After the virtual idol project was officially launched, Wen Ning demonstrated her amazing work ability, balancing production and collaboration.
Xia Qingtian was also very cooperative, actively participating in voice recordings and practicing songs and singing with Teacher Zhou.
She also took Teacher Zhou's advice and resumed her jogging routine.
However, due to the previous car accident, Xia Qingyu, knowing that Xia Qingtian was going for morning runs, uncharacteristically insisted on joining her.
"Anyway, anyway, girls have to take running for physical education, so I, I'll practice first," Xia Qingyu said, crossing her arms and maintaining an arrogant tone when faced with Xia Qingtian's teasing gaze.
Xia Qingtian was touched by Xia Qingyu's concern that she might encounter another terrifying incident.
That evening, Xia Qingtian handed Xia Qingyu the apple-flavored lip balm that was part of a buy-one-get-one-free deal. "Here, the free gift."
Xia Qingyu was surprised that Xia Qingtian would give her something and, after a moment of hesitation, reached out and took it.
Before Xia Qingyu could shyly say thank you, Xia Qingtian waved and returned to her room.
Looking at the apple-flavored lip balm in her hand, Xia Qingyu couldn't help but murmur, "How much do you really like apples..."
The next morning, as soon as Xia Qingtian went downstairs, she saw Xia Qingyu already dressed and warming up in the yard.
However, she didn't expect that even Father Xia and Aunt Liu were also dressed in comfortable sportswear and waiting for her downstairs.
"As we get older, we need to pay attention to exercise, otherwise, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol will surely find us," Father Xia said with a憨笑 (hānxiào - simple and honest smile).
"I haven't run in a while either, it's good to get some exercise," Aunt Liu said with a smile, her figure still slim in her sportswear.
Knowing that they were all trying to protect her in their own clumsy ways, Xia Qingtian felt an indescribable sense of gratitude.
The four of them jogging together felt quite good. They ran from the villa area to the entrance of a primary school five kilometers away, had breakfast together at a food stall, and then walked back home.
It felt quite happy, but this situation didn't last long.
Initially, Father Xia couldn't get out of bed and gave up.
Later, Aunt Liu found that as the weather got colder, her lungs felt uncomfortable when she ran in the morning, so she also stopped.
Finally, only Xia Qingtian and Xia Qingyu were still running every morning.
This perseverance was directly reflected in the praise Xia Qingtian received during her third recording session with Teacher Zhou, and in the subsequent chase and escape a week later.
Speaking of this chase, it was also quite absurd.
The incident started with a phone call three days before the chase.
To be precise, it was a call Father Xia received at the dinner table.
"The auction in Z City? Is it in two days?" Father Xia's chopsticks, holding food, paused in mid-air for a few seconds, as if he were listening intently to what the other person was saying.
"I'm not that interested in these collections anymore, so I won't join the fun." Father Xia chuckled, then, as if remembering something, he looked at Xia Qingtian. "But I can ask my daughter if she's interested. She's studying finance now. Well, if it's possible, hahaha, it's not about taking over, she's just having fun and needs you uncles and aunts to guide her more."
Hearing this, Xia Qingtian looked up at Father Xia.
Actually, she wasn't very interested...
"Okay, okay, I'll ask her then. Keep the ticket for me. Okay, okay, I'll treat you to a meal next time we meet." Father Xia said with a smile and hung up the phone.
After the call ended, Father Xia turned to Xia Qingtian and said, "The auction this Sunday, you should go to C City to broaden your horizons. Since you're studying finance, you need to be exposed to these kinds of things more often."
"I've been to auctions before. Didn't I bid for that limited edition KA handbag? Isn't that from me?" Xia Qingtian said dismissively.
In her previous life, she had attended many small auctions for jewelry, accessories, and limited edition collectibles.
Now, she had more important things to do.
Just then, the system's voice appeared in her mind.
[Chosen One System has been activated.
Option A: Go to C City to participate in the auction, reward: ten million RMB.
Option B: Refuse to go to C City, reward: rekindle friendship with Mo Jianing.]
Damn rekindling friendship!
Who wants that? Is that a reward? That's a punishment!
Xia Qingtian rolled her eyes internally. She didn't even need to think about how to choose.
She would of course choose...
No!
Following the pitfalls Xia Qingtian had encountered before, she mentally asked the system.
[The ten million reward, wouldn't it be the auction money my dad would give me if I went?]
The system responded with silence, indicating that this host was not easily fooled.
[You want to freeload off me again? Dream on! No! Change the reward! Put some effort into it, please!]
[The reward cannot be changed, but the host has not yet drawn from the system mall. The system can make an exception to activate the Chosen One's passive skill, allowing the host's drawn rewards to be related to auctions.]
[This is more like it...] Xia Qingtian felt this was not entirely unacceptable.
"What you went to before were small affairs. How expensive can a handbag be? Go to this auction to broaden your horizons, and don't always focus on buying handbags. Go see the real treasures," Father Xia was still persuading. "After attending a proper auction, you'll know that these things left by our ancestors are truly beautiful."
"Then aren't you afraid I'll become obsessed with antiques? Buying you a white glazed, Ru kiln, or similar large porcelain vase every now and then? That's not the kind of money you spend on a few handbags," Xia Qingtian raised an eyebrow at Father Xia.
"Then buy them! Ten million for you, consider it practice for your eyes," Father Xia said.
As expected.
Even though she had guessed it before, hearing Father Xia say this, Xia Qingtian still felt the system was a bit cunning.
As if afraid Xia Qingtian would change her mind, Father Xia directly notified his secretary to prepare ten million to be transferred into Xia Qingtian's card.
As soon as the money arrived, a "beep" sounded in Xia Qingtian's mind, notifying her that the reward had been credited.
Xia Qingtian lay on the bed, forcefully suppressing the urge to scold the system for being too sly, and directly entered the system mall in her mind to start drawing.
The system's drawing was also very cheap, just a large turntable. The pointer spun and stopped in an edge area.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the treasure appraisal ability through the lucky turntable, duration: 30 minutes.]
"Treasure appraisal ability... Hmm, it's勉强 (miǎnqiǎng - barely, reluctantly) useful," Xia Qingtian nodded to herself.
[The host still has ten points, which can be used for turntable drawing. For every ten draws accumulated, an extra draw will be given.]
"Then let's draw them all," Xia Qingtian thought that since she was going to Z City, it shouldn't be a wasted trip, and it would be good if she could get something good from the auction.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the perspective function through the lucky turntable, duration: 15 minutes.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the treasure appraisal ability through the lucky turntable, duration: 30 minutes.]