The next morning,
"Dad, you don't need to call me for lunch. I'm busy with some things. If I get hungry, I'll come down to find food."
After breakfast, Qiu Xi padded in her slippers, ready to go upstairs to work. Before leaving, she reminded her father.
Qiu's Dad didn't ask what she was doing and just nodded, "Okay, I'll heat it up for you."
"Great, thank you, Dad~"
With that, Qiu Xi strode upstairs.
She was busy until the afternoon, and it wasn't until almost one o'clock that Qiu Xi finally took her hands off the keyboard.
"Grumble grumble~"
"Alright, since I'm hungry, I'll proofread after I eat."
Yes, she had finished the work commissioned by Sister Tong.
Now all that was left was for her to proofread and send it.
...
Without delay, Qiu Xi started proofreading as soon as she finished eating.
"Done! Mission accomplished!"
Seeing that the email had been sent, Qiu Xi immediately clicked on the chat window.
"Sister Tong, I've sent the translated file to your email. Please take a look. If there are no issues, this job is considered complete."
As soon as the message was sent, Tong Mei replied, "I've already seen it."
"Xiao Xi, thank you so much!"
"I'll go look now, and I'll give you a reply before I get off work today."
"Okay, then I'll trouble you, Sister Tong."
After chatting with Tong Mei, Qiu Xi started looking at the memo she had written last night.
"Since I still have time, the first thing I'll do is work on this lesson plan."
She couldn't do much else at the moment.
As for this lesson plan, relying on her memory and the knowledge and experience accumulated over time, it was quite easy to handle.
...
In the evening-
"Xiao Xi, thank you for your help. This task is considered complete."
"I've also transferred the payment to the account number you provided earlier. Please check it."
"Okay, thank you, Sister Tong."
"You're welcome. I really couldn't have done it without you this time."
"If you ever need help in the future, don't hesitate to contact me, and I'll do my best."
Although she had worked overtime today, Tong Mei was in a good mood.
Such a tricky matter that came to her had been resolved so easily.
"Okay, then I'll be the one to ask for your help. Sister Tong, please don't find me troublesome~"
"Never!"
"I'm afraid you'll find me annoying if I ask you for help."
In her good mood, Tong Mei chatted with Qiu Xi for a bit longer.
"Alright, I'm done with overtime, so I won't chat with you anymore. Let's talk again another day~"
"Okay, then you go ahead, Sister Tong."
"Mm, bye."
...
After finishing what she promised Tong Mei, Qiu Xi completed a bit more of the tasks assigned by Teacher Qi.
Then, time flew by, and it was soon time for her to return to school.
"Dad, I'm leaving now. I'll wait for you in Chongxi City."
"Okay, be safe on your journey. Call home if anything comes up," Qiu's Dad said, earnestly advising his daughter.
"I know, Dad. You be careful when you go back too."
"Mm, then you go in first."
"Okay~"
After bidding farewell to Qiu's Dad, Qiu Xi pulled her slightly heavy suitcase through security.
A few hours later-
"Xixi, why is your suitcase even heavier than when you left? Aren't your hands tired?"
Nan Hua, who came to pick her up, took the suitcase from her as soon as he saw Qiu Xi.
With her hands freed, Qiu Xi shook them lightly.
"It's okay, just a little sore."
"It's all things prepared by my parents, your Aunt Chu, and even my tutor."
"A whole pile! It's incredibly complete." Qiu Xi almost laughed at herself by the end.
Because besides what her parents prepared, she also packed quite a lot, which made it particularly heavy.
But it was okay, she was smart enough to not take out some gifts from Xiao Hua for the elders, so the weight was still within a controllable range.
"Why did you pack so much? Don't do it next time, it's too tiring."
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
"Alright~ Let's go home."
Holding her suitcase in one hand and pulling his girlfriend's hand with the other, Nan Hua smiled and headed towards the parking lot.
...
"Aunt Chu, I'm here~"
"Xiao Xi, come quickly, come quickly!"
"Ah Hua said you were arriving today, and I started preparing as soon as he left."
"Here, have some fruit first."
As soon as Qiu Xi entered, Chu Sheng came forward and pulled her over.
"Ah Hua, remember to help Xiao Xi with her luggage first."
Looking at Madam Chu, whose eyes were only on her young girlfriend, Nan Hua smiled helplessly, "...Okay, I know."
"Mm, then you go."
With that, the two of them sat down and started chatting.
Nan Hua, all alone and feeling "miserable," carried all the luggage.
"..."
"Aunt Chu, my mom also asked me to bring you some things. I'll give them to you later."
"Sister Li is really something, making you, a young girl, get so tired from so far away."
Chu Sheng said with a smile, patting Qiu Xi's small hand, "I'll talk to her later~"
...
Office-
"Teacher Qi, Happy New Year!"
Today was the day Qiu Xi's group office had their first meeting of the year.
"Mm, very good!"
"You all look great after a year!"
"Commendable!"
Looking at his students, Qi Xizhi was in an exceptionally good mood, his smile never faltering since entering the office.
"Teacher Qi, these are New Year's gifts from us. They're local specialties. Please take them back and try them with Madam Qi."
Wei Ziqin, as the representative, pushed forward the gifts brought by everyone.
"Look at you all!" Qi Xizhi said, glaring at his students.
"Take them back. Teacher doesn't lack these things."
"Teacher Qi, they're all food."
"Exactly! This is for Madam Qi. You have to take it back."
Qi Xizhi's eyes darted to the pile of gifts, and he swallowed.
Delicious!
He was a little tempted.
"Ahem~"
"This... Since it's for your Madam Qi, I can't refuse it on her behalf."
"Then..."
"Then I'll take it back first and see what your Madam Qi thinks."
"Great~" the students nodded in unison. "We'll listen to you, Teacher."
"Ahem! That's it for now!" Qi Xizhi raised his hand to cover his mouth as a cover.
"Oh, right!"
"Ziqin, I'll treat you all tonight. Let's have a gathering to celebrate the auspicious start of the new year."
Wei Ziqin nodded, "Okay, then where should we go?"
"The usual place. It's once a year, so let's not change it," Qi Xizhi said readily.
"Okay, I'll contact them later and let you know once it's booked."
Wei Ziqin was familiar with the usual place; this was the third year.
Aside from occasional business trips, this New Year gathering was one of the times their advisor was most generous.
It only happened once or twice a year, and it was hard to enjoy at other times.
"Mm, sounds good," Qi Xizhi nodded happily.
"Alright, now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let's get down to business."
"Teacher, we just arrived..."
Is he already rushing to arrange things?
Luo An was still immersed in the "shadow" of his vacation just ending, reminiscing about the wonderful holiday.
"Then what else?"
"Do you think I called you here today just to say a few words for the New Year?" Qi Xizhi glared at the still somewhat naive student.
Luo An even nodded, "Isn't it?"
The others, "..."
The child can still be saved!
"Teacher Qi, just say what you need to say directly."
"Luo An just arrived this morning and might not have fully woken up..."
"..." Qi Xizhi looked at Luo An carefully and nodded seriously, "Mm... you do look a bit tired."
"Alright, let's continue."
"Okay." With that, Wei Ziqin reached out and nudged his junior, urging him to listen carefully to the advisor.
It's just that Teacher Qi's temper... is quite good, otherwise, this junior might have to stay in the office to work overtime.
"Mm, then let's continue."
"As you all know, starting from March, graduate students will gradually be preparing for their re-examinations."
"This is also your first task of the semester. You two, prepare yourselves in the next few days; you might be assigned at any time." Qi Xizhi's gaze lingered on Qiu Xi and Luo An for a moment.
"Don't worry, Teacher, I'm already preparing for it." Due to his earlier "foolishness," Luo An quickly responded.
Qiu Xi also nodded in agreement.
"Mm, it's good that you're preparing."
"Besides that, the rest is the serious business of your studies."
As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Ziqin and Mo Ya Ya immediately lowered their heads understandingly.
They heard that their junior sister's thesis was almost complete, and they felt they were lagging behind...
Qi Xizhi looked left and right, but ultimately did not continue.
Since the children understood themselves, he would just urge them occasionally online.
This would perhaps reduce some pressure?
If the two of them knew about this thought, they would likely just shake their heads.
"..."
The fact is, it wouldn't!
...
Qi Xizhi lectured his students for a full two hours during the opening meeting.
"Alright! That's all for today. I'll see you tonight."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Teacher."
"See you tonight, Teacher."
...