Wang Rui was beside herself downstairs, completely unaware of the figure watching from a window upstairs. She lingered for a long time before finally moving away.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected to witness such a scene just by getting up for a glass of water. Though she couldn't make out their words, it was clear they had parted on terrible terms. "Interesting. But Wang Rui certainly has guts."

Wang Qiqi certainly didn't possess Wang Rui's audacity to stand in front of a moving car, especially one with the engine running. However, Wang Qiqi felt no pity for her relative; this was entirely self-inflicted. Hmph, the moment she got back, someone was looking at her with disdain, even labeling her a prodigal spender. Wang Qiqi found this ridiculous. Setting aside whether she was actually wasting money, what standing did Wang Rui have to criticize her? Did she really think striking a pose like some crusader for justice would allow Wang Damei to lecture her?

In Wang Qiqi's opinion, Wang Rui overestimated Wang Damei entirely. She was merely an aunt, not a mother. If Wang Damei's scolding became too severe, Wang Qiqi could simply dust off her hands and leave her to her dramatic performance. Wang Rui, however, was different. In the past, she relied on Wang Damei for financial support, but now she needed Wang Damei to persuade Song Ziwen to back her. Wang Qiqi mused that Wang Rui was truly foolish; no matter how fond Wang Damei was of her, she wouldn't disregard her own children.

Wang Qiqi finished the last drop of water in her glass, yawned, turned, and headed back to her room to sleep. Juliana was due to arrive later. Not long after Wang Qiqi settled into the warmth of her duvet, the doorbell rang. Wang Qiqi rolled over, intending to ignore it, but the insistent ringing continued for quite some time. Finally, the reluctant Wang Qiqi dragged herself out from under the warm covers.

"Nana?" Although she knew Juliana would visit during the day, Wang Qiqi was surprised she had arrived so early. "Come in." Wang Qiqi lowered the hand that had been covering her mouth. "I only have boiled water here. Shall I make you some tea?" Fortunately, Song Ziwen remembered her fondness for tea; he had stocked a box each of green, black, Pu-erh, and Tieguanyin.

"Tieguanyin, please." Juliana made herself at home, specifying her preferred tea before walking over to the photographs of Wang Qiqi's parents to offer a silent greeting. She then settled onto the sofa. "It's so cold. Why isn't the air conditioning on?" Juliana reached for the remote and switched the heating up.

"I've been sleeping in my room since I got back. There shouldn't be any heat in the living room." Wang Qiqi brought out a cup of tea. "You big shot—why aren't you holding down the fort at the company earning money, instead of coming here?" It was rare to see Juliana take time away from work.

"No matter how much you handle at the company, there's always more. Better to give yourself a breather." Juliana took a sip of tea, then leaned back on the sofa, completely relaxed. Juliana always operated with such freedom here, taking the phrase "make yourself at home" to its absolute limit. She shifted slightly to find a more comfortable position. "I came to check on you and casually fill you in on some local developments. It seems Gao Kai has been making big moves recently. It's one thing that he wants to snatch up land in some obscure corner, but I've heard whispers that your brother is quite tempted too—reportedly considering moving the factory over there." Juliana had come specifically to inform Wang Qiqi about these matters. Knowing that she held shares in Song Ziwen's factory, it was only proper to share news of such magnitude.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected Juliana's visit to revolve around this issue, which genuinely touched her. That was the kind of friendship worth treasuring. "My brother told me. Although I'm not thrilled about that location, he's already made up his mind. What can I do? He's the major shareholder, and he has so-called 'insider information.'"

"Insider information," Juliana almost laughed. "Are there ever a shortage of so-called insider tips in this day and age? If you wanted, I could give you twenty 'insider tips' in a day, ranging from the stock market to policy decisions, but how many of them are actually true?" Wang Qiqi hadn't shown the slightest hint of belief in such unreliable chatter, which was why she spoke as she did. "Your brother, that man..." While Juliana knew Song Ziwen somewhat, their relationship was superficial. Their few prior conversations only happened because Wang Qiqi was present. Without her, their connection was minimal. If it weren't for Wang Qiqi, she wouldn't bother paying attention to the movements at Song Ziwen's factory. Even though Song Ziwen was currently a relatively important supplier to Juliana's family real estate company, he was still a small player, not worth her significant time or concern.

Wang Qiqi knew Juliana probably wanted to advise against buying land there, but the problem was, "This tip came from Gao Kai, and my brother trusts him not to lie. What should I do? If I push back too hard, Song Ziwen might think I still resent past issues. And if Gao Kai actually buys land there, my brother will only be more convinced the tip is real." Wang Qiqi felt a sense of helplessness. "I'm just a minority shareholder anyway; I'll take the money and be done with it. I've already considered this: even if we get swindled, the location is fine for a factory. At worst, we won't rent it out as a workshop. As long as the factory develops well, we can expand the scale later, which might also teach my brother a lesson." People generally only grow quickly after taking a few losses.

"That makes sense." Juliana noticed Wang Qiqi didn't seem genuinely unhappy. She guessed Wang Qiqi was simply waiting for Song Ziwen to take a significant hit. Luckily, Song Ziwen only planned to relocate the factory and showed no interest in taking shares in Gao Kai's real estate venture. "Has your brother ever considered getting into real estate? That line of work is quite lucrative." Based on current intelligence, Gao Kai's situation wasn't great. It wasn't that his construction quality was poor, but rather that his capital reserves were too thin. All the land acquisition and construction costs were financed through bank loans. Although his current housing sales were strong, masking the immediate problem, this model couldn't support his desire to expand development everywhere. Gao Kai was naturally fond of showmanship, believing the current real estate market was booming, thus necessitating more land acquisition and more construction to sell more properties and earn greater returns, ultimately scaling up the enterprise. Juliana couldn't entirely fault this underlying motive; every business owner dreams of maximizing company size. Her own father had started with that mindset, but looking back, it was disastrous. Greater scale doesn't guarantee better profit margins. For instance, if a conglomerate accumulates several non-profitable sectors that constantly drain capital, it only drags the whole entity down.

Song Ziwen entering real estate? Wang Qiqi looked at Juliana, bewildered, wondering what she meant. Was she referring to rumors of a potential partnership with Gao Kai, or did Song Ziwen intend to enter the market solo? "I honestly don't know if my brother is planning to do real estate." Song Ziwen still owned a property agency, reportedly doing quite well. Even though he currently focused most of his attention on the cabinet factory, he hadn't neglected the money-making agency. It seemed established now, with several branches in their hometown. If he wanted to acquire land and build, he did have some advantages. The issue was funding. Land and construction required massive capital; he couldn't borrow 100% from the bank. He'd need to invest several million of his own capital at minimum. Which of his current ventures could provide that? Unless he took money from Song Wenbo, but would he allow it? Or perhaps he'd have to liquidate his existing properties.

"Oh," Juliana responded with a meaningful, drawn-out sound. "If your brother really starts a real estate company, would you invest?" Juliana knew that when one of their circle started a new venture, the others usually bought shares, differing only in percentage. Based on her understanding of Wang Qiqi, she had an interest in real estate, and might invest if Song Ziwen launched such a company.

Song Ziwen opening a real estate firm. Would she invest? Honestly, Wang Qiqi's immediate thought was yes, absolutely. Why wouldn't she? This was the dawn of a booming real estate era, the peak time for massive profits. But reflecting on her current funds, she could only shake her head regretfully. "Forget it. I don't have that kind of money. I'll pass on this opportunity to get rich." She decided to leave it to Song Yao instead. Wang Qiqi also envisioned Song Ziwen, seeing the initial success of a few developments, becoming eager to expand aggressively, borrowing heavily from banks, acquiring more land, and building furiously to inflate his net worth rapidly—perhaps even hitting the billionaire mark. However, Wang Qiqi wasn't drawn to that kind of trajectory.

Hadn't she seen how many large real estate firms later became dominated by second or third-generation figures, or companies prefixed with state-owned characters? Song Ziwen's venture could remain small, but given his personality, he wouldn't stay local forever. If he were lucky enough to find a powerful benefactor, his company could grow quickly. But would a benefactor act as a selfless saint? Impossible. Even a massive bribe wouldn't satisfy their appetite. Worse, he might introduce a wolf into the den, leading to truly miserable times ahead. "I'll just rely on my Han Tao to work hard and make that project succeed." Wang Qiqi thought that if that venture panned out, replacing a certain famous 'Mark,' she could genuinely become a billionaire—a real one, far more comfortable than a billionaire like Song Ziwen. She wouldn't have to worry about cultivating relationships with officials to secure cheap, prime land, placating bankers for loans, or scrambling to sell units to repay debts. That sounded utterly exhausting.

Juliana was surprised by Wang Qiqi's answer but then considered Qiqi's current situation and her experiences abroad. She began to understand why Wang Qiqi wasn't eager to invest heavily domestically. "The environment overseas is quite good, and there are fewer people trying to scheme against you." Developing in China, while profitable, meant that every move she made, big or small, would be known to the Song siblings, and by extension, her aunt. It wasn't a secret; everything felt transparent. Abroad was different; the Song siblings wouldn't know the specifics.

If Song Yao or any of the others had asked this, Wang Qiqi would have shaken her head and denied it. But here at home, she nodded vigorously in agreement. "Han Tao and I will focus our future endeavors overseas. I can't tie down too much capital domestically. I think my current assets are sufficient." Between the shares in the processing plant and the cabinet factory, plus income from her domestic properties and shops, Wang Qiqi felt she had enough to pursue her landlord ambitions in China. "My brother and the others are doing well; they won't need me, a shareholder who doesn't contribute much and causes unnecessary trouble, in the future." While her relationship with Song Ziwen wasn't exactly confessional before, Wang Qiqi had never felt such a pang of sorrow as she did today. Although Song Ziwen hadn't realized the impact of his words today, for Wang Qiqi, it signaled a shift in his mindset. He felt confident making decisions unilaterally. Wang Qiqi wasn't averse to his evolving attitude, but the undertone of concealment in his words made her deeply uneasy.

Juliana was unaware of the prior friction between Wang Qiqi and Song Ziwen. She had assumed their previous conversation was just a disagreement where Song Ziwen ignored Qiqi's advice, causing a minor spat—which was normal when dealing with differing views on company direction. But Wang Qiqi's current statements suggested something more severe, perhaps an irreparable rift. However, regardless of the cause, Juliana felt Qiqi was in the right. Qiqi wasn't power-hungry; as long as her investments yielded returns and her actions weren't too outlandish, Juliana usually didn't interfere. Therefore, Song Ziwen must have changed.

"People change. For profit, too many relatives will turn hostile." Look at her own family; if Juliana hadn't shown solid performance and brought substantial profit to the company over the last few years, despite being the CEO's only daughter, she would still be deemed inadequate by the old guard who built the company alongside her father. It was Juliana's competence that forced the scheming relatives out into their own ventures or into subservient roles within the company. In the last two years, the unstable elements had significantly decreased, giving Juliana some peace of mind. At least now she could focus on external expansion without constantly worrying about saboteurs in the background.

"Exactly. So I'll keep things straightforward. By the way, dinner tonight?" Song Ziwen had mentioned having a welcome-back dinner, but Wang Qiqi genuinely dreaded facing them; her heart felt heavy. Yet, without a compelling reason, Song Ziwen wouldn't let her eat alone.

"I have a prior engagement," Juliana said regretfully. Her friend was back, and she couldn't even share a meal with her. "When are you leaving?"

"Tuesday evening flight," Wang Qiqi replied, equally disappointed. "Lunch tomorrow instead?" Wang Qiqi hoped Juliana would be free on Sunday.

"Deal. I can also introduce you to a friend then." Juliana's visit was more than just catching up; the conversation with Qiqi was the priority, but she also had an added task. She hadn't known how to bring it up, but since Qiqi suggested tomorrow, Juliana seized the opportunity.

A friend introduction piqued Wang Qiqi's curiosity. She leaned back against the sofa, taking a sip of tea. "What mysterious friend do you want me to meet? I won't be developing my career here." This place was too small and full of complications; Wang Qiqi had absolutely no intention of returning to build a life here. Therefore, meeting local power players held little appeal for her; they felt too distant.

"Don't worry, this is someone you will definitely want to meet," Juliana said with a knowing, confident smile.

Someone she would want to meet? Wang Qiqi grew more confused. "Who is it? I'm not developing here, so I have zero interest in meeting anyone—a tycoon? Some great figure? What connection would I have with them?" Wang Qiqi didn't want to puzzle over it alone any longer and turned her questioning energy directly onto Juliana. "Tell me, who is it?"

"You'll know when you see them." Juliana bit her lip, refusing to reveal the name. It wasn't that she wanted to maintain suspense, but she feared that if Qiqi knew who tomorrow's dinner was with, she might cancel outright.

"Nonsense, once I show up, I'll know," Wang Qiqi retorted. "If you won't tell me, I can just refuse to go, can't I?" Hmph. She might have agreed to attend the dinner, but Juliana seemed to forget she was a woman—a species notorious for changing their minds. "I feel completely insecure if I don't know who I'm having dinner with."

"But I'll be there!" Juliana became anxious. "What bad thing could happen with me present? I'm not introducing you to a shady character; it's just dinner and a chat."

Wang Qiqi gave an unapologetic eye-roll. "Dinner isn't just about eating and chatting; what else is involved? As a participant in the meal, I have a right to know who the other party is." Hmph. If Juliana wouldn't reveal the name, Wang Qiqi wouldn't budge.

Seeing Wang Qiqi's stance, Juliana could only sigh. "Fine, you win. You really are something." Juliana couldn't stall; she had another engagement that evening, one she couldn't skip. She lowered her voice and stated a single name. "Are you going or not?"

Wang Qiqi had been mentally running through a few possibilities, but she hadn't expected her. "Are you mistaken?" How could it be her? Wang Qiqi couldn't fathom why this person would seek her out, and through Juliana, no less. When had their relationship become so close?

Wang Qiqi wondered why someone so prominent would receive word of her return so quickly. It felt like excessive attention, though she was simultaneously flattered and deeply unsettled. In an instant, countless reasons why this person might contact her flashed through Qiqi's mind. "She wants to see me..."

"Just a chat, don't worry, she won't do anything to you," Juliana soothed from the side. "Some things are just better discussed face-to-face, don't you think?" Getting information through intermediaries always leads to distortion. A direct conversation is key to resolution. Juliana suddenly recalled something and added to Wang Qiqi, "Just talk things through. How should I put it? She’s not the easiest person to get along with. If you hear anything unpleasant, just pretend you didn't."

'Not easy to get along with?' "And you're still introducing me to her?" Wang Qiqi's tone held a hint of displeasure. "Though it is rare to hear you speak so frankly." It seemed their relationship was only cordial at best; otherwise, Juliana wouldn't speak so bluntly.

"I wouldn't bother if my mother hadn't asked me to," Juliana confessed. While Wang Qiqi hadn't given a definitive 'yes,' the fact that she wasn't visibly upset or laughing too brightly suggested she was leaning toward going. Juliana promptly threw her mediator under the bus. "Just know that I'm on your side. If she’s rude, you don't have to be polite. Show her your temper; don't hold back."

Hold back? Wang Qiqi found that prospect unlikely. She patted Juliana's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm not easily bullied either. If pushed too far, I have ways."

"You have to promise me you’ll go," Juliana insisted as she prepared to leave, confirming the arrangement once more. She wasn't being overly cautious; Wang Qiqi had a history of backing out of things. "I'll be there," Wang Qiqi reiterated with a weary sigh. "Do I look like the type who breaks promises easily?" Wang Qiqi genuinely thought her character was excellent; why did Juliana view her moral standing so poorly?

"Yes, you do," Juliana stated bluntly, refusing to concede. "Enough talk, I really must go. And remember to dress well tomorrow. You studied abroad, after all; you need to dominate the psychological presence."

This point actually didn't require any prompting from Juliana. "Don't worry about this; just make sure your wallet doesn't go bankrupt by then." Wang Qiqi decided she would ask Yang Jing and the others tonight about a restaurant back home that had a great atmosphere but prices that would scare you half to death—that was precisely the kind of place ideal for fleecing someone, wasn't it?

Juliana felt a chill run through her; she certainly wouldn't dare beg for mercy. All she could do was hope that someone had shown restraint yesterday.