My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 96 - 93: Guaranteed PhD?

5:40 p.m.

Li Peifeng went to Zhao Qingge’s office again. No one was there; he found out through WeChat that she was in a meeting.

Li Peifeng wisely chose not to ask when it would end but instead waited at the door.

After a short while, Zhao Qingge returned, looking tired as she tidied up her bag, glanced at him, and left the office first.

Li Peifeng didn’t speak either, following step by step, he accompanied his mentor to the parking lot.

"Do you need me to drive?"

As they were a few steps away from the BMW, Li Peifeng spoke up, "You seem quite tired, and the traffic isn’t great around this time. Why don’t you take a rest?"

Li Peifeng had driven this car before, and Zhao Qingge knew his driving skills, so she did not hesitate and handed him the keys.

"Bang~"

The two got into the car, and Zhao Qingge asked, "Where should we buy it?"

"Eight Mile Village, they have everything there."

Li Peifeng started the car skillfully, not rushing to step on the gas but instead leaning closer to Zhao Qingge’s side quickly.

Suddenly, their faces were only twenty centimeters apart, close enough to smell each other’s scent and feel each other’s breath as Li Peifeng reached out his hands, aiming for...

"What are you doing?"

Zhao Qingge’s hands were crossed in front of her chest, her expression calm but her tone stern, "Drive the car!"

"I’m buckling your seatbelt."

Li Peifeng smiled gently, reaching across to grab the passenger seat buckle, intending to fasten it for his mentor...

"I’ll do it myself." Zhao Qingge’s tone softened.

"It’s alright."

Li Peifeng moved quickly, fastening the seatbelt before she could resist.

Of course, this process involved some slight physical contact, and although Zhao Qingge tried hard to shrink away, Li Peifeng’s hand inadvertently brushed against her slacks as he buckled the belt.

The fabric was sleek and high-quality.

Li Peifeng fastened his own seatbelt and continued driving, accelerating!

Steady, with a touch of speed!

Driving toward the edge of the city!

Reminiscing back to when he was eighteen, Li Peifeng got his license immediately and often practiced with the family car during vacations, so his driving skills were impeccable.

"Do you think my online romance partner would like some jewelry if I buy it for her?"

"I have no idea."

"Then do you think I should buy something like gold, which holds its value, or a diamond ring, which is more romantic?"

"...Let’s see when we get there."

Li Peifeng nodded, "In that case, I’ll trouble you to try it on for me then. If it looks good on you, I bet she’ll like it too."

Zhao Qingge changed the topic, "How far along is the outline of your new book?"

"The framework of the world."

Li Peifeng furrowed his brows, "Some details had slipped my mind, but yesterday I dreamed of Narnia again and became a professor at Clarence College. So I took advantage of the position to read wildly in the library, reading and remembering a lot. But after waking up, I still don’t know how to proceed with writing."

Zhao Qingge pursed her lips, "You dreamed about it again?"

"Yeah, but this time it was me."

Li Peifeng said with some regret, then seeing Zhao Qingge’s expressionless face, he added, "I actually considered copying the biographies of Narnia characters or local novels and rewriting them with slight modifications. But something felt off about merging the two styles. Even after editing, it would likely be jarring for readers, and the market response would probably be poor. It’s better to create original work from the perspective of the traveler."

"Your thinking is correct..."

Zhao Qingge nodded, but upon noticing Li Peifeng steering with his left hand while his right elbow rested on the console, his body leaning more and more toward her, she frowned.

What are you up to, you mischievous student?!

She uncomfortably moved to the right side, leaving a noticeable gap on the left side of the passenger seat. Her legs were tightly pressed together as she leaned toward the car door, assuming a prim posture with her hands on her lap.

Zhao Qingge seemed as uneasy in her own car as if it were borrowed!

"..."

Li Peifeng’s right hand nearly reached over the central console, able to touch the glove compartment latch but not the hem of Zhao Qingge’s clothes.

It’s a bit awkward...

Even though they were in the same car, there was such a vast distance between them...

"Aren’t you tired?"

Li Peifeng glanced at Zhao Qingge and cautiously asked, "Do you want to take a nap?"

"Just focus on driving!"

Zhao Qingge’s face showed displeasure, while Li Peifeng cleared his throat, "Actually, there’s something I’ve been thinking about, but I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t until I signed a platinum contract that I became certain."

"?"

"I don’t want to pursue a Ph.D. anymore."

Li Peifeng said earnestly, "What do you think?"

Left hand the system golden finger, right hand the platinum contract.

With dual assurances in hand, Li Peifeng truly didn’t want to follow the original plan and continue torturing himself by pursuing a Ph.D.

Not only did it have few benefits, but most importantly, it delayed his deepening connection with Zhao Qingge.

And besides, pursuing a Ph.D. is truly a form of torment!

Life is short and damn hard, and I’m lazy as hell, who has the patience to pursue a PhD?!

Wu Wenyue thought the same, it was too exhausting.

Li Peifeng believed that her only motivation to pursue a PhD was the greater possibility of living and working together in the Capital.

Earlier, Li Peifeng didn’t have much money, so he didn’t dare to boast about supporting Wu Wenyue. Now that he has over four million in savings, as long as he signs a platinum contract, with royalties going from a 50-50 split to 70-30, he could earn at least six figures a month.

So, Li Peifeng had gained confidence.

This damn PhD, not pursuing it is fine!

No need to compete in the soft rice game, even the system doesn’t assign such goal-oriented tasks anymore. Being a platinum writer myself, giving up Old Zhao for a PhD is really not worth it!

Zhao Qingge was silent for a moment, then said, "This meeting was arranged by Dean Chen, and it was about you."

Li Peifeng’s heart skipped a beat: "What?"

"They want to reserve a PhD spot for you. Whether in the School of Arts and Sciences or the Writing Center, it’s up to you. Your PhD can transition from modern and contemporary literature to creative writing."

Zhao Qingge calmly stated, "You can choose your PhD advisor, Mo Yan, Yu Hua, Su Tong, Lu Min... whoever you want, we can discuss it. Within three years, as long as you publish another core Chinese article, we guarantee you’ll graduate. Post-graduation, continue your postdoc in the Writing Center, and if you perform well, you’ll be hired by the school with excellent benefits."

"It’s crucial to keep Li Peifeng at Beihua Normal, a talent like you developed out of our School of Arts and Sciences isn’t easy."

Zhao Qingge softly added, "Those were Dean Chen’s exact words."

Am I such a hot commodity now?

They’re not only reserving me a PhD spot but also offering a teaching position?

The news was so shocking that Li Peifeng couldn’t react right away.

But it was actually reasonable, after all, a talent from our School of Arts and Sciences has become a platinum writer; works have been adapted into films and TV shows, receiving this exceptional treatment isn’t unjustified.

Have you not seen online writer Blood Red? Just last year, hired by Shanghai University, a 211 university, to become a professor and graduate tutor in the creative writing field for online literature.

Esteemed online literature writers like Blood Red being appointed to academic posts isn’t uncommon, like Sun Family’s eldest son and Silkworm Little Monster Bean, also work part-time as professors.

But the key is, if you continue pursuing a PhD...

"What if I leave the School of Arts and Sciences and go to the Writing Center?"

Li Peifeng cautiously asked, "And switch PhD advisors, what do you think?"

"The International Writing Center is also under Beihua Normal."

Zhao Qingge hesitated slightly and said, "If you want to pursue a PhD, you don’t necessarily have to stay at Beihua Normal. Although here you can reserve a PhD spot and graduate a year early, Yandu University is also a good choice. I graduated from there, and for literature-related majors, Yandu is stronger than here. Don’t buy into the hype of Beihua Normal’s Dong Language Department being the best in the universe; Yandu is first, Beihua has always been second."

Dean Chen wants you to keep me, yet you’re pushing me away and dissing your own institution?

When the leader picks food, you spin the table; when the leader opens the door, you get in the car. Old Zhao, are you planning to quit?

Li Peifeng vaguely understood what she meant and nodded repeatedly: "Right, right, second best."

Zhao Qingge continued, "You meet Yandu’s standards for PhD application, and the advisors there would certainly be willing to take you. I can recommend you, they won’t hold up your graduation. After three years of PhD there, followed by two years of postdoc, then coming to Beihua Normal to teach is the same."

Li Peifeng laughed, "So by then, we’ll be colleagues, right?"

Zhao Qingge stared straight ahead, "Not necessarily, I might be transferred away from Beihua Normal by then."

"You’re being transferred?" Li Peifeng blurted out in surprise, then hesitantly asked, "Would being colleagues not work?"

"There’s just a possibility I’ll be transferred." Zhao Qingge seemed unsure, ignoring his latter remark, and continued, "But applying for a PhD has to wait until you graduate with your master’s, finishing the postdoc will be six years later."

Six years later, I fear I might not even live that long...

Li Peifeng blinked: "But if I graduate from my master’s and I don’t stay at Beihua Normal, you won’t be my teacher, and we..."

He hesitated before finishing.

Zhao Qingge paused silently, then said, "But if you don’t stay at Beihua Normal to pursue a reserved PhD, and instead apply to Yandu, it will delay you by a year."

Li Peifeng chuckled, "A year is nothing. I’ll follow your advice. Even with such advantages, I’m still not keen on pursuing a PhD."

"Lately, I’ve had two dreams in a row, teaching, studying, doing research, even as a magic professor, but the reality of teaching and researching is equally exhausting. Besides, with my income as a platinum writer, I can afford living in the Capital."

"It’s still best to pursue it though."

Zhao Qingge’s expression seemed to relax a bit: "Once you complete a PhD, with your credentials as a platinum writer, you can work at any university in the Capital. You might even get to wear Qian Qing’s hat. If you try hard enough, you might become a leader in the academic field of online literature."

Li Peifeng laughed self-deprecatingly: "What you’re describing is way too idealistic. That kind of lifestyle is too tiring and feels restrictive, not something I’m after."

Zhao Qingge turned to look at him, pursing her lips: "Are you sure you won’t pursue a PhD at Beihua Normal?"

Li Peifeng nodded: "Not pursuing it, even if I do, it won’t be at Beihua Normal!"

Zhao Qingge hesitated: "Aren’t you going to discuss this with your parents?"

Li Peifeng was confident: "No need, they respect my opinions greatly. Whether to pursue a PhD or not, and where, is all up to me."

"No regrets?"

"No regrets!"

Zhao Qingge seemed somewhat skeptical: "...So you’re reluctant to pursue the PhD because you’ve grown weary of studying in your dreams?"

Li Peifeng firmly replied, "To be precise, it’s because of someone in the dream."

"Oh."

After that, the car was silent for over ten seconds. Zhao Qingge slowly sat straight, removed her glasses and placed them aside, sitting not too far from him, staring straight ahead, and softly said...

"I’m sleepy, gonna nap for a bit. Wake me when we get there."

After speaking, she gently closed her eyes.

Hmm?

Hmm??

Li Peifeng’s heart skipped a beat and he turned to check several times.

He noticed that not only did Zhao Qingge really close her eyes, but she also placed her left hand near the center console, close to the gear shift. This distance meant he could easily reach out and grab it...

If this wasn’t intentional, my surname isn’t Li anymore!