Wang Qiqi was curled up on the sofa chatting online with Shi Man, who had only recently gotten up, when she heard a knock at the door. "Coming, coming." Qiqi glanced at the time; it was only five o'clock. She had been wondering why they were back so early, assuming Song Ziwen had gone back to the company in the afternoon to handle some matters.

Wang Qiqi opened the door cautiously and saw Yang Jing standing there. "Sister-in-law, are we about to leave? I'll go change." Although it was a bit early, since the guest had arrived, the hostess shouldn't keep them waiting.

"No, it's still early. I just wanted to talk for a bit," Yang Jing quickly stopped Qiqi, who was turning to go change, and explained her reason for visiting.

Having something to discuss, Wang Qiqi found Yang Jing rather peculiar. In just this short while, she kept nervously glancing toward the stairs. "Alright then," Wang Qiqi raised an eyebrow and welcomed Yang Jing inside.

"Tea." Wang Qiqi had just boiled a kettle of water, so she brewed Yang Jing a cup of lemon black tea, using a lemon she'd found in a fruit basket brought by Zhulina earlier.

Yang Jing looked at the two slices of lemon floating on the tea. She had only one thought: Qiqi was truly resourceful, remembering to buy lemons even on the day she returned. "This is lovely," Yang Jing took a sip and praised it. "Qiqi, you certainly know how to live well. Did you often have afternoon tea in England?" Yang Jing adored that feeling of sitting down around three or four in the afternoon for a cup of coffee or tea, nibbling a few biscuits, and having a good chat with friends. Although she had been running her business for several years—the shop had a coffee machine and an oven, allowing for daily afternoon tea—her friends were usually at work, busy with family on days off, or taking the kids out. In short, opportunities to sit down for a proper conversation were rare.

"A friend just came to visit me. There were lemons in the fruit basket she gave me, so I used them," Wang Qiqi replied. She wasn't actually very fond of so-called lemon black tea; she preferred just brewing a simple cup of tea. "In England, I was too busy studying and working; I rarely had afternoon tea." Perhaps when she first arrived, they had sat under the eaves a few times for a leisurely cup. But as the weather turned colder, everyone got busier, and the activity of afternoon tea gradually fizzled out.

"Is that so?" Yang Jing murmured an acknowledgment. "But university days were the most relaxed. Back when I was in college, I hardly paid much attention to my studies..." Yang Jing and Wang Qiqi reminisced about her college years.

Yang Jing never brought up the subject of her actual concern, leaving Wang Qiqi utterly confused. She certainly didn't think Yang Jing had come over to reminisce about university life, yet she kept dragging out the topic. Wang Qiqi decided to humor her for the time being.

"Um, Qiqi, are you involved in that... stock market stuff in England now?" Yang Jing knew approaching Wang Qiqi wasn't easy, but she couldn't find anyone else to help.

Ask if she was messing around in the stock market? Wang Qiqi’s first thought was that Yang Jing wanted her to manage her stocks overseas. But that didn't fit; if Song Ziwen really intended to start a real estate company, it would require massive capital injection. Why would Yang Jing want to move money abroad at this moment? "It's not exactly tossing things around in the stock market. I'm just assisting on the sidelines. Sister-in-law knows I studied finance; I'm just interning under the boss." Wang Qiqi answered honestly. "I only gather information; the actual execution is what they handle."

Wang Qiqi thought to herself that she absolutely couldn't exaggerate. Even if Yang Jing thought she was just scraping by overseas, she couldn't act like a big shot or a capable facilitator. Otherwise, Yang Jing might assume she was running some grand operation abroad and then ask her to trade stocks. If that happened, she wouldn't know what to do. Setting aside the risk of winning or losing on stocks, there was the money itself. Wang Qiqi suspected Song Ziwen didn't know about Yang Jing's plan. What would she do caught in the middle? Better to shut down the idea from the start than face an awkward situation later.

Yang Jing hadn't expected that a simple inquiry would lead Wang Qiqi to quickly grasp her potential intentions. Although she hadn't overtly refused, the implication in her words and the expression on her face suggested she didn't want to wade into troubled waters. Frankly, if she had other options, Yang Jing wouldn't have taken this route, but the problem was, if she didn't speed things up, she wouldn't be able to stop it.

Yang Jing sighed. Since it would eventually come out, she might as well tell Wang Qiqi now. "Your brother is planning to get into the real estate business."

Song Ziwen really was planning to enter that sector. Zhulina had mentioned it before, but now that Yang Jing brought it up, it meant this wasn't just hearsay. Zhulina’s source might be faulty, but Yang Jing, as Song Ziwen's wife, would never spread false information. "Isn't that great? Real estate is doing very well right now. Getting into the industry now means huge profits, and the cabinet factory can push more products out." Wang Qiqi knew Yang Jing likely didn't want Song Ziwen involved in real estate, but as his sister, Qiqi had no standing to dissuade him. If the industry was truly bad, she could perhaps gently advise him against it, but the current returns in real estate were excellent; Wang Qiqi couldn't lie through her teeth. Furthermore, Yang Jing should see that real estate offered good prospects now. Why oppose it? Besides, entering the business would involve their joint marital assets—what was she worried about? In short, Wang Qiqi truly didn't understand Yang Jing's distress.

"I know that acquiring land and building houses is profitable. If your brother planned to do it alone, I wouldn't object, but you know who he plans to partner with," Yang Jing said emotionally, leaning significantly closer to Wang Qiqi.

So Yang Jing didn't object to Song Ziwen entering real estate; she objected to his partner. And judging by her tone, this partner was someone Qiqi knew. Otherwise, why would Yang Jing ask like this? In their hometown, there were only two people doing real estate business who might partner up. First, Nana could be excluded; her family was too established. Even if she needed a partner, it wouldn't be Song Ziwen—he lacked capital and influence; partnering with him would be like partnering with a beggar. If it were Nana, Wang Qiqi guaranteed Yang Jing wouldn't have such strong objections, especially since Nana hadn't mentioned anything when she visited previously.

Excluding Zhulina, the possible partner for Song Ziwen came into sharp focus: "Gao Kai."

Yang Jing responded with a displeased hum. "Did your brother mention it to you?" Otherwise, why wasn't Wang Qiqi surprised when she first mentioned Song Ziwen entering the property market, and why did she name the person with such certainty?

Seeing Yang Jing's unhappy expression, Wang Qiqi knew her sister-in-law had already formed an opinion. Qiqi sighed inwardly. She really shouldn't have come back; trouble seemed constant every time she returned home. She had expected the most she'd face was Wang Rui's issue, but now Song Ziwen wasn't settling down either. "The friend who visited earlier was Zhulina," Wang Qiqi stated simply.

Yang Jing's face instantly flushed red. How could she forget? Although Wang Qiqi had studied abroad in England, she couldn't possibly be completely ignorant of domestic affairs, especially concerning Song Ziwen. Qiqi's classmates were known contacts; otherwise, why would Zhulina let her own cabinet company supply fittings for his building projects? "It is him, Gao Kai," she sighed. If only her husband would partner with her, even a woman—Yang Jing wouldn't have second thoughts. But why would her husband partner with Gao Kai?

Wang Qiqi noticed Yang Jing's poor demeanor and found it odd. Why such intense disapproval of Gao Kai? He was quite capable—eloquent and charming. If Gao Kai chose to flatter any woman, he could surely leave her beaming. If he were truly partnering with Song Ziwen, there was no reason for him to antagonize Yang Jing. "Sister-in-law seems to have a problem with Gao Kai." Wang Qiqi didn't think Yang Jing disliked Gao Kai because of her connection to him. Even her own cousin was involved with Gao Kai due to vested interests; Yang Jing’s reaction was likely independent of Qiqi.

"A very big problem," Yang Jing said fiercely. "Qiqi." She grabbed Wang Qiqi's hand. "We are both women. Regardless of whether you become a powerhouse, ultimately, family cannot be abandoned. I was relatively at ease when your brother had small assets. I'm happy now that his career is booming, but that happiness brings unease. You know how things are with girls nowadays." If they had a son, Yang Jing wouldn't be so insecure; the in-laws would likely prevent a divorce for the sake of a grandson. But they had a daughter. Yang Jing had considered having another child, but the fines were enormous. Song Ziwen said a daughter was nice—a warm comfort when she grew up—but as his career expanded, not having a son would be a significant regret. Yang Jing didn't want her downfall to be rooted in failing to bear a son for the Song family.

Wang Qiqi began to understand. So, Yang Jing suspected Gao Kai was a flirt. "Sister-in-law, are you worried my brother will follow Gao Kai's bad example?" This concern was understandable. Song Ziwen wasn't exceptionally tall, but men, once wealthy, attract attention from all sorts of beautiful women, especially when their partner is a bachelor known for his dalliances. This was a major instability factor for Yang Jing. Moreover, Song Ziwen's own father had a history of infidelity. According to genetics, Song Ziwen might inherit a tendency toward marital disloyalty.

If it were just having women on the side, Wang Qiqi guessed Yang Jing might tolerate it. But if it escalated into domestic strife like Song Wenbo’s situation, that would be terrible. Thus, Yang Jing wanted to nip this possibility in the bud immediately. Wang Qiqi could sympathize, but she couldn't intervene much. Song Ziwen was her brother, after all. To put it bluntly, Yang Jing's relationship with Qiqi existed because she was Song Ziwen's wife. If things went south between them, Yang Jing would inevitably become a stranger to Qiqi.

Yang Jing nodded without pretense and pulled a tissue from her bag to dab her eyes. "Qiqi, I know if your brother reaches that point, you will definitely side with Song Ziwen." Yang Jing was certain that if it came to that, even if Song Ziwen was wrong, Song Yao and Wang Qiqi would never support her, especially during a financial battle.

Although Wang Qiqi’s heart leaned toward Song Ziwen, should she foolishly nod in agreement just because Yang Jing said so? She wasn't an idiot. They hadn't reached that point yet. "Sister-in-law, you're worrying too much. My brother isn't that kind of person, and if they really divorced, my brother would suffer a massive loss." Given Song Ziwen's character, which placed high value on money, he wouldn't divorce Yang Jing for some notion of love. After all, it would mean giving up half his fortune, which would feel like cutting off a piece of his flesh.

"In this day and age, if your brother truly wanted a divorce, he has his ways," Yang Jing said with a faint, sad smile. "People say I studied finance, so I must be good at calculation. But your brother calculates even faster." After years of marriage, Yang Jing realized her control over Song Ziwen was waning. She often learned about things after the fact. She had thrown small fits over this, but Song Ziwen’s response was always 'cold shoulder treatment.' How could this not worry her? She couldn't tell her parents; in front of them, Song Ziwen maintained a perfect facade. If she told Song Yao, she would certainly advise her to yield. If she told friends, they would surely think she was overreacting, as Song Ziwen was generally good to her—allowing her to buy brand names. But some issues couldn't be solved with mere designer labels.

Wang Qiqi was startled by Yang Jing's state and words. "Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, what happened between you two?" The conversation was getting terrifying. The usually proud Yang Jing was exhibiting such a distressed smile; how could Qiqi not be alarmed? "Don't tell me my brother has someone else?" Damn it, Wang Qiqi nearly swore. Even though she was the younger sister-in-law, she was unmarried and still held some hope for love, even if she was over thirty combined across two lives—a fact they didn't know.

Wang Qiqi deeply regretted returning this time, but regret wouldn't change anything; she still had to visit her parents' graves.

Yang Jing hadn't meant for a small complaint to make Qiqi suspect Song Ziwen was having an affair. She quickly shook her head and denied it. "He shouldn't have anyone outside. No matter how late his social engagements run, he always comes home." Otherwise, Yang Jing wouldn't be this calm.

Coming home every night means nothing is happening? Wang Qiqi scoffed internally, though her expression remained appropriate. "Sister-in-law, please don't worry. My brother might just be stressed with work—the factory is relocating, and the business is expanding; the pressure is immense..." Wang Qiqi could only offer Yang Jing comfort.

"I know that." Sometimes Yang Jing felt she was being completely unreasonable, but whenever Song Ziwen gave her that look—I told you, but you wouldn't understand or help anyway—she would explode. "Qiqi, what if I go back to my old profession?" Yang Jing asked tentatively. When the factory first opened, no one suggested Yang Jing take the finance role. First, the factory was new, and the future uncertain, especially since all their family money was invested. If the factory yielded no returns for a few years, Yang Jing's shop income would be their primary source of income. Second, since Song Ziwen was already managing the factory, if Yang Jing also handled the finances, it might seem to Song Yao and Wang Qiqi that the factory was completely under the control of Song Ziwen and his wife. Therefore, now that she had this idea, she needed to ask Wang Qiqi's opinion.

Returning to her old profession—Wang Qiqi was shocked by the suggestion. Did she plan to return to the factory as the accountant? Or did she just want to control Song Ziwen's cash flow? If he did have an illicit interest, she could probably guess it from the cash he mentioned. But Wang Qiqi genuinely didn't want Yang Jing in the factory's finance department. First, she didn't know if Song Ziwen would agree; he was the major shareholder. More importantly, Wang Qiqi couldn't tell if this was a scheme cooked up by the couple. Although her and Song Yao’s investments weren't huge, they were still investors. If they hired an outsider for finance, an annual audit would reveal any issues, allowing for immediate termination. But with Yang Jing, things would become much harder to manage decisively.

"Actually, Sister-in-law, no matter when, and regardless of whether a man treats you the same as before, having a career of your own is best." Wang Qiqi decided to sidestep the topic. Until she aligned her story with Song Yao's and heard Song Ziwen's opinion, she couldn't give any answer.

Yang Jing was quite disappointed by Wang Qiqi's evasion. She knew Qiqi worried she was putting on an act to get into the factory finance role. Yang Jing felt a flicker of anger but suppressed it. Their family also held shares in Gong Peixing's factory. Although Song Yao later studied finance on her own, she never took the finance position—that was the unspoken rule of their dealings. "Of course, I don't want to give up my career, but if your brother's heart changes, what good is my career?" Yang Jing knew that if she divorced, she might receive a large sum of money, but what then? Yang Jing didn't believe her life afterward could surpass that of Mrs. Song.

Wang Qiqi looked at Yang Jing, who still didn't grasp the situation, and wished she could split open her head to see how it was constructed. After years in business, why did she still seem like an inexperienced young girl? "You have a career, and you're successful. Even if my brother has someone else, he won't divorce you. Even if he did divorce you, you have your own career; what are you worried about? You're not some middle-aged woman losing her husband who lacks a career, education, or looks."

"I know. Let me think about it some more." Yang Jing understood that no matter what she said, Wang Qiqi wouldn't agree to let her work in the factory's finance department. She abandoned that thought. Since Wang Qiqi wouldn't agree, she wouldn't approach Song Ziwen to persuade him either. Yang Jing knew Song Ziwen would absolutely refuse someone who clearly intended to monitor him.

Since that path was blocked, Yang Jing decided to change tactics. "Qiqi, can you perhaps help persuade your brother? I have a feeling that partnering with Gao Kai is just throwing money away." As long as her husband didn't partner with Gao Kai, Yang Jing could breathe a sigh of relief. She didn't believe Gao Kai would maintain close ties with Song Ziwen if their families weren't collaborating.

Wang Qiqi inwardly smiled. Yang Jing’s display of weakness, realizing one path was blocked, immediately pivoted. And she claimed to worry about throwing money away? Wang Qiqi thought that even if Song Ziwen truly intended to waste money, she couldn't stop him. "My brother hasn't mentioned it to me, so I shouldn't bring it up first. How about I talk to him tomorrow evening?" She made no guarantees about the outcome.

"That would work too." Yang Jing relaxed when Wang Qiqi agreed. Although there was no guaranteed result, she had noticed Wang Qiqi’s mild disapproval of Gao Kai's name earlier. Perhaps Wang Qiqi would earnestly help persuade Song Ziwen.

Yang Jing looked as if half the battle was won. Wang Qiqi noticed, but what could she say? She couldn't go back on her word now. Tomorrow held two hard battles, one at noon and one in the evening. Apart from feeling cursed, Wang Qiqi couldn't find a better word to describe her situation.

"It’s getting late; let's go," Yang Jing said, checking the time—they needed half an hour to get there from here. "Qiqi, can I use your restroom?" She couldn't bear to leave looking like this.

"Please do." Wang Qiqi ran to her room to change, leaving the space for Yang Jing.

Wang Qiqi watched Song Ziwen and Yang Jing showering each other with affection at the dinner table. She had only one thought: they truly deserved the title of 'Method Actors.' If she hadn't seen the tears earlier, she would have been completely fooled. Though, maybe Yang Jing was fooling her even now at home.

"Qiqi, what's wrong?" Song Ziwen noticed Wang Qiqi staring at the couple and found it strange. Yang Jing’s eyes showed a fleeting moment of panic.

Wang Qiqi looked at the tense Yang Jing, gave her a smile, and raised her wine glass. "I just feel like I haven't been back in a long time, and I notice my brother has gotten much better at showing affection. Hmph, is he bullying me because my Han Tao isn't by my side?"

Song Ziwen hadn't anticipated that Wang Qiqi was actually bothered by him showing off his affection in front of her, a situation for which Song Ziwen felt utterly wronged. "Can't an old married couple show a little affection? By the way, Qiqi, I've already arranged it with them; we'll handle the paperwork uniformly on Monday. However, I'll have one of my subordinates escort you to deal with it then, as something urgent will come up for me." Song Ziwen said this with a genuine apology, as he had intended to handle the matter himself.

"It's fine," Wang Qiqi thought, figuring such a small task could easily be delegated to a subordinate. "As long as the person sent has a car, that's all that matters."

"That's a given," Song Ziwen thought to himself. How could he possibly send an underling without a vehicle to accompany Wang Qiqi on an errand? That would be practically courting disaster. RL