"Actually, I don't think it matters where you study," Shen Lang said as he pulled Li Liusi onto his lap, gently pressing her head against his chest and speaking softly to comfort her.
"As long as you have the knowledge, you can still find a good job after graduation."
Shen Lang was saying this just to cheer Li Liusi up. In a harsh world, a good diploma is just a shiny accessory. If graduates only know what they learned in school and don't understand social dynamics, they won't make much of an impact and will struggle to find decent jobs.
Especially for someone like Li Liusi, who finds it hard to communicate normally, a good diploma might not help much in the complex world outside school. Many confident students who excel in school get a harsh reality check once they enter the workforce, realizing that the real world is far more complicated than the academic environment they were used to.
That's why Shen Lang ended up staying home to write novels. Of course, this isn't to say that education is useless—it's just important not to be book-smart only. One needs to apply both academic knowledge and social skills flexibly.
This is also why many successful entrepreneurs have only basic education; they've learned to adapt their knowledge to real-life situations.
"Mm," Li Liusi leaned against Shen Lang, listening to his heartbeat, her mood slowly improving.
"Wait a second," Shen Lang adjusted Li Liusi's position, gently pinching the soft flesh on her waist and thighs, and asked curiously, "Have you gained a bit of weight recently?"
The mood had been quite heavy, so Shen Lang picked a random topic to divert Li Liusi's attention.
"Really? Is that true?" Li Liusi's eyes widened with surprise, her face showing a mix of concern and embarrassment as she looked at her body and pinched her waist.
"I should eat less from now on," she said softly, her eyes filled with a hint of pleading, as if afraid Shen Lang would blame her.
"No need for that," Shen Lang shook his head firmly. "I like your body just the way it is. No dieting, okay?"
Li Liusi was a bit taller than average, so even if she gained a few pounds, it wouldn't affect her appearance. In fact, it would make her look fuller and more appealing.
"Okay, I got it," Li Liusi relaxed a bit, sitting quietly on Shen Lang's lap and occasionally glancing at him.
She felt a bit overwhelmed by their intimate position. Shen Lang then suddenly mentioned, "I might have something to do on Saturday."
Li Liusi, who had been enjoying the moment, immediately looked disappointed upon hearing this. She wasn't the type to cause trouble or act childish, so she forced a smile and said, "It's okay, I can just read on that day. You don't have to worry about me."
"I'll be busy in the afternoon and evening, but I'm free in the morning," Shen Lang said with a smile. "Do you want to join me for something on Saturday morning?"
"Yes!" Li Liusi immediately responded, her voice a bit higher.
Shen Lang pretended to be confused and asked, "Wait, weren't you planning to study?"
"I can study in the evening. I have nothing to do in the morning…" Li Liusi became more enthusiastic, afraid Shen Lang might think she wasn't serious about spending time with him.
Seeing Shen Lang's amused smile, she realized she had been tricked again and bashfully lowered her head, muttering, "Can you stop messing with me?"
Looking at Li Liusi's innocent, upset expression, Shen Lang's heart softened. He gently touched her beautiful face and said, "You're really too adorable, sweetheart."
"Don't call me that," Li Liusi playfully complained, though her soft cheek rubbed against Shen Lang's hand like a content kitten.
"My nails have grown long recently," Shen Lang said, glancing at his fingers and then at Li Liusi's legs. He patted her thigh and asked, "Do you have a nail clipper? I need to trim them so I don't accidentally scratch you."
"Yes," Li Liusi nodded, getting up to fetch the nail clipper from the drawer before automatically sitting back down on Shen Lang's lap.
Her rounded backside pressed firmly against his thigh, making Shen Lang feel both awkward and oddly stimulated. He tried to adjust his position to make things more comfortable.
Li Liusi blinked curiously, not quite understanding why Shen Lang was laughing until she felt his leg shake. Her face turned red as she subtly shifted her hips closer to his knee.
"You're too tall. It's uncomfortable for me to sit on your knee. Move over here," Shen Lang said, pulling Li Liusi back onto his lap and extending his hand for the nail clipper.
As Li Liusi took his hand, her face turned crimson from embarrassment, and she said with a quivering voice, "Shen Lang, you're being mean. You're making fun of me…"
This was the closest the shy, pure academic had come to real-life biology.
"It's only because you're so beautiful. I can't help it," Shen Lang said, hugging Li Liusi's soft body as he had with Su Lexuan before. He nuzzled her dark hair, kissed her warm neck, and whispered, "Is that okay, sweetheart?"
"No, no it's not," Li Liusi's hands trembled as she held the nail clipper. Her voice was choked with emotion, her face a mix of innocent distress and fear of the unknown.