I'm a senior in high school, and the system says I'm going on a blind date with my childho

Chapter 331 Secret Words Before Departure

The two families left the dormitory in a lively atmosphere and soon arrived downstairs.

With their luggage settled and school registration completed, the major concerns weighing on everyone's minds were finally resolved, and the atmosphere was even more relaxed than before going upstairs.

“It’s rare for us to come to the school, let’s go to the cafeteria?” Ms. Zhang Yuyan said enthusiastically.

Xu Chan smiled and nodded in agreement: "That's a good suggestion! It'll be good to see how Zhizhi and Xiaoyuan's meals will be in the future, so we'll have a better idea and worry less when we get back."

As Xu Chan spoke, her gaze gently swept over her daughter and Shen Yuan, full of concern.

"Don't worry, it's the best university in the province, so the food shouldn't be too bad."

Hearing Lao Shen's words, Lao Li said, "Let's just eat in the cafeteria, that way we won't have to run around."

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with smiles.

Before Shen Yuan could even speak, his mother pinpointed him precisely:

"Shen Yuan, what about you two? No objections, right?"

Zhang Yuyan symbolically handed over the decision-making power to the two younger children.

Shen Yuan wisely spread his hands and gestured to Li Zhi beside him: "Ask Li Zhi."

Li Zhi, who was pushed forward, couldn't help but roll his eyes at him, clearly protesting against the guy's attempt to shift the blame.

However, the girl was in a great mood today and was indeed full of curiosity about the new environment.

Li Zhi nodded slightly, making her decision: "Okay! The restaurant isn't far from here anyway!"

Li Zhi's decision immediately brought smiles to Zhang Yuyan and Xu Chan's faces.

"Then let's go!" Old Shen waved his hand.

Old Li didn't say anything more, he just stood side by side with his wife Xu Chan, waiting for the children to lead the way.

Shen Yuan reached out and gently took Li Zhi's hand.

"Let's go, the cafeteria is quite close to the dormitory building."

The two exchanged a smile, then turned around together and became guides for the parents.

The group consisted of two vibrant young figures standing close together in front, followed by four parents walking side by side. The parents smiled, infected by the youthful energy of the boys and girls.

Walking along the dappled shade of trees, with colorful welcome banners and signs flashing by on both sides, amidst the cacophony of cicadas and the faint sounds of people, I headed towards the cafeteria.

Freshmen and their parents thronged the campus, their figures blending into the flow as they headed towards their first meal at university.

After the crowd passed through the dormitory building next to it, a rather large building came into view.

The huge glass curtain wall reflects the blue sky and white clouds.

People came and went in a constant stream, and faint sounds could be heard in the air; it was lively but not noisy.

The group followed the flow of people into an entrance, where the cool air instantly dispelled the summer heat outside.

A spacious and bright lobby comes into view, with ample lighting from the ceiling illuminating the entire space.

The neatly arranged stalls resemble a small food court, offering a dazzling array of goods.

There were not very long queues in front of each window.

The seating area combines comfortable booths with long wooden tables, and although many people are already seated, the space still feels very spacious.

Just as the parents were deciding which stall to try, Shen Yuan quietly leaned close to Li Zhi's ear and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear:
Would you like a beef rice bowl?

As he spoke, his eyes glanced at the familiar food stall in the cafeteria.

When Li Zhi heard about the beef rice bowl, he couldn't help but snort and give Shen Yuan a disdainful look.

"Who wants to eat that with you! I want to try something else today."

She spoke toughly, but a smile played at the corners of her eyes.

Shen Yuan chuckled and squeezed her hand: "Then you choose, I'll do whatever you say today."

The pretty girl gave a soft snort and slightly raised her chin: "You choose, but you're not allowed to choose the rice bowl!"

At this moment, Zhang Yuyan, seeing the two dawdling, couldn't help but urge them, "Hurry up and choose what to eat, stop flirting here! We're all waiting, hurry up and decide."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan turned to look at the four parents and said with a relaxed smile, "Mom, what's the rush? Zhizhi and I will have plenty of time in the future, we can come and eat every day. You can choose today."

Zhang Yuyan shook her head, muttering something under her breath, but a smile remained on her face.

Xu Chan and Lao Li laughed upon hearing this, no longer dwelling on it, and turned their attention back to the dazzling array of stalls, starting a lively discussion.

The group quickly chose their preferred stalls.

The cafeteria's wide variety of dishes surprised and delighted the parents who were new to the area.

The six of them chose a spacious long table by the window and sat down.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi sat beside their parents, feeling the joy of the moment.

The aroma of food mingled with the sounds of people in the cafeteria, creating a simple yet heartwarming scene on the first day of school.

In a slightly noisy yet reassuring environment, the two families sat around the table, enjoying their first meal at university.

Ms. Zhang Yuyan became very worried when she looked at her two children.

She looked at Shen Yuan: "The food in the cafeteria is pretty good, it's just a little far from the dorm. Shen Yuan, the task of bringing food for Zhizhi is yours from now on!"

Ms. Zhang Yuyan looked at Li Zhi: "Zhizhi, if you can't get up in the morning, just sleep a little longer. Shen Yuan can bring you breakfast!"

"Oh, Mom, I know, I know!" Shen Yuan complained, but his eyes were full of smiles as he picked up a piece of meat and gave it to Zhang Yuyan.

"You should eat more too."

As soon as Shen Yuan finished speaking, Xu Chan's gentle voice followed.

She looked at her daughter, her gaze gentle and tender, with a careful instruction: "Zhizhi, boarding school is not the same as being at home. Your dad and I won't be here. If you feel unwell, tell Shen Yuan right away."

She paused, then remembered something, "Oh, right, if you find it troublesome to do laundry, you can take it home. Don't tire yourself out, okay?"

Zhang Yuyan immediately nodded: "Yes, if you need anything in life, just ask Shen Yuan. He should be of some use!"

She then turned to Shen Yuan, her tone carrying an unquestionable entrustment, "Did you hear me? Take good care of Zhizhi. If I find out she's suffered even the slightest grievance with you, you'll be in big trouble!"

"I know, don't worry!" Shen Yuan looked at the beautiful girl in front of him and received a smug look.

"Also, Zhizhi and Xiaoyuan, this is your first time living in a dormitory. You're both new to your roommates, so it's important to get along well with them."

"Be sincere and kind to others, communicate more when problems arise, and don't act impulsively. Studying is the most important thing. Don't be afraid of difficulties. Let's figure it out together. There's always a way."

"As for emotions..."

Her gaze swept over the two children: "We only feel at ease when we see them understanding and tolerant of each other, moving forward together."

Ms. Zhang Yuyan nodded vigorously in agreement: "Studying hard at school is the most important thing! Dating is one thing, but you still need to understand your studies! Shen Yuan, stop bothering Zhizhi all the time."

"Zhizhi, if Shen Yuan doesn't study properly and just wants to play all day, just call me and I'll scold him!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi nodded emphatically to Zhang Yuyan: "Yes! Don't worry, Aunt Zhang, I will definitely keep a close eye on him! If he slacks off even once, I will tell on him!"

After she finished speaking, she raised an eyebrow at Shen Yuan in a provocative manner.

Shen Yuan smiled and shook his head: "Okay, let my darling keep a close eye on my studies."

As he spoke, Shen Yuan secretly glanced at Lao Li.

Very well, my father-in-law didn't react.

Standing to the side, Zhang Yuyan looked at the two of them and couldn't help but worry about specific issues: "By the way, the dormitory water and electricity bills should be split equally. Don't be stingy or try to be taken advantage of."

"If you have a difficult roommate, talk to your advisor if necessary; don't let yourself get taken advantage of. Also, safety is the top priority when you're out and about; try not to go out alone at night..."

The two mothers took turns talking.

Some of these things had been said countless times at home, but now, in the unfamiliar university cafeteria, these repeated reminders felt especially specific and heartwarming.

They wanted to cramm all their care into their children's ears before the meal ended. Behind that nagging was an instinctive reluctance to let go and allow their children to move forward independently.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhiyi nodded in agreement, showing no impatience, only a warm and loving feeling.

But as the food on the plate gradually dwindled, a subtle atmosphere quietly spread.

Zhang Yuyan put down her chopsticks, picked up a tissue and gently wiped her mouth. Her gaze lingered on Shen Yuan's face for a few seconds before sweeping over Li Zhi.

Ms. Zhang Yuyan pursed her lips, a hint of reluctance in her heart, but finally spoke:

"Have you finished eating?"

This seemingly ordinary question felt like a gentle signal.

After he finished speaking, a brief silence enveloped the dining table for a few seconds.

"Yes, I'm done eating."

"Well, all right."

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi raised their heads almost simultaneously and responded softly.

The two looked at the parents, their gaze fixed on their faces.

Ms. Zhang Yuyan was filled with concern and reluctance, while Ms. Xu Chan's eyes were overflowing with tenderness.

Comrade Shen still had that cheerful smile on his face, while Comrade Li's calm expression revealed a hint of complexity.

In the brief silence, a wordless farewell was uttered.

Finally, Lao Li's deep voice broke the silence.

He slowly stood up, his tall figure making a slight sound. His gaze swept peacefully over his daughter and Shen Yuan, and then seemed to look through them at the vast campus outside the window.

"Yes," Old Li nodded, his voice steady and concise.

"As long as you've eaten well, that's fine."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Xu Chan and Zhang Yuyan, his expression suggesting he was making a decision for them.

"The school is too big, so we won't explore it too much. School officially starts the day after tomorrow, so you two can use these two days to get used to the new environment. Also, see if there's anything you need to buy and do so."

Xu Chan stood up first, her gaze gently falling on Li Zhi. Her eyes held a soft light that seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, but in the end, she said nothing.

Zhang Yuyan immediately stood up, nudged Lao Shen beside her, and said in a tone that was reluctant but not hesitant, "Alright, stop standing there, pack your things. We should go back too."

"Hey, okay!"

Old Shen immediately and efficiently gathered the things on the table, his movements swift and skillful.

Seeing this, Shen Yuan also started tidying up.

The father and son carried the tableware from both families to the recycling area.

After tidying up, Shen Yuan and Lao Shen walked out of the cafeteria and saw several people already waiting at the door.

Shen Yuan stepped forward and naturally reached out to grasp Li Zhi's wrist.

"Let's go," Old Li said, taking the lead and stepping forward.

The afternoon sun was still scorching, but it was filtered into fragments of gold by the sycamore leaves along the tree-lined path, falling on their shoulders.

The cicadas' chirping suddenly burst forth from the branches and leaves, as if setting the stage for this farewell.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi walked between their parents, their pace neither hurried nor slow.

The group walked silently along the tree-lined path they had come from, past the still-busy stream of new students and their parents, toward the parking lot.

The heatwave in the parking lot seemed even more intense than elsewhere.

But when they saw the car, everyone knew it was time to part ways.

Zhang Yuyan stood by the car and reached out to hold Shen Yuan's hand.

My mother's palms were warm and calloused, and her pressure was neither too light nor too heavy, just like her distinct, intense yet suppressed reluctance to part.

"Shen Yuan."

Her voice was unusually soft, with a barely perceptible soreness.

"Remember this, take good care of yourself and Zhizhi... Study hard, and don't bottle up any grievances at school. Tell Mom if anything happens..."

Shen Yuan could feel that with each additional word his mother spoke, the pressure from her palm increased.

At the same time, Xu Chan gently wrapped her daughter's soft hands in her own.

Unlike Ms. Zhang Yuyan, who was very talkative, Xu Chan did not say much.

She gazed into her daughter's clear eyes, as if trying to convey all the unspoken words of advice into that silent look.

As Li Zhi gazed at her mother's gentle face, her eyes suddenly reddened. The sorrow and reluctance she had suppressed all the way surged up instantly, condensing into a layer of fragile tears in her eyes.

Seemingly sensing her daughter's emotions, Xu Chan gently pressed Li Zhi's hands again:

"Zhizhi... just let me know if you miss home this weekend. Don't worry about the trouble, your dad and I will drive over to pick you up."

These words were like opening a floodgate, and tears welled up in Li Zhi's eyes instantly. The bitterness she had been holding back rushed to the tip of her nose, making her almost sob.

Seeing her daughter's tearful expression, Xu Chan tightened her grip on her hand.

She leaned forward, close to Li Zhi's ear, and lowered her voice even further:
"Also... when you're with Shen Yuan, you absolutely must be careful. Understand?"

The word "safety" has been given extra weight and implications.

Li Zhi was taken aback for a moment, but then immediately understood the hidden admonition in his mother's words.

The faint blush on the girl's cheeks, which had been flushed with sorrow at parting, instantly turned into a fiery red, spreading from her ears all the way down to her neck.

She hurriedly lowered her eyelashes, avoiding her mother's gaze, so ashamed she wished she could disappear on the spot.

Nearby, Shen Yuanzheng, who had just finished exchanging pleasantries with Ms. Zhang Yuyan, turned to look for Li Zhi and happened to see Old Li staring at him.

Old Li did not immediately look away, but instead waved to him.

Shen Yuan understood immediately and quickly walked up to Lao Li and stood in front of him.

Old Li looked at the young man who was taller than him and patted him hard on the shoulder.

This simple action seemed to carry a weight of a thousand pounds.

Old Li's hand lingered on Shen Yuan's shoulder for a moment before he said, "These past four years... Zhizhi will be in your care."

The straightforward entrustment transcended the discipline of high school, delivering a father's deepest responsibility and trust.

Shen Yuan instinctively straightened his back, met Old Li's gaze, and nodded solemnly, his voice clear and firm:
"do not worry!"

Old Li didn't say another word, but patted Shen Yuan's shoulder heavily again, as if to fulfill this most important entrustment.

Old Shen had already started the engine, and Zhang Yuyan gave Shen Yuan a few more instructions before getting into the car.

On the other side, Xu Chan, with tears in her eyes, let go of Li Zhi's hand and got into the car with Lao Li.

The car window rolled down, and the parents' voices came from inside the car.

"Zhizhi, Xiaoyuan, please take good care of yourselves!"

"Shen Yuan! Take good care of Zhizhi!"

The last sound came.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi stood there, watching the two familiar cars eventually merge into the traffic at the end of the tree-lined road and disappear from sight.

In the scorching afternoon sun, the vast campus seemed to fall silent instantly.

The parking lot was now empty except for rows of unfamiliar vehicles and two young figures standing side by side.

(End of this chapter)