Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

The overly cleanly peeled tea egg lay quietly in a corner of the lunchbox.

Round and smooth, like a small work of art.

Li Chen stared at it for a full ten seconds.

He remembered a long time ago, in the library, Yan Xi had also "snatched" a tea egg from his hand and then complained that he hadn't peeled it clean enough.

It turns out, she wasn't disgusted.

She just... wanted to peel one for him herself.

An indescribable warm current, mixed with a slight sourness, instantly surged through Li Chen's limbs and bones.

He felt as if his heart was being soaked in warm water, both soft and swollen.

He picked up the cup of warm soy milk and took a big gulp.

Sweet.

The perfect sweetness slid warmly into my stomach, dispelling all the fatigue and stiffness from staying out all night.

He knew that Yan Xi never drank sweet soy milk.

So, this cup was bought especially for him.

Li Chen picked up the fried dough stick and took a bite.

It's very crispy and fragrant.

He quickly finished a fried dough stick, then carefully picked up the tea egg with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

The egg whites are bouncy and springy, the yolks are soft and sandy, and the savory flavor of the braising sauce is just right.

This is the best tea egg he has ever eaten.

Just as he was enjoying his special breakfast, the office door was gently pushed open.

Yan Xi walked in.

She had changed her clothes; she wore a simple white shirt and light blue jeans, and her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail.

Despite her plain appearance, she was still stunningly beautiful.

She was also carrying an identical breakfast in her hand.

"woke up?"

She walked to her desk, put down the breakfast, and asked in a casual tone, as if she were asking about the weather today.

"Um."

With half a tea egg still in his mouth, Li Chen mumbled a reply.

"Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold." Yan Xi didn't look at him, but sat down and opened her breakfast.

Her portion of soy milk was unsweetened.

Looking at her, Li Chen felt a warmth in his heart that almost overflowed.

He wanted to say thank you.

But when the words came to my lips, I felt that those two words were too light and too pale.

"Um..." he paused to gather his thoughts, "Thank you for your hard work last night."

He meant that she stayed behind specifically to wait for him to finish his work.

Yan Xi took a bite of the fried dough stick, raised her eyelids, and glanced at him.

"If you know it's hard work, then don't cause me any more trouble in the future."

Her tone remained as domineering as ever.

But Li Chen detected a subtle hint of concern within that domineering demeanor.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied with a smile.

Yan Xi ignored him, but the corners of her mouth curved upwards almost imperceptibly.

A quiet and cozy breakfast came to an end quickly.

Yan Xi took the initiative to clean up the mess and throw away the trash.

"Let's go, I'll take you back to your dorm," she said.

"No need, no need, I can go back by myself." Li Chen quickly waved his hand, "You must have something else to do."

"I'm letting you go." Yan Xi's eyes brooked no argument.

Li Chen immediately surrendered.

"it is good."

The two walked out of the activity center side by side.

The campus was full of energy in the early morning.

Students passing by cast curious and envious glances at the two of them walking together.

But this time, Li Chen's mindset was completely different.

He no longer felt uncomfortable.

He even somewhat enjoyed the feeling of being watched by everyone.

He walked openly beside Yan Xi, enjoying the faint scent of shampoo emanating from her.

He felt that he was qualified and had the confidence to stand here.

He escorted Yan Xi to the girls' dormitory building, and the two said goodbye.

"I'm going back."

"Um."

Li Chen turned around and had only taken two steps when Yan Xi's voice came from behind him again.

"Li Chen".

He turned around.

"That program is well done."

Yan Xi looked at him and added very seriously, "Thank you."

After saying that, she turned around and quickly walked into the dormitory building.

Li Chen was left alone, standing there, grinning foolishly.

When he returned to dormitory 302, his three roommates were gathered around Chen Mo's computer in an extremely strange posture.

"He's back! He's back! Alive!" Wang Qiang was the first to spot him and shouted excitedly.

"Staying out all night is an even more serious offense!"

Zhao Zixuan held a clothes hanger, pointed at him, and looked indignant.

"According to the latest hot post on the school forum, 'Analysis Report on the Possibility of an Office Romance Between the God of War and the Queen,' the probability that you spent more than six hours alone with Senior Yan Xi last night, during which an indescribable event occurred, is 95.7%."

Chen Mo adjusted his glasses and calmly recited a series of data.

Li Chen ignored them.

He's in such a good mood he could fly.

"Alright, stop acting." He threw a bag he was holding onto the table. "This is breakfast I brought for you."

The three hungry wolves pounced on them instantly.

"Holy crap! Li Ji's steamed buns, the old-established brand! Godfather!"

"And soy milk! Lao Li, I love you!"

"Hmm, based on the temperature of the steamed buns and the brand of the soy milk, the purchase time was about twenty minutes ago, and the location was near the student activity center, which fits Yan Xi's activity range."

"Conclusion: Your sister-in-law bought this for you; you were just passing by."

Chen Mo hit the nail on the head.

Li Chen's face flushed slightly.

He didn't argue, humming a little tune, he climbed into his bed, ready to catch up on some sleep.

I had just lain down when my phone vibrated.

He thought it was Yan Xi, but when he picked it up, he found it was an unfamiliar number.

He answered the call with a puzzled look.

On the other end of the phone came an extremely gentle female voice, tinged with a hint of laughter.

"Is this Li Chen?"

"Who are you?"

Li Chen was stunned for a moment.

"I am Yan Xi's mother."

boom!

Li Chen's mind went completely blank, as if struck by lightning.

Holy crap?!

Yan... Yan Xi's mother?!

How did she... get my phone number?

"Ah...Hello, Auntie!"

Li Chen sprang up from the bed with a somersault, his voice stammering.

His action startled his three roommates who were grabbing the steamed buns.

"Don't be nervous, child."

The voice on the other end of the phone was still so gentle it could melt your heart, "I just wanted to ask if you're free this weekend?"

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes! We absolutely must have it!"

Without even thinking, Li Chen blurted it out.

"That's good."

Luo Yun chuckled softly, "Come over for a casual meal this Saturday, Xi Xi will be back too."

"I heard from that child that you helped her a lot, and I'd like to thank you in person."

"Ah...you're welcome, you're welcome, it's all what I should do..." Li Chen's palms were sweating with nervousness, and he began to speak incoherently.

"So it's settled then?"

"Okay, Auntie, it's a deal!"

"Um."

The phone hangs up.

Li Chen remained standing, holding his phone, like a petrified statue.

"Damn it, Lao Li, who are you answering the phone for? Why are you acting like you've seen a ghost?"

Wang Qiang, with half a steamed bun in his mouth, asked curiously.

Li Chen did not answer.

He slowly turned his head and looked at his three roommates with a sleepwalking expression.

"Brothers..."

His voice trembled with a hint of despair.

"I think... I'm going to have to meet your parents."

……

Meanwhile, in girls' dormitory 505.

Yan Xi had just finished showering when she saw her best friend, Leng Qingge, sitting cross-legged on her bed, looking at her with a gossipy expression.

"Hey, our Chairman, you had quite the fun last night, huh? Office play?"

Yan Xi rolled her eyes at her and picked up a towel to dry her wet hair.

"If you keep talking nonsense, believe me, I'll arrange for your internship next semester to be spent building railways abroad!"

"No, Xixi, I was wrong!"

Leng Qingge immediately begged for mercy.

Just then, Yan Xi's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

It's her mother, Luo Yun.

"Hello, Mom."

"My darling daughter, are you awake?" Luo Yun's gentle voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Um."

"Did you sleep at school last night?"

"……Um."

Yan Xi's heart skipped a beat.

"With our 'future son-in-law'?"

Yan Xi's face turned red instantly.

"Mom! You've sent people to spy on me again!"

"How can this be called surveillance? This is called concern."

Luo Yun chuckled, "I'm just making a call to ask if your junior is free this weekend."

"Why are you asking this?" Yan Xi had a bad feeling.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to invite him over for a casual meal."

"No way!" Yan Xi refused without even thinking.

"Why not?" Luo Yun's tone was still gentle, but with an added air of unquestionable authority. "You've already met your father, shouldn't I, as his mother, also meet him?"

"Or do you feel that the boyfriend you chose is not presentable enough?"

"He's not!" Yan Xi immediately retorted.

"Then let him come," Luo Yun decided decisively. "I've already called him, and he readily agreed."

"You!" Yan Xi was speechless with anger.

"Okay, it's settled then."

"Have your dad send someone to pick you up on Saturday morning."

After saying that, Luo Yun hung up the phone decisively.

Yan Xi held her phone, stood still, and took a deep breath.

She knew that her mother, who loved to watch the drama unfold, would never stay still.

She picked up her phone and tapped on the pinned profile picture, labeled "Little Rascal".

Fingers flew across the screen.

[Yan Xi: Come home with me this weekend.]