Wang Qiqi lay on the water house terrace, sipping a drink and gazing at the view. "Even though this life without internet or phone feels peaceful, I somehow feel utterly unsettled." Wang Qiqi considered herself someone who didn't particularly enjoy shopping, so why this strange restlessness?

Han Tao watched Wang Qiqi's bored expression. "Didn't you have a great time with the girls today? Didn't you take tons of pictures?" All afternoon, the women kept changing outfits; even the four of us guys couldn't escape, having to take turns photographing them.

Wang Qiqi rolled her eyes a few times. Truthfully, she wasn't fond of being photographed. "Oh, right, I spoke with Julina today. She decided to invest. I..." She’d told Han Tao earlier that she wouldn't invest, but in just one day, she'd changed her mind. She felt a bit sheepish about it.

Han Tao wasn't surprised that Wang Qiqi changed her mind so quickly. "Investing is good. Old Feng is quite steady. He’s worked for so long; his contacts must be decent. As for that guy who abandoned his friends for a startup—let him do it. Thinking about it now, it’s better than expanding things too far." Han Tao had actually been considering persuading Qiqi, as Old Feng was a friend to them all and had helped them profit in the stock market before. It felt wrong not to help him now that he was in a tight spot, but Qiqi had been so firm. Han Tao couldn't openly contradict her; it would only upset her more. Now that she'd sorted it out herself, Han Tao felt a wave of relief.

"It’s a shame the money is still insufficient." Wang Qiqi certainly wanted to give Old Feng a boost now, knowing he’d surely repay it later, but the problem was capital, capital, capital. She couldn't keep selling off domestic assets. What remained in China were real estate holdings, appreciating nicely. As for the family shop, Xiao Rourou had never mentioned to Ding Ziwen and the others that if they needed to take out another loan... she’d have to go back herself. "I used to lie there thinking about my net worth, feeling so happy, but now I realize money is critically insufficient." Did she really have to build something massive with the IT company, go public in a few years, just to feel financially comfortable? Yet, by that time, she’d probably have a whole new set of investment plans.

Han Tao looked at Wang Qiqi slumping in the beach chair, clearly deflated. He walked over, pulled her close, and lay down beside her. "Your plans are just too grand. Qiqi, have you ever considered slowing your pace down a bit?" Han Tao worried constantly about her. Since graduation these past few months, she’d been stressed by every situation imaginable—work consumed her mind and body, and private matters piled up just as heavily. Just looking at her made Han Tao anxious about whether she could handle such immense pressure. "What we’re earning now, while maybe not astronomical, is certainly enough for us to live happily. I think we’ll be among the upper-middle class living comfortably on this planet." Even though Han Tao knew his words were slightly exaggerated at the moment, he believed that day wasn't far off.

Grand plans? Wang Qiqi knew her vision was huge, and her foundation felt somewhat shaky. "I was just hoping we could retire by thirty, living a life free from financial worry." Being able to wake up naturally and travel to every corner of the world—all of which depended intrinsically on money. For a high quality of life, substantial funds were necessary. Wang Qiqi couldn't put that entire burden on Han Tao. It wasn't that he was unwilling to carry it; it was just that he already shouldered so much. She didn't want him to feel exhausted.

"Retire?" Han Tao froze. He knew people retired eventually, but why retire at thirty? "Qiqi, isn't retiring at thirty a bit early? Okay, if you don't want to work, being a housewife is fine, but am I incapable of earning money? Or do you think I lack the ability to provide you with a good life?" As he spoke, Han Tao's expression soured slightly. He knew Qiqi didn't mean it that way, but it felt as though she held him in low regard.

Of course, Han Tao’s tone was sharper than intended. It wasn't just about protecting his masculine pride from being trampled; it was also because he felt Qiqi was too accustomed to carrying everything herself, always thinking she had to handle it all alone. This gave him, as a man, a persistent sense of failure. Previously, what Qiqi said or did wasn't crossing a line, but this time was different. Han Tao truly felt like he was marrying into the family rather than taking a wife—the dynamic seemed to be her leading the outside world while he managed the inside. There was one other crucial point: Han Tao wanted Wang Qiqi to rest, to stop being so tightly wound every day. A little relaxation was necessary. Like Shi Man, for instance—absolutely independent when needed, but knowing when to lean on her man.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected a casual chat to anger Han Tao so much. Internally, she couldn't help but scoff, thinking Han Tao was overthinking things—that damned male ego! "How could I not trust you? I just felt that sometimes your collaboration with John wasn't smooth. I was hoping that if possible, you could step away from that and just focus on the programming you truly want to do."

Han Tao continuously stroked Wang Qiqi’s arm. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "I know John and I have cleared the air, but sometimes our philosophies differ. Or rather, from the moment we started the company, a small divergence in vision was apparent. But John said one thing that was right: we are starting a business. We can't just follow our own interests and whims; we have to consider many angles. When he first said that, I thought he’d gotten too focused on money. Yes, we are earning, but sometimes we are also serving our own passions. Lately, watching John and you constantly negotiate with various investors, I suddenly feel John is tougher than me. If we only considered our own ideas and preferences, the things we design might not appeal to others. We run a company; we must consider what the users like. Now, I’ve finally found the balance point between the two."

Wang Qiqi was stunned. She’d been so busy lately, maybe only managing to grab lunch with Han Tao occasionally, leaving little time for real communication. She hadn't realized Han Tao had changed so much. "You really figured it out? You aren't just trying to placate me?" Given his history, Wang Qiqi naturally needed to confirm this repeatedly.

Han Tao nodded. "Yes, I’m sure. You don't know that the former company boss wanted to move John to administration, saying he had talent in that area, but he absolutely refused, insisting he loved programming. Now, for my sake and Fatty's, he’s shifted to logistical support. He must feel terrible." Thinking of it, John had given up a lot too. "Go back and have a good drink with John. Oh, speaking of which, should we start renovating that house of ours? That way, we’ll have a place to stay when we come over during the summer vacation."

"That sounds good." Wang Qiqi had never taken charge of renovating an entire house in her life. For the old family place, she’d just looked at the design drafts, and then Song Ziwen managed the process. "I’m going to make it incredibly cozy. I must put a swing set in the garden. It's a shame the yard isn't bigger; otherwise, I'd install a pool."

A pool? Han Tao was surprised Xiao Rourou was considering a home pool. "You’ve barely gone into the ocean a few times since you’ve been here." The others were swimming and diving in the open water, while she stayed on the shore or the boat, maybe splashing around in the shallows at most. Han Tao found it odd that someone who seemingly disliked the water so much would want a swimming pool at home.

"I can soak in it in the summer and ice skate in the winter." Wang Qiqi knew Han Tao was subtly mocking her swimming skills, wiggling her fist near his eyes. "It’s not that I can’t swim; I just think the ocean involves too much risk."

Well, when his wife said that, complete with the implied threat of hitting him, Han Tao knew pressing the topic further wouldn't end well for him. "It’s fine. When we have more money, we'll buy a house with a pool. Then you and the kids can swim in it." It would be safer too; weren't there studies saying frequent swimming benefits a child's brain development?

"I look forward to it." Wang Qiqi knew Han Tao would make it happen. "By then, I’ll be living my retired life, and you can be in charge of earning money while I focus on looking beautiful." Wang Qiqi now understood why her words had angered Han Tao. It seemed she had stepped on his boundary. As a grown man, her earning more money already put pressure on him, and she went and talked about early retirement. Perhaps, for Han Tao right now, retiring that early meant he wouldn't have earned enough yet. And for an IT guy, asking him to live a retired life so soon was exceedingly demanding.

Han Tao liked hearing that last bit, not because he was overly masculine, but because in his mind, retiring at thirty sounded like a life of loafing around. "Even if I have enough money by thirty, I still want a career. I’d work until fifty, then go do the things I actually want to do."

Go do the things he actually wanted to do? Han Tao’s statement confused Wang Qiqi. "Don't you love computers?" He was a technical expert. Wang Qiqi often wondered how he managed to find such a good girlfriend in her past life. She figured if they hadn't established their relationship right after high school, she might never have managed to snag this legendary figure. What made Wang Qiqi even more frustrated was that as his pillowmate, she knew nothing about this hidden desire.