Qiu Yingying is reborn and bound to a learning system.

The wind at the end of winter still carried a chill, but the sunlight was no longer as stingy as in the depths of winter, shining warmly into the hallway through the glass windows of Joyful Song.

The next morning, Qiu Yingying arrived at the stairwell ten minutes early, wearing a white cashmere sweater with a neckline that just revealed a hint of her collarbone, making her skin appear radiant. Over this, she wore a dusty rose coat, simple in design, knee-length, and of obviously expensive quality, exuding elegance. She completed the look with a black knit skirt and white ankle boots, which, combined with her height, made her appear tall and poised.

Today, she styled her dark brown curly hair into an updo with a jade-colored hairpin. The hairpin had simple patterns, understated yet pleasing to the eye. Two wisps of hair fell naturally down her temples, framing her face and adding a touch of gentleness. Standing there, she was still the ever-smiling Qiu Yingying, but something seemed different about her; her sweetness was tinged with a bright radiance that was truly captivating.

"Wow—Xiao Qiu!" Qu Xiaoxiao's voice came from the corner of the stairs, with her usual exaggerated and energetic tone.

She came running down the street in a pair of black over-the-knee boots, wearing a bright purple short holographic jacket, a black leather mini-skirt, and a brown beret tilted to one side. She looked both cool and chic. As soon as she reached Qiu Yingying, she opened her arms and hugged her. "You look so beautiful today! Your skin is so white it's like it's been lit up, and your figure is amazing. If I were a man, I would marry you the moment I saw you!"

Qiu Yingying felt a little embarrassed by the hug, but still hugged her back tightly: "You're talking nonsense again, it's just a change of clothes. But if I were a man, I'd marry all four of you!"

"That's all?" Qu Xiaoxiao released her, circled around her, and looked her up and down. "You used to be cute, but now you're sweet and beautiful. Your whole aura is different. This updo suits you so well; it makes your neck look so long, and you have such a wonderful presence."

As they were talking, Guan Juer, Fan Shengmei, and Andy came down one after another. Guan Juer was wearing a white down jacket, simple and clean in style, which made her look very refreshing, like a glass of warm water in winter. When she saw Qiu Yingying, her eyes lit up, and she smiled and said, "Yingying, you look really beautiful today. This pink coat is a very gentle color and suits you very well."

Fan Shengmei wore a black lace dress with a dark purple down jacket over it. The long down jacket had a great cut, perfectly accentuating her figure. She walked over to Qiu Yingying, gently touched the fabric of the coat, and said with a smile, "Xiao Qiu, you're getting better and better at dressing. This outfit really makes you look elegant. Send me the link later, I want to check it out too."

Andy was wearing a light gray tracksuit and white sneakers, maintaining her usual simple style. She looked at Qiu Yingying and nodded seriously: "You really look great, you're in great shape."

Qiu Yingying blushed even more as everyone showered her with compliments, and quickly waved her hand, saying, "Alright, alright, let's go, my parents are waiting at home."

"Come on, let's go eat the food your aunt and uncle cooked!" Qu Xiaoxiao took her arm and led the way downstairs.

Five girls walked downstairs together, attracting many glances along the way. The gentleness of pink, the brightness of purple, the cleanliness of white, and the beauty of deep purple, combined with the neatness of their sportswear, made them look like a painting of beauties.

Across from Joyful Song is the residential complex where Qiu Yingying's parents live, just a few minutes' walk away. The environment is quiet and quite nice; although the trees along the road don't have many leaves, they are all very clean. Qiu Yingying led everyone in knowing the way well, and soon they arrived at their doorstep.

She took out her keys and opened the door. A wave of steam, mixed with the aroma of food, wafted out – the smell of meat, the aroma of braised dishes, and the fresh scent of vegetables – instantly whetting her appetite. Mr. and Mrs. Qiu were already waiting at the door, their faces beaming with smiles, looking very welcoming.

"Hello, uncles and aunties!" everyone greeted in unison, each carrying something in their hands.

Qu Xiaoxiao handed over the bag in her hand: "Uncle and Aunt, I brought some nuts. You can eat them while watching TV."

Guan Juer also handed over a small bag: "Auntie, this is a complete set of hand creams. Hands tend to get dry in winter, so please try this."

Fan Shengmei took out a tea canister: "Uncle and Aunt, this is Longjing tea. I brought some because I knew Uncle likes to drink tea."

Andy was carrying a bag of fruit: "I didn't bring anything special, just some fruit, it's pretty fresh."

Mr. and Mrs. Qiu hurriedly accepted the gifts, saying, "You're here, why did you bring anything?" They were polite, but their smiles were even brighter. So many pretty young girls had come; it had been a long time since they had seen such a lively place.

The elderly couple carefully put their things away and kept urging everyone to come inside: "Come in quickly, come in quickly, it's cold outside."

Upon entering, everyone was immediately drawn to the interior decoration.

The living room is in a modern Chinese style, and the overall color scheme is very comfortable.

It has a very homey feel. The sofa is made of dark solid wood, with rounded armrests and backrests, making it look very stable. There are several off-white cushions on the sofa, embroidered with delicate plum blossom patterns, the stitches are very fine.

The coffee table is also made of solid wood, with a set of white porcelain teaware on it and a bamboo tea tray next to it. To one side of the coffee table is a display shelf, which displays many small items: several purple clay teapots with inscriptions on their bodies; several small ornaments that look like souvenirs brought back from various travels; and on the bottom shelf of the display shelf are several potted plants, including pothos, asparagus fern, and several succulents, all of which are growing very well with lush green leaves.

The living room connects to the balcony, and the balcony's sliding doors are made of frosted glass with bamboo leaf patterns on them.

Several small red lanterns hang on the balcony, even when it's not a holiday, adding a touch of charm to the space. In the corner sits a small wicker table and two small chairs. On the table are reading glasses and a few books, and next to them are several potted plants, their leaves still green despite it being winter.

Guan Juer walked to the balcony, looked at the flowers on the windowsill, and smiled at Qiu's mother, saying, "Auntie, you've kept your house so beautifully tidy. So many green plants; it's so comfortable to look at. I can tell you really love life."

Andy nodded: "The decor is very comfortable and has a homey feel."

Qiu Yingying felt happy as she listened to everyone praising her family.

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere immediately became more relaxed.

Mrs. Qiu poured everyone a cup of hot tea. The teacups were white porcelain with delicate orchid patterns, looking very elegant. After drinking the hot tea, the chill in my body dissipated instantly, and I felt relaxed.

Everyone sat on the sofa chatting, eating the washed fruit that had been prepared beforehand. Qiu's mother also joined in, listening to them talk about work and life, occasionally chiming in with a word or two, which was very warm and friendly. As they were chatting, the sizzling sound of stir-frying and Qiu's father chopping vegetables came from the kitchen, and the aroma of the food grew stronger and stronger.

"Auntie, I'll go help!" Qu Xiaoxiao was the first to stand up, rolled up her sleeves, and headed to the kitchen.

"I'll go too!" Guan Juer also got up.

Fan Shengmei and Andy both offered to help, but Qiu's mother stopped them with a smile: "No need, no need, you are guests, just sit down. The dishes will be ready soon, just a few left."

Mr. Qiu also poked his head out from the kitchen: "Yes, you all sit and chat, I'll be done soon."

Everyone had no choice but to sit back down on the sofa and continue chatting. Qiu Yingying walked to the kitchen doorway, leaned against the doorframe, and watched her parents' busy figures, feeling a warm glow in her heart. She occasionally helped by handing them a plate or a bowl, and exchanged a few words with them. The aroma of cooking in the kitchen mingled with the laughter in the living room, making everyone feel very at ease.

Before long, one steaming hot dish after another was served on the table.

The dining room is right next to the living room, with a round solid wood dining table.

The first dish was braised pork belly with taro. The pork belly was cut into neat squares and had a bright red color, indicating that it had been stewed for a long time. The taro had absorbed the meat juices and was soft, sticky, and sweet.

Next up was the beef and vegetable dish. The beef was tender, the vegetables were crisp, and the colors were beautifully combined. The fried shrimp had a crispy shell, coated in sauce, and smelled wonderful.

The deep-fried pork belly is golden and crispy, crumbling at the slightest bite. The sweet and sour pork ribs are delicious, the ribs stewed until very tender, falling off the bone with a gentle bite. The shredded pork with garlic sauce is rich in ingredients, vibrant in color, and very appetizing. There's also a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, refreshing and not greasy at all.

Mr. Qiu then brought out a plate of braised beef, neatly sliced ​​and arranged on a plate, with a small dish of dipping sauce beside it; the aroma of the braising sauce was rich and fragrant. Mrs. Qiu then brought out a plate of stir-fried chicken with mushrooms; the chicken was tender and juicy, the mushrooms were fresh and flavorful, and the broth was rich and flavorful. Finally, Mr. Qiu brought out a plate of sweet and sour pork, its golden-brown and crispy exterior looking incredibly appetizing.

The table was laden with food, steaming hot and fragrant. Mr. Qiu poured drinks for everyone, including freshly squeezed orange juice and hawthorn juice made by Mrs. Qiu herself, which was sweet and sour and very appetizing.

"It's all just home-cooked food, please don't be shy, have a taste," Mr. Qiu said with a smile.

"It looks delicious!" Qu Xiaoxiao couldn't wait any longer. She picked up a piece of fried crispy pork and put it in her mouth, immediately giving a thumbs up. "It smells so good! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it's even better than what you get at restaurants!"

Guan Juer picked up a piece of beef and vegetable dish, chewed it slowly, and said, "It's really delicious. The beef is very tender, and the vegetables are very crisp."

Fan Shengmei took a bite of the sweet and sour pork ribs and couldn't help but praise, "These sweet and sour pork ribs are so authentic, the sweet and sour flavors are just right, and they're not greasy at all."

Andy picked up a piece of braised beef, dipped it in the sauce, and said, "This braised beef tastes great, it's very chewy, and it's very flavorful."

Qu Xiaoxiao picked up another piece of sweet and sour pork, her eyes lighting up: "This sweet and sour pork is so delicious! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour. Uncle, you could open a restaurant with this skill!"

Mrs. Qiu smiled broadly, serving everyone food as she said, "Eat as much as you like, don't be shy."

Everyone ate and chatted, creating a lively and warm atmosphere. Qu Xiaoxiao pestered Qiu's father to teach her how to make sweet and sour pork, Guan Juer chatted with Qiu's mother about her experience in growing flowers, Fan Shengmei told Qiu's parents about Qiu Yingying's childhood anecdotes, and Andy listened quietly, occasionally smiling.

Looking at everything before her, Qiu Yingying felt a surge of happiness. She recalled when she first arrived in Shanghai, knowing nothing, suffering injustices, and shedding tears. But now, she had her own life, true friends, and parents who loved her so much. She felt that this was the life she had always wanted.

The meal lasted a long time, and everyone ate to their heart's content. After the meal, Mrs. Qiu wanted to clear the dishes, and everyone wanted to help, but she stopped them, telling them to rest in the living room. Mr. Qiu brewed fresh hot tea for everyone, and they sat on the sofa continuing to chat. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, making it warm and cozy, and it was hard to leave.

Such a reunion is like a ray of sunshine at the end of winter, warming everyone's hearts and making this winter less cold.