The New Year had just passed when Qiu Xi received a message from Teacher Qi.
“Xiao Xi, you did a good job!”
“I’ve looked over some of the minor details, but there’s no rush for you. I’ll talk to you about them when you get back in a few days.”
“...... Your teacher is very satisfied. I look forward to your further progress. Keep it up!”
Qiu Xi: “……”
Couldn’t she have left out that last sentence?
Despite her silent grumbling, Qiu Xi maintained all necessary politeness.
“Okay, thank you, teacher. You’ve worked hard!”
“Mm.”
“Have you bought your ticket to come back?”
“Don’t even think about asking for leave when the time comes!”
“……”
Was she subtly urging her to return to school?
“Don’t worry, teacher. Everything is ready, and there will be no delays.”
“Good!”
“See you at school in a few days.”
“Alright.”
Just after chatting with her advisor, Qiu Xi saw a message from Teacher Qi in the group chat.
“……”
So, she wasn’t the only one being rushed back.
Teacher Qi seemed to be concerned about everyone.
Seeing how Teacher Qi singled out each person in the group chat… she was truly remarkable!
……
Although she was being urged to return to school, Qiu Xi also felt a bit more relaxed.
At least her thesis was no longer a major problem.
Thinking about it this way, it was acceptable.
Compared to the others in the group, she was actually doing quite well.
She was the only one who didn’t have that so-called “post-holiday syndrome.”
In a way, she even had a slight sense of anticipation.
If the others knew Qiu Xi’s thoughts, they might have collectively condemned her.
……
“Xiao Xi, when are you going back to school?”
After the New Year, Qiu Xi and her two friends finally managed to get together again.
Taking a sip of her milk tea, Qiu Xi looked up. “Next Thursday. What’s up?”
“Nothing much, just asking. ” Hua Linglong shook her head. “See if there’s any chance we can travel together.”
“Forget it. You should just go with Bai Yixuan,” Qiu Xi said to Hua Linglong in a peculiar tone.
Hua Linglong: “……”
“We’re in the same boat, aren’t we? Weren’t you the same with Nan Hua back then…” Hua Linglong shot Qiu Xi a look.
“……” Qiu Xi smiled.
She had only given the girl rides in Nan Hua’s car twice, and she still remembered it now.
“But why are you going back to school so early, Xiao Xi?” Ni Xue asked curiously from the side.
She was a whole week earlier than them.
The holiday had only ended yesterday…
Qiu Xi shook her head helplessly. “Don’t even mention it. My teacher set the date. She even let us go early before the end of the year…”
“Alright,” Ni Xue nodded understandingly.
Everyone was in the same situation, so she could understand a bit.
“Okay, we’ve finally gotten out. Should we stop talking about this?” They were about to depart, and today was a rare opportunity when both of them were available.
This wasn’t the time to be discussing such things; it would spoil the mood.
“Okay, we’ll do as you say. After we finish our drinks, let’s go play!”
“Yes!” Qiu Xi nodded.
“But what should we play?”
“How about we try to conquer the dance machine again? No, I think catching plushies is better. I want to get back the ones I missed last time!” Hua Linglong was still thinking about the coins she lost and the plushies she didn’t get.
“But I want to go to an escape room…”
“This isn’t complicated. We’ll go one by one, play everything, and then go back!”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Ni Xue nodded. “Xiao Xi, what do you think?”
Qiu Xi readily agreed. “I have no objections. Let’s have fun today!”
“Great!”
In the end…
They were the epitome of having a great time.
Each of the three women was carrying a bag filled with items.
Most conspicuous was the small bag of plushies.
“I told you!”
“I can conquer this world on my own.”
“Xiao Xi, Xiao Xuehua, take this, this… and these!”
They were all spoils of war to be shared with good sisters.
“……”
If they hadn’t had a car, it would have been difficult to take everything back.
“Alright!”
“Let’s part ways here.”
It was getting late, and after a day of fun, it was time to head home.
“Okay!”
“Goodbye, Xiao Xi, Xiao Xuehua~”
“Goodbye~”
With that, the three women drove off in their respective cars towards home.
……
After meeting up with her friends, Qiu Xi spent the next few days at home waiting for school to start.
“Mom and Dad, is that enough?”
As Qiu Xi was about to leave, Qiu’s mom and dad had been busy packing for her these past few days.
Not packing Qiu Xi’s things, but rather gifts she was to take.
“How could this be enough!” Qiu’s mom continued packing for her daughter without looking up.
These were all carefully prepared by her. Xiao Xi would take them, mostly for the Nan family, and some for her advisor.
With this in mind, her preparations were just right.
“Exactly! What your mom said is right. This much might not even be enough!” Qiu’s dad, who was helping with the packing, nodded in agreement.
More gifts are never unwelcome. Now that their child was older, graduate school was a bit different from before, and this was just right. It didn’t seem eccentric; it was just right.
Qiu Xi: “……”
Helplessly.
Even though she had already told her parents that she had prepared everything, they had still prepared a lot of other things.
They weren’t particularly expensive items, just some local specialties and small gifts.
After watching for a long time, Qiu Xi finally gave in.
“Alright then, you pack.”
“But make sure it’s appropriate. I can’t carry too much…”
“We know, your dad and I have it under control. You go and look after your own things.” Qiu’s mom even felt that her daughter was a bit annoying today.
“……Okay, I’ll go upstairs and get busy.”
There was no other option, so Qiu Xi handed the matter over to her parents.
“Go ahead, your mom and I will pack for you. Don’t worry.”
“……”
With you two like this, how can I not worry?
However, no matter how worried she was, Qiu Xi couldn’t interfere anymore.
The result of this was…
Evening –
Qiu Xi finally looked at her small suitcase, which was stuffed with a pile of items, even more full than when she had returned.
To describe it, it was… overly full.
“How is it? Your mom and I packed it. Satisfied?” Qiu’s dad slapped his hand on it and laughed heartily.
He was very satisfied.
“……Satisfied, satisfied.” Qiu Xi chuckled a couple of times, nodding intermittently.
“Haha… couldn’t be more satisfied…”
Qiu Xi, feigning a foolish smile, even tried to lift it.
I’m so sorry!
Qiu Xi let go and patted her suitcase.
You’ve endured too much…
I wonder how many more times you can take it.
“As long as you’re satisfied,” Qiu’s dad said, hearing his daughter’s words, and his smile grew even happier.
“Then hurry up and get some rest. I’ll take you to the airport tomorrow.”
“……Okay.”
……