Wang Qiqi walked toward the school gate, hugging her books alongside Bai Ge. “Bai Ge, I’ve learned how to knit a scarf. You’ll receive my heartfelt gift soon.” Wang Qiqi was absolutely thrilled internally; with just a little more effort today, she could finish the actual scarf. Huang Rong had already commented that the finished product looked good; even though it was the simplest type, it was no small feat for a beginner.

Bai Ge watched the smug look on Wang Qiqi’s face and desperately wanted to tell her, ‘It’s just a scarf; lots of people can do that. Why be so happy?’ But then she recalled how much effort this person had put in for this scarf—borrowing technique manuals and acting as a free tutor. If she still couldn't learn it, the cost would be astronomical, yielding absolutely no return.

“Right, I heard you ran into Jiang Xin the other day, and you were even chatting and laughing with her,” Bai Ge thought. Knowing Wang Qiqi as she did, she couldn't fathom how she’d become friendly with Jiang Xin. “You should watch that woman; I’ve seen her lingering around the entrance of your complex a few times. It feels a bit off.”

Lingering around her residential complex entrance? Wang Qiqi mused, ‘Has that person learned how to wait for the hare by the stump?’ “It seems she has taken an interest in my man recently.” If it were anyone else, Wang Qiqi might not have said anything, but with Bai Ge, she didn't mind sharing.

“What?” Bai Ge’s eyes widened, and she looked at Wang Qiqi in disbelief. “She doesn’t know about you and Han Tao, does she?” Heavens, how could such a woman exist? Did she have no sense of shame?

“So what if she knows? My man is excellent. If she could actually win him over, she wouldn't have to worry about the latter half of her life, and she could even get revenge on me.” Bai Ge knew a little about the conversation Wang Qiqi had with Jiang Xin last time.

Revenge on Qiqi? Bai Ge froze, unable to understand why Jiang Xin would seek revenge on Qiqi. She quickly pieced it together and shook her head. “It’s a case of good deeds going unrewarded, but your man is steadfast; don’t worry.” Just a jumping clown, Bai Ge knew Jiang Xin’s chance of success was virtually nil.

Wang Qiqi shrugged and waved at Bai Ge. “How would I know she’d turn out like this? If I knew, why would I have meddled? Alright, I have to go back now. Oh, I’ll organize the materials you wanted and give them to you tomorrow.”

Bai Ge thanked Wang Qiqi once more. Recently, Bai Ge noticed more and more copy shops springing up near the school; this business was becoming difficult to maintain. After all, the entry barrier was low, and the profit margin decent, so naturally, everyone rushed in. Although Bai Ge had built rapport with many students through a few copying jobs on campus, she also realized that with her impending graduation, and with more and more competitors entering the field, making money in this industry was getting harder. She had been thinking about how to pivot. After some investigation, she found the perfect entry point for a career change: making mian xian (rice noodles). While she felt a bit anxious, unsure if the business would take off, Bai Ge felt that staying put meant slow death, whereas moving forward might bring success. With this thought, she persuaded her parents. As for the storefront, she approached Wang Qiqi, since Qiqi had recently helped her sister find a place for an overseas purchasing agency. Although that business was quite different from selling street food, Qiqi had some knowledge of various storefronts, which is why she sought Qiqi out.

After Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge parted ways, Wang Qiqi slowed her pace. She hadn't expected Bai Ge to venture into the mian xian business. How to put this? If done well, it could be good. What surprised Wang Qiqi was that Bai Ge seemed entirely focused on business. Although they were juniors, many students were already leveraging connections to find jobs or secure good internships, hoping to keep their residency permits in Beijing or secure employment there. Few people were actually thinking of starting their own business. Just for that level of courage, Wang Qiqi felt she lagged far behind Bai Ge.

Bai Ge was sketching out her future life entirely based on her own ideas and impulse. Qiqi, however, was drawing her life based on memories of events before her rebirth. The difference was significant. Regarding things she was familiar with, Wang Qiqi might act impulsively in the eyes of others, but she knew she was still overly cautious, worried that investing in an unfamiliar field would destroy the money she had accumulated.

When Han Tao returned inside, he found Wang Qiqi looking through the old materials they had used when searching for a storefront. He found it strange. “What are you looking through those materials for?” He hadn't heard anyone planning to open a shop in Beijing. “Is Song Ziwen coming over?”

“It’s for Bai Ge; that girl is planning to open a shop in Beijing. Knowing I recently looked for a place, she asked me for some materials.” Wang Qiqi put aside the materials that didn't meet the criteria, stacked the moderately acceptable ones in the middle, and the ideal ones separately. “I’ll just give these to Bai Ge tomorrow.” Thank goodness she hadn't thrown these materials away.

“Opening a copy shop?” Han Tao asked, confused. The shops Qiqi looked at before didn't seem suitable; the rent was too high. How much would they have to copy to recoup the initial investment?

A copy shop? “She’s opening a mian xian shop. There are more and more copy shops near the school now. The other day, I passed the small convenience store by the school gate and even spotted a photocopier.” Wang Qiqi wondered if they didn't realize that this trend would only lead to everyone failing.

A mian xian shop, Han Tao was surprised that such a seemingly delicate girl possessed such courage. “She’s still a bit lacking compared to you.” Han Tao noticed Wang Qiqi’s look of envy. “She has the courage to open a shop; Qiqi, don't you also have the courage to buy commercial spaces and buildings? There’s nothing to be envious about. What she has, you might not, and if you were too perfect, you wouldn't be human. Life always leaves some regrets.”

Wang Qiqi listened to Han Tao’s comfort. Although it felt a little strange, she burst out laughing at his last sentence. “You’ve turned into a philosopher. By the way, has the blockhead booked his flight ticket?” She recalled the blockhead mentioning he planned to go with Han Tao and take the opportunity to visit the company where she earned US dollars. He hadn’t gone when he was in the States previously because he lacked time and felt embarrassed to visit without an acquaintance to guide him. “Oh, and we have to attend Song Ziwen’s son’s hundred-day banquet in mid-to-late June.” We can bring Luo Hongjuan to Beijing then; she could have come earlier, but her workplace kept delaying her release, and the final agreement was for her to leave at the beginning of June.

Han Tao nodded. “Got it. Shall we fly back and forth then?”

Wang Qiqi hummed in agreement. “Yeah, right after, we dive into exams. I’ll be exhausted.” Wang Qiqi thought about how annoying it was that Song Ziwen didn’t hold the banquet during the full moon but insisted on a hundred-day celebration, leaving her no time. “I heard Wang Rui is bringing her boyfriend back.”

Han Tao looked at Wang Qiqi, astonished. “Isn’t she worried?” He remembered how high-profile Wang Rui and Gao Kai’s relationship had been. Wasn't she worried about her current boyfriend hearing about her past, especially since Qiqi mentioned they were still in contact? Han Tao thought that if it were him, he absolutely wouldn't bring him back at a time like this.

Wang Qiqi was also startled by the news from Song Yao. “She isn't worried, so why should I be? Apparently, they’re flying back too, and she plans to have brother-in-law pick her up from the airport.” Wang Qiqi thought this girl really loved to show off. Perhaps she felt that since Gong Peixing went to see Han Tao off at the airport during the New Year, there was no reason he shouldn't pick her up this time, especially since she found herself a rich one.

Han Tao was speechless. “Aren’t they busy? With the shop and preparing for the banquet, just thinking about it makes me tired. We can take a taxi back ourselves, which is better than asking someone to come.” Although they had a good relationship with Gong Peixing, there was no reason to ask him to drive specifically to the airport to pick them up; they weren't incapable of affording plane tickets or taxi fares.

“We never planned to ask brother-in-law anyway. Right, if my sister calls and asks how we’re getting back, just say we haven’t booked anything yet.”

Bai Ge took the thick stack of papers Wang Qiqi handed over and felt her vision swim as she flipped through them. “Qiqi, don’t tell me you looked at every single one of these shops yourself?” Bai Ge quickly scanned them and realized that some were not even nearby but spanned a huge radius. Heavens, if she had to check them all out herself, when would it end? Wang Qiqi nodded. “How else would I know the situation? The ones at the very top are the most suitable in my opinion, the middle ones are passable, and the bottom ones I thought were no good. Of course, the final choice is yours.”

Bai Ge sighed, very much trusting Qiqi’s judgment. She casually tucked the documents into her bag and gave Wang Qiqi a massive bear hug. “Qiqi is the best! Oh, can you come with me to check them out when you have time?” With Qiqi, a living map, Bai Ge thought she could avoid wasting time on wrong routes. “I don’t recognize some of the places, and you know them,” she added.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected that after giving her the materials, she would still need to contribute manpower. “You want me to accompany you?”

Bai Ge nodded. “Actually, I don’t recognize some of the locations very well either; Han Tao’s mother took me, or I took a taxi directly.” Wang Qiqi felt quite embarrassed; after all, it was a bit awkward to admit, but she couldn't help it. She was prone to getting lost. If it was a route she walked often, it was fine, but if she only went occasionally, don't expect her to remember.

Bai Ge sighed for a while but wasn't going to give up on Qiqi. “It’s fine; I’ll be there. I’ll do my homework when I get back and look up how to get there.” Bai Ge figured that not knowing the way wasn’t a major issue; she could ask people and prepare well to find the place. Qiqi could then point out any specific issues when they arrived. Although Wang Qiqi's initial homework was thorough, situations could always change.

Wang Qiqi thought she was just doing a good deed to thank Bai Ge for her previous help, but she hadn't expected the girl to demand a re-evaluation. She realized this outing wouldn't have a dedicated car; it would involve constant bus and subway transfers. Wang Qiqi really wanted to say that if time could rewind, she would have only shown the shops in the immediate vicinity, thus avoiding the dilemma she was now in. (To be continued)