Wang Qiqi returned home to find it spotlessly clean. She plugged in the water heater, closed the windows, and turned on the air conditioning. "It’s so cold; I really can’t get used to the Southern weather." Although the temperature was above freezing, which was warmer than the sub-zero conditions in the Capital, Wang Qiqi had been shivering the moment she stepped out of the station. "I’ll take a hot bath later and then rest." Perhaps a quick shower would suffice in the North, but back home, Wang Qiqi felt only a long soak could truly warm her up, especially since the bathroom was only slightly warmer than a freezer—at least it wasn't drafty.

After taking care of these things, Wang Qiqi noticed the refrigerator was already stocked with plenty of food and drinks, and there was even some fresh leafy green vegetable in the kitchen. Wang Qiqi knew Aunt Luo must have handled the shopping.

Wang Qiqi lit three more incense sticks, then looked again at the very fresh fruit, realizing Aunt Luo must have changed those frequently too. "Mom, Dad, I’m home. Are you two doing well down there...?" Wang Qiqi sat on the cold floor, unsure how long she had been talking. Thankfully, the air conditioner had kicked in, and the house was slowly warming up.

Even so, after recounting her situation over the last six months, Wang Qiqi tried to stand up only to find her legs had gone completely numb. She had no choice but to slowly crawl on her knees to the phone by the sofa and then laboriously pull herself onto it. "Ugh, I’ve basically turned into a disabled person now..." Wang Qiqi sighed, rubbing her pins-and-needles thighs.

Wang Qiqi picked up the receiver and called Song Yao. Song Yao was surprised Wang Qiqi had returned so quickly; she had assumed Wang Qiqi would stay until the Little New Year when everyone gathered. Although Song Yao was eager to visit sooner, she had encountered a minor issue. She reminded Wang Qiqi to come over for dinner that evening.

Wang Qiqi inwardly groaned, wondering how such a meal could possibly taste good, and how much stomach pain it might cause. She politely declined, saying she needed to rest well at home.

Hearing this, Song Yao dropped the subject. Frankly, if their child weren't so young, she would have gladly returned to her own parents’ home with Gong Peixing; at least there, no unpleasant things would be brought up during a meal.

In the following days, Wang Qiqi either bought some new things or spent time at the library to pass the hours. Occasionally, she would meet up with Shi Man for a shopping trip. Although both had traveled abroad, they hadn't bought clothes there, and now, looking at domestic offerings, they found their tastes unsatisfied. Gradually, even Shi Man had developed the habit of just browsing without buying.

Wang Qiqi held up a coat. "Manman, what do you think of this one?" Wang Qiqi found it strange; Shi Man was usually the type who loved shopping, but today, she kept pulling out her pager to check the time. If Wang Qiqi didn't know Shi Man had a boyfriend and was still working in the Capital, she would have sworn Shi Man was newly in love.

Shi Man noticed Wang Qiqi looking at the pager in her hand and let out a nervous laugh. "Uh, uh, he said he wants to come visit my parents." Honestly, Feng Xuanxiang’s sudden move had startled Shi Man too; it was completely beyond her expectations.

What? Feng Xuanxiang was coming, and he intended to visit Shi Man's parents? Wang Qiqi felt her brain seize up. "He’s coming to meet your parents? Do your parents know?" Wang Qiqi knew Shi Man’s parents weren't excessively demanding, but they hoped Shi Man would find a boyfriend with a decent background who could take care of her. Feng Xuanxiang, while having a good job and promising future, and being kind to Shi Man, frankly wasn't among the list of acceptable sons-in-law in Shi Man’s parents' eyes.

Shi Man nodded. Ever since she received Feng Xuanxiang’s call, she hadn't stopped considering telling him not to come. But then she thought about how he might feel if she refused. He had mentioned on the phone that he wanted to complete everything necessary before he left the country. Shi Man knew that many people who went abroad never returned; a girlfriend back home often only received a letter announcing the breakup. This gave Shi Man pause. She felt that whatever ruckus occurred in university was private business, but meeting the parents carried a certain formality. She was truly hesitant... The problem was, the man had already bought a train ticket and was arriving that very evening, which made Shi Man terribly anxious and unsure what to do. At this moment, Shi Man truly envied Wang Qiqi—she could date whomever she pleased without the complication of parental meetings.

Wang Qiqi looked at Shi Man’s conflicted expression and hesitated. "You haven't told your parents yet?"

Shi Man suddenly remembered Wang Qiqi was present and quickly shook her head. "I talked to them a few days ago and explained Feng Xuanxiang’s situation..." though the outcome was far from satisfactory.

"Your parents don't agree?" Wang Qiqi thought this was the most realistic response.

Shi Man let out a small hum. "I asked him if he could postpone his visit, but he told me yesterday that he’d already bought the ticket, arriving this afternoon." Shi Man was furious at her boyfriend's high-handedness.

Wang Qiqi sighed. "Are your parents home today?" Although Shi Man’s parents weren't in high-level positions anymore, they still held some minor official posts and had social obligations. They weren't people one could simply drop in on, especially near the New Year when they were rushing to banquets.

Shi Man shook her head, then a realization struck her. "I told my parents I was staying at your place tonight, so..." Shi Man wanted to use this evening to talk things through with Feng Xuanxiang again. It wasn't that she was irresponsible, but she felt that bringing up their relationship with her parents right before her boyfriend was set to go abroad would make her parents think poorly of the situation. Her father, though displeased about her university boyfriend, hadn't forced a breakup. But when he asked about their future plans, he became furious, arguing that someone about to leave the country might never return, and calling Feng Xuanxiang a bad person.

Wang Qiqi noticed the embarrassed look on Shi Man's face. "Why don't you both come over to my place for dinner tonight?" One man was determined to meet his girlfriend's parents, and the other was hesitant to let her boyfriend come because of parental disapproval. If they tried to communicate in this state, Wang Qiqi truly feared they would end up arguing unhappily and parting ways for good. Both were proud people: one grew up showered with praise from elders, parents' friends, and colleagues; the other, despite modest family means, excelled academically and had navigated university receiving commendations from teachers and envious glances from peers. After graduation, she landed a good job; without connections, she managed her life quite comfortably on her own merits. Faced with this issue—which they viewed as a major turning point for their relationship—they were sure to feel the other wasn't being considerate. Alas.

Going to Qiqi's house for dinner? Shi Man’s eyes lit up, but then she reconsidered. "Let's forget it. We can just talk it out ourselves." With Qiqi involved, the issue might be resolved smoothly, but Shi Man felt that she and Feng Xuanxiang would have many disagreements in the future, and she couldn't rely on Wang Qiqi to mediate every single time. If Wang Qiqi just talked them through it, resolving the surface conflict while the real tension simmered underneath, wouldn't it just explode later?

Since the protagonist intended to handle it herself, Wang Qiqi stopped pressing the issue. She patted Shi Man’s shoulder. "Talk it through properly, and don't get angry. Some things must be faced together. Besides, I actually think it might not be a bad thing for Feng Xuanxiang to meet your father face-to-face now." Men often understood each other better. If Feng Xuanxiang could discuss his future arrangements with Shi Man’s parents, they might see him as a young man with a plan.

Shi Man thought Wang Qiqi’s suggestion was terrible. How could she let Feng Xuanxiang confront her father directly? That would be like Mars colliding with Earth; it could only make things worse. "You always come up with the worst ideas. What if..."

Wang Qiqi knew Shi Man wasn't receptive to her advice and stopped debating the issue. "Help me look at this coat. I haven't bought a new outfit for the New Year yet."

Shi Man rallied her spirits to help Wang Qiqi choose; she worried if she didn't help soon, this friend might offer another terrible suggestion. Plus, getting the clothes sorted earlier meant she could send Wang Qiqi away and go meet Feng Xuanxiang alone. Shi Man feared that if the two men met, Feng Xuanxiang, already adamant about seeing her parents, and with Wang Qiqi encouraging him, might be impossible to reason with. However, as Shi Man closely examined the coat Wang Qiqi chose, she asked, "Qiqi, why did you pick red?" It was too bright, completely inconsistent with Wang Qiqi’s usual style.

"It has a New Year's atmosphere, I guess," Wang Qiqi admitted. She knew she hadn't worn anything this youthful in ages. Between her parents’ passing and her own mindset, she wasn't sure she could pull off colors clearly favored by younger girls anymore. "I think my parents would have liked it."

Shi Man conceded the point. For a girl who was nearly twenty, she dressed almost entirely in dark colors. While her parents' death was a factor, it always felt strange. "When your aunt was alive, she absolutely loved buying you brightly colored clothes, dressing you up like a flower. But you now..." Still, it had earned her the reputation of a talented woman. Alas, if someone is beautiful and smiles gently, they rarely suffer setbacks wherever they go.

"I’ve been through too much, and I haven’t had the heart to dress up much. But seeing this coat reminds me of the times Mom took me shopping." Wang Qiqi remembered how her mother often bought her vibrant clothes, especially red ones, saying they looked festive. During the Spring Festival, new clothes were always bright red, rose red, or magenta—never straying far from red. "That’s why I think this coat is nice."

Shi Man looked it over. "The style is simple enough. Go try it on, though I suspect you’ll wear this dress more often at home." Shi Man was certain that when Qiqi visited her aunt for the New Year, she wouldn't wear something as vibrant as this red coat; it would likely be a darker tone instead. "It’s better to wear something a little brighter when visiting relatives for the New Year," Shi Man advised pragmatically.

Synopsis of "Palace Plot" by Dou Dou Bu Hui Jia (Dou Dou Does Not Return Home): A humble concubine enters the palace gates, plotting not only for rank and power, but also for love.