The next day at noon, while Qin Tian was eating lunch with Xia Nuannuan in the cafeteria, an unfamiliar number rang.
Qin Tian stared at the caller ID for a moment before answering the call under Xia Nuannuan's encouraging gaze.
"Hello, who is this?"
He had already guessed who it might be on the other end, and he was deliberately asking.
After a long silence on the other end, a steady middle-aged male voice came through.
"It's me."
"Who is this?"
Qin Tian ate a bite of food with a blank expression, still asking the obvious.
The person on the other end was clearly taken aback. After a few more seconds of silence, he said, "Qin Hongwen, your mother gave me the number."
Qin Tian looked up at Xia Nuannuan, who was sitting opposite him. She had a pained expression on her face, her eyes conveying a plea.
After learning about what had happened back then, Xia Nuannuan had stated that she stood with Qin Tian and would support him unconditionally. However, she also hoped that they could reunite as a family and live in harmony.
"What is it?"
Qin Tian asked calmly.
"Well, I'll be in Jiangcheng for a meeting in a couple of days. If you have time... can we have dinner together?"
Qin Hongwen tentatively invited.
Qin Tian didn't reply immediately, chewing on the food he had taken.
On the phone, Qin Hongwen remained silent, waiting for his response.
Xia Nuannuan's expression grew increasingly anxious, but she couldn't interfere.
Qin Tian glanced at her and said, "I'm not sure if I'll have time then. You can come over and we'll talk!"
"Ah, alright. Bring little Xia along then."
Qin Hongwen's tone clearly became more cheerful.
On the other side, Xia Nuannuan's pretty face also bloomed into a sweet smile.
"Got it. I'm hanging up!"
With that, Qin Tian hung up the phone.
"Here, eat more meat."
Xia Nuannuan's eyes curved as she placed a piece of pork rib into his bowl.
"Why are you so happy!"
Qin Tian looked at her with amusement.
"Hehe... I'm just happy!"
Xia Nuannuan smiled even more happily.
Looking at her cute demeanor, Qin Tian's somewhat depressed and agitated mood inexplicably improved a lot.
"He said he wants me to bring you along to have dinner with him."
"Mhm!"
Xia Nuannuan nodded cheerfully and asked, "Did Uncle say when he'll arrive? Should we go pick him up?"
"He didn't say. Why pick him up? Isn't it convenient to take a taxi?"
Qin Tian said indifferently.
Xia Nuannuan was quite helpless upon hearing this, but she didn't say much more.
She knew that the relationship between father and son needed to thaw step by step. Rushing things might be counterproductive.
"Qin Tian, Xia Nuannuan!"
A female voice called out.
The two looked towards the sound and saw two girls walking over with their food trays, smiling.
"Seniors, good afternoon!"
Xia Nuannuan greeted them with a sweet smile.
The two were none other than the two senior students from the School of Literature they had met in the cafeteria after the semester started.
"Seniors, please sit here!"
Xia Nuannuan got up and moved to Qin Tian's side, gesturing for the two seniors to sit in the seats opposite them.
After thanking them, the two sat down as instructed.
"What a coincidence, we meet again."
Ding Xuan said with a smile.
"Yes, we had class in that teaching building in the front this morning, so we came to this cafeteria to eat."
Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly and then looked at Fu Yan beside her, saying, "Senior, you look much better!"
"Really?"
Fu Yan touched her face in surprise.
"Yes, yes."
Xia Nuannuan nodded repeatedly.
"Has there been any progress with your boyfriend?"
Qin Tian asked out of curiosity.
The last time they met these two seniors, Fu Yan's relationship with her fickle boyfriend, whom she had been dating since high school, had hit a rough patch, and she had sought advice from them.
"Yes, thanks to the advice Qin Tian gave, it was so satisfying."
Ding Xuan said excitedly.
Fu Yan had a smile on her face, clearly in a good mood.
"Tell us, tell us!"
Xia Nuannuan leaned forward, her beautiful eyes burning with curiosity.
"After we heard Qin Tian's plan last time, we tried it immediately. Fu Yan resisted contacting her boyfriend. When she couldn't resist, I snatched her phone and turned it off. Within two days, her boyfriend couldn't sit still."
Ding Xuan narrated with a bright smile.
"Continue."
Xia Nuannuan's eyes lit up, and she eagerly urged.
Ding Xuan continued to speak animatedly while eating.
In simple terms, Fu Yan's boyfriend felt a sense of loss after Fu Yan became even colder towards him and quickly grew anxious.
When he compared Fu Yan to the girls flitting around him, his mind cleared up. He realized he was at a significant disadvantage in this relationship.
Fu Yan, as a top student at Jiang University, had both looks and education, and her personality was much better than those girls he often hung out with.
Thus, the tables turned, and Fu Yan's boyfriend began to coax her.
"You don't know how good her boyfriend is to her now. Last night, it was past nine, and Yanzi was having her period and feeling a bit unwell. He hurried over with a heat pack and a bunch of fruit."
Ding Xuan said happily.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan looked at Fu Yan, who was eating her food in small bites with a happy and sweet smile.
"Senior, congratulations."
Xia Nuannuan offered her congratulations with a sweet smile.
"Thank you, it's all thanks to you both."
Fu Yan thanked them gratefully.
"I didn't help much; it's all brother's credit."
Xia Nuannuan said with a smile, looking at Qin Tian.
"Yes, yes, Qin Tian, you're truly amazing."
Ding Xuan looked at him with admiration.
"It's nothing. Besides, seniors, if you think about it, the principle is quite straightforward."
Qin Tian waved his hand with a smile.
"No, we really need to thank you. Do you have time tonight? Let me treat you to dinner?"
Fu Yan invited.
"No need, we really didn't help that much."
Qin Tian refused without hesitation.
"Yes, senior, forget about dinner. We're happy that you and your boyfriend are happy."
Xia Nuannuan chimed in.
Fu Yan invited again, but after both of them politely declined, she had no choice but to give up.
"Master Qin, give me some advice too!"
Ding Xuan looked at Qin Tian with bright eyes and said expectantly.
"Master Qin?"
Qin Tian was taken aback.
Xia Nuannuan beside him was also stunned.
Ding Xuan nodded with a beaming smile and said, "There's a guy I like. He's a junior at our school, but he's not interested in me."
"Does he have a girlfriend?"
Xia Nuannuan asked curiously.
"No... I think?"
Ding Xuan frowned slightly.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan exchanged a look, their expressions a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Oh, I haven't even said a few words to him, how would I know if he has a girlfriend?"
Ding Xuan felt a bit embarrassed.
"Then, senior, have you expressed your feelings to him?"
Xia Nuannuan asked again.