Wang Qiqi returned home with the takeout, only to find dinner already laid out on the table. “Eat up. I remember we still have some steamed buns with meat filling at home; I’ll heat them up for you.” Wang Qiqi dropped her things onto the living room floor and headed into the kitchen. Anyway, Aunt Gong mopped the floors every day, so the house was as clean as it had been when her mother was alive.

Shi Man saw how tidy the house was, the floor so clean you could see reflections in it. “Qiqi, you’re seriously so diligent, even finding time to clean.” Was this what happened to children without parents? Did they mature so quickly?

But that didn't seem right either. The food on the table was warm, and when she walked over and touched the rice cooker, it was still hot. “You don’t have a Snail Spirit sister living here, do you?” It couldn’t be Qiqi’s aunt coming over to cook, could it?

“You’ve been reading too many fairy tales. If there really were a Snail Spirit sister, I’d be scared to death.” Wang Qiqi walked out holding a plate of steamed buns. “I didn’t know you were coming today, so I asked the auntie to make congee. What do you like to eat tomorrow? I’ll leave a list for the auntie, and she can buy the ingredients and prepare it.”

You hired an auntie? “Wow, you’ve really struck it rich! But doesn’t hiring someone cost a lot of money?” Shi Man felt Wang Qiqi was suddenly spending money recklessly. She hadn’t blinked an eye when buying so many snacks at the supermarket; it was truly extravagant.

It costs money, it costs money. “But if I spend time cleaning at home, will I have time to study?” Wang Qiqi had already thought it through. “My goal right now is to focus seriously on my studies. If my grades are good, why worry about finding a job after getting into a good university?” Looking at this trade-off, it was clear that even if Wang Qiqi didn’t go to university, she wouldn't fare badly in the future. In her past life, constantly doing housework had already made her weary of this kind of life.

“Right.” Shi Man strongly agreed with Wang Qiqi’s idea. “Our goal now is to study hard. If only my math grades were better, I’d be overjoyed.”

Shi Man truly had unbalanced strengths; she was terrible at science subjects. But what surprised Wang Qiqi greatly was that in the future, Shi Man actually ended up working in a securities firm and doing quite well. Although her father’s connections helped, that girl must have put in a lot of effort too. To succeed in a place like that, one needed ability alongside connections.

“It’s fine, I have the master’s secret guide. By the way, what are your plans for the summer vacation?” Wang Qiqi ate more steamed buns with the side dishes.

“Studying at home. My mom said she’s not taking me anywhere this summer vacation.” Shi Man said dejectedly. That one glimmer of hope for the year was now gone. “But my mom promised that if I do well on the university entrance exams next year, she’ll take me to Thailand.”

Thailand? Traveling abroad at this time was something people showed off, and it was quite expensive too. Shi Man’s mother must have been willing to splurge so much just to motivate her daughter to get good grades. “That’s great! Thailand. I want to go too,” Wang Qiqi thought. In her previous life, she had traveled too, but under Wang Rui’s leadership, it had turned into a solo shopping spree for Wang Rui, and she hadn’t had a proper chance to enjoy herself. “But sadly, I won’t be able to go.”

Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered that next year she still had to take Wang Rui out somewhere. Wang Qiqi absolutely did not want to take Wang Rui to Thailand. She knew that if they went to Thailand, seeing so many affordable, nice things, would Wang Rui refrain from buying them? And Wang Qiqi certainly wasn’t willing to act as her purse.

Shi Man didn't know about this; she assumed Wang Qiqi’s reason for not wanting to go was, “Worried about money?”

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “It’s not about the money. It’s because my mom promised to take her traveling after she finished junior high. I’m in the second year of senior high now, so I told her I’d take her out after my college entrance exams. But if I take her to Thailand, I really don’t want to.” It made no sense for her to take Wang Rui to such an expensive place.

Shi Man saw the logic. She didn’t have a good impression of Wang Rui either—just a spoiled girl who was constantly making demands and completely unaware of her own standing. “Yeah, I wouldn't want to go on vacation only to have to see her either.” What should have been a happy event was now ruined by the thought of meeting that person. “Actually, you could take her somewhere else, and then we could go later.”

“Your parents aren’t going?” Compared to Shi Man not wanting to see Wang Rui, Wang Qiqi also didn’t want to see Shi Man’s parents when they went out. After all, they were officials and carried an air of authority. Even though Qiqi had lived a lifetime, she still couldn’t get used to it.

“If you come with me, I can ask them not to go. Besides, my parents accompanying me is just because they’re worried about me.” Shi Man knew how busy her parents were. If it weren't a graduation gift for finishing senior high and going abroad, they might not have accompanied her.

“Okay, as soon as summer vacation starts, I’ll take her to Beijing for a few days to sightsee, then come back and wait for the results. After that, we’ll go to Thailand?” Wang Qiqi figured taking her to Beijing would be fine. Group tours domestically were cheaper, and even buying local specialties wouldn't cost that much.

“To Beijing?” Shi Man hadn’t expected her to take Wang Rui to Beijing. “What’s there to do in the middle of summer?”

“See the Forbidden City and the Lama Temple.” Wang Qiqi wondered how crowded the Lama Temple was at this time. She mused that time-travel romance novels weren't popular yet, so people’s impression of Emperor Yongzheng would just be the emperor who seized wealth and the controversy over his succession—definitely not the huge fanbase he’d have later, which would turn the Lama Temple into a pilgrimage site for Qing Dynasty romance fans.

With this topic opened, Wang Qiqi became excitedly animated, painting a picture of the Beijing trip. “Then go boating on Houhai, see the Beijing hutongs and siheyuan courtyards. I wonder if there are rickshaws around now; a ride would feel great, and we could eat Beijing street food.”

Shi Man had been to Beijing before, but only when accompanying her parents on official business, wandering around casually. “If you plan to do all that, a tour group won’t work.” Group tours meant set times for this place and that place.

“I’m planning on traveling alone in the future.” Humph, why would I bring Wang Rui along for such a fun trip? Besides, the malls in Beijing have far more stuff than here, and the prices are much higher. Wang Rui was someone who never hesitated to ask for things. If she asked Qiqi to buy this and that, and Qiqi refused, Wang Rui would throw a fit right there in the mall. Wang Qiqi admitted she was thin-skinned, so it was better not to bring her.

“And maybe she’ll have other plans then,” Wang Qiqi suddenly recalled that in July of her last high school year in her past life, a group led by Gao Kai went to Yunnan for a trip. Wang Rui had also insisted on going. Perhaps this time, Wang Rui would want to go if she found out Gao Kai was going to Yunnan. Since her second aunt didn’t have money, she wouldn't agree to it. If Wang Rui insisted on going, she’d have to go around Qiqi. That way, Qiqi could use the situation to her advantage and offer to pay for Wang Rui to travel with Gao Kai.

Shi Man’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at Wang Qiqi without blinking. “Qiqi, why do I feel like you’re a bit mystical? How can you be so sure she won’t go out with you next year?” That barnacle wouldn’t willingly let go of Qiqi. Following Qiqi meant food, drink, and most importantly, not having to spend her own money. Only a fool would let Qiqi go.

“Gao Kai will be done with his college entrance exams next year; he’ll probably go traveling,” Wang Qiqi stated with certainty.

“Definitely. His family is in business. They keep a low profile publicly, but they’re actually quite arrogant,” Shi Man said. Shi Man disliked not just Gao Kai but also his parents very much. Her feeling about the Gao family could be summed up simply: they treated people based on their wealth or position. In other words, they judged harshly. Gao Kai had inherited this trait from his parents. People at school said he was affable, but if he were truly kind, why were all the children of the wealthy or the powerful clustered around him? Those people didn't lack money and went traveling every holiday. “By the way, Gao Kai will probably invite you out this summer vacation. Are you planning to go?”

Go out with Gao Kai? And listen to their mockery? “No. My summer is already planned. I intend to study hard and then find a place to learn Taekwondo.” Wang Qiqi didn’t hide it. “Many people know how much money that person compensated me. I plan to learn Taekwondo so I can protect myself.”

Shi Man hummed. A young girl having that much money would look like an easy target to anyone. “Learning martial arts is good. Too bad my parents wouldn’t agree.” If she mastered it, she’d be a martial arts expert, able to kick any bad guy away. How impressive would that be!

“You’re different from me. For the rest of the time, I plan to stay home and review my lessons.” Wang Qiqi felt her upcoming summer was already packed enough; she didn’t have the American time for a trip. “Enough talk, I’m going to wash the dishes. You study first.”

Wang Qiqi noticed Shi Man had already put down her chopsticks, knowing she had nearly finished eating, and prepared to wash up. She pointed to the notebook she had left on the coffee table in the living room. “You can look at that. Anyone whose math grades aren't disastrous can understand that notebook.”

Shi Man was waiting for Qiqi to say that. She cheered and ran to the sofa, pulling out the notebook. As soon as she saw the handwriting, she gossipily carried the notebook to the kitchen door. “Qiqi, is this a guy’s handwriting?” She hadn't expected Wang Qiqi, after being absent from school for a few days, to have already hooked up with a new man; she was quite capable.

“Yeah, it belongs to my neighbor next door. I shamelessly asked him for it the other day, and I was surprised he actually gave it to me. Oh, right, don’t take this notebook out; I promised to return it to him,” Wang Qiqi cautioned. “You can copy it or make a photocopy.” Wang Qiqi felt that copying it once would help her remember better, but suggesting Shi Man copy so many pages felt a bit cruel.

“There’s too much; I won’t copy it. I plan to come over often to study with you. Anyway, my parents travel a lot for work.” Shi Man had made up her mind. First, she could keep Qiqi company, and second, she could see the master’s true face. Aren’t masters usually quite aloof? And if she could get some direct guidance from the master, would her math grade still lag behind?

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