The three of them—Wang Qiqi, Shi Man, and Zhang Yan—had dinner in her room, leaving some dumplings in the kitchen for Zhao Rongrong and Shi Hongrui, who were coming back late.

When Shi Hongrui returned after eating her dumplings, she found Shi Man and Zhang Yan’s room empty. At the staircase leading to the attic, she noticed a light on in Wang Qiqi’s room. Thinking Qiqi and the others must be on the third floor, she pulled Zhao Rongrong along and went upstairs.

Shi Hongrui tapped on the door and, upon receiving permission, pushed it open. Finding the three of them inside, she was about to speak when her gaze was immediately drawn to what Shi Man and the others were holding. “How much did you pay for these pillows?”

“They look decent, just a little ugly,” Shi Hongrui commented after staring at the stuffed items for a moment. “Why didn’t you pick prettier ones? Are these pillows really cheap?” Otherwise, why would Shi Man and the others buy them? She asked this because after all the effort during the day, Shi Man and Zhang Yan had finally managed to make a pillow, and Shi Hongrui assumed it was one for each of them. “Why didn’t you get one for Rongrong and me?” It made no sense that the three of them had them and she and Rongrong didn't.

Wang Qiqi and the others were suppressing smiles internally; someone had guessed correctly. How could a certain person see so many pillows and not be tempted? “Didn’t you think they were ugly? Why do you still want one?”

“Exactly,” Shi Man asked with amusement. The look of clear disdain mixed with the desire for one was simply too much.

“Even if they are ugly, I feel like we should each have one. This thing is great; it can be a regular pillow or a body pillow—truly multi-functional.” Shi Hongrui certainly wasn't going to admit she just wanted to get something for free.

“You want one?” Shi Man looked at Shi Hongrui, unsurprised to see her nod. “Too bad they weren't bought; we made them ourselves.” Most of the daytime was spent on these round pillows, and it had been exhausting, especially since the finished products weren't as nice as Qiqi’s. This had left Shi Man feeling quite dejected. Even though Qiqi had said she worked on hers for a long time to achieve that result, Shi Man wasn't happy about making a few extra—they all looked ugly anyway. “We got the raw materials at a low price. If you want one, you can make it yourself.”

They were handmade? At this point, Shi Hongrui regretted speaking so quickly. “You made these today?” she asked, clarifying if all three were made that day.

Shi Man certainly knew she was asking if three were made today. How was that possible? They weren't professionals. “Yeah, we started making them today, slowly figuring things out.” Shi Man gestured toward the three prototype pillows without restraint, pointing out which was the first and which was the last. “It took up so much of our time; we only finished after dinner.”

Shi Hongrui had initially considered asking them to help, but now that she understood Shi Man and the others were done making them, she reconsidered. “Maybe I’ll pass. I don’t have the skill, and the room isn’t big enough.” Although she wouldn’t have to pay for the materials, finishing a set like this wasn't easy, especially with club activities, coursework, and having to go source supplies. Shi Hongrui felt her time was already limited, often pulling all-nighters; adding pillow making would leave her with almost no free time. “I’m heading back to my room.”

After bidding her farewell, Wang Qiqi returned to reading. Suddenly, she remembered something and called out to Shi Hongrui, who was already halfway down the stairs. “I switched to a new coffee blend today. It’s slightly pricier than the last one, but the quality is much better than what we’re drinking now.” She hadn't mentioned the coffee change beforehand and needed to inform Shi Hongrui about the price immediately. As for Zhao Rongrong, she wasn’t too concerned about this, and Shi Hongrui would inform her anyway.

“This price isn’t expensive, and the coffee tastes much better?” Shi Hongrui was quite puzzled. Wasn’t price usually indicative of quality? She knew the current coffee quality wasn't great, but she assumed it was purely due to cost. She couldn't believe Qiqi managed to find coffee that was a little more expensive but significantly better. She wondered if the three of them had been duped, but she certainly wouldn't voice that suspicion—Shi Man wasn't someone to trifle with.

“We went to try it today, and it really is good. The reason the price is so low is because of Qiqi’s connections,” Shi Man said, worried that someone might try to use the low price to curry favor. “However, the monthly limit isn’t high, especially with five of us living here; the amount we get probably won’t be enough. Qiqi, is it one jin of coffee beans maximum per person per month?”

Wang Qiqi hummed in agreement. “Yes. If there were no restrictions, wouldn’t the owner lose money?” In reality, there wasn't such a strict regulation; as Mark later explained, they could place a combined order when restocking at the studio, simply requesting separate invoices. However, these details weren’t for Shi Hongrui to know. “This is the coffee they drink at my workplace; it’s really good, and the owner has a good relationship with my BOSS, which is how I get this price.”

Shi Hongrui had considered ordering a larger batch to sell back home, provided the quality was genuinely excellent. But hearing about the restriction dashed that idea immediately. “I need to taste it tomorrow. If the elites are drinking this coffee, the quality can’t be bad.”

“Oh, were the beans ground yet?” Shi Hongrui suddenly craved a cup of coffee fit for elites, as she needed to stay up late tonight.

“No, help me grind some; I have to pull an all-nighter too,” Shi Man replied quickly. “Grind a little less. I want to taste the difference between the shop’s preparation and ours.” With the same beans, the resulting flavor varied based on the person preparing it. Shi Man thought for a moment. “Once the beans are ground, I’ll prepare it.” Previously, everyone just threw it together, aiming only for alertness. Although Shi Man often brewed coffee back in China, she had lost some of her enthusiasm since arriving here, usually just boiling a quick pot. Now that such fine coffee was available, Shi Man felt it would be a huge waste not to brew a proper cup herself.

Shi Hongrui wanted to retort: if you want to brew coffee, why don’t you grind the beans yourself and then brew it? “Is there a difference if you brew it versus me brewing it?” While Shi Man’s coffee was slightly better than hers, it wasn't a huge leap. Besides, since the beans were high quality this time, even a novice like her should be able to brew something better than last time, right?

“Let Manman brew it; her coffee-making skills are good,” Wang Qiqi said, knowing Shi Man was itching to show off, or perhaps, spurred by encountering good coffee and a little excitement today, she needed to prove her skills hadn't faded. “Back in China, we drank coffee brewed by Manman every day; it was excellent.”

Zhang Yan nodded, remembering how shocked she was by the equipment at Qiqi’s place when she first visited them. “They bought a coffee machine from the US a long time ago. They were quite extravagant, drinking coffee daily and sometimes even taking it to school. That flavor beats instant coffee hands down.” While everyone drank tea or coffee during late nights, theirs was always instant. Only they insisted on freshly brewed coffee, the aroma alone enough to captivate anyone. “If the machine wasn’t so expensive and difficult to ship, I bet many more people would be brewing their own coffee by now.”

Shi Hongrui hadn't realized Wang Qiqi and the others were already drinking this caliber of coffee back in China. Seeing how skillfully they handled the machine back then had always seemed strange to her; she had assumed they’d only used one once, not realizing they used it daily. “So rich! Rich people, adopt me!”

“Get lost,” Shi Man shot back unceremoniously. “Tonight, you’ll get a proper taste of my skill.”

“I’m looking forward to it too,” Zhang Yan admitted. After drinking coffee for so many days, she truly wanted Shi Man to make a batch. However, she worried about constantly troubling her later, so she hadn't asked. She hadn't expected Shi Man to volunteer first. Zhang Yan was certain that once Shi Hongrui and the others tasted Shi Man’s brew, they would constantly pester her to make it. Zhang Yan glanced at Wang Qiqi and saw a similarly mischievous smile; well, Qiqi had the same idea.

“Ruirui, tonight you’ll taste Master Man’s skills. What are you waiting for?” Wang Qiqi, afraid Shi Man might change her mind, quickly ushered the guest away. Once Shi Hongrui left, even if Shi Man regretted it, no one would pay attention to her.

Seeing herself being hurried out by everyone, Shi Hongrui could only comply. Since even Qiqi had said so, perhaps she should look forward to it. Yes, she’d bring her books to Qiqi’s room later to review. Qiqi’s room was remarkably clean; studying there would be quite pleasant. When tired, she could lie on the floor and gaze at the starry sky outside the window without worrying about straining her neck.

Shi Man watched the hastily departing Shi Hongrui, then turned to see the two knowing smiles; she understood immediately and regretted her impulsiveness. “I’m going to call Ruirui back and tell her I feel unwell.” There was no way they wouldn't listen to her if she claimed to be sick. Shi Man felt claiming illness was her only escape from this commitment. She regretted being so quick to speak; it was just coffee, and she’d have plenty of chances to brew it for Qiqi and the others later. But now, look at the mess made by showing off—it was a big problem.

“Feeling unwell?” Wang Qiqi responded with a smile, confirming her suspicion that Shi Man regretted it. “It’s fine. Once the aroma of the coffee fills the air, you’ll feel better—that’s what someone said. Also, don't you dare ruin the coffee; otherwise, they’ll think I lied to them, and you wouldn't want to make both YanYan and me lose face, would you?” Wang Qiqi preemptively cautioned Shi Man, suspecting the latter might actually try to deliberately mess up the brew. While the probability was low, it wasn't zero.

“Yes,” Zhang Yan pleaded pitifully, looking at Shi Man. “Can you really bear to pour such excellent coffee down the drain? I still remember the coffee you brewed back in China; it was delicious; I remember it vividly…” To get a taste of that good coffee, Zhang Yan went all out with her pity. “And the cup we had this morning was excellent. Don’t you want to see how your skill measures up now?”

Shi Man knew there was no backing out now, no matter what excuse she offered. “It’s just brewing coffee. It’s worth celebrating the arrival of new beans with a special brew anyway.” Shi Man stated her reason for this one time, secretly congratulating herself on her quick thinking. With this excuse, she wondered how they would ask her to do it next time.

Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan merely brushed their ears at Shi Man’s muttered self-talk, thinking they were getting old because they caught bits and pieces of what Shi Man was saying.

Shortly after, Shi Hongrui returned to announce the beans were ground. Shi Man deliberately stalled a bit. “I’m going to brew the coffee now. Qiqi, do you want to come down and learn?” Hmph, as if she didn't know that Qiqi’s coffee-making skills were also decent. Qiqi was just good at hiding it, and more importantly, she preferred tea over coffee. Tea required just pouring hot water over leaves in a cup—much simpler and faster than fresh brewing.

Wang Qiqi shook her head. “I need to finish this book today.” Her daily quota wasn't complete, and she wouldn't let trivial matters derail her plan. “Bring up those cookies while you’re at it.” Wang Qiqi remembered baking quite a few cookies last time and thought there should be some left. The cookies she made previously had too much butter, and everyone said they were too greasy, so not many people ate them. It would be perfect to use this opportunity to finish them off instead of wasting them.

Shi Hongrui’s expression shifted slightly upon hearing Wang Qiqi remembered the cookies. “Oh, I thought you all didn’t like them, so I ate them while studying at the library.” Thank heavens, she wasn't lying; she had eaten them while studying with classmates.

Eaten, huh? Wang Qiqi didn't dwell on it. “It’s good they’re eaten; I didn't want them to go to waste.” It was better that way; she didn't want to eat those things late at night. “But you said they were greasy and you didn’t like them?” Wang Qiqi pressed, suddenly curious. She thought that if Shi Hongrui wasn't so picky, her future failed baking projects would have a reliable recipient. Qiqi had recently found a recipe for palmiers but dared not try it, worried that if it turned out badly, no one would eat it. Back in China, Wang Qiqi wouldn't worry about that; there were simply too many people to feed.

“It’s better than wasting food. If you’re hungry, having something to eat is good enough.” Although she didn’t know why Qiqi was asking, Shi Hongrui had no retreat route and had to stand her ground. “I’m going downstairs to watch Manman make coffee.” Worried about what Qiqi might ask next and risking exposure, Shi Hongrui quickly followed Shi Man out.

Zhang Yan was quite curious about Wang Qiqi’s question. She knew Qiqi wasn't genuinely concerned about the fate of those cookies. “My sister made palmiers recently and said they were delicious, so she gave me the recipe. I plan to try making some one day, but I’m worried they’ll turn out badly and no one will eat them.” Wang Qiqi didn't let Zhang Yan stay curious for long, explaining why she asked, since Shi Hongrui and Zhao Rongrong weren't there, there was no harm in telling her.

Zhang Yan was stunned by what Wang Qiqi told her. So, this person basically intended to use Shi Hongrui as a trash can? “You have some nerve.”

Wang Qiqi shrugged. What was there to be ashamed of? “As long as it’s baked, it’s edible; the taste and crispness are just different.” Even with the recipe, success wasn't guaranteed on the first try. Even though Qiqi had baked so many pastries, considering herself an old hand, sometimes her creations still failed. “I’ll make some in a few days when I’m free.” The more Wang Qiqi thought about it, the more impulsive she became, especially after seeing Song Yao enjoying palmiers so much during their last video call, making Qiqi's teeth itch with envy, wishing she could reach through the screen and snatch them.

Upstairs, while Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan discussed pastries, Shi Hongrui watched Shi Man meticulously preparing the coffee in the kitchen. The intense focus and precision of every step amazed Shi Hongrui, who had seen Shi Man make coffee before. This level of dedication was unexpected.

“Usually, I don't have this much enthusiasm for coffee, but today, encountering such fine coffee, and having just tasted a good cup, my coffee craving kicked in,” Shi Man explained why she was being so meticulous this time compared to previous times she brewed coffee.

“So the place that sells the beans also offers free samples?” Shi Hongrui wondered how the shop owner made a profit if they offered reduced prices and free samples.

Samples? How much could that be? Half a sip at best. “They don’t just sell coffee beans; they also sell brewed coffee and coffee-related pastries. If you like the taste of the coffee, you can buy the corresponding beans to take home.” Shi Man estimated that if every customer who walked in expected a free taste, the owner would be close to shutting down, even if they owned their own coffee plantation.

So they also did that. “I thought so; no business owner would willingly take a loss. Is that shop far away?” Shi Hongrui wanted to try the coffee Shi Man raved about. During their travels through Germany, Shi Man hadn’t offered much praise for the coffee they drank along the way. She was surprised Shi Man was giving such high praise this time.

Shi Man didn’t know the exact address. “Ask Qiqi for the specific address, but it’s an old, century-old shop, quite famous around here.” While having tea, they noticed many elderly couples coming in to have a cup of coffee and order a pastry. Their business volume was less than that of open-air cafes, but the atmosphere felt different, more refined. Perhaps the owner preferred customers who genuinely appreciated coffee and wasn't concerned about the sheer number of patrons.

Shi Hongrui repeated the name of the coffee shop several times under her breath, planning to visit in a few days. Just as she was about to ask more questions, a wonderful aroma wafted over. “Oh, this coffee is really something.” After observing Shi Man’s brewing process, she wasn't arrogant enough to attribute the fragrance solely to the beans. Even the best beans produced garbage if the brewer lacked skill. Shi Hongrui now understood why Shi Man hadn't bothered brewing before—the coffee beans must have been terrible, giving her no motivation to try.

Shi Man took a sniff and looked slightly dejected. “Sigh, it’s just missing something.” Although the initial scent seemed similar, upon closer inspection, the difference was vast. “It’ll be ready soon. Ruirui, please fill a thermos with some later and take it upstairs.” Now that the result was in, Shi Man didn't want to linger by the machine; the outcome was simply too disappointing.

Shi Hongrui was baffled by Shi Man constantly muttering about what was lacking as soon as the coffee aroma emerged. In no time, Shi Man was ready to go upstairs. “Are you alright?” Shi Hongrui asked with concern.

Shi Man forced a smile. “I’m fine.” She just realized how far her own skills lagged. She had thought her technique was good enough to open a small cafe, but now she saw the gap was huge. Sigh, there was so much more to learn.

Wang Qiqi was bragging to Han Tao about the large pillow she made when she heard the door open. She was about to say the coffee smelled good and ask Shi Man to pour her a cup when she noticed Shi Man’s disheartened expression. Forgetting her bragging session with her boyfriend, she asked with concern, “Manman, are you okay?” It was just a trip downstairs to brew coffee; why the sudden bad mood?

Zhang Yan also found it strange and glanced behind Shi Man, noticing no thermos. She suppressed her urge to ask if the coffee was ready. “Are you feeling alright?” Perhaps Shi Man had actually been feeling unwell earlier?

Shi Man shook her head to indicate she was fine. “I just realized how far behind my skills are compared to theirs.”

So, it was about that. Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan stopped trying to comfort her. “So, we’ll have coffee soon then?” Wang Qiqi returned to discussing coursework with Zhang Yan.

Shi Hongrui and Zhang Yan entered, carrying books and a large thermos. “Do you mind if two more join you?”

What else could Wang Qiqi say? Turn them away? “Come in, as long as you don’t feel too crowded.” The three of them shifted slightly to make space for the newcomers.

Zhao Rongrong hadn't really wanted to come up, but Shi Hongrui insisted on dragging her along. She offered an apologetic smile to Wang Qiqi. “Manman’s coffee tastes pretty good.”

Hearing this, Wang Qiqi and Zhang Yan almost laughed. Shi Hongrui had just said her skills weren't up to par. “Manman’s coffee is delicious; it’s a must-have for home and travel. When I’m rich someday, I’ll buy an RV and travel everywhere with Manman.” Although Wang Qiqi wasn't particularly interested in cars, she loved the idea of an RV, especially a long one, like a bus. It would look magnificent on the road, and they could park anywhere with a nice view to rest. In China, places offering RV services were rare, but abroad, there were many. In her past life, owning such a vehicle was just a dream, but perhaps in this life, it was a real possibility.

Shi Hongrui sucked in a sharp breath. My heavens. But then she quickly thought that RVs came in all sizes; perhaps Qiqi was referring to a small camper van. If she knew the kind of RV Qiqi actually had in mind, she would likely faint dead away. “Qiqi, you’ve read so much—haven’t you ever thought about setting the world on fire and building a great career?” Shi Hongrui truly couldn’t fathom Wang Qiqi. If you said she lacked ambition, yet she had managed to complete her master’s degree, especially now with such a prime opportunity before her, she was determined instead to wander aimlessly. If it were her, she would already be planning how to expand her network and cozy up to those elites. Shi Hongrui felt Wang Qiqi was truly ungrateful for her fortune.

Wang Qiqi understood Shi Hongrui’s ambition perfectly, but that was her way of thinking, not hers. “My demands aren’t high. It’s not that I lack a career; it’s just a matter of scale.”

Seeing Wang Qiqi dismiss the matter so lightly, Shi Hongrui’s face flushed with embarrassment, but she swiftly lowered her gaze back to her book. RS