"Linglong, can we stop now?"
Tang Siran's voice trailed off into a long hum at the end.
It wasn't for any other reason than her best friend was too much of a shopper!
She and Xi never considered themselves to have low combat power; they hadn't even thought about it when they used to go shopping together.
But this time!
Hua Linglong truly refreshed their understanding!
Seeing Hua Linglong engrossed and not paying attention to her, Tang Siran quietly edged closer to Qiu Xi.
Then, she asked with a bit of confusion, "Xiao Xi, Linglong's... this ability, when did she develop it?"
They had only stopped hanging out for a few years, and she was already this amazing?
It made even her, a girl, have to admit defeat!
After hearing her, Qiu Xi looked at Hua Linglong with even more bewildered confusion.
Then, she turned back to Tang Siran and shook her head helplessly.
"I'm also completely clueless..."
She and Linglong hadn't stopped going out shopping for that long...
She was usually busy, but whenever she had free time, she would find ways to meet up with her.
It hadn't been long since their last shopping trip...
Did Linglong always hold back so much when she was with her?
For a moment, the two women exchanged glances in silence.
After a long while, Hua Linglong paused, holding two hats, and turned around.
"Tang Tang, Xiao Xi, which of these two do you think suits Little Snowflake better?"
Little Snowflake was the artistic type of girl, and these hats would suit her perfectly...
Considering their experience from the afternoon, both of them blurted out without thinking, "...Why don't you just take both?"
"Both?" Hua Linglong concentrated. "That makes sense!"
"Then I'll take both of these!"
After saying that, her gaze shifted to the next spot.
As for Qiu Xi and Tang Siran, they had completely surrendered...
They took what they could carry, and for the items that were too much to handle, they could only trouble others to send them back to the hotel...
The three of them shopped until 6 PM, and after dinner, they continued shopping for a while longer.
Finally, the three of them slowly shuffled back to the hotel.
Upon returning, it wasn't as they had imagined, where they could just lie down.
"This... is this much my stuff?" Looking at the pile in front of her, Hua Linglong's eyes widened significantly, her tone full of uncertainty.
However, Qiu Xi and Tang Siran simply extended their hands, palms up, their faces clearly stating: What did you expect?
"..."
Hua Linglong guiltily lowered her head.
"Alright!" Qiu Xi glared directly. "No one's watching you, so hurry up and take this stuff upstairs first."
They had already been delivered, and leaving them here wasn't ideal.
Moreover, they definitely had to pack everything tonight, otherwise, how would they catch their flight tomorrow?
"Okay..." Hua Linglong replied listlessly.
The three of them made two trips before finally getting everything into the room.
"Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~"
Sitting on a stool, they panted heavily, gulping down water.
Tang Siran looked at the pile of items in front of her and still couldn't quite comprehend... Hua Linglong's stamina was truly... amazing!
"Linglong, tomorrow when we go back, can you handle all this?"
There was just too much; she was afraid they wouldn't be able to carry it all...
Carrying it to the airport tomorrow would be a difficult task!
Hua Linglong was too tired to speak, so she could only nod.
After catching her breath, she finally said, "It's fine, I'll call someone to pick it up."
"Besides, Xiao Xi is here too. We'll each call someone, it's a small matter~"
"Then that's fine..."
Hua Linglong's words reminded Tang Siran that Xiao Xi had basically settled in Chongxi City.
Her family was mostly here, so it wouldn't be too much trouble to go back tomorrow.
"Alright, then let's leave it here for now. We'll pack it later."
Right now, they really didn't want to move!
Moving at all made their whole body feel numb...
"Mmm..."
Qiu Xi, listening to the two chat back and forth, picked up her phone as she had nothing else to do.
She had been out all day and hadn't taken her phone out of her bag.
As soon as she opened it, messages from several group chats had exploded.
Qiu Xi scanned them briefly; there were many.
However, it was already too late, so she decided to contact them tomorrow morning.
Therefore, Qiu Xi didn't look further. After resting, she started packing with Hua Linglong and Tang Siran.
Their flight was tomorrow at noon, so packing everything today would prevent them from being rushed tomorrow.
......
The next day -
Qiu Xi woke up early and immediately called her grandmother for a video call.
"Xiao Xi~"
"What are you doing?"
As soon as the video call connected, her grandmother's happy voice came through.
"Grandma, Linglong and Tang Tang and I just woke up and finished breakfast. We're going to look around a bit more, and in a few hours, we'll be ready to head home~"
As she spoke, Qiu Xi turned the camera to Hua Linglong and Tang Siran.
Seeing this, the two raised their hands and waved, greeting Grandma Qiu.
"Hello, Grandma~"
Although they hadn't seen each other in a while, they had grown up with Qiu Xi, and the families knew at least one or two people from each other's families.
"Oh my~"
"You two little girls haven't seen each other in ages! Tang Tang, how have you been abroad?"
She knew Tang Siran had gone abroad, as Xiao Xi had mentioned.
In the past, her youngest son didn't live with them, so whenever Xiao Xi had free time, she would bring her friends to visit them. Over time, she naturally became familiar with the children around her granddaughter.
"Grandma, I'm doing very well here~"
Indeed, she was doing well, but she did miss home a little...
"Good, good~"
"When you come back, come to Grandma's, and I'll cook delicious food for you~"
"Okay~" Tang Siran smiled and nodded.
Hua Linglong, standing beside them, chimed in after their conversation, "Grandma Qiu, you're only asking about Tang Tang~"
"Linglong and Xiao Xi are still here!"
"Hahahaha~" Grandma Qiu on the other end laughed heartily. "I haven't forgotten!"
"But you, girl, haven't come to see this old woman even though you're in Chongxi City. I've been doting on you for nothing before!"
"Hehehe~"
"Grandma, it's just that my studies are very demanding!"
"Today! I'll be going back with Xiao Xi in a little while, and then I'll shamelessly tag along!"
Unreasonable but righteous, Hua Linglong, who had been feeling a bit guilty moments ago, became cheerfully thick-skinned in the next second.
"Okay~ You can come directly then~"
"Alright, Grandma Qiu, just wait for me then!"
"I'll definitely go with her~"
"Remember, I'll be waiting for you."
Whether it was true or not, Grandma Qiu was enjoying the conversation, her old face crinkling with joy.
Hua Linglong looked on, and after speaking, she turned her gaze away, letting Qiu Xi and Grandma Qiu continue.
Seeing this, Qiu Xi leaned back against the headboard with her phone and continued, "Grandma, I didn't reply yesterday because we got back quite late. Our flight is at noon, and we'll be home tonight, so you don't need to worry."
Yesterday, the messages in the group chat were because everyone saw that she hadn't replied for a whole day after her competition, so they sent more messages. She could tell they were worried.
"Okay~"
"When you get back, we'll celebrate together."
Her grandchild was so outstanding; she wished she could celebrate with her granddaughter right now.
Qiu Xi nodded, "Okay~ I'll listen to you, Grandma."
"Mmm... By the way!"
"I haven't told you yet, but your parents, they arrived right after you departed. You'll be able to see them when you get home."
Qiu Xi was delighted. "That's wonderful news!"
It truly was wonderful news!
Her parents coming meant that matters at home had been settled, and they could stay in Chongxi City for the long term.
This way, their entire family could be together.
Furthermore, her internship and other work would become much more convenient.
As for their home in Jinhai City, they would go back together when they had time.
Later, when they didn't want to stay in the big city anymore, they would return and retire there!
"I know it's good news, we're waiting for you now~"
"Yesterday at noon, Teacher Ding came directly to find Master Du, and they were drinking together all afternoon~"
"Your dad was also generous yesterday, it was quite lively~"
As she recalled yesterday's events, Grandma Qiu was still delighted.
Qiu Xi hadn't expected that this would excite everyone so much, nor had she expected Teacher Ding, who was usually quite steady, to drink with her master.
She wondered if Grandma Ge knew...
"Alright, I'm planning to go out shopping with Grandma Li, so I won't chat anymore~"
"We'll talk more properly when you get back tonight~"
Now she had to tell her son that her good granddaughter was coming back, and they needed to prepare food properly!
Otherwise, they might have to eat leftovers when she returned tonight...
Saying this, she hung up the video call before Qiu Xi could respond, put away her phone, and went to find someone.
Qiu Xi looked at the empty chat window, a little dazed.
After a long while, she picked up her phone.