Since Zhao Rongrong and her group were not from the same school as Qiqi’s group, everyone dispersed toward their respective schools once they reached the community gate. “We’re not taking the bus?” Zhang Yan quickly grabbed Qiqi when she saw Wang Qiqi walk right past the bus stop without pausing. “We’re at the station.” Zhang Yan assumed Qiqi simply hadn't noticed the platform.

As if! How could Wang Qiqi miss such a huge bus stop sign? “Let’s walk to school. The scenery along the way is quite nice too.” Wang Qiqi had calculated the distance; it was only about four or five kilometers. It wasn't exactly close, nor was it far, and on a nice day, a walk was enjoyable.

Walk to school? Zhang Yan felt her legs starting to tremble. Good heavens, how long would it take to walk there?

“It’s actually about the same distance as our evening walks,” Wang Qiqi thought. Although it looked far, once you walked it, this distance really wasn't that long. The evening walks felt longer because of the turns within the complex, plus the complex itself felt smaller than it was, giving the impression of covering more ground.

About the same? Zhang Yan pouted. “Impossible. It takes us twenty minutes by bus.” If they walked, according to Qiqi, it would take an hour to get there. Was that even plausible? The speed of two legs couldn't possibly be one-third the speed of four wheels moving at full tilt; common sense dictated otherwise.

Wang Qiqi knew Zhang Yan was right, but she missed one point: “The bus actually takes a roundabout route. Some sections are one-way streets, but we can take shortcuts on foot.” Driving involves many rules, but when walking, you can ignore those things. Plus, you have to stop for traffic lights when driving; walking means fewer stops.

Shortcuts too? Zhang Yan hesitated. It wasn't that she didn't want to walk; the problem was, “We don’t know the way on foot.” What if they got lost? While they could ask for directions, what if they missed the registration time?

Wang Qiqi was very confident about that. “I walked it the other day when I had nothing else to do.” Actually, Wang Qiqi had walked to school and back a few days prior while going to see her coach. She had taken side paths and discovered a shortcut; otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared suggest walking with Zhang Yan today.

Zhang Yan hadn't realized Wang Qiqi had already scouted the route. Indeed, if Qiqi hadn't walked it, she probably wouldn't have been so certain. Zhang Yan was relieved she was wearing flat sandals today; otherwise, even if Qiqi had done the walk once, she wouldn't have agreed. “No wonder you kept telling me to wear flats today.” Only now did Zhang Yan understand why Qiqi had insisted on flat shoes when she was changing. Qiqi had said they wouldn't get tired walking around in them. Zhang Yan had initially assumed Qiqi meant walking around the campus after registration; turns out, Qiqi’s idea of “walking around” meant walking to school. “I’ve been duped by you today.” Alas, a prepared mind versus an unprepared one—it seemed she was at a disadvantage. She realized that even if she hadn't wanted to walk, Qiqi would have likely persuaded her anyway.

Wang Qiqi covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. That was exactly her intention. “Yan-yan, even if we aren't fat, foreigners really like healthy-looking women. Besides, your coursework will be intense later; good health is necessary for good study, don't you think?”

Walking beside Wang Qiqi, Zhang Yan wasn't sure how to respond to that topic. She worried Qiqi might have even more tricks up her sleeve.

“In the future, if the weather is nice and we don't have evening classes, let’s walk to school,” Wang Qiqi, unwilling to let someone dodge her conversation topic, refused to give up.

Zhang Yan knew Qiqi had a follow-up plan, but she hadn't expected Qiqi to suggest making it a regular habit. She really wanted to say walking once was fine, but there was no need to keep doing it; they weren't trying to become marathon runners, just getting moderate exercise daily. “Wouldn't that be a bit too much exercise?” Zhang Yan knew if she stayed silent now, it would be taken as agreement. “Driving might be expensive, but we can take the bus.” That wasn't all that costly, was it?

Wang Qiqi had initially wanted to persuade her companion a bit more, but Comrade Zhang Yan was set on refusing Qiqi’s suggestion. Qiqi could only give up reluctantly. In her view, walking to school was a win-win solution, but if the other person disagreed, she couldn't keep pushing. Sigh, forget it; if she dragged it out further, Zhang Yan would surely bring up splitting the gas money. “Fine.”

When Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan arrived near the school on foot, they saw Shi Man and Feng Xuanxiang standing inside the campus from afar. “Ugh, you two are so slow.” Shi Man had initially thought she was the last to arrive, but to her surprise, the other two had been waiting there for quite some time before Qiqi appeared. If they hadn't agreed to wait there yesterday, she would have already gone inside to report to the professor.

As Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan finally walked up, Shi Man noticed sweat on their faces. Although the day had a bit of residual heat, it wasn't scorching hot; taking the bus shouldn't have caused this much sweating. “Did you run here?” Had they realized they were late and sprinted from the station to the school? “Geez, it’s not the end of the world if you’re a little late; there’s no need to sprint like that.” Luckily, there wasn’t too much sweat.

Zhang Yan took out a tissue to wipe her brow. “We walked. We’re going to the restroom to splash some water on our faces first.” Luckily it was summer, so everyone sweated a little; otherwise, it would have been truly improper.

Walked? Shi Man was startled by Zhang Yan’s words. “You two didn’t eat too much yesterday, and then had no exercise, so you decided to walk today to make up for it?” Thinking back to last night’s scene, Shi Man’s face darkened. The ordering spree had been ferocious; despite being young women, the quantity they ordered was definitely a man’s portion. Shi Man had wondered if they could even finish it all, but to her shock, they cleaned their plates. The most infuriating part was Wang Qiqi, who kept ordering more food! Hmph. Since they knew overeating leads to weight gain, they shouldn’t have ordered so much; normal ordering would have sufficed. Now, their stomachs probably hurt, and their legs must be aching too. “It must take about two hours to walk from home. You poor things,” Shi Man covered her mouth, chuckling internally. Serves you right for eating so much yesterday!

Wang Qiqi looked at the person clearly gloating. “Actually, we were being polite yesterday. You snatched our lunch, and we were starving the entire afternoon.”

Shi Man was left speechless by Wang Qiqi’s retort. Sigh. “Then you should have cooked,” she countered. So they barely ate lunch? Unbelievable. “You can’t eat heartily one day and starve the next; that’s terrible for your stomach.” Shi Man said this with genuine concern. “Qiqi, haven't you always talked about wellness? What you did yesterday was really bad for your health.”

“Of course, I know that,” Wang Qiqi nodded readily. “But the problem is, I was genuinely exhausted yesterday. I got up at six, considering I didn't fall asleep until past two. I was busy until after ten. How could I not rest? You know that besides you, I’m the only one who cooks at home.” Qiqi wasn't lying to Shi Man about this. “I slept until past four in the afternoon. I thought you’d be back soon, so I didn't bother cooking again.”

“Exactly!” Zhang Yan also aimed her fire at Shi Man. If she hadn’t acted that way yesterday, they might have completed their exercise quota, and Qiqi wouldn't have dragged her walking today. Even though she wore flats today, they weren't athletic shoes, and her soles still ached a bit.

Feng Xuanxiang, seeing his wife looking annoyed, kept quiet beside her. “I’ll treat you both to something nice for lunch. By the way, what about Zhao Rongrong and the others?” Although he wasn't close to them, they were Manman’s roommates, so they shouldn't be excluded from a treat.

Wang Qiqi wouldn't let Feng Xuanxiang treat them; yesterday was already a bit much. “Let’s just eat our own food for lunch. You two should go explore a bit.”

Shi Man had expected Wang Qiqi to accept immediately, so Qiqi’s refusal touched her. Qiqi truly was a good person; that much was certain.

Before Shi Man could praise Qiqi, Wang Qiqi cut in unceremoniously. “Manman, you can’t just stay cooped up in the hotel. You need to take Old Feng out to see things. Even though this is a small city, it’s an ancient city with many fine buildings and scenery. You wouldn't want Old Feng to leave with regrets after visiting you this time, would you?”

Zhang Yan stood quietly to the side, not saying a word. It seemed Qiqi’s anger from yesterday hadn’t fully dissipated, and she didn’t want to mediate.

Shi Man was exasperated. “What do you mean, what do I mean? How could Old Feng just stay cooped up in the hotel? I absolutely plan to take him out sightseeing! Wasn’t it because he was tired from the long flight yesterday?” Ah, Shi Man regretted letting Qiqi expose the fact that they hadn't gone out yesterday. She thought the matter was settled, especially since her husband had paid handsomely, but she hadn't expected Qiqi to be waiting for this moment.

Wang Qiqi gave Shi Man a look that clearly said, You know exactly what I mean. Honestly, if Zhang Yan hadn’t been there, she would have advised her friend to take it easy and not overdo things. Hmph. This wasn't retaliation for yesterday’s shameless behavior; it was a counterstrike against what Shi Man had said when Han Tao visited previously.

Zhang Yan assumed Qiqi was still mad about yesterday, but Shi Man understood. Ah, so this was retaliation for something that happened a few days ago. She gave Wang Qiqi a pleading look, signaling, You don’t have to be so petty, do you? It’s only been a few days, and you’re still holding a grudge against my comment. Yes, my man stayed with me these past few days, but your man just left too!

Wang Qiqi proudly turned her head, presenting her back to Shi Man. So what if I’m petty? A woman has the right to be petty. You can say things about me, but I can’t strike back?

Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan were both assigned to the same professor, so after agreeing on a meeting spot with Shi Man, they headed towards the address listed on the orientation materials. “Qiqi, you ask most of the questions later; I won’t ask.” Although Zhang Yan’s spoken English had improved greatly recently, she still worried that she might not leave a good impression on the professor if she spoke.

Wang Qiqi looked at Zhang Yan retreating to the back again. She knew further persuasion was useless. Zhang Yan was worrying unnecessarily; her spoken English was just a bit too formal. Foreigners tend to simplify things, and after speaking for years, their pace is fast. With a few months of practice, Zhang Yan’s speed would improve. Besides, wasn't her ordering quite well done when they went out to eat yesterday?

Zhang Yan received the look Qiqi sent her and smiled bitterly to herself. Of course, she wanted to speak up, but she feared her spoken English wasn't good enough. Moreover, if she misspoke, it might implicate Qiqi. Still, she couldn't rely on Qiqi forever. “I know what I’m doing. Oh, if we’re free this afternoon, should we go shopping?” Zhang Yan decided that while watching TV was good for listening comprehension, speaking practice required getting out and moving around. Even though everyone had agreed to create an English-dominant environment at home, they often ended up chatting in Chinese. Even when someone remembered to speak a few phrases in English, the group defaulted back to Chinese because it was smoother and faster. Zhang Yan concluded they needed to venture out more.

Shopping? Wang Qiqi wanted to ask why they needed to shop. She wanted to go back, rest well, and then ask her man how things were going with his tasks later. His semester should be starting soon too; he couldn't let official business interfere with his studies—that was the top priority.

Seeing the pleading look on her friend’s face, Wang Qiqi felt embarrassed to refuse going out. Fine, they could shop, and maybe she could look for some suitable clothes. Her man was truly negligent in this regard; as long as his clothes were clean, presentable, and undamaged, that was enough. Although Wang Qiqi never intended to make her man look extremely fashionable, clothes were still clothes, and she should buy him a few more sets. “Deal, as long as you don't mind helping me shop for men’s clothes later.”

Buy men’s clothes? Zhang Yan had no problem with that; shopping was just an opportunity to practice negotiation and speaking skills. If Qiqi genuinely needed clothes, that was even better. “Buying clothes for your man? But why doesn’t he buy them himself?” Zhang Yan found it strange. Han Tao wasn't a child, and he had money; he could handle this himself. Did he need to buy them here and mail them over? What if he didn't like what she chose?

“I’ve been buying all his clothes for the past few years.” She used to drag Han Tao along, but once he got busy, Qiqi handled everything from underwear to outerwear. “He doesn't have high standards for style; he just asks for comfort.” It was good that he wasn't picky—or perhaps he just hadn't reached the point of being picky. There was an old saying, right? If a man suddenly starts caring too much about his appearance, there might be a problem, especially for a computer geek who spends all day indoors. Who is he dressing up for?

Zhang Yan considered that a man who didn’t care about fashion was actually a good thing. “Manman’s man, on the other hand, looks quite sharp.” He clearly looked like an elite professional. Honestly, before meeting Shi Man’s man, Zhang Yan was curious how they maintained their relationship while being separated by an entire ocean for so many years of dating. After meeting him, Zhang Yan worried whether Shi Man could keep a capable man like that under control. Some men still enjoyed their nightlife even with their girlfriends by their side; they were separated by such a distance, seeing each other perhaps once a year; Zhang Yan was truly concerned.

“Old Feng is a very nice person.” Wang Qiqi knew what Zhang Yan was implying, but regarding Old Feng, they still had some faith. For Old Feng, his career occupied a huge part of his life, and he was extremely busy, surrounded by strong professional women. For a man with somewhat traditional values, he might appreciate a female colleague, but when it came to marriage, his choices might differ. Shi Man, although independent, was far from being a powerhouse executive.

“A nice person” is a very broad concept, and people change. But since Qiqi had said it, clearly not wanting to dwell on the topic, Zhang Yan thought that since they weren't that close, deep feelings weren't something time and space could alter.

After visiting the professor and obtaining their course schedules, the two bid farewell. As for the books, they would purchase them from bookstores based on the required reading list. “Wow, tuition isn’t cheap, and it doesn’t even cover books?” Zhang Yan looked at the long list of books and felt dizzy. Tuition in China included textbooks, but here, they had to buy them separately. Zhang Yan was genuinely speechless.

Wang Qiqi looked at the list and listened to Zhang Yan beside her. “So, knowledge is money.” In China, labor costs are truly low; isn't that why doctors, nurses, and teachers often seek extra income? “If you buy them yourself, you can get used ones, or new ones.”

They could buy used ones? Zhang Yan’s first reaction was, “If I buy used books, how can I make notes in them?” If the books were already full of writing, she wouldn’t be able to jot down her own comments. “Besides, it won't save that much money, and we don't even know where to buy used books.”

Knowing where to find used books was easy; just ask anyone nearby. Wang Qiqi hoped to buy used books, perhaps even ones from a top student, which would be a huge boon—they would already contain notes that could aid comprehension. As for making her own notes, she could use removable sticky tabs on certain pages.

Thinking this, Wang Qiqi stopped someone, asked a few questions, and then shot Zhang Yan a knowing look. “I know the address, and I know the location of nearby bookstores too.” Generally, bookstores near a university campus keep the required textbooks in stock. Even for specialized texts, if they left a deposit, the stores would order them in.

Zhang Yan hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to plan on buying used books. “You’re buying used?” She was very curious. Qiqi wasn’t short on money; why save such a small amount?

Wang Qiqi hummed in affirmation and explained why she preferred used books. Zhang Yan thought it sounded like a good idea, but she still felt a hurdle about buying used books herself. “Maybe I can borrow your books to look at later.”

Wang Qiqi had initially thought her explanation would convince Zhang Yan to buy used books, but it turned out her friend was even shrewder. Borrowing Qiqi’s books later? Well, that was certainly possible. “Just remember to pay the borrowing fee,” Wang Qiqi said, looking at the book list. She estimated that as the coursework deepened, more books would be required. She hoped the library had many of the necessary texts to help save money, otherwise, getting through this degree wouldn't be easy. “No wonder many people work for a few years after graduating from university before coming back to study; the costs are simply too high.” Overseas, tuition for undergraduate studies might be covered by affluent families, but further education usually required self-sufficiency. Tuition, textbooks, living expenses, and accommodation—these weren't small figures. If you didn't work and earn some money, it was truly impossible.

Zhang Yan murmured an acknowledgement. She had assumed that after covering tuition, they could manage the remaining living expenses with careful saving, but she hadn’t expected this additional expenditure. It seemed getting a part-time job was inevitable, and she didn't have Qiqi’s talent for translation. “Qiqi, are you still working on improving your English?”

Zhang Yan suddenly asked this question, and Wang Qiqi was quite surprised. However, recalling what she had said earlier, she had a feeling. “I’ve also been learning Japanese and Korean these past two years. Since so many people are learning English now, that line of work is becoming harder to profit from.” Luckily, Comrade Old Ye had extensive connections and secured many contracts. Plus, he had advised her that if she didn't plan on being a simultaneous interpreter, she should focus on simpler translation work and it would be best to learn a few more foreign languages, even if her spoken skills weren't perfect—as long as her written ability was strong, that was enough. Furthermore, Wang Qiqi was interested in Japanese manga, Korean dramas, and especially future Korean variety shows. With some foundation from her previous life, picking them up was relatively fast. Starting last year, Qiqi had gradually begun taking on some simpler Japanese and Korean translation jobs. Although the tasks weren't highly complex and the pay wasn't high, her skills were slowly improving. Wang Qiqi estimated her level would rise again by the end of the year.

Zhang Yan finally understood why she sometimes saw Qiqi watching Korean or Japanese dramas. She had wondered why Qiqi bothered with those when she could be translating manuscripts. It turned out she was taking advanced studies. Alas, it made sense. When Qiqi first entered the translation field in university, her pay was meager, and many people wouldn't bother for such low compensation. Only Qiqi persisted. People might have called her foolish then, but later, many became envious and jealous, but what could they do? She had the ability. “That’s true. I’m planning to learn French; it’ll be more convenient for communication when I travel later.”

French is good, but Wang Qiqi thought, “Learning Arabic wouldn’t be bad either; there are many tycoons over there.” That region is rich in oil—many wealthy people.

Arabic? Zhang Yan shivered. “I don’t have much affinity for that region.”

Wang Qiqi was merely mentioning it casually, and she also understood Zhang Yan's meaning. "The orders I'm taking now rarely involve simple tasks. Some I give to Manman. If you don't mind taking smaller quantities..." It wasn't that Qiqi was being overly generous; rather, her coursework had intensified, coupled with the extra time she was dedicating to Japanese and Korean studies. She had actually been turning down some assignments. Since Zhang Yan also had this inclination, why refuse? Wouldn't it be a good favor to grant?

"Not at all, I don't mind," Zhang Yan certainly had no objections. Although she hoped to earn money by writing travelogues, those weren't easy to produce. She could take on other small jobs during her downtime between classes to maintain her livelihood. "Thank you so much, Qiqi." RS