The train was delayed by four hours, and just as Wang Qiqi thought she would spend the night at the station, the announcement finally came that the train was arriving. "Alright, I'm heading back now. Remember to cook and eat on time, both of you." Wang Qiqi didn't give much thought to the delay; she was content to wait at the station. There weren't too many other people waiting, but Han Tao and Fatty had insisted on seeing her off. They wouldn't leave until she was safely on the train. Once Wang Qiqi boarded, she immediately settled in to rest, knowing that the two of them still had the long journey home. Although there were streetlights now, the roads weren't great, so Wang Qiqi sincerely wished the train would come sooner so Han Tao and Fatty could get back early.

Han Tao knew they were late and still had much to do once they returned. "Be careful, look around when you're buying things." Even though they were using cards instead of cash, Qiqi, as a young woman buying so much, was practically advertising herself as wealthy and an easy target.

Wang Qiqi had heard this warning seventeen or eighteen times already. "I know, Han Tao, stop saying it. I promise I'll be careful." It wasn't that Qiqi wanted to lose her temper, but she’d heard it too many times. "Okay, go back now, or you won't get home until very late." Just then, the train pulled into the station.

"Good. Before you get home, let me know your arrival time, and I'll come pick you up." Han Tao sighed inwardly as he watched Wang Qiqi’s slight impatience. "Don't worry about bothering me; I’ll pick you up."

Wang Qiqi hadn't intended for him to pick her up, but under Han Tao's steady gaze, she could only nod. "I know, I know. Make sure you don't forget to sleep just because the power is on." Wang Qiqi grabbed her luggage and rushed toward the platform. "Goodbye."

Han Tao could only shake his head wordlessly, watching Wang Qiqi sprint away like a flash of lightning. Was it necessary to ditch him so quickly, as if he were some wild beast? What did it matter if he'd given a few extra reminders? It was for her own good. "Slow down! The train just arrived!" Watching Wang Qiqi run full tilt, Han Tao couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for her.

Fatty covered his mouth and chuckled nearby. "Hahaha, Qiqi, you made him think you were a wild animal! Okay, let's head back." He decided it was better not to needle Han Tao further. "We still need to get back to work. Since the power is on, Qiqi told you to sleep early. See? Your woman is quite virtuous." The streetlights cast a reassuring glow, supplemented by the light spilling from the houses along the road, making Fatty feel quite secure that at least the power hadn't gone out again.

Han Tao noticed the surrounding lights. "It’s good to have electricity. I hope this supply lasts long enough to fully charge the batteries." He also needed to check the supermarket tomorrow morning for vegetables, even if it was just potatoes. As for Fatty praising his wife’s virtue, Han Tao felt it was entirely unnecessary; if his wife wasn't virtuous, he didn't know what definition would apply.

"That's the key point," Fatty agreed with lingering anxiety. "But I definitely don't have the stamina to stay up all night again." Fatty thought that if he had known the power would come on today, he wouldn't have been so energetic yesterday. "Let's go back, eat something, and then we can start working."

"Not dieting anymore?" Han Tao inwardly questioned, recalling how Fatty had deliberately eaten less at dinner to lose weight, yet now suddenly claimed to be hungry. Well, considering Fatty’s usual appetite, he hadn't eaten much tonight, but Han Tao knew Fatty’s dieting streak wouldn't last long—he hadn't expected it to end in less than three hours.

"I’ll eat first, then diet. Aren't we still working?" Fatty explained that while he genuinely wanted to diet and control himself, some things were beyond his control. "We don't have to pull an all-nighter, but we’ll need to stay up until at least three to sleep. We need motivation for the work, so..." Fatty gave a sheepish grin. "Besides, Qiqi’s shrimp stir-fry today was delicious. I didn't get enough the first time." There was quite a bit left over, and Fatty thought it paired wonderfully with rice.

"I knew you couldn't resist the shrimp," Han Tao chuckled. "There are still some eggs at home; make yourself some egg fried rice." Since the other guy had put it that way, Han Tao certainly wouldn't lecture him about dieting or mention that Vivian might look down on him if she saw him eating. If Fatty himself wasn't worried, why should Han Tao be? He had enough to worry about concerning the girl who didn't realize the danger she was in.

Fatty secretly smiled, watching Han Tao’s current preoccupation. Yesterday, when Qiqi asked him if he wanted to go to London, why hadn't Han Tao thought about the danger then? If Han Tao had agreed immediately, and they had bought the tickets, then regardless of the power situation at home, Fatty would have had to accompany him. "Relax, Qiqi isn't a child. She’s bought things on her own before." Didn't Qiqi fly from China to France with Shi Man to shop before, only to bring everything back? Moreover, most of what Shi Man was buying now—wasn't Manman also in danger? Nothing seemed to happen to her. In Fatty's view, Wang Qiqi was even more cautious than Shi Man; Han Tao was letting concern cloud his judgment.

Han Tao sighed, admitting he was feeling anxious and unsettled. "Let's go back, eat something, and then get to work." No point dwelling on it; he was just scaring himself. He knew Qiqi probably had self-defense capabilities, and judging by her demeanor, she likely had a contingency plan.

Wang Qiqi was oblivious to Han Tao’s internal turmoil. Once on the train, she went straight to her sleeper berth. After briefly settling her belongings, she lay down, ready to sleep. She knew the first thing she needed to do upon arriving in London the next day was find a hotel so she could arrange for merchants to deliver goods directly. Wang Qiqi understood that if the purchase amount exceeded a certain limit, merchants would be willing to deliver. All the bulky items were being shipped out today. Tomorrow morning, Wang Qiqi planned to browse the immediate area for any good finds, and then take an evening train out. If she didn't conserve her energy now, she worried she wouldn't be able to complete her mission in London.

As soon as Wang Qiqi arrived in London, she didn't bother enjoying the city without a blizzard. She hailed a taxi straight to the family hotel where Shi Man and her companions always stayed when coming to London to shop. Shi Man and the others had stumbled upon this place; it was reportedly very convenient for access, not far from the major shopping centers, and—most importantly—it was within the delivery zone. The room rate wasn't expensive either, so it had become their regular stopping point. Since it was such a good place to stay, Wang Qiqi certainly wasn't going to waste time searching for alternative lodging.

After thanking the landlady, Wang Qiqi pushed open her room door and stepped inside. The room wasn't large, but the environment was quite pleasant. Most importantly, the bathroom was clean. While she had no intention of taking a bath, a clean kitchen area always made one feel more comfortable.

Wang Qiqi lay down on the bed and called Han Tao to let him know she was safe. Then, reluctantly, she climbed off the bed. She was desperately tired; spending the night on a train was truly miserable. She couldn't imagine how Shi Man and the others endured it.

Before leaving the room, Wang Qiqi checked her bank card and the cash she had brought. "OK, everything is ready. Time to shop till I drop." The thought that she would be making big purchases, even if she couldn't replicate the cinematic moment of saying, "I don't want these few things, but I want everything else on the shelves," still filled her with immense satisfaction. Even though the items weren't hers, watching herself make large purchases and seeing the looks on the sales assistants' faces would definitely boost her mood. More importantly, she was earning money while shopping—that feeling was even better.

While the shopping process was enjoyable, Wang Qiqi, armed with her list, was quite the spender. Everywhere she went, she truly enjoyed the treatment of a high-value customer. Even though Christmas had passed and the malls were entering the post-holiday sales period, there weren't many customers waving checkbooks around making continuous sweeps, especially for such large quantities. The staff treated Wang Qiqi exceptionally well. Although the shoe, bag, and clothing counters didn't offer many freebies, the cosmetics counter showered her with deluxe samples and miniatures. Wang Qiqi internally exclaimed how glad she was to have started with the cosmetics counter first. These free items could be used personally, sold, or used to court new customers. The foreign sales assistants were already generous with samples, and when Qiqi sweetened the deal with promises of future cooperation, they became even more generous. Samples were meant for customers anyway, intended to entice future purchases.

Wang Qiqi wasn't Shi Man; she genuinely enjoyed shopping. After completing more than half of her list, she noticed her feet were starting to protest. Wang Qiqi looked down at her shoes—they were leather, but completely flat. Shi Man could walk around for two days in five-centimeter heels without complaining, but Wang Qiqi felt exhausted after less than two hours. She could only attribute it to a lack of innate talent. She pulled out her list and saw that only a few shoes and bags remained unpurchased. These were the core items of this procurement mission, the most expensive ones, and consequently, the ones that would yield the highest profit.

The thought that she could finally rest once the purchasing was done instantly made her foot pain disappear, filling her with renewed energy. She charged to the remaining counters, finalized the orders for these items, paid, and arranged for the mall to deliver them in half an hour. Qiqi had initially planned to wander around a bit more, but with the shopping done and her energy completely spent, all she wanted was to get back to her room and sleep to regain her strength. As for shipping, Wang Qiqi decided she would buy a few more things tomorrow and consolidate the shipment then.

After dinner, Wang Qiqi hunkered down in her room, meticulously packing the items delivered earlier into boxes. This way, when the courier arrived tomorrow, the goods could be shipped out quickly. Seeing the floor piled high with packages, Wang Qiqi couldn't stop smiling. She recalled the look of shock on the delivery men's faces when they brought the goods over. They must have thought she was some wealthy patron but were stunned to find her staying in a family hotel. If she were in a private residence, it would make sense, but staying in a modest lodging made the contrast stark.

Wang Qiqi looked at the bed laden with brand-name bags. "Oh, I should have taken some pictures. It’s a shame that people who show off their wealth are less common now, or I could have posted these online to brag." Wang Qiqi truly believed that if she posted them, no one would suspect she was a proxy shopper for designer bags; they would assume she was the daughter of a powerful official or a wealthy heir.

"It's a shame online shopping isn't more developed yet, or I could just open a shop online," Wang Qiqi lamented. Doing so would save a lot of money, like taxes. Song Yao had previously complained that a large portion of the profit went toward taxes.

Wang Qiqi took N photos, including a slew of selfies, before slowly organizing the packages. Why worry about the future now? The important thing was to earn money while she could. Gong Peixing's factory business was booming anyway; the once-empty factory floor was now packed with machinery. Wang Qiqi figured that sooner or later, the factory would need expansion, and when that happened, they wouldn't rent space—they would buy land and build their own facility.

According to Wang Qiqi’s original plan, the next day should have been dedicated to sightseeing in London—visiting Buckingham Palace and so on. But circumstances changed rapidly. Just as she was settling down to sleep, she received an international call from Song Yao. The moment Wang Qiqi answered, she heard a torrent of speech from the other end. It took her a long moment to realize: Song Yao wanted her to buy more things.

Wang Qiqi could only give a dark expression. Good heavens, just based on the items Song Yao was listing nonstop, her face grew utterly strained. There were so many things! Helpless, Wang Qiqi finally asked Song Yao to stop her useless effort and email the list instead. Wang Qiqi was profoundly grateful she had brought her laptop to save hassle; besides, there was a computer here too.

Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered she could chat with Han Tao and show him her haul for the day. Wang Qiqi regretted not thinking of this sooner. Even if she couldn't boast to Han Tao, she could video call Song Yao and make her incredibly jealous. Song Yao had handled so many bags, but Wang Qiqi was sure she hadn't thought of this trick. With this in mind, Wang Qiqi decided to send the pictures to Han Tao upon her return, but she would wait until the items were shipped to China and Song Yao had sold a good portion of them. Then, she would send the photos to Song Yao. Wang Qiqi figured Han Tao would go mad, but that was his problem; what concerned her more was the email Song Yao had sent, which left her face completely blank.

Wang Qiqi looked at the addition of nearly twenty more bags and had only one thought: there are so many rich people! Song Yao was going to make a fortune this time. However, upon closer inspection, Wang Qiqi noticed many of them were classic models.

Wang Qiqi stroked her chin, staring at the computer screen. She suspected this particular bag wasn't requested by a client; it was more likely one Song Yao was hoarding in her store for resale at a premium. Honestly, if she had enough capital, Wang Qiqi would have loved to do the same and make some extra money. But alas, she couldn't sacrifice the big opportunity for such small gains.

Speaking of big money, Wang Qiqi remembered she hadn't discussed with Han Tao whether they should inform Juliana and Manman. If funding hadn't been an issue, she wouldn't have bothered them, to avoid making JOHN suspicious. But now, since JOHN couldn't secure the necessary capital, Wang Qiqi felt that if Juliana and the others agreed to invest, JOHN, no matter how displeased, would simply have to accept. Moreover, foreigners wouldn't overthink it; all contracts would be reviewed by lawyers, and the partnership agreement would be the final authority.

Wang Qiqi decided to talk to Han Tao and Fatty first to get their input. She wanted to bring the others in because if JOHN developed any untoward ideas, the combined shares they held could easily thwart any scheme of his.

Wang Qiqi was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the rapidly jumping cursor. By the time she did, Han Tao had already sent several messages, asking what she was doing, if she was tired and sleeping, if the day’s business went smoothly, and if she had secured her return train ticket.

Seeing Han Tao's chat window open, Wang Qiqi was genuinely surprised. Had the power outages at home finally stopped, and things returned to normal?

Wang Qiqi quickly typed replies on her computer, answering all of Han Tao's concerned questions. Of course, she also asked why he was still online and if the power was finally stable.

From Han Tao's replies, Wang Qiqi learned that the power supply was still not entirely normal; it was only supplied for a few hours every evening. And if she didn't reply soon, the power would cut out again. This struck Wang Qiqi as odd. Wasn't the previous outage due to a line malfunction? If the power was back now, that implied the lines were fixed. Why the intermittent cuts? Perhaps the power plant had an issue? But she wouldn't get that answer from Han Tao. Still, even if there was no power during the day, having five or six hours in the evening was enough to charge the batteries and allow Han Tao and Fatty to work during the day to catch up on progress.

After a brief chat, Wang Qiqi saw Han Tao's avatar dim, knowing the power had gone out. Although her body screamed for sleep, and she had a busy half-day ahead tomorrow, her mind was still buzzing with excitement. Wang Qiqi knew she wouldn't be able to sleep even if she lay in bed. Helplessly, she opened her email, checking for new messages—primarily looking to see if the God of Wealth had given her a new task.

Wang Qiqi, looking pale and haggard, lugged her luggage as she stepped off the train, startling Han Tao, who had come to meet her. He hurried to her side. "Qiqi, what's wrong with you?" Why was her face so much paler after only two days away? Han Tao wondered if Qiqi had caught a chill while in London and started to reach out to touch her forehead to check her temperature.

"I'm fine," Wang Qiqi replied listlessly. "I'm just exhausted." Wang Qiqi had expected yesterday to be an easy day—just finishing up the shopping list and casually looking around. Instead, the moment she saw an opportunity to earn money, she had rushed to translate manuscripts. It wasn't until three in the morning that she finally stopped. Naturally, she woke up late, rushed through the purchases, returned to her lodgings to wait for the courier, and everything was settled just before five in the evening. Wang Qiqi only managed a quick shower, a bite to eat, and then had to rush to the station.

"I'm never doing that kind of job again. I'm completely worn out." Having stayed in this small town for so long, Wang Qiqi hadn't known much about the internal workings of department stores. Thanks to this trip to London, she could now navigate some of the store counters with her eyes closed. "I really need to treat Manman better from now on; it's not easy for her." Wang Qiqi figured two full days of shopping had been an excellent weight-loss tool; she estimated she had lost at least two pounds.

"Good, good," Han Tao murmured, wrapping an arm around Wang Qiqi and shifting most of her weight onto himself. "We won't do it again. Wait, didn't you say you had almost finished all the purchases yesterday?" He sounded puzzled, having heard Qiqi complain that she had bought quite a lot more yesterday.

"My sister added more things at the last minute." Wang Qiqi omitted the part where Song Yao mentioned needing to procure even more items after New Year's Day, and the quantity wouldn't be small. Business was booming lately, with new clients showing up constantly. Gong Peixing's factory was also doing well, and Song Yao planned to give a few brand-name bags as gifts to clients' wives during the New Year, as such presents conveyed status and saved money. Wang Qiqi suspected Song Yao intended to use these women to introduce new business. But then, Wang Qiqi briefly wondered if those wives requested items, would her sister take payment or refuse? After consideration, she decided that people weren't usually so shameless as to exploit a goodwill gesture repeatedly, and Song Yao wasn't someone who would let people take advantage of her indefinitely, so she dismissed the worry.

Han Tao was startled by Wang Qiqi's statement. The original list Qiqi had prepared was already substantial; he hadn't expected more additions. "Your sister's business is really thriving. We should get a good dividend this year, shouldn't we?" Han Tao joked lightly. In the past, he never concerned himself with these matters; Qiqi handled everything. Whether it was expanding the business or buying property, he trusted Qiqi to make those assets appreciate. Now, however, these dividends might actually become their living expenses, so he felt he should pay a little attention.

The business was certainly flourishing. Over the past few years, as Song Yao continued to enhance her own value, her horizons broadened considerably. She no longer felt intimidated when mingling with the wealthy wives; she could engage in conversation on virtually any topic. If Song Yao hadn't worried about scaling up the business and failing to meet supply demands, her shop could have expanded manifold. As far as Wang Qiqi knew, Song Yao reinvested half of her earnings into real estate, focusing primarily on purchasing commercial properties. The substantial returns had sparked a keen interest in that sector. Wang Qiqi was genuinely delighted by Song Yao’s pivot; frankly, the personal shopping business saw dwindling profits over time, and investing in property now was undoubtedly a golden opportunity. Missing out on these five crucial years, she thought, would truly lead to regret.

“My sister is doing well, and that makes me happy too; it means we have money coming in,” Wang Qiqi mused. She felt life was truly excellent now: her husband was about to embark on his journey as a business owner, and her own previous investments were entering a period of significant yield. Wang Qiqi was certain her own future was a bright highway ahead. Of course, minor hurdles remained, such as securing the necessary capital for the startup.