Wang Qiqi finished the last pumpkin pancake and sat back, gazing toward the kitchen. From this angle, she could only make out the silhouette of a certain man. Although the winter weather meant he wasn't wearing much, it was still apparent that this man possessed a decent physique, standing at least one meter seventy-eight—his height, at least, met the standard.

Qiqi’s gaze drifted next to the tiles and cabinets in the kitchen. Hmm, though a bit greasy, compared to some of the decor ideas she’d encountered, the kitchen was relatively clean, especially knowing what she did about someone who supposedly loved tinkering with cooking and spent a lot of time eating at home.

Zhu Lina finished helping out and stepped out of the kitchen, finding Wang Qiqi staring fixedly at the room. “Why are you staring at the kitchen? Dinner won’t be ready for a while yet. Are you still hungry after all those pumpkin pancakes?” Didn’t they say they were going out for a fancy Japanese lunch? How could she still be this hungry? “Didn’t your sister-in-law treat you to Japanese cuisine at noon? You even said you were going to eat until you burst.” Yang Jing wouldn't possibly invite Qiqi out and then impose limits, would she?

Speaking of lunch, Wang Qiqi let out a long, mournful sigh. “It wasn’t limited, she told me to eat as much as I wanted, but when you see all those empty plates stacked up nearby, how could I possibly keep eating?” Qiqi felt miserable just thinking about her awkward lunch experience. “The plates were large, but the amount of food on them was minimal—just a few slices of sashimi or one or two pieces of sushi per plate. Given my appetite, how could that possibly be enough? So, I kept ordering this and that, and eventually…”

At a Japanese restaurant where used plates weren't cleared away, Zhu Lina immediately knew where Qiqi had eaten. “Their food is excellent. I heard the chef trained in Japan for over ten years; his skills are superb. He opened this place when he returned, and it’s easily the trendiest, hottest spot in town right now. Your sister-in-law treating you there must have significantly dented her wallet, right?” Based on Qiqi saying she stacked quite a few plates, the quantity must have been substantial, and from the sound of it, she even held back a little. Zhu Lina felt utterly incapable of commenting on this pace.

“I helped my sister-in-law immensely; a meal like that is just a small token of appreciation.” Wang Qiqi thought that compared to the potential losses Song Ziwen might face, the cost of today’s meal was minuscule. “My brother decided not to partner with Gao Kai. I wonder if that’s enough to drive him mad with rage?” Qiqi found the thought amusing. But if Gao Kai had been honest from the start, and Song Ziwen had still insisted on the partnership, Qiqi wasn’t sure she could have convinced him either. It was all Gao Kai’s fault for being dishonest. If you’re asking for someone’s money, honesty is mandatory, and Song Ziwen has zero tolerance for deceit, especially when it involves finances.

Zhu Lina knew that if Wang Qiqi got involved, the chance of persuading Song Ziwen was quite high. “Actually, if your brother focuses on developing his current ventures well, the money he earns might not be inferior to real estate. Selling houses is profitable, sure, but the constant entertaining at banquets, managing all the connections—from acquiring the land to completing the construction—it’s a nightmare. So many vultures waiting to pick your flesh and suck your blood. The capital investment is huge, too. Building housing is so much better; you don’t need upfront capital, and you have far fewer worries.” Recalling some matters concerning her own company made Zhu Lina’s mood sour. “Never mind, never mind. Let’s not talk about these unhappy things.” Talking about them only ruins the mood; it’s better to discuss happier matters. “Has that other thing started its activation?”

Wang Qiqi nodded, quietly briefing Zhu Lina on the recent progress. “They’ve basically started working on the framework design.” The only thing that really annoyed Qiqi was that this certain man was once again pulling all-nighters, working overtime. Scolding him was useless; the more she said, the more he’d play the rascal, claiming he was pushing himself so hard only because his wife wasn't by his side, and if she were there, he would definitely behave differently... In short, he had every excuse imaginable. Wang Qiqi clearly understood this was just someone trying to get her to commit to joining him after graduation as an excuse.

“Working late again.” Seeing Wang Qiqi’s unhappy expression, Zhu Lina knew the career-driven man was at it again. “It’s good that he’s working hard. You’ve made it clear you want to be a homemaker; how else is Han Tao supposed to provide? Besides, while Han Tao working abroad sounds prestigious, your brother, your sister-in-law, and your sister’s husband are all their own bosses. That puts considerable pressure on Han Tao. How many people who work for others ever become the ultimate ‘emperor’ of employees?” Zhu Lina thought of a certain figure and sighed inwardly. Some people and some things just can’t be forced. And after all these years, Zhu Lina understood that even if that person weren’t around, things between them wouldn't work out. He was a career man with immense pride; he’d never want to constantly hear that his achievements were all thanks to his wife. And she was different from Qiqi; Qiqi was willing to return to a domestic life, but she wasn't. Everything she experienced from childhood until now told Zhu Lina that if she gave up the Zhu family's industry, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

“That’s why we need to start our own business.” Wang Qiqi felt that Wang Damei’s attitude toward her had changed during this trip back—there was a sense of looking down on her. Perhaps in their eyes, Song Ziwen and the others were doing quite well now, owning their own businesses, while even though she and Han Tao were highly educated and developing in the US, could their success truly match Song Ziwen’s? Qiqi kept these thoughts to herself. Since she wouldn't be coming back much in the future, she’d talk more with those she connected with and remain polite with the others. “If we don’t start a business, in the eyes of the elders, we won’t be seen as successful people later on.”

“What trouble is your aunt stirring up now?” Zhu Lina understood immediately. Only Wang Damei could prompt Wang Qiqi to say something like that. “Oh, her. She truly has nothing better to do. If your Uncle-in-law weren't constantly running into problems, she wouldn’t be thinking this and that. Honestly.” Zhu Lina didn't know how to comment. “It’s a blessing your uncle didn’t open a factory back then; otherwise, things could have been much worse.” The small town was tiny; the scandals Wang Damei caused back then made quite a few people laugh for years. “Does your uncle still meet up with his old colleagues much now?”

Wang Qiqi said she didn't know. “It’s partly his fault. If he hadn’t had that affair back then, and if, after all these years, she hadn't found that mole mark near his heart, my aunt wouldn't have erupted like this. Who would have thought that even with their children married off, they would reignite an old flame? And my aunt is typically autocratic. In her eyes, her husband’s infidelity was a huge challenge to her authority. She never expected her husband to be so strong-willed.” Previously, Song Wenbo had kept Wang Damei completely suppressed, so Wang Damei always thought she could crush Song Wenbo. But when she saw Song Wenbo was willing to walk away with nothing, she was the first to concede. Wang Qiqi couldn't comprehend this. If she was truly going to concede, she should have been nicer about her attitude. But the last time they all ate together, Wang Qiqi could sense the ice-cold relationship between the couple; they barely communicated the entire meal. Wang Qiqi thought such a marriage was a tragedy. If they truly couldn't let go, Qiqi felt they could have chosen separation, but they stubbornly refused to part, seeming determined to drag each other along, which left Wang Qiqi frustrated. And Wang Qiqi was beginning to understand why Wang Rui was so stubborn—it seemed to be inherited from Wang Damei. As Wang Damei’s other niece, Wang Qiqi worried if she might turn out the same way.

“You can’t control that much,” Zhu Lina interjected gently. “Don’t worry too much. You aren't her, and you aren't so forceful.” Zhu Lina knew Wang Qiqi wasn't truly worried about Wang Damei; she was probably worried about herself. “Han Tao isn’t your uncle, and you aren’t your aunt. You two will definitely be happy. Thinking this much will only lead you into a dead end.”

“Dinner is ready!” Zhu Hanlin called loudly from the kitchen. Hearing that dinner was served, Zhu Lina bolted into the kitchen. If you’re in a bad mood, can’t eating make it better?

“Drink the soup first.” Wang Qiqi looked at the bowl of soup suddenly placed in front of her and found it very strange. Drinking soup before a meal seemed like a custom from the South. Wasn't this man from the North? Why would he follow that dining rule? Wang Qiqi was a bit confused.

“The soup warms your stomach, then we eat the main dishes,” Zhu Hanlin explained while setting out the food. “I did my undergraduate and graduate studies there. At first, I also found it uncomfortable, thinking soup before a meal would spoil my appetite. But over the years, I’ve gotten used to it, and it prevents overeating.” Especially for young women, weight control was a perpetual topic, wasn't it?

“If you get used to eating until you’re eight-tenths full, you get used to it,” Wang Qiqi said, showing little interest in the pre-meal soup ritual. As for the claim that it reduces food intake, Wang Qiqi thought controlling one’s appetite and exercising moderately was better.

Eating only eight-tenths full? Zhu Hanlin looked at Wang Qiqi in surprise. Very few young people managed that consistently; most people just ate more when the food was good and stopped when it wasn't.

“Don’t be surprised. Qiqi always sticks to eight-tenths full, even with her absolute favorite foods,” Zhu Lina added, expressing her admiration for Wang Qiqi. And as she aged, a certain someone even quit midnight snacks. Although Qiqi claimed it was because there were no street vendors abroad, Zhu Lina suspected Qiqi was just becoming more focused on health preservation. “Of the three of us, she’s the best at self-care; she drinks steeped red dates every day…” Zhu Lina rambled on about Wang Qiqi’s health regimen. “But when I lived with Qiqi, the skin on my face truly looked much better. Even now, though I use masks regularly, it doesn't feel as good as it did a few years ago. While aging is a factor, it’s also related to diet. Once I have more free time, I need to seriously adjust my diet and correct this.”

“Eat properly, no matter how busy you are,” Wang Qiqi thought. Did she really need to adjust? As long as she paid attention, that was enough. “The stomach is very delicate. Don't assume it’s fine just because it isn't protesting. Once it starts protesting, it’s a huge issue.”

“Exactly. You don't know, she also loves eating hard things and specifically told me not to stew dishes until they were too soft, saying it was like an old lady eating gruel,” Zhu Hanlin chimed in, backing Qiqi’s criticism. “I often brew soup for you, you should drink it when you have time. But you—who knows who you save it for?” Zhu Hanlin wasn't stingy with the ingredients but felt Zhu Lina was being irresponsible toward her own health.

“Ah, you know.” Zhu Lina was surprised Zhu Hanlin knew. She felt a pang of guilt initially, but then she quickly recovered. “How did you know I wasn't drinking it?” Hmph, she finally caught him sticking his nose where it didn't belong! He must have asked someone close to her, otherwise, how could he know so much?

“I had a cold a few days ago, and my cooking was a bit salty, and you've always disliked overly salty food, right?” Zhu Hanlin shot back without warmth. “If you don’t like drinking it, don’t take it.” This person! Did he think everyone approaching her was after her family’s money? Zhu Hanlin wasn’t rich, but he was confident he could manage fine on his own. Zhu Lina’s constant distrustful gaze was bound to get under his skin eventually.

Zhu Lina bristled at Zhu Hanlin speaking to her with such bluntness, and suddenly the atmosphere at the dinner table grew stiff.

Wang Qiqi looked at the table laden with food, knowing the man had put thought into it. There were dishes she loved and dishes Zhu Lina loved. As for why the two of them were unhappy, Qiqi felt Zhu Lina was in the wrong. Zhu Hanlin was just worried about Zhu Lina, which is why he was making all those nourishing dishes for her. Unfortunately, the other party didn't appreciate it, and Qiqi wouldn't be happy either in that situation.

“The food is excellent,” Wang Qiqi said, picking up a piece of Cola chicken wing and raising it toward Zhu Hanlin. “Thank you, Teacher Zhu, for cooking such a wonderful meal today. In the few days since I got back, I’ve finally eaten a proper home-cooked meal.” Although everyone had been very hospitable these past few days, taking her out to various unique places, Wang Qiqi’s stomach truly couldn't handle restaurant fare. Eating it once in a while was fine, but eating it every day was exhausting.

Wang Qiqi discreetly kicked Zhu Lina’s leg under the table, signaling her to follow up, otherwise, how could the awkward situation be resolved?

“If you like it, eat more. My Old Zhu is a great cook,” Zhu Lina replied, her tone still a bit sharp, but at least she spoke up.

“If you like it, eat more,” Zhu Hanlin echoed, his tone equally stiff.

Fine, even though they had spoken, the situation somehow felt colder. “Nana, I know the incident with your driver today upset you and made you worry about the people around you, but surely Teacher Zhu is different from a driver, right?” Wang Qiqi hadn't intended to bring this up, as it concerned Zhu Lina’s work, but the current tension required her to say something.

Nana was upset about the driver? Zhu Hanlin looked at Zhu Lina with curiosity. Didn't she say last time that her new driver was quite good? How could she be complaining again after just a few days?

Zhu Lina realized Wang Qiqi was throwing her a lifeline. “My mood isn’t just bad; I’m unhappy just thinking that someone might betray me. Sigh, Qiqi, why is it so hard to find a trustworthy driver with good driving skills?” Qiqi was right; she couldn’t very well hire a driver for her company and then suffer driving herself, could she?

After a detailed explanation, Zhu Hanlin finally understood why Zhu Lina was so agitated. He knew a driver with good skills, but he hesitated before speaking. If he mentioned the person, Zhu Lina might suspect him of having some ulterior motive. It was better to avoid trouble.

“What’s wrong?” Zhu Lina noticed Zhu Hanlin seemed about to say something but stopped himself. This struck her as odd.

“That, that…” Zhu Hanlin struggled for a moment before deciding. “You need a driver, right? I happen to know someone. Actually, Nana, you know her too.”

Zhu Lina hadn't expected Zhu Hanlin to actually offer to introduce a driver. She wasn't sure how to veto his candidate, but then he mentioned he already knew the person, which made her even more curious.

“It’s Old Neighbor Li’s youngest daughter,” Zhu Hanlin explained, specifying which Old Mrs. Li.

“Oh, her.” Zhu Lina finally recalled the woman. “Isn’t she driving for the pharmaceutical company?” Even though the company had restructured, its foundation remained, and benefits wouldn't be scarce. Why would she willingly come to work for her?

“She was laid off during restructuring. You know, she only knows how to drive; aside from driving, it’s just driving. How would a leader like that?” Although leaders got used to flattery, missing a few polite phrases could still make them uneasy. If the driver sat rigidly focused on the road while driving the boss around, it generally made the superior uncomfortable. When streamlining staff, she was naturally among the first to go.

Zhu Lina knew of the person but didn't know her well. “Maybe you can have her come to my place tomorrow for an interview?” She’d ask her parents back home if they knew the woman and what their impression was before making a decision. If she was truly a quiet type, Zhu Lina wouldn't mind making her a dedicated driver; a female driver would certainly be much more convenient.

“Okay.” Zhu Lina hadn't been excessively angry, which relieved Zhu Hanlin. “I’ll call her tomorrow.”

“Have her call me first before she comes, and then I’ll interview her.” Zhu Lina now understood the importance of the driver position. She hadn't taken it seriously before, but now she grasped its significance, so she wouldn't delegate the interview process to subordinates.

“Deal.” Zhu Hanlin picked up a pork rib and placed it in Zhu Lina’s bowl. “These are all cartilage ribs; the meat is good today.”

The man actually put food in Zhu Lina’s bowl! Wang Qiqi looked on in horror. She knew Zhu Lina disliked anyone putting food into her bowl, and this fellow was bold enough to do it. What surprised Qiqi even more was that Zhu Lina just ate it. Wang Qiqi could only marvel at how skillfully the man managed his wife.

“Eat the ribs; Old Zhu makes excellent ribs. As for the cold-tossed black fungus, you shouldn't eat it. I’m taking some back for my husband,” Zhu Lina said, looking up at Wang Qiqi without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

Wang Qiqi hadn’t expected such a bold response, telling her not to eat the fungus because she was taking it to honor her own husband. What else could Qiqi say about this extroverted woman?

“It’s fine, take it to your father-in-law. I can make some later; we have black fungus at home,” Zhu Hanlin immediately interjected, not wanting a guest to go without. Zhu Hanlin stood up, ready to go to the kitchen to soak some fungus so a fresh batch could be made shortly.

Zhu Lina grabbed the man just as he moved toward the kitchen. “What are you doing? Eat! Don’t worry, Qiqi, if she didn’t like the black fungus, why would I say that?”

Wang Qiqi desperately wanted to say she did like black fungus—she loved it—but under the intense glare of Zhu Lina’s eyes, the spineless Wang Qiqi could only nod in agreement. “I don’t really like it that much. Besides, there’s a whole table of good food; I’ll eat something else.”

“See, I knew Qiqi didn’t like it, or why else would I say that?” Zhu Lina gave Wang Qiqi a look that said, You’re smart to agree, then looped her arm through Zhu Hanlin’s. “Eat, eat. After we finish, we’ll chat. Didn't you say you wanted to study abroad before? You can exchange ideas with Qiqi.”

Zhu Hanlin wanted to study abroad too? Wang Qiqi glanced at him, surprised. She wondered why Zhu Lina brought this up now. Was she trying to strike a deal with Zhu Hanlin, or did she feel that only by sending him far away would she feel truly secure?

Zhu Hanlin let out a long breath when Zhu Lina mentioned studying abroad. “Maybe when there’s a chance in the future. Perhaps in a few years, the university might offer me an exchange scholar position; it’s not impossible.”

“Forget about it; who knows when it will be your turn,” Zhu Lina scoffed. Hearing Zhu Hanlin relying on the university for an opportunity, she thought universities weren't necessarily any cleaner than the business world—full of people clinging to seniority, many of whom, in Zhu Lina’s view, were just taking up space and drawing a salary without contributing. “You should go while you’re young. I have no chance to travel; if I left, who knows how those people would stir things up.”

“We’ll see in a few years. I need to finish the project I’m currently handling,” Zhu Hanlin stated firmly. He never considered relying on Zhu Lina for opportunities. “Once this project is done, I can go abroad as an exchange scholar.” He was quite confident about this.

“You just wait slowly then.” Seeing the man insisting on his path, Zhu Lina couldn't push too hard. After a few grumbles, she dropped the subject.

Wang Qiqi was completely lost in the clouds. Earlier, Juliana had only said he was a teacher. Wang Qiqi had initially assumed he was perhaps an elementary or middle school teacher, at most a high school teacher. She hadn't expected that the person before her seemed to be teaching at a university. "Wow, he's quite the talent. I didn't realize he was a professor." Juliana's parents were certainly good to her, introducing her to such a catch.

"Just an ordinary lecturer. Who knows when I'll finally scrape my way up to professor," Juliana retorted crossly. "You know as well as I do how few spots there are each year, and everyone is just clamoring to get them. He only joined the university a couple of years ago; how could they easily promote him to associate professor? Even with a doctoral degree, it’s a long grind."

Bu Bu has started a new book! The title is Rebirth of the Scumbag, Goodbye. I implore all my readers to bookmark it and cast your recommendation votes, RS.