What?! My anime figures have all come true!

Regarding the purchase of new computers and drawing equipment, besides the genuine need, another point is that Chen Xiao himself still wants to maintain some privacy.

Even though he knew that what was on his computer was no secret to the figure collectors, he still needed some privacy, even if only superficially, to make himself feel at ease.

Or rather, it made Chen Xiao believe that his privacy was being respected.

"Luckily, I had another card saved up, otherwise I would have had to wait until Emily (Yamada Elf) wrote down the results before I could buy the equipment."

With that thought in mind, Chen Xiao took out his phone and dialed a friend's number.

The other party's family happens to own a computer store, so considering our past relationship, they probably wouldn't try to cheat him.

Although the possibility of exploiting acquaintances cannot be ruled out.

But if he dared to do that, the next day his other buddies would go to his house and give him a good talking-to for betraying his brothers...

That's utterly despicable.

"Hey? Is that Xiao?! Where have you been all this time? You haven't been on QQ, and you haven't replied to anyone tagging you! If Sister Lin Qi hadn't come out to explain, we would have thought you'd died!"

As soon as the call connected, a barrage of questions came from the other end, forcing Chen Xiao to hold the phone away from him.

"Go away! Even if you do it, I won't!"

After the person on the other end of the phone finished venting, Chen Xiao finally answered, still feeling annoyed.

"So you really don't plan to go to New Star Academy for further studies?"

Almost everyone who knows Chen Xiao asks this question, and even after asking it on the phone, he might ask it again the next time they meet face to face.

After all, this is a crucial decision that will affect your future!

To everyone else, Chen Xiao's decision to give up seemed like he had lost his mind.

"Yes, and my family didn't object to my decision."

However, the price is that my living expenses have been cut off, and I will have to support myself in Shanghai from now on.

"In that case, I can't really say anything... Oh, by the way, what's up with your call?"

The person on the other end of the phone sounded disappointed at first, then decisively changed the subject, asking Chen Xiao the purpose of his call.

"I'd like to buy something from you."

Chen Xiao read out the purchase list one by one and asked the other party to write it down.

"Hiss... Xiao, you not only want several computers, but also such high-end specs and a drawing tablet. Is that enough money?"

The other party didn't ask Chen Xiao what he was going to do with all that money; they were just a little surprised to see Chen Xiao spending so lavishly for the first time.

"Don't worry, there's definitely enough money!"

Although less than half of the money was left after buying everything, keeping 30,000 to 40,000 yen would be enough to last until Yamada Elf and the others made money.

Of course, if there are other ways to make money, he will explore them as well.

"Alright, I've written it all down! Xiao, come pick it up from me later!"

Just as Chen Xiao was pondering, his friend on the other end of the phone had already copied down his shopping list and then walked into the warehouse behind the computer store while still on the phone.

"Okay, I'll be there in a bit."

After saying that, Chen Xiao hung up the phone, told Shiina Mahiru in the kitchen that he was going out for a while, and then left the villa.

But as soon as he got on the electric scooter, Chen Xiao had a strange feeling.

"That sentence I just said... it's like a husband informing his wife in advance before going out, I'm almost used to it."

In a few years, I'm afraid I won't be able to live without them anymore.

Although that's what he thought, Chen Xiao wasn't bothered at all. Instead, he felt light and airy, and his speed on the electric scooter increased considerably.

After navigating the complex traffic of Shanghai, Chen Xiao quickly arrived at the commercial center. After parking his electric scooter, he prepared to go to his friend's computer store to pick up his order.

However, Chen Xiao had only taken a few steps when someone called out to him.

"Eh...hiss, Xiao? Is that Xiao?!"

Upon hearing the voice, Chen Xiao looked at the person who had entered and realized that he recognized them.

The man was tall and thin, wearing black-rimmed glasses, carrying a large backpack, and had a somewhat nerdy vibe.

"Ding Jiafang? What are you doing here?"

Chen Xiao stepped forward and greeted him.

All I can say is that Shanghai is a really small place.

I went out to get something and ran into a classmate.

No, we should say former classmates now, since we've all graduated.

But whether in the past life or this life, the other person was always a top student in the class, and the only thing I could beat him in was sports...

At this moment, Chen Xiao remembered Aoyama Nanami's suggestion. Looking at Ding Jiafang in front of him, he realized that the probability of running into an acquaintance right here was quite high.

If Aoyama Nanami successfully utilizes her workaholic efficiency, she'll likely reconnect with her old friends soon, and her secret affair might be exposed. Then, everyone will start speculating about her skipping school...

Wow, that's a bit scary.

"Xiao, it really is you! I thought I was seeing things! Phew... I thought you had already left Shanghai and gone back to Fujian Province!"

Ding Jiafang went straight up and hugged Chen Xiao, saying happily.

Then it's that same old question again.

"Are you really planning to give up on enrolling...?"

"Oh, Lin Qi already said that I'm not going to Shenzhou New Star Academy, and my family has agreed."

Upon hearing Chen Xiao's words, Ding Jiafang sighed helplessly.

"You're the only one in the class not going, and everyone's really upset... After all, we'll have fewer chances to see each other in the future."

"Hey, what's with that tone... Anyone who didn't know better would think you're from Sichuan."

Chen Xiao almost couldn't hold back.

"Hmph! If I could use Purple Mood to pull you back from the brink of ruin, I would have bought it already!"

Ding Jiafang feigned a sinister expression.

"I'll send you straight to Chengdu to be a loli then!"

"No, you're the one who should be the loli!"

Chen Xiao also put on a sinister expression.

"Pry it open yourself!"

Then the two of them pointed at each other and burst into laughter, just like when they used to make silly jokes back in school.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

After laughing, the expressions on their faces became complicated.

Once Shenzhou New Star Academy starts, they will truly be from two different worlds. Unless something unexpected happens, they may not see each other for a long time.

"Speaking of which, Xiao, did you come to the shopping mall to buy something? Would you like me to recommend a few new stores?"

"No, no, I just came to pick something up."

Chen Xiao smiled and waved his hand, then pointed to Ding Jiafang's attire and asked in return.

"But you, dressed like that, are you going to some kind of comic convention?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Jiafang's expression became somewhat conflicted.

"It's less of a visit and more of a participation."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Chen Xiao glanced at his phone and, seeing that his friend from the computer store hadn't called, continued chatting with Ding Jiafang.

"It's just that New Star Academy is about to start... I don't know when I'll be able to go to a comic convention again! So I'm planning to spend some money and go all out, to perform on the stage at the comic convention, sing some anime theme songs or something."

At this point, Ding Jiafang scratched his head in great distress.

"But I practiced for several days and still couldn't sing it clearly. I wanted to give up but I was too embarrassed to say it, so I wondered if I could find someone to sing for me... After all, I only said I wanted to go on stage to sing, not that I would do it myself."