Well, Wang Qiqi could only pretend not to hear and rushed to the garage, starting her car and driving toward the studio. She was only supposed to be back for three hours, and if she didn't leave now, Wang Qiqi worried she would be late. However, having this meal made Wang Qiqi feel energized again, ready to face the fight.

She drove slowly along the road, her eyes fixed intently on the path ahead. Actually, her mind was churning, not about work, but about an email Han Tao had sent earlier.

Wang Qiqi knew Han Tao wouldn't be content staying under someone else forever; eventually, he would start his own venture. He had mentioned it before, but from what he'd implied, he'd only consider starting a business once things at home stabilized—like covering household expenses and sorting out the housing situation. Wang Qiqi calculated that would take another three to five years, so she hadn't expected him to be thinking about launching a business now.

It was a good field for Han Tao to start a business in; so many IT elites made their fortunes by creating companies. How many people got rich working for others? How many "emperor employees" were there? Wang Qiqi didn't object to Han Tao starting a business; she just wanted to know why he wanted to start now. Was he leaving because he felt wronged at work, or did he have a new project? Yet, in his email, he only mentioned this one thing and nothing else. This left Wang Qiqi completely bewildered. Regardless of Han Tao’s reasons for wanting to start a business, Wang Qiqi would support him.

Upon returning to the studio, Wang Qiqi first went up to the second floor to check if there were any urgent matters. Only after receiving a negative answer did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. Nick saw Wang Qiqi’s relaxed expression and walked up to her, patting her shoulder. “Didn’t you say your friends were going out of town? Aren't you going to see them off at the airport?”

Wang Qiqi was surprised that Nick would make such a gesture toward her. Although she considered herself on good terms with Nick, this kind of action felt like something reserved for people with a much more intimate relationship.

Nick was equally surprised that he had made the move, and what pained him even more was Angel’s visibly astonished and puzzled look. “Uh, I just meant that you didn’t actually need to come back today,” Nick coughed out.

Mark and the others were speechless when they heard Nick steer the conversation in that direction. They had thought Nick had finally figured things out. While admitting feelings for someone in front of so many people was embarrassing, they believed Nick still had a chance—wasn't Angel's boyfriend studying in the States? Weren't there opportunities there? But this guy still didn't dare speak his heart. What could they do but sigh?

Wang Qiqi heard a sigh nearby and found it strange. Why would she hear sighing when everyone looked fine, staring intently at their computers? She wondered if she hadn't been resting enough lately, leading to auditory hallucinations. Wang Qiqi figured that was the only logical explanation for hearing things.

Ignoring the peculiar sound, “Mark, I need to take a half-day off in a few days.” Although the occasional absence wasn’t a major issue now—things were slightly better than before—Wang Qiqi habitually requested leave just to ensure everyone knew her whereabouts if needed.

Mark hummed in acknowledgment. Angel only needing a half-day off wasn’t a big deal. “If you leave in the afternoon, you don’t need to come in tonight. We’ll call you if anything urgent pops up.” They needed to stay to monitor the market fluctuations, but Angel was different; she could handle things even working 24/7 right now.

“Okay.” Wang Qiqi hadn't planned on staying late at the studio anyway. Her man was coming to spend the holiday with her; no matter how busy she was, she needed to carve out half a day to be with him. Besides, the situation wasn't so critical that she couldn't step away for a bit.

After confirming with Mark, Wang Qiqi headed downstairs to read. These past few days had been quite leisurely. While she still needed to keep track of situations and data, overall, it felt relatively relaxed. But Wang Qiqi knew that if a real mission came up next time, she definitely wouldn't have it so easy. Her performance this time, while perhaps not stellar, wasn't terrible either. According to MAY, keeping her as just an assistant was almost a waste; perhaps her position would be upgraded next time.

Wang Qiqi felt genuinely anxious about this. It wasn't that she lacked ambition, but she had nearly caused a major problem just by trailing behind them this time. If she were given even more responsibility, Wang Qiqi truly feared making a disastrous mistake. But if the BOSS arranged it, she would have no choice but to bite the bullet. Frankly, she was still reeling. Based on what they had implied before, she was supposed to be just a personal assistant; even if a huge deal came in, it wouldn't involve her. But the change now was enormous; Wang Qiqi felt her brain capacity was struggling. Though it wasn't a bad thing, Wang Qiqi wasn't some naive girl completely lacking in life experience.

With these thoughts solidifying, Wang Qiqi found it hard to focus on the book in front of her. MAY pushed the door open and saw Wang Qiqi looking deeply thoughtful. “Thinking about the canceled vacation?” MAY assumed Wang Qiqi was regretting the lost time off. Since the younger woman had never experienced such a thing before, such thoughts were natural.

Wang Qiqi shook her head. Even if she mourned the lost vacation, she wouldn’t admit it, and besides, she wasn't actually upset about the holiday. “I’m thinking about where I should take my man when he comes in a couple of days.” Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered the stack of emails in her inbox and felt a headache coming on—there were too many. While going to London could cover all the necessary shopping, she estimated it would take at least three days to complete. Wang Qiqi was immensely grateful for the era they were in, where international travel wasn't as easy, and many people's first choice for overseas trips was Southeast Asia. Otherwise, seven or eight years later, Wang Qiqi suspected that even waving her checkbook around to procure these items wouldn't be easy; upon entering the stores, she’d find many brand counters could practically take a holiday because everything would be snatched up.

“Rest at home,” MAY suggested, looking at Wang Qiqi’s slightly weary face. “You haven’t seen each other in a long time anyway.”

“Will he be here for Christmas Eve?” MAY asked suddenly.

Wang Qiqi hummed in response. Although Han Tao wasn't particularly invested in holidays like Christmas, everyone around them celebrated, including herself. Leaving him shut alone at home wouldn't be right. Even if he said he didn't mind, Wang Qiqi couldn't do that. “I’ll prepare two dishes then. MAY, are you coming over?”

MAY shook her head. “I won’t be joining. My parents are coming to spend the holiday with me this time.”

Wang Qiqi hadn't realized MAY’s parents were visiting. But honestly, Wang Qiqi had never heard anyone mention MAY's man—he seemed like a mystery. And this time, MAY’s parents were coming for Christmas, yet there was no mention of MAY’s man’s parents. Was she perhaps a single mother? Recalling a few days of overtime when MAY seemed to have brought a child with her, Wang Qiqi had found it strange then. The child was clearly so young; there was no need to drag him around late at night. If there were a man, he could easily watch the child. “Spending the holiday with your parents must be lovely.”

MAY smiled faintly, not elaborating further. “Everyone’s mood will surely be better during the holidays.”

Hearing MAY say that, Wang Qiqi’s heart gave a little jolt. Were MAY and her parents unhappy over the child or their marriage?

MAY seemed to sense she’d let something slip. After that, she only discussed a few work matters and didn't bring up anything personal again. Once her tasks were settled, “I won’t be coming in for the next few days. Call me or email if anything comes up, and I’ll decide if I need to come in based on the situation. But I don't think there’s a high chance of a major reversal now.” The initial events had erupted suddenly, surprising everyone, but now the BOSS was fully prepared. Even if someone decided to defect again, it wouldn't cause the same level of anxiety. Since things had progressed this far, everyone understood that just a little more persistence would yield the greatest reward—assuming they continued, of course.

Wang Qiqi murmured, feeling she had troubled MAY by coming in every day recently. “I understand.”

While Wang Qiqi wrestled with her thoughts downstairs, Mark, watching her departure from upstairs, turned to Nick with exasperation. “If you like her, just say it. If you don't say it now, you'll have even less chance later.”

“Exactly.” Although this was personal business, someone displaying his feelings so openly made it hard for others to ignore. Occasionally, they would tease Nick about it.

Nick was quite frustrated. Angel was only here for a year; she would likely return to the States after graduation. “Her man is coming soon; it just shows their relationship is really solid.”

The foreigners found this hard to comprehend. How could a couple who hadn't seen each other in so long stay together? Sure, they could call and email, but some things couldn't be conveyed that way. In the eyes of foreigners, if a couple didn't see each other for three months, they should probably break up—especially since Wang Qiqi and Han Tao were only dating and yet managed to last this long. Besides their inability to understand, they naturally had their own perspectives, such as living separate lives. But Wang Qiqi didn't seem like that type—her days were divided between school, the studio, and home.

“Nick, there are plenty of beautiful women in the world. Let’s go for a drink after this is over,” Mark tried to comfort him.

Nick shot Mark a disdainful look. “Come on, just say you want to drink and don’t always push it onto me. I plan to rest well after we finish this, then find a place for a vacation. How about we go skiing?” He had considered soaking up the sun at the beach, but now it seemed there wouldn't be enough time. It was better to find a place to ski; two or three days would suffice.

Skiing? Mark considered it. “You go ahead. I won’t bother you.” Although Mark liked skiing too, the problem was his girlfriend didn't, so he had to pass. Mark murmured quietly to Nick. Meanwhile, many others had already put their heads down and returned to work. The task wasn't over, so they couldn't relax. This directly affected how many vacation days they would get. As for the profit split, they weren't focused on that anymore. “Don’t do anything inappropriate again in the future. We let it slide this time, but next time might be different.”

Mark had noticed Wang Qiqi’s expression change the moment Nick put his hand on her shoulder—it became unnatural, her look particularly strange. Perhaps she had an inkling of what was happening but chose not to say anything. Since she hadn't spoken up, it meant she didn't want to escalate the situation or sour their relationship.

Nick gave a wry smile. “What do you expect me to do? They haven’t broken up after being apart for so long; do you think she’d give me a chance? Forget it, forget it. Angel is a nice girl, but I’m not that invested. I’ll just find someone else.” Nick wasn't the type to dwell on things. “Besides, you know me—I’m a playboy. I might be a little sad if I don't manage to chase someone, but it’s better than chasing her only to dump her later.” That scenario could cause real problems. Nick could guarantee he wouldn't mess up, but Angel might not recover easily. If she let her emotions bleed into her work, lives could be at risk, and only one person would end up paying the price.

Mark breathed a sigh of relief as Nick seemed to recover. It was good that the guy let go; otherwise, he wouldn't have known what to do. Don't let Nick’s seemingly honest demeanor fool you; he was a playboy at heart. He was handsome, spoke sweetly, and was quite gentlemanly, yet he had seduced quite a few women. He was surprised Nick had stumbled over Angel. But then again, Angel didn't seem like someone who missed obvious signals; she must know Nick had feelings for her, right? Still, it was better this way, saving everyone potential trouble. Mark wasn't optimistic about office romances. If things progressed smoothly, they would both work hard on business matters—a happy outcome for all. But if problems arose in the relationship, Nick would strive on, but would Angel?

Mark contemplated for a moment then dismissed the issue. Overthinking it was useless. First, Angel wasn't interested in him; second, Nick didn't really have the sustained intention.

When Nick returned to his seat, he stared at the computer screen for a long time, hesitating to start. Finally, he sighed and began working. Though he spoke lightly, he was actually quite unsettled. He hadn't failed before, and now he'd hit a stone wall. He inwardly sneered, determined to see exactly who this boyfriend of Angel’s was, the one who captivated her so completely. If the man was inferior to him, then fine. But if he wasn't, Nick felt he still had a chance. Few women didn't want their man to be capable. In this world, nothing was sacred enough that it couldn't be betrayed, it just depended on how good your bargaining chip was. With the right chip, anything could be betrayed. Thinking this, Nick relaxed considerably and began working seriously. He needed to perform well now to ensure he could surpass that guy later. The thought of seeing that man's dumbfounded face made Nick incredibly happy, filled with a sense of guaranteed victory.

Amidst Wang Qiqi’s eager anticipation, the day Han Tao arrived finally came. A day early, taking advantage of leaving work early, Wang Qiqi dashed to the supermarket and stocked up on fresh ingredients. Tomorrow, she could welcome Han Tao home properly. After that, the household cooking and cleaning would rely on Han Tao. Since Zhang Yan and the others went home to visit relatives or travel, the house cleaning had completely fallen apart. Qiqi was someone who left early and returned late; keeping her own room and the second-floor bathroom tidy was already an achievement. Now that Han Tao was coming, regardless of the circumstances, Wang Qiqi couldn't let her man see her living in such disarray. She needed him to think of her as a diligent little wife. Therefore, after her big shopping trip, Wang Qiqi spent a full five hours cleaning at home, scrubbing the living room, kitchen, and all the bathrooms. When everything was done, Wang Qiqi felt her back was about to break. She deeply realized how hard housework was. It was a blessing she knew how to cook a little; otherwise, she truly wouldn't know what to do.

The next day, Wang Qiqi tidied herself up slightly. Considering she would head straight to the airport to pick him up, Wang Qiqi applied light makeup and dressed nicely. This was also to hide the haggard and exceptionally drained look she’d adopted after cleaning all night the day before. She couldn't possibly greet her man with an utterly exhausted face; that would scare him off.

The moment Wang Qiqi pushed open the office door and greeted everyone, Mark, who was eating at the communal table, sprayed the food in his mouth across the room. Of course, it wasn't a large amount, or the people nearby might have exploded in anger.

Wang Qiqi frowned at Mark’s reaction; it was too grotesque. “Mark, what’s wrong with you?” Why was he reacting like that upon seeing her? It was terrifying. Wang Qiqi looked down at her own clothes—the zipper wasn't down, the buttons weren't fastened? Everything seemed fine. Wang Qiqi certainly didn't believe they were reacting because she looked beautiful; she had been with them long enough for them to be used to her face.

Nick was also stunned by her stunning appearance. He knew Angel wasn't ugly, but she wasn't exceptionally beautiful either; he was just drawn to a certain mysterious aura about her. But he hadn't expected her makeup to be this dazzling! Nick felt intensely jealous of Wang Qiqi's unseen man—such a beautiful flower was being wasted on someone else! The more Nick thought about it, the more unwilling he felt.

Though Nick’s expression was surprised, since many people present shared a similar look of astonishment, his reaction didn't seem as peculiar. Everyone was too busy trying to cover their own shock to notice others' reactions—that would be handing themselves over to ridicule. “Wow, Angel, you are stunningly beautiful!” Mark recovered, swallowing the food in his mouth. “You’re going to mesmerize everyone here.”

Wang Qiqi looked at the men whose expressions had shifted and forced a small, helpless smile. “Please, are you complimenting me or making fun of me?” They had the audacity to say that, considering their girlfriends or ex-girlfriends were all beauties! “You’ve seen plenty of beautiful women; stop making fun of me.”

Mark looked at a bewildered Wang Qiqi and thought, Keep bragging. Still, he conceded that Eastern complexions were good and looked quite delicate, though that was all he knew. He truly hadn't anticipated she could be this beautiful with makeup on. He glanced toward Nick, finding him calmly eating, which Mark found very odd. He thought Nick was too composed. Everyone present, regardless of whether they harbored feelings for Angel, had a moment of awkwardness seeing her entrance. But Nick, who openly held feelings for Angel, showed no sign of surprise? That seemed extremely strange. Although Nick appeared to have let go, he seemed to have done so too quickly. Mark suspected Nick might still have an issue brewing, but with so many people around, he couldn't press Nick for answers. He could only hope Nick wouldn't do anything foolish. While Mark was on good terms with Nick, he maintained a certain guardedness, always sensing something slightly gloomy and deep about the man. He hoped Nick wouldn't act rashly, though he didn't seem entirely irrational.

Wang Qiqi paid no mind to Nick’s thoughts. After finishing lunch, she packed up early and drove away. She failed to notice Nick standing at the window on the second floor, watching the back of her departing car.

Nick thought no one had noticed him, but due to his earlier odd behavior, Mark had become slightly suspicious and started paying closer attention. Just as Mark was heading downstairs to get coffee, he caught sight of Nick watching Wang Qiqi’s car with an unusual intensity. Before Mark could approach further, he saw Nick turn back.

Mark walked to the window and looked outside. “What are you looking at? A beautiful woman passing by?” Mark pretended not to know anything, staring intently outside.

Nick looked at Mark, unsure how long he had been standing there. “Just getting some air. The pressure is intense.”

Mark hummed in acknowledgement, chatting with Nick by the window for a moment before feigning a sudden realization. "Ah, I have to go make some coffee; I still haven't sorted out my own things. How about you?"

Nick shook his head, draining the last sip from his cup. "I don't need any; I'm heading in now." He glanced at the empty mug in Mark's hand. "Might as well pour me one while you're at it."

Mark looked down at the cup that had somehow materialized in his grip. "Oh, fine then." Sigh, never mind arguing with him; it seemed the other guy had taken quite the emotional beating today. "Just remember, you owe me a coffee." When it came to securing one's own small advantages, one certainly shouldn't miss an opportunity.

"No problem," Nick replied. Watching Mark in this state, he suspected the other man hadn't noticed the real situation, or he wouldn't be making light of it like this.