiting for a red envelope.

“There’s an unfamiliar man,” Shi Man said while opening the door. “Luo Rui, you’re here.”

Luo Rui heard Shi Man’s words from outside. He entered, took off his shoes, and introduced himself. “I was planning to take a friend out to dinner today, but since there’s free food here, I brought my friend Gong Haorui along.” Honestly, Luo Rui hadn't wanted to come today; his friend was leaving in a few days, and he wanted to catch up and discuss his recent troubles. However, he worried about how Bai Ge would interpret his absence, especially with Wang Qiqi and Shi Man there to analyze the situation. Given their recent lack of contact, his absence might signal that he didn't want to pursue things with Bai Ge. Thus, he dragged Gong Haorui with him.

Gong Haorui? Wang Qiqi found the name very familiar. Then she realized Gong Haorui was someone’s ex-boyfriend. “Could it be such a coincidence?”

Bai Ge also found his presence strange. She immediately peeked out to greet Luo Rui and Gong Haorui. Seeing her appear eased a burden on Luo Rui; he had genuinely feared Bai Ge might give him the cold shoulder again, which he felt he couldn’t endure. “He’s leaving for Australia in a few days. I was actually planning to treat him to a farewell dinner today, but since there was food available here, I thought saving a meal was practical…” Luo Rui explained again.

Hearing his familiar tone, Bai Ge gave him a look. “You treat this place like it’s your own home, showing up without notice. We’re having hot pot; we haven't prepared much food.” If it were just Luo Rui, she wouldn't need to prepare anything elaborate, but now with Gong Haorui present, a single hot pot and the few dishes she prepared for Luo Rui seemed too simple. “You didn’t make it clear on the phone earlier, or I could have gone out to buy more.” Honestly, it was improper for a guest to bring another guest without notice.

“I just forgot,” Luo Rui said happily at Bai Ge’s slightly accusatory tone. Listen, his girlfriend considered him family, not even thinking about grand hosting arrangements. “Besides, Gong Haorui is heading abroad soon. Meat isn't expensive there; vegetables are. We should prepare plenty of vegetables so he can eat his fill.”

Wang Qiqi had worried Bai Ge would be cold to Luo Rui, but her opening words sounded like those of an old married couple. However, the way they spoke made Wang Qiqi feel a bit odd. “Hey, where do you think you are? This isn't Bai Ge’s house! Even she is a guest, yet you’re acting like the host!” Shi Man interjected. “Honestly, the moment someone announces the arrival of a certain person, the one who was just speaking ill of him rushes into the kitchen to prepare food. It perfectly illustrates an old saying.”

Gong Haorui had spent the journey persuading Luo Rui, and seeing the situation upon arrival relieved him. If they had started arguing, Gong Haorui truly wouldn't have known what to do. Seeing them reconcile felt like a huge weight off his shoulders. “These two are disgustingly inseparable, no matter where they are,” Gong Haorui muttered, rubbing his arms repeatedly as if shivering from the cold.

“Qiqi, leave the kitchen to them. Since they’re treating this place like their home turf, let them work,” Shi Man said, signaling Wang Qiqi with her eyes, hoping to let the good atmosphere nurture an open conversation.

Wang Qiqi certainly didn't object to help. She quickly took off her apron. “Come on, today’s temporary host and hostess should get to work.” Before leaving the kitchen, Wang Qiqi whispered a few words to Bai Ge, urging her to control her emotions. With the mood currently good, she should apologize where necessary and be charming where appropriate.

Bai Ge wanted to grab Wang Qiqi, terrified that being alone with him might lead her to say something hurtful again. But before she could move her hand, Luo Rui readily agreed. “Don't worry. I came empty-handed today, so I’m ready to work.” Luo Rui only realized he hadn't brought a gift when he rang the doorbell. Since starting his relationship with Bai Ge, she had always handled the appropriate host gifts for their visits; he just needed to show up. Today, he followed his old habit but forgot he hadn't arrived with Bai Ge. Since he had already rung the bell, there was no turning back to buy something.

“Even better, coming empty-handed is perfect. Remember to wash the dishes after you eat well,” Wang Qiqi thought. Having so many people for dinner, washing dishes was always the most hated task. Since they had ready labor available, she wasn't going to be polite.

Luo Rui gave an "OK" gesture, indicating he agreed. Wang Qiqi didn't dwell on the atmosphere between the two as they were left alone. Returning to the living room, she found Shi Man already deep in conversation with the guest, Gong Haorui. Wang Qiqi wasn't sure what to say to him. She hadn't officially met him, though she had seen him once when Duan Xiaomin treated the dorm mates to dinner after starting to date him. Now that this pair, widely considered talented and beautiful, had separated, she felt an awkwardness between them.

“Long time no see,” Gong Haorui admitted he felt a bit awkward too. He hadn’t expected to run into his ex-girlfriend’s roommate after breaking up with Duan Xiaomin.

Wang Qiqi smiled. “Yes, long time no see. When are you leaving for Australia?”

“In three days.” Gong Haorui then inquired about Bai Ge’s recent mood—a question he was posing for his friend Luo Rui. He wanted to understand the reason for their cold war. Gong Haorui only knew the facts from Luo Rui’s perspective, and now he wanted to hear Bai Ge’s view on the matter.

Wang Qiqi was eager to know Luo Rui’s thoughts as well. Concerned that someone might emerge from the kitchen at any moment, she quickly recounted what Bai Ge had told her. “What did Luo Rui say?” Wang Qiqi countered.

Gong Haorui swiftly relayed Luo Rui’s reaction. “They’re both such fools. Sigh, they both probably thought the other would suggest breaking up.” If not for this impromptu dinner, who knew when they would have resumed normal communication.

“Indeed,” Wang Qiqi and Shi Man sighed in relief upon hearing this. As for Luo Rui’s family issues, that was beyond their scope to interfere with. Wang Qiqi held high hopes for Bai Ge’s capabilities. Although she seemed burdened, everything she achieved—buying several properties in the capital, establishing a successful shop for her parents, and arranging schooling for her siblings—was the result of three years of hard work, relying entirely on her own merit. Her future path would only widen, likely surpassing the status of those well-born girls Luo Rui’s parents favored by a large margin. Furthermore, Bai Ge had no shortage of suitors. If Luo Rui ultimately chose his parents over Bai Ge, Wang Qiqi would only have one thought: the man truly had no taste.

“Don’t worry, Luo Rui is a man of his own judgment. The reason he didn't speak up for Bai Ge back then was likely fear that doing so would only anger his parents further,” Gong Haorui understood Luo Rui’s mindset well. Before taking Duan Xiaomin to meet his parents, he had done extensive preparation. Of course, his parents were much more gracious than Luo Rui’s; even if not entirely satisfied with Duan Xiaomin, they maintained proper decorum. The Luo family parents, however, showed Bai Ge absolutely no respect, completely unaware of how this would affect Luo Rui’s perception. Still, Bai Ge was too impulsive, sigh.

“Bai Ge’s reaction was wrong, but anyone would jump out if they heard their boyfriend’s parents speak ill of their own parents and siblings. Remaining silent would be cold-blooded,” Gong Haorui had a point, but Wang Qiqi wasn't inclined to analyze things solely from the man’s standpoint. “However, the main responsibility lies with Luo Rui for not communicating clearly with his family beforehand.” While bringing Bai Ge to meet his parents was a responsible step for the relationship, the critical issue was his lack of preparation. If he had prepared properly, this reaction wouldn't have occurred.

Gong Haorui strongly agreed. "I had to work quite hard just to bring her back." Gong Haorui knew about his relationship with Duan Xiaomin. Even if Wang Qiqi hadn't heard the rampant rumors at school, she must have at least learned something secondhand from Bai Ge. Although a twinge of pain still hit him when the subject came up, he understood that some experiences were necessary for rapid maturity, things he couldn't simply avoid. "I’ve already discussed this with Luo Rui; he is indispensable as the mediator for both sides to accept each other." Luo Rui was smart, no doubt, but he often oversimplified things. He seemed convinced that his love for Bai Ge meant his parents would automatically support his choice, completely forgetting that parents usually had specific criteria for the woman their son married, and Bai Ge was clearly not their preferred candidate. Still, perhaps this incident would teach Luo Rui a valuable lesson.

Although the people in the living room spoke in hushed tones, the awkwardness between the two people in the kitchen was palpable; neither knew how to break the silence. Bai Ge’s mouth moved several times, but the words of apology simply wouldn't come out, and Luo Rui was in the exact same predicament.

While they stood in mutual silence, the sound of Luo Rui and Wang Qiqi chatting drifted in, causing them to fall silent once more. They knew that through their friends, the other person would surely hear their true thoughts.

Bai Ge looked at Luo Rui, and he simultaneously looked back at her. Yet, neither spoke. They stood foolishly in the kitchen, completely soundless, which severely agitated the three people chatting in the living room. After all, their earlier conversation was a deliberate attempt to channel their respective feelings through their mouths, but these two hadn't grasped their good intentions at all. "They are both such closed books. What will happen when they have to live together?" Shi Man whispered.

"Life is what people make of it. What can we do if they aren't getting the hint?" Wang Qiqi sounded equally helpless. Gong Haorui beside her wore an expression of utter frustration. Honestly, they were both idiots. Especially Luo Rui—he was the man. After hearing all that, why couldn't he just apologize first? It wouldn't cost him anything.

Whether it was hearing his friends’ inner monologue or an internal awakening, Luo Rui spoke first. "Uh, I... what I did before was a bit too much. I'm sorry." Forget it, forget it, I’m the man here. Some things a man has to handle. Besides, if he didn't say it, was he expecting his girlfriend to?

Bai Ge had been anxiously waiting to see who would speak first. If he remained silent, should she apologize first? Wouldn't that be humiliating? Just as she was wrestling with this dilemma, he finally spoke. She instantly let out a massive sigh of relief. "Actually, I was impulsive that day too."

Once someone broke the ice, the atmosphere between the two quickly returned to normal. The people outside let out a collective, silent sigh of relief. What absolute fools, all three thought simultaneously.

"So, have you two finished preparing your materials?" After chatting with Gong Haorui for a while, Wang Qiqi noticed that only the faint sound of murmuring came from the kitchen, with no sound of washing vegetables. She called out loudly. While the main goal of the day had been resolved—the couple had reconciled—it didn't matter if they were fueled by love and skipped food, but the single people couldn't endure that.

"Exactly." Shi Man rubbed her stomach, finally tearing her eyes away from the computer screen. "I’ve been busy with my resume all day. Hurry up, you two." Ugh, doing resumes was so tedious. Shi Man had almost given up on Canada after Wang Qiqi persuaded her, but her own man kept egging her on to apply to schools there, claiming that if she got in, it would be convenient for either of them to visit the other. Only then did Shi Man reluctantly start preparing her resume again.

Preparing resumes now? Gong Haorui looked at Shi Man in surprise. Although he hadn't met Wang Qiqi many times, he knew from both Duan Xiaomin and Luo Rui that she had intended to go abroad long ago. It made no sense for her to still be working on her resume.

"Qiqi, are yours ready?" Shi Man asked enviously, watching Wang Qiqi relaxing on the couch watching TV. She remembered how frantic and rushed Wang Qiqi had been when preparing her resume back then. Now look at her, so relaxed.

Wang Qiqi yawned, looking at the silly girl still diligently working on her paperwork. "I'm just making minor tweaks to my old resume. Besides, it’s too late for us to apply now. Who knows if they’ll even accept us?" Applying in March, the chances of success were slim, so there was no point in putting too much effort into it.

"Not necessarily. Many people used to plan on studying in the US, but with the huge incident that occurred, too many have shifted their focus. Canada has become their new target," Gong Haorui mused. If his aunt hadn't insisted he go to Australia, he would have considered Canada. He knew many people felt the same way. "Initially, everyone expected things to improve in two or three months, but nobody expected things to remain so tight even now. People are rapidly changing their plans."

Shi Man shot Wang Qiqi a smug look, signaling that she was quite impressive. "So, Qiqi, you need to prepare seriously. If your man finds out you weren't serious, then you..."

Regarding that possibility, Wang Qiqi rolled her eyes at Shi Man. "Unless someone betrays me, right?" Wang Qiqi stared at Shi Man and said this. How well her resume was prepared—Wang Qiqi figured, aside from a certain someone being the informant, how would the very busy Han Tao know about her progress?

"I wouldn't know about that," Shi Man replied, avoiding Wang Qiqi's gaze. She wouldn't answer that question. "When will those two in the kitchen be ready? We're starving. How long are we going to delay eating hotpot today?"

"Almost there, almost there! Get the pot ready, we can eat!" Actually, Wang Qiqi was nearly done earlier, but Bai Ge and Luo Rui had wasted so much time. After reconciling, they completely stopped working and just talked. If Shi Man and the others hadn't asked about dinner, who knew when they would have finished their chores.

Everyone chatted happily at the dinner table, deliberately avoiding mention of unpleasant things, like certain names. "When you go to Australia, if you find a good girl, settle down early," Luo Rui said, emboldened after having a few drinks. He hadn't known how to say these things before, but since a friend was going far away, some words needed to be spoken. "Just forget about that woman, Duan Xiaomin, early on. Even if she comes looking for you again, don't pay her any mind."

Duan Xiaomin sought out Gong Haorui? Wang Qiqi looked at Bai Ge in surprise. She knew Duan Xiaomin valued her image highly; even if she deeply regretted her actions, she wouldn't swallow her pride, especially since she was doing quite well now—her job prospects were essentially secured.

The smile on Gong Haorui’s face vanished instantly upon hearing Luo Rui’s words. After taking a sip of red wine, he said, "Don't worry, I won't be foolish. Even if... even if I still think about her now, it's just a matter of time. She and I are impossible." Gong Haorui truly hadn't expected that even as he was leaving, someone would try to approach him again. It left a sour taste in his mouth. When they broke up, she wore an expression of unhappiness at being with him, and now she looked like she deeply regretted leaving him. It left him completely speechless.

Bai Ge put down her drink, looking quite surprised. "When the news that Gong Haorui was going abroad spread, many people knew. She didn't show any sign of regret then; she even congratulated you, saying you both deserved your own happiness. How long has it been since then? Why is she suddenly..." Bai Ge wondered if Duan Xiaomin had run into some serious trouble.

"It seems her job was taken by someone else," Luo Rui said, a hint of schadenfreude in his voice. "Don't tell anyone about this." Bai Ge and Wang Qiqi were roommates, and this was just Duan Xiaomin's unilateral statement. Perhaps she currently felt going abroad was a great idea and was deliberately saying this, hoping that if a girlfriend spread the rumor, it would make the whole class look at them differently.

Taken by someone else? Wang Qiqi was genuinely astonished by this outcome. "Didn't they say it was essentially confirmed?" Good heavens, if this was true, Duan Xiaomin would be miserable. When her breakup with Gong Haorui spread last semester, because she had found a seemingly better man, most people supported her. But once Gong Haorui’s situation became known, some said Duan Xiaomin had lost out significantly. Even though she secured a good job, Gong Haorui’s prospects were now good and only improving. Some people called her blind, though only a minority voiced this opinion. If this news were confirmed, she would become a huge joke.

"I'm not sure, but it has nothing to do with me anymore." Gong Haorui’s stance on her news was clear: he didn't want to hear about it or care. His parents were right: regardless of how she begged him now, wouldn't her past behavior repeat itself? What if, after he went abroad, she found a wealthier man? There was no guarantee she wouldn't do something similar again. He had let her use him once; he couldn't make that mistake again.

Luo Rui looked at his somewhat dejected friend and patted his shoulder. "That’s true. Once you go abroad, buddy, you’ll have no shortage of beautiful women..."

Mentioning Australia, Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered something. "Could we potentially collaborate in the future?" Wang Qiqi knew what she was about to suggest might sound presumptuous, but he was going to Australia, and she heard his aunt ran a successful business there. She just didn't know if he would be interested in such small ventures, but there was no way to know without asking.

Collaborate? Gong Haorui found this strange. "Us collaborating?" Wasn't Wang Qiqi going to study? What collaboration would they need? She wasn't in business.

Shi Man quickly grasped why Wang Qiqi had asked. She looked at Gong Haorui with an expectant expression. She had heard there were many good things in Australia, but unfortunately, none of them had visited or had channels to import goods. Although this venture had no direct benefit to her, the bigger Song Yao's business grew, the more customers it would attract, which in turn would mean more sales channels for the items she purchased.

Wang Qiqi briefly and quickly explained her cousin’s situation, and Gong Haorui understood why she was approaching him. He was indifferent to the matter. Although he had his aunt in Australia, he didn't want to rely on her for everything, and besides, wasn't Bai Ge there? He could ask Bai Ge for the specifics. "No problem. After I get settled in Australia, I'll inquire about the situation and see what we can collaborate on." Although the profits sounded small, if the volume was high, the monthly income wouldn't be insignificant. Gong Haorui thought this was a decent idea to try out first. RS