Wang Qiqi, once the immediate flurry of tasks had mostly subsided, consulted with Han Tao about where they should vacation. (Shi Man pursed her lips in disdain; the woman had clearly already decided on the destination, yet insisted on making a pretense of consultation—Shi Man saw it as false democracy. It was fortunate that Han Tao was a true gentleman, and moreover, they were both incredibly busy people, for whom a vacation was truly about rest and time spent together. Otherwise, Shi Man genuinely worried that Wang Qiqi's assertiveness might upset Han Tao.) After securing Han Tao’s agreement and confirming his time off, Wang Qiqi had already booked their flights to Bali. Her plan was to rent a car upon arrival, travel around with Han Tao, stop at any interesting restaurant they spotted, and leisurely spend the ten days of their holiday.

Shi Man watched Wang Qiqi beaming contentedly these past few days. "Such a happy woman, off on a trip soon." Ah, Bali. Shi Man had looked into the details over the last few days, and the more she learned, the more envious and bitterly jealous she became of Qiqi’s upcoming vacation.

After sending the itinerary to Han Tao, Wang Qiqi immediately heard a distinctly jealous tone in someone’s voice. She didn’t even need to turn around to know exactly who was envious, especially since the computer screen gave the culprit away. “What are you jealous of? Aren’t you going back home to see your parents, to meet your future in-laws?”

“That’s a wonderful opportunity; it shows your relationship is solid.” Although Shi Man maintained a brave front, she occasionally suffered moments of melancholy, asking Qiqi if long-distance relationships were doomed to fail, or similar questions. Though infrequent, the insecurity she felt was absolutely genuine.

Despite saying that, the fundamental question remained: was a pleasure trip the same as rushing back and forth to see relatives on both sides? “Your flight is on the 25th?” Shi Man suddenly realized Wang Qiqi wasn't leaving before Christmas, but on Christmas Day itself. “Were the tickets cheaper? Why didn’t you choose to leave after the holiday?” That way, she could have snagged some discounted items and mailed them back.

Wang Qiqi hummed in agreement. “There was no choice. I wasn't sure if I could actually take time off until so late. Han Tao had already planned to come here to spend the holiday with me, and it’s been ages since we saw each other; naturally, meeting a day earlier is better. Why should I stay here foolishly alone?” The schedule had been dragged out until this point, resulting in higher ticket prices. Wang Qiqi checked and found that only the flight on that day seemed remotely acceptable. “Right now, I just hope everything goes smoothly.” For some inexplicable reason, Wang Qiqi felt increasingly uneasy lately, sensing that this trip might not be as smooth as planned, as if something was lurking ahead.

Seeing her friend’s face contort with worry, Shi Man delivered a sharp, unwelcome tap on Wang Qiqi’s head. Wang Qiqi hadn't expected comfort, but did she have to be so brutally physical? Wang Qiqi shot Shi Man a fierce look, rubbing her head with one hand. “Don’t you know my livelihood depends on my brain? What if I become stupid?”

“I am a future financial elite! Don’t you realize that one smack from you might just wipe out a billionaire, one whose currency is the US Dollar?” Wang Qiqi glared mournfully at Shi Man, feeling that if she failed to become a dollar-denominated billionaire, it would entirely be Shi Man’s fault—surely this blow was responsible for any impending dullness.

“Billionaire, denominated in US Dollars? I think even if you were a billionaire, your currency would be the South Korean Won.” Shi Man had initially thought of Yen, but then quickly calculated that the Won was even less valuable. She mentally tallied it up: “That’s only about a hundred thousand USD, right? You should have that much net worth now, so don’t worry about not being a billionaire.”

Shi Man’s words nearly made Wang Qiqi spit blood in anger. “You're bullying me! Fine, I’m done talking to you. I’m going to read.” Hmph, wasting time bantering with this person.

Although Shi Hongrui was ostensibly reading, she was straining her ears to catch the conversation between Wang Qiqi and Shi Man. The jealousy that flooded her heart over Qiqi's Bali trip was intense, but she couldn't bear to spend that kind of money; the airfare alone would allow her to wander around the UK vicinity. Thinking of this, she nudged Zhao Rongrong. “Rongrong, where are you planning to go for your break?”

Zhao Rongrong, already feeling a bit drowsy, blinked. “I want to go to Italy. I want to see the sites of the Renaissance. Do you want to come?”

To Italy? Shi Hongrui’s first thought was a definite no; the expense wouldn't be small. But she couldn't help asking, “How much is it?” Last time they traveled together to Germany, even though they tried to be frugal, it wasn't exactly cheap. She wasn't sure how much Zhao Rongrong’s trip would cost, and if they went to Italy, she could check the prices of some Italian brands. If the timing worked out—right after Christmas, which was prime sale season—she could buy whatever was cheapest.

Shi Man’s ears perked up the moment she heard Zhang Yan and the others might go to Italy. She leaned in to hear which cities they were considering. She knew Rome and Milan were guaranteed stops—they were cultural centers, independent of the region’s commercial prowess. If Zhang Yan and Rongrong skipped those, that would be problematic.

“By train, and maybe catch a ride if possible. We’ll stay in youth hostels the whole way.” Zhao Rongrong hadn't meticulously mapped out the route, but she had a general idea. Their last trip wasn’t exactly luxurious—they stayed in hotels—but this time, staying in hostels would save significantly on accommodation. “And for food, we need to prioritize saving as well,” Zhao Rongrong reminded them. When traveling, lodging, food, and transport were the biggest expenses; everything else was manageable.

Shi Hongrui didn’t know the exact stops on the Italian itinerary, but just hearing the frugal plan told her the costs wouldn't be high. Of course, the conditions wouldn't be great—much worse than their last trip—but it suited her perfectly. “Count me in. Hey, Yan Yan, are you going?” The old Shi Hongrui would have fretted over numerous safety concerns while traveling, but now she wasn't worried. Communication wasn't an issue with a common language, and listening to classmates recount their travels, Shi Hongrui felt she always over-thought things. Perhaps she should seize the current opportunity to be a little reckless.

Zhang Yan actually wanted to say that suggesting Italy was her idea to Rongrong, but she wasn't sure if Shi Hongrui would join, knowing this trip was meant to be an endurance test. Still, she couldn't admit in front of Shi Hongrui that she already knew about the destination. She pretended to ponder for a moment. “If the plan is workable, I’ll go.” It would be a chance to truly experience backpacker travel—seeing more places with minimal spending. The places she planned to go later would undoubtedly be even more rugged than anything in Europe, so this trip could serve as good practice.

“A plan?” Shi Hongrui had zero knack for that sort of thing, and with the semester ending, there were too many loose ends to tie up. “Yan Yan, why don’t you and Rongrong take the lead on putting the plan together?” Shi Hongrui said this sweetly; making such detailed plans was honestly torture for her.

It was naturally going to be up to them. If they let Hongrui handle it, Zhang Yan and Rongrong worried the trip would devolve entirely into shopping excursions. “Also, we are going to visit museums and architecture, not scheduled stops at luxury boutiques,” Zhao Rongrong stated upfront. They didn't want Hongrui to cry later that she was misled into coming only to find no malls. They needed to set the ground rules now.

Shi Hongrui’s face went blank, unsurprised. “What? No shopping malls?” Then what was the point of excitedly going to Italy? While the architecture was fine, she had absolutely no passion for it. Besides, after seeing a few, they all blurred together. Could the greatest building even compare to Chairman Mao? The former was a distant dream to possess; the latter, with a bit of effort, she felt she could achieve.

Zhang Yan and Zhao Rongrong exchanged a look; they knew Hongrui would complain. They were glad they brought it up now. “You can consider wandering off alone while we do our thing.” In the end, they were joining forces primarily to split costs for lodging and transport, and for mutual support. How they spent their time at the destination was negotiable.

Hearing this, Shi Man immediately thought the plan sounded good, but it depended on what Shi Hongrui decided.

“Deal.” Shi Hongrui felt that shopping alone was slightly absurd, but she knew this was their non-negotiable boundary; backing down further meant they wouldn't take her at all. The thought of Yan Yan and Rongrong going to Italy while Man Man returned to China to see her family made staying alone in England utterly unacceptable. Therefore, no matter what, she wouldn't miss this chance. Besides, who knew if she might have some romantic encounter? Shi Hongrui decided she needed to start praying fervently that fate would drop a suitable man into her lap.

“Oh, Rui Rui, remember to bring me something back!” Shi Man’s excitement spiked when she heard Shi Hongrui was going to Italy. “See if there are any interesting handcrafted items over there.” Those sorts of things were potentially more lucrative than designer labels.

“No problem.” Shi Hongrui let her smile fade, looking at Shi Man before sighing. “If only you weren’t going back, we could have shopped together.” Shopping with Shi Man was fun; she could browse endlessly. Everyone else complained of fatigue after just a few stores, yet they had boundless energy for museums. Truly, they were birds of a different feather. It was a shame Shi Man had to return, or this trip to Italy would have been incredibly fun.

It wasn't just Shi Hongrui who felt regret; Shi Man shared the sentiment. “It’s fine. There will be plenty of chances later. We can just fly over for a couple of days.” If tickets were booked early enough, cheap ones were obtainable. “You’re the trailblazer this time. See what the market is like; next time we go, we’ll know exactly what to target.” Shi Man wasn't worried about Hongrui hiding any great finds, and even if she did, she wasn't such a fool as to follow blindly.

“Done.” Shi Hongrui happily accepted the mission Shi Man had assigned her. She felt this meant Shi Man trusted her enough to handle this task independently, rather than being the perpetual tag-along she once was. “I will work hard to complete the mission.”

Shi Man understood why Hongrui was acting so smug; oh well, let her have her moment. It was better than having her sulk around looking like an abandoned woman. “Everyone has plans for the break. Remember to bring back tasty souvenirs!” Travel was about good food and beautiful sights. Scenery couldn't be replicated, even with a camera; the real impact of seeing it firsthand was unmatched. Food, however, was different; they could bring it back for everyone to sample local flavors.

While Wang Qiqi ticked off the days until she could see her man and escape the musty air of the city for a tropical climate, the very thing she had worried about actually happened.

“What? What did you say?” Wang Qiqi had just settled into bed, preparing for sleep, when her phone rang, nearly giving her a heart attack. She prayed frantically it was a wrong number, but when she saw the name flashing on the screen, she knew something was seriously wrong.

The moment she answered, Nick’s urgent words flooded her ear. Though he spoke quickly, Wang Qiqi caught the key instruction: return to the studio immediately for a meeting. They had run into that specific trouble.

Wang Qiqi didn't know how she managed to hang up. Her immediate fear was that the trouble involved her own oversight. The market trends had become clearer recently, and she’d let her guard down slightly while gathering data. The thought that her laxity might ruin all their previous efforts was unbearable; she couldn't forgive herself. Furthermore, she had no idea how the BOSS would view her failure. In that moment, Qiqi felt utterly lost.

“Qiqi, are you alright?” Shi Man was still burning the midnight oil. Noticing Wang Qiqi had answered a call and then gone completely silent, she turned to see Qiqi sitting stiffly in bed, looking like a statue. Had the phone call brought terrible news?

Zhang Yan and Zhao Rongrong also looked at Wang Qiqi with concern, especially Zhang Yan, who was positioned perfectly to see Qiqi’s expression shift dramatically right before she picked up. However, a late-night call always suggested bad news, and Qiqi’s face had remained unnaturally pale since.

“I’m fine. I have to go out. I’m taking that car; Man Man, you drive tomorrow.” Wang Qiqi didn't know the severity of the issue, but she knew she wouldn't be home tonight. As for tomorrow, she doubted she’d be back either; if it were manageable, Nick wouldn’t have sounded so panicked.

“Now?” Shi Man asked, astonished. “What happened?” Who goes out in the middle of the night? She started to suggest she go with her, knowing that whatever could pull the about-to-sleep Qiqi out of bed must be a major crisis, but then saw Wang Qiqi already sprinting upstairs.

Wang Qiqi dashed into her room, grabbing underwear, a towel, and shoving items haphazardly into a nearby backpack before flying back downstairs. “Man Man, the keys.”

“I’ll drive you.” Shi Man was already dressed. “I won’t feel safe letting you drive alone. Are you heading to the studio?” What if something went wrong? Sighing, Shi Man thought about how hard Qiqi worked for so little pay; she had finally earned a moment of ease, and now this happened. She hoped everything would resolve smoothly—even if the commission was smaller, as long as the pressure eased, that was enough.

Wang Qiqi nodded, murmuring acknowledgment. She was about to mention that Shi Man would just be driving back alone anyway, given how late it was, but stopped herself.

“Me too.” Zhang Yan was also fully dressed for going out, waiting for Qiqi to descend. “Rongrong and the others are staying here to keep watch.”

Wang Qiqi looked at the two who insisted on accompanying her. She wanted to tell them it was unnecessary; they also had reports to finish and hadn't slept yet. They had worked hard too. Though driving wasn't excessively far, it would still take at least half an hour each way.

Before Wang Qiqi could object, Shi Man grabbed the keys and ran toward the garage. Seeing Shi Man’s determination, Wang Qiqi could only silently acknowledge their support. After the initial shock, Wang Qiqi worried that this trip plan might be scrapped again. It wasn't the airfare money she minded losing; it was the crushing sense of waste—all that anticipation for nothing. She braced herself for the possibility that the greater the hope, the greater the ensuing disappointment.

“It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine,” Zhang Yan said, seeing the backpack on Qiqi’s shoulder. Not knowing the specifics of the call, she could only offer comforting words.

“It will pass, everything will be resolved,” Zhao Rongrong and the others chimed in. To have such a crisis erupt late at night—the pressure in finance was immense. Their previous envy of Qiqi had faded as they witnessed her recent struggles; Qiqi’s weight loss alone attested to how agonizing her days had been.

Wang Qiqi managed a soft hum. She desperately wanted to say that this completely out-of-the-blue call had made her profoundly anxious—anxious about too many things. She could only keep telling herself that hopefully, it wasn't a major catastrophe, and if it was, that it wasn't her fault. She also desperately hoped it would resolve quickly so it wouldn't jeopardize the vacation. She couldn't possibly share her deeper, more personal worries with Zhang Yan and the others, as the first set of fears clashed with her professional image, and the second made her sound utterly selfish. “It will get better. There are plenty of elites upstairs managing things,” Wang Qiqi self-soothed in a momentary bout of rationalization.

Shi Man drove at breakneck speed all the way, fearing she would delay Qiqi’s crucial time. Wang Qiqi sat with her face drawn tight, a sight Shi Man found somewhat unsettling. “Qiqi, we’re here.”

Hearing this, Wang Qiqi took a deep breath, gripped her bag firmly, and stepped out of the car. “Be careful on the way back. I’ll be fine. You two should get some sleep too.”

Shi Man waved to acknowledge this, and they watched until Wang Qiqi was safely inside the building before starting the engine and leaving.

The moment Wang Qiqi pushed open the main door, she noticed the downstairs lobby was completely empty. This struck her as odd. Had Nick tricked her? Just as she was about to speak, the office door opened, and MAY stepped out. This sight truly terrified Wang Qiqi. “MAY?” If even she was mobilized at this hour, it meant they were facing a massive problem.

Seeing Wang Qiqi, MAY grabbed her arm and practically dragged her upstairs. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

MAY’s words made Wang Qiqi’s face drain of color even further. She thought, It must be my mistake, otherwise why would the first thing she says be that, followed by grabbing my arm and rushing me upstairs? Were they worried I’d try to flee? Good heavens, how much trouble had she caused? Wang Qiqi wailed internally. Right now, she could only pray for a smooth resolution. Thank goodness she wasn't planning to stay in finance forever, she thought again. If this incident leaked, her reputation in the industry would be ruined.

Wang Qiqi followed MAY into the main office area and immediately felt the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. The high tension made her heart pound rapidly. She also noticed Mark, who usually maintained a relaxed demeanor regardless of the crisis, had completely disheveled hair, his face stretched long as if someone owed him tens of millions. Seeing Mark this way, Wang Qiqi lost all hope of making her vacation on time. As for the first concern—until she knew the situation—she could only try to hold it together.

Steven quickly summarized the situation once MAY and Wang Qiqi entered. When Wang Qiqi heard the upheaval wasn't due to her actions, she felt a massive wave of relief wash over her. While the next few days might be intensely busy, it was infinitely better than being busy because of her own errors. Naturally, Wang Qiqi was mindful of the setting and kept her expression neutral.

MAY, oblivious to Wang Qiqi’s internal relief, was focused entirely on the news Steven had delivered. “So that means the plan we made before...?” She was stunned that such a massive shift could occur at the final stage. “We had everything confirmed earlier!”

“Profit trumps promises,” Steven could only state grimly. Although he was furious, what could he do? “Luckily, I got wind of this early, otherwise…” He sighed. Though one should maintain some reserve with associates, he hadn’t expected a friend of many years to pull a stunt like this. “Of course, it could be false intelligence, but we must prepare for the worst.” Being prepared never hurt when dealing with uncertainty.

MAY nodded. “Understood. Angel and I will go gather the data now.”

Steven waved them off. “Go ahead.”

Wang Qiqi immediately followed May downstairs after hearing the Boss’s words. From their recent conversation, Wang Qiqi drew the conclusion that the Boss had been betrayed by his friend, or perhaps his best associate. The fact that the Boss had received advance notice made Wang Qiqi wonder if someone was acting out of kindness, or if the Boss had planted a spy near the other party. However, Wang Qiqi leaned toward the former, or perhaps the Boss had simply noticed something from subtle clues over time. Sighing inwardly, Wang Qiqi cursed those responsible, furious that someone would sabotage a venture that was supposed to be profitable for everyone and on the cusp of success. But what could she do? She was merely the lowliest cog in the machine, left with nothing but the need to work even harder. RS