However, there were still many things their two families had to resolve, and they weren’t easy to handle.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, she’s always been very sensible.”
This little sister was far more sensible than he was as an older brother. ‘Once the matters here are finished and we return home, it will be time for me to compensate my family.’
‘When Jiang Li finds out everything, she will likely be very disappointed in both me and Xi’er.’
But this puzzle wasn’t without a solution.
The weather remained fine throughout the following week. Song Qiuyu continued her work at the comic convention, cosplaying as Keqing to earn drumsticks. However, the number of onlookers had increased.
Among them were her father and mother.
This middle-aged couple initially had no concept of the “second dimension,” but under the influence of the convention’s atmosphere, they quickly blended in. Su Luo constantly bought merch of handsome young men and took photos with young male cosers.
Watching this made Song Zhao Ye feel extremely flustered.
Not only that, but for the past two days, that female internet celebrity had also been following her around. The follower counts on both of their accounts had increased significantly.
Even though they hadn’t updated any new short videos yet, the number of comments under Song Qiuyu’s short video account had already multiplied several times over. Many fans, upon learning her location, even traveled overnight to the comic convention to see her.
With more people watching, the benefits were naturally plentiful. The number of drumsticks Song Qiuyu earned over these two days skyrocketed.
In the final tally by the organizers, she shot straight to Rank 1 on the Drumstick Leaderboard!
She was honored as a Gold Medal Coser and a Gold Medal Employee, with her total salary for the three days exceeding 10,000.
During her time at the comic convention, the progress bar for the seaside short video script also continued to move forward. A rough draft was finally completed just as the convention ended, so Song Qiuyu officially joined in on the scriptwriting process.
Writing the seaside short video script took three and a half days. During the official filming, because everyone performed so well, it only took two days to wrap. Afterward, another one and a half days were spent on the editing work.
***
Everyone lived a very fulfilling life during this week.
After the seaside short video was uploaded, Lin An, Xia Qi, and Sang Tian all took their luggage and headed home. In the end, only six people remained at Song Qiuyu’s house.
The date was now February thirteenth, and there were only four days left until the Lunar New Year.
“Song, sorry to bother you for so long. I’ve already found a high-end barber shop.”
Xie Zhuran still looked as haggard as ever.
“By the time we meet again, I will no longer be the man I am now.”
“Uh, wait, Xie!”
Song Qiuyu hurriedly tried to stop Xie Zhuran from leaving. She felt that if she let him go like this, something terrible might happen.
“Song, you don’t need to try and convince me anymore.”
With a look of “my mind is made up,” Xie Zhuran frowned.
“It’s not that I’m trying to convince you not to leave,” Jiang Li said in a flat voice. “It’s just that Brother Autumn Rain and his family won’t be in this housing complex much longer. I’m just worried you won’t find anyone to take you in then.”
Jiang Li’s every word hit home.
“What do you mean by ‘much longer’?”
Xie Zhuran felt that there were too many points to criticize in Jiang Li’s words, but after some hesitation, he chose to ask about the one he cared about most.
“Much longer means much longer,” Jiang Li replied calmly.
“What’s the difference between saying that and saying nothing at all?” Xie Zhuran spread his hands.
“Because it really is happening soon.”
After saying that, Jiang Li lowered her eyes and glanced at the items the Song family had already packed to take to the Jiang family home. A smile curled at the corners of her lips.
‘As expected of my brother! I was still worried he couldn’t handle the Song family’s situation, but it turns out he won over Brother Autumn Rain’s parents long ago.’
Next, only the people of the Jiang family remained to be dealt with.
Xie Zhuran also looked at those packed items. Among them were clearly things that looked like gifts intended for someone.
“Song, are you going to visit relatives this early?”
Song Qiuyu’s mind raced as she quickly thought of how to respond.
“No, they’re going to my house,” Jiang Li answered first, her expression blank.
“…”
Xie Zhuran’s brain stalled for a moment. ‘Huh? What does going to Jiang Li’s house mean?’
Filled with confusion, he looked toward Song Zhao Ye in the crowd.
“It’s like this,” Song Zhao Ye said with a laugh. “Since these two kids look after each other at university, and our child has also received quite a bit of care from Xiao Jiang…”
He continued, “So, our whole family is going to their place for the Lunar New Year. And to be honest, our family doesn’t really have any relatives to visit anyway. Going to Xiao Jiang’s house sounds quite nice.”
‘No relatives to visit…’
Hearing this, Xie Zhuran suddenly remembered that while they were at the hot spring hotel, Song Qiuyu had mentioned a few things about her family. Originally, it seemed Song Qiuyu had been prepared to spend the Lunar New Year alone.
Thinking of this, Xie Zhuran looked at his roommate with some emotion. ‘It’s a good thing that Song doesn’t have to spend the New Year alone anymore.’
“Yes, I’m quite curious about the parents of Xiao Jiang and Little Li,” Su Luo added with a smile.
She took a sip of water and looked at Jiang Xiao and Jiang Li. “However, you two did inform your family that we would be visiting, right? Otherwise, it would be too presumptuous!”
This time, they were only going to give gifts and build a good relationship. More complicated matters would be left for later.
“Don’t worry, Auntie. I’ve already informed them.”
As he spoke, Jiang Xiao picked up a pair of gloves and handed them to Song Qiuyu.
Song Qiuyu took the gloves, thanked him, and carefully slid them onto her small hands. She pulled at them gently to ensure her exposed wrists were covered.
The weather forecast said it would snow this afternoon. The temperature would drop suddenly.
“That’s good then.”
Su Luo nodded as she watched the way the two of them interacted.
“If you really don’t want to go back home…”
Jiang Xiao saw that Song Qiuyu had finished putting on her gloves, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. Then, in a very good mood, he turned to look at Xie Zhuran and said calmly, “Why don’t you come to my house for the New Year too? Anyway, my family likes it when things are lively. One more person won’t hurt.”
As soon as he said this, Song Qiuyu was slightly stunned, while Xie Zhuran was instantly speechless. He was always so disliked at home, yet he found warmth everywhere out here.
“Brother, Brother Zhuran probably wouldn’t want to…”
Jiang Li glanced at the silent Xie Zhuran from the corner of her eye. Assuming he didn’t want to go, she started to speak.
Before she could finish, Xie Zhuran suddenly seemed to regain his spirit.
“I’ll go!”
However, as if it were a final surge of energy before fading again, his spirit collapsed once he finished speaking. He went back to being a weary and haggard-looking man.
Jiang Li let out a short, soft huff but said nothing.
“Since that’s the case, let’s all head out together later. But Xie, you might have to buy your ticket last minute.”
Song Qiuyu began to laugh.
“Okay.”
Xie Zhuran clenched his fists, filled with gratitude toward his two good brothers. At the same time, he felt a bit guilty toward Lin An, whom he had suspected for a week after receiving the message to bail him out.
‘It turns out Lin didn’t screw me over this time.’
‘I’m so lucky to have come to Nanxi, to have joined 602 Dormitory, and to have met the three of them.’
“If we have to buy a last-minute ticket, then we should leave early. It’s about time, let’s go.”
Song Zhao Ye rose from the sofa.
Everyone smiled.
Then, the six of them stepped out of the house with smiles on their faces. As they were closing the door, the neighbor old lady happened to open hers.
“Are you all going on a long trip?” the old lady asked kindly.
“Yes!” Song Qiuyu nodded.
“Safe travels,” the old lady added.
“We will. Thank you, Grandma.”
Song Qiuyu smiled.
After saying their goodbyes, the group headed down the stairs and toward the exit of the housing complex.
It was just past noon, but the wind outside was already colder than before. Not long after, large and small snowflakes began to drift down. This snow had arrived earlier than predicted by the weather forecast.
The group waited by the side of the road, holding up their respective umbrellas. When the traffic light changed, they braved the wind and snow, stepping onto the zebra crossing and walking across the street at a steady, unhurried pace.
Pedestrians were packed closely together.
Song Qiuyu clenched her hands. Regarding the Jiang family, she was nervous, expectant, and even a little afraid. But fortunately, she wasn’t alone anymore.
She smiled and walked forward under her umbrella. However, Song Zhao Ye, who was beside her, suddenly halted his steps. He grabbed the arm of a thin, gaunt man who was about to brush past him. But more importantly, his other large hand was clutching his abdomen. A small knife had been plunged there for some reason, and a bright crimson color was spreading and soaking through his clothes.
Song Qiuyu’s pupils constricted instantly, and a chill of horror surged through her.
No knives! No knives! No knives!
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