My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 81 - 79: They All Say You Understand It

In modern society, often when a young couple holds hands, kisses, or even sleeps together, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are in a relationship.

Only when they post intimate photos on social media to make it public to those around them is the relationship truly confirmed.

The intention behind Huang Tianxuan suggesting to post a photo on social media was clear—she wanted a breakthrough in her relationship with Li Peifeng.

When the latter suggested returning the gift, it signified a flat-out rejection.

"I don’t have the habit of taking back gifts."

Huang Tianxuan wasn’t too surprised. She smiled maturely and rationally said, "If you don’t want to, we won’t post it on social media, just take a picture together."

Having said that, she took Li Peifeng’s hand and stood by the lake.

"Click~"

Li Peifeng didn’t ask a passerby for help; he simply used the front camera to take a few selfies.

Although they seemed intimate and both were smiling in the photos, it was not a genuine smile.

"Actually..."

Li Peifeng tried to explain, "We can post it on social media, just not now."

"Oh?"

Huang Tianxuan was a bit surprised and looked up at him: "When will it be okay?"

Li Peifeng was immensely thick-skinned: "When you marry me."

Huang Tianxuan couldn’t help but burst into laughter: "You’re not just drawing a pie in the sky, you’re painting a Chinese banquet on Mars. I understand you don’t want to make it public, why go so far?"

Li Peifeng sighed: "So you’re like me, not very committed to this relationship, unsure if we can make it to the end. Why post it on social media then? If we part ways shortly, it’ll just become a joke for those around us."

Huang Tianxuan rolled her eyes: "You rotten scumbag, your mouth is full of sweet talk or excuses. Sooner or later, someone will rip it apart."

Li Peifeng turned to look at her face, feeling a ticklish anger in his heart: "Before it gets torn, can I kiss you?"

Huang Tianxuan arrogantly said, "Don’t kiss me, it’ll put pressure on our friendship. Go kiss someone else."

...

Although Li Peifeng’s excuse was impressive, it couldn’t deceive Huang Tianxuan. Though mature and calm, she was still annoyed by his rejection.

After they strolled North Mountain Road, she received a call, seemingly a friend inviting her for drinks, so she left with that excuse, leaving Li Peifeng to find his own way back to Wuzhen.

This had one good thing—no staying out overnight. He returned to his room in time, thus not missing Wu Wenyue and Xu Manning’s video check-in nor needed to explain anything to Zhao Qingge.

However, the effects of this situation extended beyond that. Until the next day’s 16th at noon, after Li Peifeng finished his meeting, he hadn’t received any messages from Huang Tianxuan, and only then did he realize he might have truly upset her.

"I wonder if she’ll still help me inspect the drug materials."

Li Peifeng wasn’t overly worried; worrying wouldn’t help, as he certainly couldn’t agree to Huang Tianxuan’s request to go public on social media.

Dating is okay, posting on social media is not!

Loving you is definite, but going public isn’t!

Li Peifeng didn’t think much more, choosing instead to take advantage of the free time to focus on writing.

At the moment, he felt energetic and planned to work on two projects at once, continuing the female-oriented novel while also picking up the long-neglected male-oriented one, hoping to create something meaningful.

The inspiration was readily available, provided by the perfume Nether Sea’s Breath, the world setting passionately supplied by the continent of Narnia, the female lead played kindly by mentor Zhao Qingge, and the male lead freely replaced by Li Peifeng himself...

Precisely, Li Peifeng wanted to present the events from that dream through a different perspective in a novel, initially set as a fantasy genre.

This had several advantages: one, it saved brainpower—not having to think hard about the world setting and power system. Two, it saved brainpower again—there was no need to elaborate on the protagonist’s plot, just editing the experiences of Li Peifeng and Zhao Qingge in the dream to make it more dramatic, even using the real names of the minor characters from the dream.

In a way, Li Peifeng felt this book was akin to writing an autobiography.

He didn’t expect this book to become popular; its main purpose was to vent personal emotions and also to find the right feel for writing male-oriented novels, using a small pseudonym to practice.

"Zhao Peifeng never imagined that one day, he would traverse to another world with his mentor."

"Here, magic and technology coexist, both considered abilities to comprehend and harness the world’s laws."

"Humans, elves, orcs, dwarves, giant dragons...numerous fictional races thrive in this vast world, establishing countless empires and a great federation. The various races maintain a delicate and fragile balance, combating the same enemy for thousands of years, mysterious beings from the void."

"In this war, countless heroes and sages have emerged, yet Zhao Peifeng, who traversed to this place, was merely thinking about how to survive with his mentor."

After drafting the outline, Li Peifeng hesitated, mainly undecided about whether to include his mentor in the novel.

But he wasn’t worried about the novel itself; novels were straightforward, even with dual travel, it would still focus on the male lead, with the mentor as the female lead and not a dual protagonist. His concerns were about reality; if the novel somehow became popular, given Zhao Qingge’s reticent attitude towards dreams, how would she react if she found out the dream was turned into a novel?

"First, this book definitely won’t become popular!"

"Second, I’m using a different pen name, writing about Zhao Peifeng’s mentor, Li Qingge. What connection does she have with you, Zhao Qingge? Don’t take it personally, okay?!"

Having thought of these points, Li Peifeng confidently continued writing.

...

"I announce the closing of the 13th International Online Literature Week and award ceremony."

At 10:30 am on the 17th, the Literature Week came to a full close, the audience dispersed, and Li Peifeng and Zhao Qingge walked out with the crowd.

"Have you packed your luggage?"

"Yes, after getting the luggage from the room, we’ll leave."

They had already booked their tickets for a flight at 1 pm that day; since the airport was in Hangzhou, they still needed to take a bus from Wuzhen for more than an hour.

Unlike their earlier cold war, where one sat at the front and the other at the back of the bus, by now the relationship between Zhao Qingge and Li Peifeng had eased, and they sat together in a twin seat.

"For the award-winning online literary works, please make an analysis report on art, commerce, and influence. It doesn’t need to be lengthy, aim for under 3000 words."

"Okay."

After discussing work, a period of silence ensued. Zhao Qingge picked up a book to read but suddenly remembered something and casually asked, "We’re leaving soon, didn’t your Hangzhou book fan come to see you off?"

Li Peifeng looked at the continuous rain outside the bus window, smiling: "The weather is bad, so she didn’t come."

No one is unconditionally there for you; even your shadow will leave on a cloudy day.

Honestly, Li Peifeng understood Huang Tianxuan’s decision to give him the silent treatment, but it was also somewhat baffling.

Initially, Huang Tianxuan’s attitude made him think she understood their varying differences and wanted a brief, worry-free relationship.

As it turned out, she seemed to want something real with him?

That was a bit awkward, as he thought they were well-matched flirts, enjoying several days of playful exchanges. At the end of it, she wanted to date him?!

What was she even thinking?

Since Huang Tianxuan ignored Li Peifeng and he did the same to her, his intention was to subtly convey his stance through this method, and they hadn’t contacted each other since.

"Good."

Zhao Qingge added, "I mean you should curb your previous behaviors and focus on your studies. Normal dating is fine, but don’t fool around like before, just to pass the time or out of loneliness."

"Yes, you’re right."

Li Peifeng took out his phone, opened a social app, and hesitated: "Actually, I’m in an online relationship recently, and I feel this one is quite good, but also somewhat unreliable. Could you give me some advice?"

Zhao Qingge’s expression froze, and her eyes shifted: "An online relationship? That’s something for you young folks, what advice could I give you?"

There was a pause in her tone, and she said sternly: "I just think that regardless of how you pursue a relationship, you should maintain basic loyalty, out of respect for love, got it?"

Li Peifeng nodded in strong agreement: "Got it, I really get it."