For the first time during military training, Wang Qiqi found the experience of sitting on the ground while watching the other classes practice marching to be absolutely wonderful. Not long after they sat down, they started pointing and commenting on the classmates who were standing at attention, not because they were unkind, but because those same people had pointed at them when they were standing rigidly before.

"It looks like our class taking first place is a sure thing," Han Meina said excitedly after observing the other classes for a while.

"What's so great about first place? We've gone through far more trials under the sun than they have," Bai Ge chimed in from behind. She then held her arm next to Qiqi's, "My arms were much fairer than Qiqi's, but now you can't even tell which one is lighter." Bai Ge was quite vexed; she used to be the second-fairest in the entire dorm, but now, everywhere her skin was exposed, it could be politely called a healthy tan, or less generously, sunburnt—it was nearing the color of coal.

Wang Qiqi looked at her own arm. "It will lighten up again in the winter."

"Just soak it in some milk," Han Meina suggested. After her skin turned red from the sun during the first few days, she began coating her hands and face with chilled milk every evening upon returning to the dorm. "Give the shop owner a little extra money, and they'll certainly take good care of you."

Bai Ge could only chuckle at this. A packet of milk cost three yuan a day just to try and regain her fair skin, which Bai Ge found completely unacceptable. Her monthly allowance was five hundred yuan, which had to cover food, drink, and buying some clothes, plus saving enough for a train ticket home. Calculated that way, she couldn't spend more than three hundred on meals, so how could she possibly afford such an extra expense?

Wang Qiqi sighed internally, looking at Han Meina, who clearly didn't grasp the issue of money. She wondered if this girl was genuinely ignorant or just pretending, or perhaps she simply never considered such things. "It's fine, a little tan just means we look healthy."

Hearing this, Han Meina glanced at Qiqi, thinking she was just pretending to be noble. She refused to believe this girl didn't use some kind of whitening products in private.

Although Han Meina didn't speak, her demeanor showed her attitude. Bai Ge felt a bit awkward. Even though Han Meina and Wang Qiqi had exchanged words recently, their relationship wasn't truly good; it was just superficial politeness. "Um, sorry about that," Bai Ge murmured.

Wang Qiqi paid no mind to Han Meina's hostility. Or perhaps Han Meina wasn't inherently terrible; at most, she was just a spoiled child. When she was in a good mood, she could be incredibly nice, but when she was upset, her words were harsh. Moreover, if she sensed that someone was superior to her, her gaze would turn sour—this was the reason Han Meina targeted her on registration day. "It's fine. I’ve gotten used to hearing it."

Bai Ge smiled and shifted the topic to the upcoming National Day holiday plans. "I'm planning to rest well."

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Me too." Of course, she also needed to check the stock market. Being stuck in school for days meant she couldn't see the quotes, which made Qiqi quite anxious, wondering if her stocks had risen. It would be best if they had, as that would give her a sense of direction. She had seen Shi Man and Zhu Lina a few days ago, and they had mentioned the stock market briefly as well.

Han Meina, on the sidelines, was quite cheerful. "I'm going home tomorrow afternoon. I need a good few days of rest, and then I'll go shopping. Oh right, Bai Ge, you all should go into the city center too; it's quite fun." This way, you all can broaden your horizons and see how wonderful things are in the capital, so you won't always think your hometown is the best.

Bai Ge nodded. "Yeah, we definitely will. Qiqi, are you going?"

"Maybe. We'll keep in touch then." Wang Qiqi wasn't certain if she would go. Although things in the capital were nice, the issue was that she wasn't from that privileged background. Furthermore, Wang Qiqi worried that if Zhu Lina and the others went shopping, they would be frequenting major department stores, buying designer brands, and how would Bai Ge and the others feel seeing that?

From their half-month of acquaintance, Wang Qiqi knew that Bai Ge and Duan Xiaomin didn't have much spending money or allowance. Of course, school meals were enough, but if they had higher expectations, it definitely wouldn't suffice. Wang Qiqi certainly wouldn't play the saint and tell them that the stock market was doing well and they could try trading—earning enough to cover four years of college expenses if things went smoothly would be asking for trouble.

When Han Meina heard that Wang Qiqi might go shopping, she started listing the places she frequented. Whether intentionally or not, she mentioned the approximate price range of the stores.

Bai Ge just listened. She knew she couldn't afford to shop there. In her opinion, clothes were just clothes; she couldn't spend that much money on them.

Wang Qiqi just listened as well. She knew why the girl was saying this; it seemed like she was sharing the joy of shopping with everyone, but also subtly issuing a warning to avoid embarrassment. However, Wang Qiqi noticed a flicker of disdain in her eyes.

Wang Qiqi found it quite amusing. Did she really think that just because Qiqi's parents were deceased, her life must be miserable? "I think Lina might be interested in clothes at this price point. I think you can get a decent T-shirt for twenty or thirty yuan; there's no need to buy something so expensive." Since you think I'm poor, I might as well put your mind at ease.

Han Meina admitted she was mocking Wang Qiqi. In the last half-month, she had seen that Qiqi ate the same standard of meals as Bai Ge and the others, and the clothes she wore were just ordinary roadside finds. She figured Wang Qiqi's parents hadn't left her much money, perhaps just a house. Thinking this, Han Meina looked down on Wang Qiqi, but she hadn't expected Qiqi to catch the implication of her words and actually push back.

Han Meina was momentarily stunned. People value their dignity, so why would Wang Qiqi state these things so bluntly? Wang Qiqi smiled; did Han Meina think she would just tolerate it silently?

"Oh right, I heard there's a street near us where the clothes are quite cheap," Bai Ge whispered to Wang Qiqi.

"Is that the one near Jiudao Street?" Wang Qiqi had been there before. She had to admit the clothes were indeed very inexpensive; as for the quality, that was another matter. However, they would last for a couple of seasons. Besides, summer clothes needed frequent changing; even the brightest outfit would fade after one season in the sun. Therefore, Wang Qiqi preferred buying cheaper summer clothes so she could constantly wear new styles and refresh her wardrobe annually.

Bai Ge had intended to share this information with Wang Qiqi, not expecting her to name the street instantly. "You've been there?"

"The nightgown I wore to sleep last night was bought there; it was ten yuan. How about that?" Wang Qiqi shared enthusiastically. She was just a university student now; there was no need to spend a lot of money on high-priced clothes.

"Can clothes that cheap actually be worn?" Han Meina countered. In her mind, cheap clothes meant poor quality, or if the quality was decent, the final look wouldn't be worth expecting—it would look like something a woman in her forties or fifties would wear.

Ten yuan? Bai Ge had been coveting the nightgown Qiqi wore a few days ago. "Don't tell me the other nightgowns you wore a few days ago were also ten yuan." Bai Ge wondered if all of Qiqi's nightgowns were priced that low, considering Han Meina's nightgowns reportedly cost over a hundred yuan each. If Han Meina's clothes were all that expensive, Bai Ge thought she should just buy two ten-yuan nightgowns; at least they were cheap and good value.

Wang Qiqi shook her head. "No, one was fifteen; that was the more colorful one."

Han Meina felt like she was going crazy. Honestly, she had quite liked that colorful nightgown Qiqi wore, but to think it was a fifteen-yuan item! Han Meina couldn't fathom wearing something so cheap herself. "No wonder I thought it looked terribly tacky."

Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge could only laugh when Han Meina said that. They couldn't very well remind her that she was the one who had called that nightgown beautiful just a few days prior. "Bai Ge, if you go, you must learn to bargain. The initial prices there are high, but settling on the right price is up to you."

Bai Ge let out a sound. "Why don't we go shopping together?" Bai Ge knew she wasn't good at haggling, and she wasn't sure how good Duan Xiaomin and the others were at it. The only thing she knew was that Wang Qiqi was adept at bargaining and also enjoyed hunting for bargains. "Did you go bargain hunting by yourself?"

"How could I? Shopping is only fun with a group of people," Wang Qiqi replied, knowing what they really wanted to ask was whether Zhu Lina would join. Perhaps, in their minds, Zhu Lina wouldn't bother buying cheap clothes. "Using the least amount of money to buy the most suitable clothes—that's the joy of every woman."

"How can you say that? I think the greatest joy for a woman is owning expensive jewelry and lavish clothes," Han Meina looked at them with disdain—truly unsophisticated country bumpkins.

Wang Qiqi smiled. To meet Han Meina's expectations wasn't difficult; either she could earn money, or her family had money (her family seemed well-off, but probably not extremely rich), or she could find a rich boyfriend. Of course, she had the capital for that—she was beautiful, and if her temper were a bit better too... "Everyone's ideas are different. Oh, Meina, do your parents own a company?"

"Yeah, my parents run a small company that takes on little contracts," although Han Meina said this humbly, her tone and expression showed that her so-called small company and small orders couldn't be taken seriously. "My dad is a very capable person, and so is my mom."

Wang Qiqi managed to defuse the imminent explosion by using the tactic of changing the subject. As long as the focus of conversation remained on her, Han Meina didn't mind the shift in topic. (To be continued)