"Qiqi, are you alright?" Shi Man rushed to Wang Qiqi's side, asking with clear anxiety.

Seeing Shi Man’s worried expression, how could Wang Qiqi admit she had intentionally slowed down? “I was just rushing and twisted my ankle a little. I’m much better now.”

So it was a sprain; Shi Man visibly relaxed. “That’s a relief. By the way, Zhang Yan is already here.” Even though Qiqi insisted her leg was fine, Shi Man still hooked her arm through Wang Qiqi’s as they walked forward, consciously slowing her pace to accommodate Qiqi.

Wang Qiqi hummed in response. “I see her.” She paused, then added, “I noticed neither of you seemed to talk much.”

Shi Man offered a weak smile. “I was just busy waiting for you.”

That same answer again. Wang Qiqi looked at Shi Man’s gentle, warm smile, which was exceptionally tender. “I wanted to talk to her, but she kept that frosty look on her face and just stared down at the ground…” Shi Man thought: the girl clearly didn't want to chat; should she really force herself on her? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?

Wang Qiqi understood—so Shi Man thought Zhang Yan was ignoring her because she was looking down. “If you didn’t speak, and she didn't speak, how could anything happen…” Wang Qiqi recounted the memory of their first day of university registration, meeting their dorm mates for the first time. “At first, I thought she was one of those aloof girls from Beijing, someone hard to get close to. I never realized she’s actually someone who appears cold, just like you.”

Shi Man wasn’t pleased with Qiqi’s comparison. “Who would say that about me now if I went out?” Shi Man admitted she used to be a bit cold, but after four years of university, reading extensively, traveling to many places, and experiencing various people and events, she no longer kept that frosty expression on her face. The issue was, Zhang Yan didn't seem to travel much, so how could she still maintain that demeanor? “I’m genuinely curious how Zhang Yan manages to interact with people when she goes out.” That air of arrogance was impossible for anyone to accept gracefully.

Truthfully, Wang Qiqi was also curious about this topic concerning Shi Man, but they were about to meet Zhang Yan. “You worry too much. But Zhang Yan is a decent person; you could try making the first move.” Between the two of them, Wang Qiqi would only offer Shi Man this kind of advice. “We’re all starting in unfamiliar environments here; just treat it as practice.”

Shi Man supposed that was all she could do, what else was there? “Right, I saw her carrying a whole bag of snacks. Did she buy food already?” Although the two hadn't exchanged any words just then, Shi Man had definitely caught a delicious scent wafting from the bag. Even though they had eaten on the plane, smelling that aroma made her stomach rumble again.

Zhang Yan had gone to buy food; Wang Qiqi finally understood why Zhang Yan arrived at the airport first but wasn't waiting at the gate. “I wonder what delicious things she got.” Despite Wang Qiqi’s eager expression, she suspected that anything available at the airport would be fast food—hamburgers or hot dogs. After a long flight, eating such things made Wang Qiqi feel a twinge of stomach pain just thinking about it.

“I’m looking forward to it too.” While her relationship with Zhang Yan wasn't exactly intimate, Shi Man figured Zhang Yan would have brought some nice food for her as well. She just didn’t know what kind; she hoped that hope wouldn't lead to disappointment.

Zhang Yan watched Shi Man slowly approach while supporting Wang Qiqi and looked equally tense. “Are you okay?”

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “I’m fine, just twisted my ankle. Let’s go find a place to stay, and then we’ll take the train tomorrow.” The university they were accepted to wasn't in London. Although studying at a famous London university would be great, they compared the highly competitive applications there and decided it was better to bypass those schools. Instead, they chose a university in a small city with a long history and a respectable economics program—and the city itself was quite famous.

“Not today?” Shi Man sounded surprised. It seemed they could still catch a train today, even if it meant arriving near midnight, finding a place to stay, and then immediately starting the house hunt. But with Qiqi’s plan, they would waste a day. Considering they were already late arriving, if all the good places got snatched up, wouldn’t their choices be limited?

“It’s late enough already; one more day won’t matter. But you’re slightly mistaken on one point: perhaps the houses left will be bad, but there’s another possibility: the house is good, the location is good, and it’s conveniently close to the school, but the price will just be a little higher.” Wang Qiqi had been worried about housing, but when Han Tao learned of her anxiety, he calmly told her the above. According to Han Tao’s thinking, since they had already spent the bulk of the money, they shouldn't be stingy on accommodation. He just wasn't sure if Zhang Yan would feel the same way, knowing the girl didn't intend to use family money.

Hearing Wang Qiqi’s words, Zhang Yan’s expression barely changed. Instead, she pulled something out of the food bag. “I looked around, and hamburgers were the only thing I found that we could eat on the go and actually tolerate.” Zhang Yan had traveled abroad before, but always with her parents or on a tour group; she never had the feeling of staying somewhere for so long. Initially, she thought this trip abroad would feel the same as the others, but when she looked around and saw nothing but English, heard various languages but not her mother tongue, she finally grasped it: this was the country she would be living in for the next year, the place where she would have to get used to speaking English.

Wang Qiqi sighed as she looked at the food, exactly as she had predicted. While it was convenient and not overly expensive, eating it occasionally was fine, but eating it regularly would strain their wallets and her stomach. “The three of us need to discuss our meals. We can’t rely on this for three meals a day.” If they were rushing papers or traveling, that would be one thing, but otherwise, Wang Qiqi had no intention of eating like this.

Shi Man thanked Zhang Yan, took a hamburger, and immediately started eating. She wholeheartedly supported Wang Qiqi’s stance; during her last trip to the States, she ate so much Western food and so many burgers that she eventually felt nauseous and would rather stay home and eat congee. Furthermore, after two years of training, Shi Man’s cooking skills had improved dramatically, not to mention her parents had focused on intensive cooking training for her over the summer holidays.

Zhang Yan’s hand, holding the hamburger, stiffened when she heard Wang Qiqi’s words. She struggled to swallow the food in her mouth. “Well, my cooking… isn’t very good.” Though embarrassing, she had to speak the truth. “I tried practicing before, following my mom’s steps, but the dishes I made were just terrible…” Wang Qiqi cooked quite well, and rumor had it Shi Man was good too. This realization made Zhang Yan quite dejected; she worried they would laugh at her.

If this were in the past, Shi Man might have suspected Zhang Yan was making excuses to avoid cooking, knowing Qiqi’s culinary skills were no secret among their peers. But she remembered how utterly incompetent Zhang Yan was when Shi Man had tried to coach her cousin—a culinary idiot—and that memory made Shi Man jump up in exasperation. “It’s fine if you can’t cook, but when it comes to cleaning common areas, Zhang Yan, you’ll need to put in more effort.” Shi Man thought that since they were living together, chores definitely needed division. If Qiqi and she took charge of cooking and washing dishes, then the resident culinary idiot would have to shoulder more housework.

“Exactly.” Wang Qiqi noticed Zhang Yan’s voice dropping and knew she was in low spirits, so she followed Shi Man’s lead. “When we settle in, Manman and I will handle the kitchen hygiene, cooking, and dishwashing. The living room and bathroom will be your responsibility, Zhang Yan.” While it sounded like Zhang Yan got the raw deal, it was hard to say who was truly getting the worse end of the bargain. But Wang Qiqi was surprised Shi Man took the initiative to bring it up. Had she actually taken Qiqi’s earlier advice to heart? Regardless, it was a good start.

Zhang Yan hadn't heard the expected mockery or any acid remarks. Instead, they were telling her that the food she bought wasn't free—it had to be earned through labor. How could she object? She had been to Qiqi and Shi Man’s previous shared place; although the house was large, the two of them cleaned it. And since they were both tidy girls, the living room barely needed cleaning; only the bathroom required a bit more attention. “Deal. Don’t worry, cleaning is no challenge for me.” Zhang Yan thought that after realizing she had no talent for cooking, she had switched focus and practiced cleaning diligently at home for a few days, learning exactly how to keep things spotless. She had planned to suggest trading labor for food later, but Shi Man and Qiqi brought it up first. Was this telepathy?

Eating while pushing their luggage carts, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man headed out of the airport. “Should we head to the city center first?” Shi Man checked the time. Since they were staying in London, she was eager to check out the department stores for any sales. As for unique local items, Shi Man knew half a day wouldn't be enough, so she’d save those for later.

Zhang Yan was indifferent; since they were staying in the city center, visiting or shopping there today would be convenient, and it was also easy to get to the train station from downtown. “I have no objections.”

“Me neither,” Wang Qiqi added, even more agreeable. “I haven't been shopping in ages; I need to walk until my legs give out.” Well, Wang Qiqi reassured herself, she was working hard for the rest of their future travels.

After shopping for a while, Shi Man glanced sidelong at Wang Qiqi. “Are you sure you won't bail early?” Shi Man knew Wang Qiqi too well. If it were sightseeing, the girl would stick it out until the bitter end, but when it came to shopping, her credibility was zero.

Shi Man’s jab struck a nerve. Wang Qiqi shot her several angry eye rolls. While her track record in this area wasn't spotless, Shi Man shouldn't embarrass her like this, especially in front of Zhang Yan.

“Bai Ge mentioned a couple of times that when you shop, you always look for counters with chairs,” Zhang Yan commented. Although she hadn't shopped with Wang Qiqi before, that didn't stop others from telling her things. She initially thought Bai Ge was exaggerating, but seeing Wang Qiqi’s expression after Shi Man’s complaint confirmed what they said. Zhang Yan mused that even though she wasn't an avid shopper, she still had a wild shopping spree a few times a year. She never expected to encounter such an eccentric person.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected even Zhang Yan to know about her habit. She was about to let out a loud protest to show her anger, but then she reconsidered—no need to look crazy to foreigners. She couldn’t disgrace their countrymen right after arriving abroad.

Fuming, Wang Qiqi flagged down a taxi and got in. As for the luggage? Sorry, there were two other people, weren't there? Seeing the rare childlike display from Wang Qiqi, Shi Man and Zhang Yan both sighed, then resigned themselves to their fate of loading all the bags into the trunk themselves.

Wang Qiqi had prepared thoroughly for the shopping spree, but she hadn't anticipated underestimating the patience of certain women, especially Zhang Yan, whom she thought wouldn't be as enthusiastic about shopping. Zhang Yan’s zeal for shopping proved to be no less than Shi Man’s.

Wang Qiqi could swear on her parents’ names that she truly intended to hold out until the end this time, but the sheer volume of tempting items in the foreign department stores, coupled with Shi Man’s long-overdue major splurge, wore her down. Wang Qiqi checked her watch again, sighing for perhaps the tenth time. They had been shopping for four hours, nearly five, and the other two showed no signs of calling it quits. What made Wang Qiqi even more frantic was that after all that time, the two of them had only bought two items each. Wang Qiqi, the designated burden, had managed to buy three or four things already. The other two were clearly just there to satisfy their shopping cravings.

Shi Man and Zhang Yan turned back for what felt like the umpteenth time, noticing Wang Qiqi trailing far behind. “Qiqi, do you want to find a place to rest, grab something to eat?”

“Yeah, Qiqi, you don't look too well,” Zhang Yan added with genuine concern.

Wang Qiqi had originally planned to catch up and tell them she wanted to head back to rest, but since they brought it up first, she accepted without hesitation. “Then I’ll head back to the hotel to rest, and you two can find me when you’re done.” Wang Qiqi needed a proper bed right then, not just a chair that was somewhat comfortable to sit on.

Wang Qiqi’s announcement left Shi Man speechless. “You’re going back to rest now?” Shi Man shook her head, sighing deeply. “I wonder who it was that swore they’d stick it out until the end? And it’s only been this long.” Shi Man mentally lamented Wang Qiqi’s poor stamina. “Your credibility just dropped another notch.” No matter how firm the promise, it turned out to be empty talk.

Wang Qiqi felt like spitting blood hearing Shi Man’s words. “It hasn’t been that long! We’ve been shopping for five hours, okay?” Wang Qiqi held out her hand toward Shi Man to indicate the time.

“Five hours?” Shi Man was startled by Qiqi’s statement. If it really had been five hours, then Qiqi hadn't drastically lowered her credibility after all. She took a closer look—it was indeed ten minutes shy of five hours.

“Oh, I feel like there are still so many counters we haven't browsed,” Shi Man said with regret, which also explained why she felt like they hadn't been shopping for long; she usually finished browsing an entire mall within four hours.

Wang Qiqi retorted dryly, “Did you account for the footprint and the number of floors?” Especially with so many designer boutiques—taking the time to look through each one would waste a lot of time. “Are you two continuing? If you are, I’ll go back alone.”

Shi Man glanced at the clock; it was almost five. “Let’s eat dinner together, then head back. Our train is at nine tomorrow morning.” If they kept shopping, Shi Man didn't know what time it would be, so might as well leave some regrets and go back together to rest well. Tomorrow might bring a tough battle.

Wang Qiqi had expected Shi Man to suggest eating first, then helping her carry back her spoils while she continued shopping, perhaps hitting the remaining two floors. Cough, cough—this girl hadn’t even spared the menswear section. Shi Man’s logic was probably that since they only focused on women’s wear, it was lacking, and they should move on, as men’s money was also easy to earn when wealthy wives were buying things for their husbands. Wang Qiqi figured if they hadn't had to browse menswear, they would have finished ages ago.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Shi Man knew that in every shopping trip, Qiqi was determined to cover the entire mall. This time, even though they hadn't finished everything, “I did finish all the women’s wear,” she implied, meaning the rest was related to men, so it was fine to skip.

That’s why. Wang Qiqi realized that getting a shopping addict to give up so easily must have a solid reason. “Food, food, let’s go eat.”

Shi Man yawned while biting into the sandwich in her hand. “Sandwiches are better. British food is really not that great.” They had found some good food, but it was expensive. For Shi Man right now, she could make something much tastier for the same price or even less money. She recalled that their dinner last night was settled with hamburgers, and the thought made her feel a bit sick.

Zhang Yan nodded repeatedly. “After eating fast food three times in a row, I feel like I’m breathing out the smell of burgers.” No wonder her cousin had told her that when going abroad, one should know at least a few simple dishes to live comfortably—not just to save money, but to not mistreat one’s stomach. Zhang Yan had previously dismissed the warnings as exaggerations, but after just this short day, she felt incredibly fortunate to be studying with Wang Qiqi and Shi Man; at least her diet wouldn't suffer.

Shi Man nodded vigorously in agreement. “Qiqi, I think when our coursework gets heavy, we should prepare meals in advance so we can just heat them up.” Before, they had planned to eat simple fast food if studies got intense. They hadn't lacked experience eating fast food in China, but this experience proved to Shi Man that fast food was okay once or twice, but too much of it became unbearable.

Wang Qiqi also felt a wave of nausea, but at the same time, she wondered how Han Tao had managed to adapt. Every time she asked him about his meals, he always said they were fine, even though occasional work dinners involved barbecues or buffets, the frequency couldn't have been that high.

Shi Man waited a moment for Wang Qiqi’s reply but received none. She turned and saw Qiqi staring blankly into space. Shi Man thought that even if Qiqi was hungry, she shouldn't be zoning out like this. “Qiqi, what are you thinking about?”

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “Nothing much. I was just thinking how glad I am that this is the last stage of our formal education.” Perhaps she might consider pursuing further studies later, but certainly not in the next few years. If nothing else, her mother-in-law was expecting her to have a baby soon, and Han Tao likely shared that thought. But Wang Qiqi still wanted a little more time to be willful—at least two years of freedom before she dutifully returned to have children and travel the world again once they were older.

Zhang Yan glanced at Wang Qiqi. She had always assumed that after finishing her Master's, Qiqi would settle down and have a child; their relationship over the years had been the envy of those who knew them well.

“I suspect your idea is just a thought,” Feng Xuanxiang had told Shi Man that he was getting older and wanted to be a father sooner, which was putting considerable pressure on Shi Man. Worse still, she didn’t know when her own parents had connected with Feng Xuanxiang; they were actually exchanging messages online, putting Shi Man in a difficult position. “I expect to return to family life immediately after graduation.”

“What?” Wang Qiqi was stunned. She couldn't help thinking about how frequently Han Tao and Feng Xuanxiang communicated online. If Feng Xuanxiang had such plans, Han Tao surely would too. Perhaps they had even discussed it: if one settled down, could the other still travel the world freely? Not only would their families object to a young woman wandering the globe, but she herself would feel unsafe. “The nerve of them! They are all terrible people.”

Wang Qiqi suddenly recalled the details of the apartment Han Tao had sent her online—it seemed to be a two-bedroom unit. Originally, he claimed that with his work equipment stored there, there was no risk of leaks. But now, Wang Qiqi felt strongly that it was a trap, a big one. His real reason must be that when they had a child, there would be a nursery, or perhaps when Luo Hongjuan went to the US to help with childcare, there would be space. The thought made Wang Qiqi furious. This man now lied with a completely straight face, looking as honest as could be.

Shi Man pouted, cheeks puffed out in annoyance. She would only be twenty-five after finishing her Master’s degree; how could she already be expected to become a wife and mother? On top of that, her own mother kept mentioning that she herself had given birth to Shi Man at twenty-five. “Exactly!” The thought alone made her angry. “How many people actually become mothers at twenty-five?” Alas, Shi Man could already foresee her future life revolving around a husband and children, feeling that all the education she received hadn't truly realized her own worth. “I might as well have found a good man and married him right after high school.”

“Honestly, there’s no need to push yourself so hard.” Wang Qiqi was equally incensed. If the goal was just to get married quickly, why bother with so much studying, why make life so arduous? “Though, finding a good match right after high school graduation is unlikely anyway,” Wang Qiqi stated with genuine sincerity. “We aren’t exactly stunning beauties, and besides, trading on looks has an expiration date. At least we are striving for careers.” Without the solid foundation of a strong maternal family to back her up after high school, the countdown to destitution could start any day.

Shi Man understood these truths perfectly; it was just that she couldn't suppress her frustration. “Sigh, I’m just nagging. Get in the car, get in.” Shi Man had long been intrigued by the beautiful English countryside scenery Zhang Yan had described along the route. Although the drive would pass through several bustling towns, for Shi Man, having seen magnificent metropolises before, the allure of the thriving city was limited.