Ignoring Zhou Xi’s teasing, Su Wei—still in her pajamas—grabbed a towel from the balcony and stepped into the bathroom. In her past life, if Zhou Xi had dared tease her like this, she’d have pounced and playfully “disciplined” her. But now? Not a flicker of that impulse remained. She’d settled into a sage-like calm: mind fixed on classics, heart set on wealth.
Water ran. Clothes came off. No hesitation. No awkwardness. Su Wei had read enough isekai novels to expect post-transformation discomfort—but hers was fleeting. Just her nature: highly adaptable. *Since I’m here, I’ll make the best of it.* Anger solved nothing. Face reality. Simple.
Besides, this body was hers now. Charming? Sure. But just a body. Washing hair, though—*so* tedious. And drying? Maddeningly slow. First night, she washed before bed. Woke up to damp strands. Nearly chopped it all off. Reason won. Her long hair survived.
Toweled dry, wrapped up, pajamas back on—she returned to her book. Zhou Xi, meanwhile, kept nodding off, eyelids heavy. The girl who gamed till 2 a.m. without blinking? Barely two pages in, already dead tired. Su Wei shook her head.
“Xiao Xi… are you even reading?”
“Ah!!!” Zhou Xi buried her hands in her hair, face crumpled in despair. “This book is *unbearably* boring!”
“Let me see.” Su Wei picked up *The Art of Imperial Rule*, skimmed Chapter One, and nodded. “Actually… it’s good.”
“Good?! How?!”
Su Wei smiled, set the book down. “Okay—pretend one’s Grand Zhou’s Minister of Internal Affairs, the other Minister of Justice. First guy’s greedy: hoarded tens of thousands. Second’s a lecher: dozens of concubines. Yet the emperor kept them. Why?”
“I *don’t* get it! Execute the corrupt! Castrate the lecher!” Zhou Xi’s face flushed with righteous fury—as if she’d end them herself.
“No replacements.” Su Wei’s tone stayed light. “Book says it plain: Internal Affairs Minister was Wang Clan—controlled Grand Zhou’s economy. Fire him over petty graft? Clan riots. Same for Justice Minister. Later, once the emperor secured power? He dug up old faults and removed them. Lesson: leaders must sometimes turn a blind eye until their own strength is ready. Got it?”
“Sort of…” Zhou Xi slumped. “Ugh. Sounds exhausting.”
“It’s useful. Not just for emperors—CEOs too. Procurement departments? All take kickbacks. Why no strict overhaul? *Too clear water holds no fish.* Obsess over flaws too early, you lose loyalty. No one’s perfect. Focus on strengths. Leverage them. Never let personal feelings cloud judgment. Understand?”
*Clap, clap, clap…*
Zhou Xi beamed. “Brilliant! Wei Wei—when I’m emperor, be my Grand Chancellor *and* beloved consort?”
Su Wei shot her a dry look. “Seconds ago I was just ‘consort.’ Now chancellor too?”
“Why not both?”
“Forget it. I just want to be a simple, rich person.”
“Deal!” Zhou Xi grinned. “I’ll support you!”
“Thank you—” Su Wei drawled the words, insincere, then returned to her chair. Zhou Xi slapped her cheeks awake, took notes, studied hard. Asked Su Wei whenever confused.
Su Wei didn’t fully endorse the book’s cold tone. Ancient emperors could be ruthless. Modern entrepreneurs? Needed heart. So she shared wisdom from that revered entrepreneur of her past life: the difference between “businessman,” “merchant,” “entrepreneur.” Then tied it back—“official,” “provincial governor,” “emperor.” Zhou Xi nodded along, captivated.
But book knowledge is shallow. True wisdom needs stumbles.
One month passed quietly. Su Wei aced her entire first-semester coursework solo. True to Zhou Xi’s word, she got next semester’s books and kept studying—*smartly*. The CS department buzzed: a prodigy in Computer Engineering. Professors stopped restricting her. After lectures, some even offered deeper guidance.
Weekdays: study. Weekends: outings with Zhou Xi. Occasional calls home or to Wu Sansan. Three months of clean, focused living. University clubs? Waste of time.
Another Friday. Zhou Xi lounged on the balcony chair, plotting weekend plans. Zhaoge was played out. *Coastal drive along Grand Zhou? Hotel stay? A drink… then… hehehe.* Her grin widened—until the door clicked open.
She jolted. Tossed *Kisses in Bloom* under the bed.
“What was that?” Su Wei asked.
Zhou Xi tilted her head, feigning innocence. “No idea.”
“Huh? What’s this?”
The manga slid right back out. Su Wei bent to grab it—
*Whoosh!* Zhou Xi lunged, snatched it. “Hahaha! My manga!”
“Oh?” Su Wei eyed her, voice laced with knowing amusement. “So tense… reading something *spicy*?”
“I—! Of course not! Hahaha…” Zhou Xi’s face burned crimson, laughter strained. She looked ready to vanish into the floorboards.
“Alright, I’ll stop.” Su Wei set the book down, sank onto the sofa, and opened her laptop. Zhou Xi squeezed beside her, arm around Su Wei’s waist, chin on her shoulder.
“My consort… road trip this weekend?”
“Your Majesty. No. We’re not meeting.”
“Eh? Why?!”
“Ideas buzzing. Gotta code something *epic*.”
“How epic?”
“The billionaire kind.”
“No way.”
“Yep.”
“How long?”
Su Wei chuckled. “Six months… or never.”
“No weekends *ever*?!”
“Pretty much.”
“Ugh…” Zhou Xi pouted, fingers tracing idle circles on Su Wei’s side. “Why push so hard? You’re a girl. Don’t need to…”
“No marriage. No poverty. You gonna support me?”
“I *will* support you!” Zhou Xi blurted.
Su Wei froze. Turned slightly. Met Zhou Xi’s eyes—and saw raw sincerity. A warm flicker stirred in her chest. *She really means it.*
“Alright.” Su Wei pinched Zhou Xi’s cheek, smiling. “You focus on yourself first.”
“What?” Zhou Xi mumbled, voice thick with regret and stubborn hope. “I’m serious.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Su Wei nodded absently, already typing.
