That evening-
The first thing Qiu Xi did after finishing her work and lying down in bed was to reply to Nan Hua's message.
"Ah Hua, I was too busy when I got back today, so I'm only replying to your message now."
The second she sent the message, Nan Hua's call came through.
"Ah Hua~"
"Why aren't you resting yet?" Qiu Xi asked, feigning surprise.
Nan Hua's gaze swept over, "Isn't it because someone heartless promised to call as soon as they got home, and I've been waiting until now..."
Qiu Xi's face stiffened, feeling a little awkward.
"Well... I was busy!"
As long as the reason was valid, everything was fine.
Nan Hua on the other end nodded, "Yes... so busy you don't even have time to make a call!"
By the end of his sentence, his tone had become a little sarcastic.
Qiu Xi, "..."
A boyfriend throwing a tantrum was a bit difficult to deal with.
"Alright~ I admit I was wrong." Helpless, she had to back down. Admitting fault was the right thing to do.
"I got caught up chatting with Xiao Ge on the way today. I was swamped when I got back, so I apologize. Please don't be mad~" Her voice trailed off in a petulant, obedient tone.
"Okay, I won't hold it against you this time." Nan Hua smiled helplessly as he looked at the girl on his screen.
A girlfriend who knew how to act cute was hard to be firm with.
This incident had to be let go.
"Mhm!" Qiu Xi nodded, "I knew you were the best~"
"...It's good that you know."
Qiu Xi couldn't help but smile at his slightly proud voice.
"..."
"Goodnight, Ah Hua~"
"Goodnight."
They dawdled on the call for a long time, only hanging up the video very late.
...
The very next day after their return, there was no time for sleeping in. Qiu Xi was dragged by her mother to go shopping for New Year's goods.
Although the house was already well-stocked, Qiu's mother couldn't resist her desire to browse.
"By the way, go and call Xiao Ge down. The three of us will go together." Qiu's mother, who had already finished getting ready, suddenly thought of calling her son down to act as a porter, which would be good labor.
"Wife, why don't... you just take me along? I can be the driver, the laborer... I can do anything." Qiu's father had been watching for a while, and hearing his beloved wife's words now, his little thoughts began to stir.
It had been a while since the two of them had gone out together.
When they returned some time ago, he had wanted to take her out, but his wife had said that everything was available online... and he ended up collecting the packages himself.
Now that he finally saw an opportunity, he had to try his best to get it!
Qiu's mother, who had finished tidying herself up, looked to the side, "You..."
Qiu's father looked on expectantly...
"No!"
"..." Qiu's father's face instantly fell, "Why?"
"You need to stay home and prepare the meals. This is very important, so you can't go." Qiu's mother said very seriously.
"Qiu Xi, go and call Xiao Ge down."
"...Okay, Mom."
After speaking, Qiu Xi glanced at her slightly pitiable father.
After a look of sympathy, she went upstairs to call him.
Qiu's father, "..."
If only he had known!
He should have listened to his daughter earlier and hired a maid to cook for the family!
Even if they weren't around, their eldest son was, so it was all minor stuff!
For a moment, Qiu's father felt a little regretful, but it was only for a moment. He actually still enjoyed the process of preparing meals for the family, finding it somewhat fulfilling.
"Mom, why do you have to drag me along when it's just the two of you going?" Qiu Ge, who was temporarily acting as the driver, had a lot to say as they headed out.
Qiu's mother immediately put down her phone upon hearing her son's words, "Good son, it's almost New Year, so Mom is taking you out to shop."
"In the new year, I'll buy you some new clothes, shoes, and other things to freshen up."
Qiu's mother spoke warmly, smiling gently.
On the surface, there was no hint that she felt like she was taking two escorts out shopping.
"Mom! You're really the best~" Qiu Ge's initial gloom disappeared upon hearing this.
There's no one better than Mom in the world.
Qiu Xi sighed helplessly, "..."
As expected, her silly brother was still silly.
In the end, the two of them accompanied her as she wandered from place to place, taking up half the day. Finally, when the car could no longer hold anything else, Qiu's mother took the two children and headed home.
"Indeed... I'm still too young!"
Returning home, Qiu Ge was laden with bags, with his own purchases only occupying a small corner.
"Xiao Ge, don't be sad."
"Sis~"
"You'll get used to it!"
"..."
"Go on, take everything with you!"
This was his own sister; he couldn't hit her!
"Alright, then I'll be going ahead."
Qiu Xi said, picking up the bags and walking in first.
However...
The scene before her made her wish she had come in later.
"Wife, are you tired?"
"Let me give you a massage."
Qiu's mother shook her head, "Not tired~"
"Husband, do you need to prepare dinner? I'll help you."
"Go, go, go~"
Saying this, the two of them pushed and pulled each other towards the kitchen.
"..."
So this was how her parents were behind closed doors...
Qiu Xi shook her head inwardly, put down her things, and immediately ran upstairs.
Since that was the case, she would just lie down and wait for dinner.
She said she would lie down, but after only two minutes, she sat up.
"Forget it!"
"I'd better work on my thesis," she muttered, and opened her laptop.
Excluding these two days, she only had thirteen days left of the holiday break.
Essentially, after the New Year, she would be returning to school.
Therefore, for her own good, she couldn't delay her thesis and needed to finish it quickly.
The thought of seeing Teacher Qi's expectant look after the year made Qiu Xi not dare to be lazy every day of the holiday.
If she really slacked off every day, her good days after the year would be over.
Thinking about it carefully, Qiu Xi no longer felt tired and decided to work hard!
However, just when you resolve to study hard, there will always be some people and some things that will disturb you.
As if on cue, just as Qiu Xi started her computer and was about to begin, a flurry of messages popped up on her phone.
"..."
"Who is it, at this hour..."
Picking up her phone, Qiu Xi smiled helplessly.
Her girlfriends were all on holiday and were planning to invite her out.
"Qiu Xi, want to hang out tomorrow?"
"Come out! Since both of us are back..."
Qiu Xi, "..."
"Since both of you have said it to this extent, can I not go?"
"No!"
"Definitely not."
"...There you have it, see you tomorrow." Qiu Xi sent the message with a smile.
"Okay!"
"See you tomorrow~"
And so, before even starting her work, Qiu Xi had already set her schedule for the next day.
It seemed she would have to work overtime today...
It was impossible not to study, and she wanted to go out and have fun. The solution was...
Time shift!
She still had to study what needed to be studied.
...