"JOHN is heading to the States tomorrow." Shi Man knew that Wang Qiqi had been in seclusion these past few days and wasn't fully aware of many matters; she hadn't been in touch with Han Tao, so Shi Man figured she wouldn't know about this.

JOHN is going back to the States? Wang Qiqi hummed an acknowledgment. Perhaps something came up at home that required his immediate return. She didn't dwell on it, thinking Shi Man was merely updating her on recent movements because she knew Qiqi had been shut away studying.

"You knew?" Shi Man was surprised by Qiqi’s brief acknowledgment, assuming Han Tao hadn't reached her either. How could Qiqi have known so quickly? "You didn't actually guess that JOHN was going to invest, did you?" Thinking it over, that was the only plausible explanation. After all, Qiqi was the one who initiated that connection in the first place; she naturally would have inside knowledge.

Invest? Wang Qiqi was taken aback, putting down her chopsticks. "JOHN has confirmed the investment?" It had only been a few days. Wouldn't he conduct some due diligence first? Wang Qiqi certainly didn't believe her casual remarks alone would spur JOHN to put down serious cash. Besides, Mark’s expression that day had been somewhat strange. Qiqi had assumed that even if the deal went through, JOHN would wait until certain milestones were met before investing. She hadn't expected him to commit funds so swiftly. This… Wang Qiqi inwardly thought his gambler's instinct was perhaps too strong. "Isn't he afraid of losing money?" she murmured quietly.

Wang Qiqi’s last sentence was barely audible, but Shi Man caught it. Annoyed, Shi Man placed one hand on her hip and poked Qiqi’s forehead with the other. "Hey! Is that how you speak? How did you convince us to invest in the first place? Are you saying you weren't certain yourself?" Half of Shi Man’s anger was genuine. Although the amount everyone invested wasn't enormous, it was still a significant pile of Renminbi. Everyone had initially decided to invest based on Wang Qiqi’s projected vision and Han Tao’s explanations—and importantly, because Qiqi’s past ideas had genuinely made them a tidy profit. Otherwise, no matter how well she pitched it, they wouldn't have put in money. But hearing Qiqi now, Shi Man suddenly felt as if she'd been duped.

"I believed it had potential, but considering he hasn't had much contact with Han Tao or Fatty, and given my previous situation, he doesn't know everything. I was just wondering if he was being too rash, or perhaps he hasn't invested in this industry before and just saw the current boom in the internet sector and decided to find a project to back?" Wang Qiqi considered this possibility. However, if that were the case, Qiqi hesitated about whether it was truly wise to let him oversee the stocks. She realized she didn't truly know him well enough. What if he was just impulsive and ended up sinking everyone’s money?

The thought of this possibility caused Wang Qiqi’s expression to shift into one of deep distress. This time, she had committed a considerable personal sum. What if it was lost? Wang Qiqi almost wished Mark would leave the studio. Even if the BOSS agreed to allocate a portion of the profits, it might not equal what Mark could earn by diligently handling the orders. But now, all Qiqi could do was regret it internally. The agreement was signed. Alas, she could only hope that what Mark had said was true, and that someone was reasonably dependable.

"Qiqi, what's wrong? You didn't actually take what I said seriously, did you?" Wang Qiqi’s lingering silence startled Shi Man. She had spoken that way assuming Qiqi wouldn't take it seriously. Seeing Qiqi’s current look of regret, Shi Man felt a pang of apprehension. Did Qiqi really think I meant it? Sighing, she realized she'd been preoccupied with writing her thesis, burning through brain cells, and then decided to joke with Qiqi. "I was just saying that. If I don't trust you, who else do I trust? Besides, Han Tao is handling this. If he wasn't confident, would he even suggest starting a venture? At worst, I trust my own man, don't I? And think about what kind of figure Old Feng is—it's hard to fool him…" Shi Man launched into a rapid explanation, determined to make it clear to Qiqi that she truly had no regrets.

Seeing Shi Man explaining herself in such a flustered manner, Wang Qiqi burst out laughing. What an adorable friend. "Of course, I knew you were joking. Besides, the agreement is signed. Even if we lose money, we just have to count it as bad luck. I was just wondering why JOHN is going to the States at this moment, and Mark is going to be so busy tomorrow. I’m worried about our money." Wang Qiqi wasn't foolish enough to voice her distrust of JOHN. Things hadn't reached a critical point yet, so she shouldn't speak words that could incite panic, lest they reach Zhang Yan’s ears and upset her.

When Shi Man realized Qiqi’s worry was centered on logistics, she initially thought Qiqi was overthinking things. But then she reconsidered. It was true; JOHN was going to the States for personal matters, and if it were her, she would likely be more preoccupied with that too. With this thought, Shi Man also sighed. "Ah, it is a bit of a hassle. But since he’s investing in our project, at least the capital will be more solid. We have something, even if not everything is secure. And maybe the stock market is relatively stable right now, so it’s fine not to watch it constantly. Moreover, even if he’s in the States, he can still monitor the market and make trades." Shi Man relaxed upon saying this. "How about this: tomorrow I'll ask Yan Yan to check with Mark and the others about the stocks they are operating, and then we can keep an eye on them." Since that was the case, she would pay a little more attention and monitor the market. However, it depended on whether they were willing to share information. This involved certain insider details, and if she pressed them, they might take offense.

"Let's forget it. Since Mark and JOHN are so confident, and they have their own money involved, and besides, isn't Yan Yan there as a backup?" Wang Qiqi decided against having Zhang Yan ask. Although she was JOHN's girlfriend, asking her might yield an even worse result than if Man Man or she asked directly. "I don't fully trust JOHN, but isn't there Mark?"

Shi Man stared at Wang Qiqi speechlessly for a long moment. She had only one thought: This person is truly being difficult. First, she distrusts this person, then she worries about that person, but when Shi Man offers a solution, she finds fault with it. Shi Man decided not to argue over this point. "Right, later when you have a moment, ask Han Tao if he knows whether JOHN's trip to the States is related to the investment discussion." It would be more straightforward to ask Han Tao about this. Although all the shareholders would eventually receive formal notification, that usually only happened after everything was finalized.

Wang Qiqi hummed. "Can't you just ask Han Tao yourself?" It wasn't like she didn't have his contact information. As for Fatty, Wang Qiqi guessed he was too busy coding to bother with such matters. As for Han Tao, Wang Qiqi wasn't entirely certain if he would be privy to this information.

Shi Man pouted. "You haven't contacted Han Tao in ages. I'm giving you the chance now, and look at you—you're truly heartbreaking. These days you’ve been in seclusion…" Shi Man mused that if she wanted to know, she could ask Old Feng instead of Han Tao. Even though Old Feng was busy, JOHN would certainly consult him regarding investments.

Wang Qiqi realized Shi Man had an ulterior motive. "I misjudged you, girl. How about I cook a delicious meal for you tomorrow?" This wasn't an empty promise; it was because MAY had mentioned earlier that she would help Qiqi out while she focused on her graduation thesis, and Qiqi truly felt indebted to Man Man and the others for their help lately. Wang Qiqi intended to thank them properly. "You can go buy all the ingredients for your favorite dishes."

Shi Man was surprised by this unexpected benefit and immediately dropped the matter of JOHN. She was a minority shareholder in his investment; what good would it do for her to flutter around uselessly? A good meal was far more practical. "Don't worry, I won't be polite." The thought of Qiqi preparing an entire spread of delicious food tomorrow made Shi Man vividly anticipate the grumpy expression on his face. "Oh, right, if you see someone making an unpleasant face tomorrow, don't take it to heart." Shi Man had grown accustomed to seeing that expression these past few days; if she were suddenly cheerful, it would suggest something bad was about to happen.

"My eyesight is bad." Wang Qiqi certainly wouldn't let someone's expression bother her. Hadn't she seen enough of that expression in her previous life? She would look at the faces she cared to see and simply filter out the rest.

Hearing Wang Qiqi’s response, Shi Man had an epiphany. "You're fierce." Shi Man gave Wang Qiqi a thumbs-up before gathering the dishes to go downstairs, planning to share this good news with Yan Yan and the others—and perhaps further sour the mood of someone already feeling irritable. "I must tell Yan Yan and the others this great news immediately!"

Watching the smug Shi Man descend the stairs, Wang Qiqi knew she was off to brag. It seemed Shi Man hadn't been too disgusted by that person lately, or she wouldn't be acting this way. After reviewing her thesis one last time, Wang Qiqi sent it off, mentally praying it would pass the review. Although it integrated theory with practice, Wang Qiqi still worried her professor might not approve it.

After sending the email, Wang Qiqi logged online to check if her man was available. Seeing him online, she casually asked if he knew anything about the situation. Han Tao’s response greatly surprised her. She had assumed JOHN was investing haphazardly, but it turned out he had invested before, though apparently not very successfully. This, according to JOHN's partners, was how it went. Wang Qiqi understood: he was casting a wide net, hoping to catch one blue-chip stock that could recover all his losses. At this point, Wang Qiqi realized he wasn't thoughtless; he simply wasn't a reincarnator, nor was he an expert in the industry, so what else could he do but spread his bets? Of course, this decision came after JOHN had gained a certain level of understanding of the projects. A thought struck Wang Qiqi: perhaps when she had more money, she should also try this method of fishing in the ocean. If she happened upon a big catch, wouldn't that be beneficial? Furthermore, since all her investments had been successful so far, Wang Qiqi felt that one or two successes might be luck, but repeated wins would naturally lead others to form expectations. Therefore, having some failed investments might make them perceive her as merely a slightly lucky person.