Wang Qiqi and her two companions had a wonderful time in QD, strolling by the seaside, going for swims after the sun dipped below the horizon, and feasting on seafood every day. Of course, Wang Qiqi, whose greatest interest lay in old architecture, did not miss out on exploring those either, taking countless photographs. Even though she only had a basic point-and-shoot camera, it didn't dampen her enthusiasm for photography.

"Say cheese." The three of them uttered the word while striking what they thought were their most photogenic poses, their friendship thus immortalized in one snapshot after another.

Even though the scorching midday sun forced them to hole up in the hotel tackling piles of homework, and even though an unexpected question might occasionally pop up while they were out exploring, requiring the others to provide an answer, the overall sentiment was that the trio was having an absolutely fantastic time.

Despite liberally applying sunscreen, all three had tanned quite a bit. When Wang Qiqi showered, she barely dared to look at her own body; the skin hidden beneath her clothes showed little change, but the exposed parts—her arms, thighs, and neck—had darkened significantly. Her face, needless to say, was even more so.

"I'm so dark," Shi Man said with an air of distaste, looking at her arm. "Ugh, I shouldn't have gone swimming in the sea."

Zhu Lina nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I noticed that we did a pretty good job with sun protection most of the time. We tanned mainly because we went into the water. But Xiao Man, you seemed to have the most fun when we were swimming, didn't you?"

Wang Qiqi covered her mouth to stifle a laugh upon hearing Zhu Lina’s comment. Shi Man took offense at the implication. "You, you, Zhu Lina, that’s going too far! I’m breaking off all ties with you!"

Breaking ties? Zhu Lina wasn't intimidated in the least. "Fine, break them off. For how long?"

Shi Man paused to consider. "Ten minutes." Any longer, she suspected, and she wouldn't be able to keep up the act.

Wang Qiqi ignored the bickering pair. Traveling was truly a wonderful way to deepen friendships, especially for three young women. They all kept repeating how they couldn't afford to get dark, yet the moment they found a scenic spot they liked, they'd stop for a group photo. Umbrellas would be opened and then quickly furled, often ending up abandoned altogether. "When we get back, let's do some face masks," Wang Qiqi suggested, planning to use some simple whitening masks.

Face masks? Shi Man had used the masks Wang Qiqi concocted a few times and they worked wonders. However, they weren't without a flaw. "They absolutely must be done after I’m completely full and satisfied," Shi Man stipulated.

Zhu Lina looked at Shi Man curiously. Why the specific timing? Was there some sort of time limit for mask application?

"You’ll know when the time comes," Shi Man replied, striking a teasing pose that clearly conveyed, I know something you don't, and I'm not telling you unless you beg me. She silently hoped Zhu Lina would be reduced to begging her.

Zhu Lina watched Shi Man preen, ready to be pleaded with, and simply lowered her head to eat. These fresh seafood dishes were inexhaustible; the best part was that enjoying such extravagance came with such a low price tag. That kind of luxury wouldn't be available back home.

Shi Man felt a pang of frustration as Zhu Lina didn't even spare her a glance, despite her smug display. But what could she do? She was the reigning queen of the moment. Suddenly, Shi Man remembered something. Raising the glass in her hand, she declared, "This trip wouldn't have been so satisfying without Zhu Lina’s huge support. Thank you."

Shi Man wasn't wrong; Zhu Lina had covered most of the meals and drinks. In reality, none of them had spent much money throughout the trip.

"Actually, I should be the one thanking you," Wang Qiqi countered, raising her own glass. "If it weren't for you two, where would I get free meals and free lodging?" Wang Qiqi inwardly tallied the trip as truly worthwhile; she had only spent just over five hundred yuan, primarily on transport and a few local souvenirs. Since the immediate family had shrunk, the gifts for relatives were limited to her aunt, her uncle's wife, and a few neighbors, with each receiving a small bag of dried squid or other preserved seafood snacks.

Shi Man drained her beverage. "Don't be so polite. Mine were free anyway; they were gifts meant for my parents. If you hadn't wanted to come, my parents wouldn't have had the time to bring me along. But I’ll tell you this, I signed quite a few unfavorable agreements just to secure this vacation." Shi Man winced internally thinking about the personal guarantees she’d signed for her parents, but then recalling the standards her parents had set for her, the burden felt less oppressive. A little hardship now for future comfort seemed better than the reverse.

Wang Qiqi hadn't anticipated such drama surrounding Shi Man’s holiday arrangements. She sighed. "You really didn't need to sacrifice so much. You could have just given us the accommodation vouchers and enjoyed the trip yourself while diligently studying at home."

Zhu Lina chimed in supportively. "Exactly! Then Qi Qi and I could have shared a double bed—sleeping would have been incredibly comfortable!"

Shi Man knew better than to expect any sympathy from these two; they’d be more likely to kick her when she was down. "Why wouldn't I come? This voucher is mine! But this trip is our last chance to truly relax. Do you know? My mom said that during next year's Spring Festival, I'll only get three days off." The thought of only three days of freedom made Shi Man's heart ache, and even more so the thought of what else she might miss.

"You're worried about the hongbao (red envelopes), aren't you?" Wang Qiqi knew perfectly well why the children of high-ranking officials looked forward to the Spring Festival. It wasn't for the special food or the chance to sleep in, but primarily because visitors never arrived empty-handed, and Shi Man always received thick red envelopes. Although Shi Man never disclosed the amounts, Wang Qiqi deduced from her anticipation and occasional slips of the tongue that this girl could live comfortably for an entire year on her Spring Festival earnings alone, especially since both of the Shi family parents held mid-level government positions; the higher they climbed, the thicker those envelopes would become.

Shi Man knew she couldn't fool Wang Qiqi and Zhu Lina, so she laughed sheepishly. "Can't be helped. If I didn't accept them, people would worry. Besides, all the other kids take them; it's the general custom."

"That just proves being a civil servant is the best life—guaranteed salary, tons of perks, and light responsibilities," Wang Qiqi mused, recognizing the appeal of government work. "But you still have to rise through the ranks; being stuck at the very bottom level isn't very interesting."

"Qi Qi, didn't you just say you wanted to thank us? How do you plan to do that?" Shi Man deftly changed the subject.

"When we get back, I will definitely make some fragrant and delicious whitening face masks," Wang Qiqi replied, having already planned the perfect bribe, which Shi Man would surely appreciate. As for Zhu Lina, only heaven knew what would appease her. "We'll aim to get our skin back to its original white shade soon."

"Deal." Shi Man liked this form of repayment, knowing that even with her own efforts back home, the results would draw the envy of many classmates. "I wonder how many people will end up traveling this break."

Wang Qiqi considered it. "The whole grade won't be more than fifty." Some families had limited means, others were busy with extra tutoring, and some simply wanted to utilize this last summer vacation to boost their grades significantly.

"Most of them will be Gao Kai’s hangers-on," Shi Man stated bluntly. "But Qi Qi, what you said the other day—some people might call you cold-hearted for that." Shi Man had genuinely struggled with mentioning this, but after keeping it bottled up for days, she felt compelled to talk to Qi Qi, worrying that bringing it up earlier might have spoiled the trip for everyone.

Cold-hearted? Wang Qiqi wasn't sure how to process the term. In her past life, she had been naive enough to trust the uncle and aunt who pretended to be so good to her, yet how had they repaid that trust? They were reluctant even to support her through university; if it hadn't been for the immediate aftermath of her parents' death, they might not have funded it at all. In truth, they only paid for two years of tuition, and barely more than a year of living expenses. After that, she relied on part-time work and sponsorship from someone else. Where was the accusation of being cold-hearted then?

"Cold-hearted? Do you know, Xiao Man, ever since my uncle's family started scheming against me, an orphan, I stopped considering them relatives. Besides," Wang Qiqi continued, "if I hadn't derailed the conversation that day, who knows how Wang Rui would have pestered me after school started?" Wang Qiqi knew Wang Rui definitely planned to transfer in as a non-resident student, but she found it baffling that her uncle had pulled strings to get Wang Rui admitted, considering that transferring wasn't just about money.

Shi Man now understood why Wang Qiqi had erupted in anger that day, specifically mentioning Wang Rui's crush on Gao Kai. "You basically threw her onto the grill." If Gao Kai had shown her even the slightest interest or kindness, Wang Rui's life wouldn't have been difficult. But Wang Qiqi had made it clear she wouldn't offer any protection, and since Gao Kai’s major humiliation was linked to Wang Rui, Gao Kai certainly wouldn't look favorably upon her. Thus, Wang Rui's future comfort at school was now questionable.

"I grilled her? I explicitly said I wasn't going to XM, yet how did she relay that to Gao Kai? If Gao Kai hadn't asked me directly, I wouldn't have known I was supposedly going to XM!" Wang Qiqi felt a flare of anger thinking about it. The specific meaning in Gao Kai’s eyes that day—she understood it all too well. She never imagined Gao Kai harbored such intentions, nor that her so-called relatives would be fully aware of his thoughts and still facilitate the situation. Perhaps, from Wang Rui’s perspective, her actions were aimed at getting Gao Kai to take her to XM. But did she not consider how she would explain Wang Qiqi’s absence on the departure day? Oh, perhaps she intended to fabricate some story to discredit Wang Qiqi in front of Gao Kai and his friends. Wang Qiqi might not care about Gao Kai or his friends, but she cared deeply about the trajectory of her high school life.

Wang Rui, you will discover the high school gift I have prepared for you. I hope you enjoy the next year thoroughly. Of course, you don't need to thank me. Wang Qiqi thought maliciously. We are not saints; after what you tried to do, I certainly won't be nice to you. (To be continued.)