Han Tao’s heart immediately tightened when he heard Wang Qiqi intended to tag along. This was something he needed to keep secret from her; how could he let her come? He hadn't planned on letting Wang Qiqi know his intentions until the very last moment. “No need,” Han Tao said abruptly. “Fatty and I can go.”

Wang Qiqi thought, Do you really have to be so insistent when I say I want to go? But the real issue was, “Do you even know the way?” she shot back. Although she had shown Han Tao around the small city before, that time they had taken the bus, and ages had passed since then. Wang Qiqi didn’t believe Han Tao could still remember the route, and his immediate dismissal made her suspect something was up. Yet, she couldn't fathom what two men would need to do out alone. Immoral things? It wasn't nighttime, and doing it right under her nose? Wouldn’t that be practically handing her evidence?

“I know the way, don't worry,” Han Tao rushed to say. He was truly afraid that if Qiqi thought he didn’t know the way, she would insist on accompanying them, which would be a huge problem. Especially since, from the sound of it, she planned to stay home for the next few days. How would he ever find an opportunity to slip out and buy things then? Besides, Christmas was just a few days away; he needed to get the gifts home quickly.

“Really?” The more he insisted, the less assured Wang Qiqi became. She looked at Han Tao quizzically, signaling that everything was genuinely alright. While they could ask for directions, what intrigued Wang Qiqi was why they were so determined to shake her off for a solo outing.

“Really, we studied the map already.” Han Tao wasn't lying; they had indeed surveyed the situation earlier that day, planning to head out after Qiqi left the next day. They hadn't expected things to move so fast. However, there was a silver lining: they could take the car out. Fatty conveniently had a driver's license. Even if it wasn't a UK license, as long as they drove carefully, the police probably wouldn't bother them. “Actually, I just thought we’ve been wound up too tight these past few days. I just wanted to take Fatty out for a drive to relax a bit. Being stuck indoors every day isn't good for anyone’s mood.”

When Han Tao put it that way, Wang Qiqi conceded the point. Since Fatty arrived from the engine room, he really hadn’t stepped outside the complex gates. They were typical homebodies, tinkering with computers all day. Coupled with the snow outside, the two of them had only been hopping around indoors for exercise—it was genuinely quite stifling. Wang Qiqi assumed Fatty had been restless and wanted to go out. Since Han Tao insisted, she wouldn't argue further. “Be careful on the road.”

Han Tao grunted an acknowledgement. “Don't worry. Go start cooking, we’re starving.” Han Tao rubbed his stomach, which was already protesting loudly.

Wang Qiqi was actually hungry too, but she had eaten a steamed bun while browsing the supermarket earlier. “I bought spaghetti today. Let’s have spaghetti, and I’ll shred some pork to go with it.” Originally, Wang Qiqi had planned to save the pasta for later when someone got hungry, but since Fatty and Han Tao hadn't eaten anything, she figured spaghetti would do, plus it was quicker.

Spaghetti? “Let’s just have noodles then. Hey, Qiqi, that dough drop thing you made last time was pretty good, why don’t you make that?” Han Tao recalled an instance when Wang Qiqi had extra flour leftover from baking bread and casually whipped up some dough drops; they tasted quite nice, much better than the slightly sweet spaghetti.

Dough drops? Wang Qiqi rolled her eyes at him. “That requires flour. By the time I manage the flour, the spaghetti would already be cooked. Or you can help me with the flour.” So, when it came to physical work, there was zero pressure on them. Wang Qiqi had been busy all afternoon; she truly didn't want to move a muscle and just wanted to collapse into bed right after eating.

Han Tao could see Wang Qiqi wouldn't accept his order, so he pinched the bridge of his nose and kept quiet. “Fine, spaghetti it is. I’m heading to the living room to get busy.”

Watching Han Tao bolt away like a shot, Wang Qiqi could only shake her head. Had she really turned into a housewife? But it was good that they were going out tomorrow during the day; it gave her a chance to clean thoroughly. Besides the second floor, where she only needed to tidy two bathrooms, she only had the first and third floors left to clean. Without those two clumsy men getting in the way, Wang Qiqi felt she could finish the chores much sooner.

Fatty saw Han Tao run out of the kitchen looking triumphant. “Deal done?” Ah, Han Tao was formidable. He had worried about how they would manage to trick Qiqi into letting them go, especially since neither he nor Han Tao had licenses here, and he didn't know the way. He hadn't expected Qiqi to actually agree. “Is she not worried, or does she just trust you too much?”

During Han Tao's conversation with Qiqi, Fatty had been standing near the wall dividing the living room and kitchen, eavesdropping. When Han Tao first got so anxious about not wanting Qiqi to come, Fatty thought the plan was doomed. This man was truly something else; why be so agitated? Wasn't that an obvious signal to Qiqi: I have something to do elsewhere that I don't want you to know about? But in the end, Qiqi agreed, although the excuse used wasn't entirely satisfactory to Fatty.

Han Tao nodded haughtily. “Of course. I told you Qiqi trusts me too much.” My Qiqi is just too good to me; she never pries like other women. Even last year when I celebrated the Spring Festival with a group of international students, she only asked about the food and how lively it was—never about whether there were any attractive women there.

Hearing Han Tao’s smug reply, Fatty shook his head, clicking his tongue repeatedly. “I heard your entire conversation just now.”

Han Tao had been ready to boast a little, but hearing Fatty say that stopped him cold. “Okay, regardless, I get to go out tomorrow. In any case, you need to be careful, and we’re eating spaghetti immediately.”

Fatty waved his hand dismissively. “I know, relax. I won't betray you on something this important for you, brother.” He still wanted to see Qiqi’s expression when the item was revealed. He knew Han Tao rarely gave her gifts, and he was curious whether her face would show excitement or surprise.

Han Tao looked at Fatty’s sneaky grin and knew he wasn't thinking virtuous thoughts, but he didn't care. He needed to focus on what gift to buy tomorrow. Although Fatty suggested rings, bracelets, and necklaces—good suggestions, certainly—Qiqi didn’t really like wearing such things. Han Tao leaned toward buying her a beautiful brooch, but he wouldn't know until they went shopping tomorrow.

“Have you decided what to buy?” Fatty asked softly, glancing cautiously towards the kitchen. He had offered plenty of advice today, yet the man hadn't seemed to absorb any of it. “How about I slip away one day, and you two have a candlelight dinner? Or I could stand nearby and play the violin. Think how romantic that would be! Isn't that how it always goes in the movies and on TV?” At least when Weiwei saw a scene like that, she mentioned wanting to experience it too. If his own girlfriend felt that way, surely that girl Qiqi wouldn't be unmoved? Besides, he'd be helping out as a favor—a definite cost-saver.

Han Tao was quite tempted by the candlelight dinner idea, but the sticking point was Fatty playing the violin. That suggestion made Han Tao extremely uneasy. “You can play?” He had never heard Fatty mention playing the violin. What if the sound produced was closer to plucking cotton than music? Could they even eat that meal? “Don’t end up playing noise instead of beautiful music,” Han Tao quipped without restraint.

“Yashi! How can you talk about me like that?” Fatty was indignant now. “I studied when I was little! I only gave it up because of my studies; otherwise, I’d be a promising violin virtuoso.” Fatty puffed up his chest. “And just because I never told you I play the violin doesn't mean I don't. That’s just rude.”

“I even took grade exams…” Fatty added smugly.

Han Tao hadn't expected Fatty actually knew how to play. Although he wanted to say, You haven't played in so many years, what good are those old grade certificates? It'll probably only be slightly better than plucking cotton, he suppressed the thought, deciding it was better not to provoke the man. “The problem is, we don't have a violin here.” That was the crucial issue. They could argue here all day and reach no conclusion.

Oh, Fatty realized the truth when Han Tao said that. What’s the point of showing off if there’s no violin? Sigh. Even if they managed a candlelight dinner, there would be no good show for him to watch! “Forget it, let’s just stick to the original plan for dinner.”

Seeing Fatty instantly dismiss the candlelight dinner idea upon hearing there was no violin, Han Tao was tempted to tease him a bit. “It’s fine. If we don’t have a violin, we can play violin music. Then Fatty, you can just eat in the kitchen.” Han Tao thought this was a good idea; at least there would be music, creating a nice atmosphere, and the main point was that there wouldn't be a huge, bright light bulb hanging around.

Alas, Fatty could only lament Han Tao’s preference for romance over friendship. The moment he realized Fatty had no practical value, Han Tao tossed him aside—how inconsiderate! “Inconsiderate! I’m not eating in the kitchen. I’m not a maid or a servant.” Even if good food was offered, the feeling would be awful. Fatty really didn't want to spend Christmas Eve all alone. “I was planning to play one piece for you both and then sit down to eat together, so…”

Han Tao was speechless. If Fatty had actually done that, would it still be a candlelight dinner? That light bulb would be far too inconsiderate! “You win,” he conceded. He’d offered a suggestion, and in less than a moment, it was utterly crushed.

Fatty readily accepted the compliment. When it came to food, everything else took a backseat. “I need to buy a New Year’s gift for my Weiwei tomorrow too,” Fatty said cautiously. Although they had exchanged Christmas gifts, he hadn't picked out the Spring Festival present yet. It was a good chance to buy it now and mail it back after returning to the States.

“What? Didn’t you already give her a Christmas gift?” Han Tao was bewildered. He recalled Fatty just boasting about what his girlfriend bought him for Christmas not long ago, and now he was already thinking about New Year’s gifts—that was quite exhausting! “No wonder you two have been apart for so long and are still so close.” It was better having his own good woman; she never caused trouble over gifts.

“That’s right,” Fatty nodded. “Even if it costs money, I have to hold onto such a good wife. If she ran off, I’d have no time to cry about it.” There were temptations overseas, and Fatty had his moments of being tempted, but after spending time with others, he realized Weiwei was superior. Few foreign women possessed the virtue like Weiwei. “What are we earning money for if not to ensure our parents, wife, and children live well?” Otherwise, why would we travel across the ocean to develop in the US? All that talk about ideals and ambitions is nonsense; everyone is ultimately striving for money.

“Dinner is ready.” Just as Han Tao was about to say something, they heard the voice from the kitchen announcing that dinner was served. Hearing this, Fatty leaped up and bolted toward the kitchen with a speed that Han Tao thought could certainly win a hundred-meter dash.

Wang Qiqi tidied up the kitchen and returned to the living room, opening her laptop to start working. “Qiqi, right, do you and Uncle Ye still settle payment weekly?”

Wang Qiqi hummed. “Yes. Why, did Uncle Ye assign you a job?” Wang Qiqi was surprised that in just a few days, Uncle Ye already had assignments for Han Tao and Fatty. “How much is the pay?” Wang Qiqi asked casually; she just wanted to know if Uncle Ye’s quoted price was reasonable. In the translation circle, rates could fluctuate quite a bit, especially for newcomers; the higher-ups tended to take advantage. Although Uncle Ye wasn't that sort of person, he was still a boss, and his focus ultimately had to be profit—otherwise, how could he maintain his comfortable lifestyle? Even if Uncle Ye had other investments, Wang Qiqi didn't believe he wasn't making money on this venture. As long as the benefits for them were good, that was what mattered.

If anyone else had asked, Han Tao would have concealed part of the information, but he wouldn't hide anything from Wang Qiqi. He honestly stated the translation rate.

Wang Qiqi gasped when she heard the amount. “Oh my! That’s almost as much as my pay!” Good heavens, that was outrageous. She was, after all, a long-term employee, yet she was earning less than a newly hired one. However, even though Qiqi gasped and felt indignant on his behalf, she had to accept the reality: Han Tao was translating specialized material. While she was also a professional, overall, she wasn't that specialized. “Uncle Ye is biased. After working for so many years, I haven't reached that pay grade.” Still, the rate reassured her; at least the offered price was good enough to motivate hard work.

Seeing Wang Qiqi looking quite disheartened, Fatty stood with his hands on his hips and laughed heartily. He was new to the field and didn't know the going rates well. He assumed the rate wouldn't be too low since they were acquaintances, but without a comparison, he felt uneasy. Hearing Qiqi’s reaction now put him at ease. “We are specialized professionals, so the price is high.” Uncle Ye was certainly supportive, offering a great rate—so good that even Qiqi was stomping her feet about it. Fatty felt a surge of happiness.

“You…” Seeing the smug Fatty, Wang Qiqi felt a rush of anger. But his words were right. Previously, she had been hesitant to take on truly specialized work, worrying about potential issues, always feeling it took too much time. It seemed better to take on more rush jobs. But now she realized she had been completely wrong; she should have focused on professional translations—that’s where the real money was. Moreover, she’d been in this circle for so long; her rate should be higher! “Sigh, I’ve lost out, lost out big time,” Wang Qiqi wailed, clutching her head in sorrow.

Fatty had intended to say a few more taunting words to tease her, but Han Tao shot him a look—a dagger in the eyes—that instantly silenced him. He dutifully bowed his head back over his translation draft. Ah, forget it. Translating the draft was the proper path. Why provoke that little woman? Han Tao suddenly remembered he still relied on her culinary skills to keep him well-fed.

“It’s not too late to start now.” Han Tao had never asked Wang Qiqi what specific area of translation she focused on; he only knew the pay was decent. But hearing Qiqi now, it sounded like she hadn’t been tackling professional-grade work. “You felt your skill wasn't good enough before, but now I think you’re ready.”

“Exactly. Translation can’t be sloppy, Qiqi. Were you also worried about your skill level before?” Fatty looked up and spoke very earnestly. “For example, Fatty and I have experience and theory; otherwise, we wouldn’t be making this money.”

Wang Qiqi found Fatty’s initial words quite considerate, but the tone shifted toward the end. Was he showing off his own competence? “Hmph, I won’t talk about it anymore. Once I start translating specialized fields, I’ll tell you what my pay is like.” Wang Qiqi said angrily. She calculated the time; she had to suppress the urge to call Uncle Ye right now about taking on specialized work. It was the middle of the night, time for sleep. Before she achieved her goal, she absolutely couldn't provoke the boss. If the boss was engaged in some 'activity' at this hour, she'd be doomed.

“It will definitely be higher than ours,” Han Tao muttered, tugging at Fatty’s clothes from below, signaling him to stop talking, or he wouldn't have an easy time tonight.

Fatty looked at the timid Han Tao and wanted to say, Buddy, summon your masculine courage! It’s just a woman! Why be so timid and fearful? You should show her who’s boss! But he absolutely wouldn't dare say that in front of Wang Qiqi, because Qiqi would definitely team up with Weiwei to deal with him. For the sake of his own happy life, Fatty decided not to prompt the man. Besides, a man who goes along with his wife is a good husband, isn't he? “Yes, yes, Qiqi has always earned the big money. She’s the backbone of the family. Han Tao can’t compare; Han Tao relies on his wife…” He praised Qiqi excessively.

Listening to that smoothly delivered flattery, Wang Qiqi’s face turned dark. Was he praising her or mocking her? Was he trying to sow discord between her and Han Tao? Han Tao was a man of great confidence; hearing such things might plant seeds of resentment in his heart. Wang Qiqi shot Fatty a fierce glare, punishing him for trying to stir things up in the middle. “It’s been a long time since I chatted with Weiwei. I didn't have time before, but now I do.” Hmph, she was going to relay all of his overseas behavior to Weiwei, and she doubted Fatty wouldn't panic.

Chatting with Weiwei? Fatty’s heart jumped. He subtly shivered. He truly regretted speaking so quickly. Knowing Qiqi would have spare time in the coming days, he still went and provoked her. “I haven't done anything to betray Weiwei. You can't say anything to sow discord.” Fatty put on an expression that implied, I haven't done anything wrong, so I’m not worried about you saying bad things.

Although the man spoke lightly, his expression betrayed him. “I’m just going to chat with her about the situation back home. How is that sowing discord? Are you implying you’ve been doing exactly that between Han Tao and me? Otherwise, why would you think that?” Wang Qiqi pressed, step by step. “Relax, I’m not like some people; I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Fatty was repeatedly defeated by Wang Qiqi’s sharp tongue. He felt this was not his lucky day and decided to retreat early, lest he be the only one left infuriated. “Sigh, Qiqi, it’s a shame you didn't study law. The world has lost a great lawyer.” With such sharp verbal skills, why bother studying k-line charts all day? She should be in court arguing cases, and that earns good money too; clients pay by the hour for consultations.

Hmph. Wang Qiqi decided to ignore the self-destructive man who was still talking like that at the last moment. “I think you truly have too much free time. It’s good for you to go out for a stroll. Just remember not to go anywhere shady, or you’ll be dead meat,” Wang Qiqi warned fiercely. “I know men who’ve been single for this long can get a bit desperate, but you just have to endure it. Don’t do anything to betray Weiwei at the eleventh hour. Remember, some flaws aren't visible to the eye.”

Fatty was stung into silence by Qiqi’s words. What did she mean by that? Was he that kind of person? Even without a woman, didn't he still have Miss Wu? “Hmph, I’m not that kind of person! I follow the Chairman’s words: self-reliance brings prosperity! I still have Miss Wu! You should worry about your own Han Tao instead. Though your man isn't great with words, he looks decent, studies well, and is starting to earn money—definitely a talented young man.” Hmph, when trying to criticize me, you should remember your own Han Tao is also a catch. “I might lack looks, but how many people truly value appearance?”

Han Tao had decided to ignore the Fatty whenever they locked horns, especially when the latter seemed intent on digging his own grave. Since the man was so determined to court disaster, dragging him along was pointless; better to finish today's task quickly so he could head home and snuggle up with his wife in bed. But he never expected that even after he had gone to such lengths to avoid him, the Fatty still wouldn't let him go. "My debating skills aren't great, so I won't pay any mind to those people. As for that other guy, even though he doesn't look like much, his tongue game is sharp. I hear women are willing to offer themselves up to him..." Han Tao left the rest unsaid. Yet, he held back not out of respect for the Fatty, but to let the implication do the work. Hmph, you try to drag me down with you, do you? I know Weiwei would worry about the Fatty, but Qiqi certainly wouldn't.

Wang Qiqi, while she wouldn't relay this wild insinuation to Weiwei, certainly didn't hesitate to use it as leverage against him. "Oh, oh, oh, oh! So, you've been quite the ladies' man back in the States..." Although Han Tao hadn't been explicit, the hidden meaning was enough to set the imagination racing.

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