We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"If you haven't even thought about this question," Xie Zhiqiang said in a calm voice, "then you should leave my daughter as soon as possible. As a father, I will not let my daughter suffer, nor will I hand her over to someone who cannot even guarantee her future."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire office seemed to sink into a stagnant pool, so quiet that you could hear the faint sound of airflow from the air conditioner vents and Li Mubai's own heartbeat.

"I can guarantee..." he began, but his voice lacked conviction.

"Guarantee? What do you have to guarantee Xiaoshu's happiness? Your family background? Your ability to get a 92?" Xie Zhiqiang paused, "Or your grades that are behind Xiaoshu's?"

His tone remained calm throughout, but his questions came one after another, making Li Mubai feel suffocated.

"As I just said, the career paths for liberal arts majors are extremely narrow. Without connections or family background, it's very difficult to get in," Xie Zhiqiang added.

Li Mubai kept his head down, staring at the floor tile at his feet. The light was shining above him, but his gaze was hidden in the shadows, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

"I know what people like you are thinking. You just think my daughter is beautiful and being with her brings you immense vanity."

Xie Zhiqiang then changed the subject.

"But you never considered the future. When the conflict erupts later, it will only make Xiaoshu sad for someone who is not worth it."

Although Xie Zhiqiang was sitting and looking up at him, he was the one who was truly looking down at him.

He raised his arm and glanced at his watch; it was almost 7:30.

"That's all I have to say. I will absolutely not agree to your relationship with Xiaoshu. Find a suitable time to leave Xiaoshu."

Without waiting for Li Mubai's response, Xie Zhiqiang stood up, walked around the coffee table, and headed towards the door.

The office lights were focused on the area around the desks and chairs. When he walked near the door, his figure was shrouded in shadow, and the dim light blurred his face into a vague outline.

"uncle."

Li Mubai raised his head and called out to the figure whose back was to him. He was standing in the light, while Xie Zhiqiang was standing in the shadows.

Xie Zhiqiang stopped walking, but did not turn around.

"I'd like to ask you a question," Li Mubai's voice was calmer than before, "What is your definition of happiness? Is it about making a lot of money?"

Xie Zhiqiang remained silent for two seconds.

"Making money is not the only definition of happiness," he said, his tone still calm, "but people who can't even guarantee their own financial security have no right to talk about happiness."

"I understand, Uncle."

Xie Zhiqiang's hand was already on the doorknob, ready to open the door and leave.

"Uncle," Li Mubai said again.

The soft click of the door lock abruptly stopped, and Xie Zhiqiang's hands ceased moving.

"Just as you said, at first, I did unconsciously approach Xie Shu because of her appearance."

Li Mubai paused for a moment, as if he was preparing what to say next.

"However, from the second year of high school until now, more than a year has passed. We have been through a lot. From the initial avoidance and inferiority complex, to gradually getting to know each other, and now standing side by side, I know that she is not only her glorious side, but also the other side of an ordinary girl."

His tone gradually became firmer.

"Perhaps I don't yet know how to bring happiness to others, nor how to make you believe what a high school student is saying. All I know is..."

He paused, his gaze falling on the figure standing by the door. Xie Zhiqiang didn't move or urge him.

"Xie Shu smiles every day now; she's happy every day."

As he finished speaking, Li Mubai, through his glasses, saw Xie Zhiqiang's hand, which was resting on the doorknob, tremble slightly.

"She firmly chose me, and I firmly believe in my own feelings. Even if she goes abroad, I will wait for her in Pingyang. I will try my best to catch up with her until we can truly stand side by side."

"So she firmly chose me, and I firmly held onto my feelings. Even if she goes abroad, I will wait for her in Pingyang. I will try my best to catch up with her until we can truly stand side by side," he continued.

The office returned to calm, but Li Mubai's resolute voice seemed to still echo in the room.

With a click, Xie Zhiqiang finally opened the door, walked out without saying a word, and the door closed behind him, leaving a faint sound.

Li Mubai stood still, slowly inhaled and exhaled. No matter what Xie Shu's father thought, he would do his best to hold Xie Shu's hand. He lifted his leg to leave.

Zhong Jianjun walked in at this moment, still smelling of smoke.

"Sit down first, let's talk." He closed the office door and walked to the office chair to sit down.

Li Mubai didn't sit down because he didn't know where to sit; there was only one chair next to the desk.

"What did Xie Shu's parents say to you?" Zhong Jianjun asked.

"They didn't say anything, just wanted to find out about my situation and Xie Shu's."

Li Mubai had no intention of saying much about Zhong Jianjun, who had once made things difficult for him.

Zhong Jianjun leaned back in his chair, silent. His face, sculpted by time and nicotine, appeared particularly rigid under the light. After a long while, he finally asked:

What was your score on the last monthly exam?

As the director of the academic affairs office and the class teacher, couldn't he just find out his ranking whenever he wanted? Li Mubai thought to himself.

"Seventh, school rank, 28th in the combined rank."

"Seventh..." Zhong Jianjun slowly uttered these two words in a hoarse voice.

Li Mubai looked up at the night outside the window. It was completely dark. Should he leave? He still needed to pack his things to go to the library. He couldn't keep Xie Shu waiting for too long.

"Teacher, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"Go back." Zhong Jianjun waved his hand.

Li Mubai turned around, opened the door, and walked out, his footsteps fading into the distance in the corridor.

The office fell silent again, leaving only Zhong Jianjun alone.

He sat in the office chair he had used for many years, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and the smoke slowly rose under the light, blurring his expression.

Once a person loses something, they are more likely to try to make up for it in other ways.

He attributed his son's failures to his own neglect in educating him.

As a result, he became even stricter with his students, fearing that the slightest negligence would lead to a qualitative change. But is this kind of education correct?

Zhong Jianjun took a deep drag of his cigarette, the nicotine stimulating his nerves, his gaze fixed on the now-cold teacup on the coffee table.