"If you’re hungry, just go eat. Why come to me?"

Zhao Qingge kept walking, heading out of the building.

"I didn’t bring my meal card!"

"No meal card, no money? You didn’t bring your phone either?"

"Right, I only brought my mouth!"

Li Peifeng was determined to stick with Zhao Qingge. If she went to the cafeteria, he’d join her for a meal. If she went home, he’d go with her. If she entered the women’s restroom... he’d wait at the door until she came out. Regardless, he was determined to have this meal with Zhao Qingge today!

Perhaps because Beihua University was starting the winter break early, in eight days on January 3rd, students would leave school. The start of the new term hadn’t been set due to the pandemic, and it might even be delayed, with the next semester possibly shifting to online classes, preventing students from returning to campus.

Thus, the teacher and student might not see each other for a long time. Zhao Qingge felt a pang of sympathy and didn’t chase Li Peifeng away, instead staying silent as he followed her to the faculty cafeteria’s stall.

"One braised beef, one boiled shrimp, one broccoli... and a pot soup. How much?"

Zhao Qingge pointed at a few dishes and said to the server. The server, holding a tray and serving the dishes, casually replied, "Twenty-five yuan."

Zhao Qingge silently swiped her meal card on the machine, didn’t take the food, and turned to leave.

[Zhao Qingge treated someone to a meal, spending 25 yuan; 41,102 yuan remaining to trigger the lottery...]

"That’s mine."

Li Peifeng said, taking the tray and turning to look for Zhao Qingge. He saw her stopping at another stall not far away, ordering a bowl of Guilin rice noodles and quietly waiting, as if it was someone else who ordered for him.

"I knew my advisor couldn’t stand seeing me hungry; she ordered all my favorites!"

Li Peifeng felt a warmth in his heart, found an empty table near Zhao Qingge, and sat down. When she carried her rice noodles to another table, he quickly stood up, offering to take her noodles: "Sit here, I reserved the spot."

"Move over."

Zhao Qingge said softly, frowning slightly but still sitting with him.

As it was mealtime, many students had finished their exams and came to eat, so the cafeteria was crowded. Fortunately, Beihua University had more cafeteria buildings than dormitories, allowing for more distribution. The faculty cafeteria wasn’t too packed, with only two tables occupied around them.

"When do you go on winter break?"

[January 15th... Not that it concerns you.]

Zhao Qingge didn’t reply, just took small bites of her rice noodles.

But Li Peifeng could sense her sentiments; even if she didn’t reply, he could ’eavesdrop.’ So, he made small talk: "Any plans for winter break? Staying home or traveling somewhere?"

[Travel? Where? Staying at home, my parents will inquire about my relationship status, how should I respond? What is this all now?!]

Although Zhao Qingge appeared calm, Li Peifeng could feel her inner turmoil. It wasn’t too bad currently; his adviser was still hesitant and hadn’t made up her mind to ’break up’ with him, so things were still manageable.

"I’ve booked a ticket for the 5th, arriving home that afternoon. I’ll probably stay home the next two months like you since it seems we can’t go anywhere."

Zhao Qingge glanced at him: "Can you shut up?"

"Shut up... how to eat?"

"Just focus on eating, don’t talk to me!"

Li Peifeng contemplated briefly and tentatively suggested: "Why don’t I delay my trip during this winter break or perhaps buy some gifts before the break starts and visit your parents?"

Romantic relationships and external social systems influence each other; different forces within social systems can facilitate the success of the relationship.

Parental approval of one’s partner serves as an essential external reference for evaluating love, satisfaction, and commitment. Sometimes, what partners perceive as ’deep love’ might not align with others’ perceptions. In such cases, the feedback from relatives and friends about their relationship can indirectly confirm if it is as strong as the couple believes.

Furthermore, meeting the parents doesn’t equate to deciding to marry. Even for those opposed to marriage, gaining parental approval can strengthen and stabilize a close relationship.

But Li Peifeng wasn’t thinking that far ahead. He was merely using this as a method to ease Old Zhao’s mind and end the unilateral cold war she had initiated with him.

"Why do you want to see them?"

Zhao Qingge immediately countered: "What do you want to discuss with them?"

"Just some casual chats."

Li Peifeng leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice: "The last time we unexpectedly met at the hot springs, we didn’t get to talk about many things and it was quite awkward. This time, it’s only proper for me to pay them a formal visit. After all, you and I have already... so, I should meet uncle and aunt again, the sooner the better, to put their minds at ease."

The proximity brought about a slight intimacy, and discussing such matters in a cafeteria setting made Zhao Qingge’s expression change slightly. She nervously glanced around, seeing that no one was paying attention, and gave Li Peifeng a harsh glare: "Shut up, don’t talk to me!"

"Alright, let’s eat."

The setting indeed wasn’t very suitable. Li Peifeng decisively chose to stop talking and followed Zhao Qingge back to the office after eating, where he brought it up again.

"When do you think it would be appropriate for me to visit your home? Perhaps you could ask your parents now about their availability."