My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 82 - 80: I Want to Kiss You

A rare opportunity to tease Zhao Qingge arose, and Li Peifeng was not one to let it slip by. After changing the topic, he started telling Zhao Qingge about his online romance with ’Yun Xin Yue Xing’...

"There’s one thing that I’ve always felt was off: I’ve talked to her for a long time, yet I’ve never heard her voice. And when we exchange photos, she never shows her face. Do you think there’s something not quite right about that?"

Li Peifeng was clearly implying something without saying it directly, but his face looked worried: "I even have the feeling she might be a transvestite! Like, someone who’s actually a man in real life but pretends to be a woman online to trick people..."

Stop it, you mischievous disciple!

Zhao Qingge suppressed her frustration and frowned, "After all, she’s a girl. Maybe she’s just shy. If she doesn’t want to show her face, you shouldn’t push it."

"But the ultimate goal of online dating is to meet in person eventually."

Li Peifeng sighed, "If she doesn’t reveal her voice or show her face, she would never agree to meet in real life, right? Continuously chatting in a virtual world is not a solution."

"..."

Zhao Qingge didn’t respond, only lowered her head and silently read her book.

"What do you think?"

Li Peifeng probed, "If I try to video call her on TT now, would she agree?"

TT’s video call feature is similar to WeChat’s video call. Once both users download the TT app on their phones, if one initiates a video call, the phone will ring and display a pop-up asking for consent, regardless of whether the other is online.

"Don’t initiate a video call."

Zhao Qingge suddenly looked up and sternly said, "What if she’s in a meeting?"

I’m guessing you’re worried about your own phone ringing.

Li Peifeng chuckled, "Then I’ll wait until she’s off work tonight before making a video call. Does that sound okay to you?"

"Why are you so set on video calling her? Do you want to see her that badly?"

Although Zhao Qingge tried to control her expression, Li Peifeng could still detect a hint of reluctance.

"I just feel like her way of speaking is very similar to someone I’m familiar with. But that person is no longer around..."

Li Peifeng glanced subtly at Zhao Qingge’s face and softly said, "So, I may have some unrealistic expectations of her."

Zhao Qingge’s lips moved slightly, and she simply said, "I’m tired. Wake me up when we get to the airport."

With that, she put her book into her bag, leaned against the chair, closed her eyes, and appeared as if she was genuinely going to sleep.

Li Peifeng wasn’t concerned, nodded, and picked up his phone to work on the analysis that she had previously instructed him to write.

"Ding~"

Who would have guessed that just moments after he began, a WeChat message came through.

Huang Tianxuan: "Have you arrived at Hangzhou airport yet?"

This was their first contact since they parted ways on North Mountain Road. Perhaps she couldn’t resist anymore and wanted to see him off?

Li Peifeng couldn’t quite read her intentions, so he just typed honestly: "On the way, another hour and a half to go, I’d say."

A few seconds later, Huang Tianxuan: "You’re about to leave. Is there nothing you want to say?"

What to say? Is there anything to say?

Li Peifeng pondered for a moment and said, "I will come back!"

Huang Tianxuan: "..."

Li Peifeng: "I really will come back, I’ll try to return next weekend to bring you some medicine. You can help me analyze its components... if you’re still willing to help me with that."

Huang Tianxuan: "Besides that, is there anything else you want to say?"

There isn’t!

Li Peifeng racked his brain, reflecting on their interactions over the past few days and squeezed out a message.

Click, send!

Li Peifeng: "In the vastness of space and the infinity of time, sharing the same planet with you, for even a moment, is my great fortune."

Huang Tianxuan: "(Sad) Your fortune is built on my misfortune."

Li Peifeng: "(Tearing up) Sister, those words truly chill your brother’s heart."

Huang Tianxuan: "Haha, funny. How can a brother so lacking in warmth have a heart?"

Li Peifeng opened his phone gallery, selected a photo, and sent it over.

It was a photo taken with West Lake Broken Bridge as the backdrop, with the two of them holding hands under the plane trees on North Mountain Road.

He paused for a few seconds, then sent two more texts...

Li Peifeng: "Lonely plane trees in a deep courtyard, all seals the autumn chill. Hard to sever, even harder to articulate, are the sorrows of parting. A different kind of taste lingers in the heart."

Li Peifeng: "I’ve seen many autumns before, but that day, I’ll probably never forget. Just afraid that in the future, whenever I see yellowing leaves falling, I’ll remember that on that day a lady named Miss Huang bestowed me an entire city’s autumn."

This is what you’d call a literary scoundrel. What does it mean to be a pretentious literary youth spewing melodramatic nonsense that evokes endless melancholy? This is it.

Spouting lines of love, with high-frequency words like ’autumn,’ ’parting sorrow,’ ’loneliness,’ ’fallen leaves,’ ’lady.’

It’s the kind of words that entangle and confuse, with these literary youths making a single emotional gesture sound like a tenfold connection.

But Huang Tianxuan isn’t some eighteen-year-old girl; this doesn’t work on her. She responded similarly with words, carrying a hint of mockery: "But you weren’t even willing to post your photo with Miss Huang on your social media."

Oh, come on, this never ends.

Li Peifeng: "(Helpless) I told you, we’ll post it after we get married. Let’s have some trust in each other, okay? Don’t you trust me?"

Huang Tianxuan: "I really don’t trust you, and based on all your previous works, I have reason to suspect you’re a non-marriageist."

Got figured out!

Li Peifeng sighed silently, pondered for a moment, and finally typed: "Tianxuan, please just consider me as a friend. Otherwise, I’m afraid I might end up hurting you."

He was being direct, and his refusal was quite clear, yet some people just seem determined to defy fate...

Huang Tianxuan: "How many women have you met, and how many loves have you experienced to dare claim this?"

Li Peifeng: "I can’t speak for others, but dealing with a loudmouthed critic like you is quite easy."

Huang Tianxuan: "We’ll see, the game has just begun."

Li Peifeng: "What are you planning to do?"

No further response came, leaving Li Peifeng perplexed. He didn’t want to continue, so he resumed typing. Before that, he glanced at Zhao Qingge sitting next to him, feeling like during his WeChat chat with Huang Tianxuan, she seemed to have slightly opened her eyes, trying to sneak a peek at the screen.

That quick glance was caught by Li Peifeng, and he saw that Zhao Qingge quickly closed her eyes, resting quietly against the seat, as if she were sound asleep.

Ha! Are you that curious? Want to know who I’m chatting with?

But if you were my wife, maybe I’d tell you. As a mentor... you’re not on that level, I won’t even let you see the screen!

Li Peifeng chuckled without saying a word and continued typing, but suddenly he felt the car swerved slightly to the left...

"Hey!"

"There’s a car!"

"Damn, why is it driving so fast?!"

It turned out a small car beside them suddenly changed lanes, causing the bus driver to steer away quickly. Although there was no collision, it still caused a brief moment of instability inside the bus.

"Everyone, please fasten your seat belts."

The driver reminded with the vehicle’s internal intercom, and most of the passengers buckled up after the earlier mishap.

But Li Peifeng didn’t move, because just when the car swerved to the left, the inertia caused Zhao Qingge, who was ’asleep,’ to lean against his shoulder...

A bit ambiguous, somewhat ethereal.

Li Peifeng lowered his head to look at Zhao Qingge, who still had her eyes closed, a mixture of emotions swirling inside him.

Woman, your name should be "Best Actress"!

You’re clearly awake; why aren’t you moving?

After enjoying the moment for a while and seeing that she showed no sign of waking, Li Peifeng gathered his courage.

He slowly put down his phone and reached for Zhao Qingge’s left hand, which was resting on her own lap.

First he gave a slight pinch, no reaction.

Then he gently squeezed, still no reaction.

Feeling more confident, Li Peifeng directly took her hand, slowly laced his fingers through hers, and interlocked them together...

During the entire process, Li Peifeng kept his eyes on Zhao Qingge’s face, and when this hold was finally secured, she showed just a tiny reaction.

The eyeballs under her eyelids moved slightly, but that was all.

Is it okay now? Is this tacit consent?

Li Peifeng felt a bit nervous as they clasped their hands tightly. He gradually placed them between his legs, using his thumb to softly stroke the back of her hand.

After making that move, Li Peifeng saw clearly that Zhao Qingge’s eyelids twitched slightly, but she still maintained her closed-eye facade.

What do you call this?

This is self-deception, covering one’s eyes to capture the prey!

Feeling a stirring in his heart, Li Peifeng decided to test Zhao Qingge’s limits. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Honey, I want to kiss you."

"..."

(Wishing all readers a Happy New Year, please vote!)