As she watched Qiao Zezhi make his abrupt exit, Song Wenxin was a little surprised. He seemed to have given up the fight a tad too easily.

 Or perhaps he had decided that he did not want to stoop so low to continue to fight over a tie with her and that it would have been degrading for him to do so.

 In any case, she was not fazed. Who cared if he had deemed the tie tacky? It was good as long as she liked it.

 …

 On the other hand, the sales assistants, seeing that Qiao Zezhi had left the store, looked disappointed.

 “Your male idol has already left. Now, can you wrap that up for me, please?” Song Wenxin reminded helpfully.

 Despite giving Song Wenxin a dirty look, the sales assistant had no other option but to do as instructed, so she wrapped up the tie for her.

 Looking on happily, Song Wenxin just knew that her brother would love that tie!

 Having paid for the tie, Song Wenxin emerged from the store and proceeded to search for a store that sold yarn and knitting tools for her to make a scarf.

 The prior night, she had promised Jiang Beihan that she would give him something that she had made herself.

 Having given it much thought, she decided that a scarf would be most appropriate.

 For her, that would be a simple task with minimum difficulty, and, in any case, it was just about the right time of the year to knit!

 …

 When she had made all her purchases, Song Wenxin looked at the time and, discovering that it was still early in the day, decided to make a trip home by bus.

 Song Wenxin arrived home at around lunchtime. Her brother, Song Jiamu, had just gotten home for lunch from the medicine store.

 The entire family was naturally happy to see that Song Wenxin had returned home.

 While they were having lunch, Mrs. Song, Xu Wenqing, asked worriedly, “Wenxin, why have you not come home, staying out for the past two days?”

 Even though Song Wenxin had called home over the past two days to explain why she had to stay out, as parents, they were still somewhat concerned.

 Laughing in embarrassment, Song Wenxin replied after thinking through her response, “Well, schoolwork has been a little hectic the past few days, so I decided to sleep at my classmate’s. I intend to move to the dormitory to cut down on the daily commute between school and home.”

 Jiang Beihan had wanted her to stay at his villa, so she had no choice but to lie to her family…

 1So that was her plan for now since she had decided to keep the fact that she had obtained a marriage certificate with someone a secret from her family.

 If her parents and brother found out that she had gone to Jiang Beihan for help in regard to that matter from two days before and ended up getting married, they would be furious.

 “Why this sudden decision to move out to the dormitory? I will drive you to and from school from now on!” Song Jiamu said, unable to remain quiet any longer.

 He could pick her up every day.

 “That’s not necessary, bro. You are busy enough as it is with the operation of the many stores, so don’t waste precious time picking me up from school!” Song Wenxin declined his offer, smiling guiltily.

 “How would it be a waste of my time? What if you get bullied while staying at the dormitory?!” Song Jiamu responded, not convinced.

 “Oh, come on. You overexaggerate! In any case, the lecturers are encouraging us to stay in the dormitory as a way of grooming us to be independent and to adopt life skills that would allow us to adapt to society sooner rather than later!” Song Wenxin persisted in her reasoning.

 “Wenxin is quite right. Let’s do what the lecturers advocate, then. Staying close to the student community will be a learning process, anyway,” Mr. Song agreed with a nod.

 “Father, you know me so well!” Song Wenxin smiled sweetly at her father, worming herself into his good books by helping him pick up some meat and placing it on his plate.

 “What are you saying, then? That your brother doesn’t know you?” asked Song Jiamu, annoyed at what she had just said.

 “Nope, I did not say that. I know that you only have my best interest at heart, and that is why I have bought you an early birthday present!”