Tom saw Wang Qiqi and the others approaching him early in the morning. "Are you planning to rent the place?" Coming this early suggested they were quite satisfied with the house.

Shi Man nodded. "Can we clear out everything in the attic? Will the landlord have any objections?" This was important; Tom wasn't the owner, so what if the landlord objected?

"I have a full authorization letter from my relative. We'll sign a lease agreement too, and it will be specified clearly in the contract." Tom understood their concerns; just discarding so many items could lead to trouble later.

Hearing about a contract put Shi Man at ease. "Then when do we sign? My friend plans to start cleaning." Since that was settled, she asked about the contract signing time. Even though Qiqi made it sound casual, cleaning would take at least two days, and then they'd have to find flatmates through an agency.

Tom thought for a moment. Business at the shop wasn't heavy, and although the young lady paid rent for staying there, she was here to study. If he could help save a little, he should. "I'll call the lawyer to meet us at the house. You can clean while we sign the contract."

Shi Man had planned to finalize the contract in the morning and start cleaning in the afternoon. She hadn't expected the boss to be so thoughtful. "Thank you, Tom, thank you, Tom." After speaking, Shi Man hurried back to the room to share the good news with Qiqi. On her way back, Shi Man calculated that since they were going over today, she might as well sort out lunch there. Oh, right, did they need to vacate their current room?

Wang Qiqi was cozied up in her room, chatting online with Han Tao about the rental situation. She also asked how Wang Damei and Song Wenbo were doing. Since they were leaving soon, Wang Qiqi was genuinely worried if anything would go wrong with those two. It was impossible to expect them to be completely trouble-free, but Wang Qiqi just hoped they wouldn't have a big fight after she left.

"You're back?" Wang Qiqi noticed Shi Man entering with a look of delight. After telling Han Tao on the other end of the computer, she quickly logged off, preparing to shut down.

Zhang Yan emerged from the bathroom, wiping her hair. "All settled?"

Shi Man hummed an affirmation and relayed Tom's arrangements. "I think we can give up our current room." Since the landlord had only left recently and likely tidied up before leaving, they could finish cleaning the house in half a day and move in today.

Wang Qiqi also felt it was unnecessary to commute back and forth, which took about twenty minutes by car. "Zhang Yan, what do you think?"

Zhang Yan responded with action, hastily packing her luggage. "When I went over yesterday, I found a small supermarket about a fifteen-minute walk from the house." However, it didn't look like one run by Chinese people, and some items were missing. "We forgot to bring some seasonings when we came." While overseas Chinese supermarkets stocked many things found back home, they had just arrived and didn't know where to find one. Zhang Yan figured there probably wasn't a Chinese supermarket near their current rental; that neighborhood seemed predominantly local.

"We'll see. If we can't manage, we'll have Han Tao bring some," Shi Man said, also busily packing. "We can shop once we get there." This would save them from lugging lots of bags. "My mom told me to bring some personal hygiene supplies." Shi Man hadn't wanted to bring them, but her mother insisted that things were expensive abroad and better brought from home, which left Shi Man speechless. Thankfully, the luggage wasn't overweight, or Shi Man would have cried.

"That's not the point. The key is we don't have to eat fast food for lunch!" Zhang Yan said happily.

"I don't have time these few days..." Wang Qiqi stated bluntly, worried they might pawn things off on her. It wasn't that she was unwilling, but she was swamped with things to do.

Shi Man rolled her eyes at Wang Qiqi. "We know." Although they loved food, they weren't completely tactless; they wouldn't burden Qiqi when she was so busy. "Don't worry, I'll be the head chef, and Yan Yan can clean the bathroom." Shi Man quickly settled the plan for the next few days' meals.

In no time, the three of them had their bags packed and were sitting in Tom's car. Along the way, Shi Man and the others kept asking about things that interested them, like where the Chinese supermarkets were and where to buy used cars.

Tom patiently listed the nearby Chinese supermarkets, detailing which ones had the best selection, which were cheapest, which had the freshest produce, and which stocked a wider variety of Chinese seasonings.

Although Wang Qiqi and the others hadn't visited the supermarkets Tom mentioned, they had a general idea. Wang Qiqi thought having someone guide them saved a lot of effort.

After Tom opened the main door, Wang Qiqi set her luggage down in the living room and rolled up her sleeves, ready to start cleaning the attic. Her plan was to pack up everything she wouldn't need from upstairs today. She hadn't intended to throw anything away; she'd prepared woven bags yesterday to put things in one by one, intending to store them on the racks in the garage so there would be something to show the landlord later.

Shi Man and Zhang Yan stayed in the living room with Tom, waiting for the lawyer. Before the lawyer arrived, Zhang Yan used her camera to photograph the surrounding environment and document some details. Though it seemed tedious now, it was better than having unclear situations later.

When the lawyer arrived, the three of them had already listed the more valuable items in the house. They hadn't bothered recording things like dishes, as they were inexpensive and consumable. The lawyer brought out the standard contract template and explained each clause to them. After noting down what needed to be recorded, Shi Man expected the lawyer to return to the office to print the documents. To her surprise, the lawyer pulled out a portable printer from his car. In moments, the entire contract was done. "If there are no issues, please sign."

Shi Man, as the main tenant, signed first. Tom signed as the landlord's fully authorized representative, followed by the lawyer, finalizing the lease agreement. At that moment, Shi Man suddenly remembered something. "Oh, I haven't withdrawn the money." She felt she had forgotten to do something, but couldn't pinpoint it until now—the money. Luckily, it was all on her card.

"It's fine, it's fine, just swipe the card," Tom said, relieved it wasn't a major issue. "Oh, we forgot to write the card number on the contract."

The lawyer swiftly made the necessary amendment on the contract. Shi Man and Zhang Yan watched, slightly stunned by how nimble the lawyer was. Once the contract was settled, Tom and the lawyer departed. Tom said he would cover the legal fees, which pleased the two who had been worried about incurring a significant expense. "By the way, did you say we should just post an ad online?" Shi Man suddenly asked. Going through an agency meant fees; since they needed a lawyer anyway, they could save the agency commission.

Zhang Yan considered it. "Is it safe to post online?" People would need to come view the place in person. What if they weren't good people? Losing money was minor; losing their lives over a little rent saved wouldn't be worth it, she whispered her concerns.

Seeing the cautious Zhang Yan, Shi Man was about to remark that she was being too timid when Wang Qiqi came down carrying two large woven sacks. "What are you discussing?" Wang Qiqi looked around and realized Tom was gone. "The contract is signed?"

Shi Man hummed in agreement and moved to help take the sacks from Wang Qiqi. Wang Qiqi twisted away from her grasp. "These bags are filthy too. You guys clean your own rooms first later. I still have a few things to bring down from upstairs, and then I should be done." Wang Qiqi had expected the attic to take much longer, but she was finished surprisingly quickly. Of course, she was just stuffing things into bags without paying close attention to what they were.

"That fast?" Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan were startled by her speed. "Did you hire someone?" Although they hadn't gone into the attic, they had seen quite a bit piled up through the doorway when they glanced in. While they had spent time waiting for the lawyer, Wang Qiqi's pace seemed too fast.

"I'm just stuffing things in; I plan to move them to the garage." Wang Qiqi knew that disposing of some items incurred fees, and she wasn't sure if the landlord's leftover things required payment. To be safe, she decided to put everything in the woven bags and stack them in the garage. If the landlord ever remembered something in storage, they could look in the garage, though Wang Qiqi admitted she wouldn't know exactly where any single item was. Simply managing to keep the things was good enough for her.

So that was her method of organizing—no wonder she was fast. "Then the attic will be clean today?"

Wang Qiqi rolled her eyes. "Not that fast. I need to organize it properly. I’ll make do in one of the downstairs bedrooms today." Since they were doing a major clean-up, Wang Qiqi felt she should take the opportunity to buy some simple things to decorate the attic. Given the large space, she figured she could even set up a small studio. The only drawbacks were the lack of running water and the potential cold in winter, but given the size, Wang Qiqi felt she could tolerate those. Besides, on sunny days, it should be quite comfortable. "Right, what were you two discussing earlier?" She almost let them distract her completely.

Shi Man explained the dilemma they had been wrestling with. "What do you think?"

"That’s genuinely hard to decide. Just raise the rent a bit, and use an agency then." Wang Qiqi thought it over; safety first. The internet didn't feel entirely secure, especially in a foreign country. Besides, even if they paid the agency fee, couldn't they recoup it through the rent? "We can reduce the rent slightly later. Also, we are the main tenants, so the pressure on us is greater." Wang Qiqi knew Zhang Yan slightly disagreed with this approach, so she quickly explained the reasoning behind it.

Zhang Yan considered it and realized it was the only way. Splitting the rent evenly meant they would take a slight loss. "Then Zhang Yan and I will go shopping this afternoon and drop off the [something] on the way."

"And get the internet set up. Oh, and grab a few things for me while you're out," Wang Qiqi said quickly, tossing the last items into storage before rushing upstairs to clean and check what needed purchasing. "You two look at what the living room and dining area need. These items are split equally among the three of us." The more Wang Qiqi spoke, the more she felt the expenses were adding up, especially for shared spaces; they had to raise the rent somehow.

"For the living room, I think we just need one large table. In winter, we can all huddle in the living room to do homework." Shi Man considered that maybe they didn't need the table right away. "I'll inquire about when the next flea market is. That will significantly reduce the cost. As long as the quality is good enough to last a year, that's fine."

Zhang Yan looked at the living room space. "Will a table make it feel cramped? I remember there were those foam mats, the kind Qiqi you used on your platform floor?" Sitting on those on the ground keeps you warm. "I think the coffee table in front of the sofa is nice. We can reconsider if space gets tight then." Zhang Yan mused that girls had a lot of things; with five people, there might be many shoes, and she suspected the shoe cabinet might not be enough, likely requiring some storage overflow into the living room.

"That's something to consider," Shi Man admitted. She had initially thought they could use the fireplace for heating in winter to save on heating costs. But with all girls, the amount of stuff they bought, especially for their rooms (beds, clothes), meant space would get tight. Some less essential personal items were best kept in the otherwise empty living room. "We can discuss it when the new tenants arrive." If that happened, maybe the new arrivals could share the cost of any new additions.

Wang Qiqi continued stuffing things into the woven bags in the attic. As she sped up, in no time, she had filled bags with everything except the furniture.

Not caring how dirty the floor was, Wang Qiqi plopped down onto it, wiping sweat from her brow. "All done. So exhausting." She decided to tackle the leftover furniture that afternoon. Inspecting the pieces, she found two nightstands and a simple cloth wardrobe. The fabric on the wardrobe seemed either worn out from disuse or damaged previously. Wang Qiqi moved up to it and looked closely; other than the fabric damage, the steel frame seemed sound. "The frame is fine; we can just buy new fabric and make a cover." Wang Qiqi said this, but she suspected the task wouldn't be easy. She could cook, but needlework was beyond her; her handiwork skills were terrible. Yet, throwing away something this decent was a waste. "Never mind, I'll buy fabric and cut it to match the damaged pattern." Wang Qiqi thought she should manage a task this simple.

The wardrobe had found a use, and the two nightstands could go next to the beds for mugs or books. As for the other broken or mismatched tables and stools, Wang Qiqi felt throwing them out was the only option. "If someone had the nerve to bring it up to the attic, they wouldn't just throw it away." Wang Qiqi wanted to move them to storage, but the storage unit was small. If they stored all this junk furniture, parking a car there later might become an issue. Wang Qiqi looked at the corner. "I'll wipe them clean and leave them up here." She needed to conserve some energy.

Seeing the significantly cleared attic space, Wang Qiqi patted her stomach. "Aren't you going to call everyone for lunch?" She hadn't eaten much breakfast, and after all this work, Wang Qiqi felt dizzy. If she didn't get some food in her, she might end up in the hospital soon.

As Wang Qiqi reached the second floor, she smelled noodles. "It's not my favorite, but it's acceptable." There was also a beef aroma wafting through the air. Was it beef noodles? Given the beef, noodles were definitely acceptable.

Shi Man watched the macaroni in the pot nearing readiness. "Zhang Yan, go call Qiqi; it's time to eat." Although they hadn't bought pasta back home, macaroni was similar, especially with their great topping—beef! However, due to time constraints, the beef hadn't simmered long enough; otherwise, the flavor would have been richer.

"Don't bother calling," Wang Qiqi walked over to the stove and peered into the pot. "Oh, it's macaroni?" Well, it wasn't her favorite either.

Shi Man said without much warmth, "We bought it at the nearby supermarket. Oh, and I also bought a bicycle while I was out—it was expensive, and it's domestic!" Shi Man remembered the shocking amount she had swiped on her card for the bike. "How many cars did you buy?" Of course, she meant how many bikes, calculated in Yuan.

"You bought a bike? I can borrow it later then," Wang Qiqi asserted, instantly claiming the bicycle without even mentioning compensation.

"What?" Shi Man was stunned that her newly purchased bicycle was already becoming communal property so soon after she brought it home. "Hey, hey, that’s a bit much!"

"What's with the 'hey'?" Wang Qiqi glared at her. "If I buy a car later, will you guys pay me every time you ride in it?" While they could certainly contribute to the car purchase, Wang Qiqi felt if they paid for the car, she’d truly become their chauffeur. At most, they should share the gas money. That way, even if Qiqi didn't drive them sometimes, they couldn't complain.

Shi Man quickly scooped the noodles out. "That's a car, not a bicycle!" Shi Man thought about the price of the bike that startled her; never mind a car. Even a cheap used car would cost tens of thousands, right? Qiqi wasn't that wasteful, even if she had a car. "Think about how hard you worked for your money. You rushed that last batch of work, too."

Wang Qiqi knew making money wasn't easy. "How much should you guys contribute?" If Zhang Yan hadn't been there, she would have told the truth, but with her present, Wang Qiqi definitely wouldn't. "For short distances, use the bicycle. For long distances, we'll drive. Of course, you don't have to pay for the car, but maybe share the gas money a little?" The car purchase was the bigger expense, but gas wasn't cheap either. The lifetime cost of gas for one car might equal the cost of the vehicle itself.

Shi Man knew Wang Qiqi wasn't being entirely honest but wouldn't press the issue. Qiqi surely had her reasons. "We should definitely chip in for gas. It's not like you should cover the car and the gas."

"Exactly!" Zhang Yan didn't understand why Qiqi said they shouldn't pay for the car, but it was good news that she wasn't asking for the purchase price. Even if they paid less, it should still be a few hundred pounds, a substantial sum for Zhang Yan, who was determined to cover her own tuition fees.

"Alright, let's eat, eat, eat," Shi Man efficiently spooned the pre-prepared beef sauce over the macaroni. "My loving meal is ready. Let’s keep lunch simple today. This afternoon, I’ll check the supermarket for better ingredients for a proper meal." The meal was simple for two reasons: the nearby supermarket was small with limited selection, and they were short on time. Simple was the way to go.

"Once I get my things sorted tomorrow, I can cook something nice," Wang Qiqi had planned to rest for a few days before treating them to a good meal. But then she realized if the new tenants moved in, would she be cooking for them too? The thought immediately soured her mood. If they got along well, fine, but if she cooked something great for people she didn't know well, and they turned out to be difficult, they might frequently ask her to cook in the future.

Shi Man and Zhang Yan had no objections to good food. "Then I'll go for a big grocery run tomorrow morning." Shi Man cleverly took on the burden of the major shopping trip. Besides being considerate of Qiqi so she wouldn't get too tired, there was another reason: she could buy the ingredients she liked. Shi Man couldn't help but smile happily at the thought. She couldn't be too pushy, though; what if she annoyed Qiqi, and Qiqi just shoved all the good groceries into the fridge, claiming she was too tired to cook today or tomorrow? Shi Man dared only to gloat internally.

Although Shi Man kept her head bowed, daring not to let the smile on her face show, she was so excited and lost in her own private world that she didn't even notice her own shaking shoulders. Finally, Wang Qiqi couldn't stand it any longer. Wang Qiqi knew that if Shi Man was this agitated and proactive, she must have her own little scheme brewing. However, what she really wanted to say was, fine, you have your little scheme, but do you have to keep your head down, smiling and stuffing things into your mouth? What if you choke? “This is what I need.” Due to the time constraint, Wang Qiqi only jotted down a few things that absolutely had to be acquired in the next couple of days. As for the rest, once the room was tidied up, they could go out for a massive shopping spree. Of course, signing up to get a driver's license was also a top priority, so she could buy her car sooner.

Shi Man was quite startled by Wang Qiqi’s sudden move. She made an effort to swallow the noodles, then turned to look at Wang Qiqi with a slightly aggrieved expression. “Qiqi, didn't you see I was eating…?” She was just about to complain a few words when the sharp glare Wang Qiqi shot her made her swallow the rest. Never mind, she consoled herself, a grown-up doesn't stoop to squabbling with a petty person; tomorrow will reveal the true picture.

“I just suddenly remembered the things we need to purchase,” Wang Qiqi said, lowering her head to continue eating. “I’m going to need a short rest in a bit; I’m exhausted.” Ever since setting foot on British soil, Wang Qiqi hadn't managed a proper rest, and today’s amount of physical labor made her feel like she was reaching her limit. RS

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