"Something feels off..."
As Ah Qing slept, she couldn't help but think about Xiaolan's strange behavior in the past few days.
The usually eloquent Xiaolan had become quiet and withdrawn after moving in with her parents.
Moreover, he didn't even want to greet her, as if he'd suffered some great grievance. But judging by the fact that his waistline had expanded significantly, it didn't seem like he'd been deprived of anything.
The love handles on his belly were almost turning into a double-layered kayak.
Ah Qing thought long and hard. She felt the reason Xiaolan was ignoring her was because she'd gone out and hadn't taken him along.
Well, it's come to this, might as well just get some sleep for now!
Since Xiaolan didn't want to stay with her parents, she'd wait until she returned to school tomorrow, tidied up her dorm, and then checked the surroundings for a pet-friendly rental.
Renting a single room that allowed pets, she planned to bring Xiaolan back to school life when she returned home for the Mid-Autumn Festival!
Thinking about future plans, Ah Qing fell asleep and drifted into dreamland.
The next morning.
Ah Qing and Mo Yiqing woke up, and rather than rushing to the airport, leisurely went to a teahouse with Mo Yiqing's parents, sipping tea until ten before heading to Gaoming Airport to catch their flight.
"Cousin, how are things over there? Got everything sorted?"
Before boarding, Mo Yiqing slipped away from Ah Qing and made a phone call to the Phoenix City District in Chang'an.
"Hey, you've got nothing to worry about when it's Cousin handling things! We're wrapping up now. All the electronics and stuff will be moved in the next three days. As for the car, I've got it figured out, registering it here is super easy."
On the other end, Mo Shengjie's gentle voice carried a slightly effeminate tone as he updated Mo Yiqing on the progress of the new house and vehicle registration policies for non-local vehicles in Chang'an City.
"Whatever with the car, right now the most important thing is that you stay put there. Don't you dare run off to the Mountain City in the blink of an eye, at least not until my opening ceremony is done," said Mo Yiqing.
"How could I possibly go to the Mountain City? How could you even think of me like that?" Mo Shengjie said, eyes wide. "I'm just vain, not gay!"
"Yeah, sure." Mo Yiqing replied dismissively before hanging up and returning to Yu Xueqing's side, asking, "Ready to board? What are you looking at?"
Standing by the full-length mirror by the boarding gate, Ah Qing glanced at Momo, who had just finished the call, hesitating a bit before saying:
"Momo... do you think I've gotten fatter? I feel like my waistband is a bit snug."
The first day at Momo's, it was all eating, drinking, and having fun.
The second day at Momo's, more eating, drinking, and fun. Then towing a car to join a drift race in the neighboring city, followed by a visit to a private kitchen restaurant on the way back, and a stop at a congee stall for a late-night snack after getting home.
The third day, still more eating and fun, except they ended the night at a friend's cigar cafe, tasting freshly arrived wine and eating, drinking more...
They went from Cabernet Sauvignon to Chardonnay and then to noble rot, finished off a strip of black-label ham, and several boxes of cheese with melons.
The people Ah Qing met at Momo's demonstrated that "birds of a feather flock together" perfectly. It seemed like no one needed to work, and each day started with eating.
Moreover, many of Momo's friends' families ran their own catering or construction businesses.
Truly, some homes came with private chefs and gourmet cooks.
In a week, it was either rushing between places or sitting in one of many friends' restaurants and eateries, indulging losslessly.
To the extent that.
Ah Qing, seeing her reflection in the full-length mirror, had an inkling she might have gained weight.
"Gained weight? What's the big deal? Good ingredients missed are lost opportunities, and if you've gained weight, that's just a few extra laps in the gym!"
"Eating nourishes, and nourishment leads to prosperity!"
"Fat shouldn't be an issue; it's a blessing!"
With all the logic on her side, Mo Yiqing confidently told Ah Qing while flaunting her snake-like figure.
"Let's go, time to board. Even though our flight is barely over two hours, our airline is famous for providing ample snacks."
After checking in the luggage, Mo Yiqing grabbed Ah Qing and headed for the boarding gate.
And just before boarding, Ah Qing posted an update in her social circle.
"Chang'an, here we come!"
Attached to the message was a photo of the airport tarmac taken from the terminal.
"What? Ah Qing is coming?!"
Lying in the Phoenix City District, a newly awakened Ansheng was browsing her social circles when she saw Ah Qing's post and froze in place.
"Wow! Finally, you heartless person, you've arrived!"
"If you don't come soon, I, Ansheng, would have united the Xiqi District's pet market and crowned myself king!"
Although Lin Ying had been taking good care of him, Ansheng felt something odd.
That strange, cozy feeling left Ansheng a bit clueless about how to describe it, although it was okay, but still it was a bit unsettling.
Something just felt off, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
"Lin Ying! Lin Ying! Let's go to the airport! Ah Qing has just boarded the plane for Chang'an."
Ansheng ignored the ongoing red packet relay in the 'Furry Group' chat, sought out Lin Ying, and voiced his need for a car ride.
Sitting in the living room, Lin Ying, after a brief chat with a work assistant, hung up the phone, smiling at the awakened Master Fox, saying, "Ah Qing is coming to Chang'an? Great, let's head over to pick Ah Qing up later!"
"Alright!"
Master Fox glanced toward Lin Ying, a slight blush of embarrassment on his cheeks, ready to speak but swallowing his words instead.
In a bit.
Ah Qing meeting up with Lin Ying, seeing himself, who should be in Jiule City, now in Chang'an City, explaining all that might end up being quite troublesome....
Ansheng was mulling over how he should explain the whole story when.
Suddenly, he received a new message on his mental wish list.
"Hahaha—I finally got out of prison. Thanks to Master Fox's connections, if I, Chen Nian, make a mighty leap forward with this, the first thing I'll do is donate two million bucks so the village chief can build a Master Fox Temple in Changxi Town, erect a golden statue!—Amidst the warden's accommodating laughter, Chen Nian donned the shirt he had before imprisonment, leading a group of inmates who hadn't yet been released, nor had they escaped, out of the private prison.
Along a road veiled by night, a lineup of various vehicles parked roadside. A suited-up, gold-rimmed spectacles-wearing white lawyer with a menacing air stepped out of a Maybach, covering his nose with a handkerchief, smirking, "Chen, thirty stings, forty thousand rounds, a hundred defensive grenades, multiple weapons, three million bucks in cash, and medical supplies — that's what we can offer you in this matter."
"The big client seems to value you greatly, so make sure to complete this task well. Once done, there's an opportunity for you to rake it in in Texas. With avian flu rampant, smuggling poultry is hugely profitable now!"
"........"
The previously cheerful Master Fox scratched his head in exasperation as he saw the well-wishing message Chen Nian sent.
"Your criminal record really doesn't need to be shared with Master Fox. If you are sincere, skip the golden statue and just wire me cash instead."
"Without cash, just make a wish obediently and refrain from shouting nonsense in your mind without reason."