"Even with good dividends, this business won't amount to much unless there's something truly unique." Wang Qiqi linked her arm through Han Tao's as they strolled slowly toward home. Though Qiqi was a little tired, it was certainly better than going back to an unwelcome third wheel. "More and more international students are coming these days, and going abroad is much easier than it used to be. Those wealthy individuals will simply travel overseas to shop for themselves."

Previously, the personal shopper business catered mostly to the rich. But as visas became more accessible and more people immigrated, once they realized traveling abroad wasn't a big hurdle, naturally, they preferred to go themselves to buy exactly what they wanted. Furthermore, if they bought in bulk, they could certainly save on airfare. This shifted the business toward slightly better-off white-collar workers, causing their network of contacts to slowly diminish in status.

"Have you considered pursuing exclusive dealership rights for a brand?" Han Tao shared his idea. His older sister still had some useful connections, and since not many people were paying attention to this area, they could certainly secure a brand to bring back. "Even if we can't get an agency like Louis Vuitton, we could aim for a reputable second-tier European brand." Even if Song Yao's standing wasn't considered top-tier by foreigners, the reality was that as long as payments were timely and they could establish the business successfully in China, those foreigners wouldn't care about much else. Moreover, people with real influence either wouldn't bother with this niche or would have already secured major brand agencies. They naturally wouldn't pay much attention to second-tier European brands that weren't widely known in China, because introducing a brand requires significant effort to build its reputation. If the brand took off, the initial investment could be recouped quickly. If it failed to gain traction, Han Tao felt it would become a financial drain that even Song Yao’s deep pockets couldn't withstand for long.

Honestly, Wang Qiqi had discussed Han Tao's suggestion with Song Yao and Yang Jing. They all wanted to secure agencies for a few brands to ensure the longevity of the business. The problem was that their current resources were slightly lacking, and they were unsure which brand would best suit the domestic market. There were plenty of big-name foreign brands that failed in China, often due to cultural misalignment or rampant counterfeiting. If they worked hard to establish a brand only to have it flooded by fakes that directly undercut the genuine product, Wang Qiqi and the others would be devastated—a loss that would hit them where it hurt the most.

Hearing Qiqi’s concerns, Han Tao sighed. "That is indeed an issue, but continuously working as personal shoppers is not a long-term solution." What could he say? Han Tao admitted he knew nothing about the apparel and accessories industry; different fields require different expertise. He decided it was best to offer fewer suggestions and let Wang Qiqi and the others figure things out.

"We'll see. My sister and sister-in-law said they are coming to Europe this summer too." Song Yao’s visit was intended to look into the European business climate and attend Qiqi’s graduation. If they seriously pursued representing a brand, Wang Qiqi wondered if Juliana would be willing to join in. Contact with Juliana had become very infrequent lately. Between the time difference and the increasing responsibilities Juliana managed, any brief conversation would quickly be interrupted by her needing to handle urgent matters, which left Wang Qiqi feeling quite helpless.

Thinking of Juliana, "If Nana and Manman are willing to invest, do you think JOHN would accept?" Wang Qiqi asked directly.

"Of course, we'd welcome it." Han Tao found Qiqi’s question quite strange. "When JOHN knew you were willing to invest, he was eager to fly over right after Christmas to discuss it." Time was money; settling the investment sooner meant they could officially start recruiting. "Did I not mention that Old Feng is investing too?" Feng Xuanxiang, despite constantly saying that not all IT professionals make it big, understood the risks involved in investment. But as soon as he learned Han Tao was starting his own venture, he immediately pledged to invest, even saying that once Han Tao’s business yielded results, he could retire early from his industry. "Of course, his investment won't be massive, but if the company does well and shares are diluted, he could still profit significantly."

"Old Feng is Old Feng," Wang Qiqi acknowledged that Feng Xuanxiang wouldn't miss such a good opportunity, but he was Feng Xuanxiang, not Shi Man. "No matter how close they are, they aren't married." Alright, Wang Qiqi admitted she was being a bit melodramatic and overly sentimental lately.

Han Tao stopped walking, looking at Wang Qiqi in surprise. "What did you hear? Why would you say that?" In Han Tao's view, Old Feng was a good man. Although perhaps a bit inferior to Han Tao himself, he was otherwise excellent. Why did Qiqi seem wary of such an accomplished man? Had Old Feng and Shi Man had a recent falling out? But that didn't seem right either; hadn't Manman gone back to his hometown with Old Feng? They should be getting along well. "Forget it. Since you brought it up, I believe JOHN would welcome the investment too. But would Manman agree?"

"If there’s money to be made, Manman won't miss out." Wang Qiqi was very certain about this. Now that they had a definite answer on this side, Wang Qiqi decided to contact Juliana once they returned. While the Zhu family company required several meetings to research and decide whether to invest in any company, if it was Juliana's personal capital, Wang Qiqi estimated the process would be less cumbersome. Moreover, since it was Juliana’s private venture, and knowing she had personally invested in several companies recently—using both her parents' money and her own—Wang Qiqi wouldn't have considered her otherwise. It simply wasn't worth the hassle for such a small amount of money. Wang Qiqi resolved to email them both upon returning to ask for their opinions. If possible, she hoped they could all continue investing in the same sector.

Since Qiqi brought it up, Han Tao naturally had no objections. Even if Juliana could only contribute twenty or thirty thousand US dollars, it would still cover the initial costs of purchasing equipment for a startup. In the beginning, they wouldn't hire staff; the three of them would work crammed together until the framework was established. Once they added content and began operating within the university setting, they could identify any issues. If the system ran smoothly on campus, Han Tao felt confident they could attract more investment. Thus, the initial investment amount wasn't crucial. Wang Qiqi’s point was also clear: the earlier they entered, the smaller the capital input, but the greater the risk. If they achieved success, the rate of return would be exceptionally high.

The time spent together was always short. Wang Qiqi stood on the platform, waiting for the train to London. "Call me when you arrive in London." Wang Qiqi continuously straightened Han Tao's clothes. "And once you get to the States..."

"Remember to eat on time and don't stay up all night." Fatty, standing nearby, had already preempted what Qiqi was about to say. Though a bit rude, he rolled his eyes anyway. "When Han Tao sent you to London last time, he only reminded you a couple of times, but you called him nagging. You really should see how much you’re nagging now. Are these few simple requests worth repeating so many times? Sigh." Fatty thought these two really were cut from the same cloth; they both complained about the other being a nag—six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Wang Qiqi knew she was being repetitive, but Han Tao just smiled gently at her, showing not a hint of impatience even after she repeated herself countless times. This made Wang Qiqi feel quite embarrassed, prompting her to reflect on her past behavior. But before she could dwell on it, Fatty’s interjection annoyed her; she wasn't nagging him. "Don't worry, no matter how much I say, my man is happy to listen. Some people wish they could hear their own wife's reminders, but they can't get them!" Hmph, she aimed to annoy him.

"True, but it’s better than being separated again so soon after reuniting," Fatty said with a touch of pride. "Honestly, Qiqi, you shouldn't have come to see Han Tao off on such a dark night. We two grown men are fine, but you're a young woman." Fatty couldn't understand Qiqi; despite the potential danger of traveling back late at night, she insisted on accompanying them. This wasn't just about being brave; Fatty found it strange that Han Tao showed no sign of worry. He sensed something was amiss, that there must be a secret.

Han Tao and Wang Qiqi exchanged a look, smiling smugly at Fatty without saying a word, which made Fatty itch with curiosity.

"Hey, why are you getting on the train?" Fatty was stunned when the train pulled in and Wang Qiqi boarded with them. What did this mean? Was Qiqi going to London? But that didn't seem right; she didn't have the luggage Qiqi usually took for long trips. This time, she only carried a single backpack, suggesting a short outing.

"I have a ticket." Wang Qiqi proudly pulled out her ticket and waved it in front of Fatty. "Otherwise, do you think Han Tao would let me go back alone?" Even if Han Tao didn't protest, Wang Qiqi wouldn't dare.

Fatty didn't believe Han Tao had that much influence. "You're not going to stock up on inventory, are you?" Fatty pondered; this must be Qiqi’s third trip to London. "Is business really that good?" He hadn't heard from Weiwei that things were so busy over there. Why was Qiqi stocking up so heavily? Fatty admitted he didn't understand.

"Stockpiling," she sighed. There was no choice. Ever since her older sister saw the purchase price this time, her eyes nearly popped out, insisting Qiqi buy as much stock as possible. This left Wang Qiqi feeling quite resigned. She wouldn't have made this trip if it weren't for the chance to see Han Tao off to London; it was simply too exhausting.

"Stockpiling?" Fatty finally understood. They planned to buy up good things while the prices were low. "Wow, if I had known, I would have bought a designer bag for myself too." Alas, though Fatty considered such items slightly unnecessary, if women liked them, that was enough. In his view, buying these things was the least effortful way to please them.

Speaking of gifts, Fatty watched Wang Qiqi head to the restroom and quietly asked Han Tao, "Did you give her your gift yet?" Fatty suddenly realized he hadn't seen any sign of a big surprise from Wang Qiqi, nor had she flaunted anything. Even if she didn't show it off, shouldn't she use the item a time or two while the giver was still present? Why was there no reaction at all? Fatty worried that Han Tao, that useless fellow, hadn't given her anything. If so, Fatty felt he might just have to throttle him; it would be too embarrassing for a man.

"No," Han Tao admitted honestly. He had always intended to find the right moment, but after buying the gift, a heavy snowstorm hit, causing a power outage at home, and a mountain of other worries. He simply couldn't find the opportunity. Later, things improved, but then Qiqi had to rush off to London for inventory, and he was busy catching up on deadlines. He rarely thought about it. Occasionally, when he saw the gift, he considered giving it to her, but he felt he couldn't just hand it over casually. What was the point? Didn't Fatty suggest a candlelight dinner? Having already eaten several dinners in near darkness, Han Tao was sick of the so-called romantic candlelit meals. Even Qiqi had said that things she once thought romantic now felt nauseating. Since Qiqi felt that way, why would Han Tao eagerly use that method to present the gift? This procrastination had spiraled.

He really hadn't given it to her? Fatty was dumbfounded. "Brother, I really have to bow down to you. Why is giving a gift so difficult for you?" This wasn't an unrequited crush where he feared rejection. Come on, you two are engaged! Do you really need to deliberate so much over a gift? "The first time I gave Weiwei anything, I wasn't this conflicted." Fatty was about to say more when he saw Wang Qiqi returning. He clamped his mouth shut. Fine, since the man wasn't bringing it up, he wouldn't meddle. "By the way, Qiqi, which do you think is better for my Weiwei: an LV bag or a Gucci bag?"

Wang Qiqi was surprised that Fatty was planning to buy Weiwei such an expensive bag. "Oh, what's this gift for? An anniversary of meeting? Or an anniversary of becoming official?" Wang Qiqi never felt that Fatty was being too good to Weiwei when he gave her gifts. In her heart, her own man, Han Tao, was the model husband; he gave her all his earnings, which was far better than men who earned money but only occasionally bought their women something small.

"Women need to be properly coaxed; you can't go a whole year without giving them a gift," Fatty said, glancing pointedly at Han Tao. He wanted to show Han Tao how excited Qiqi looked upon hearing he was buying a gift for Lu Qiaowei, suggesting that any woman would be thrilled to hear about a gift for a female friend.

Seeing Fatty’s expression, as if to say, I knew it, Han Tao inwardly chuckled. He knew that in Qiqi’s mind, no amount of gifts compared to having control over the finances. And Han Tao was certain Fatty would never give all financial control to his Weiwei; there were too many considerations. Han Tao had no such worries.

Wang Qiqi found Fatty's attempt to show off while simultaneously provoking Han Tao quite amusing. "Actually, I think compared to a bag, I prefer a bank card. That way, I can buy whatever I like—LV if I want LV, Gucci if I want Gucci, or even buy a house if I want a house. Right, Han Tao?" Wang Qiqi looped her arm around Han Tao's and looked up at him adorably.

Han Tao knew perfectly well that Wang Qiqi was saying that deliberately. If Fatty hadn't shot him that knowing glance, Qiqi might have just said that whatever Weiwei liked was fine. But since someone was trying to provoke him, he played along. "That's right, my dear. See how good I am? I hand over all my income."

Fatty had intended to tease Han Tao and Wang Qiqi but ended up fueling their married bliss. "A man still needs some private money; he can't turn over all his income. Otherwise, he has to report and apply for funds for every expense. I wouldn't do that." It wasn't that Fatty wanted to use the money for mischief; he simply felt a man shouldn't be without personal funds. Besides, having accumulated more money over the years, he could buy whatever he wanted as long as he had enough cash on hand. A Fatty accustomed to this lifestyle would never willingly return to the days of asking his parents for money.

"That's the difference between you and Han Tao," Wang Qiqi said. She didn't goad Fatty by saying she'd tell Weiwei to demand he turn over his salary. She knew that some men, for various reasons, would never hand over all their money until their dying day. Some men worried that if all the money was surrendered, and if the wife was stingy—complaining about high expenses for socializing with colleagues or friends, or about the money given to support the husband's parents—it would cause trouble. To avoid such hassles, having a secret stash was necessary. Wang Qiqi never probed into these matters. If Han Tao needed money, he only needed to state a reason, and Wang Qiqi would provide it. Thanks to Han Tao's life abroad, apart from a small amount of cash each month, all his expenses were on credit cards. Wang Qiqi just needed to remember to pay the bills monthly, which also allowed her to track his spending clearly. As for honoring his mother, Wang Qiqi was exemplary. She always considered gifts like clothing, and even Luo Hongjuan often said her daughter-in-law did more for her than her own daughters. While some of that was exaggeration or done for show in front of Song Yao and the others, Wang Qiqi genuinely put in the effort.

Hearing Wang Qiqi’s words, Fatty fell silent. Although he harbored no romantic feelings for her, he truly admired Qiqi’s character. The seniors had previously mentioned how generous Qiqi was. Even when they went out for drinks and karaoke, and Han Tao came home drunk, Wang Qiqi never threw a tantrum and always saved Han Tao's face, regardless of the situation. Furthermore, she managed their finances excellently, making their household increasingly prosperous. The only downside, Fatty thought, was that Qiqi made the final decisions on both major and minor matters; Han Tao simply agreed after she made up her mind. For instance, buying the house in the US was entirely her choice; Han Tao just went through the motions of touring it before it was finalized. "Yes, yes. How could I be like Han Tao? He’s so lucky, never having to worry about anything." He only needed to focus on doing his job well. When Han Tao announced he was starting a business, Qiqi immediately agreed to invest. Although she claimed to believe in his plan, Fatty suspected that if Han Tao hadn't been involved, Qiqi wouldn't have invested. With such a supportive wife, a solid financial foundation, and a spouse who was practically a walking god of wealth, Fatty often wondered why he hadn't met someone like her.

"Once we get back, we’ll be busy. Thankfully, the tasks are nearly complete." Fatty hadn't expected the progress to be this fast. He thought the work would drag on for another half a month, but they had already completed eighty percent of it, which made him breathe a sigh of relief. The faster the mission was completed, the more rewards they would earn. The thought of potentially increased compensation brought a huge smile to Fatty's face. Once the money arrived, the company could officially form. He wasn't sure when Qiqi’s funds would arrive, but he estimated her contribution wouldn't be small, especially since she mentioned wanting to rope in Juliana. If Nana agreed to invest, whether it was her personal funds or her family’s company, it brought Fatty significant reassurance. Although the Zhu family company was small compared to those foreign corporations, in Fatty’s eyes, it was already a behemoth.

"Yes, the big headaches in the future will be things we earned ourselves," Wang Qiqi said happily. "My man will give me more and more money, and I can retire early too." Wang Qiqi said this with sparkling eyes, full of hopeful longing. "Man earns, woman spends—that's my ideal state."

Seeing Wang Qiqi like this, Fatty shuddered, climbed onto the upper bunk, and prepared to sleep. He wouldn't continue the discussion, genuinely afraid of being scared to death if they kept talking. He decided he would have to stop Weiwei from communicating too much with Qiqi in the future, worried that his methods of coaxing Weiwei with gifts would become obsolete. Fatty finally understood why Wang Qiqi didn't need Han Tao to buy her expensive gifts: this girl simply prioritized having more money. What good was the best gift compared to cash? "Han Tao, Han Tao, I think you have more pressure than me, and your life is much harder," Fatty said to Han Tao before lying down, his face filled with sympathy.

Wang Qiqi had her back to Fatty and couldn't see his expression, but she heard his words. As for the content of what he said, Wang Qiqi didn't quite grasp it. What was so miserable about Han Tao's life? Besides them not being around to take care of someone, what was so bad about it? Furthermore, if you don't strive hard for your career when you're young and don't spend money on things you shouldn't, will you only regret it when you're old?

Han Tao smiled. Perhaps the life he was living now seemed a bit tough in Fatty's eyes, but the thing was, he didn't feel it was tough. "I'm very happy," Han Tao murmured to Wang Qiqi. Being able to marry a wife like Qiqi was the happiest thing for Han Tao. Didn't his mother always say he married a virtuous wife? Of course, what she hadn't said out loud was probably that she was also a wife who brought immense wealth. RS