QTIMP -Chapter 100 Character Persona – Money Loving (Part 10)

“Baby, if you want money, you could actually ask for it a bit more tactfully. Don’t worry—given my IQ and EQ, I can still understand those hints. You really don’t have to ruin such a good atmosphere.”

Si Qiu frowned and thought for a moment. “What if you pretend not to understand?”

Pei Jingzhou gritted his teeth. “If I really wanted to pretend, you could dig through my pockets and still find nothing.”

He reached out to pinch her cheek, but Si Qiu dodged quickly. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed white bandages wrapped around his hand.

“What happened?” Si Qiu grabbed his hand, trying to take a closer look. However, the bandage was wrapped tightly. Judging from its thickness, the injury probably wasn’t light.

Pei Jingzhou casually pulled his hand back. “I accidentally broke the vase in the study.”

“Why did you handle it yourself? If something breaks, just let the servants clean it up. Look at you now.”

Pei Jingzhou didn’t want her attention lingering on the matter, so he changed the topic. “How much money are you planning to invest in the club?”

Si Qiu was particularly sensitive to the word money. Instantly, her attention shifted. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “So that means you’re agreeing to give me lots and lots of money?”

His jaw tightened. “I’ll give it—but my money isn’t that easy to take.”

“Hubby loves you, muah muah.”

Pei Jingzhou thought to himself: Since nothing has happened yet, I’ll give you a chance for now.

The next morning, when Si Qiu woke up, she discovered a check placed by the bedside. She picked it up to take a look, then kissed it fiercely. After kissing it, she suddenly realized something was wrong and hurriedly checked again to make sure she hadn’t smudged it.

Once they had the money, the six of them quickly gathered again, each bringing a summary of the work they were responsible for. The first step was raising funds.

Then, shares were distributed based on both capital investment and contribution. This also involved the hidden support and influence from each person’s family background.

For this project, Si Qiu contributed 45% of the capital, but in reality received 22% of the shares, purely as a financial investor.

Gu Shimao held 18% of the shares. She invested very little money but would mainly manage operations. Her whole family worked in the diplomatic sector.

Luo Baibai and Zhou Liu also invested some money. Both of their families worked in government departments, and future dealings would rely heavily on them. Their shares were essentially “relationship shares,” so each of them received 10%.

He Hongxue contributed a five-courtyard traditional residence, plus some additional funds, and received 20% of the shares. Her uncle was currently running a very large foreign trade business.

Hua Mingzhu obtained 20% of the shares. She invested some capital, but more importantly, her family had strong connections in the military and police. Her grandfather was one of the three major power figures.

Once everything was roughly divided, everyone began getting busy.

Si Qiu didn’t participate much in the club’s main operations, but she would personally manage her own branch store from start to finish.

On Pei Jingzhou’s side, the government procedures had already been completed, and the project was about to begin. Old Master Pei even required that when the project was completed the following year, Pei Jingzhou should return to cut the ribbon and officially acknowledge his ancestry.

So Pei Jingzhou also became busy.

When Si Qiu wasn’t busy, she would sometimes go have lunch with him, or bring lunch over to his workplace.

“Hubby, in a couple of days I’ll be starting school again. I’ll have to move back into the dorm.”

Pei Jingzhou paused mid-bite. “Isn’t dorm living no longer mandatory starting in sophomore year?”

“But our house is so far from the university. If I have an early class, how early would I have to wake up?”

Si Qiu scooted closer to him and rubbed against his side. “I can’t bear to be away from you either, but my studies are important too!”

“Then I’ll have Shen Xuan buy you a house near your university. We’ll see if there’s one already renovated. Wouldn’t that be much more convenient than living in the dorm?”

When Si Qiu heard this, her eyes instantly lit up. “You said you’d have Shen Xuan buy me a house—will it be registered under my name?”

Pei Jingzhou replied yes. Ever since the previous incident, he wasn’t even bothering to pretend anymore. “That’s what you care about?”

“Of course not. How big of a house are you planning to have Shen Xuan buy for me? And in what location?”

“Si Qiu, have I been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to deal with you, so now you’ve started letting yourself go?” Right after saying that, he lifted his wrist to check his watch.

“Alright. There’s still about an hour and a half. That should be enough.”

As he spoke, he walked straight over, picked her up, and strode toward the lounge.

“Pei Jingzhou, are you that bad at taking a joke? Didn’t you say yourself that you’d take good care of me? Look at me—anyone can tell that keeping me is very expensive. You should spend all your energy on work. Hey, hey—don’t tear my clothes! Don’t tear them! What am I supposed to wear when I go out later?”

Looking at Si Qiu’s sleeping face, Pei Jingzhou couldn’t help but pinch her cheek. “You’re the cutest when you’re asleep.”

When Shen Xuan came in the afternoon to report, he felt that Pei Jingzhou’s whole demeanor had become noticeably calmer.

“Young Master, this mood of yours seems a little unusual.”

Pei Jingzhou lowered his head and signed the documents. “Why ask so many questions? Go near Qing University later and see if there’s a furnished house available. Buy one.”

“Buy a house? Who’s going to live in it? Any specific requirements?”

Pei Jingzhou looked up at him. “Qiuqiu’s about to start school. I don’t want her living in the dorm.”

Shen Xuan made an OK gesture. “Alright then. But it seems like you’re planning to settle down.”

He had just taken out a cigarette to light it when Pei Jingzhou snatched the lighter away.

“Don’t smoke in this room. Settle down for what? What’s the point of marriage anyway? It’s nothing more than a mutually agreed transaction.”

Then, as if he were trying to convince Shen Xuan—or perhaps himself—his gaze drifted into space, his tone turning distant.

“Actually, this is pretty good. That way there’s no burden. If it works, we stay together; if it doesn’t, we separate. Without that piece of paper, the expectations lovers place on each other are different.”

Listening to his words and the tone behind them, Shen Xuan suddenly felt a pang of heartache for the friend he had grown up with. He let out a soft sigh.

“Don’t think about it so much. Your mother wouldn’t want to see you like this now.”

Pei Jingzhou cut him off immediately. “Enough. Don’t mention it again. Help me make an appointment with Doctor Rong.”

Concern appeared in Shen Xuan’s eyes. “Alright. I’ll have him come over later.”

“No. I’ll go over after work. If there’s nothing else, go do your work. Qiuqiu will wake up soon.”

The first half of his sentence made Shen Xuan feel sympathetic, but the second half irritated him so much that he grabbed the documents Pei Jingzhou had just signed.

“There’s really some bastard I’m indebted to.”

Then he abruptly stood up and headed for the door.

Pei Jingzhou’s voice came from behind him. Shen Xuan thought he had some instruction to give, but instead he heard: “Close the door gently.”

Even though Shen Xuan kept cursing under his breath, when he went out he still closed the door a bit more softly.

But just as he stepped out, Si Qiu happened to open the lounge door. Pei Jingzhou froze for a moment, then raised his eyes to observe her expression.