Zhou Li only ordered a glass of lemonade, without ice, and sat across from Baozi, asking, "Where are we going to play this afternoon?"

Baozi was licking her ice cream with her head down.

Brother Nan shook her head. "Should we go sit at Cui Lake again, or go shopping at Wanda?"

Zhou Li also shook his head. "I don't know."

Ice cream was the only thing on Baozi's mind, and she ate it very gracefully, taking only tiny bits with the tip of her tongue each time.

Brother Nan thought for a while and said, "Let's go shopping and buy more food and things to take back to school. Otherwise, we'll only be able to order takeout."

"Buy some candy, pastries, and yogurt," Baozi's voice emerged from the side.

"What? You can actually talk!!" Brother Nan looked at her in amazement.

"Let's buy some," Baozi persisted.

"I don't like those things," Brother Nan squinted her eyes; she had just taken a big mouthful of ice cream, and now her forehead throbbed a bit. "I like air-dried yak meat, shadow beef, dried shiitake mushrooms, and that sort of stuff."

"We can buy a little less," Baozi pleaded.

"Do you want to eat them?" Brother Nan asked.

"Sister-in-law," Baozi lowered her head.

"...Don't just randomly call me that! We're nowhere near that stage yet! Don't shout that, don't shout that, it's really awkward," Brother Nan righteously rejected Baozi. Seeing Baozi glance at her and seem about to speak again, she quickly shouted, "Buy! Buy!"

"?" Baozi looked up.

"Buy, buy, buy!"

"Oh, thanks, Brother Nan."

After finishing, Baozi lowered her head again and continued to lick her precious ice cream in tiny bites.

The last time she had ice cream was for the New Year…

Suddenly, she lifted her head again, looking at Brother Nan and then at Zhou Li. "When I finish this ice cream, can I buy another one to eat as we walk?"

"Let's buy one then," he said.

"When I have money, I'll treat you guys in return." Baozi was not someone who liked taking advantage of others.

"..."

Zhou Li felt a bit unsure about this promise.

Baozi stayed in the ice cream shop for a full two hours, and it was well into the afternoon before they left. When they stepped outside, the sunlight was scorching, so they immediately ducked into the shopping center, not daring to stay outside for too long.

As they walked, Brother Nan said to Baozi, "I heard that the government is going to allow street vending in a few days. You could set up a stall to make some money."

"I don't really want to," she replied.

"Why?"

"Too lazy," she admitted.

"...It's quite simple," Brother Nan tried to persuade her. "You just need to order some cheap goods from 1688, then find a place with high foot traffic and a customer base that fits your target, sit down, and you're set."

"Is it that simple?" Baozi was slightly tempted.

"Yeah, if you're really lazy, you can just get goods with similar selling prices and have a uniform price for everything. Make a sign listing how much everything costs, non-negotiable, hang up a QR code, and just sit there and collect money," she explained.

"That sounds good!" Baozi considered.

"Or what about those postcards you were making? They should be ready by now, right? Just sell them directly," she suggested.

"I haven't started yet…"

"Haven't started preparing? You talked about it last semester!"

"I haven't even started thinking about it."

"..."

Brother Nan turned around and patted Zhou Li on the shoulder. "Incredible! Your Little Cousin is incredible!"

Zhou Li nodded, but his gaze drifted aside.

There were some small vendors on the basement floor of the mall, operating without storefronts. He saw a women's clothing stall displaying many camisole dresses, the kind that pretty girls with good figures loved to wear.

He sneaked a peek at Brother Nan.

Brother Nan was wearing a pair of bright red floral shorts and an overly loose T-shirt, her attire even more casual than his.

But Brother Nan actually had a great figure, with long legs and a slim waist. If she were to wear such a dress, showcasing her long legs and waistline curves, and add to that her perky behind…

She shouldn't wear high heels; she's only slightly shorter than me as it is.

No, she could wear them.

It wouldn't matter if she were taller than me. After all, she's Brother Nan; I could totally accept her being taller…

These fantasies might come true the day before the end of the world.

Zhou Li looked away.

Upon reaching the supermarket, he pushed a small cart while Brother Nan began her shopping spree, with Little Cousin silently trailing behind her.

Whenever Little Cousin wanted something, she would tug at Brother Nan's clothes and then point towards the shelves. Brother Nan's generous style became evident; she would throw anything Little Cousin pointed at into the cart without even looking, one item after another, all while asking if she had enough.

On the surface, Little Cousin remained unfazed, but inside she was so happy she could almost jump for joy.

They checked out. The three of them carried bags, both big and small, filling half of the car's trunk.

By the time they headed back, it was nearly dinnertime.

In the kitchen, only Uncle and Aunt were busy.

Ms. Ji, being the elder sister, had no cooking skills and was also quite lazy, so she didn't bother to add to the chaos in the kitchen.

Feeling bored in the living room, she went to the window. From there, she could buzz in pedestrians from downstairs and also watch for Zhou Li's return, all while chatting intermittently with Tuanzi.

These two beings, whose command of each other's language could at best be described as semi-fluent—one would say a sentence, and the other would MEOW in response—were actually having a quite enjoyable chat.

"We're back."

"Zhou Li is back," Ms. Ji said, looking down at Tuanzi. "Go see if he brought something tasty for you."

"Zhou Li is back!" Tuanzi scurried over to greet Zhou Li. "Did you bring something delicious for Lord Dumpling?"

Seeing this, Ms. Ji smiled.

Zhou Li then picked up Tuanzi. "Did you have fun at home?"

"Fun." Tuanzi looked at him without blinking. "Lord Dumpling has been talking to your mom the whole time."

"Really?"

"Lord Dumpling has been entertaining her!"

"I see."

"Tuanzi really is so spiritual," Ms. Ji said, ostensibly watching Tuanzi but actually observing Zhou Li holding the cat. "I say something, and she responds with a MEOW, as if she understands and is chatting with me."

"That's just how she is," Zhou Li said. "I plan to send her to primary school in a couple of years, so as not to hinder her development."

"I think that's feasible..."

"How long will you stay here?"

"Two or three days," Ms. Ji replied.

"You're not planning to go abroad again anytime soon, are you?" Zhou Li asked.

"I'm afraid not. The epidemic is too severe over there now. I've even been thinking about asking them to come here for refuge," she admitted.

"I see."

"By the way, how's the apartment you rented near the school?" Ms. Ji asked. "Are the environment and layout all right?"

"It's fine. I quite like it."

"What do you think if I buy another apartment in Chunming, right next to your school? That way, you wouldn't have to rent a place outside, and if I return to the country, I won't go back to Jin Palace. Jin Palace is cold and dreary, but here you have your uncle, aunt, and Xiao Ran, and the climate is good too."

"..."

Zhou Li thought about it seriously. He knew that Ms. Ji was mostly considering buying it for him, but he also saw the merit in her other points.

So he replied, "My school is quite out of the way; it's an hour's drive from Uncle's place, so it's actually quite far. If you really want to buy, it would be better to buy around here. There's no need to buy near my school; there's nowhere to buy groceries over there anyway."

"But you could save on rent."

"Rent isn't that much money... it's not worth it," Zhou Li hesitated. "Besides, I rent it with a good friend."

"I'll think about it..."

Ms. Ji fell into thought.

Uncle served dish after dish on the table and casually opened a bottle of white liquor, smiling at Xiao Nan. "Xiao Nan, would you like some?"

Xiao Nan smiled shyly. "Just a cup for me, but not too much. Drinking a lot is harmful."

"Sure!"

Dinner started soon after.

Only Xiao Nan and Uncle drank, each pouring for themselves.

The difference was that Uncle's cup seemed to never empty, whereas Xiao Nan finished hers in just a few sips. Afterward, she began to eat and chat with everyone.

Throughout this process, Ms. Ji scrutinized Xiao Nan closely.

Actually, drinking was not the issue. She had worked abroad and even spent over half a year in Eastern Europe, where they drank vodka like water. She held no prejudice against girls drinking. However, Xiao Nan always gave her the impression of being frivolous and irresponsible, although Xiao Nan was trying to hide it.

Based on this half-day's observation, she felt somewhat uneasy entrusting her son to… Eh?

Something seemed off.

Ms. Ji's face showed a glimmer of puzzlement.