The classrooms during the latter half of the junior year saw a steadily dwindling attendance; where once students might have slept in class and still been counted present, now they simply slept in their dorms, disregarding attendance altogether. They understood that as juniors, the first semester of senior year would be largely trivial, and the university certainly wouldn't expel them now, leading to even greater recklessness.

Wang Qiqi walked in holding her books, seeing the scene, and could only shake her head. Alas, this was the difference: domestic students poured all their academic zeal into the twelve years of primary and secondary school, collapsing into total relaxation upon entering university. Foreign students, however, often spent their first twelve years relatively easily, but became fiercely serious once they reached college. Even her former roommates had either dropped out or rarely appeared in class, busy making money, dating, or running student union affairs. Only Wang Qiqi, Bai Ge, and Zhang Yan maintained the highest attendance rates.

Wang Qiqi had expected Bai Ge to relax her studies after gaining a comprehensive plan for her future career, but unexpectedly, Bai Ge became even more diligent in her junior year than in her sophomore year. Zhang Yan had always been a serious child, but Qiqi knew that, barring any surprises, Zhang Yan would be studying abroad in Europe. Although Qiqi was curious why she wouldn't choose the US, her jaw dropped when the girl earnestly stated that Europe's history simply couldn't compare to America's. Qiqi estimated that Zhang Yan’s academic standing, if not the absolute top, was easily in the top five.

Regarding Zhang Yan, Wang Qiqi really wanted to ask which major she planned to pursue in Europe. In Qiqi’s mind, wouldn't the proportion of finance majors heading to the US be higher? Of course, this was just Qiqi’s private grumbling; she wouldn't dare ask. However, judging by the books Zhang Yan usually borrowed, Qiqi suspected the girl was deeply interested in history or literature, making a European study choice quite reasonable, as the humanities atmosphere there was arguably better than in the US. The problem was, one time Zhang Yan let slip that she would continue her advanced studies in finance. Wang Qiqi felt utterly bewildered.

Seeing Wang Qiqi approach, Zhang Yan didn't bother putting away the literary work she was openly reading. "You're here. I brought steamed buns from near my place—want some?"

Buns from near Zhang Yan’s place? Wang Qiqi decided not to dwell on someone’s graduate plans; that was too far removed from her concerns. The buns were much more pressing. "Thanks, beautiful. I knew you were the best." If it weren't for the others in the classroom, Wang Qiqi would have loved to rush over and plant a few kisses on her. But the main reason Qiqi held back was the fear of irritating Zhang Yan, which might result in no more buns. "The buns near your place are truly delicious—generous portions and good ingredients." Qiqi had always been curious; how could such wonderful buns still be sold by a mobile vendor after so many years? "If I were the owner, I'd definitely open a proper shop, what a waste otherwise."

Zhang Yan listened to Wang Qiqi’s complaints, thinking to herself that the owner had absolutely no intention of expanding the business. Let Qiqi keep agonizing over it. The mischievous Zhang Yan ignored the complaint, knowing Qiqi complained about the buns every time she ate them. Zhang Yan genuinely wondered if Qiqi would ever tire of this routine.

When Bai Ge heard Wang Qiqi asking for her English tutoring secrets, her eyes went wide. "What are you up to?" It made no sense for Qiqi to become a tutor. Besides, didn't she have an all-capable boyfriend? Bai Ge reasoned that even though Han Tao had been out of the tutoring scene for a while, he couldn't possibly have zero secret resources left. Bai Ge suspected Han Tao’s materials might even be better than hers, and asking him for them would certainly be more convenient.

"I don't want to ask Han Tao for them. I..." Wang Qiqi glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then quickly explained why she needed the materials. "Tell me, how can I ask Han Tao for the cheat sheet now?"

Bai Ge hadn't expected Wang Qiqi wanted the materials to tutor, and moreover, she wasn't even doing it for money but to learn how to knit scarves. Bai Ge mused that she was studying finance, after all, and Qiqi wasn't such an idiot that she couldn't do basic math. "Qiqi, have you calculated that the money you earn giving lessons and learning to knit would be enough to buy a scarf from a major international brand?" Such a girl who couldn't manage her daily expenses.

Wang Qiqi obviously understood the arithmetic, but the point was, "A handmade scarf with love is priceless." Wang Qiqi shot Bai Ge a look; some things a woman experiencing a brief romance wouldn't understand. "If I were buying ready-made ones, I could easily buy over a hundred, enough for my man to wear a different one every day all winter." She dropped the subject. "Are you giving them to me or not?"

Bai Ge looked at Wang Qiqi, whose expression was set like that of an angry matriarch demanding compliance—how dare you not give me the materials. Bai Ge felt incredibly aggrieved. "Hey, do you have any sense of how to ask a favor? This is my secret stash! Even if someone begged me, I wouldn't lend it out, not even for money! This took me a significant amount of effort and conclusions drawn after tutoring countless students!"

A sense of favor? Wang Qiqi nodded. "Of course I do! But aren't we close? You help me, I help you. Don't worry, I won't distribute your secrets. How about this..." Wang Qiqi considered it. "Because you've made such a major contribution, I'll give you the very first scarf I finish knitting."

Bai Ge looked at Wang Qiqi’s 'I'm doing you a huge favor' expression. "Should I feel honored that my treatment is better than your Han Tao's?"

"The first finished product is such a memento; you should give it to Han Tao, not me," Bai Ge said slowly, determined not to let Qiqi detect her disdain for Qiqi's potential knitting skills. "If I were Han Tao, and I found out that the first scarf, so full of commemorative value, was given to someone else, I would feel terrible."

Wang Qiqi knew there was some logic to what Bai Ge said, but the premise, though technically true, didn't align with her feelings. "Don't think I don't know you're looking down on my knitting." Wang Qiqi snorted a couple of times. Bai Ge didn't get angry; she knew Qiqi wouldn't ruin their friendship over such a small matter.

Seeing Bai Ge looking completely relaxed, without a hint of hesitation or awkwardness, Wang Qiqi couldn't help herself. She reached out and pinched Bai Ge’s cheeks a few times. Hmph, you little thing, this is your punishment for not telling the truth. "Don't worry, I wouldn't give you the first one anyway. I'm keeping it. I'm keeping it as a souvenir." Such a treasured item, Wang Qiqi thought, should definitely stay with her, preferably sealed in an airtight bag. "I'll knit you a thick, bright red scarf later."

A bright red scarf? Bai Ge looked scornful. "I absolutely do not want red; it's tacky." It reminded her of village women who often wore red scarves or shawls, which left Bai Ge with a negative impression of the color. "I want white."

White? Wang Qiqi looked at her friend. "Red is great! Your winter clothes are all dark tones; a bright red scarf outside would definitely be eye-catching. White is unlucky." Which parents would favor their child wearing white? "How about I knit you a pink one?"

Pink? Bai Ge rather liked that color. "Deal. I'm not asking for much; as long as it's presentable, the simplest design will do." Bai Ge privately doubted she’d get a complicated, beautiful scarf; just being presentable would be a win.

"I only know the simplest stitches anyway." Wang Qiqi thought, Does she really think I'm a full-time sweater knitter? Just managing to finish a scarf, and I'll consider my life complete. "Since that’s settled, hurry up and give me the materials so I can start learning to knit sooner." Although the other woman and her mother had offered to teach her first, Wang Qiqi felt awkward about asking for instruction before possessing the necessary resources.

Han Tao sat in front of his computer, occasionally looking up to check his surroundings, then back at the time on the screen. Although he was ostensibly working, his unusual behavior was noticed even by Dai Lijun, who was busy inputting programs. "Han Tao, what's wrong with you?" Dai Lijun knew that once Han Tao entered a work trance, nothing could distract him, and he had plenty of heavy tasks lately, so why this anomaly?

"Qiqi hasn't been home much lately." Han Tao felt uneasy. He didn't know what Qiqi was up to with her frequent early departures and late returns, sometimes even skipping weekends. This was totally abnormal; Qiqi was a known homebody who wouldn't go out for trivial reasons.

"Maybe she's over there," Dai Lijun said dismissively. "Why, don't you suspect..." Dai Lijun suddenly recalled the night Qiqi had suddenly screamed like a lunatic; perhaps it was related to that evening? Dai Lijun's intuition was often sharp, but his direction of guess was wrong.

Dai Lijun's words caused Han Tao to misunderstand as well. He remembered that Qiqi's time away from home had indeed increased after that night. Sighing, he realized he should have noticed sooner; he needed Dai Lijun to prompt him. "It's possible, but could Qiqi be in some kind of trouble?"

Trouble? Dai Lijun looked at Han Tao questioningly. "Trouble? You mean Qiqi is having some kind of bad experience?" At this, Dai Lijun raised his voice, looking at Han Tao with clear disdain. "What kind of man are you? Knowing your woman is in trouble, and you have the nerve to sit here making money?"

Dai Lijun thought if it were him, he would have been restless long ago, wishing he could shadow his woman 24 hours a day. "Protecting your woman is a man's duty. Don't tell me you think Qiqi is so strong she doesn't need protection." (To be continued.)