We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"Mom and Dad, didn't you go to the restaurant today?" Li Mubai asked in surprise, standing in the living room with his schoolbag still on his shoulder.

"I had some business to attend to and went back to my hometown," Li's mother replied, then asked, "Have you eaten?"

"not yet."

"Put your backpack down. The food is all ready and waiting for you to eat."

Li Mubai then noticed that three dishes and a soup had already been laid out on the table. He walked over and took a closer look, exclaiming in surprise, "You even made fish!"

"Eat more fish to replenish your nutrition, and remember to drink a bowl of this pork rib soup after you finish your meal," said Li's mother as she ladled rice from the rice cooker.

"This is so lavish, is it New Year's?" Li Mubai pulled out a chair and sat down, his tone joking.

"You don't get much to eat at school, so I'll definitely make you something nice to eat when you get home to help you recover."

Li Mubai thought about it for a moment and thought it was alright. He hadn't had a bad time at school these past few days. He ate lunch and dinner with Xie Shu and even studied together during evening self-study sessions.

"Hurry up and eat, the food is getting cold." Li's mother placed the bowl in front of him and sat down herself.

Li Mubai picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, took a bite, and found it was still warm.

"Xiaobai, how have you been at school lately?" Li's mother picked up a piece of stewed radish and put it into her bowl.

"That's good," Li Mubai replied without hesitation.

"Then what happened on Wednesday? You made your dad go to school again." Li's mother suddenly changed the subject, tapping her chopsticks lightly on the rim of her bowl.

Li Mubai stopped picking up food with his chopsticks, looked up, and saw his father eating in silence while his mother stared at him.

"Well... that's fine."

In truth, he and Xie Shu were also in the wrong, so they decided to try to gloss over the situation if possible.

"Your dad told me everything! You and Xie Shu were caught having a relationship at school, and the teacher is going to punish you." Li's mother's tone became more serious.

"It's not that serious. They just told us to stop dating and write a self-criticism." Li Mubai paused for a moment. "But in the end, there weren't any punishments. They just told us to pay attention to our studies at school."

"Look at you." Li's mother put down her chopsticks and raised her voice a little. "Didn't I tell you before that you should study hard at school? Now look what happened, you got caught by the teacher. Luckily, you weren't punished this time."

Li Mubai lowered his head, picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, chewing for a long time without saying a word.

"And Xiaobai, did you meet Xie Shu when you first enrolled last semester?" Li's mother suddenly asked this question.

Li Mubai paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Yes."

"Was it because of her that you got into a fight last semester?" Li's mother suddenly connected the two incidents.

Li Mubai opened his mouth, wanting to lie and say no, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Xiaobai," Li's mother's tone suddenly softened, "It wasn't easy for your father and me to send you to school. Look, you've only known Xie Shu for a year, and your father has already gone to the school twice."

"Okay, Mom, I'll be more careful in the future," Li Mubai replied evasively, wanting to end the topic as soon as possible.

A few seconds of silence fell over the dinner table. Just as the matter of Li Mubai was about to be put behind them, Li's mother immediately asked:

"Is the Xie family very wealthy?"

Li Mubai put down his chopsticks, thought for a long time, and decided to confess everything: "Yes, her family is relatively well-off."

"Xiaobai, like I just said, it wasn't easy for us to support your education. You're in your final year of high school, so focus on your studies and exams. Think about dating later," Li's mother said earnestly. "Tell Xie Shu that you shouldn't have any contact with him anymore."

Li Mubai suddenly raised his head and looked at his mother.

"Impossible, Mom! Xie Shu has done so much for me, how could I possibly break up with her!" His voice rose a few decibels.

"It's not about who did what for whom, but these days it's all about matching social status. We're just an ordinary family, how can others respect us? And her parents won't allow their daughter to get married."

Li Mubai's voice suddenly went silent. He looked away from the fish and meat on the table. Even now, he still didn't know what Xie Shu's parents' attitude towards him was. Opposed? Supported? It seemed like neither.

They spoke to him in a flat tone, like students greeting a familiar teacher, but the teacher couldn't remember who the student was and finally gave a perfunctory "hmm".

"Then I'll try my best..." His voice gradually lowered, because deep down he wasn't sure if his efforts could bridge the gap between them.

"Xiaobai, listen to your mother's advice, break up with Xie Shu, focus on your studies, and find a suitable partner after you graduate from university."

"Impossible, it's impossible to break up." His voice was soft but firm. "I'm eighteen now, an adult, and I have my own judgment. When I'm with Xie Shu, she can help me with a lot of knowledge. She's also a big part of my ability to get into the top ten."

Silence fell over the living room, while the sounds of children playing downstairs drifted up.

"Sigh—" Li's mother sighed deeply, "Xiaobai, you are still studying, and in your parents' eyes you are still a child."

Li Mubai remained silent. Perhaps only when children are financially independent will parents consider them as qualified adults.

"Regarding your relationship with Xie Shu," Li's mother finally spoke again after a while, "I won't say anything more. You have your own thoughts."

Li Mubai raised his head, a hint of undisguised joy flashing in his eyes.

"But you also need to be careful not to let the same thing happen again at school. Don't let the teacher catch you again and make your dad go to school again."

"...I understand." Li Mubai nodded guiltily.

"Also, study hard at school. If you two quarrel, communicate in time. If you break up, let us know..." Li's mother kept nagging, all because she was worried about Li Mubai.

"Alright," Mr. Li, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up to interrupt, "Let's eat quickly, the food is getting cold."

"Let's eat, I'm starving." Li Mubai picked up his chopsticks again...

In the stillness of the night, he lay in bed with the lights off, the ceiling bathed in pale moonlight.

It seems that Li's parents have been completely accepted; next up are Xie Shu's parents.

Why does dating feel like getting married in a TV drama, with both sets of parents having to be dealt with? Li Mubai suddenly chuckled to himself.

Hey.

My phone vibrated beside my pillow, and the screen suddenly lit up, standing out in the darkness.

Yan Shu: "Good night."

It was followed by a moon emoji.

Li Mubai smiled, remembering that he used to never say goodnight, only reply with a moon.

Li Bubai: "Goodnight, little moon."

He placed his phone face down next to his pillow, the screen went dark, and the room was once again enveloped in night.

A breeze rustled through the leaves outside the window, like a soft, long sigh.