Chapter 23: A Hint of Reluctance

“Whether I go abroad or not, isn't that my family's business? Why are you even bringing it up?”

The wild girl was habitually argumentative.

Chen Feng’s tolerance for her was very high now. Because he realized that today's meal, today's meeting, might be the last time for the two of them, he didn't care much about her attitude anymore.

Thus, Chen Feng wasn't angry at all. He continued to ask with concern, "Do you want to go abroad yourself?"

This time, Qin Xiaorou didn't talk back. A troubled expression appeared on her face as she said, "I don't know either."

Seeing this, Chen Feng helped her analyze: "How about this? You can use a comparative method. You can list the pros and cons of going abroad versus staying in the country. You can weigh both sides to see which choice is best for you and pick the most advantageous one."

Qin Xiaorou nodded, which was rare. "That is indeed a way. But the main problem right now is my mom. She is very conflicted; she wants me to go abroad to receive a better education, but she also wants to keep me by her side, right under her nose, so she can see me all the time."

Chen Feng asked, "Your mom can't go abroad with you, right?"

Qin Xiaorou nodded again. "Yeah, otherwise it wouldn't be this agonizing. She has several companies here, her own career, and my grandmother's health isn't good, so she needs to look after her frequently."

"What about your dad? What is he doing abroad?" Chen Feng asked curiously.

Qin Xiaorou rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "You just said not to talk about my family's business."

Being thick-skinned, Chen Feng smiled and said, "I was just asking casually. It's fine if you don't want to say."

"Fine, I'll say it. There's nothing to hide. I consider you a friend, so it doesn't matter if you know," Qin Xiaorou said nonchalantly. "My dad is currently settled in California. He's a biologist doing genetic research. He married a foreign woman; she's several years older than him and was his colleague. They don't have children yet."

A biologist!

Such an impressive father left Chen Feng completely stunned. There was simply no comparison.

"Oh, I see. Your dad must miss you a lot. So, that's why he keeps pushing you to study abroad, right?" Chen Feng asked in a natural tone.

"It's not just studying abroad. It's about settling there permanently and gaining citizenship. My dad has citizenship in the United States now."

Chen Feng admitted his teeth felt sour. There was just no comparison.

He hadn't even managed to get his household registration in Xiuzhou yet, let alone citizenship in the United States.

"Then will your mom agree?" Chen Feng asked.

"What's there to disagree about?" Qin Xiaorou looked at Chen Feng strangely. "My mom has a Green Card for the U.S. herself."

Chen Feng was speechless. As expected, they were from two different social classes; he suddenly felt like he was from the very bottom.

"Oh, then there's really no need for you to hesitate. Just go. Anyway, you'll become a foreigner sooner or later."

"But I've lived here for over a decade; I'm used to it. Besides, my foreign language skills aren't very good."

"Since you have concerns, you don't have to go for now. It won't be too late to go after you finish high school. In the meantime, work hard on your foreign language over the next few years."

Qin Xiaorou nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe that's the only way."

At that moment, the ordered dishes finally arrived, and Chen Feng immediately urged her to start eating.

The two stopped talking and began eating, competing for the food.

Every dish here was delicious, to the point where neither of them felt like talking anymore.

After about half an hour, the two had actually finished all dozen or so dishes together. About a small portion of that was eaten by Qin Xiaorou.

One wouldn't have guessed this girl could eat so much.

Chen Feng took a toothpick to clean his teeth, while Qin Xiaorou leaned back in her chair quite ungracefully, rubbing her stomach.

"You can go to your mom's now. To keep her from worrying," Chen Feng urged.

"No. I'm too full; I need to let it settle."

Chen Feng tossed the toothpick onto the table, stood up, and said, "Then I have to go. I have a flight to catch."

"Catch a flight? Where are you going?" Qin Xiaorou sat up straight and looked up at him.

"Back to my hometown. It's been a long time since I've visited my parents, so I'm going back to see them."

"Where is your hometown?"

"Lu City."

"Oh, I know that. I have two classmates from Lu City."

"Mm, well, I'll be going then."

"Wait." Qin Xiaorou stood up, looking somewhat reluctant. "I'll see you out."

"No need. Just go back to your mom."

"Honestly. You treated me to dinner, can't I just walk you out?"

Qin Xiaorou was a bit annoyed. Thinking that today's parting might be forever, Chen Feng sighed and said, "Alright. Just to the door is fine."

As the two walked toward the door, the private room door was once again pushed open forcefully.

"Ah, you've finished eating too?"

Liu Meijun was standing at the door, with several people peering in behind her.

Qin Xiaorou's face immediately fell.

Chen Feng gave a slight nod, looking composed. "Yes, we just finished."

"Then let's walk out together."

Liu Meijun stepped aside at the door, and Chen Feng and Qin Xiaorou walked out together.

The people with her looked wealthy and distinguished by their attire and demeanor. Chen Feng merely gave them a polite nod and led the way downstairs.

Qin Xiaorou hurried to catch up. Seeing this, Liu Meijun also followed quickly and said to Chen Feng, "Chen Feng, I've already paid for this meal for you."

Hearing this, Chen Feng couldn't help but stop in his tracks. He turned to her helplessly; it seemed he had already eaten two massive meals in a row. There was nothing else Chen Feng could do but nod in thanks. "Thank you, Director Liu."

Liu Meijun waved her hand. "Don't call me Director Liu. In the future, just call me Sister Liu, or Sister Meijun."

This was clearly out of respect for her daughter.

"Alright, thank you, Sister Meijun."

Chen Feng followed her lead and changed his form of address, which made Liu Meijun very happy.

Only Qin Xiaorou was unhappy: "If you call my mom 'Sister,' doesn't that make me a generation lower than you?"

Chen Feng smiled. "We'll each follow our own rules of address."

Hearing this, Qin Xiaorou didn't say anything more.

The group quickly went downstairs. Liu Meijun still had a few words to say to her friends, while Chen Feng directly bid farewell to her and Qin Xiaorou.

However, Qin Xiaorou chased after him and stopped him at the restaurant entrance, asking, "Roughly when will you be back?"

"I can't say for sure. I've resigned, haven't I? It might be a while."

"Honestly, it's rare that I can actually talk to you, and yet you have to go back to your hometown." Qin Xiaorou frowned in annoyance.

Chen Feng couldn't resist reaching out to pat her head. Under her murderous gaze, he quickly pulled his hand back and said with a wry smile, "I couldn't help it. Don't mind me, I just see you as a daughter..."

"You really want to be my stepfather!" Qin Xiaorou glared.

Speechless, Chen Feng quickly explained, "It was just a metaphor. I know you lack friends; actually, you could try making some friends your own age."

"People my age are too immature, some are even idiots. How am I supposed to make friends with them?"

Qin Xiaorou said gloomily, "I'll wait for you to come back. When you do, you must take me to the arcade again and play for a whole night."

Chen Feng sighed inwardly and nodded. "Fine. I'll find you when I get back."

"Mm. You'd better mean it. If you break your word, you're a jerk." Qin Xiaorou suddenly became happy, though her words were still quite blunt.

Resisting the urge to pat her head again, Chen Feng nodded once more. "Of course. I'm a man of my word. Well, I really must catch my flight."

As Chen Feng turned to leave, he actually felt a trace of reluctance in his heart.

*Sigh, once we part today, it is destined that we may never meet again.*

(End of Chapter)