"Ring... ring... ring..."

The bell at Blue Star University rang right on time to signal the end of class. Du Xixi, having just finished her lecture, smiled warmly as always and said, "Well, shall we end the class here? See you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Professor!"

"The Pan-Long Loach we learned today, I have to study it well, it’s so cool!"

"I kind of want to ask Professor Du some questions, will you come with me?"

"Let’s go! Let’s go! Class is over! I need to head back to my dorm to grab a book!"

"..."

As soon as the class ended, many voices bubbled up in the classroom. Du Xixi listened with her usual expression, pausing in her packing of teaching aids when she heard a student wanted to ask her a question.

She looked up to see two shy girls from her class approaching. Du Xixi smiled and asked, "Do you have any questions?"

Now, the Food Department has been open for several years, and the students in this class are all newly enrolled this year. However, food is no longer a rare existence in the interstellar world. Many graduates have chosen to become chefs, so the students entering in these years are not all as ungrounded as those from the first intake.

With more students, the number of classes increased, and Du Xixi had about two classes a day. Her teaching load changed from being every other day to daily. Nonetheless, Du Xixi continued to teach quite effortlessly, and especially when she faced those eyes full of desire for knowledge, she felt a great sense of accomplishment in teaching.

"Actually..." one of the girls wanting to ask questions smiled bashfully, avoiding Du Xixi’s gaze, "I’m a bit hesitant. Although I really, really like the Food Department, I... I don’t have much talent, and my family is considering having me switch departments."

"I want to know your opinion."

Du Xixi raised an eyebrow; this was the first student wanting to switch departments she had encountered over all these years, or at least the first thinking of it and saying it to her face.

Honestly speaking, she didn’t have much opinion to offer, but seeing the student’s conflicted expression, she hesitantly began, "I don’t know if what I say counts as advice. As a professor in the Food Department, I naturally wouldn’t want my students to switch departments, especially right after you’ve just enrolled. You may have only encountered the basics, and switching may lead to regret. By then, Blue Star University won’t allow you to switch back."

This is the restriction Blue Star University places on students. Not every department switch is possible, and each student only has one chance, which must be well considered.

Du Xixi continued, "But as a professor who wishes well for you, I would think that following your heart is the best choice. If your talent isn’t here, it surely lies in some other place more suited to you, and your family will consider what’s best for you. I, as your professor, can’t give you a fair opinion."

"Professor..."

"Think it over carefully. Although considering this just after enrolling may have its downsides, if you make a decision, adapting will be quicker. I respect your choice, as do other professors." Du Xixi softened her voice, seeing the female student begin to ponder seriously, she nodded to the two and quietly left the classroom.

She had completed both her classes for the day and was off work.

Ke Lian and the three kids had agreed to come pick her up.

***

Miao Miao also started working at Blue Star University, but she no longer lives with the Ke Family. After work, she went directly to the Imperial Palace. She is now engaged to Chen Yin and accompanies him in the role of future Empress—not cohabitating!

Chen Yin, busy as a bee for more than a century, now has Miao Miao learning how to handle governmental affairs from Rob’s side as a future Empress. Occasionally, when he has free time, he takes her along to learn. In just a few years, Miao Miao has become capable of helping Chen Yin share some of the load.

Yet Miao Miao still isn’t a formal Empress, so the affairs she handles are not too critical, merely practice. Sometimes, Chen Yin would even take some governmental matters to consult her opinion, then combine it with his own plan to give the best response.

Initially, the courtiers were quite opinionated, gossiping around Chen Yin for nearly half a year, but Chen Yin never stopped Miao Miao from reviewing governmental affairs. However, Miao Miao, fed up with the gossip, decided to stop handling the affairs, and all responsibilities returned to Chen Yin.

It was only then that the courtiers realized, though Miao Miao handled the simpler tasks, her thoughts and plans were the best choices. Meanwhile, Chen Yin, not handling the simpler affairs for a long time, was not as familiar, leading to a decrease in work efficiency. Aware of their mistake, the courtiers began praising Miao Miao for months before she finally returned.

***

Mo Ying and Ye Wenting’s relationship grew stronger, especially after having Little Guoguo, their cherished daughter. At home, Ye Wenting became gentler by the day. Although he sometimes doted on Little Guoguo to the point of making Mo Ying jealous, their relationship improved indeed.

One day, Ye Wenting was playing with the now energetic running and jumping Little Guoguo in the yard. Mo Ying watched amusedly, and as she casually glanced up, she saw a slender man in white at their courtyard gate, staring intently at Ye Wenting and his daughter.

The man’s appearance was gentle, though a bit thin. Mo Ying found him familiar but couldn’t recall who he was until the man looked over at her, and she suddenly widened her eyes.

It was Bai Zhan.

She almost didn’t recognize him.

But of course, they hadn’t seen each other for years.

Mo Ying pursed her lips; though she had long forgotten the heartbreak of years past, the wounds she had suffered were real. So upon recognizing Bai Zhan, she had no inclination to exchange pleasantries and instead gave a small laugh, acknowledging his presence only with a nod.

Bai Zhan seemed startled for a moment and then nodded back at Mo Ying. Once deeply entangled with each other, the two now seemed merely like acquaintances nodding in passing, no longer intertwined.

Mo Ying stopped looking at Bai Zhan, while Bai Zhan gazed at Mo Ying’s profile, lost in thought for quite a while. In recent years, he had been striving on his own out in the world, no longer relying on family influence to navigate the literary circles. Yet the more he achieved, the more he regretted his past actions. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He felt he shouldn’t have been constrained by family expectations, nor should he have hurt Mo Ying for the sake of "a good match," and most certainly shouldn’t have embarrassed himself before Du Xixi and Ke Lian after Mo Ying and Ye Wenting got together...

Does he regret it? Yes, he regrets it deeply.

Bai Zhan turned and walked away. He was just visiting a friend and remembered Mo Ying’s home was here, so he came by to take a look but didn’t expect to see such a harmonious family scene.

If he had been with Mo Ying back then, there wouldn’t have been Ye Wenting, would there?

What a pity... There’s no going back.

***

End of the extra Chapter.