The Fatty rubbed his eyes, habitually looking outside, only to find it was already dark. "What time is it? Why haven't Han Tao and the others returned yet? Could something have happened?" The Fatty said with great unease. Didn't they say they were just scouting around the neighborhood? They should have been home by now.

"Sigh, if they don't come back, what am I going to eat tonight? Noodles or fried rice?" The Fatty patted his stomach, which was beginning to rumble. "Ugh, I'm so used to having someone cook. It's really disorienting without a chef around, and I can't even order delivery." "Did you even bother listening for any sound?" Han Tao murmured behind the Fatty, truly exasperated by the complaining without even looking up. Huh, Han Tao and the others were back. The Fatty hadn't expected that after just a brief grumble, he’d caught the main characters themselves.

He felt a bit sheepish. "You're back. How was it outside?" "Qi Qi is preparing dinner." Han Tao deftly sidestepped the Fatty's question. "Qi Qi is leaving for London tomorrow night, so the next few days will be a bit tough for us." What? Qi Qi is going to London? The Fatty was about to excitedly ask if the two of them were also going to London, but then he quickly remembered the context of the times—Qi Qi must be going to procure supplies.

"The train lines are open?" If it was by plane, the Fatty figured it was unlikely to take off, and getting to the airport wasn't convenient. That left only the train, and the station wasn't too far from here. "They are. Qi Qi and I walked to the station and managed to secure tickets after some effort." Han Tao was surprised that someone was even working at the station at this hour, and equally surprised that there were still functioning trains. Originally, it was Wang Qi Qi’s idea not to venture out at this time, but Han Tao felt there was no reason for her to stay cooped up here; it was better to go out, earn a bit, and grab a decent meal along the way. "Qi Qi will only be gone for two days.

When she returns, she can bring back some food." Only Qi Qi is going? The Fatty was just about to blurt out that he wanted to go along too, but upon hearing it was just Qi Qi, his face immediately fell. "Ah, we're staying here to watch the house?" Even though the Fatty was somewhat of a homebody, he was utterly sick of the days without electricity. He’d been to the UK before, arriving first in London, but due to the rush, he had transited directly at the airport without ever setting foot in central London. Not even a fleeting glimpse. Now, knowing Qi Qi was heading there, the Fatty’s heart felt like it was sprouting weeds, constantly screaming, Let’s go to London and take a look, otherwise, this trip to the UK will have been for nothing!

"Yes." Han Tao knew the Fatty wanted to go. Truthfully, he also wanted to accompany Qi Qi to London, but he worried about what might happen if trouble broke out here, and also what if the Fatty didn't want to go out. For various reasons, Han Tao ultimately gave up the idea of accompanying Qi Qi to London. But he hadn't expected the Fatty to actually want to go to the UK. Although the Fatty had a feeling that would be the answer, hearing Han Tao confirm it, he immediately wailed, "Han Tao, my good brother! Your big brother here has never been to London.

How about we go together this time? We can also help Wang Qi Qi carry things." The Fatty knew Han Tao's weak spot and naturally played to it. The Fatty's words were quite tempting to Han Tao. Yes, the key point was that Qi Qi needed to procure quite a few things. Although Qi Qi said she would ship items directly from London, they would still need to carry things to their lodging. "Qi Qi is going to London for serious business." Han Tao was indeed tempted, but seeing the Fatty's expectant face, he knew his thoughts.

The Fatty probably wouldn't even go shopping in the UK. "Are you really going to help carry things?" Help carry things? The Fatty was about to nod, but then he reconsidered. Qi Qi wasn't just window shopping; she had the air of someone who could sweep a department store clean. Even if they lodged next to the mall, just the sheer logistics of moving everything would be a nightmare for them. "Never mind that, do I really have the stamina for that?" Though it felt a bit disloyal, the Fatty thought it was better to forget it.

Han Tao knew the Fatty would retreat the moment carrying things was mentioned. "You..." The Fatty felt a pang of guilt. He had been clamoring to go to London, and now that carrying things was involved, he was immediately backing out—a real failure in camaraderie. But looking at Han Tao’s expression of I knew it, he felt, Why should I feel guilty? What am I feeling guilty about? "Hmph, I think you're deliberately pushing the excuse onto me so you don't have to carry anything.

Hmph, your conscience is deeply flawed." Don't think I don't know your little scheme. You just don't want to spend two days as manual labor in London, plus you won't get any alone time with Qi Qi, so you keep telling me how awful London will be. The Fatty’s words left Han Tao speechless. While they hit slightly close to home regarding his true feelings, the problem was why this damned Fatty blurted out everything, regardless of whether Qi Qi was home. If Qi Qi heard this, Han Tao was certain he'd be miserable. When buying the train tickets earlier, didn't Qi Qi ask if they wanted to go to London together?

How did he respond then? Han Tao couldn't recall his exact answer. Wang Qi Qi was busy preparing things in the kitchen. She was going to London the next few days. Although the trains out were running now, she didn't know if there would be more blizzards; rumor had it there might be. So she needed to rush to London these next few days to snag some supplies and then return.

She hadn't expected the Fatty to also want to go to London. She had been thinking of letting him go, in case the snow trapped them there, they could all wait it out in London, allowing the Fatty and Han Tao to continue their work. But before Wang Qi Qi could voice her thoughts to Han Tao and the Fatty, she heard what the Fatty said. Wang Qi Qi fully agreed with that statement. Hmph, earlier at the station buying tickets, someone had quickly answered no to the invitation. While the reason was plausible, the speed of his refusal suggested he didn't want to go to London either, didn't it?

Wang Qi Qi leaned against the kitchen doorframe. "If you don't want to go, then don't go. I’m not insisting you carry things, and you don't need to push the excuse onto the Fatty." Hmph, let's see how you explain this. Wang Qi Qi had noticed the fleeting flicker of guilt in Han Tao’s eyes when he looked over earlier. If he were being completely upfront, why that expression? Han Tao hadn't expected Wang Qi Qi to overhear and then say such a thing.

He internally cried out, This is bad, this is bad. Don't mistake Qi Qi's gentle nature for weakness; she has lines that shouldn't be crossed. This incident wasn't huge, but it wasn't insignificant either. More importantly, Qi Qi had been stuck at home these past few days, and her mood wasn't great, so hearing anything—even something small—could lead her to overthink it, turning it into a major issue. And Qi Qi’s expression showed she heard the Fatty’s words and considered this a big problem. Han Tao knew the immediate priority was to appease Qi Qi.

As for the Fatty watching the drama unfold nearby, Han Tao decided he didn't have the energy to manage him right now. But the Fatty shouldn't get too cocky. Once Qi Qi was calmed down, it would be time to settle accounts with him. Hmph, making fun of me like that? "Qi Qi, how could I be unwilling to go to London..." The Fatty certainly understood what Han Tao’s glance toward him implied. He felt that since there were already plenty of scores to settle, adding one more wouldn't matter much.

In any case, he was going to watch the show. Moreover, the Fatty noticed that Qi Qi wasn't angry at Han Tao because of his words, but because she wanted both of them to go to London. What the Fatty hadn't mentioned earlier was that his desire to go to London wasn't just about sightseeing. For a shut-in like him, visiting London in the dead of winter, shivering constantly, was impossible. He’d much prefer a crisp autumn or warm spring day. Besides, they weren't exactly idle here.

He hadn't assumed London would have experienced the same long-term power outages as this small town; if it did snow, it surely wouldn't last for days with no sign of electricity returning. In London, he could fully get back to work. As for Han Tao, the Fatty was confident he would stay at the lodgings to keep him company—not because Han Tao wouldn't want to accompany him, but because Qi Qi knew how much time they had lost and would definitely push him to work hard. The Fatty hoped they could just stay until the power returned here; otherwise, coming back to this life again would feel utterly miserable. Just as the Fatty snapped out of his daydream, he realized he was alone in the living room with Han Tao. "Where's Qi Qi?" The Fatty wondered how long he’d been lost in thought for Qi Qi to disappear so quickly.

Could she have already given Han Tao a thorough dressing-down? Was that speed a bit too fast? The Fatty felt a wave of regret. Such a prime piece of drama right in front of him, and he missed enjoying it. Han Tao looked at the Fatty's look of wistful regret and didn't hold back. He walked over and lightly smacked the Fatty's head a few times.

Hmph, daring to show that expression in front of him, as if he were invisible—he needed a lesson. "Remember to pack your bags today. If the power doesn't come back on here, we’re staying in London." Hmph, thanks to this kid, they were about to move to a place with electricity. Stop obsessing over the power here all the time. Really going to London? The Fatty’s mouth stretched into a huge grin.

"Wow, I'll start packing right away!" The Fatty sprang up from his armchair, ready to pack his suitcase. What wonderful news! "London, London, I’m coming to you soon!" How could the Fatty not be happy? Moving into civilization was a huge event! Even if the costs might spike and the food and lodging might not be as good, the Fatty declared those were not problems. As long as he could play on his computer and video chat with Wei Wei, he could accept anything.

Not being able to contact Wei Wei these past few days had made him restless. "The first thing I'll do when I get to London is video chat with Wei Wei!" He wanted to show Wei Wei how miserable his man was living, and he wouldn't miss such a perfect chance to play pitiful and adorable. Besides, the Fatty was deliberately avoiding someone’s glare. He thought, I’m not an idiot; I can see who's planning to explode at me. So, retreat was the best strategy. If the person still chased after him, well, that couldn't be helped.

But judging by Han Tao’s look, he must have been scolded by Qi Qi just now. The Fatty figured Han Tao wouldn't risk ruining his good behavior now by provoking him further, so if he wanted to stir up trouble, it shouldn't be in front of Han Tao. Han Tao looked at the person radiating an air of springtime from head to toe. "I think you're just trying to garner sympathy, but Fatty, you won't get any sympathy acting like that." Although he truly didn't want to remind the Fatty, given that the Fatty was his friend—and despite wanting to see the Fatty make a fool of himself—he was fundamentally decent enough not to let him embarrass himself in front of his woman. The Fatty stopped his triumphant strut, utterly bewildered, and turned to look at Han Tao. He found it strange why he wouldn't garner sympathy.

He had been living quite hard lately, and Wei Wei wasn't his woman, so she could be as hard-hearted as she pleased. "That's because you've gotten fat. I estimate you've gained at least five catties." Wang Qi Qi’s merciless teasing echoed from the kitchen, followed shortly by her appearance at the doorway. Poor Fatty! He probably hadn't looked in a mirror while washing up these past few days, or he wouldn't be saying that. Who would complain about being thin and suffering when they’ve piled on the pounds?

Wang Qi Qi would never admit that once the Fatty got settled in London and saw his reflection, he'd instantly abandon any thought of being thin. But Wang Qi Qi wouldn't let this small wish of his linger; she absolutely had to shatter his beautiful dream. What? Gained five catties? The Fatty jumped at Wang Qi Qi's words. "Don't scare me." The Fatty narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao, trying to catch any sign of them deceiving him.

He thought the husband and wife must be teaming up to trick him; they had a history of it. Unfortunately, his scheme failed. Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao didn't avoid his gaze, which made the Fatty panic. "Heavens, how did I get fat? Wei Wei won't let me get fat! She said I got quite heavy when I went to the US.

If she sees I’m fat again this time, I’m truly doomed!" The Fatty excitedly lit a candle and rushed to the bathroom to check the mirror. Not long after, a high-pitched male tenor sound erupted from the bathroom, a note so high Wang Qi Qi estimated it could rival a leading opera tenor. From that alone, one could tell the Fatty probably wished he could die right then and there. Wang Qi Qi and Han Tao had expected the Fatty to complain about losing weight, prompting the woman to display maternal warmth and promise to cook him great meals when she eventually went to the US. But now they realized they had misread the situation. It was Wei Wei who constantly nagged the Fatty about his expanding waistline and ordered him to diet.

However, the Fatty had never succeeded in dieting before, and now he thought he had lost weight. "So he was running off to report good news?" Han Tao grumbled. "Actually, the Fatty really lacks exercise." The Fatty was the type who gained weight just by drinking water, so he knew crash dieting was unfeasible. Only exercise could prevent his weight from creeping up. But after going to the US, between classes and hustling for money, the Fatty had no time to work out, causing him to swell up like a rapidly inflating balloon. "It's fine.

Let the Fatty go hungry these next few days. Won't he lose weight then? And if he sounds weak, he can definitely tell Wei Wei how cruelly we tortured him and deprived him of good food," Wang Qi Qi declared loudly, raising her voice. "That's a decent idea," Han Tao said. He was well aware his wife was only suggesting it deliberately. Other people could lose weight by dieting, but not the Fatty.

A few hours of hunger, and the guy would pass out. "But the Fatty can't handle that. What if he faints from hunger?" "If he faints, what business is that of ours? Just toss him in a snowdrift and claim he fell out in the middle of the night while admiring the snowscape," Wang Qi Qi offered a highly questionable solution. The Fatty, hearing this from the bathroom, had only one thought: Ah, the saying 'The most venomous heart belongs to a woman' is truly accurate. Han Tao, look at your woman!

The Fatty couldn't afford to mourn his renewed chubbiness or worry about his video chat with Wei Wei in a few days. Right now, he wanted to lash out at Wang Qi Qi. "Qi Qi, if you weren't making so many delicious things, would I have gotten fat?" The Fatty reflected that he hadn't been exercising much here either; only his diet had improved significantly. This meant that his weight gain was directly related to Qi Qi's superb cooking. Wang Qi Qi was stunned. She hadn't expected the blame to land on her.

"Fatty, are you serious?" He had just complained that her cooking wasn't good enough, and now he was blaming her for his weight gain. Wang Qi Qi felt truly wronged. "It’s fine. We're leaving for London immediately, and the quality of food will drop sharply. When we get back, Fatty, don't worry. We will definitely accompany you on a 'gut cleanse.' Every day, only congee and rice, maybe some vegetables at most—no meat.

Then I'll supervise you climbing stairs for an hour every day, and you'll practice horse stance." If it weren't for worrying about the Fatty's bones being too stiff, Wang Qi Qi would have dragged him into yoga sessions. Yoga was quite effective for weight loss with long-term practice. What? Diet reduced to that? The Fatty was dumbfounded. "Qi Qi, are you kidding me?" Eating congee was one thing, but absolutely no meat?

This sounded like a death sentence! "Ah, I can't live like this, Qi Qi. You wouldn't watch me suffer through such a hard life, would you?" "To help you lose weight, so Wei Wei won't despise you, Fatty, you just have to endure it." Wang Qi Qi suppressed a smile and walked back to the kitchen to prepare things. Did he think that by saying that, she would feel guilty? Sorry, Wang Qi Qi felt this wasn't her fault. Who was it that kept ordering extra dishes?

Now he knew the consequences, didn't he? Hahaha. The Fatty directed a look of desperate appeal toward Han Tao, hoping his brother would bail him out, but Han Tao stared fixedly at the ceiling, pointedly avoiding his gaze. "Sigh, when times are tough, you really see who cares about you," the Fatty lamented pitifully. "Aren't we going to the ferry tomorrow? And we have enough battery power left for one more cycle.

Let’s start working today," Han Tao redirected the topic. Though the shift in topic was a bit abrupt, "As soon as I finish packing, we'll start working." Finally, he could touch his beloved computer! The Fatty was in a much better mood and decided not to quarrel with Wang Qi Qi anymore; one shouldn't keep offending the head chef. Knowing they were leaving for London soon where the electricity wouldn't fail, the Fatty and Han Tao worked straight through until dawn. Wang Qi Qi checked on them several times when she got up for water and saw them both inputting data into the computers. She could only purse her lips and briefly mention that it was late and they should sleep.

They always agreed readily but never remembered. If the batteries hadn't run out, Wang Qi Qi truly feared they would have kept working. Regarding this, Wang Qi Qi mused that if these two ever started a company, the pressure on their subordinates would be immense. The bosses would work themselves ragged, and the employees, even if they wanted to slack off, would have to at least keep an eye on the bosses and couldn't overdo it. The Fatty and Han Tao didn't wake up until the afternoon. They had intended to sleep in later, but Wang Qi Qi worried that if they slept too long during the day, they wouldn't sleep on the train tomorrow, considering how busy things would be in London.

The Fatty rubbed his eyes sleepily and headed to the bathroom to wash his face. He habitually flipped the light switch, then remembered—no electricity here. But before he could flip the switch off, the sudden illumination above his head startled him. "Ah! Qi Qi, the power! The power is on!" Just when they had given up hope of electricity returning in the next few days, it had come back.

The power is on? Han Tao groggily crawled out of his covers. "Fatty, are you dreaming?" Although they heard repairs were underway, they were told it wouldn't be fixed easily. "It's real!" Wang Qi Qi wasn't as groggy as the just-woken Han Tao. She had noticed the bathroom light. "The power really is on?" Ah, if the power is back, that’s wonderful!

Wang Qi Qi was thrilled. Hearing even Qi Qi confirm it, Han Tao's eyes lost their haze. "The power really is on!" This was truly great news. "Qi Qi, go plug in the computers and charge the batteries!" Han Tao knew that after the initial joy of the power returning, his first thought was to charge everything. He wasn't sure if this power outage was temporary or if electricity would be constant now, so they needed to seize the moment while it was on to fully charge the batteries and the laptops.

The arrangements made by Han Tao snapped Qiqi and Fatty out of their momentary elation. They understood this was not a time for joy and busied themselves charging the electric scooter battery and hunting for the computer's power cord. In no time at all, everything that needed power was plugged in.

“Since we have electricity now, maybe we shouldn’t bother going to London,” Fatty mumbled sheepishly. He had been so animated yesterday about the trip to London, but waking up to find the power restored at home made him feel like a foolish child—all that fuss for nothing when they could have just stayed put.

Wang Qiqi had originally pushed for London precisely because they had electricity there. Now that the home supply was back, there was no need for the arduous journey. “You’re the one who wanted to go, and you’re the one who wants to stay. Fatty, oh Fatty, going back on your word only makes you heavier.” Although she wanted them to stay, she couldn't just concede so easily; she certainly had to give Fatty a little pushback.

Fatty could only offer a self-deprecating smile. What else could he say? In the end, they would stay anyway, as long as he wasn't the one dragging them out. Go ahead, Wang Qiqi, say what you must. He decided to just play the part of a stubborn mule.