Han Tao patted his slightly distended stomach. "It’s always better eating with Qiqi around."

Wang Qiqi shot him a look laced with grievance. "Can you not have an appetite?" Before eating, she had to forgive him, and then he started lecturing her. If it were her, would her mood be any better? How could her appetite not be good?

Han Tao chuckled, knowing Qiqi was a little unhappy, but as long as he was happy, that was enough. He soothed his wife. "What do you mean you don't have an appetite? I’ll go see if John is around. If Zi is there, I’ll talk to him about you buying into the shares. Are you absolutely sure you’re selling your house?" Actually, Han Tao wanted to mention that if the project went smoothly, they might get a large bonus, but since he wasn't sure if they could meet the deadline, he held back.

Wang Qiqi hummed. She had been thinking too. The house in the estate was bought with money from both of them, so writing the shares solely to her name felt wrong. If their relationship remained good, it was one thing, but if things soured, it could become a huge problem. Therefore, the best solution was to sell the house back in their hometown. She had bought those properties long ago, and although the hometown real estate market had seen good growth, it couldn't compare to the estate property—not even close. However, selling the hometown property meant selling several units. Wang Qiqi felt a pang of reluctance at the thought of selling the houses her parents left her. Should she take out a loan instead? She knew a sum of money would arrive soon, but currently, she didn't know the total projected profit, nor how much of that would filter down to her.

Suddenly, Wang Qiqi realized she could take a loan. Even though the pressure would be higher, didn't they have rental income? It might even come to a point where she wouldn't need to use her own money, covering the loan repayment entirely with the rent. Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi brightened. "I can use the hometown houses as collateral for a loan, which would bring in even more cash from the shop. Then the rent will cover the loan payments." That prime location—selling the shop would be foolish. That area would remain booming for at least another decade. Plus, with Song Ziwen, the local fix-it man, helping them smooth things over, Wang Qiqi wasn't worried anymore.

"Mortgaging the houses, the shops your parents left you?" Han Tao hadn't expected Qiqi to set her sights on the commercial properties. Until now, Qiqi had always insisted those were untouchable unless demolition occurred, purely for rental income. "Sell the estate house instead." He quickly understood why Qiqi focused on the shops; they were solely hers. She was worried about potential future disputes regarding shared assets. This left Han Tao rather displeased.

Wang Qiqi was about to argue, but seeing the insistence in Han Tao's eyes, she knew arguing would only upset him further. "I considered the estate house too, but the issue is whether getting a loan on it would be easy. With the hometown properties, and Song Ziwen’s help, the loan process will be smoother. You’re starting a venture now; the quicker the cash flows in, the better." Wang Qiqi carefully laid out her reasoning.

"We'll take a loan on the estate house as well. If the funds aren't enough, they can come in at any time." Wang Qiqi pondered and decided that taking loans against the estate house felt safer. The IT industry was capital-intensive, with numerous expenditures, especially since they planned to scale up aggressively, requiring significant investment. It was possible they wouldn't draw salaries for the first few years, needing to constantly pour money in. Thus, sufficient capital reserves were crucial; otherwise, any shortage would cause the foreign investors to aggressively decrease their stakes. "You should also remind Fatty; his capital pressure won't be low either." They had houses as a safety net, but Fatty didn't possess that kind of security. His advantage was the appreciation of the shops he bought in the last couple of years, plus years of rent collected, but how much would that translate to in US dollars?

Han Tao hadn't considered this deeply. "Ah, then Fatty might end up with the smallest share." If one doesn't contribute capital, their share keeps dropping, and if a major financial group swoops in with massive investment, Fatty’s percentage could severely shrink. John would face the same issue. "I think we should propose that a few of us take a non-dilutable share, even if it means having slightly less overall." That way, they could secure future voting power within the company. Even without commanding influence, it would prevent all their hard work and contribution from going down the drain.

"Let’s fix a percentage for the sweat equity," Wang Qiqi mused. Such shares would protect the founders’ interests, and John would have no reason to object. "The cash you invest will determine your stake according to a certain ratio, rather than fixed shares." They couldn't all have fixed shares; how would future investors come in? The company needed to grow, which absolutely required attracting substantial investment. At that point, the founders—Wang Qiqi estimated John might vie to become the principal operator while Han Tao and Fatty remained in technical roles—might even retire early, living off annual dividends, or simply sell their shares after an IPO to enjoy the rest of their lives leisurely.

Han Tao hummed a few times. "We can continue this discussion tonight." This issue directly related to whether he could provide a good life for his wife and child later on. Han Tao didn't want his first entrepreneurial venture to end in unhappiness. Although he was a tech guy and didn't know much about external affairs, that didn't make him an idiot. Out of so many IT startups, how many actually took off? And among the successful ones, weren't there plenty where partners fell out? Even though they were getting along well now, who could predict the future? Therefore, they needed to clarify everything from the start. Even if they eventually parted ways unhappily, he needed to walk away with what he was rightfully owed.

Wang Qiqi nodded. She considered the sequence. "Let’s align our ideas first, then discuss it with Fatty, and then with John." Although John had helped Han Tao immensely, when critical issues arose, Han Tao and Fatty were comrades in the same trench; they needed to unite when facing an outsider.

Han Tao agreed. "We have a few days off, so we can discuss this slowly. There's no rush with Fatty either; he’s been eager to make money lately." Fatty had mentioned wanting to travel around the US, as he hadn't done much in the more than a year he’d been abroad, hoping to do so before his girlfriend arrived while his coursework wasn't too demanding. He wanted to be able to answer when people back home asked about the US, rather than admitting he just went between school and the dorm—how dull. However, the premature startup plan had shattered Fatty's intentions. "Fatty said he won't be drawing a salary, so he plans to hustle hard in this last bit of free time." Conveniently, he had just landed a major contract, but Americans placed huge importance on Christmas, and few were willing to work overtime then. Seeing the generous compensation, Fatty was naturally willing to put in the extra hours. Han Tao hadn't wanted to take this job, but with Qiqi's situation preventing their planned vacation, Han Tao took it on as well.

Wang Qiqi saw Han Tao grinning as if he’d won the lottery. "You're not going to tell me you've been swamped recently, taking on this contract, are you?" If the task was urgent, especially around the Christmas and New Year holidays, the pay would definitely be significantly higher. Fatty had taken it on. Wang Qiqi doubted Han Tao would miss such a good opportunity. At this moment, recalling his hesitant manner when they discussed investments earlier, she wondered if that was the reason.

Han Tao affirmed. "Fatty and I studied it; the task isn't actually that difficult. It’s just that the deadline is tight, and it’s during the holidays, otherwise, it wouldn't have landed on our laps." These relatively simple external contracts were quite sought after. Although the reward wasn't exceptionally high, the ease of completion was a plus. This time, the price was good, and it wasn't too hard, so naturally, Han Tao and Fatty didn't want to pass it up.

It was indeed a collaboration with Fatty. "Then why isn't Fatty coming over with you?" Wang Qiqi asked, surprised. Although they could discuss things online, face-to-face communication was always better. Besides, wouldn't Fatty be a bit pitiful spending the holiday alone over there? And here it was just the two of them, which wasn't exactly lively either.

Hearing this, Han Tao rubbed the bridge of his nose. He couldn't exactly tell Wang Qiqi that he had considered asking Fatty to come, but the thought of having a third wheel around when they finally had some rare time alone deterred him. Now that Qiqi brought it up, he felt awkward. "Well, I thought... I thought..." Under Qiqi’s steady gaze, Han Tao stammered awkwardly. "Besides, I didn't know Fatty was coming over at the time, or where he would stay." Han Tao felt suddenly righteous clinging to this excuse.

That was indeed a plausible reason, but Wang Qiqi had a pretty good idea of Han Tao's real thoughts. She glanced at him teasingly. "Message him later and ask him to come. Otherwise, the holiday will feel a bit lonely with just the two of us. If he comes, you two can take the living room, and Fatty can sleep in my room." Wang Qiqi felt awkward suggesting Fatty take the living room, even though it was quite comfortable, but she felt he should offer first.

"Sleep in your room? Why?" That was Qiqi's room, her private sanctuary. It was one thing to let their female friends like Shi Man stay there, but having a big, strapping man like Fatty lying on his wife's bed made Han Tao intensely uncomfortable. Realizing this, Han Tao unceremoniously betrayed Fatty. "Besides, we'll be covering Fatty's food and drink. If his accommodation is slightly less ideal, I doubt he’ll complain." He had initially planned to ask Fatty to chip in for meals, but now, forget it. He couldn't be too calculating, right?

Watching Han Tao so bluntly sell Fatty out, Wang Qiqi covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. In her heart, she mentally apologized to Fatty numerous times, hoping he wouldn't mind the less-than-ideal hosting. She mentally noted that this whole idea was Han Tao’s doing; if he had any complaints later, he should take it up with Han Tao.

When Wang Qiqi fell silent, Han Tao mistook it for agreement, assuming she also wanted to share the bed. "Where are we sleeping tonight?"

"The living room," Wang Qiqi replied swiftly. "Actually, I used to sleep upstairs alone, but sometimes I’d wake up in the middle of the night and get spooked by the swaying tree branches outside the window. Other times, if I didn't make it in time for a midnight trip, the fire in the fireplace would die down, and the living room would get so cold." If they slept in a proper bed, feeling the warmth dissipate, they could turn on an electric blanket—absolutely convenient.

Sleeping in the living room? Han Tao’s mouth twisted downward. The place was too vast. He had just secured the promise of two separate sleeping arrangements, which would severely limit any potential mischief. While the living room was much warmer than the room upstairs, Han Tao didn't care about that; he absolutely had to share a blanket with Qiqi.

Wang Qiqi saw his troubled expression and inwardly smirked. Hmph, you got so carried away lecturing me earlier, thinking you found an opening to scold me. I’ll show you right now who runs this place. Scold me? No chance.

Wang Qiqi sang a little tune smugly as she started clearing the dishes for washing. Han Tao saw the situation and understood Qiqi was trying to regain the upper hand for the lecture he gave before dinner. Han Tao instantly regretted his earlier swagger; he had been too carried away by his momentary victory. Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world. Han Tao could only obediently help Qiqi clean up, hoping to atone for his mistake quickly.

Wang Qiqi looked at the man diligently helping her work and had a momentary urge to throw all the dishes at him, letting him wash them all for being so arrogant earlier. But she held back. People shouldn't get too cocky, or the other person might find a chance to retaliate later, leading to an endless cycle. "Go work on your computer; I'll take care of the dishes." Washing a few plates was a minor task. "While you’re at it, text Fatty and tell him to come over. Why should he stay cooped up over there alone?"

Han Tao was initially pleased that Qiqi wasn't making him wash dishes, but why did she have to add that last sentence about Fatty coming over? He considered telling Qiqi later that Fatty didn't want to come, but Qiqi had Fatty’s email. What if she emailed again to confirm? Han Tao didn't believe he could persuade Fatty to stay away; the man might even betray him. So, Han Tao decided to notify Fatty honestly. If Fatty truly didn't want to come, that would be best. If he did come, Han Tao would just have to manage his time better. Moreover, if Fatty came, they could handle company matters during the day and discuss the partnership. At night? Well, they could do whatever they wanted.

Thinking this through, Han Tao relaxed. "Got it. I'll message Fatty immediately. If he balks at the airfare, I’ll pay for it." Han Tao realized that having Fatty here was overall more advantageous than not. Since he had made up his mind, Han Tao hoped Fatty would arrive sooner. Hahaha, Qiqi thought I was deliberately keeping Fatty away. I'll show her I'm not that kind of person; I always welcome Fatty's presence.

Wang Qiqi was surprised by Han Tao’s sudden shift in attitude after such a short time. What? He’d pay for Fatty’s ticket if he didn't want to come? "You really have too much money." Wang Qiqi couldn't understand how Han Tao’s mind changed so rapidly. But since he had offered, she wasn't worried anymore. They three—Han Tao, Fatty, and herself—could sit down and discuss the startup funding later. If Fatty had any thoughts, they would be able to gauge them immediately. While phone calls were fast for communication, they couldn't capture facial expressions.

Han Tao immediately retracted his statement. "I was just saying that. How could I actually pay for Fatty's ticket? It’s good enough if I cover his food and lodging." Han Tao said this with exaggerated subservience. "Oh, right, use hot water for washing dishes. Cold water is freezing." He remembered how cold the water felt when washing vegetables earlier; he hadn't warmed up properly since. The thought of Qiqi using that water made Han Tao feel protective. "Turn on the water heater. There's no need to let yourself suffer." Even if funds were tight, they shouldn't be this frugal.

"Don't worry, I won't mistreat myself. Didn't you see the shelf above the fireplace?" There were several pots they specifically bought stored there. "We’ll use those to heat water for showering too." The large pots hold a lot of water, and with the fireplace burning constantly, hot water wouldn't be an issue. Before, the fire hadn't been lit, so Wang Qiqi had to make do with cold water. Now that they had a steady supply of hot water, she wouldn't let herself suffer.

The pots were full of water. He finally understood; that was actually a clever way to save on gas, utilizing the fireplace perfectly. "You guys are really good at calculating things."

Wang Qiqi admitted this point. Out of the five of them, only she and Manman, having lived independently since university, were meticulous with money. Zhang Yan and the others weren't nearly as careful. They only started considering ways to save now because they saw the high monthly bills. Otherwise, Wang Qiqi guaranteed they would have just said using the heater was sufficient and there was no need to burn wood in the fireplace, arguing it would make the house dirty.

When Wang Qiqi finished clearing the dishes and returned to the living room, she found Han Tao sitting seriously in front of his computer, engrossed in work. Wang Qiqi leaned against the kitchen doorway, inwardly marveling: a man concentrating on his work is incredibly handsome, and her man was even more so. Wang Qiqi felt that the hot pot dinner was hardly enough to celebrate her and Han Tao's reunion. Moreover, she wasn't sure if she would be back early enough to have dinner with Han Tao tomorrow. Therefore, Wang Qiqi decided to bake some cake and bread so that if she wasn't around while he was busy working, he would have something quick to nibble on.

Once Han Tao entered his work flow, he paid no attention to external matters. When he finally paused his work and took a sip of coffee from the mug beside him, it wasn't the cold coffee he expected, but hot coffee. "Mmm, it’s good having my wife around." At that moment, he smelled the fragrance of baked goods wafting through the air. "This is the feeling of home." Home didn't require a large space; it just needed to be warm, a place where someone willing to listen to your heart and take constant care of you resided. Wherever Qiqi was, that was home for Han Tao.

Wang Qiqi loved hearing that. It was worth it since she always helped him finish his cold coffee and attentively brought him refills. "The water is almost hot. Want to take a bath first?" A bath was definitely more relaxing than a shower, especially in winter—lying in the tub was heavenly. If only there was a glass of red wine, that would be perfect. "Soak for a while; I can add more water for you later." Since the fireplace was burning constantly, heating water was easy. Wasting that resource by not bathing would be a shame.

Han Tao readily agreed to a hot bath; that was the absolute best way to relieve fatigue.

Wang Qiqi returned home through the kitchen door, carrying two large bags of supplies. As soon as she stepped in, she heard Fatty’s voice. "The living room is much more comfortable; I'll just sleep here."

"This house is quite big. Thank goodness there are people living here; otherwise, it would be dead boring. By the way, is the rent expensive...?"

Wang Qiqi was surprised that Fatty, whom she hadn't seen in a while, was suddenly asking so many concerned questions. His attitude had changed so much; the old Fatty wouldn't have cared about such details.

After settling her things, Wang Qiqi walked into the living room and saw Fatty looking around excitedly. "Wow, Fatty, you’re entering my house like an invading army!" He held a piece of cake Wang Qiqi had made yesterday in one hand and sipped beer from the other, looking completely at ease. His hair was damp, and she could vaguely smell her own body wash—it seemed he had already showered.

"Hey, Qiqi!" Hearing the teasing tone, Fatty quickly spun around and saw a beautiful woman leaning against the kitchen doorway. "Hey, Qiqi! You’re becoming more and more of a femme fatale!" Fatty knew what Wang Qiqi did for a living, so he naturally had to tease her hard. Sigh, it's only Han Tao. If it were me, Fatty would never let his woman do such taxing work.

Wang Qiqi was about to retort when Fatty enveloped her in a huge hug, effectively silencing her. A hug was one thing, but hugging her and shaking her made it incredibly uncomfortable. Just as Wang Qiqi was about to protest that she was suffocating, Fatty finally released her.

Wang Qiqi immediately took large gulps of air after breaking free from Fatty’s embrace. Once she felt she had recovered, she asked, "Was the trip smooth? What do you want for dinner?"

"Hot pot," Fatty replied instantly. "Sigh, it’s hard to get authentic hot pot abroad; it’s either prohibitively expensive." The thought of eating Qiqi's hot pot that evening made Fatty’s mouth water uncontrollably. "Too bad Zhang Yan isn't here; otherwise, this hot pot meal would be unforgettable."

"Then we'll wait for Yanyan to come back and make you something delicious." Regarding how Fatty knew so much about Zhang Yan's situation, Wang Qiqi wasn't the least bit surprised; with Shi Man around, she would certainly have told Fatty. "But Fatty, don't you think you've gotten much fatter than when I first saw you?" Back then, Fatty was truly enormous, like a veritable mountain, which was precisely why he had started dieting. He had worked hard since his junior year of college, and by graduation, he had reached an ideal weight. It was unbelievable that after only a few months abroad, Fatty had somehow become even heavier than his heaviest college weight. "That just means you aren't under enough stress, or perhaps the food you're eating is too rich and plentiful."

Fatty would never admit that; if he did, there would be no end to it. "Stress makes it easier to gain weight too. Besides, I'm only eating things like hamburgers, what nutrition is there in that?" Never mind, he was determined to eat as much of Qiqi's cooking as possible while he was staying here; otherwise, it would be a huge waste, considering he had flown all this way—he needed to eat back the cost of the plane ticket.

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