Wang Shuang’s newfound drive left Boss Wang so moved he half-wished he could gift Wen Ying’s family another house for free.
Qin Jiao didn’t tell Boss Qin but shared it with her brother, Qin Yi.
Qin Yi, studying in Modu, had finished exams but hadn’t returned to Rongcheng yet. He’d planned a holiday trip with classmates. When his sister called, he couldn’t help chuckling, “Jiaojiao, your new friend’s young but sharp! She wants a food festival to boost your business, repay Director Lü’s favor, and snag some sponsorship cash too?”
Sponsorship!
Qin Jiao finally grasped what she’d missed.
Wen Ying said the festival wouldn’t cost a dime and might earn them something—Qin Jiao had puzzled over the “how” until Qin Yi’s nudge clicked it into place.
“Bro, you’re so smart!”
It wasn’t Qin Yi’s brilliance—he’d just seen it in college.
High school student councils were straightforward, supporting school events. University clubs and faculty councils, vying to shine, often planned their own gigs. With limited school funds, they’d hustle for sponsors.
Qin Yi had been there, but he still marveled at Wen Ying’s guts and ingenuity. Young, from a small town, yet so quick-witted—he admired that.
Qin Jiao’s mind raced, and after a brief chat, she hung up.
Qin Yi was at a bonfire party with classmates. After singing and dancing, they sat around the fire, munching fragrant roasted lamb, sharing stories, bonding.
Among them was Xu Mei, a girl who’d liked Qin Yi since freshman training. After a year of growing close, this trip sealed it—they were now a couple.
Qin Yi planned to tell his family once things stabilized; Xu Mei, lost in new-love bliss, wasn’t rushing to meet parents either.
Back from the call, classmates teased, urging Xu Mei to keep Qin Yi on a leash—handsome and “loaded,” he drew plenty of eyes. Xu Mei got him first.
Xu Mei laughed, waving them off, “It’s his sister. Don’t you have siblings? Let him have a good bond with her!”
Qin Yi’s looks were real; the “loaded” part was a stretch. Xu Mei didn’t know his family’s wealth—classmates’ jabs were mostly playful.
He’d flipped a few small ventures at school, earning more cash than most. Generous, they dubbed him “Boss Qin.”
Qin Yi liked Xu Mei’s easygoing smarts. In front of everyone, he confirmed it was his sister and nixed the “Boss” nickname.
“People like me trying startups in college? Nothing special. Middle schoolers these days are wild.”
He briefly shared Qin Jiao’s “创业” with friends.
“To sell their stuff better, they’re planning a food festival. These kids are leaving us in the dust!”
His travel buddies, all at least middle-class—summer trips weren’t cheap—were top students at a Modu elite school. Curious about middle school entrepreneurs, one guy suggested, “Rongcheng’s not far. Let’s make it our last stop—check out these kids!”
Qin Yi wouldn’t say no.
Rongcheng was home—he’d host them well!
His only worry was Xu Mei. Freshly official, meeting his family there might spook her.
He asked her take. Xu Mei’s face glowed in the firelight, “Everyone’s going—I’m in.”
With classmates along, she’d blend in, softening the family meet.
She asked Qin Yi to keep their relationship under wraps for now; he agreed.
Next morning, he booked same-day flights to Rongcheng.
A dormmate elbowed Xu Mei, “You’re so lucky—snagged Qin Yi right off the bat. Handsome, caring, responsible. If he’d stay in Modu with you, he’d be one in a million. Check out his family this time—see if they’re cool!”
Xu Mei hadn’t thought that far. Now, nerves crept in.
Would Qin Yi’s family like her?
First love’s jitters hit—she was fretting over impressions before boarding.
—
Wen Ying and Qin Jiao had no clue a phone call had lured Qin Yi and his crew to Rongcheng to gawk at them.
By Saturday, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong returned to Rongcheng. They signed the final contract with the developer, paid the down payment balance, and secured two small units.
Unlike Wen Ying’s past life, where they owned one, now they had two—family assets grew.
Chen Li bought a 156㎡ unit in the same complex, paying over 600,000 in full cash, unlike Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong’s mortgage. Oddly, Chen Ru held her usual snark.
After paperwork at the sales office, alone, Chen Ru’s face darkened, “What’s up with you and Deng Shangwei?”
Chen Li played dumb. Chen Ru snapped, “Me and your brother-in-law heard it back home—Deng Shangwei’s messing around, and the woman showed up to kick you out. You’re still covering for him!”
Chen Li’s head throbbed.
Gossip spread too fast—days, and it’d reached their hometown?
She could hide it from outsiders, but not Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong. She gave a brief defense for Deng Shangwei. Chen Ru didn’t buy it, “You’ve been cooped up too long—gone soft in the head? He’s stringing you along, plotting something.”
Wen Dongrong chimed in, “Maybe he’s in cahoots with her—feeding you a sob story so they can scheme behind your back.”
Business tactics? He wasn’t convinced.
He knew Chen Li’s couple had cash from Rongcheng ventures—hundreds of thousands, no sweat—but not Deng Shangwei’s full scope. Unaware a benefactor’s boost would skyrocket him soon, Wen Dongrong judged him by old standards… Some “honey trap” fairy tale—he pegged Chen Li as dizzy, duped by Deng Shangwei.
Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong always looked down on Deng Shangwei, thought Chen Li naive. Now, catching him conning her, Chen Ru wanted him chopped to bits.
As a big sister, she was solid—just too bullheaded, overshadowing her care.
Chen Li’s defense fueled Chen Ru’s fury—she saw Deng Shangwei’s cheating as proof Chen Li loved without spine.
“Even if you beat this one, can you chain him to stop the next two or three? Listen to me—divorce him. You suffered with him, built this from scratch—don’t let some tramp take your savings. Secure it for Deng Jie and Deng Hao!”
Chen Ru mapped Chen Li’s future—divorce, when to date, what kind of guy she’d marry. Chen Li was touched yet exasperated. Blood sister, sure, but deaf to others.
Chen Li thought, *Deng Shangwei might trick me, but Wen Ying too?*
No way could she rat out Wen Ying.
Her throat went dry explaining; Chen Ru wouldn’t budge. She had Wen Dongrong drive straight to Deng Shangwei’s seafood company.
Perfect timing—Pan Li was there, cornering Deng Shangwei.
He wasn’t in. Sister Fang saw Chen Li storm in with backup, panicked, and called him.
Chen Li knew Pan Li had been hounding the office. She’d braced for a showdown, but seeing her, visceral disgust hit.
Chen Ru spotted Pan Li too.
She blinked, “Old Wen, she looks familiar…”
No kidding—she resembled a young Chen Li.
Wen Dongrong asked, “This is Deng Shangwei’s fling? Who’s he mocking?”
Women—proof in their face, and they still deny.
Chen Li said no. Too late—Chen Ru charged, swinging her bag at Pan Li’s head. Chen Li couldn’t stop her.
Sister Fang rushed out, trying to split them.
Company staff joined, “mediating.”
Pan Li’s antics had the place on edge—rumors swirled of Chen Li and Deng Shangwei splitting assets, the company cleaving in two. Employees dreaded picking sides.
Now, the boss’s wife was thrashing the mistress—they exhaled.
If she’d fight, Deng might be salvageable.
“Mediation” leaned toward Chen Li. In the chaos, Pan Li hit the ground—someone kicked her stomach twice. She clutched it, groaning.
Chen Ru thought she was faking until blood pooled. Alarm struck.
“Stop—everyone stop!”
“What’s wrong with her?”
Mothers knew. Chen Ru had heard Deng Shangwei had a side piece—not that she was pregnant… Now what?!
