Early Wednesday morning, Qi Shuang's phone rang non-stop, like a barrage of calls.

Shi Jing was washing up in the bathroom when she heard the incessant ringing of the phone. She could only quickly wash her hands and rush back to her room to get her phone.

As soon as I turned on the screen, I saw an incoming call notification with the words "Qi Shuang" in big letters. I had no choice but to swipe to answer.

As soon as the call connected, before I could even speak, I heard a non-stop chatter on the other end: "Shi Jing, are you up? When are you coming out? I'm all ready, can I come pick you up?...

Shi Jing felt her ears ringing and quickly said, "Stop, stop, stop! You're speaking too fast, I can't hear you."

The person on the other end, interrupted, mumbled, slowing their speech slightly, "Can I come pick you up now?"

Her tone sounded pitiful, and one wonders how many extra classes she had taken to prepare for this trip.

Shi Jing sighed and said, "Come over here. I'm getting ready. It should only take about ten minutes. Let's go out for breakfast together first, and then we'll go find Qi Yan to meet up."

"Okay, okay, wait for me, I'll be there soon." Qi Shuang said happily and hung up the phone quickly.

After hanging up her phone, Shi Jing went to the bathroom to wash up, changed her clothes, and tied her hair in a ponytail, looking refreshed.

Ms. Yan is not home; it's unclear whether she has already left or simply didn't return last night. Since Ms. Yan started dating, the already limited time they spend together has become even less. Even though they live under the same roof, the mother and daughter rarely see each other.

Shi Jing carried a small bag on her back and waited in the shade at the entrance of the residential area.

As expected, Qi Shuang arrived quickly. Shi Jing only waited a few minutes at the door before she arrived. After getting out of the car, she waved to her driver to go back first, as she was going to travel with her classmates.

Shi Jing greeted her briefly, then stepped forward and also greeted the Qi family's driver. After becoming close to Qi Shuang, she had also had several encounters with the Qi family's driver. Knowing Shi Jing's identity, the driver didn't linger and drove away after exchanging greetings.

"Have you had breakfast?" Shi Jing asked.

"No, didn't you say we'd have breakfast together? So I just came out." Qi Shuang said matter-of-factly.

Shi Jing didn't say anything to her. She checked the time; it was just 7:30 in the morning.

"It's still early. I wonder if Qi Yan is up yet. Let's go have breakfast first."

"Okay, let's go, let's go." Qi Shuang quickly agreed.

Shi Jing didn't take her too far. There was a pretty good breakfast shop near the Shi family's neighborhood. Shi Jing didn't come there often because of school, but the few times she did, she felt it was quite good.

The breakfast shop was crowded, and the two of them searched for a while before finding a booth that had just been cleaned and sat down. Shi Jing took the menu from the table and handed it to Qi Shuang: "Here, let's see what we want to eat?"

Shi Jing, familiar with the place, ordered a bowl of wontons with swallow skin and a plate of pan-fried dumplings. Qi Shuang looked at them and said, "I'd like a crab roe bun and a bowl of hot and sour soup."

After ordering, Shi Jing handed the order to the waiter, went to the self-service area to get bowls, chopsticks, and side dishes, and placed them on the table.

"Qi Yan just got back yesterday, so she probably won't be out so early today. After dinner, should we go to her house to find her, or should we just wander around first?"

"Go find her, hehe, wake her up." Qi Shuang grinned mischievously.

"Alright, let's take the subway to find her later, it's not far anyway."

Qi Shuang had no objection: "Okay, whatever you say."

Breakfast was served quickly, and the two of them, without being picky, began to eat heartily. After filling their stomachs, they paid, picked up their small bags, and headed to the subway station.

Qi Yan's home is about three subway stops away from Shi Jing's home. The subway station was packed with people in the morning, and the two people who don't usually take the subway were completely dumbfounded.

"How about... we take a taxi?" Qi Shuang asked cautiously.

"Yes." Shi Jing nodded affirmatively.

The two left the subway station without hesitation. Taxis were not easy to hail during rush hour, but luckily they waited for seven or eight minutes and found an empty taxi.

The driver was very talkative, and Qi Shuang was also a restless person. They chatted about everything from transportation to studies, and the two had a good time together. The journey wasn't long, and Qi Shuang was still a little reluctant to leave when she got out of the car.

Shi Jing admired her social skills to some extent, and seeing that she had gotten off the car, she quickly pulled the other person forward.

"Hurry up, or Qi Yan might have to leave already."

"Ah, let's go, let's go faster."

Qi Yan's family lives in a villa area in the city. The two registered at the property security room at the gate, and the property management confirmed with Qi's family before letting them in.

Shi Jing knew where Qi Yan lived but had never been there before, while Qi Shuang had been there many times and walked in familiarly.

Soon the two appeared in front of a detached villa. She rang the doorbell, and a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties came out to open the door.

The aunt greeted the two women with a smile: "Good morning, Miss Qi and Miss Shi!"

"Good morning, Aunt Qing." Qi Shuang clearly recognized her and greeted her happily. Shi Jing also quickly followed suit.