"Qi Qi?" Wang Rui trailed behind Gao Kai and the others as they left the library, instinctively glancing around when she spotted a few familiar figures. The most familiar, of course, was Wang Qiqi, who usually stayed home studying.

Gao Kai hadn't intended to pay attention to Wang Rui, but hearing her mention Qi Qi made him wonder if Wang Qiqi had also come to the library to study. However, he hadn't seen Wang Qiqi in the study hall.

Wang Qiqi walked along, discussing math problems with Shi Man. In the reading room, the three of them rarely spoke; if they did, it was usually by passing notes. How were they supposed to discuss math problems like this?

Zhu Lina was memorizing English words when she looked up. "Qi Qi, your sister and Gao Kai are by the door." Zhu Lina glanced ahead and realized she was about to run into Gao Kai’s group, and Qi Qi’s sister, Wang Rui, was mingling with them. Since when were they on such good terms?

Zhu Lina truly couldn't understand. Didn't Gao Kai embarrass himself several times because of Wang Rui? How could he still be hanging around with her? There had to be something suspicious going on.

When Wang Qiqi heard Zhu Lina mention seeing Wang Rui and Gao Kai together, she didn't even lift her head, continuing her discussion with Shi Man. Wang Rui being with Gao Kai was their business.

Since Wang Qiqi remained so calm, Shi Man certainly wasn't going to feel upset. She continued working on the problems with Wang Qiqi; after all, everyone on the other side was someone they disliked anyway.

Wang Rui had expected Wang Qiqi to greet her upon seeing her, but to her surprise, Wang Qiqi acted as if she hadn't seen her at all, still deep in discussion about the problems.

"Sister, you came here to study too." Wang Rui had mentally cursed Wang Qiqi countless times, but when Wang Qiqi finally walked up to her, she still greeted her with a cheerful smile.

Wang Qiqi feigned a look of great surprise upon hearing Wang Rui’s words. "Xiao Rui, you're here studying today too?"

Then, spotting Gao Kai, Wang Qiqi gave him a brief smile. "Gao Kai, what a coincidence, you're here studying as well."

After greeting Gao Kai, Wang Qiqi took the opportunity to say hello to the others she knew. Regardless of their current attitude toward her, she figured one shouldn't refuse a friendly gesture. If she didn't greet them, it would just be another point against her. She didn't expect to become close with Gao Kai's circle, nor did she hope they would speak well of her; she just hoped they wouldn't speak ill of her.

Gao Kai hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to greet him. "Hello, Qi Qi. Didn't you usually avoid coming to the library to read? By the way, I didn't see you studying in the hall. I mean, it’s impossible I missed the three of you." Gao Kai wondered how he could have missed seeing three living people.

"The study hall was full, so we just found a random place to sit and study," Wang Qiqi thought to herself that if it hadn't been for the power outage today, she wouldn't have come here. If she had known they would be leaving for lunch now, she really should have delayed leaving the room a bit longer.

Gao Kai sensed that Wang Qiqi was trying to avoid him. "The study hall was full"—even though it was crowded, there were certainly three empty seats available. "Are you heading out for lunch?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Yes, we're planning to go for hotpot," Wang Qiqi stated generously. She knew a certain someone disliked hotpot. It wasn't just the lingering smell on clothes, but rather that hotpot felt a bit beneath his status as the young master of a hotel chain.

Hotpot? Gao Kai hesitated. He had originally intended to ask Wang Qiqi out for lunch, but now that she mentioned hotpot, he didn't know what to do. If he went, he felt the atmosphere of a hotpot place wasn't suitable for him; but if he didn't go, he didn't want to miss such a good opportunity.

"Sis, Gao Kai offered to treat us to Korean BBQ," Wang Rui said, noticing Gao Kai’s face shift repeatedly, realizing he probably wanted to have lunch with Wang Qiqi.

Korean BBQ! That was high-end food. She hadn't expected Gao Kai to treat them to that; considering how many people there were, it would easily cost three to four hundred. "BBQ sounds great, eat plenty," Wang Qiqi said cheerfully, pleased that someone was already arranging their midday meal. "We're off to eat hotpot then."

Waving goodbye, Wang Qiqi called Shi Man and Zhu Lina to join her for hotpot. Hahaha, she finally wouldn't have to see the people she didn't want to see at noon.

"Korean BBQ is really good, eat a lot. I remember there’s a great Korean BBQ place nearby," Zhu Lina said as she turned back to them when Wang Qiqi and the others were about to leave. "We went yesterday too; the flavor was excellent. That premium pork belly, especially—although it’s more expensive, the taste after grilling is definitely much better than regular pork belly."

Zhu Lina covered her mouth as she walked away, unwilling to admit she had said that on purpose. A plate of premium pork belly cost nearly forty to fifty percent more than the regular kind. This was going to cost the Young Master quite a bit.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man continued discussing their problems, not noticing that Zhu Lina had followed them. When they heard someone panting slightly behind them, Wang Qiqi asked, "What were you doing?"

"I just told them we ate at that BBQ place," Zhu Lina said, covering her mouth again.

We ate at that BBQ place? Wang Qiqi and Shi Man exchanged a look. When had they gone there? "In our dreams," they replied simultaneously.

Zhu Lina shook her head. "We didn't go. I went a few months ago with my cousin and her friends. The five of us spent seven or eight hundred that time."

Upon hearing Zhu Lina state the price of the meal, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man glanced at each other and then burst out laughing together. "How many people were around Gao Kai just now?"

Shi Man paused to think. "I don't remember exactly, but at least ten people, right?" Even if they wouldn't order the expensive items like Zhu Lina’s group, someone had surely suggested ordering the premium pork belly after hearing how good it was. Compared side-by-side, the premium cut would taste better, and Gao Kai, concerned about maintaining his image, wouldn't object if someone suggested ordering the premium option, would he?

"If Gao Kai doesn't have the money, with so many people eating, surely the others will chip in to pay the bill?" Wang Qiqi figured that among this group of wealthy young masters and ladies, someone would cover the cost.

Shi Man agreed. "Let's go eat hotpot, and we can go try that BBQ tonight. We should taste the premium pork belly Zhu Lina mentioned."

"No problem. I'll page Aunt Gong later and let her know not to prepare dinner for us this afternoon." Wang Qiqi acknowledged the idea of BBQ sounded nice. "And let's notify Han Tao too."

Aunt Luo now worked a standard day shift, and the daytime helper also worked as a part-timer. To save her effort, Han Tao had told her he would handle dinner, and Wang Qiqi and the others would also cook for Han Tao.

"Okay," Shi Man didn't mind if there was one extra person for dinner, but then she suddenly thought of something. "Won't Han Tao feel awkward? Eating at home before was fine, but if we eat out now, Han Tao will definitely have to contribute money. Does that mean we can only afford to eat the basic cuts of BBQ?"

"Then we'll split the bill," Wang Qiqi said, knowing Han Tao wasn't without means. "Worst case, we just order the cheaper stuff."

"Ah," Zhu Lina was about to protest that this meant they couldn't order any premium items, as the ordinary cuts were far inferior to the premium ones. "I'll pay for the premium meat; the three of you can cover the standard items."

Wang Qiqi walked out of the hotpot restaurant, rubbing her full stomach, and sighed contentedly. "Eating hotpot really is great. You just put in whatever you like to eat and cook it, without worrying if the person at your table likes it or not."

Shi Man nodded in agreement. "If you like spicy, eat spicy; if you like lighter flavors, eat lighter. The only downside is the hotpot smell clinging to your clothes." Honestly, it was quite pungent.

After a brief discussion with Shi Man about how hearty their lunch had been, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man resumed discussing their math problems, while Zhu Lina went back to reciting her English vocabulary.

All three of them were in high spirits, but their good mood only lasted until they returned to the library entrance. "Sister, you're back?" Wang Rui’s expression wasn't great, but when she smelled the lingering scent of hotpot on Wang Qiqi’s group, she wrinkled her nose and then pinched it with her hand.

Wang Qiqi gave Wang Rui a look of disdain. "You don't have to be so dramatic. You smelled of BBQ yourselves when you went out earlier." What? If BBQ didn't smell like meat, that would be the real problem. "Was the premium pork belly good?"

Wang Qiqi admitted she had said that deliberately. Seeing Gao Kai's expression, she knew that meal must have cost him dearly. But it was strange; didn't he have no regular allowance? If he ran out, he'd just ask his parents. Could it be that his parents restricted his spending because he dropped out of the advanced class after the placement exam? Hahaha, that was truly satisfying.

It was better not to mention the pork belly. Once it was brought up, the faces of Gao Kai and his group immediately changed, especially Gao Kai's. "We're going back in to study," Gao Kai said, suddenly feeling completely humiliated, and hurried inside.

The others managed forced smiles and followed Gao Kai in.

Wang Qiqi looked at their ghost-like expressions and turned to Shi Man and the others in confusion. "What happened? I just asked if the premium pork belly tasted good; why do they look like they heard something they shouldn't have?"

Zhu Lina had thought she was being unscrupulous enough, but Wang Qiqi turned out to be even more so. "Qi Qi, you're incredible."

Wang Qiqi smiled. She intended to spoil their mood so that a certain person wouldn't bring up studying together again, and so that certain person wouldn't hold a grudge against her. "Let's get back to studying. Time is tight and the tasks are heavy." Alas, the homework assigned by the teachers every weekend was truly piled up like a mountain. "Math requires brainpower; the rest of the courses just make your hands sore from writing."

Shi Man and Zhu Lina sighed deeply when they heard Wang Qiqi say that. Ah, the miserable junior year had only just begun two months ago, and there were still eight more months for them to endure.