Shi Man leaned against the wall, watching Wang Qiqi frantically pack her things. "You got your leave approved?"

"Mmm-hmm." Wang Qiqi packed the gifts she had specifically bought, naturally tossing in some items Shi Man had recently purchased as well. In any case, she packed the two large suitcases until they were absolutely full. It was a blessing that Wang Qiqi hadn't brought much back with her this time, or she would have truly wept buckets. "There aren't any classes for a while anyway." Entering the latter half of the semester, the course load wasn't as intense as the first half, though there were still crucial subjects to study. Thankfully, Wang Qiqi's grades were respectable, and coupled with the fact that the Boss didn't have any major accounts requiring her follow-up, Wang Qiqi hadn't worried too much about getting the leave approved smoothly.

"Is there anything you need me to take back for you?" Wang Qiqi mused. This busy woman couldn't possibly just stand at the door watching her pack; Shi Man must have something on her mind.

Shi Man shook her head. "I don't have anything to take back. I was just checking in on you." Her own parents didn't lack anything. "Their wedding date has been moved up. They're getting married in March, I think."

Though she didn't specify whose wedding, Wang Qiqi knew exactly who she meant. Her packing didn't pause. "She knows about the pregnancy, and she knows about Wang Rui's existence." Otherwise, there was no reason for the wedding to move earlier, especially since Shi Man mentioned her cousin wanted the ceremony to be incredibly grand, which required not just money but considerable effort and time—like flying abroad to custom-order the gown and attire. Moving it up meant many things couldn't be rushed, though buying something off-the-rack was still an option.

"She knows Wang Rui exists," Shi Man stated the fact. "Apparently, they just had a huge blow-up." Wang Qiqi had expected plenty of drama waiting for her back home, but she hadn't anticipated an incident right before she left.

Gao Kai's wife found out? Wang Qiqi couldn't believe Gao Kai would make such a colossal blunder at this moment. He relied on Shi Man's cousin for certain favors. That meant Wang Rui must have deliberately leaked the news. Wang Qiqi felt utterly helpless about it. Honestly, even if she had told the legal wife, what difference would it make? Gao Kai had chosen someone else as his wife after they rekindled their old flame. Moreover, Shi Man's cousin only cared about the status of Mrs. Gao. "A case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice. Wang Rui must be furious enough to die." Alas, after all the commotion, all she achieved was advancing the wedding date; she gained nothing else. And it was possible Gao Kai made some concessions to avoid a marital disaster. Shi Man's cousin couldn't push things too far, lest she completely alienate Gao Kai. A little financial bleeding would be within his tolerance, and it would certainly be a bonus if it made Gao Kai feel a touch of annoyance toward Wang Rui.

"Your sister has a much better tolerance level than you," Shi Man admitted, something she always admired about Wang Rui. "Anyway, be careful when you get back. Don't reveal your whereabouts or anything. I'm worried your sister might sell you out for an 'accidental' run-in with Gao Kai." Compared to Wang Rui, Wang Qiqi, Gao Kai's acknowledged first love, would make her cousin even more wary.

Wang Qiqi certainly knew that. "Don't worry, I'm not an idiot." Even if this incident hadn't occurred, Wang Qiqi wouldn't have been close to Wang Rui anyway. "Oh, by the way, Yan Yan seems awfully secretive lately." Wang Qiqi noticed that since Zhang Yan returned, her movements were truly a mystery. It seemed like something new was developing, but whenever she asked, Zhang Yan claimed she was either studying in the library or out taking photos to improve her photography skills. With that explanation, Wang Qiqi couldn't very well say, I suspect you're lying, could she? But the issue was that Wang Qiqi felt Zhang Yan’s mood had significantly improved lately; sometimes, when she walked past, she could hear her humming a tune. It made Wang Qiqi strongly suspect she was dating someone, but the candidate—was it Mark's friend John?—piqued her curiosity. Furthermore, that name was the exact same as their business partner John's. Wang Qiqi genuinely worried that when discussing 'John' with Shi Man later, they'd need clarification on which John they meant, or major problems could arise.

Shi Man looked at the slow-to-catch-on Wang Qiqi. "You truly pay too little attention to those around you. Yan Yan and John have been dating for ages. They even went on vacation to Italy together last time." Shi Man had only learned this news herself later on.

What? The news Wang Qiqi tossed out stunned Shi Man speechless. "They're really together?" Okay, Wang Qiqi wasn't terribly surprised they were dating, but the crucial question was when they hooked up. "How come I didn't know?" This was completely out of line. "They went on vacation and didn't even tell me."

Wang Qiqi was on the verge of fury. In a household of five people, excluding the couple involved, she was the only one left out of the loop. "Hey, I was practically the matchmaker here, shouldn't someone say thank you?" Of course, Wang Qiqi didn't mention any matchmaker's fee.

"Thank you for what? When they first started dating, who knew how it would turn out? You were busier than a ghost back then. How many days a week did you come home?" I was the one taking your laundry to get changed. If I brought this up with Qiqi then, she wouldn't have had time to listen anyway. "After the vacation, we were off to the US to sign contracts, and then you were swamped with work and studies. When would Yan Yan have found the time to mention it?"

Shi Man's explanation made Wang Qiqi pause. Based on what she said, she truly hadn't had much time to hear about it. "I didn't have time, but she could have mentioned it in class!" Wang Qiqi suddenly realized she was almost led down the wrong path by Shi Man. Although they lived in the studio, she attended classes with Yan Yan. Couldn't she have taken one minute to let her know? Even though she was busy, surely she had a minute to hear some news.

"Didn't they want to introduce them formally? You've met John before, haven't you?" Shi Man conceded to Wang Qiqi's point, though she agreed that Zhang Yan was also at fault. Postponing a formal introduction was one thing, but she should have at least dropped a hint. Look at Qiqi getting agitated now. "Mark actually intended to go on vacation with John, but you know he canceled his leave, so John went traveling alone, and they unexpectedly ran into each other in Italy." Shi Man implied that their meeting in Italy was chance, not pre-arranged.

Wait a minute. Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered something. "He didn't go back to the US to spend Christmas with his family?" That didn't sound right. Even for foreigners who valued independence, Christmas Eve was traditionally spent together. How could it be, based on Shi Man's account, that he went to Italy without returning to the US? "Could it be he went chasing Zhang Yan?" Otherwise, how could they meet so coincidentally? Italy isn't Vatican City; the probability of running into someone is fairly high, but meeting in Italy? With so many famous cities, even running into someone in the same city would be unlikely. They must have been in contact.

"I don't know the specifics," Shi Man was almost in tears. Why did she have to be the one to bring this up to Wang Qiqi? "When you get back, John will probably come over as a guest." Shi Man quickly relayed what Zhang Yan had asked her to say, mentally vowing that she would never agree to such a task for Zhang Yan again.

Wang Qiqi understood. So, this was damage control on someone's behalf. "Don't worry. I'm not angry. I just feel like I've been too consumed by work lately..." Her relationship with Zhang Yan wasn't that extraordinarily close. If it were Shi Man keeping secrets, Wang Qiqi would absolutely throw a fit and demand to know why she was hidden from her. But since it was Zhang Yan, Wang Qiqi felt compelled to speak kindly. "When I get back, remember to treat us to a great meal." Wang Qiqi hadn't forgotten. After she took her cut, she had made them all pay dearly. Wang Qiqi vividly remembered sitting in the restaurant, staring at the bill with the urge to faint—their collective appetite was too fierce. Even though they hadn't ordered the most expensive set menus, Jin Ke couldn't handle how much the others ate! A quantitative change had led to a qualitative one. Hahaha, she hadn't expected to catch an opportunity so soon. Wang Qiqi wouldn't let someone off so easily, especially since Zhang Yan had been so smug about making her splurge earlier. "John probably doesn't have that habit. As long as Zhang Yan acknowledges the debt, that’s what matters." Foreigners would never be so generous as to let them fleece them, but it didn't matter; they had Zhang Yan, who should understand this kind of dynamic.

Shi Man strongly agreed with this point. After all, Zhang Yan just wanted her to put in a good word and hoped Qiqi wouldn't be too upset. Now, she had successfully exceeded expectations; wasn't Qiqi already letting go of her anger? Even if someone's wallet might be lighter later, it was normal. When you start dating, you have to bleed a little.

"Qiqi, Qiqi, over here!" Wang Qiqi pushed her luggage cart out of the arrival gate, planning to look around for Song Ziwen. When she called him earlier, he said he might not have time, citing heavy work recently, and might send Yang Jing to pick her up. She hadn't expected Song Ziwen himself to show up.

Song Ziwen took Wang Qiqi's cart and started walking toward the parking lot. "Did you know? Wang Rui and Gao Kai's relationship has been a bit tense lately." That was the first thing Song Ziwen said upon seeing Wang Qiqi. "She's been running over to my place constantly. If you see her, don't argue with her." Song Ziwen knew Wang Rui had been like a lit bomb recently, ready to explode at any moment. Although this might make Qiqi feel slightly wronged, Song Ziwen truly didn't want their home turning into a battlefield. "I don't even want to go home now; the moment I walk in, I see Wang Rui with a long face."

How could Song Ziwen not be annoyed? Business was booming, and as the boss, he had to be on the front lines, maintain contact with clients, and check in on the specialty stores. Song Ziwen was incredibly busy. He just looked forward to resting properly when he got home, but instead, Wang Rui was cooped up there, constantly nagging his mother. When he returned, she'd put on a face that implied she was deeply wronged and that he, as her older brother, should be taking her side. Song Ziwen felt a headache coming on. It wasn't like he forced her to be a mistress; he hadn't reaped any benefits, so why should he shoulder the blame when trouble erupted? "I regret starting my business in my hometown. Although having familiar faces made company setup easier, now I feel like I should have opened a factory elsewhere like my brother-in-law. Didn't he manage his factory quite well?" There was no reason why Gong Peixing could thrive in Beijing while he couldn't.

Wang Qiqi thought to herself, what did Wang Rui's explosive mood have to do with her? Sitting in the passenger seat, she kept emitting cold snorts. "I've almost cleared out the family business back home for her sake, and she still wants more from me?" I'm already avoiding her, why won't she leave me alone? "If she doesn't snap at me, I'll pretend she doesn't exist. If she gives me the cold shoulder... well, sorry..." Humph. Song Ziwen worried about his Aunt Wang Damei throwing a fit, but he wasn't Song Ziwen; Wang Damei was just his aunt. If he truly lost his temper, Wang Damei would have to stay put quietly on the sidelines; she wouldn't dare confront him.

"You..." Song Ziwen knew Wang Qiqi wouldn't tolerate it. "I've already passed along my mother's wishes. Qiqi, you just work hard to scold her away. I don't want some ancestor hanging around my house all day. After a while, people will think my family has poor upbringing."

Song Ziwen shuddered at the thought of his business associates finding out his cousin, Wang Rui, was Gao Kai's mistress, the looks of contempt they would give him, especially. Some people even suggested his cousin was willing to follow Gao Kai just to get his company's materials used in Gao Kai's real estate projects. Song Ziwen was furious about this. "If she stays any longer, rumors might start that my business success was bought by Wang Rui with her body." Song Ziwen restrained himself because he was driving; otherwise, he would have unleashed his frustration.

Wang Qiqi finally understood. So, Song Ziwen wanted her to kick that Wang Rui out. "Why didn't you talk to your aunt about this?" Wang Qiqi thought that even if Wang Damei cared about Wang Rui, she wouldn't jeopardize her son's future.

"My mother is getting muddled in her old age. Or maybe she thinks since Wang Rui is with Gao Kai now, they might as well leverage more profit. Qiqi, you know, if I actually did business with Gao Kai, who knows what Wang Rui would do? She'd certainly claim she introduced the deal and demand a cut. Well, a cut is necessary, but I don't want to see her face. Besides, Gao Kai's real estate company isn't that big; why should I rush to cooperate with him?" Song Ziwen had his own pride. If this were last year, maybe he would have been anxious; when business was slow, any new contract that ensured timely payment was welcome, regardless of the drama. But now that business was thriving, he could afford to be selective about clients.

"Oh, Qiqi, I'm thinking of buying a plot of land to build my own factory and expand the scale." Currently, equipment capacity could keep up with orders, but that couldn't last forever. Business would only get better, and more products would be developed. Instead of scrambling to build a factory later, it was better to start preparing now. "I plan to buy several plots of land and build multiple factory buildings. If we don't need them right away, we can rent them out." Factory buildings appreciate in value, and even without selling, the rental income would be quite substantial. "Didn't your brother-in-law rent out the extra factory space he built? I heard the annual rent can cover the factory's utilities and worker's social security." While the initial investment might be large, returns would come in gradually. Song Ziwen built his foundation by buying properties to rent out, so he naturally had a soft spot for rental income.

"We're currently renting space from someone else. Thank goodness the contract was for three years, but when the lease expires, the rent will certainly increase." Song Ziwen had always planned to buy land and build his own factory someday; he couldn't keep renting forever. However, in his original timeline, this was at least five years away. But because business was developing so well, the landlord was getting ideas about the rent. Rumor has it that when the contract ends, the rent might jump by 40% to 50%—a price Song Ziwen found completely unacceptable. That's why he started thinking about buying land to build himself.

Wang Qiqi naturally had no objection to this plan. As long as Song Ziwen didn't act impulsively on unreliable projects and proceeded steadily, the factory's future was secure. Besides, since building a factory was inevitable, delaying it by a few years would only mean higher land and labor costs. Since it had to be done, building sooner was better. "That's good news, Brother. Have you found a plot yet?" Song Ziwen's original trade was real estate; if he was suggesting this, he likely had a satisfactory location in mind.

"Mmm, I've found one," Song Ziwen said, naming a location. "Although the current conditions there are mediocre, and it's a bit far from the city center, they plan to build a highway there later." Song Ziwen felt this would make logistics convenient when shipping out the products. What truly convinced him, though, was the price. "It's half the price of land near the Development Zone." Song Ziwen had considered buying land near the Development Zone, as it was a mature area where he knew people in industrial administration and taxation, meaning he wouldn't have to build new connections. However, the price was simply too steep. Honestly, his requirement for a factory was merely easy expansion later. For the same price, he could acquire 50% more land in the area he chose than in the Development Zone. Song Ziwen’s scale clearly tipped toward the larger plot.

Wang Qiqi wasn't very familiar with the land Song Ziwen mentioned. She only knew that before her rebirth, she never heard any positive news about the area he chose. Although the city constantly spoke of developing that region and the highway was indeed built, that area seemed to stagnate and never truly developed. While land prices had risen slightly, the gap compared to other areas, especially the Development Zone, widened over time.

Seeing Song Ziwen's apparent satisfaction with that plot, Wang Qiqi asked, "Are there any large factories or foreign investments moving into that area near the land you picked?" Even though Song Ziwen was well-informed, many people possessed even better intelligence. He couldn't be the only one aware of opportunities. "I still feel the environment around the Development Zone is better."

"Of course, I know the environment is better, but the land is expensive!" Song Ziwen thought. It wasn't that he didn't want to go to the Development Zone; buying land there to build a factory would truly showcase his strength, but it came down to capital. All the money Song Ziwen had was tied up in the factory; he couldn't inject capital. Although Wang Qiqi had money, Song Ziwen was completely unwilling to ask her for help, as that might lead to a reduction in his equity share—something he didn't want to face.

"The Development Zone is expensive, but Brother, have you considered the land in the villages and towns surrounding the Development Zone?" Wang Qiqi pointed out. As more factories moved into the Development Zone, the area, which was initially thought to be vast, gradually couldn't accommodate new enterprises. The city wouldn't stand by and watch clients move their projects to other cities. Therefore, expanding the Development Zone was an immediate necessity.

Song Ziwen understood that Wang Qiqi was likely relying on the rumor that the Development Zone would expand. "The Development Zone will expand, but I heard the new expansion might be chosen somewhere else, possibly near the land I'm looking at." Song Ziwen thought, if he didn't have this piece of information, would he have made this decision? Moving the factory that far away created a significant issue for worker commutes. While shuttle buses could be arranged, that cost money, and if an emergency arose, getting people there in time would be difficult.

"Do you think that's likely?" Wang Qiqi countered directly. "I've only heard of Phases One and Two of developments flowing into each other sequentially; there's no logic in expanding a development zone that far away." Wang Qiqi recalled that talk of expanding the Development Zone had dragged on for a long time, but it wasn't until two or three years later that they absorbed the surrounding villages and towns, extending the zone. She remembered that this expansion actually made quite a few people rich. Wang Qiqi wondered if the delay in expansion was to give certain people time. "Brother, I'm not saying your information is wrong; I'm just analyzing it." Wang Qiqi noticed Song Ziwen's expression had soured and quickly added, "Honestly, if my shares weren't tied up in the factory, I wouldn't bother managing your affairs this much, especially having to play the bad cop."

At first, Wang Qiqi's words made Song Ziwen quite unhappy. He thought to himself that he had been in their hometown the whole time, while Qiqi, ever since starting university, hadn't paid much attention to local affairs and hadn't even visited to see the actual situation. Although her words were tactful, he could still hear the implied caution. But then, listening to the nuance of Wang Qiqi's argument, he reconsidered. "I'll go inquire again. But do you think that jerk Gao Kai is trying to trick me? I did mention to him that I was planning to acquire land."

Gao Kai? Wang Qiqi was startled to hear the name from Song Ziwen’s lips. “You’re saying you got this information directly from Gao Kai?” Wang Qiqi felt something was definitely amiss. When had Song Ziwen and Gao Kai become so close? Furthermore, if she hadn't been reborn, she might have readily believed what Gao Kai said; after all, he was in the real estate business, and such matters were often quickly known to him. But the crucial point was that Wang Qiqi was reborn—how could Song Ziwen make such a mistake?

Now, what Wang Qiqi truly needed to ascertain was Gao Kai’s motive for relaying such news. Was he genuinely unaware, or was he deliberately misleading Song Ziwen? If it was a calculated deception, what was his ultimate purpose?