The moment Wang Qiqi spoke, Song Ziwen set down his chopsticks and looked toward Gao Kai, waiting for his reply. Hmph, if the brat dared to call this a small matter, he’d punch him senseless.

Gao Kai had initially said what he did because, after all, the incident hadn't actually materialized, and based on Wang Qiqi’s earlier hints, she hadn't seemed intent on pursuing it. It was all just polite talk, but he hadn't expected his words to provoke such a strong reaction from Wang Qiqi. Gao Kai truly didn't understand it. "This... this..."

"What's with all the 'this and that'?" It would have been better to just let the matter drop; there was no need to sour the mood. But the problem was, Wang Qiqi found everything about Gao Kai irritating now. Juliana, as a classmate, could be helped out, but this guy—he even managed to cheat Nana, and then there was the issue with her own brother. Since he was clearly an ungrateful wretch who could never be satisfied, what was the harm in tearing off the polite façade? Given his character, Wang Qiqi didn't think he could ever grow a company to any significant size. People adept at petty calculations might manage to keep a company afloat, but scaling it into something strong and formidable was rarely achievable for them.

"The fact that I wasn't harmed was due to my luck and good character, but what kind of attitude is this—acting like the matter is just over?" Wang Qiqi cared nothing for how terrible Gao Kai looked right now. "Wang Rui is Wang Rui; what right do you have to speak of her to me? Or do you think because you're my brother's friend, you can speak to me like an elder?" Hmph. Asking me to give you face? Look at what you are.

Song Ziwen internally cheered at his sister’s words. That’s exactly how it should be! Hmph, this heartless dog, claiming to be a friend, yet so quick to betray one. He deserved to be thoroughly embarrassed.

Though Song Ziwen was thrilled inside, his expression showed clear disapproval. He lowered his voice, "Qiqi, do you even look like a proper girl talking like that? Wang Rui is Wang Rui, and Gao Kai is Gao Kai. You can’t just mix them up."

"Brother..." Wang Qiqi’s eyes widened, and she looked at Song Ziwen with utter disbelief. "Brother, I’m your sister! How can you side with an outsider? Hmph, he’s not even your brother-in-law."

Gao Kai looked at Wang Qiqi’s defiant expression, her wide eyes, and her flawless skin. A certain part of him stirred with immediate desire. If there was one thing in his life he regretted concerning women, it was failing to win Wang Qiqi over back then. At the time, he thought, if I missed it, I missed it; I'm not exactly short on women. Now, seeing her, he realized how utterly wrong he had been. People said Chen Yan was good-looking, but compared to Wang Qiqi, Gao Kai felt she lacked something essential. He used to wonder if it was just because he hadn't succeeded with Qiqi, but seeing her now, Gao Kai understood—it was the flavor that was missing. If only he hadn't gotten involved with Wang Rui back then, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

If he had held firm then, resisted certain temptations, wouldn't his current life be much better? Perhaps, led by Wang Qiqi, he would have gotten into a good university and could have studied abroad. Even without going abroad, it would have been fine; Qiqi was already quite wealthy, and she held shares in the Song siblings' enterprises. Moreover, she had her own proxy shopping business, and most crucially, she had a good relationship with Juliana. These were the absolute key connections for starting a venture. With those assets, his entrepreneurial starting point would have been significantly higher, and by now, he might have already expanded beyond this small city.

The more Gao Kai thought, the more he viewed Wang Rui as a jinx. Ever since Wang Qiqi and the Song family distanced themselves from her, their careers had truly flourished. His own path had been smooth until he got involved with Wang Rui, after which setbacks seemed to multiply. Furthermore, when Song Ziwen mentioned earlier that his relationship with Wang Rui wasn't great, his expression seemed subtly off. At that moment, Gao Kai suddenly recalled that Song Ziwen was quite superstitious, often consulting a master about important decisions. Why would such a person distance himself from Wang Rui? Had he truly divined that Wang Rui's destiny was ill-fated? This thought led Gao Kai to firmly believe he, too, needed to find someone to tell him if he and Wang Rui were fundamentally incompatible. Gao Kai had never believed in such things before, but now, it seemed prudent to take some precautions.

With that resolution, Gao Kai ignored whatever Song Ziwen had just said. "Brother Song, who do you know who's a good fortune-teller these days? Oh, and that master you consulted before, could you introduce me?" He could then ask the master how to handle his current stalemate and if there was a solution. Money, at this point, was a minor concern.

A fortune-teller? Needing a master? Song Ziwen looked at Gao Kai with surprise. "You... you don't believe in that stuff, do you?" Didn't he often say that spending time consulting fortune-tellers was less effective than diligently visiting clients or devising better ways to make money? Why was he asking about fortune-tellers now? "The master has already gone to Hong Kong. How can I introduce you?" Hmph. While I can consult the master online for some things, that's only for those I have a close relationship with. Otherwise, you can take a flight yourself, wait in line obediently, and see him then. Song Ziwen had no intention of wasting his rapport with the master over someone he considered a casual acquaintance. "As for other fortune-tellers, I don't consult them; how would I know who's good or bad?"

Gao Kai realized the truth in that. The master was in Hong Kong. Wasn't Song Ziwen lamenting that without the master nearby, many things felt awkward? "How about we fly to Hong Kong one day to see the master? You can ask him in person." Gao Kai knew the master was a busy man and a meeting wasn't guaranteed, but Song Ziwen was different; hadn't he always said his connection with the master was special? If they happened to meet the master, Gao Kai could ask right in front of Song Ziwen if their partnership would be favorable. If even the master approved, then even with Wang Rui in the middle, or Wang Qiqi throwing a fit on some deserted island across the ocean, nothing would stop Song Ziwen from collaborating with him.

Fly to Hong Kong to see the master? Song Ziwen’s first thought was, yes, that would be good. While online inquiries or phone calls worked, nothing beat asking the master face-to-face. But as his peripheral vision caught Gao Kai’s eager expression, his excitement immediately dampened. Why was Gao Kai so agitated and pushing for a trip to Hong Kong? Did he also want to consult the master but lacked the clout, so he needed to drag me along? Hmph. Asking about problems he might need advice on—I wonder what tricky schemes he'll cook up.

Song Ziwen pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "No money. For the land purchase and factory construction now, I need a bank loan. Besides, I already asked the master; he said the location for the new factory isn't ideal, so he drew up another area for me. The land prices there are higher, so capital is a bit tight." Song Ziwen took this opportunity to mention his decision to purchase a different plot, avoiding future complications.

Song Ziwen didn't buy that piece of land? Gao Kai had actually planned to ask Song Ziwen directly if he had secured that plot. Although the land was officially owned by someone else, he had already arranged with the landowner to receive a finder's fee from the deal. He had been counting on making some money, but this slippery fellow unexpectedly decided not to buy it. Wasn't that like drawing water with a bamboo basket—all effort for nothing? He had guaranteed that the land would eventually be sold and at a higher price, which had convinced the original party to drop their plan. But now... "Brother Song, why aren't you taking that side? Didn't you already settle it with the other party?" How could Gao Kai not panic? Song Ziwen could easily back out since he hadn't paid a deposit, but for Gao Kai, this created a huge problem. The thought of the scene that would unfold made his head ache.

That anxious look clearly showed he had something to hide. Song Ziwen picked up a slice of beef and slowly placed it in his mouth while Gao Kai watched. "Did I sign the contract? Did I pay the deposit?" Even if I had paid the deposit, so what? We'd just forfeit it. Even if a contract was signed, people breach contracts all the time. "You were the one who said it was good; I said I needed to go back and think about it. I never definitively committed to taking that land."

Since neither of those things had happened, Gao Kai jumped up in a panic. "Brother Song, you can't do this to me, I..."

"Why are you in such a rush?" Wang Qiqi glared at Gao Kai. "Is that land yours, or your parents'? If so, we can buy it. If not, why are you so desperate? Didn't you say last time that the land over there was quite sought after? If my brother doesn't want it, he can sell it to someone else. Maybe the price will even go up, and the seller might even think, 'Good thing I didn't sell to Brother Song, or I'd have made less money.'"

Song Ziwen nodded along vigorously. "Gao Kai, tell the other party not to wait for me anymore. You said many people were interested anyway. Don't trouble yourself to do me that favor." People like Song Ziwen were masters at profiting and then acting magnanimous.

Selling it at a higher price? Gao Kai's heart bled! The price he had quoted Song Ziwen wasn't just high; it was slightly inflated. While the price could be lowered for a quick sale, finding a buyer for that remote area wouldn't be easy. As for Song Ziwen's claims about the land not being his, Gao Kai thought that even if it were his, he wouldn't admit it—otherwise, rumors would spread, and he wouldn't be able to maintain his standing in the community. "Of course, the land isn't mine. I was looking at the adjacent lot. I just feel that land that big and that good doesn't come around often. Later on..." Gao Kai hastily tried to persuade Song Ziwen. If they couldn't cooperate, he needed to secure Song Ziwen’s money first to see how arrogant he could remain. Once the dust settled, wouldn't he still be untouchable? The contract wasn't forced on Song Ziwen by him, nor was he the previous owner of the land. What could Song Ziwen possibly do to him? For now, he absolutely had to get Song Ziwen to take that land, or his own benefits would vanish.

"I do like that plot, but it’s huge; building a factory on it still costs money. Let's take things step by step." The more eagerly Gao Kai pushed the land sale, the more Song Ziwen refused to bite. Such a desperate display—if he wasn't making money off the land deal, it would be unbelievable. Hmph, trying to profit off your grandpa’s money too? You were still playing with little girls in some corner when I was out making my name. "I don't want a bank loan either. This isn't a necessary operational expense, and my sister and brother-in-law will surely object."

"Don't bring up my sister; I object too," Wang Qiqi chimed in. "Spending so much money when the factory is just starting up—Sister-in-law will definitely have opinions. Sister-in-law specifically said she's looking at shops in the city center and waiting for the year-end dividend to buy one. If you set up such a massive endeavor, Sister-in-law will be furious." Wang Qiqi patted her slightly full stomach, put down her chopsticks, and her small face became very stern. "Sister-in-law and I both looked at the area near the proposed shops; it’s quite nice. They are expected to go on sale by year-end."

"Exactly! Your sister-in-law keeps saying if the factory doesn't give dividends this year, I’m not coming home," Song Ziwen quickly responded. Right, his wife did want to buy a shop. This was a perfect excuse. "Gao Kai, when you get married, you can't let your wife boss you around like I am," Song Ziwen said, putting on the face of a henpecked husband. "It's the same for me, my brother-in-law, and even the other brother-in-law—it's tradition."

How could Gao Kai not see they were acting? Yang Jing’s shops made a significant profit; wasn't that money available for factory use? If they really wanted to buy shops, hadn't they been doing business for years without enough capital for shop purchases? But this was clearly a veiled accusation, one Gao Kai absolutely couldn't voice. "Don't worry, Brother Song, I won't be controlled by a woman. Men should have some backbone, especially when it comes to matters of appearance." Even if his wife kept him in line at home, in public, he absolutely had to maintain his dignity—otherwise, why bother marrying her?

"Yes, yes, Gao Kai, you must not let a woman control you like your brother," Song Ziwen, perhaps due to being routinely managed by Yang Jing, felt like he'd found a kindred spirit in Gao Kai and kept talking about how to discipline one's wife.

Wang Qiqi watched them chat like close brothers and thought to herself, These two are quite the actors. The look of malice Gao Kai shot her earlier, yet now he clings to Song Ziwen so affectionately, calling him 'Brother' without even using his surname. If not for the coldness still visible in their eyes, they might have actually fooled her.

"Qiqi, do you want to take anything with you?" After chatting with Gao Kai for a while, Song Ziwen noticed Wang Qiqi just watching them and showing no intention of eating. He rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Qiqi, don't tell your sister-in-law what I just said to your brother; otherwise, she'll definitely cause trouble with me." Yang Jing gave him plenty of face in public, even in front of his parents, Song Yao and Qiqi, but behind closed doors, they would have a serious reckoning.

While Song Ziwen was partially trying to humor Gao Kai, some of his words held genuine sentiment. If Wang Qiqi repeated them to Yang Jing, no matter how he explained that he was just trying to keep Gao Kai happy, his wife wouldn't be reassured.

Sigh. How does my sister-in-law manage my brother? How did she teach him to be such a good actor? Although Yang Jing could be assertive sometimes, if Song Ziwen truly lost his temper, even Song Wenbo couldn't suppress him. "Brother, I understand. I'm your sister; I won't do that. It’s getting late; Brother, drive me to the airport." Having eaten her fill, Wang Qiqi had no desire to look at that face any longer.

Having eaten someone else's meal—and an expensive one at that—she absolutely could not be an ungrateful wolf. So, Wang Qiqi said sincerely, "Gao Kai, thank you for making the effort to meet me for this meal before I leave. I'm sorry to impose."

"No trouble, no trouble," Gao Kai thought his heart was bleeding. He had spent so much money and failed to nail down the deal—truly feeding an ungrateful wretch. Yet, Gao Kai maintained an expression of perfect calm, as if they had just eaten a meal costing only ten-odd yuan.

Wang Qiqi inwardly chuckled, watching the man who was clearly crying internally but determined to act nonchalant. He was just like Chen Yan. "That's good to hear. Oh, and please thank Chen Yan for me. That last meal was wonderful—abalone, shark's fin, lobster... I wonder if I'll be so lucky next time I return."

Hearing the list of dishes, Song Ziwen recalled the night Qiqi mentioned the 'big meal' a certain suitor treated her to at noon. He instantly understood: this was a big meal. When he took clients out, he never ordered dishes that expensive—it was simply too wasteful. But having someone else foot such a large bill felt wonderful. Why hadn't he ever had such an opportunity? He almost mocked Gao Kai, but decided against it. Back then, Chen Yan only paid because Juliana was present to keep her in check; otherwise, she likely wouldn't have paid a cent.

Gao Kai’s heart jumped as he heard the names of the dishes. How many restaurants could prepare those few dishes well? And Juliana was there too—he knew that meal couldn't have been cheap. He shot Wang Qiqi a fierce look.

Wang Qiqi accepted the malevolent glare without surprise and smiled brightly at Gao Kai. "Nana originally intended to treat us, but your wife was more than an hour late. Who knew your wife would show up in the end? And she insisted it was her mistake and that she had to pay for the meal." Hmph. Let's see how much money your wife has to spend because of you.

Song Ziwen was surprised at how assertive Gao Kai's wife was. To be that late knowing Juliana was waiting—Juliana was a busy person; making her wait that long—was she not angry? "So that's how it was. Was Nana very angry?" Song Ziwen glanced at Gao Kai. These two spouses were something else; no wonder Juliana found Gao Kai so disagreeable.

Gao Kai initially wanted to protest that it was too extravagant—was such luxury necessary for three people to eat? But upon hearing the reason, he could only keep quiet. Still, he cursed Chen Yan internally. Trying to put Wang Qiqi in her place needed to be done at an appropriate time and venue. Now, she hadn't only been disciplined by Juliana and the others but had paid a huge price, and in Wang Qiqi’s eyes, Chen Yan was still in the wrong. "I apologize on Chen Yan's behalf. Perhaps she ran into an unexpected situation."

Gao Kai felt utterly unlucky. Why was his outing today filled with continuous apologies? What kind of situation was this?

"It’s fine for me, as she is Mrs. Gao. But Nana might not be so understanding. The Zhu family is a major bank client. If..." Although companies rarely switch their primary banking institution once an account is opened, a single entity usually has accounts with multiple banks. If Juliana ordered them to move their funds away from the bank where Chen Yan worked, and the bank learned the reason, no matter how capable Chen Yan was, there were plenty of capable people, but major clients were few. Naturally, they needed to appease the major clients.

"But it’s okay, President Gao can back you up," Wang Qiqi said quickly, noticing Gao Kai’s displeasure. "Selling one property in real estate brings in quite a bit of money—enough for my brother to run his business for a month." Of course, this statement was a bit exaggerated.

"Hey, are you looking down on your brother that much?" Song Ziwen immediately retorted when Wang Qiqi seemed to belittle him. "Alright, it's getting late. I’ll drive you to the airport. Don't fall asleep in the seat; if you need to sleep, do it on the plane." Song Ziwen was very familiar with how much this girl could sleep and genuinely worried she might miss her flight.

"I'll drive you too," Gao Kai stood up from his seat, noting the surprised looks from both Wang Qiqi and Song Ziwen. "Am I really that terrible? Don't worry; I just had a little to drink. I’ll drive back after the alcohol dissipates."

Since Gao Kai insisted, what could Wang Qiqi and Song Ziwen say? "That works. Having an extra person to see you off means someone can help me with my luggage. I have two large suitcases coming back, just like when I left. Will you be transferring flights?" If she was transferring, Song Ziwen considered whether he should just mail some of the items back.

"Manman is coincidentally going to London for some shopping; she said she could pick me up." Transferring with so many bags would be an absolute chore for Wang Qiqi. If Wang Qiqi were packing, she wouldn't box up some things, but since Song Ziwen was packing, he naturally crammed everything tightly into the suitcases.

Gao Kai pulled the suitcase and walked behind Wang Qiqi, listening to her complain to Song Ziwen about how terrible British food was and how much she wouldn't adapt after enjoying so much delicious food upon her return. "If you dislike British food that much, why didn't you go to France instead of Britain?" Wasn't French cuisine supposedly excellent? Wang Qiqi could have chosen France.

How should I put this? Wang Qiqi had indeed entertained the thought herself. "I made a promise to my friends, and now I regret it a little." French universities are actually quite good; the air there is certainly better, at least. "But if I went to France, I’d have to learn French all over again—never mind." Wang Qiqi felt confident she could master another foreign language, but she wasn't sure Shi Man and the others would be so willing.

Gao Kai saw her point and wisely kept quiet, trailing along behind her as they slowly walked toward the airport. Seeing a calm Wang Qiqi was a rare occurrence, and since the opportunity had presented itself, he certainly wasn't going to waste it. RS