The next day, Wang Qiqi found an occasion when only she and Mark were present. "Tell John," she said, "it’s best if we don't appear together. Otherwise, people will think he’s interested in me."

Recalling the previous evening after returning home, the freezer unit had been running full blast, sending icy cold air directly toward her. Wang Qiqi didn't want to dwell on it; it had been intensely, almost painfully cold. If she hadn't been worried about Shi Hongrui and the others noticing something amiss, Qiqi felt she might have actually frozen solid the night before.

Qiqi knew she was wrong to take her anger out on Mark, but the problem was, she didn't know John at all. She couldn't very well criticize him in front of Zhang Yan. Besides, Mark was the one who instigated the situation, so he should handle it.

Mark was completely thrown when Wang Qiqi approached him, bristling with energy, and heard what she said. He felt only one thought dominating his mind: “Don’t tell me about it; I’m not the main character here.” Ah, how difficult it was for his good friend to pursue a woman. "I'm having a hard time too, and I'm very busy. I don't want to deal with so many complications." Mark truly regretted ever opening his mouth to greet Angel in the first place. If he hadn't, there would have been no follow-up, or even if he had greeted her, he shouldn't have softened and sent that email. Maybe then he wouldn't be in such a dreadful mess now. Mark deeply regretted it. "I genuinely regret it."

Wang Qiqi looked at the person before her, who wore an expression of deep remorse, and let out a heavy sigh herself. "What do you regret? I'm the one regretting things. Why did I go buy coffee that day?" If she hadn't bought coffee, she wouldn't have met Mark, and none of this would have followed. "You have no idea—I was nearly gobbled up alive by my friends when I got back yesterday."

Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi grabbed the lapel of the man’s collar. "If you hadn't sold me out yesterday with your noise, would I be like this?" The angrier Qiqi got as she thought about it, the more the fleeting thought that Mark might also be wronged vanished. Damn it, why should he be aggrieved? She was the one suffering the most. It was his friend chasing her friend, and she got no benefits, only heaps of trouble. Just thinking about it was depressing. That John guy was not being honorable, and this man in front of her was going too far. If she didn't give him some sort of warning, he might sell her out again in the future. For the sake of an easier future, she had to cut off this person’s means of betraying her, no matter what.

Mark also sighed. "Fine, let's both stay out of this matter." He could only apologize to his buddy. Truly, he didn't want to hear Qiqi’s complaints every single day. Moreover, he noticed he and Angel had been communicating a bit too much lately. Although their discussions were about completely normal topics, the problem was that they were often chatting alone. He genuinely worried that if this continued, the way his colleagues looked at him and Qiqi would change.

This was exactly the result Wang Qiqi wanted. "Remember that." She poured a cup of coffee and casually asked a few questions while standing to the side. Hmph, Wang Qiqi had noticed that while no one had entered the breakroom, people were definitely passing by the doorway and peeking inside whenever they saw a potential gossip opportunity. Qiqi thought to herself, who says foreigners don't care about other people's private affairs? When there’s a chance for juicy gossip, aren't they all quicker than anyone else to watch?

Mark considered it for a moment and explained things in a simple manner. He hadn't overthought it, assuming Wang Qiqi had run into a problem she needed advice on.

"Thank you." Although she had intentionally made it look like she was asking for advice, this was genuinely something Wang Qiqi hadn't grasped. What she initially thought was difficult became clear after Mark's explanation—it turned out she had been overthinking everything.

Regardless of her initial motive for asking, after receiving Mark's explanation, Wang Qiqi felt that her sudden maneuver had been absolutely correct. She had managed to find herself a good tutor. Don't look at Mark as just an undergraduate; Wang Qiqi was certain he knew far more than she did, perhaps due to his extensive experience. Given this, Wang Qiqi decided she needed to maintain a good relationship with this tutor for future consultations. "Mark, can I consult you again in the future?"

So, that was the issue. Mark waved his hand dismissively, indicating no problem. "We can certainly discuss things when I'm free. And by the way, your pastry-making is quite good," Mark stated his opinion frankly.

Wang Qiqi knew foreigners rarely did unpaid work, and he was likely combining his theoretical knowledge with practical experience. For a newcomer like her, this insight saved her a lot of detours. "Understood. I know what I need to do." It was just about pastries. Qiqi was growing increasingly curious about Mark’s girlfriend. In Wang Qiqi's mind, shouldn't many foreigners know how to bake? Why couldn't Mark's girlfriend manage it?

Mark watched Wang Qiqi, who still seemed lost in thought, and walked out holding his coffee cup. Because outsiders assumed they were still discussing something, and wanted to hear if asking questions was just a cover story, they hadn't retreated immediately. Mark walked quickly, and as soon as he left the breakroom, he saw the stiff expressions and movements of several people. He suddenly understood why she had asked him those questions. He thought to himself how thankful he was that he'd made his decision quickly; otherwise, a big mess might have unfolded. If they had been joking around and their words accidentally reached his girlfriend’s ears, it would have caused further issues. "I'm just grabbing a coffee. Angel was asking me a few questions." Mark put on a look of weary helplessness.

Hearing this, the group shared one collective thought: if it were truly a consultation, why explain it outside afterward? And why not ask in front of everyone? They were intensely curious and were convinced the content of their discussion wasn't related to studying. However, since they hadn't heard the beginning of Mark and Qiqi's conversation, by the time they caught up, it genuinely did sound like they were discussing academics. Even if they didn't believe it, what could they do? Seeing that the hour was getting late, everyone dispersed. They figured if there truly was something going on between the two, it wouldn't remain secret for long.

In the following days, Wang Qiqi noticed that whenever she appeared with Mark, her colleagues’ gazes would deliberately or inadvertently sweep over them. Qiqi could only sigh inwardly. Ah, no wonder the paparazzi abroad were so prolific—it was because so many people loved reading gossip. She, an ordinary person, drew so much attention from the slightest ripple; celebrities must be watched even more closely.

Despite the strange looks they received, Wang Qiqi continued to ask Mark questions frequently. First, Mark's answers were genuinely excellent; whenever he had free time, he answered thoroughly. Of course, Wang Qiqi often gave Mark small pastries as a thank-you for his guidance. Furthermore, she gave the pastries openly now, not secretly. The more she did this, the more it convinced onlookers that there was nothing untoward happening between them, because everything was out in the open. Second, if she suddenly stopped interacting with someone she was previously close to—someone she often chatted with alone—to the point where even in a group setting, the two had zero interaction, that was a blatant signal to others that something was wrong between her and Mark.

Gradually, everyone noticed that Angel really was pulling Mark aside to ask him questions. After enough repetitions, they naturally lost interest. They certainly weren't going to tease Angel about not asking them instead; if she actually approached them for help, they would be losing out significantly. Daily work and studies were already so demanding; who had time to instruct her? Besides, Angel was a postgraduate student. How could a mere undergraduate teach her? Of course, these were just surface thoughts. The real reason was that they worried helping Angel would eat into their own time. Even though they had gotten to know her somewhat over these weeks and realized Angel wasn't unintelligent—a brief explanation was usually enough for her to understand—it still took time, didn't it?

When Wang Qiqi saw that everyone had stopped focusing on her and Mark, she let out a long sigh of relief. Turning to Mark, who still looked shaken, she said, "That issue seems resolved. Sigh, is this what they call suffering an unwarranted calamity because of helping a friend?" She hadn't dared tell Shi Man or Zhang Yan about becoming the center of attention; she worried Shi Man would mock her, and if she told Zhang Yan, she feared Zhang Yan would say it was self-inflicted. For the sake of her own peace and quiet, Wang Qiqi only dared confide in Han Tao. Unfortunately, he couldn't offer any solutions either, only comfort. Occasionally, he would mention how worried he was that Qiqi might actually get involved with that Mark, which made Wang Qiqi extremely regretful. The situation over here hadn't even been properly handled, and she was nearly facing trouble brewing in her own backyard.

Mark murmured an acknowledgment. "I've also been reading quite a bit lately. The things you ask are quite challenging." Postgraduate material was indeed profound. Although Mark had extensive practical experience, there were some issues he hadn't encountered, and he needed to consult books. "Actually, you could ask the BOSS. He is your professor, after all." Mark found it very strange. Although Angel worked there as an assistant, he had noticed that whenever the BOSS was around, Angel rarely presented herself to him, avoiding it whenever possible. He was very curious about this. "Otherwise, you're practically invisible." Everyone had assumed she would strive to climb the ladder, but now, long after joining, she was treated just like any other assistant. While she got along fine with everyone, it remained strictly a normal colleague relationship, with no sign of further ambition—especially concerning the boss. She maintained the relationship level of the lowest-ranking employee with the head, which everyone found quite baffling, considering the BOSS was her professor, and her thesis depended on his approval. Had she lost all ambition?

"I am already invisible," Wang Qiqi replied. She hadn't expected Mark to offer such advice. While she could interpret it as him perhaps wanting her to embarrass herself in front of the BOSS, Mark's pride wouldn't allow him to do something like that. Generally, no one wants the BOSS to notice someone else; everyone hopes the boss focuses solely on them, constantly seeing their progress and achievements, which leads to better resources and a secure future after graduation. But Mark was different; he didn't mind having another competitor. "My postgraduate study is just for interest. I am also interested in finance, but seeing how hard you all work—having to check endless documents, perform countless analyses, constantly watching the market feeds, even rushing to the restroom—and often going without sleep for two or three hours in a busy day—the pressure is extraordinary for me." Wang Qiqi hadn't experienced that pressure firsthand, but in her view, it was enough to make a person explode. No wonder so-called elite professionals tended to die young; despite having no financial worries, the pressure was everywhere.

"I like money, but I think I'm better suited for earning it leisurely," Wang Qiqi summarized. Seeing Mark's face change, as well as the expressions of the two colleagues who arrived shortly after to pour coffee, Wang Qiqi suddenly realized her words might have inadvertently offended the people present. She frantically tried to salvage the situation. "Besides, I'm already spoken for. I plan to go to the US after graduation to take care of my man." Wang Qiqi knew this sounded unambitious, but she was just a small woman; what could they do to her? Moreover, she didn't want to put pressure on both families. If she succeeded wildly in this field, Han Tao would feel pressured, and Old Mr. Feng would feel pressure too. To maintain harmony between the two families, Wang Qiqi felt there was no need to work herself to exhaustion.

As soon as Wang Qiqi finished speaking, everyone's expression shifted oddly, including Mark's. This struck Wang Qiqi as very strange, yet she couldn't figure out why their faces looked that way. She truly didn't know which of her statements had been inappropriate.

The atmosphere became very awkward for a moment. "Is there a problem?" Wang Qiqi asked quietly. She thought that since she didn't understand, she should just ask; she couldn't just let the misunderstanding hang in the air.

Mark glanced quickly at the people behind Wang Qiqi and shook his head rapidly. "No, it’s just... I find it strange that you have a boyfriend." Good heavens, Wang Qiqi had a boyfriend!

"Yes, is it strange that I have a boyfriend?" Wang Qiqi thought that at her age, not having one would be strange.

"No, I just think it’s odd. You’re here every weekend..." Mark had assumed she was single since she spent weekends inside, living with other women.

"He’s doing his postgraduate studies in the US," Wang Qiqi explained. She realized that from a foreign perspective, her situation with Han Tao resembled being single or in a break-up.

Mark found this peculiar. "Why didn't you study in the US? Why come to the UK?" If she wasn't overly ambitious about her future career, the location of her studies shouldn't matter much. Why be so far apart? Besides, could a long-distance relationship survive this separation?

Wang Qiqi offered a wry smile. "It was all because of 9/11." If not for that, she would certainly have gone to the US long ago. Now, even meeting her man required video calls, but no matter how many videos they exchanged, some things just couldn't be solved through a screen. "If it had been a year earlier, everything would have been fine. Alas."

So that was it. Such a major event caused much inconvenience, not just for Angel but for everyone. For instance, airport security checks became much more troublesome, especially for people like them who often arrived just in time for their flights; they now had to leave much earlier, which was a huge waste of time. "It was chaotic then, but we actually managed to make a little money." Since they were speaking privately in the studio, and Angel was discreet, they didn't mind sharing.

"Exactly. Opportunities aren't always available; whether good or bad, they are opportunities for us."

Listening to them chat, Wang Qiqi had only one thought: people in finance probably preferred more turbulence, as it meant more chances to make money. As for the 'small money' they mentioned, Wang Qiqi estimated it was probably enough to cover their tuition fees for several years. Of course, compared to what the BOSS earned, it was indeed pocket change.

Just as the group was speculating about when they might earn some 'small money,' the BOSS pushed open the door. "Meeting! Meeting!"

Hearing the BOSS’s excited voice and the immediate call for a meeting, Mark and the others wondered if some good news had arrived—meaning, of course, a chance to earn significant wealth.

Mark and the others swiftly moved to the conference table and took their seats. Wang Qiqi quickly found a spot too. Although she was technically the assistant, she felt there were meetings she didn't need to attend. However, the BOSS insisted she was a core team member and must participate. So, Qiqi reluctantly attended. Every time she heard someone fluently report their progress and summarize the current phase of work, Wang Qiqi felt a pang of inferiority.

The meeting wasn't long; the BOSS mainly discussed the recent major plan and assigned personnel. Wang Qiqi listened intently, but her mind was busy deciding what to eat for dinner. In her view, she was just the assistant, responsible only for logistics. By the afternoon closing time, her job would be to order their dinner and ensure the breakroom was stocked with drinks, coffee, and snacks.

"Angel, besides handling logistics for this assignment, you will also be responsible for some simple data collection work." Professor Steven finished assigning tasks (though everyone already knew how to coordinate work and cooperate, given their long association). He looked around and noticed the one assistant who seemed somewhat detached from the inner circle. After a moment of thought, he gave the instruction.

When Professor Steven first hired Angel as his assistant, he intended for her to simply be a competent assistant. Her initial performance and conduct had satisfied him; she met his expectations for an assistant. But the assistant he pegged for mere competence surprisingly managed to surprise him. While her progress wasn't dramatic, she hadn't stalled. A fast-improving assistant meant he naturally wanted to utilize her more than just for basic tasks. Not only had he been assessing Angel, but Mark and the others had been observing too. The consensus was: Angel had little overt ambition in finance, but she completed assigned tasks quickly and well. Therefore, given the tight schedule and heavy workload of this current task, they certainly wouldn't overlook her.

Wang Qiqi was stunned when the Professor announced her task. If she hadn't been mindful of the setting, she would have blurted out, "Why me? And I need to collect data?" Well, he was the boss, and she was on his payroll, so she would do as ordered. But the problem was, "I've never done this before; I don't know how." Although this sounded incompetent, it was better than making a mistake. This contract seemed quite important; even though the BOSS looked delighted, his expression was also serious. He had mentioned this deal carried a slightly high risk. If she messed up even the ordinary data collection, and this mission failed or the profit margin shrank because of her error, Wang Qiqi suspected she wouldn't live to walk out of that office alive.

"MAY will be returning to work. You will follow her and handle the data collection." The BOSS had clearly made contingency plans. MAY could handle it alone, but she had just had a baby and needed to care for the infant. It was too late to hire an outside assistant, and for confidentiality reasons, the best candidate should come from within. Assistant Angel had just been lucky enough to be brought into the loop.

MAY is coming back? Wang Qiqi was aghast. Hadn't she only recently given birth? It seemed like only half a month ago. Although foreigners didn't really observe confinement periods or maternity leave, this seemed excessive. Wang Qiqi silently grumbled, She’s not going to bring the baby to work, is she? "Understood. I will cooperate with MAY to get the work done."

"MAY will be working from home during this period and won't come in unless necessary. Much of the fieldwork will fall to you," Steven swept his gaze over everyone. "If there are no more questions, we'll adjourn. Rest up today; tomorrow starts the rush, and you all will likely be pulling frequent all-nighters."

Wang Qiqi realized that although she was nominally still the assistant, she would have to start trying to handle things independently. While MAY would offer guidance, she was primarily focused on her baby; she would likely be the final checkpoint. This responsibility felt heavy, but since she was asked to do it, Wang Qiqi was determined to succeed. As for her studies, she felt practical experience would greatly benefit her academic improvement. For any coursework she might fall behind on, Wang Qiqi could only promise to work hard to catch up.

Everyone present laughed, and someone proposed, "If this contract goes well, treat us to a great meal." They casually suggested that restaurant; after all, the established custom was that a good job meant a celebratory dinner—it was just a question of the standard.

"No problem," Steven confirmed the location for the celebration.

Once the celebratory spot was known, everyone laughed with delight. Wang Qiqi was inwardly thrilled too. She knew that the restaurant they had just proposed was rumored to be a Michelin-starred establishment. While the prices weren't excessively steep, considering the portion sizes, Qiqi still felt a pang of financial pain—she would never treat herself to go there. Now, someone was footing the bill, and it was company money! Qiqi was overjoyed; she knew this meal would ensure they ate heartily and well. The mere thought of being able to eat without restraint filled her with delight.

Lost in her happiness, Wang Qiqi forgot the kind of life that awaited her next. All she could think about was the delicious food. This would be the first time in two lifetimes she would dine at a Michelin restaurant, and how could that not excite her?