The Fatty stood at the doorway, shouting impatiently at Lu Qiaowei and Wang Qiqi, who were still dawdling inside, "Are you two done yet?" They had been packing for days, yet they still weren't ready. The Fatty truly couldn't fathom what these women needed; they were going on a short vacation, yet it felt like they were moving house.

"Almost there, almost there!" Wang Qiqi struggled to close her suitcase; she really had too many things. Having only managed to sort out a small portion of her belongings, Wang Qiqi was already in a foul mood, and the Fatty's nagging only made her angrier. "Stop rushing me; it’s so annoying."

Annoying him? The Fatty snorted a few times, walked over to the sofa, picked up a magazine, and started reading. "One is slower than the other. It’s just a few outfits and two or three pairs of shoes. How can it take this long?" Han Tao was useless too, just sitting there engrossed in his magazine, leaving him to face two women alone. "You’re really not being a stand-up guy."

He wasn't being a stand-up guy? Han Tao smiled faintly and turned another page. "Relax, they won't miss the flight." Han Tao knew that much. "Besides, I just offended Qiqi a few days ago. I'm currently under probation, you think I'd dare do anything to her?" Han Tao murmured, "I distinctly remember the treatment I'm currently receiving is thanks to someone."

At that, the Fatty immediately fell silent. Living under the same roof, the Fatty knew Wang Qiqi hadn't been pleasant to Han Tao lately, and even since Weiwei came over for the holiday, things hadn't improved. Based on the Fatty’s observations, Han Tao was likely suffering from unfulfilled needs; best not to provoke him further. "Make sure you appease Qiqi properly during the vacation, or this holiday of yours will be a waste."

The Fatty’s schadenfreude reached Han Tao’s ears, and in a fit of pique, he pinned the Fatty down onto the sofa. "Don't worry, when the time comes, I'll drag you down with me. I'll share a room with you, and Weiwei will sleep with my Qiqi." If his own days weren't easy... he wouldn't let the Fatty have an easy time either.

The Fatty hadn't expected Han Tao to be so malicious. "You, you, you..." Heavens! This was his and Weiwei’s first overseas vacation, and to a romantic place like the Maldives! What kind of impression would it make if he shared a room with another man? Sharing a room domestically was normal, but abroad it was definitely unusual. People would look at them with strange eyes. The thought of those gazes sent a chill through the Fatty. "Tao, you wouldn't want people thinking we're a gay couple there, would you?"

"I don't care." Han Tao thought, what did it matter what others thought? Besides, had he seen few strange looks in his life? "We’re just passing through. Let them look however they want. In this world, no one escapes gossip."

"But I care!" The Fatty was nearly in tears. "Relax, relax, I promise I’ll make your Weiwei placate your Qiqi properly." Wife, for the sake of our happy life, you must soothe Qiqi well, otherwise Han Tao will absolutely go through with sharing a room with me, and that vacation will truly be ruined.

As long as someone cared, Han Tao thought smugly. If he didn't oppress the other party so much, would the other party be this proactive? "Remember your promise."

Seeing the Fatty nod, Han Tao walked to the door. "Qiqi, are you ready? We have two hours left to check in our luggage and grab a bite to eat." Although there would be food on the plane, none of them were keen on airplane food; they all wanted a decent meal before boarding.

"Okay, okay!" Wang Qiqi finally managed to secure her suitcase and rushed to open the door. "Help with the luggage."

"Fatty, come get the bags," Lu Qiaowei also opened her door and addressed the Fatty, who was slumped on the sofa mourning his miserable fate. "He has absolutely no sense of service. Look how nice Han Tao is."

Han Tao is nice my foot, the Fatty rebutted internally. She’s turned into some terrible Queen Mother; how could someone like that be considered nice? "Wow, wife, you're taking two huge suitcases?" The Fatty’s expression changed when he saw the two massive travel cases in the room. His own luggage was packed separately. "We shouldn't buy souvenirs, right?" They were going out to play together, and there was no custom of bringing back gifts for colleagues. Why take two massive suitcases?

"They’re stuffed full of things." When Han Tao lifted a suitcase, the sheer weight nearly buckled him. He finally understood why Wang Qiqi and Lu Qiaowei always went shopping beforehand and never let him help pack. "Qiqi, we really aren't moving house."

"I know. Hurry up, stop dawdling." Wang Qiqi thought, how could moving house involve only this much stuff? It would be at least ten times this amount.

Ah, two large suitcases stuffed full of things. The Fatty was quite surprised. They were going to a tropical location! The clothes they took could be worn again when they returned; they were all summer clothes, which used less fabric and weren't heavy. But when he lifted the cases, he almost cried too. "Wife, how much stuff did you bring?"

"Unshuang sandals, two pairs of slippers..." Lu Qiaowei listed what she brought on her fingers. "Actually, if the suitcase hadn't been too small to fit more, I’d have brought another swimsuit."

Another swimsuit? The Fatty nearly fainted from shock. "Wife, you’re bringing eight swimsuits already!" That’s more than one per day, not to mention the dresses.

"So, I’m not bringing any more." Lu Qiaowei kicked him when she saw the Fatty wailing. "You’re so overweight, hurry up."

The Fatty and Han Tao exchanged a look, then slowly dragged their luggage downstairs. Thankfully there was an elevator, otherwise...

The two men walked ahead like migrant workers, listening to their wives’ cheerful chatter behind them. Han Tao and the Fatty could only offer wry smiles. However, when they met up with Feng Xuanxiang and Shi Man during their layover in Tokyo, their moods immediately improved because Shi Man’s suitcase was even bigger.

"Looks like Brother Feng has been making good money lately," the Fatty said to Feng Xuanxiang, adhering to the philosophy of sharing misfortune.

"So-so, not much money. I just planned to pick up a few things here in Tokyo to make a bit," Feng Xuanxiang let slip some information intentionally, thinking: You think your wife brings a lot of stuff? I’ll scare them some more. "My Manman said they all agreed they’ll stay a few extra days on the way back to soak in some hot springs in Tokyo and have a major shopping spree."

Shopping on the return trip. The Fatty and Han Tao suddenly weren't in a rush at all. "We have to go to work."

"The company is moving too. Although I’d love to stay, unfortunately, I can't." If they were going shopping right now, the Fatty would probably collapse with fatigue, but on the way back, he felt no pressure at all. "By the way, did John ask you to help with the negotiations after the holiday?" The Fatty recalled John mentioning he might ask Feng Xuanxiang for assistance, but the Fatty knew Feng Xuanxiang was busy, seemingly setting up his own venture recently. In the Fatty’s view, Feng Xuanxiang shouldn’t have much free time.

Feng Xuanxiang nodded. "He asked, but I told him I don't have time. I need to finalize all the deals I’m currently handling before I leave." Although Feng Xuanxiang held shares in the company, he was only a minor shareholder. In an investment firm, even with a small stake, he would be considered a principal decision-maker. Feng Xuanxiang naturally knew where to focus his efforts. "Oh, the money won't be available until April or May next year. Are you in a hurry?"

The Fatty shook his head. "What's the point of hurrying?"

Feng Xuanxiang pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and then spoke up. "Are you interested in taking equity in my investment company?" Although he had a few existing clients, Feng Xuanxiang wasn't sure if they would follow him. The best approach was to bring in some partners to increase the available capital, making it easier for him and the partners to trade stocks and build credibility. Once their reputation was established, would they need to worry about clients?

Wang Qiqi had just returned after buying some snacks for the men to eat, and she happened to overhear Feng Xuanxiang's proposal. Wang Qiqi was quite surprised; why would Feng Xuanxiang ask her side for investment when starting an investment firm? "Did you talk to your man about my plan to withdraw my capital from Song Ziwen?" They were only nominally wealthy; pulling out large sums of cash could be difficult.

Shi Man shook her head, not getting angry at Wang Qiqi's suspicion. She said quietly, "It was originally a partnership of three, but the other person decided to partner with someone else—someone with substantial backing. Old Feng could have stayed at the company, but because he was planning to go independent, he hadn't pushed hard for promotions. Now he’s in an awkward spot." After doing so much groundwork, only to have someone pull this stunt on him, Shi Man fumed inwardly. "That other person clearly thought Old Feng and the other partner lacked connections in the US and didn't have much capital, so they looked for someone else to partner with to get rich quick." Shi Man hadn't intended to mention this, as it involved her husband losing face, but since Old Feng had humbled himself to ask Han Tao and the others, they deserved to know something.

What? Such a thing happened? Wang Qiqi was truly stunned. She had been busy reviewing the new investor files and had only heard Shi Man mention Feng Xuanxiang was going independent. She assumed that once the partners were secured, Wang Qiqi wouldn’t press further or eagerly offer to invest, especially since Feng Xuanxiang hadn't brought it up. If Feng Xuanxiang hadn’t mentioned it now, Wang Qiqi would never have asked, but immediately afterward, Wang Qiqi became quite angry. "Why didn't you mention something this important?" Although Wang Qiqi wasn't particularly interested in investing in an investment firm, the lack of communication was excessive.

Shi Man thought how embarrassing this blow to their pride was. "This matter could have been resolved, but sadly, alas." Feng Xuanxiang had initially wanted to persuade the original partner to reconsider, as some expenses had already been incurred, but if the other party was willing to forfeit all those costs, what could Feng Xuanxiang do?

While Wang Qiqi was asking Shi Man for specific details, the Fatty and Han Tao, having heard about Feng Xuanxiang's invitation to invest, considered it but gave no immediate reply. After all, neither of them was rich; they needed to think carefully before responding. Although Feng Xuanxiang was anxious, he understood that some matters couldn't be rushed merely by his eagerness.