Everyone has a bright future ahead

Shen Nian answered the phone right away.

"Hello?"

"Bro, didn't you say we were going out to eat? I've been staying at the school dorm for three days now, and you still haven't set a time?"

Ma Mingfan's tone carried a hint of complaint.

Everyone else in the dorm had already left. Ma Mingfan was all alone in the empty dorm room, solely waiting for Shen Nian to set a time for their meal, otherwise he would have bought a ticket back to his hometown ages ago.

Three days. Three whole days!

Feeling a sudden twinge of sympathy for Ma Mingfan, Shen Nian gave an awkward smile.

Over the past few days, he had been completely absorbed in the newfound sweetness of his romance, refusing to leave the house unless absolutely necessary. He had been cooped up at home all day, almost forgetting about his actual plans.

"Alright, I'll set a time and let you know by noon."

"You bastard, you haven't even thought of a time these past few days, have you? If I don't beat you to a pulp when we meet, my last name isn't Chen."

"You've gotten pretty humorous over the past semester, kid. Not bad," Shen Nian rubbed his nose.

"Hey, remember to let me know. I'm hanging up."

"You bet."

Beep, beep.

Shen Nian shoved his phone into his pocket and pulled Xia Yanchun, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, into his arms. Terrified she might run off again like she did earlier, he held her tightly against his side this time.

Xia Yanchun struggled for two seconds to no avail, so she just let him hold her.

"Has Ma Mingfan been staying at the Nanjiang University dorms this whole time?" Xia Yanchun asked curiously.

"Yeah."

"So you just left him hanging there? He's been waiting for you all this time?"

"Ahem." Shen Nian felt guilty under his adorable Yanchun's staring gaze and cleared his throat. "I couldn't help it, some things are just too intoxicating."

"...!!"

Xia Yanchun flushed with embarrassment, let out a little hmph, turned her face away, and decided to ignore him again.

Although she was still being held by Shen Nian, that didn't conflict with her desire to ignore him.

Shen Nian found it amusing and patted her soft, squishy cheek. "What are you spacing out for? Take out your phone and call Chen Qiuyu to ask if she's free these next few days."

"Don't you have your own phone?"

"Man, you really are something." Shen Nian pursed his lips and simply used his own phone to give Chen Qiuyu a call on QQ.

If Chen Qiuyu didn't answer, he figured he would just call Chen Guangming on WeChat.

Though... calling a father's phone to ask his daughter out for a meal felt oddly mocking for some reason.

Fortunately, the call was picked up after a short while, saving Shen Nian the trouble of contacting Chen Guangming.

"Hello, Shen Nian?" Chen Qiuyu hadn't seen Shen Nian for quite a long time, so the sudden call left her a bit confused.

"Yeah."

Shen Nian had barely uttered a sound, not even getting the chance to speak, when Chen Qiuyu started reciting on the other end of the line.

"Since we parted like floating clouds, ten years have flowed by like water. Long time no see, hope you've been well, Shen Nian."

"..."

Now he understood. It seemed college hadn't worn away Chen Qiuyu's quirks; she was still the exact same girl.

Shen Nian felt deeply moved, reminiscing about the days a year ago when he taught Chen Qiuyu how to solve complex math problems.

He decided to let her be a bit artsy this time and refrained from calling her a crazy girl.

"Hope you've been well too. Are you free recently? I've organized a get-together, so come out and grab a bite with us."

"Huh? I am free, but... who else is going? Am I the only girl?" Chen Qiuyu completely dropped her previous composed demeanor.

"How is that possible? Our class monitor and Li Shiyan are going too. You three girls, all classmates, plus Chen Dong, Ma Mingfan, and the guys. No one else."

"That works for me. When?"

"The day after tomorrow. I'll send you the address in a bit."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Shen Nian sent Ma Mingfan a few messages, telling him to wait at the Nanjiang University gates at 2 PM the day after tomorrow, and that he would go pick him up.

After all, he had kept the guy waiting for several days.

"We're going to eat Haidilao the day after tomorrow afternoon. Remember to tell Li Shiyan."

"I know, I know." Xia Yanchun continued to make little piglet grunts. She pretended not to notice as Shen Nian stroked her cheek and played with her hair, quietly indulging him.

They strolled leisurely downstairs in the neighborhood. There was not a trace of gloom in his heart; watching the clouds roll by, the cold wind blowing couldn't take away a single shred of his joy.

The sun peeked out from behind thick clouds, and in the blink of an eye, it was already afternoon.

Having not streamed for three days, his fans were pressing him hard. Shen Nian decided to use the afternoon to do a live stream and appease his tens of thousands of eager students.

Winter break was the perfect time to overtake others on the curve. Kids who wanted to improve but didn't want to pay for tutoring were in luck; Shen Nian was teaching advanced course material for free, so tuning in was a pure gain.

Shen Nian's title as the provincial top scorer was a golden signboard in itself.

After diligently streaming for two hours, Shen Nian finished explaining the last problem and went offline.

Only then did he realize that during the stream, Ma Mingfan had sent him a few messages.

Ma Mingfan: The day after tomorrow afternoon??

Ma Mingfan: I think I have something going on at that time. I might have to come a bit late.

Ma Mingfan: Actually, you guys go ahead and eat. I'll treat you all next time.

Shen Nian scratched his head and typed a reply: What's up? If it's urgent, we can just eat next time.

Ma Mingfan replied instantly: It's nothing urgent, but I can't get away. Liang Jing asked me to go out and hang out, noon the day after tomorrow.

Shen Nian: I wondered what it was.

Shen Nian: Just ask Liang Jing if she wants to come along! It'd be great if she joins us. We're all classmates, it's not like we don't know each other.

Ma Mingfan: Wouldn't that be too many people...

Shen Nian: It's fine, it's fine, the more the merrier. In that case, I won't come pick you up tomorrow. You and Liang Jing can grab a cab over yourselves.

There was a pause before Ma Mingfan finally replied with two words.

Ma Mingfan: All right.

Shen Nian leaned back lazily against his chair, his thoughts drifting far away.

It seemed Ma Mingfan was living a pretty good life right now. Not only was he working hard himself, but now during the holidays, he even had a female classmate to hang out with.

Everyone really did have a bright future ahead of them.

...

The agreed-upon day arrived.

If it were just Shen Nian and a few guys, no matter what delicious food they were having, Chen Qiuyu would never have gone to eat with them.

But since the class monitor Xia Yanchun and Li Shiyan were also going, that was a different story.

Chen Qiuyu picked out a cotton-padded outfit that looked warm without being bulky. Just standing there, she looked like a little beauty.

"Dad, give me a ride to the mall in a bit," Chen Qiuyu found Chen Guangming.

"Going out to play?"

"Yeah, a classmate get-together."

"Let me put my shoes on."

Chen Guangming paused for a moment, suddenly remembering that a certain young man was also his daughter's classmate.

"Is that Shen-something classmate of yours going to be there too?"

"Yeah, how did you know, Dad?"

Chen Guangming immediately felt a sense of foreboding, already picturing a sketchy motorcycle parked downstairs.

"Are there other people, or is it just the two of you? How many guys and girls? What are you eating? Are you going to drink?"

"...There are quite a few people! Both guys and girls, all good friends from school. And we're not drinking, so you can just relax!" Chen Qiuyu sighed.

Her dad had barely met Shen Nian a few times, so why was he so hostile? Was he worried she might like Shen Nian?

How could that be possible? When he was teaching her math, she got scolded plenty of times. He even spouted nonsense like "a teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime"... the guy was literally gunning for her dad's position.

Anyone who could fall for him would have to be a saint.

Besides, Shen Nian had already officially announced his relationship with their class monitor, Xia Yanchun, on his social media. He was a taken man.

She was only going because the class monitor was going to be there.

"Call me immediately if anything happens, you hear me?" Chen Guangming reminded her.

"I know, I know! Just go already, or you'll be late!"

"..."

Deemed an annoyance by his own daughter, Chen Guangming felt that life was utterly hopeless. He figured the only thing that could possibly cheer him up now would be catching five arm-length fish.