My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 125 - 120: The Wind Is Rising

Just relying on a master's degree and wanting to teach at the top-ranked teacher's university in the country is completely impossible.

Even for recruiting 'dual-role counselors' at Beihua University, a doctoral degree is required.

So, to Chen Shucheng, Li Peifeng's proposal was a joke.

But feeling that he really seemed to hate studying and was eager to work, he gave him a compromise suggestion.

That is to pursue a PhD first, whether in the School of Arts and Sciences or the Writing Center, just start it first, and then during the PhD, he could work as a part-time counselor, allowing him to mentor students or even temporarily teach classes.

Li Peifeng glanced at Zhao Qingge's expression, neither refusing nor agreeing; he just said he would consider it. Chen Shucheng also expressed understanding and meanwhile asked about Li's current situation with concern.

"One article has been submitted for review, and the rest of the time is spent writing a novel and preparing a new book... oh, right."

Unconsciously, Li Peifeng looked through the window and saw the two buildings a kilometer or two outside the school. His curiosity piqued, and he quickly asked, "Dean Chen, if our university students want to start a business, are there favorable loan policies? And the Innovation Mansion that belongs to our school, is it available for rent externally?"

...

More than half an hour later, Li Peifeng and Zhao Qingge left the dean's office and returned to the latter's room.

"I didn't expect you to want to start a business."

Zhao Qingge sat on the chair, glanced at him calmly, and said, "Social media? Isn't that keeping you busy enough?"

"It's not me; it's a friend who wants to do it. I'm just helping to ask."

Standing at the door, seeing the hallway was empty, Li Peifeng closed, locked the door, and turned back to walk in.

"Open the door!" Zhao Qingge's voice wasn't loud, but her tone was stern: "Open the door for me!"

"Just two words." Li Peifeng grinned, "Don't be so nervous, it's making me a bit scared too."

That said, he pulled over a chair and sat next to Zhao Qingge.

"I'm really not keen on the PhD. As I told you earlier, I won't pursue it. I couldn't refuse Dean Chen given his sincerity, but if he asks again, just tell him I'm determined not to go for it."

Zhao Qingge frowned, remaining silent for a moment: "Actually, you could do as he said, study part-time and not delay your career."

Li Peifeng probed, "So, you mean I should switch a mentor, pursue a PhD while being a counselor, and be colleagues with you, this is okay?"

Zhao Qingge seemed uncertain again: "Maybe, but since you're doing the PhD at Beihua... I don't know either, figure it out yourself!"

Li Peifeng closed his eyes in thought for a while but came up with nothing. He simply shook his head: "Forget it, one step at a time. Anyway, I still have over a year until graduation, right?"

"Whatever suits you."

Zhao Qingge indifferently looked at her computer, a stance that somewhat irritated Li Peifeng, but he maintained his composure: "Working overtime today?"

"I'll leave in a bit."

"I got the framework for my new book, but I'm still missing the detailed storyline, can I send it to you for a look?"

"Send it, I'll look at it when I have time."

Focusing on the computer screen, Zhao Qingge responded sparsely.

After sending the materials for his new book to her email via phone, Li Peifeng raised his head, scrutinizing the woman in front of him.

Every time he's alone with Zhao Qingge, it always felt quite peculiar to him.

Because Yun Xin Yue Xing online chats with him daily and sends selfies, in ways that Zhao Qingge would never exhibit.

Especially last night, when she, intentionally or not, sent a photo in a silk nightgown, which kept Li up all night.

But now, the real Zhao Qingge was in a light gray professional suit, with a low-cut neckline, showing a taut white shirt underneath. It had curves but was conservative, nowhere near as revealing as the nightgown.

Huh?

Is there something around her neck?

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Li Peifeng focused his gaze and saw the Trinity series necklace they bought together at Cartier hanging on Zhao Qingge's neck, partially hidden by her shirt's collar.

Why is the gift for Yun Xin Yue Xing hanging on you?

Amused but without revealing it, Li Peifeng decided to spare Old Zhao some face, though he couldn't stop his wandering thoughts.

"Are you sleepy? Need a nap?"

With her hand on the mouse, Zhao Qingge paused, then turned her head with sharp eyes: "At school, I'm not sleepy! Do you have any business? If not, I'll get ready to leave."

Li Peifeng pondered: "And after you're off work, what's your plan?"

"Going home to rest."

She shut down the computer, seemingly ready to leave. Just as Li was about to speak, her phone rang.

Wang Wei!

Looking at the caller, Zhao hesitated for a few seconds but ultimately answered.

"Qingge, I sent Xiaohu's photo to you yesterday, did you see it? Have you met before?"

She quickly glanced at Li Peifeng: "I don't remember."

"It's okay if you don't, if you think it's alright, I'll give him your WeChat. It's Saturday, everyone's off, you two can chat, maybe meet. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Alright, that's settled then."

As the call ended, having overheard everything, Li Peifeng leaned back, arms crossed, knowingly nodding: "A blind date?"

Wearing my gift, and still going on dates with others?!

"Kind of."

Zhao Qingge placed her phone on the table, sat in the chair, and gazed at the darkened computer screen with a frown.

Li Peifeng suppressed the emotional turmoil inside him, acting nonchalant, even with a hint of a smile: "Is it the person Wang Wei introduced to you at the online literature week?"

"..."

"Actually, it's normal. Not to mention you, after the lecture last night, my parents urged me to quickly find a girlfriend too."

Zhao Qingge's lips curled up: "And then? Didn't they criticize you?"

"They did criticize me, but I didn't make any major mistakes, so it was just a reprimand. Then they started talking to me about the standards for finding a girlfriend, asking me to have a serious relationship. I told them I already have standards, my mentor's type."

"Ding dong~"

The phone screen on the table lit up; I'm 'He Shi,' the other party is requesting to add you as a friend.

Zhao Qingge didn't look at it, just kept staring at Li Peifeng.

"Can you guess what they said?"

Li Peifeng asked and answered himself: "My parents said, 'Don't daydream!'"

"..."

The two sat in silence for another half a minute, then Li Peifeng suddenly laughed: "Come to think of it, maybe I'll only dream about it."

"..."

Zhao Qingge seemed frozen, unmoving, not speaking, just watching Li Peifeng.

After another half minute, Li Peifeng slowly stood up and said softly, "Mentor, I'm leaving first."

Before turning away, he saw Zhao Qingge pick up her phone in front of him and wake up the screen...

Without hesitation, she reached out a finger and declined 'He Shi's' friend request.

Li Peifeng bit his lip, feeling a huge sense of relief inside.

Zhao Qingge glanced at him, then used her phone to call Wang Wei back.

"Uncle Wang, sorry."

"..."

"Yes, I declined."

"..."

"How do I put it, I'm still not ready. Actually, I've already wanted to stay single, I've told my parents before. Yes, I'm really sorry for the trouble."

In a few short words, less than half a minute, Zhao Qingge hung up the phone, sat in the chair, her eyes lowered, just looking at the tabletop.

My mentor is still firm, very good, ah hahaha, everything is like this, only mutual effort is meaningful! Epic dreams are worth falling for you and me!

Li Peifeng blinked, feeling happy inside, and returned to his seat.

He looked at Zhao Qingge's tightly clasped hands on the table, feeling a bit moved, but not daring, so he extended his foot first.

Slowly nudging, nudging closer to Zhao Qingge's high heels, gently touching with his own sneaker.

Zhao Qingge seemed unaware, only raised her eyelids to glance at him, and suddenly said: "Novels are novels, but you can't neglect your studies, don't wait for me to push you. The new project I applied for earlier, about the international dissemination of online literature, seems it will be implemented. By then, pay more attention, find a few suitable students to join the team, and guide them."

Where did this topic go?

Li Peifeng found it amusing, but still nodded seriously: "Hmm, sure, no problem!"

He extended his foot again, continuing to nudge closer to Zhao Qingge's high heels, until their shoes were barely touching. Seeing that she didn't withdraw, Li Peifeng grew bolder, slowly reaching out to hold Zhao Qingge's interlocked hands.

"This project is a key project funded by the National Social Science Foundation."

Zhao Qingge seemingly ignored the hands on hers, her expression unchanged: "For a period of four years, during this time, you need to guide Lu Jing and Lin Zhihui a bit more, and other students too, so that even if you're not by my side anymore, I have someone to rely on."

"I won't leave."

Li Peifeng said softly, meanwhile holding Zhao Qingge's interlocked hands in his own, one hand in his left, one in his right, gripping them tightly: "I won't leave you."

"You will have to graduate eventually."

Zhao Qingge's tone remained normal, though her words were somewhat disjointed, apparently affected by the hand-holding: "Even if you pursue a Ph.D., you won't choose me as your mentor, but you can't neglect your studies, and have to continue writing papers, publish more."

"Yes." Li Peifeng released one hand, moved his chair closer to Zhao Qingge so that when seated, his body could lean against hers.

Even with Li Peifeng sitting next to her, so close that their clothes rubbed against each other and holding her hand, Zhao Qingge maintained her student-teaching tone and expression, though her cheeks turned slightly red.

"I will help you with your new book when I get back. Your idea to change is correct, but you can't stray too far from the market. I haven't written web novels before, so I don't understand much, I can only give some suggestions. Don't take my words too seriously."

"Hmm, I know." Li Peifeng held one hand while wrapping an arm around her waist with the other.

"You need to be cautious with this book, since you just signed with a platinum publisher... ah."

Li Peifeng already leaned in for a kiss, leaving Zhao Qingge speechless, her eyes blinked as if trying to open but still closed.

beng~

beng~

Perhaps it was an illusion, but amidst the trembling touch of their lips and tongues, Li Peifeng felt his heartbeat, and Zhao Qingge's, initially differing, then synchronizing.

The two seemed to have plunged into the depths of their hearts, opting to remain still in this scorchingly fervent moment.

Thus the glaciers began to melt.

Thus rivers and mountains began to rise, tectonic plates shook.

Love seemed like a strong wind starting tomorrow, with you and me in the midst.