Meanwhile, at home, the three old gentlemen who had just finished a game of chess.
After chatting for a while, Grandpa Qiu left. He planned to wake up his lazy grandson who was still in bed. Once his wife returned, it would be time to cook.
In the courtyard, only Du Bin and Ding Yujing remained.
"Old Du, this child Xi has truly passed the preliminary rounds of the Century Cup this time. We're just waiting for the finals next March."
Ding Yujing had already heard the news. Now that they were alone, they could have a proper talk.
As the mentor, Du Bin naturally understood this. So, after hearing Ding Yujing's words, Du Bin nodded, "Yes, Xi told me two days ago."
"So, what are your thoughts?"
After asking, Ding Yujing picked up the teapot on the table and refilled his tea, preparing to hear what Xi's direct mentor had to say.
Du Bin shot him a glare, "What else can I say!"
Following this old fellow's usual pattern, he had probably already set a trap for him before arriving.
Furthermore, he remembered the decision they had made in July.
Ding Yujing pretended nothing had happened, sitting there and chuckling as he drank his tea. "Heh heh~"
"Let's wait until next month. We'll let this girl relax for a bit, then I'll take her to meet people."
"..."
After a long pause, Du Bin finally grunted in agreement.
"Be magnanimous! Think about it, after this competition ends, you were planning to let her appear publicly anyway."
"..."
"Is that the same thing?"
"And I don't really want to do it like this..."
His tone shifted, "Back then, I don't know who it was, but the moment they saw me, they asked..."
Ding Yujing, "..."
What was this sudden feeling of being under someone else's roof?
"Alright, I won't say any more!"
"It was me, it was me, it was all me!"
"Mm."
"..."
"Master, how did your conversation go?"
Just as the two of them fell into a silent, awkward mood, Qiu Xi walked in.
"Xi, come sit for a while."
Ding Yujing called out to her when he saw her, inviting her to join them.
"Okay."
"Your Master and I have finished our talk. Since you're here, let's discuss it again."
Qiu Xi nodded, "Okay, Teacher Ding. What were you going to talk about?"
"Just a casual chat."
"The regional qualifiers for the Century Cup are over. How do you feel about it?"
"Pretty good. I feel a lot more relaxed now."
For the past two days, besides attending classes, Qiu Xi had been on dates, spending as much time as possible with Nan Hua. She had indeed been quite at leisure.
"Yes, balancing work and rest is good. You just need to pay more attention to your health. That's the foundation of everything."
"Mm, I will!"
When the topic turned to this, Qiu Xi truly had something to say.
The three girls in her dormitory were even more concerned about her fitness management than she was!
Qiu Xi had never encountered people who dragged her to exercise whenever they had free time.
They constantly chattered about how beautiful she was and that they wanted to look at her every day...
So, for their long-term visual pleasure, they had to take personal initiative.
And their so-called personal initiative... was to constantly nag her... to exercise properly!
So she really didn't lack exercise time at all!
Even if she didn't have time, as long as she was in the dorm, they could always make time.
"Yes, for the next period, just focus on your studies in class. You can come back to your Master to seek guidance from time to time, which is perfectly fine."
Qiu Xi nodded, "Mm."
"Your Master and I have discussed it. The subsequent training will be at the end of December, or perhaps after New Year's Day, and then we'll talk to you about it."
"But... the school previously said that those of us who passed would also need to train with teachers from the department, for pre-competition training."
This was what Qiu Xi had heard from the team leader after she returned.
Although she didn't quite understand, she still had to attend the training.
Ding Yujing's face fell, "..."
It wasn't that the school's arrangements were bad, but they were disrupting his plans.
"Alright, I understand. I'll see if I can get you exempted later."
After all, the training this child would undergo was much more rigorous than what the school offered, so there was no need to waste this extra bit of time, only to end up being a mascot.
"Okay, then I'll trouble you, Teacher."
Ding Yujing waved his hand grandly, "Trouble? It's no trouble at all!"
After all, this child was now half his disciple... right?
Yes! He thought so himself!
"Why is he making a fuss about trouble? He's happy to do it!"
Du Bin, who had been silent for a long time, opened his mouth with his first sentence directed at his old friend.
"Look what you're saying, Old Du. This is my capability!"
"..."
Shameless!
...
"Sis, Grandpa, dinner is ready!"
Just as Qiu Xi was listening to her Master and Teacher Ding engaging in their battle of wits, Qiu Ge popped out from behind.
"Ah?"
Qiu Xi hadn't paid attention to the time and now realized it was already mealtime.
When she first arrived, she had planned to chat for a while before helping her grandmothers.
"Master, Teacher Ding, perhaps we should go and eat first?"
"Mm."
"Let's go."
Neither of them wanted to be lectured by their wives later.
...
Afternoon.
Qiu Xi, having just woken up from her nap, was looking at the content of the second volume that Shen Yan had sent her earlier.
She sat leaning against a blanket, occasionally taking notes.
She truly admired Xiao Xuehua and Yan Yan. If she didn't have time later, she suspected she would be significantly delayed by their pace.
She now hoped that she herself would be reliable and finish these matters before New Year's Day, so that she could properly prepare for what she needed to do next.
Just as Qiu Xi was struggling with the manuscript and the tablet, her phone rang.
The melody played for a while before Qiu Xi picked it up.
She looked at it.
Old Yan?
Qiu Xi was puzzled. What could Old Yan possibly need from her at this time?