"Mmm," Song Ziwen responded, "If he hadn't told me, how would I have believed it." As soon as the words left his mouth, Song Ziwen’s expression became slightly awkward, after all, the relationship between Gao Kai, Qiqi, and Wang Rui was a bit complicated, yet he happened to be on good terms with Gao Kai.

Fine, they had actually gotten together. As for why they got together, Wang Qiqi didn't want to know. Perhaps Song Ziwen wasn't collaborating with Gao Kai right now, but that didn't mean he would let this client go. "Why would Gao Kai tell you this news? Brother, it's not that I think poorly of Gao Kai, but I think you should find out if he actually bought the land." Wang Qiqi’s intuition told her that Gao Kai sharing this news must have a reason, and that reason was likely motivated by some scheme.

As for what kind of person Gao Kai was, Song Ziwen truly didn't know how to answer. "Well, uh, I just felt he was pretty straightforward, just... a bit spent on people," Song Ziwen organized his thoughts before speaking. He was genuinely troubled; why had he impulsively gotten in touch with Gao Kai in the first place, leading to this awkward situation?

Just by looking at Song Ziwen's hesitant expression, it was clear he wasn't telling the whole truth. Fine, how he hooked up with Gao Kai, and what their current relationship was, Wang Qiqi truly didn't care to know. "I just feel that place might not necessarily be good. If the government really intends to expand the development zone or choose a new location, I doubt there wouldn't be any whispers. Shouldn't some infrastructure work be starting?" Wang Qiqi ended with this point, unwilling to continue on this topic. Some things and some people must be experienced firsthand, even if doing so might cause the company to lose a considerable amount. But Wang Qiqi truly didn't care. She was just a minor shareholder anyway; this was the major shareholder's idea, and she had fulfilled her duty to advise.

"It should be soon, perhaps we can go take a look sometime?" Song Ziwen considered suggesting he take Qiqi to see it. Maybe once she saw the plot of land, she would be satisfied. In any case, Song Ziwen was quite pleased. Although what Qiqi said had merit, he actually felt that precisely because everyone thought that way, he wouldn't face much competition. Otherwise, with the meager funds he had, how could he compete with those other players?

"Let's see," Wang Qiqi calculated in her mind. "Time might not be enough. Once I finalize these procedures, I have to return to the UK; a pile of matters is waiting for me there." If she stayed any longer, who knew what might happen. Wang Qiqi also reflected just now that she was perhaps overly obsessed. The land she acquired was for building factories, part of the planning for the factory's future development. Whether the surplus factory space could be rented out, Wang Qiqi felt that couldn't be forced. Perhaps the initial pressure would be higher if the factories weren't rented out immediately, but as long as the main business developed well and all the factory spaces were utilized, that would suffice.

"Oh right, you're close with Gao Kai, does Wang Rui know?" Wang Qiqi suddenly asked. If Wang Rui knew Song Ziwen and Gao Kai were on good terms, given her personality, she would certainly stir up some trouble.

"She probably knows," Song Ziwen wasn't entirely certain. "Once, when Gao Kai and I were having dinner, Wang Rui happened to see us. Actually, that time he sought me out to discuss matters regarding Wang Rui. You know I have absolutely no good feelings for Wang Rui, but what she did was unseemly, and when Gao Kai came calling, as an elder brother, I naturally had to apologize on her behalf. Although Gao Kai wasn't very pleased, he ultimately didn't say much. Afterwards, some things happened, and Gao Kai later told me this piece of news. He said that although he and Wang Rui wouldn't have a future, he still hoped everyone might have a chance to cooperate down the line." This account from Song Ziwen was a mixture of truth and lies, essentially weaving lies around the truth so that Qiqi couldn't discern much. Song Ziwen could only internally apologize to Wang Qiqi, but regarding his attitude towards Wang Rui, Song Ziwen was absolutely on Wang Qiqi's side.

Hearing what Song Ziwen said, Wang Qiqi had only one thought: Would Gao Kai really seek out Song Ziwen to explain matters concerning Wang Rui? Didn't they only find out about this because she told them? How could the relationship between Gao Kai and Song Ziwen have progressed so quickly? Or perhaps the two of them had been in cahoots long ago? As for who made the connection, that was quite obvious. Maybe Wang Rui initially hoped Song Ziwen could offer some assistance, adding leverage to her path to becoming Mrs. Gao. But Song Ziwen didn't help her, or perhaps Gao Kai was simply thanking Song Ziwen for not supporting Wang Rui when he chose not to marry her, offering this piece of news as thanks. Otherwise, given Song Ziwen's shrewd nature, he wouldn't suspect anything.

"Then Gao Kai is quite a decent fellow," Wang Qiqi stated flatly, with no significant emotion behind it. She wasn't worried about what Song Ziwen might think; after all, he knew about her past with Gao Kai, and he might assume she simply didn't want to hear a certain name.

Indeed, Wang Qiqi’s attitude didn't cause Song Ziwen to think much differently. He knew that the name Gao Kai might be the one sensitive point Qiqi couldn't touch. "By the way, how is Han Tao doing in the States recently? I haven't seen him online much." Song Ziwen changed the subject, worried that if they continued, he might accidentally let slip too many things, which would be disastrous.

Song Ziwen’s shift in topic also brought Wang Qiqi a sense of relief; she truly didn't want to keep hearing Gao Kai's name. "His boss took on a rush job, so he's been busy trying to finish it. Plus, with the start of the semester, he’s very busy." Wang Qiqi noted that what she said wasn't wrong. Originally, Wang Qiqi felt a bit awkward keeping the news of Han Tao starting a business a secret, especially since they involved her in their ventures. But her own man was starting a business, and he hadn't dropped even a hint to them, choosing instead to notify Juliana and Shi Man to give them a chance to invest. Now, for whatever reason, Song Ziwen seemed to be drifting away from her, which honestly made Wang Qiqi feel much better. When the news of Han Tao’s venture finally broke, Wang Qiqi would have grounds to distance herself from them. "It's not easy getting by abroad. Recently, I've stocked up on inventory, tying up a lot of capital. Also, I plan to buy a commercial property in Beijing, and I intend to use some of the money to start a shop after graduation. Although I don't want to work outside, I can't just stay home wasting away, right?"

"Weren't you planning to work as a translator?" Song Ziwen actually really wanted to know what Wang Qiqi planned to do with the money from selling those houses—she must have made at least a million. He hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to have this idea.

"So, are you still planning to fly to Beijing later?" Although Song Ziwen's tone was relaxed, the moment he asked, the veins on his hands gripping the steering wheel momentarily bulged, showing his inner turmoil was far from matching his outward calm.

Wang Qiqi shook her head, pretending not to notice Song Ziwen's unease. Did she have that much time? Besides, this money, combined with her savings, would only be enough for her and Han Tao's initial investment; there was no way she could afford to buy a commercial property too. "Let my sister look after things for now. I still have a lot going on at school; I only took a few days off." Moreover, perhaps it would be normal not to buy the shop later; once the money was in her hands, maybe she would undertake some action in the US.

"Mmm, academics are important." Song Ziwen breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Wang Qiqi wasn't going to Beijing. Not going to Beijing was good. Song Ziwen knew that Song Yao and Wang Qiqi had an excellent relationship. Perhaps Qiqi only harbored slight suspicions now, but if she shared these suspicions with Song Yao, the two of them might follow a thread of clues to deduce the direction of events. Then Song Ziwen wouldn't know how to explain himself. He could try to fool Wang Rui, but against Song Yao, Song Ziwen wasn't confident at all, especially since his own mother wouldn't share everything with Wang Qiqi but might tell Song Yao.

Song Ziwen couldn't imagine what their reaction would be if Wang Qiqi knew the truth. They might not necessarily pull their investment and leave, but their relationship might not remain smooth, which was something Song Ziwen didn't want to see. Although Gao Kai was important, on Song Ziwen's scale, Wang Qiqi’s presence hadn't been completely outweighed. "Brother, once you get established in the US, your sister-in-law and I can come to the US to join you."

"No problem. Then I'll take you and your sister-in-law around the US to check out places suitable for you to live," Wang Qiqi thumped her chest to guarantee.

"That’s great." Wang Qiqi’s gesture amused Song Ziwen. Actually, what he wanted to say was that if he really went to the US, he had already decided on the city to settle in: either New York or San Francisco. Those were international metropolises, and he wasn't too fond of other places. Don't look at the good American economy; there were only a few big cities; many places were like the countryside, which Song Ziwen disliked. He wasn't working so hard to earn money and immigrate just to live in those kinds of places. Although the scenery was nice, like the city where Qiqi bought her house, that was a small town. Song Ziwen hadn't heard of it, and if he actually moved there, he felt he wouldn't be able to show off to his friends.

"But New York is pretty good," Wang Qiqi pouted inwardly. She didn't think much of the so-called big cities; it was just more convenient for shopping. But with online shopping in the future, living in a big city wasn't much of an advantage. For Song Ziwen, they definitely needed to live in a big city. Wang Qiqi secretly hoped that the housing prices in New York wouldn't scare Song Ziwen away. The property prices that shocked them when she bought her house were already high. If she told them that good property in Manhattan cost several times that amount, she wondered if they would abandon the idea of living in New York.

"Mmm, your sister-in-law really likes New York. But I think San Francisco is also nice, and it's closer to home. But that's a future matter. Your brother needs to work hard to earn money right now, at least enough to recoup the funds needed for investor immigration. Then my company can become a foreign-invested enterprise and enjoy certain benefits." The thought of his future cabinet factory becoming a wholly foreign-owned enterprise made Song Ziwen happier than eating honey.

Enjoying foreign investment benefits was a nice idea, but those benefits wouldn't last long once the corporate income tax rates for domestic and foreign enterprises were equalized. However, immigration was a good thing. "Brother, you're amazing, you're thinking quite far ahead."

Song Ziwen chuckled proudly. "Although my education level isn't high, I've been continuously improving myself these past two years." As a boss, he couldn't tell people he was just a vocational high school graduate; that would severely lower his status. "Qiqi, do you think I should go to night school?" Improving his academic credentials was necessary.

Night school? That would lower his status too much. "Brother, why would a big boss like you study that? You're not relying on that diploma to apply for a job. You might as well study for an MBA later." Wasn't that diploma something one could get with money alone? However, Wang Qiqi felt that the value of that diploma wasn't in the piece of paper itself, but in meeting people and expanding one's network to grow the business bigger.

"MBA?" What was that? Song Ziwen didn't understand. "I know NBA." Just one letter difference, and Song Ziwen was utterly confused.

Wang Qiqi briefly explained what an MBA was to Song Ziwen. "Brother, I don't think you should bother with night school; that's a complete waste of money. You might as well pursue that one."

Night school indeed lacked prestige, but the problem was that the MBA sounded so high-end to Song Ziwen. "Can I get in?" Could someone who hadn't attended university take that course?

"Yes, rich people can take it later." Of course, it was quite strict at the beginning, but it changed later. "The tuition is expensive. Brother, do you think ordinary people can afford to attend that class?" With tuition fees easily exceeding a hundred thousand a year, would just anyone attend? It might as well be a regular postgraduate class.

That was true. "Then your brother will study for an MBA later." In any case, he felt attending night school didn't suit his status, but his low diploma level felt somewhat inadequate. Since there was this course, and it seemed designed for bosses like him, Song Ziwen certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity. Plus, if it was a class full of bosses, he might meet more people and expand his business to be bigger and stronger. "Then your brother will be a Master's degree holder." Song Ziwen truly hadn't expected to become a Master one day; he could become someone with authority. How could this not thrill Song Ziwen? As for the exorbitant tuition, Song Ziwen didn't care.

The two slowly steered the conversation from factory matters to other topics, such as Qiqi's experiences studying in the UK, and what London and Paris were like. Regarding this, Wang Qiqi said, "I've been to London a few times, but only in passing, never really explored it properly. I only passed through Paris on the way to Germany last time, never even entering the city center. I don't know how much it has changed since I visited a few years ago, but I doubt it's changed much." The city centers of Western countries, especially historic ones, really don't change much—at most, the shops change their branding. This is different from China, where if you don't visit the city center for three months, you might find that even the city you grew up in becomes unrecognizable.

Song Ziwen had only visited Thailand, so he didn't fully grasp what Wang Qiqi meant. "If there's a chance in the future, I'll take your sister-in-law out to travel, but only with a tour group. Your sister-in-law plans to go to Japan next year." Yang Jing wanted to go to Japan partly to shop around and see if there were any interesting items. Although the things Shi Man and the others mailed from abroad were good, they couldn't rely solely on them for sourcing. What if they ran into trouble and couldn't provide goods promptly? Also, if he sourced the goods himself, he wouldn't have to let Wang Qiqi and the others take a cut, allowing them to enjoy the trip and earn back their travel expenses. Song Ziwen fully supported his wife's idea.

"Winter in Japan is nice; soaking in an outdoor hot spring feels even better." Wang Qiqi imagined looking at the snow while sipping red wine, her body warm in the water, while the parts exposed above the surface felt a bit cold due to the snow. That feeling made Wang Qiqi wonder if she could invite Han Tao to go to Japan for a hot spring trip someday.

When Song Ziwen heard Wang Qiqi's suggestion, many images surfaced in his mind. Of course, what he imagined was far less innocent than what Wang Qiqi pictured.

"Oh, Brother, why are you having a nosebleed?" Wang Qiqi, still musing about soaking in hot springs in Japan, waited for Song Ziwen's response but heard nothing. She turned to see what was wrong with Song Ziwen and realized something was amiss—he was actually bleeding from the nose. This was a big problem. "Brother, are you okay?" Although the car's air conditioning was on, the temperature wasn't high, and Song Ziwen wasn't wearing a down jacket. It couldn't be due to overheating causing a nosebleed, right?

"It's nothing, nothing." Song Ziwen hadn't expected that just as he felt something slightly off about his nose, Wang Qiqi had already spotted his nosebleed before he could check. He felt quite embarrassed. Song Ziwen thought he couldn't possibly tell Wang Qiqi that he was thinking about something evocative. "My nose has been a bit problematic ever since Niuniu punched me last time; it tends to bleed easily."

"Oh." This was quite possible. Perhaps Niuniu had accidentally ruptured a small blood vessel in Song Ziwen's nose, making it fragile.

After Wang Qiqi moved her luggage out of the car, she noticed Song Ziwen looked like he had something to say but held back. "Brother, what's wrong?" Why was he still acting so hesitant when they had already arrived?

"Wang Rui might be here too." Song Ziwen was truly troubled. He had actually instructed his mother earlier not to let Wang Rui come over when he was picking up Qiqi. If the two of them met, Qiqi could ignore Wang Rui, but that little brat Wang Rui would surely mock Wang Qiqi. However, before leaving, Song Ziwen learned Wang Rui was at his house again. He wished he could rush home and drag Wang Rui out. "Well, I..." Song Ziwen wanted to say he really didn't want her to come, but he couldn't help it. He just hoped Wang Qiqi wouldn't assume Wang Rui was invited by them.

So that was it. "If she’s here, she’s here." Wang Rui’s legs were attached to her, so he couldn't stop her from coming over. "I'll go say hello later." Wang Qiqi had originally intended to give the gifts to Wang Damei first, but seeing Wang Rui now, although she could pretend not to see her and just give the items to Wang Damei, that thick-skinned girl would definitely ask if there was anything for her. Wang Qiqi was reluctant to chatter with a certain person, so avoiding her seemed best.

Song Ziwen breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Wang Qiqi say she would go greet them. Thankfully, Wang Qiqi’s temper had improved somewhat after going to the UK. He had worried that upon hearing Wang Rui was there, Qiqi would throw a tantrum, saying she’d only visit after a certain person left, or that she would give the gifts right in front of Wang Rui just to make that person furious. But unexpectedly, Wang Qiqi didn't do that.

"Hello, Aunt," Wang Qiqi said with a bright smile, though clearly unhappy, after putting her luggage down at home. She went downstairs to Wang Damei's place. Wang Qiqi instantly regretted so much—why did she choose

"No, I have plans with a friend." Wang Qiqi was profoundly grateful that Juliana had asked her out for dinner today, otherwise, she might have run into Wang Rui. "I've been away from here for a long time, and there are some things I need to look into. Especially since I have a relative who is a mistress, and that mistress is related to my friend—I simply can't afford to get entangled. I just hope my apartment sells quickly so I don't get dragged down and end up with nothing good coming from it."

Hmph. To call me a spendthrift, Wang Qiqi thought, didn't they consider why I need to sell the house? (Wang Qiqi cheerfully laid the blame for selling the property squarely at Wang Rui's feet.) So, she might as well say it was because someone was causing trouble by being a mistress. "The fact that she can solidify her position as the main wife and even move up the wedding date just goes to show she's no pushover." Don't think for a second that just because I'm abroad, I'm out of the loop; I have the absolute best, firsthand intelligence. RL