Whether people were happy or unhappy about life after graduation, the graduation day was approaching day by day, and the gatherings became more and more frequent. Especially Bai Ge had truly become a big shot in the class; any small group hosting a dinner would invite Bai Ge. Wang Qiqi, although considered successful in everyone’s eyes, was not invited to gatherings nearly as often because she had clearly stated her intention to go abroad and live overseas. Even when someone did invite her, if Wang Qiqi said she was busy, absolutely no one would insist on her attending. Bai Ge was different; the hosts would insist on her presence, acting as if the dinner wouldn't be complete without her.

Bai Ge once again groggily arrived at Wang Qiqi's place to discuss serious matters, as the hangover from the previous day had not completely worn off. Wang Qiqi sighed inwardly seeing Bai Ge in that state. It was good for classmates to gather and solidify relationships before graduation, but getting absolutely drunk wasn't necessary. This was one aspect Wang Qiqi disliked the most. “Who did you have a gathering with yesterday?” Wang Qiqi wondered how many times Comrade Bai Ge from their class and the neighboring class had already attended events recently.

“The folks from the fellow-provincials association.” When first entering school, Bai Ge was very happy about such gatherings among people from the same hometown, but as everyone grew older year by year, and with her part-time work, she rarely attended them. Occasionally going, Bai Ge felt the atmosphere of these hometown gatherings was growing increasingly vulgar—either flattering someone about their success or listening to complaints about how unfulfilled they were. For the latter, Bai Ge’s only thought was: you have time to complain about how bad things are here, you might as well figure out how to make your life better. “I originally didn’t want to go, but a fellow provincial I’m quite close with persuaded me. Alas, I went, and I regretted it.” The expressions she saw at the dinner table made Bai Ge feel this was the most upsetting meal among all the class gatherings she had attended. Some things should just retain their most beautiful memories. Now, the impression this so-called fellow-provincials association left on Bai Ge was significantly worse.

Bai Ge recalled the expressions and words of those people at the table yesterday and felt like vomiting. She knew society would change people, but the change seemed too drastic. Was it because she hadn't attended such a gathering for seven or eight months that the change seemed so big, or were they just better at pretending before? Regardless, she regretted it, truly regretted it. “I intentionally drank a bit too much yesterday so I could leave early.”

Wang Qiqi initially assumed the others had forced Bai Ge to drink, but she hadn't expected someone to drink voluntarily. However, this also indicated how much the person didn't want to stay in that place. “If you don't want to go to a gathering, then don't go, especially when the initiators of some dinners are different, but the key figures are always the same.” What was the point of going? It wasn't that Wang Qiqi looked down on them, but if you were doing well, was showing off how good your life was at the dinner table interesting? Life had only just begun; how could anyone know if the rest of their lives would be smooth sailing? And those who were dejected would be better off putting the energy spent complaining into something useful. “If they have time to boast and complain, they might as well stay home and rest or read a book.”

Bai Ge sighed. Of course, she also wanted to stay home. There were a pile of things to handle at school, plus the Graphics and Text Society needed maintenance, and she needed to preserve relationships with clients. She didn't know how many classmates would be successful in the future, or how many she might be able to help later. In short, she could only maintain good relations with everyone so that when she eventually needed to ask someone for a favor, it wouldn't feel like she only showed up when she needed something.

Wang Qiqi understood Bai Ge's thoughts. She actually wanted to say that as long as you had the ability and could help each other, even friends you hadn't contacted for ten or twenty years could become close again. But some things Bai Ge needed to figure out on her own. “Starting the day after tomorrow, students will officially start classes?” How was the initial enrollment looking? Not a huge number, certainly not too few, only that it was slightly off their expected target.

Bai Ge hummed in assent. “I originally thought about holding an opening ceremony, but then I realized we aren't a formal school, so why bother? We might as well give the teachers a bonus instead.” If they held an opening ceremony, no one would watch. “Or should we gather the staff and teachers for a dinner?” It was a choice between two options, and Bai Ge genuinely didn’t know which to choose. From the perspective of the staff and teachers, they would definitely choose the first option, but she strongly leaned toward the second, though the venue for the dinner was a problem.

“A dinner,” Wang Qiqi and Shi Man said simultaneously.

“If it’s a dinner, then where should we go?” Bai Ge continued asking. “Everyone has different tastes; this dinner…”

“Splurge on the buffet. Didn't that new one specializing in seafood just open?” Although Wang Qiqi hadn't been there, Song Yao and Gong Peixing had taken clients there. She heard the environment was good. Since they didn't know where to eat, they should go there. A buffet meant eating as much as possible, and it was high-class, which would definitely satisfy the teachers and staff.

Shi Man didn't expect Wang Qiqi to suggest going there. She recalled the advertisements and reports on TV and in newspapers, and she felt her stomach growling; naturally, saliva was constantly pooling in her mouth. She really wanted to loudly agree to eat there, but she noticed Bai Ge’s expression wasn’t very good. She quickly pulled back the arm she had just started to raise. Besides, if Bai Ge agreed to go out for a good meal, she would be included. Why should she play the bad guy? Let Qiqi be the bad guy.

Wang Qiqi looked at Shi Man, who clearly wanted to go eat but showed no courage, and felt contempt. This girl was too much, not fighting for her rights at all. “How much were you planning to give out individually?” One hundred felt too little; two hundred might be passable.

“Three hundred,” Bai Ge said after thinking for a long time, uttering the figure hesitantly. Then she let out an "oh" sound, understanding why Qiqi asked. “I was being foolish. Giving out three hundred is actually not much different from going to eat at that buffet.”

Shi Man had expected Wang Qiqi to present facts and persuade Bai Ge before she agreed to the buffet. She didn't anticipate that after just one question from Wang Qiqi, Bai Ge would voluntarily agree to the buffet. Her heart ached. If she had known Qiqi's fighting power was so strong, why had she acted like a shrinking turtle earlier? Now, look where she was—gaining nothing from either option. Alas. “So, are we included too?”

Wang Qiqi looked at Shi Man, who rushed over upon hearing good news, and retorted irritably, “Not you. You aren't thinking of eating and drinking for free, are you?” Hmph, she hadn't helped chime in or offer a few words earlier, yet the moment there was a benefit, she appeared. Too much, truly too much. Of course, it was impossible not to invite Shi Man; after all, she was a shareholder, and it was an opening ceremony. Regardless, this shareholder had to be present.

“Not included?” Shi Man panicked. If it were somewhere else, she wouldn't care if she missed out; staying home was cozier anyway. But the problem was the venue this time—it was a high-end buffet restaurant! She had wanted to go for a long time, but the price had deterred her, and she couldn't find anyone to go with. Now, the opportunity was right in front of her! “I’m a shareholder, how could I not go? Rather, Qiqi, you…” If a shareholder like her couldn’t go, could Qiqi?

Wang Qiqi didn't care much about these things. Even the best buffet, she felt, wouldn’t seem that worthwhile once you went. Wang Qiqi actually thought that for four or five people, they could buy a lot of seafood and cook it themselves for less money. However, Wang Qiqi wouldn't voice this suggestion, lest she end up slaving away in the kitchen while the others lounged in the living room chatting, snacking, and drinking—how comfortable that would be, leaving her to suffer alone. “Whether I go or not doesn’t matter.” Wang Qiqi thought that even if she didn’t fight for it, with her older sister ahead of her and Bai Ge, the major shareholder, behind her, they would definitely make sure she went.

Bai Ge watched the two of them bickering over who should go. She thought this scene should really be shown to those who considered Shi Man an ice queen and Wang Qiqi sensible and learned. It would truly shatter their perception. Idols, after all, are meant to be displayed; once you get close to a so-called idol, you realize everything about them is designed for disillusionment.

Bai Ge coughed, looking at the two who were still arguing. “One of you is a shareholder, and the other is the main contributor; you both must go.”

Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge actually understood this point. They were just doing it for fun. Hearing Bai Ge say this, they stopped arguing, especially since the state of one of them was much better than when she first walked in. “Then what day should we choose?” Wang Qiqi and Shi Man were indifferent; they just didn't know when the busy Bai Ge and Song Yao would be free, not to mention when the teachers would be available.

Bai Ge thought for a moment. “Let’s do it on the day the official classes begin. I think they should all be free then.” If it were another time, not everyone might be available, and since the dinner was meant to celebrate the opening of the training school, choosing the opening day was best.

Shi Man and Wang Qiqi exchanged a look, signaling that they had no problem. “Done. I’ll ask the teachers and Sister Yao if they are free when I get back.” Bai Ge quickly downed the hangover soup in her cup. “This thing tastes awful, worse than alcohol.”

Although Wang Qiqi had never been drunk, she had occasionally made hangover soup for Zhu Lina and tasted a few sips. The taste was genuinely unpleasant. “If you know it tastes bad, don’t drink alcohol. You aren’t like Na Na, dealing with endless social engagements.” Zhu Lina had no choice; Chinese people liked to finalize matters at the dinner table, as if without several rounds of heavy drinking, relationships wouldn't be good, and cooperation wouldn't continue.

“When will I ever have Zhu Lina’s capability? I’d be willing to sit at the banquet table every day,” Bai Ge thought to herself secretly. How could the level of people Zhu Lina interacted with compare to hers?

“Qiqi, look at how I’m dressed.” Due to staying up late earlier, Wang Qiqi had slept in that morning. Although it was around May or June, the temperature in the capital wasn't very high yet, making a thin blanket just right. Wang Qiqi also liked to sleep in a bit longer during this mild weather. When she was abruptly, or rather, rudely shaken awake, she hadn't opened her eyes yet but heard a voice, and then her vision went dark.

Wang Qiqi rubbed her eyes, yawning repeatedly, trying to clear her head a bit, but she immediately regretted it. She thought she should have just said something vaguely while half-asleep. “You, you aren't planning to wear that out, are you?” After learning the date of the training school opening, that person had been happy for a long time and had even secretly taken two or three days off, claiming she was going out to purchase her battle attire for the opening. Wang Qiqi had asked if she wanted company, but she had refused. Refusal was fine; Wang Qiqi wasn't particularly interested in shopping, but what intrigued her most was that after purchasing the clothes, she wouldn't let Wang Qiqi see them, insisting on maintaining the mystery.

Wang Qiqi looked at the person waiting for her feedback and clicked her tongue a few times. She genuinely didn't know what to say. Telling the truth might be a bit discouraging, but offering empty pleasantries wasn't her style when dealing with friends. Moreover, Wang Qiqi was truly worried that if Shi Man wore this outfit out, the feedback she received wouldn't be good.

Shi Man waited for a long time but hadn't received Wang Qiqi’s evaluation. She stamped her foot. “Qiqi, are you even looking at me?”

Wang Qiqi hummed. It was because she looked that she didn't know how to evaluate it. But now, not giving feedback wasn't an option. “Who helped you pick this outfit?” This style didn't seem like Shi Man’s. Although she appeared icy, due to her age, she rarely wore professional attire. The last time she wore professional clothes for an interview was a bright color, but today she was wearing black—a full set of black professional wear that made her look mature, instantly adding N years to Shi Man’s appearance.

“I asked the sales assistant to pick it. I told her I wanted to look mature so I wouldn't look too young.”

Wang Qiqi secretly chuckled. Women! When they are young, they hope to look mature, but when they reach maturity, they wish they could look younger. “It makes you look several years older. Wear the outfit from last time. But why must you dress so formally? You aren’t the main protagonist.” The major shareholder was handling things; the other two shareholders only needed to make an appearance. Wang Qiqi had contacted Song Yao yesterday and knew she would only appear briefly today and attend the dinner in the evening.

“Isn't this the first big scene I’m experiencing?” Shi Man thought she had to perform well in front of a group of high-level talents.

The first time? Wang Qiqi patted her forehead. “Girl, have you forgotten we went to Yunnan in March?” That time was when they genuinely started their venture, and that opening ceremony was very grand too. Wang Qiqi couldn't recall if Shi Man had been this anxious back then, beyond just excitement. “Black makes you look mature, but it also makes you look several years older, like you're twenty-seven or twenty-eight.” There was one more thing Wang Qiqi wanted to say: this was an opening, and wearing all black, didn't it look like she was attending a funeral?

Shi Man was shocked when she heard she looked so much older. Although she wanted to look mature, she didn't want to look that old. She immediately rushed back to her room to change into the clothes she wore for the interview. Song Yao and Wang Qiqi had both said that outfit looked great on her.

After sending off the overly excited Shi Man, Wang Qiqi climbed back into bed, ready to sleep. “It’s so blissful when no one is home.”

After changing into her evening attire, Shi Man knocked on the door of Wang Qiqi's room. “Qiqi, can we go now?”

Hearing Shi Man’s voice, Wang Qiqi typed a few characters, grabbed the bag placed on the floor, and said, “I’ve been ready for a while.” It was just for dinner; that person had taken forever to get ready.

Shi Man was surprised that Wang Qiqi was dressed so casually to go out. “Qiqi, aren’t you changing?” Shi Man knew Qiqi wasn't fond of such occasions; she preferred staying behind and quietly accumulating wealth over socializing. But today was such a memorable day; even if Qiqi hadn't prepared a special outfit, she should at least wear a dress. Why was she just wearing a T-shirt and jeans, with a trench coat over it? Although Qiqi was tall and had a good figure, making this outfit look quite stylish, it was just too simple. “Didn't Sister Yao buy you that egg-yolk yellow dress last time? Why don’t you wear that today?” When Qiqi wore that outfit, she looked like a fairy.

The egg-yolk yellow dress? Wang Qiqi recalled slightly. “Ah, ah, ah, it’s not summer yet.” Good heavens, that was a typical summer dress, with just two straps on the shoulders! Was Shi Man trying to force her to freeze?

“Isn’t it early summer now? You can wear it; I saw people wearing them on the street.” Shi Man thought Wang Qiqi was being too conservative. Didn't she see some people wearing short skirts even in the dead of winter? Although wearing that dress now might be a bit cold, the effect when Qiqi wore it out would be absolutely stunning. “Besides, if you go out dressed like this, you’ll charm everyone.”

Charm everyone? Wang Qiqi thought if she were single, she might dress up a bit, but now she had a man. Even though she wasn't with her future mother-in-law, she worked for her cousin, and Song Yao would be there today. If Song Yao happened to let something slip, what would Luo Hongjuan think? Would she think that this was how Qiqi usually dressed? “Forget it. My health is more important. As for Manman, you could dress up a bit and charm everyone.”

Charm the men? Shi Man’s heart stirred, but remembering her own jealous partner, she shook her head with regret. “Forget it, my man doesn't like it.” An older man likes it when she dresses lightly, specifically for him to see. In his view, his woman should be kept hidden away. As for other people’s women, the less they wear, the better, since he incurred no loss.

There were men who disliked it? “It’s your man who dislikes you dressing lightly, isn't it?” Wang Qiqi gave her a look that said, ‘I understand, and you understand too.’ “I’ll just stick to this simple outfit. We should be low-key, low-key.” As someone who wasn't a shareholder, why should she be high-profile? “Oh right, are there many students today?” Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered she hadn't asked Shi Man about the school's situation.

Mentioning the grandeur of the training school today, Shi Man immediately stopped dwelling on how to persuade Wang Qiqi to dress beautifully. “Do you know? All the seats in the class were filled today! I followed behind Bai Ge, walking past classroom after classroom. That feeling…” Shi Man was still immersed in that moment. “I used to think that if I became a teacher, I would slowly walk past the classroom window while they were studying—that feeling…”

“It feels great, and the intimidation factor it has on those kids…” Wang Qiqi suddenly felt a slight pang of regret. She recalled that in her third year of high school, her homeroom teacher loved doing exactly that. Even when everyone in the class was diligently doing problems and listening to the teacher, he would still sneak out of the office from time to time, pacing between the front and back doors of the classroom. That feeling created immense pressure. Back then, Wang Qiqi had discussed with Shi Man whether they would ever have the chance to do that once in their lives, but unexpectedly, Comrade Shi Man had done it today. “Ahhh, I must find a time tomorrow to go and do that too.”

Shi Man knew Wang Qiqi would be jealous and envious. “Regret it now? You insisted on staying home and sleeping when I invited you. What’s the point?”

Wang Qiqi shot Shi Man a disdainful look. “I only slept at dawn today.” Then Wang Qiqi countered, “We are still students, Manman. What you did is a bit much. You’re putting too much pressure on those kids; be careful they don't change their minds when they go home.”

Shi Man had initially wanted to hear Comrade Wang Qiqi complain about how regretful she was, but in the blink of an eye, her tone had changed. This shift was too abrupt. “Qiqi, you… you were clearly envious before, even saying you wanted to experience it firsthand.” Hmph, did she think her memory was bad?

“I was just following your lead,” Wang Qiqi wouldn't be foolish enough to say that the other person misunderstood. However, she did notice one thing. “Didn't Bai Ge say the number of enrollments wasn't very high? How come, judging by your tone, there are a lot of students in class today?” That couldn't be right. It was only a few days ago that Bai Ge mentioned this; it was unlikely that so many students enrolled in just a few days. Bai Ge wouldn't deepen the discount either, wouldn't that make the students who paid earlier revolt? Could it be that Bai Ge came up with some clever trick? Wang Qiqi didn't believe Bai Ge would hire a few paid actors just to make her look good.

"Too many people, not enough tuition collected," Shi Man's tone dropped slightly, losing some of its earlier cheer. "Some of the students came under the guise of an audition class, though I noticed a few seemed genuinely moved. After all, the instructors we brought in are quite skilled."

When Bai Ge first mentioned this idea to Shi Man today, she was startled. In her view, letting some students try out for free was practically giving them an advantage. But now, it seemed like a rather effective way to recruit students. "When I left today to head home, I saw several students actively inquiring about registration and tuition fees." Knowing that just half a day of classes was enough to make someone eager to sign up gave Shi Man a significant boost in confidence.