Wang Qiqi sat alone in the attic, methodically installing the bed with a screwdriver and other tools. Although she had prepared beforehand, marking which piece belonged where, and Qiqi had a decent memory, she thought reassembling it wouldn't be too difficult. Little did she expect that once she actually started, so many problems would arise.

When disassembling, it was enough to just take out the screws and connecting hardware. But during installation, many components had to be stacked and then fixed in place. Just moving these things back and forth, hoisting them up and down, had already exhausted much of Wang Qiqi’s strength. And as her energy waned, she noticed her vision blurring. She misread her own markings several times, leading to agonizing consequences: pieces she’d hauled up had to be taken down again. If they were small, it wouldn't matter, but some of the items were massive.

After making several mistakes, Wang Qiqi realized her state of mind was off. “Qiqi, Qiqi, you have plenty of time, no need to rush, no need to rush.” Wang Qiqi had intended to finish the bed frame before going down to prepare dinner so she could move the mattress up with Shi Man and the others in the evening for cake baking. But given the current situation, Wang Qiqi estimated it was highly doubtful. If things didn't go well, she’d be sleeping on the floor tonight or sharing a bed with Shi Man.

Saying this aloud, Wang Qiqi felt she wasn’t without a place to sleep, so there was no need to push herself so hard. She laid the mattress flat, reclined on it, and stared up at the ceiling. “The ceiling is a bit plain. Hmm, I think I should turn my bed into a princess bed. I need to see if I can find a canopy bed with a dome.” That way, she could pull it down when sleeping, and no one would see her ugly form lying there when someone entered.

But that wasn't the main point. The real focus was that Wang Qiqi just wanted to show off to certain people. She recalled that someone else’s bed was huge, and the size of the bed made the room look less spacious. Add a canopy, and the effect definitely wouldn't be as good as hers. Thinking of this made Wang Qiqi feel quite amused. “It’s a shame I don’t have an inflatable sofa right now; otherwise, buying one to put in the room would be great for lounging or entertaining private guests.”

Looking around, Wang Qiqi suddenly noticed that even excluding the low-ceilinged sections, the attic had a bit more open space. While an empty room feels less crowded, too much emptiness always leaves a desolate feeling. “Tomorrow I should get a plank of wood.” She could make a simple workbench. Initially, Wang Qiqi thought buying an office desk would be wasteful, but now she felt her requirements weren't very high; a place to put books and a computer would suffice. A single board supported by two broken chairs on either end would work.

Even though those chairs were missing arms and legs, Wang Qiqi figured they could still support a desk if the legs were mended. She couldn’t repair the chairs to look like new, but she could make them sturdier. Covering the top with fabric or wallpapering it—wouldn't that make a beautiful and sturdy desk? More importantly, it wouldn't cost much.

The more Wang Qiqi thought about it, the smarter she felt. “It seems my DIY skills are quite decent.” Wang Qiqi rested for a while, then climbed up to continue her bed-assembly venture. Whether it was because she felt better after resting or because her mindset was less rushed than before, Wang Qiqi found the work much smoother this time. The large components were already assembled, and the overall framework of the bed had preliminarily taken shape. All that remained were the smaller parts and securing everything with screws.

Wang Qiqi let out a long sigh. “Knock off for now, resume tonight.” Wang Qiqi knew she could keep working, but first, it was getting late; if she didn't start dinner, they’d truly be having a midnight snack. Second, if she continued, Wang Qiqi wasn't sure if she would become impatient again like before.

Shi Man and the others sat on the sofa, chatting intermittently, but they weren't very invested in the conversation. Every so often, they glanced towards the staircase, hoping to see a familiar figure appear, but after waiting a long time, that familiar figure didn't show up.

Shi Man rubbed her slightly protesting stomach. “I hope Qiqi is having a smooth time?” So much time had passed; based on how long Qiqi took to dismantle the bed, she could have disassembled two beds by now.

“Why don’t you go up and check?” Shi Hongrui asked cautiously. Having eaten fast food for several days, even Shi Hongrui, who wasn't usually averse to it, felt her stomach beginning to protest. Yet, she dared not go up to call out to Wang Qiqi. What if Qiqi was just about done, and going up to rush her felt rude? What if Qiqi was having trouble? Wouldn’t that just invite a scolding? This task was best left to an acquaintance, especially one whose stomach was already vocalizing its needs.

Shi Man had initially intended to go up and prompt Qiqi, but hearing the other person speak, she suddenly felt less rushed. Her backside, which had slightly lifted from the couch, settled back down. She worried that if she asked Qiqi now, she’d keep doing it. In principle, she shouldn't spoil Qiqi right from the start, making her think that cooking for everyone was an expectation. After all, cleaning was supposed to be a rotation, and strictly speaking, Qiqi was the one getting the short end of the stick. “No rush. Everyone wait a bit. I’ll go prepare the ingredients Qiqi will need first. I wouldn't dare offend the chef.” Shi Man stood up with a feigned tremor, pretending to be terrified of Qiqi, and headed to the kitchen to prepare what Qiqi would need.

This was the first time Zhang Yan had seen Shi Man act so afraid of Wang Qiqi. Although she didn't know why Shi Man said that, she subconsciously followed her lead. “Did you not finish the prep work earlier? Hurry up, or Qiqi will see you haven't got things sorted when she comes down and force you to cook.” Zhang Yan had tasted Shi Man’s cooking and knew Shi Man was completely unenthusiastic about the kitchen, yet she seemed to be trying hard to cook to be a good wife and mother. This made Zhang Yan envious, as she also wished to be a good wife and mother, but the reality was, she and the kitchen had absolutely no synergy.

Shi Man pouted. “Yeah, Qiqi makes a big show of cooking.”

Shi Hongrui didn't expect the same Shi Man, who had been making demands of Wang Qiqi without formality moments ago, to act so weak here. She couldn't tell if Shi Man was deliberately acting pitiful or if she was always like this. She planned to ask Rongrong later; she had asked Zhao Rongrong previously how she met Wang Qiqi and the others.

Watching Shi Man walk into the kitchen with a look of pity, Zhao Rongrong covered her mouth and chuckled. “It’s been a while; I thought Shi Man was getting better at handling Qiqi, but it turns out she’s still the defeated party.” Zhao Rongrong was speaking half-seriously and half-exaggerating. She knew Wang Qiqi and Shi Man had a good relationship; even if Shi Man went to rush Qiqi to cook and hadn't prepared everything, Qiqi would just give her a couple of eye-rolls and say a few sharp words, but it wouldn't be as dire as Shi Man claimed. Zhao Rongrong guessed Shi Man said this deliberately for Shi Hongrui to hear. Sometimes Zhao Rongrong felt helpless concerning her friend; at times, she was incredibly thick-skinned, but she was also quite good at acting. But why had Wang Qiqi and Shi Man seen through it so quickly? Zhao Rongrong couldn't decide if Shi Hongrui's acting skills had regressed or if Shi Man and Qiqi were just habitually defensive. Zhao Rongrong felt she’d only know the answer after spending more time with them; thinking about it now wouldn't yield any results.

After Shi Man left, the three remaining people fell into their own thoughts, losing the inclination to continue chatting.

Wang Qiqi sauntered down the stairs, glanced across the living room, and noticed Shi Man was gone. “Where’s Man Man?”

Seeing Wang Qiqi descend, Shi Hongrui’s eyes darted around before she pointed towards the kitchen. “Man Man is washing vegetables in the kitchen.” She wanted to gauge Wang Qiqi’s reaction.

“What?” Wang Qiqi’s eyebrows shot up, and she spoke rather bluntly toward the kitchen. “Comrade Shi Man, you didn’t think you’d wait until the last minute to start organizing the vegetables in the kitchen, did you? How can you be a proper helper like that?” Wang Qiqi hadn't intended to say this, but she noticed Shi Hongrui watching her intently. Although the gaze seemed sincere, Wang Qiqi felt Shi Hongrui was overly interested in how she would respond. Unable to help herself, the words tumbled out, as she and Shi Man often spoke this way previously.

“Yanyan, look at Shi Man. I’m genuinely worried her skills as a helper are lacking,” Wang Qiqi said with a look of distress. “I was actually planning to play the lady today, but look at what she’s done.” Wang Qiqi sniffed, saying this with annoyance.

Shi Hongrui, seeing Wang Qiqi’s reaction, didn't know what to think, but she certainly felt Wang Qiqi had quite a temper.

Zhao Rongrong had also watched Shi Hongrui a few times. She finally understood why Wang Qiqi and the others had noticed something was off with Shi Hongrui—her eyes had given her away. Alas, Zhao Rongrong, being unaccustomed to staring directly at people when speaking, often missed subtle cues, whereas Qiqi and the others picked up so much through their gazes. Zhao Rongrong reflected that while experience from traveling might grant one worldly knowledge, some things simply couldn’t be compared.

Shi Man hurried out upon hearing Wang Qiqi’s unsolicited critique from the kitchen. “Wang Qiqi, don’t you dare wrongly accuse me! I saw you were done, so I started marinating the chicken wings. Don't we have an oven? We can roast some wings later.” Shi Man felt terribly wronged; she just suddenly remembered her specialty when the oven was mentioned.

Wang Qiqi responded to Shi Man’s words without a trace of sincerity. “Oh, so you went to roast chicken wings. My apologies.” It wasn't that Wang Qiqi refused to apologize, but someone—implying Shi Hongrui—gave her a look that signaled, good job. Wang Qiqi instantly realized Shi Man must have gone to the kitchen specifically to let Shi Hongrui know she wasn't someone to mess with. Wang Qiqi felt she owed Shi Man for this favor.

After receiving Shi Man’s meaningful look, Wang Qiqi raised her chin slightly, signaling that she owed her one now. Wang Qiqi could only sigh helplessly and nod. Shi Man’s talent for capitalizing on a situation was truly top-notch; it would be a waste if she didn't go into business.

“Roast chicken wings?” Shi Hongrui’s eyes brightened. “Is there any flour coating on them?” If they were breaded, they wouldn’t be good.

“Flour coating is for deep-frying,” Wang Qiqi kindly explained. “Man Man’s wings are good. Keep practicing; we’ll be counting on you for the Thanksgiving turkey.” Wang Qiqi remembered that Westerners traditionally eat roast turkey for Christmas celebrations. But honestly, besides being large, Wang Qiqi didn't see much appeal in a turkey. She hoped they could buy domestic chickens when the time came; those roasted tasted much better and cooked more easily.

Shi Man paused in her tracks, genuinely wanting to cry. She just liked roast chicken wings, and Qiqi didn't want to do it. Cleaning and marinating chicken wings was relatively simple for Shi Man. She didn't expect Qiqi to keep piling on tasks; this was too cruel. “Turkey isn't as good; let’s just stick to chicken wings.” Shi Man wasn't stupid; wings were definitely easier to roast than a whole bird. Besides, “Eating too much chicken isn’t good; it leads to weight gain.” Shi Man thought getting fat could be a major issue. While there were many overweight people in the West, thinness was currently the trend.

“Don’t worry, you won't get fat. You have the garden to clean often, and there’s the housecleaning. If all else fails, you can do yoga,” Wang Qiqi offered kindly. “Besides, you can choose to cook but not eat.” Wang Qiqi figured that after spending so much time in the kitchen smelling the food, Shi Man would be full by the time they ate.

Cook but not eat? Shi Man shot a dagger with her eyes toward Wang Qiqi’s back. “Do you think I’m that noble? I’m no Mother Teresa.” Hmph. Food was paid for by everyone; eating more or less was one thing that couldn't be helped, but not eating while still paying—that made Shi Man feel like a complete sucker.

Wang Qiqi entered the kitchen and shook her head at the vegetables around the sink. “I thought you’d only buy things you like to eat.” Unexpectedly, there were a few vegetables she wasn't particularly fond of.

Shi Man thought she had wanted to be selfish or generous, but that wasn't within her control. “There aren't many vegetables available at the supermarket.”

“Foreigners don’t eat as many varieties of vegetables as we do. These are probably what they commonly consume,” Wang Qiqi said, looking at the few vegetables. “I’ll make a vegetable salad.”

“Will anyone eat it?” Shi Man asked with disdain. “I want meat, big chunks of meat.” Although they had eaten meat these past few days, it had all been pan-fried or breaded and deep-fried, nothing as satisfying as Shanghai-style braised pork. This made Shi Man deeply miss home cooking. At least when you cook, you control your own stomach.

“Eating chicken wings can be a bit heavy. Even if it’s not heavy then, we're still having pastries, right?” Even though Wang Qiqi kept the butter and sugar levels for her pastries to the minimum, eating too many slices still made Qiqi feel a bit heavy. “You didn’t buy any fruit, did you? If you won't eat fruit, you can make up for it with vegetables.” Shi Man ate quite a bit and still loved meat, yet she wasn't excessively fat, which made many people jealous and resentful.

“That’s true. Eating more vegetables is good for health,” Shi Man suddenly relented. “But vegetables aren’t exactly cheap either. And I think if five people are living together, the appetite will increase significantly.” Shi Man understood this deeply. When Han Tao and the others were still in China, whenever seven or eight people ate together, it was like fighting for food. Although there were only five people eating this time, Shi Man estimated the battle zone wouldn't be easy either.

“Being able to eat is a blessing,” Wang Qiqi gave Shi Man a look. The kitchen door was open, and she didn't know when someone might walk in. “Rongrong, Ruirui, what dishes do you like? Tell me, and I’ll see if I know how to make them.”

After the little drama Shi Man just caused, Wang Qiqi guessed Shi Hongrui might have formed some opinions. If Wang Qiqi stayed tucked away in the kitchen without making any cooking noises, Shi Hongrui might think she was plotting something. Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi felt that although Zhao Rongrong was an acquaintance, and her friend seemed easy-going at first glance, after a few more exchanges, Wang Qiqi felt this person wasn't so easy to deal with either. Since they would all be living under the same roof, Wang Qiqi didn't want relationships to become too strained.

Shi Man instantly changed her expression and hovered around Wang Qiqi, listing all the dishes she loved. “Qiqi, you really only listen to the newcomers laugh and not the old ones cry.”

When Zhang Yan and the others entered, they saw Shi Man clinging to Wang Qiqi’s skirt, wiping away tears. They wondered what happened; surely Qiqi hadn't scolded Shi Man, had she?

Shi Man noticed their footsteps and slowly withdrew her hand from Wang Qiqi’s skirt. “Yanyan, Qiqi was just talking to herself, then she finished talking about me, and then asked Rongrong and the others what they wanted to eat. Tell me, isn’t she awful?” Shi Man said, feigning great indignation.

Wang Qiqi looked at the overly-invested Shi Man and thought it was a pity this girl hadn't gone to study at any acting school. “You didn't buy any salad dressing, did you? I remember you know how to make it. Do we have the ingredients at home?” Hmph, if Shi Man wanted to accuse her of being mean, Wang Qiqi might as well lean into it and be a thorough stepmother.

What? Make her own salad dressing? Shi Man’s eyes widened. She looked at Wang Qiqi in disbelief. “You wouldn’t—you wouldn’t be that cruel, would you?” That would be disastrous.

Wang Qiqi glanced at Shi Man. “Didn’t someone say their homemade salad dressing made the salad delicious?” Shi Man had praised it highly before, constantly saying how bad store-bought dressing was, full of additives, and so on.

Shi Man pouted. Of course, she knew she had said that, but the problem was making homemade dressing was too troublesome—so troublesome that she’d rather buy it ready-made. “I’ll go to the supermarket to buy salad dressing.” Shi Man worried Wang Qiqi would actually make her prepare the dressing, so she dashed towards the main door at top speed. “I promise to buy a really good-tasting one!”

Watching the fleeing Shi Man, Wang Qiqi said with feigned regret to the others, “The homemade salad dressing is good, but it’s a shame someone doesn't want to let us sample it.” Then, she smiled kindly at Zhang Yan and the others. “Man Man only bought this little bit of vegetables. You guys take a look, and order what other dishes you like. This opportunity won't come often; in the future, we’ll do whatever is easiest.” Wang Qiqi set expectations. “Of course, the quantity will be sufficient, and I will cook dishes everyone likes. However, for dishes with complicated steps or high demands, I won’t be able to accommodate.” Although she was the head chef, the head chef didn't take bespoke orders.

Shi Hongrui had initially assumed this level of service would be available every day, only to find that it depended on the chef’s mood. And Shi Man’s simple request was immediately shut down by the chef. Shi Hongrui gained a new understanding of Wang Qiqi’s capability in negotiation, realizing she shouldn't be provoked. Hadn't even the sous-chef been unable to counter Wang Qiqi?

With this realization, Shi Hongrui didn’t state any specific dish she liked. “I can’t eat very spicy food; mildly spicy is fine. I like meat; having one big meat dish every meal would be great.” Shi Hongrui stated her basic dietary needs, mentioning what she disliked, but didn't elaborate further.

Zhao Rongrong and Zhang Yan had known Wang Qiqi before, but they hadn't eaten together often, so they listed the meats and vegetables they liked and disliked.

Wang Qiqi noted everything they said. Although five people were living together, they weren't overly picky eaters; otherwise, Wang Qiqi thought she’d resign. “Alright, I’ve written it all down. But there might be dishes you dislike appearing on the table sometimes; it definitely won't be only dishes that someone dislikes. There aren't that many vegetable varieties here compared to what we have back home.”

“We know, we know,” the three nodded in unison.

Wang Qiqi looked at the three of them, especially Shi Hongrui, who regarded her with an expression bordering on reverence. She wondered if this girl had pegged her as difficult. However, Wang Qiqi didn't feel the need to offer further explanations. “I’m starting to cook now. You can watch, or you can go back to the living room.” Wang Qiqi checked the time; it was getting late, and she still needed to finish the bed later, so she needed to speed up.

Zhang Yan had no interest in cooking. “I’ll head back first so I can read in the living room.” She had visited a bookstore earlier that day and bought two books she was very interested in that she couldn’t find back home.

Zhao Rongrong pursed her lips. She had a bad impression of kitchens; they always seemed greasy. “I’ll wait for you in the living room too.” Zhao Rongrong suddenly remembered that Qiqi didn’t like having people watch her while she cooked, unless they were helping.

When Shi Hongrui saw the other two leave, especially since Rongrong had tugged her as she departed, she originally intended to stay to build a better rapport with Qiqi, and perhaps to be the first taster when the dishes were done. But then she reconsidered: she had just met Qiqi. What if Qiqi disliked having people sample her food? Wouldn't that unintentionally offend her? “I’ll go out too.”

Shi Man opened the main door, holding the salad dressing, and saw the three people in the living room, each engrossed in reading. “Is Qiqi cooking?”

Zhang Yan nodded, not lifting her head, and pointed toward the kitchen. “Qiqi said that after you get back, we should go help with the flour. She said we can have cake tonight.” The thought of delicious food tonight made Zhang Yan incredibly happy, especially the part about not having to do the work herself—that feeling was simply the best.

Shi Man knew Qiqi wouldn't let her off so easily. She let out a couple of mournful groans. “She just knows how to boss me around.” Oh well, if it has to be done now, it has to be done. As long as it’s over after dinner, we won't have anything more to worry about. Thinking this, Shi Man felt much better.

Harmony descended once more. Bu Bu had initially thought she didn't need to worry about it, but upon seeing the [CENSORED] characters the other party sent, Bu Bu suddenly thought, how on earth am I supposed to write this chapter? So many words are banned; sigh, this is just too tame. Bu Bu edited fifteen chapters yesterday and found too many [CENSORED] characters. Some of them, I honestly couldn't find substitutes for, so forget it. If it’s going to be what it’s going to be, then so be it. Writing web novels is tough; cherish the journey. RS

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