My System Forces Me to Live off Women

Chapter 297 254: Hot Spring Soaking

November 22, clear, light snow,

When Li Peifeng stepped out of the house and felt the outdoor temperature, he truly realized that autumn had quietly passed, and winter was approaching.

The Capital has been experiencing an active cold current lately, and after the rain the day before yesterday, nighttime temperatures dropped sharply to -5 degrees. Even during the day, it's only about four or five degrees, with the northwest wind being a regular visitor.

"Windy? Good weather? Doesn't match at all!"

Li Peifeng tightened his coat, grateful that he and Zhao Qingge chose an indoor location for their date, and a very warm one at that.

There's a resort where they can pick fruits in a greenhouse, visit a museum, enjoy food, stay overnight, and... soak in a hot spring.

This place was chosen by Old Zhao. On the phone, she said something about 'just wandering around, not knowing where to go,' which was all a lie. When Li Peifeng suggested going out together, Zhao Qingge immediately came up with this plan.

"Get in the car."

Within less than half a minute of waiting at the community entrance, a BMW slowly approached, and Li Peifeng got into the passenger seat.

Zhao Qingge was wearing a sporty outfit today, with jeans and a hoodie, and sneakers on her feet. She looked a few years younger, and though her face was still intellectual and mature, it had gained a youthful glow.

"Jiulong Resort, I attended a conference there once. The environment is quite nice."

The BMW was cruising steadily on the road. While driving, Zhao Qingge said, "It's about ten kilometers away, so we'll be there soon."

"Oh."

Li Peifeng glanced in the back, noticing a travel bag, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes: "Did you bring a swimsuit?"

"Did you?"

Li Peifeng shook his head: "I only brought a heart filled with joy because I get to go out with you."

Zhao Qingge smiled with her lips closed: "The resort sells them. We can buy one there. We'll get there around ten twenty, pick some strawberries and dragon fruits in the greenhouse first, have lunch, take a stroll after eating, and then soak in the hot spring... Let's try to be back by six in the evening."

Zhao Qingge's plan sounded great. Being cooped up at home for over two weeks, Li Peifeng was even more eager and decided to play a song on the car's dashboard after agreeing.

"Come with me~ We'll set off at dawn~ The dream has awakened~ The heart won't be afraid..."

Li Peifeng hummed along softly. Zhao Qingge glanced at him, her lips curling up, and her left hand couldn't help but tap on the steering wheel as accompaniment.

Everyone's very happy! Just really happy!

If only the phone would stop buzzing, Li Peifeng might be even happier.

Feeling the phone vibrate intermittently in his pants pocket for a while, Li Peifeng furrowed his brows slightly, pulled it out, and checked while praying silently.

Hopefully, it's not Huang Tianxuan, Wu Wenyue, or Xu Manning also asking me out now. I would feel so guilty with my joyful heart...

[Campus Flower Concentration Camp]

Yao Xun: "@Li Peifeng, I just saw you come out of building 2, then get in a BMW at the community gate, where are you going?"

Tang Feng: "Was the driver male or female? What's the license plate number?"

Yao Xun: "Couldn't see clearly, but seems like a woman."

Lu Shuang: "Is it Wu Wenyue or Xu Manning? Recently, Li Peifeng has been close to them. Yesterday I saw Wu Wenyue's TikTok video, saw their duo ad."

Yao Xun: "Neither looks like them."

Gao Yuanling: "@Li Peifeng, found a rich lady, wants to go ashore, but who agreed?"

Lu Shuang: "I do not agree!"

Luo Ying: "Driving a BMW doesn't count as a rich lady, @Li Peifeng, open your horizons a bit."

Sun Demeng: "(Red Envelope)"

Sun Demeng: "Ladies, why keep bringing him up? Let bygones be bygones. By the way, does anyone know an English major senior? Willing to pay for some review materials."

Seeing it was these people @-ing him causing the phone vibrations, Li Peifeng felt relieved, pondered for two seconds, and typed: "Learn from classmate Sun Demeng, broaden your perspective, the whole world is into economics, and we young folks are still hung up on male and female matters, does that make sense? Study hard, making money in the future is what matters."

Sun Demeng: "Almost forgot, @Li Peifeng, don't take the red envelope, you don't deserve it."

The group immediately erupted with laughter, filled with memes and expressions.

Li Peifeng also received a private message. It was from He Yimeng, sending a photo.

The photo showed a white-haired pretty girl sitting on the back seat of a shared bicycle, smiling brightly for a selfie. Only the back of the rider showed, but Li Peifeng knew it was himself.

He Yimeng: "Life has changed, you've already moved on to a BMW, yet I still miss the summer when you carried me on a bicycle."

Li Peifeng: "Youth is meant to pass, and we are destined never to catch the wind."

He Yimeng: "Being oblique? Self-indulgent? You think I'm missing you? I'm just reminiscing the youthful me back then."

Li Peifeng: "I understand, I understand."

He Yimeng: "Should I just dissolve the group chat?"

Li Peifeng: "(Thinking) Why would you think that? Because of me? That's unlikely. They're just teasing, and most of the time, everyone is learning and communicating in the group, which is quite normal."

He Yimeng: "Hmm, as long as you don't mind."

He Yimeng: "But I still want to ask, who is the person in the BMW? It doesn't matter if you don't say."

Li Peifeng: "My mentor..."

He hesitated to say more, and He Yimeng instinctively understood the subtext: "(Sympathetic) Working overtime even on a Saturday?"

Li Peifeng didn't reply because he noticed Zhao Qingge's gaze had already shifted in this direction. He quickly switched to the writing software and pretended to be deep in thought, while subtly tilting his phone toward Zhao Qingge to prove his 'innocence.'

"Writing a book?"

"Hmm."

Zhao Qingge fell silent, her right hand on the gear shift tightening and then relaxing. Li Peifeng noticed the small gesture with his peripheral vision and glanced at the road ahead, which was in good condition. With no traffic lights or intersections in sight, he put away his phone and held Old Zhao's hand.

Zhao Qingge pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

Li Peifeng earnestly advised, "You can completely be more open next time. In situations like this, just say it!"

"For example, you could say like this." Li Peifeng paused, adjusted his tone, and struck a commanding posture: "'Baby, bring your hand over here, I want to hold your hand while driving.' As soon as you say that, I'd feel immensely grateful and honored to eagerly hold your hand…"

"Pa~"

His hand was slapped, deservedly.

But Li Peifeng persisted, capturing her hand again: "Did you understand?"

Zhao Qingge angrily glared at him, but Li Peifeng defiantly stared back with wide eyes. She gradually pouted, seemingly a bit unsatisfied, but didn't care further, continued driving, and didn't withdraw her hand, letting Li Peifeng hold it.

Meanwhile, Li Peifeng amused himself with her hand, rhythmically molding it to the music, sometimes into an "OK" sign, other times raising a middle finger... having a great time!

But when Zhao Qingge's cell phone rang, Li Peifeng had to let go and considerately adjusted the car's stereo to mute.

"Mom, what's up?"

Zhao Qingge, with one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding the phone, glanced at Li Peifeng as if instructing him not to make a sound.

The glance was entirely unnecessary. In fact, as soon as Li Peifeng heard Old Zhao say 'mom,' he was startled, instinctively sat upright, and wouldn't dare disturb her call.

He only dared to secretly perk up his ears, listening to what Li Xin was saying.

"Duoduo, aren't you going to the hot springs today? Your father and I are about to leave, won't you come?"

Li Peifeng suddenly realized, no wonder Old Zhao wanted to arrange the date as a hot springs visit; it was because Li Xin had mentioned it earlier, but Zhao Qingge didn't agree.

The real reason for refusal, likely thinking that even a trip with her parents wouldn't be pleasant, and she'd have to listen to their nagging about marriage, which is why she declined.

"I'm not going, I have work to do."

Li Xin sounded a bit displeased: "You're a vice professor and busier than us? We can find the time, why can't you?" Then her tone softened, "Duoduo, come on, take this chance to have a heart-to-heart talk with us. It's been a while since we last saw you."

"I'll talk tonight, we can have dinner together."

Zhao Qingge casually responded with a few phrases, then hung up the phone.

It was then Li Peifeng asked: "Do you know where Uncle and Aunt are headed? We won't run into them, will we?"

Zhao Qingge slightly shook her head: "No, they're going to Feng Mountain Resort, it's six or seven kilometers from Jiulong."

Good then.

Li Peifeng breathed a sigh of relief and then adjusted the car stereo volume back to normal.

"Are you afraid of meeting them?"

"It's not fear!"

Li Peifeng explained: "I just feel the timing is not quite right at the moment, but when I graduate, any time, any place, any identity, I can meet Uncle and Aunt, what do you think?"

After a moment of silence, Zhao Qingge softly hummed: "Whatever you want."

After speaking, she shifted slightly toward the passenger side, then leaned her elbow on the armrest box, right hand palm up, and gently stretched her slender fingers.

After waiting for a while and not receiving any response from Li Peifeng.

Zhao Qingge turned her head, puzzled, to see him fiddling with his phone again, eyebrows furrowing, commanding: "Ba... Li Peifeng, you... give me your hand."

"Σ(°△ °??)"

Li Peifeng was stunned, thinking to himself, you're learning fast!!