“You two discussed waiting three to five years after getting married to stabilize your careers before having a baby, didn’t you?”

Gu Xicao handed Lin Yuan fifty cents to buy an ice cream before continuing the conversation. What she was about to say wasn’t suitable for children.

“How… how do you know this?” Zhou Xiufang looked at Gu Xicao as if she had seen a ghost.

Sun Jiaying, unable to suppress her curiosity, asked, “Isn’t this a good thing? Why would you say Xiufang’s marriage is rough?”

“Because the man is lying to her.”

Gu Xicao said bluntly, “Her boyfriend likes her because he knows she studied abroad. Although she dresses plainly, anyone with a brain can guess her family is well-off. And Miss Zhou is back from America, doesn’t ask for dowry or gold jewelry, and even offers to pay the bill when they eat out.”

Zhou Xiufang’s face turned pale. “My mom said not to spend a man’s money lightly.”

“Your mom is right, but it depends on the person. In general, of course, you shouldn’t spend casually. But this is your boyfriend, your future husband. If you don’t spend his money before marriage, are you still planning to go Dutch after marriage?”

Gu Xicao felt sorry for Zhou Xiufang. This woman was genuinely nice but unfortunately encountered a manipulative person. “Right now, he’s saying he supports your career and wants to wait to have kids. But as soon as you get married, he’ll find a way to get you pregnant. Given your personality, you won’t have an abortion. By then, the so-called support for your career will just be empty words.”

“No, no, he wouldn’t do that to me.”

Cold sweat formed on Zhou Xiufang’s forehead.

“Miss Zhou, if you don’t believe me, try calling him and telling him you’re pregnant. See how he reacts.”

Gu Xicao wasn’t surprised by Zhou Xiufang’s reaction.

Although that man was stingy with money, he was attentive in other ways—picking her up from work, delivering meals, and bringing brown sugar ginger tea during her period.

In Hong Kong, where Zhou Xiufang had no relatives, it was easy for her to fall for someone who treated her so considerately.

And that was the beginning of her tragic fate.

“This…” Zhou Xiufang clenched her hands tightly.

Sun Jiaying looked worriedly at Zhou Xiufang, then at Gu Xicao, and softly said, “Little Master, aren’t you exaggerating a bit? Her boyfriend is a teacher and seems like a good person.”

“A profession is just a profession, and a person is a person. To be honest, I’ve already held back a lot.”

Gu Xicao spread her hands helplessly. “For instance, if Miss Zhou were unwell and couldn’t work, would they ask her mother and stepfather to send money? Or, after getting married, if she discovered her boyfriend’s true nature, would she want a divorce?”

“If that happened, I would divorce him,” Zhou Xiufang said through gritted teeth. She wasn’t someone to swallow her anger.

“But do you think the man would let Miss Zhou take the child away easily?” Gu Xicao counted on her fingers, “Miss Zhou is highly educated, from a good family, beautiful, and—most importantly—capable of earning money. If they divorced, could he find someone better?”

This…

Sun Jiaying looked at Zhou Xiufang, whose face had turned completely white, unsure what to say.

Zhou Xiufang’s boyfriend was quite ordinary. His only advantage was being a teacher and being attentive. Other than that, he had nothing special.

Zhou Xiufang, on the other hand, was pursued by many due to her qualities. However, her strong personality scared off most men after a few unsuccessful attempts.

“Miss Zhou, I’ve said all I can. The decision is yours to make.”

Gu Xicao felt she had done a good deed.

Sun Jiaying hurriedly held onto Gu Xicao, “Master, don’t just stop here. Can you calculate something else, like when Xiufang will meet her true love?”

Gu Xicao paused for a moment. Truthfully, after her divorce, Zhou Xiufang would marry again, but none of them would be good men.

But could she say that?

She was afraid it would crush her.

“It won’t be that bad, right?” Sun Jiaying stammered, noticing Gu Xicao’s expression.

Gu Xicao looked at Zhou Xiufang’s pale face, cleared her throat, and sat upright. “Here’s the thing: heaven is very fair.”

Zhou Xiufang looked at Gu Xicao with hope in her eyes.

“Miss Zhou, some people are meant for a peaceful life, while others, with noble destinies, are fated for ups and downs.”

Gu Xicao said, “With your destiny, you’re not meant to marry. However, if you focus on your career, you’ll become a world-renowned advertising tycoon and a wealthy businesswoman.”

???

Zhou Xiufang and Sun Jiaying stared blankly at Gu Xicao.

Nearby, Wang Laoshi unconsciously craned his neck to listen in.

“A wealthy businesswoman? How… how wealthy?” Sun Jiaying stammered cautiously.

Gu Xicao glanced at the records. After divorcing three times, Zhou Xiufang had an epiphany and built a career, amassing billions.

And this was despite being dragged down by her marriages and her troublesome son.

“Conservatively, nine figures,” Gu Xicao estimated.

Nine figures?

Sun Jiaying quickly lowered her head to count on her fingers: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million…

Thud.

Wang Laoshi, sitting nearby, fell to the ground with a thump. Their eyes met awkwardly.

He nonchalantly patted his pants and stood up, “What are you looking at? Never seen a handsome guy fall before?”

He muttered under his breath. Billions? This little girl dared to say anything.

“Yeah, billions! Billions, Xiufang, who needs a man with that kind of money?”

Sun Jiaying was trembling with excitement, grabbing Zhou Xiufang’s hand. “With that much money, don’t forget about me when you’re rich.”