Wang Qiqi finished her bath and stepped out of the bathroom, turning toward the stairs to head back to her room. A deep sense of melancholy washed over her. “Sigh, the spring and autumn seasons are manageable, but for winter, I might need to keep a chamber pot in my room.” Having to dash from the warmth of her duvet to the second floor to take care of business, and then returning to find the bed has likely lost all its heat, all while freezing herself shivery—it sounded dreadful.

Zhao Rongrong and Shi Hongrui happened to be coming up the stairs and burst into laughter when they heard Wang Qiqi’s complaint. Wang Qiqi noticed Shi Hongrui’s red eyes but didn't inquire. “I was so focused on the attic, I completely forgot about winter. Alas, a miscalculation.” Wang Qiqi wore an expression of deep regret. “Oh, right, didn't you two already pay the rent? Doesn’t that mean you lost out by coming over today?” Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered something she needed to ask.

“When we went back, we saw someone in the lobby asking if there were any rooms available, so we thought…” Zhao Rongrong mentally concluded that since they were moving in tomorrow anyway, what was one extra night?

“So that’s how it is. As long as you get the rent money back, that’s fine.” Wang Qiqi clarified that her concern was about Zhao Rongrong getting cheated, as a single night’s room charge wasn’t cheap. “We’ve already showered. You two go ahead.” With that, Wang Qiqi headed upstairs.

Halfway up, Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered something and called back to them, “By the way, since none of us have anything pressing tomorrow, let’s get up a bit later. If you’re hungry, just grab some bread.” Wang Qiqi had been sleeping in hotels these past few days and couldn't stand those mattresses. Being accustomed to a hard wooden bed, suddenly sleeping on something soft was murder on her back. If the landlord’s mattress hadn't been firm enough, Wang Qiqi would never have put up with it for a year; she would have rushed out tomorrow to buy a proper mattress for home immediately.

“Okay.” Shi Hongrui had no objections; besides, she needed to start unpacking some things later. “Shall we go shopping tomorrow?” She needed to carefully draw up a list of necessities. Rongrong was right; given her current situation, she absolutely had to be frugal, regardless of whether her ultimate goal was achieved—it was always wise to prepare for contingencies.

“In the afternoon.” There were matters to attend to in the morning, as well as finalizing the lease agreement. Wang Qiqi decided the afternoon would be better so everyone could rest well. “Let’s leave early in the afternoon. After we finish shopping, we can start cooking when we get back.” Wang Qiqi had already decided tomorrow’s dinner must be extravagant—it was the housewarming feast, after all.

“Good.” Since it was tomorrow morning, Shi Hongrui wasn’t in a rush. At least she could sleep in, then wake up to sign the contract. Shi Man had already mentioned the lawyer’s arrival time for the next day, so Shi Hongrui figured waking up half an hour early would suffice. “I’ll make congee. I can cook congee tomorrow.” Shi Hongrui thought congee was relatively simple, something she could handle. “The kind you make in a rice cooker.”

Making congee in a rice cooker wasn't hard. “Add some red dates,” that would make it taste better. “But we don’t have a rice cooker yet.” Foreigners don’t eat much rice, so of course, they wouldn't have one. As for the rice from before, “I made rice using the microwave.”

“Microwave-made rice?” Zhao Rongrong and Shi Hongrui exclaimed in unison. “You can even cook rice in a microwave?” They had been wondering how dinner was managed without a rice cooker, only to discover Qiqi had managed with a microwave. That skill level was incredibly high.

“I lived in the States for a while; when there was no rice cooker, I used the microwave.” Wang Qiqi had intended to buy one, but before she could, she perfected making rice using the microwave. Thus, the rice cooker was never purchased. After returning to Beijing for studies, Wang Qiqi sometimes still used the microwave to cook rice, so she felt absolutely no pressure about it.

Shi Hongrui hummed thoughtfully. “I was hoping to let you taste my cooking; what a shame.” While she could make congee on a stove, mastering it was tricky, so Shi Hongrui decided against wasting ingredients.

“There will be other chances.” Wang Qiqi suddenly felt that having a rice cooker was essential. For instance, for breakfast, she could cook some congee. Although they could have milk, bread, and fried eggs, Wang Qiqi preferred sipping congee in the morning, feeling it was more nourishing. “Let’s check the supermarket for a rice cooker tomorrow.” If they didn’t have one, Wang Qiqi wondered if she should ask Comrade Han Tao to bring one over? Although it felt a bit much, it was better than having one mailed from China.

“Wouldn't it be cheaper bought domestically?” Shi Man happened to walk out of her room carrying a cup. “Isn’t your man coming over in a few days? Have him bring one, and we can split the cost. Buying it in China is definitely cheaper than buying it abroad, and this thing hardly ever needs repairs; it should last three to five years. Or, let’s check the price tomorrow first. Is Han Tao coming directly from Thailand?”

Wang Qiqi nodded. “Yes, coming directly, staying a few days, and then heading to Germany. Apparently, he has some official business there.” Although this added a sudden detour, the business meant he could stay in the UK a few days longer, which made Wang Qiqi quite happy.

Germany! Shi Man rapidly thought of German pork knuckle and Neuschwanstein Castle. Too bad it wasn’t June, or they could have gone to the track music festival. But there were still plenty of fun places. “Let’s go tour Germany!” Before school starts, let’s take a trip to Germany. “The UK is a short trip; we’ll have plenty of chances for that later.”

A trip to Germany? Wang Qiqi was quite tempted, as it meant more time with Han Tao. But this deviated from everyone’s original plan. “How about we ask Zhang Yan tomorrow before deciding?” Such a major decision required Zhang Yan’s input.

Shi Man strongly felt that as long as Zhang Yan could have fun, she wouldn't much care where they went. However, changing the plan without a word was excessive. “Fine. Oh, Rongrong, are you guys coming?”

Zhao Rongrong knew that once the other three settled in, they’d look for places to explore. Academics weren't that crucial for Wang Qiqi and Shi Man; studying was just a means to find a job, and they had already figured out their future career paths in university. Zhang Yan was interested in finance, but her greater passion lay in travel, which suited Zhao Rongrong’s hobby perfectly. While Wang Qiqi and the others traveled often, there was a distinction when comparing them closely. Moreover, Zhao Rongrong studied humanities, and she felt she could sometimes collaborate with Zhang Yan; for example, her photography skills were something Zhao Rongrong couldn't match.

Shi Hongrui nodded enthusiastically when she heard about going to Germany. “Great, great!” Qiqi would definitely be staying with her boyfriend, so the four of them could book a quad room—cheaper and more secure.

Zhao Rongrong’s prolonged silence made Wang Qiqi and Shi Man feel it was strange. Did Zhao Rongrong have her own plans? Shi Hongrui noticed her friend was miles away and nudged her. “Rongrong.”

Zhao Rongrong snapped back when pushed by Shi Hongrui. “I was just thinking about what fun things there are to do in Germany, so we can plan it out well.” How to travel well and save money was a major secret. Zhao Rongrong had discussed with Wang Qiqi before how Chinese people’s first reaction to domestic or even international travel was that it was expensive. But in their view, if you planned well and utilized available resources, you’d find overseas travel wasn't as lofty as imagined. Currently, no one in China offered guidance on budget travel, and Zhao Rongrong felt it necessary to share this knowledge with more people.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man loved traveling with people like her. Although it felt a bit like following a tour guide, it saved them a lot of brain cells. Upon reaching a destination, they usually split up to visit places of individual interest. They had initially planned for Zhang Yan to create the itinerary, but now with Zhao Rongrong involved and so actively enthusiastic, they couldn't be happier.

Wang Qiqi patted Zhao Rongrong’s shoulder. “Beauty, this task is assigned to you and Yan Yan. I trust that with your dedicated cooperation, our German trip will go smoothly.” With that, Wang Qiqi headed upstairs. Although the room was tidied, Wang Qiqi’s luggage was still in the state it arrived in; she needed to focus on unpacking.

Shi Man followed Wang Qiqi’s action, patting Zhao Rongrong’s shoulder to signal approval, then went downstairs for a drink of water. At that moment, Shi Man realized that getting a kettle and a vacuum flask from the Chinese store tomorrow was essential. Foreigners were used to drinking cold water, even icy water in the dead of winter, which Shi Man absolutely couldn't accept. The landlord certainly wouldn't provide these items; they had to be self-supplied, even if they cost more than the usual price.

Zhao Rongrong stared blankly as one person went up and the other down. “Did I walk into a trap?” Zhao Rongrong felt like they had invited her just to get her to plan the trip. Even if she declined, she could still go, but this feeling… “Ugh, Germany! I’m not familiar with Germany at all.” Although she had read some travelogues about Germany, there weren't many, and some were years old. She wondered if things had changed significantly.

Shi Hongrui patted Zhao Rongrong’s shoulder. “Girl, congratulations, you’ll be the leader for this upcoming German trip.” Although Qiqi and the others had a bit of calculation in this assignment, she had jumped in willingly. Still, Shi Hongrui trusted her friend’s organizational skills. “You’ve traveled to so many places alone; are you afraid of this excursion?”

Zhao Rongrong snorted a few times at her friend who was kicking her while she was down. “Do you think it’s the same as when I traveled domestically?” Although she had been to many places, she could get by everywhere with standard Mandarin. Now, could she rely on Mandarin alone? Even fluent English might not suffice, as she heard many Germans weren’t great at it. What if something unexpected happened? This needed serious consideration.

Shi Hongrui looked at her slightly uneasy friend and held her shoulders. “Isn’t Zhang Yan still here? Didn’t you always say that’s what self-guided travel is about? Isn't the fun precisely because you don't know what unexpected things might happen next?”

Zhao Rongrong naturally knew she had said that, but the problem was, that was back in China, where she often had a fallback option she could insist upon. But this time was different—Germany! The locals were tall and sturdy. What if they encountered trouble? Relying solely on Han Tao seemed doubtful, especially since he was a super homebody. Could one expect a man who spent most of his time in front of a computer to have much physical prowess? “Zhang Yan is just for setting the official itinerary. Ugh, never mind. At worst, we’ll just pick a safer route.”

Shi Hongrui was stunned by Zhao Rongrong’s somewhat defeated statement. She widened her eyes and looked at her friend. “So you’re actually planning to take us to unsafe places?” While it might be more exciting, they were supposed to be good girls and stick to safe areas. “It looks like I’ll have to scrutinize your plans closely.” Based on her understanding of Zhao Rongrong, she wouldn't do anything completely reckless, but since her mood was low, who knew what might happen.

Zhao Rongrong pushed Shi Hongrui slightly. “Aren’t you going to pack your luggage? Hurry up; I want to shower first.” If they were going traveling in a few days, Zhao Rongrong felt there was no need to sort out her entire luggage, maybe just taking out the autumn/winter clothes. But if they went to Germany, maybe she could mail some postcards home? The thought popped up, but she immediately dismissed it. If they traveled to Germany so soon after arriving in the UK, their families would surely object. After all, they spent so much money, not to focus on studying but on traveling—how would their parents view that?

“I want to shower!” Shi Hongrui dashed into the room to find her towel. “I can pack my luggage tomorrow.” The wardrobe hadn't even been cleaned, and if they left, she wouldn't bother with that useless chore. However, Shi Hongrui was considering that if they went to Germany, the expenses might mount up. Although her parents had deposited a substantial amount of money for her, this money was her future security. Shi Hongrui felt she shouldn’t spend carelessly before seeing any progress, so she thought she needed to find a part-time job somewhere.

Zhao Rongrong didn't mind that Shi Hongrui had changed her mind to shower first. She looked at Zhang Yan’s room, thinking that since Qiqi had mentioned it, perhaps she should ask Zhang Yan first to unify their views. Germany was vast; where exactly should they go? For instance, Neuschwanstein Castle would surely appeal to Qiqi and the others, so it must be included. For other spots, Zhao Rongrong felt they should list several options for the group to choose from, and then they could research the routes.

Zhang Yan was sitting at her vanity, which she had long converted into a desk. It wasn't huge, but she was satisfied with it. When she heard a knock, she felt it was strange. “Come in.”

When Zhang Yan saw Zhao Rongrong entering, she was quite surprised. Although they had chatted happily before, their relationship hadn't reached the level of deep, late-night conversations.

“I just ran into Qiqi…” Zhao Rongrong knew entering at this hour was a bit awkward. She pinched her nose and explained the reason for her visit.

“To Germany?” Zhang Yan quickly beckoned Zhao Rongrong in. “Qiqi and the others are quick thinkers. I was actually planning to discuss travel routes with her in a couple of days.” Zhang Yan could only offer a wry smile; these two were full of sudden ideas. Good thing they gave her time to adjust. “What do you know about Germany?” Time was tight, and Zhang Yan didn’t know much about Germany. In her mind, everyone would first tour the UK, maybe France at most, and after they settled in a bit more, she could research other countries. She hadn't expected the unpredictable pair to present her with this challenge so soon.

Zhao Rongrong also smiled wryly and shared her limited knowledge of Germany. Suddenly, both realized that the other person’s knowledge wasn't extensive either. “Should we go find Qiqi?” Since they proposed the idea, they couldn't just dump the planning on the two of them. Zhang Yan realized that among the five of them, there were three factions: Qiqi and Shi Man were one group, Shi Hongrui and Zhao Rongrong were another. If Wang Qiqi and Zhao Rongrong could align their opinions, the other two wouldn't be an issue.

Zhao Rongrong agreed with Zhang Yan’s suggestion. “Okay, let’s go up now.”

Wang Qiqi was sitting on the floor, reading a book. Above her was a skylight through which she could see the stars and the moon. Occasionally, Wang Qiqi would lift her gaze from the book to admire the view outside. “Just missing a telescope.” Wang Qiqi also felt a glass of red wine was missing nearby.

Just as Wang Qiqi was lost in fantasy, she heard a knock. Wang Qiqi assumed it was Shi Man; besides her, she couldn't imagine who else would seek her out at this hour. When she saw Zhang Yan and Zhao Rongrong, even before they spoke, Wang Qiqi understood their purpose. “Sit down; the floor is clean.”

Zhang Yan and Zhao Rongrong had come to discuss serious matters. Although the room’s furnishing was simple and less elegant than their own rooms, the skylight made the spot where Wang Qiqi was sitting special. “The view from your room is amazing,” Zhang Yan said with envy.

“It just needs an astronomical telescope,” Zhao Rongrong said, plopping down onto the floor with her head tilted toward the sky. “Can I come to your room to watch the stars when the weather is good? Especially in winter, lying on the floor looking up through the skylight… that feeling…” She finally understood why Wang Qiqi was so attached to the attic—it wasn't just about the size, but the view.

Wang Qiqi lay down on the floor beside Zhao Rongrong, recounting Han Tao’s situation when renting in the US. “When I buy a house later, I will definitely pay close attention to the attic; the attic will be my domain.” Wang Qiqi envisioned the attic as a completely private space, perhaps a studio, or a place where she could vent her emotions.

“I think if it were me, I’d want a space like that too,” Zhao Rongrong murmured, feeling reluctant to get up while lying on the floor.

Zhang Yan coughed as the other two lounged. “We still have serious business. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” Sigh, the two had strayed too far off topic. If they didn’t finalize things quickly, when would they ever get to sleep? She needed to get this sorted today so she could visit the library tomorrow to find materials on Germany. Thorough preparation meant less worry on the trip.

Hearing the slight edge of frustration in Zhang Yan’s voice, Zhao Rongrong and Wang Qiqi immediately scrambled up from the floor and sat upright, looking as obedient as possible.

Zhang Yan ignored their clowning and began listing the German attractions she knew. Wang Qiqi and Zhao Rongrong added the spots they knew. After a brief discussion, the three quickly finalized the main places they intended to visit, then eliminated attractions not in those candidate cities. They quickly decided on the locations. As for the other two who weren't present, Wang Qiqi and the others decided they would simply inform them later. As for Shi Man, Wang Qiqi knew that the major German cities included would satisfy her shopping urges, and Shi Man wouldn’t object. As for appeasing Shi Hongrui, that was Zhao Rongrong’s job.

“I suddenly feel like a year in the UK is a bit rushed.” Balancing studies and travel over one year seemed exhausting. Zhang Yan couldn't possibly neglect her studies to focus mostly on tourism—that would be discarding the substance for the fringe. She had initially thought a year was plenty of time, but now she realized she had been too simplistic.

“You can pursue another degree.” Wang Qiqi thought if one year was rushed, she could pursue several degrees! “Worst comes to worst, just do a three-year Master's program and graduate with three degrees when you return.” Wang Qiqi mused that if Zhang Yan returned with so many qualifications, her family would be terrified and dub her a super-scholar.

Three years to earn three Master's degrees and return home? Never mind the cost of tuition, just the thought of returning with three Master's diplomas—Zhang Yan imagined her siblings wouldn't worship her, but rather feel an urge to throw her into the Pacific Ocean. "That would just invite too much jealousy; I shouldn't seek that kind of spotlight." Besides, if she actually held that many degrees, Zhang Yan genuinely worried that employers might suspect her diplomas were counterfeit. "Still, I could consider pursuing a Master's degree in the United States." Europe was nice, but the Americas were appealing too. Wang Qiqi figured she could just take an extended vacation to tour Europe; there was no need to go to such extremes.

Zhao Rongrong had initially intended to agree with Zhang Yan about not continuing her studies—reading too much for too long would turn her into a bookworm. She thought it would be better to take a year or two off before pursuing further education. But she hadn't expected Zhang Yan to actually consider graduate school in the States. "You could go straight for a Ph.D.; why settle for a Master's?"

A doctorate? The moment Zhang Yan recalled Wang Qiqi’s previous discussion about doctoral studies, she shook her head rapidly. "I think stopping at the Master's level is enough. I shouldn't put too much pressure on a man." Furthermore, Zhang Yan was merely talking aloud; after more than a decade of schooling, she was bound to be tired of it.