"Boss Ye? Bai Ge looked at Wang Qiqi in disbelief, "You want him to step in?" Good heavens, Bai Ge felt like she was about to faint. If Wang Qiqi could really get him involved to help recruit teachers, what else would she have to worry about? The people he knew in that area were definitely more numerous than any ordinary person they knew.

Wang Qiqi nodded again. Bai Ge immediately flipped over and pinned Wang Qiqi down, shouting incessantly, "Qiqi, I love you, I love you, I absolutely adore you." How could this not surprise Bai Ge?

To express her sheer delight, Bai Ge even kissed Wang Qiqi's cheek. One kiss wasn't enough; she kept planting kisses all over.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected Bai Ge's reaction to be so intense. Just as she was about to push the other woman off—that position was simply too suggestive—she heard a commotion in the room, followed by Shi Man's gasp, "Ah, ah, excuse me, please continue."

Shi Man had felt the urge to use the restroom and was returning to the room after taking care of her business when she heard Bai Ge shouting like a lunatic about loving her. Shi Man thought, Why is this person staying up so late, acting crazy? Just as she was about to go in and remind the other person to be mindful of the time, she stumbled upon a scene she truly felt she shouldn't have witnessed. Alas, she felt terribly flustered. After freezing there for a long moment, all Shi Man could manage to blurt out was that single phrase; she genuinely didn't know what else to say.

Shi Man truly didn't know how to process what she had just seen. Tears were streaming down her heart. Comrade Han Tao, I have failed you! I promised to take good care of Wang Qiqi for you, but I never expected Qiqi to be 'ruined' by that lunatic Bai Ge. I knew why Bai Ge and Wang Qiqi were so close; hmph, it turns out she had a crush on Qiqi and clung to her precisely for that reason. Taking advantage of Han Tao's absence, she was scheming to get Qiqi—how cunning can she be?

Shi Man’s words utterly terrified Wang Qiqi. Although she couldn't see Shi Man's expression, even an idiot could guess what was running through her mind. If she let Shi Man leave now, the situation would never be cleared up. Wang Qiqi roughly shoved Bai Ge, who was beginning to look dazed, off her body. "Where are you going? What you saw is nothing like the truth."

Bai Ge quickly snapped out of her surprise. Seeing how someone else viewed her earlier actions made her want to cry without tears. Especially Wang Qiqi's gaze directed at her—it was the look of someone ready to devour her, no exaggeration. She got up, grabbed Shi Man, and started dragging her toward the **. This needed to be explained immediately; Shi Man could not be allowed to sleep on this misunderstanding.

Shi Man was shocked when Bai Ge yanked her toward the **, and her little face instantly went pale. "No, no..." Heavens, Shi Man deeply regretted letting her own curiosity get the better of her. Curious people never end up well.

Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge stared at Shi Man, who was tightly squeezing her eyes shut while repeatedly chanting "No, no," and felt a wave of dark lines pass over their faces. They wondered if this girl had watched too many Hong Kong or Japanese dramas, making her slightly brain-dead. "Shut up! We are just explaining the situation." Wang Qiqi glared angrily at Bai Ge, blaming the idiot for having a sudden spell of madness over some strange impulse, otherwise things wouldn't have gotten this bad.

Explaining the situation? Shi Man thought, Is this the attitude of an explanation? It feels more like forceful coercion. But the situation dictated compliance. Shi Man wasn't foolish enough to voice her thoughts, as that wasn't the way intelligent people behaved. "Fine. I'm not leaving. I'll listen to your explanation."

Bai Ge scrutinized Shi Man for a moment. Seeing that she wasn't trying to flee, she loosened her grip. Honestly, she hadn't expected Shi Man to have such surprising strength. If it weren't for the fact that Bai Ge had done farm work since childhood, she might not have been able to hold her. Alas.

"I won't run, I won't run," Shi Man raised her hands to promise, tears still flowing in her heart. Why is my fate so bitter? Ugh, utterly miserable.

After staring at Shi Man for a while, Wang Qiqi rolled her eyes at Bai Ge. "You explain it yourself." This mess was started by Bai Ge; was she supposed to clear it up instead of the culprit?

Bai Ge thought it over, organized her thoughts, and recounted everything that had happened. Shi Man realized that the scene she witnessed was nothing like what she had imagined. "You guys really..." She had known it! How could Wang Qiqi give up Han Tao for this Bai Ge? Although Bai Ge was decent, she was far inferior to Han Tao.

"And I was cooking too," Wang Qiqi retorted irritably. "What on earth is going on in your head? Alright, go back to sleep." Now that the matter was explained, Wang Qiqi urged the other woman away. After all that turmoil, Wang Qiqi felt exhausted.

Although Bai Ge said nothing, the way she climbed into the covers clearly showed she felt the same. Shi Man watched the two of them climb into the same bed without any pretense of separation. But that wasn't the main point. The key thing was: "Bai Ge, you're planning to start a TOEFL tutoring class?" Good heavens, these two were ambitious! Still, it was a decent idea for making money.

Bai Ge let out a soft affirmation. "Yes, I think it has good potential and is worth my investment." The excitement was over, being treated like a monster was over, the explanation was clear—time to sleep.

Shi Man watched them settle into bed and ignore her, and she felt a surge of anger. How could they sleep over something so significant? If it were her, she definitely wouldn't be able to close her eyes tonight. "I still have questions for you."

The only response Shi Man received was unconscious murmurs like "Mmm." She looked at the two who were already fast asleep and truly wanted to shake them awake to ask her questions. But she dared not. Qiqi's morning temper was quite fierce, and if she woke her up only to be reprimanded instead of getting her questions answered, she didn't want to give Qiqi an opportunity to lecture her again. She remembered past mistakes and couldn't afford to let Qiqi catch her off guard.

Wang Qiqi didn't wake up until past nine. She turned to look at Bai Ge, who was still sleeping soundly. She slowly slid out of bed and walked into the living room, only to find Wang Qiqi curled up on the sofa, staring intently at her bedroom door. When she saw Wang Qiqi's figure, Wang Qiqi noticed her friend's gaze brighten considerably.

That intense stare made Wang Qiqi feel uncomfortable all over. "I say, why aren't you sleeping this early in the morning?" Didn't you also stay up late yesterday? "And why do you have so many red streaks in your eyes?" That looks like the result of an all-nighter. What stimulated the girl to suffer from insomnia?

Shi Man certainly knew her condition wasn't good; she had tossed and turned all night without closing her eyes for long. Yet, this person acted as if she knew nothing, which annoyed her. "Have you forgotten about the 'good thing' you and Bai Ge had going on last night?"

Wang Qiqi felt utterly bewildered. "Didn't we explain that clearly?" Was Shi Man sleepwalking yesterday, only remembering the beginning of the incident and forgetting how it was resolved? Wang Qiqi thought, What sin did I commit to have to explain this again? But she couldn't not explain; if the woman opened her mouth and told her man certain things, Wang Qiqi wouldn't be able to wash away the stain even if she jumped into the Pacific Ocean.

Just as Wang Qiqi was about to reluctantly start explaining again, Shi Man’s eyes fixed on her, and she said in a tone suggesting Wang Qiqi had gone too far, "Didn't you say yesterday that Bai Ge was planning to open a TOEFL training school?"

Wang Qiqi was surprised that the girl’s morning fit was all about this matter. She nodded. "Yes. Is there a problem?"

Seeing Wang Qiqi still looking confused, Shi Man walked into the room, saw Bai Ge still sleeping, and quickly pulled Wang Qiqi into her own room, shutting the door behind them. "Honestly, Qiqi, what a waste to let Bai Ge benefit from such a good idea." Shi Man had genuinely thought about it all night and truly felt it was a brilliant idea. The thought of just handing it over to Bai Ge made her feel awful. She had only one thought: Is Qiqi getting progressively dumber?

"Or should I give it to you?" Wang Qiqi finally understood; the girl was jealous. But the problem was that Wang Qiqi didn't think Shi Man would actually pursue this career. She could only ask back, "Don't forget you're going abroad to study. Who else in your family would run this?" Wang Qiqi wondered why even Shi Man was eyeing this; it seemed completely illogical, especially since Shi Man's parents, who held public positions, were unlikely to switch careers for this.

"Me!" Shi Man realized why she hadn't thought of this sooner. If she had, she could have made quite a bit of money within this year. "You're such a spendthrift!"

Wang Qiqi was stunned. She hadn't expected Shi Man to harbor such an idea. She reached up to scratch her ear and stared at Shi Man again. "Did I hear that right?" Noticing that Shi Man was genuinely serious, Wang Qiqi sighed. "Do you think running this kind of training institution is easy? For an institution you'd only run for one year, how many students do you think would sign up? Plus, the initial investment isn't small. Do you expect to recoup the costs in a single year?" Wang Qiqi thought that she herself had been tempted once, but ultimately gave up because of the cost recovery issue.

"Bai Ge's connections in Beijing are broader than ours. She can handle some things on her own. Can you?" Wang Qiqi looked at the still slightly unconvinced Shi Man. Although this might sting a bit, it was the honest truth.

"But aren't you the one finding the teachers?" Shi Man argued stubbornly. She knew that for a training institution, the teaching staff was the key element, and she understood that if Wang Qiqi hadn't agreed to help, Bai Ge wouldn't have so readily agreed to set up the training center.

"I find the teachers, but Bai Ge is responsible for the students. You see, if this enterprise can be set up decently before we leave, that’s good enough." Wang Qiqi felt a headache coming on. Alas, why did she act so foolishly yesterday, leading to this embarrassing situation from then until now?

After Wang Qiqi’s extensive explanation, backed by factual evidence, Shi Man finally let the idea go. "Sigh, what a golden opportunity to make money." Shi Man regretted it just thinking about it. "If I had known, I could have looked for a part-time job." But now, if she went looking for one, she doubted any training institution would hire her.

Wang Qiqi looked at the very aggrieved Shi Man, scanning her up and down. "You haven't run out of money, have you? Did buying the house drain all your private savings?" Wang Qiqi knew this girl earned money, and besides, she had been holding onto Feng Xuanxiang's dividends all along—Old Feng had never even thought about that money—and yet here she was, crying poor.

Shi Man shot Wang Qiqi a sidelong glance. "How could buying one apartment deplete my main funds? I was just thinking if we should go to Europe early. I read some travelogues, and I'm really tempted." Actually, Shi Man wasn't worried about money initially. After partnering with Li Qian last time, she had already set aside tuition for her studies abroad. As for living expenses, Shi Man maintained that wasn't an issue; they weren't leaving for several months, and she was still doing translation work, so living expenses weren't a problem at all. But if the departure plan changed, Shi Man felt the money wouldn't be enough, which made her anxious.

Wang Qiqi was surprised that she wasn't the only one having this thought. "You want to go early too?" Wang Qiqi felt truly happy to have such a best friend by her side—someone who would play with her, someone who, despite constantly proclaiming she needed to lose weight, would always forget that slogan in front of food. Such a friend was hard to find! "But I think if you're interested in this line of work, you could also partner with Bai Ge." Wang Qiqi thought that if Shi Man was interested, she could collaborate with Bai Ge; perhaps Bai Ge was lacking someone willing to share the risk. Don't think Bai Ge agreed so readily meant she wasn't worried at all.

Partnering with Bai Ge? Shi Man was quite tempted. "Are you willing to invest?" She asked Qiqi's feelings first. If Qiqi wasn't interested, Shi Man felt she shouldn't bring it up.

Wang Qiqi shook her head without hesitation. "Never thought about it."

"Are you not confident in the business, or not confident in her?" Shi Man was taken aback. If they calculated based on how Wang Qiqi was hyping up Bai Ge, this was a very lucrative venture. Why would Qiqi pass up such a great money-making opportunity? Shi Man suspiciously eyed Wang Qiqi, knowing this girl never let a profitable chance slip by. Why would she abandon such a good opportunity? Shi Man found this uncharacteristic of the Wang Qiqi she knew.

"Not confident in her." If anyone else had asked Wang Qiqi this question, Qiqi would have found a perfectly suitable excuse and certainly wouldn't have answered so directly. But because it was Shi Man asking, she answered with bluntness.

Shi Man became angry upon hearing Wang Qiqi's answer. If Bai Ge weren't sleeping next door, she would have demanded loudly what Wang Qiqi meant. How can you suggest I partner with someone you lack confidence in? Isn't that setting me up for disaster?

Wang Qiqi knew Shi Man was unhappy, but she truly didn't want to deceive her. "This business is good. If Bai Ge works hard at it, I think the success rate will be decent. She is more suited than you to run this training institution, Manman." Wang Qiqi looked directly into Shi Man's eyes and spoke every word slowly, "But do you think, if we stay abroad for a long time and can't help her, she will remain this honest?" Wang Qiqi's view of human nature was rather cynical, tinged with paranoia; she firmly believed in the inherent evil of humanity. Although Bai Ge had always behaved well, Wang Qiqi always felt that Duan Xiaomin held some resentment toward her, and it was possible Bai Ge might have played a part in things behind the scenes. It wasn't that Wang Qiqi completely trusted Bai Ge, but rather that investigating such a small matter seemed too foolish.

Shi Man desperately wanted to ask why Wang Qiqi trusted Li Qian's words then. In reality, Qiqi and Li Qian’s relationship wasn't that intimate. Yet, why did Wang Qiqi first refuse when Li Qian proposed co-founding a hotel, only to change her mind after hearing Shi Man express interest in investing? Thinking of this, Shi Man asked, "If I insisted on investing, would you invest?"

Wang Qiqi firmly shook her head, indicating with a finger gesture that regardless of whether Shi Man invested, she wouldn't change her decision.

"Then what about Li Qian?" Since the topic was already on the table, Shi Man wanted to know why Wang Qiqi drew such a clear line between the two.

Looking at Shi Man leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, Wang Qiqi sighed. "Because she is Li Qian. Consider Qian Jie's net worth, Bai Ge's net worth, and their life experiences."

"Qian Jie's finances are certainly better than Bai Ge's; she's been working hard for so many years..." Shi Man began to grasp why Qiqi distinguished between the two relationships so sharply.

Wang Qiqi looked at the slightly understanding Shi Man and patted her shoulder. "It's not that Bai Ge is bad, but in the face of money, many people change. Sister Qian is different. If she truly didn't want to share these profits with outsiders, she could easily mortgage one of her Beijing properties for funds. At worst, she could ask Comrade Old Ye for investment. Plus, I've known Qian Jie for so long, and I know she is proud; she wouldn't allow herself to do something like that. Bai Ge is different. Maybe for a year or two, it won't happen, but what if this institution grows bigger and stronger? Have you considered that?"

"More importantly, Sister Qian has seen more; perhaps she just wants to live her remaining life peacefully. She has no ambition to expand the scale. But Bai Ge is a girl in her twenties; she has ambition and drive and absolutely won't be content with small operations in Beijing. She will definitely hope for a broader place for development, and expanding overseas would be her best choice. At that time, she will demand a share of the profits. Then, do you think your shares, held by someone who can't help her then, won't just be taking up space?" Wang Qiqi followed up. If Shi Man's family held high government positions, her shares would be protected, but Shi Man didn't. "At that time, even if Bai Ge wants to protect your shares, she might be powerless."

Listening to Wang Qiqi's cold analysis, Shi Man suddenly found Qiqi a bit strange. After all, those sharp, critical remarks used to always come from her. When did her own heart start softening while Qiqi’s grew harder? In that moment, Shi Man suddenly felt that growing up wasn't a good thing. "Qiqi, will you... will you look at me this way in the future too?"

Wang Qiqi looked at the tense Shi Man, walked over, and hugged her tightly. "We won't. We will be best friends forever. I don't have many good friends, only you and Nana, and you hold a higher place in my heart than Nana." She had been friends with her since a past life, and even in that past life when Wang Qiqi was down, her friend had still thought of helping her. Wang Qiqi never forgot. "This world is cold enough; I don't want to be without a friend."

"That's good, that's good." Shi Man hugged Wang Qiqi and murmured this repeatedly. After a long while, she added, "I wonder what Sister Yao Yao's reaction would be if your sister knew you gave such a good idea to Bai Ge. I'm really looking forward to it." Okay, Shi Man admitted that her comment was slightly retaliatory. She had just realized this endeavor wasn't really suitable for her, but what about Song Yao? If Song Yao organized this, Shi Man knew she would definitely invest, and Song Yao would never act out of line.

"Even if my sister knew, I would explain it to her. My sister is an English idiot; how can someone like that command respect?" Wang Qiqi couldn't imagine the head of a TOEFL training institution not understanding English herself. If this news got out, Wang Qiqi didn't know how many students would still sign up. "Bai Ge is different; she at least passed CET-6, and if she enters this field, she will definitely strive to excel. But my sister, forget it."

Shi Man considered that Song Yao, despite studying English for so long, was only capable of basic conversation. Although she always talked about visiting the US and even immigrating someday, she truly had the attention span of three minutes. Someone like that starting a training institution really wasn't suitable. "Uh-huh, okay, let's go out now, or it won't be good if Bai Ge wakes up." After all, the things they discussed were really not meant for Bai Ge to overhear.

Wang Qiqi rushed out of the room toward the bathroom. If it weren't for comforting Shi Man, she would have run there long ago. Shi Man watched Wang Qiqi shamelessly clutching her stomach as she bolted to the bathroom and burst out laughing happily.

Wang Qiqi felt her face twitch upon hearing that laughter. What a heartless girl! Why couldn't she reflect on why she was making such a spectacle? It was all because of someone else's sudden outburst. "Go buy breakfast. Haven't you seen the time?"

"Me?" Shi Man thought, Don't we often miss breakfast? We aren't interning or attending classes, plus we often stay up late, so by the time we wake up, it's nearly noon. Breakfast is always skipped.

"You woke up the earliest. Hurry up! Bai Ge is still staying at our place; can you let a guest go hungry?" Wang Qiqi stopped in her tracks and stared at Shi Man. Hmph, you want to mock me? I'll make you run errands.

Shi Man looked at the fierce Wang Qiqi and felt incredibly wronged. The woman was too infuriating. She didn't know how Han Tao put up with her. Alas, she shouldn't say Han Tao isn't romantic; they were a perfect match. "Fine, I'll go buy it. What do you want to eat?"

"You handle it," Wang Qiqi thought, feeling this girl shouldn't have been given any pleasantries.

Handle it? Shi Man detested hearing those words most; it sounded like autonomy, but if what you bought wasn't right, it became your failure. It would have been far better to just state plainly what you wanted to eat. RS