After getting twenty million, Qiu Xi originally planned to buy a car for herself. However, considering she had just started learning to drive and wouldn't get her license until sometime in May, she put the car purchase on hold.
She ended up investing more than half of the remaining money. After much thought, she decided to inform her parents and transfer some funds to them.
Having made up her mind, Qiu Xi didn't delay and made the call.
"Xiao Xi, what is it?"
"Mom, nothing. How is everything at home?"
"Everything is fine. Your father and I are planning to renovate your grandparents' place. We'll move back there in a couple of years."
After discussing it with the two elders, her mother felt they had enough money left from her daughter's lottery winnings to begin renovations.
"That's perfect. I'll make some money for you," Qiu Xi thought it was timely to transfer the money after hearing her mother's words.
"Where did you get the money? Even if you did, you should keep that little bit of money for yourself."
In her mother's memory, her daughter didn't have much money.
"Mom, I used the bonuses and scholarships I received earlier to buy mutual funds and the like..."
Qiu Xi said a mixture of truth and fiction, leaving her mother utterly confused.
"Xiao Xi, you aren't involved in anything bad, are you?"
Looking at the 5 million her daughter had transferred, Qiu Xi's mother suspected her daughter had robbed a bank.
"Mom! Really not, my sources are clean, I promise!"
"That's good..."
She still found it hard to believe. She would have to discuss it properly with her husband when he returned.
"You can use it with peace of mind."
"Alright, I'll keep it for now... Really, if anything happens, remember to tell us."
"Okay."
Qiu Xi knew her mother needed time to calm down, so she didn't emphasize anything further. After some casual chat, she hung up the phone.
"Zhuzhu, come and eat!"
She had known the pig-raising routine would eventually fall on her. Since Xiao Xi wasn't going out today, it was their turn.
Song Daiyao still remembered the debt from the 'keeper' days.
Although she was a foodie and didn't fuss at the time, she felt she was quite capable of settling scores afterward.
"..." Not wanting to argue with a young lady, Qiu Xi took the food, thinking she needed to remain calm.
"Eat up. After eating, we'll take a nap and then go to the swimming pool."
"Mm." Thinking about swimming, Qiu Xi felt she had practiced enough, but since the system hadn't given any updates, she could only keep going.
...
In the afternoon, at the swimming pool -
"Hmm? Isn't that Nan Hua?"
As soon as the two entered, they saw Nan Hua, who had arrived much earlier. The reason Song Daiyao asked was that there was another girl beside him.
She looked delicate and pretty, with a fair, small face. She was alright, but couldn't compare to our Xiao Xi, a peerless beauty!
"It's him." Qiu Xi was taken aback. Looking at the scene, she felt inexplicably uncomfortable. The two looked quite intimate from a distance.
"Let's go take a look," Song Daiyao said, pulling Qiu Xi along. She saw him sitting alone and waiting for a long time without anyone else appearing. She thought her opportunity had come.
After all, she considered her own appearance to be quite good.
However, after she approached, they only chatted for a couple of sentences.
She was starting to get annoyed when she saw the two girls.
What good was being beautiful? It was clear she was pretentious and deliberately playing hard to get, no different from her.
The more she thought about it, the more Zhang Meimei believed she was right, and upon seeing the two, she proactively attacked.
She didn't believe that her delicate, loli-like appearance could be inferior to this white lotus in front of her.
"Auntie, who are you calling?"
"What auntie, who's auntie!"
"Little brother, is your friend like this?"
Looking at the twitching eye, Song Daiyao, who still managed to squeeze out crocodile tears towards Nan Hua, was utterly speechless.
If you're going to put on a show, you should at least train your acting skills and judgment.
Why pick Nan Hua of all people?
In this confrontation, Song Daiyao could tell this woman was no threat.
Even if she seemed foolish in other aspects, her eyes were sharp as eagles.
"Xiao Xi, you're here."
"Mm," Qiu Xi replied, but her gaze remained fixed on Zhang Meimei.
"Nan Hua, isn't this the auntie who twisted her ankle and bowed to wish everyone a Happy New Year? Why is she still here?"
Zhao Huasheng, who had just returned from the restroom, was curious why the woman hadn't left yet.
She clearly wasn't dedicated to her craft. How could she expect to impress a young master with such petty tricks? It was a bit too clumsy.
"Hahahaha~"
Hearing Zhao Huasheng's words, Song Daiyao burst into laughter.
"She even called Xiao Xi 'sister' and Nan Hua 'little brother' just now..."
"Considering my Xiao Xi is a blooming 18-year-old, that title is a bit too flattering."
"Just a clown!" Nan Hua explained to Qiu Xi.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xi's mood immediately lifted.
She felt that their current relationship was just one step away from being revealed, so she didn't want her story to be forced to an end before it even began.
Thankfully, although the process was a bit melodramatic, the outcome was pleasing.
"You guys!!!"
Zhang Meimei looked at the group, her liver aching. Were these two men blind?
"Auntie, you should leave quickly and not embarrass yourself further."
"You..."
"Let's go, change and get in the water."
Since it was just a farce, there was no need to pay attention to it. Qiu Xi pulled Song Daiyao toward the changing rooms.
Zhang Meimei watched their backs, her chest heaving with anger. She stomped her feet on the spot, muttering "jianren" (a derogatory term for a woman) under her breath.
"Seriously, it's hilarious."
"A mature woman trying to act young and like a green tea, I've truly seen it all."
All the way, Song Daiyao couldn't stop complaining to Qiu Xi. This auntie was just too bizarre.
Wouldn't someone like her be looking for a sugar daddy?
What did she see in young men?
Was it their lack of money and power, or was it their stamina and skill?
Song Daiyao thought for a long time but couldn't fathom that the woman was simply looking for someone foolish and rich.
"Xiao Xi, you go for it, I'm rooting for you!"
"What are you talking about!"
If Qiu Xi had been a little annoyed upon first seeing her, she was now as calm as could be.
Especially after witnessing Zhang Meimei's performance and Nan Hua's description of her as a clown.
Thinking about it again, she felt very good.
"Alright, Daiyao, let's hurry."