Today, Gong Tao wrapped up his work early, refusing all so-called social engagements without any qualms.

The reason? Of course, it was to have dinner with his daughter and ask her how life was in the dormitory.

The first thing Gong Tao said upon seeing his daughter was, "Daughter, you’ve lost weight."

Lost weight? Really? Gong Ruini loved hearing people say this to her, as it meant her recent healthy eating had an effect.

"Wow, have you not been eating properly?" Gong Tao was displeased seeing his daughter so happy about losing weight.

He didn’t understand why girls nowadays liked being so thin, without realizing it made them look less fortunate. A girl shouldn’t be too fat or too thin; she should just maintain a build like his daughter’s—it’s absolutely the best.

"She’s eating, she and her roommates eat in the cafeteria," Gong Ruwen said with a look of dissatisfaction.

Yikes, hadn’t he promised not to mention this? How could he sell her out? Gong Ruini glared at Gong Ruwen, dissatisfied.

What? Cafeteria food, that taste... Honestly, Gong Tao endured it for four years, and even after graduation, he occasionally picked up Cai Meina and had a few bites—those flavors he didn’t want to remember. It really hadn’t improved at all.

"Communal meals are like this; if it were the cooks at my factory, I’d have fired them long ago," Gong Tao, who paid for all employees’ meals, said he never considered workers not paying for food, just saving up.

His daughter paid for her meals, but they were so terrible. He couldn’t help but tell Cai Meina, "Why don’t you speak up?"

Speak up? Cai Meina scoffed, "The procurement is done by the vice principal’s brother-in-law; do you think I can speak up?"

Cai Meina wasn’t satisfied with these things, but she didn’t voice it; after all, if the food wasn’t good, she’d eat less or not at all—she didn’t expect her daughter would do the same at school.

This made Cai Meina feel so distressed for her, "How is my child so straightforward?"

"We’re in the same dorm, I can’t just go out and eat nice things by myself while they eat in the cafeteria," Gong Ruini had to keep up appearances.

Call it silly if you want, "You can occasionally visit your brother or, failing that, come find me."

It’s nice to have some culinary variety; Gong Ruini was annoyed. But thinking if she did speak up, Luo Zijun might indeed be tempted.

In the end, Gong Ruini considered it a form of practice. Next year when Zhao Xuran and the others graduated, she’d have to adapt on her own anyway.

Might as well start training now since Gong Ruini had already thought it through.

Previously, she hadn’t considered everything, which is why she suffered such losses this time. But next time, she was definitely going to stash some food and drinks in her space.

So that she could sneak into her space to eat at midnight.

Once Gong Ruini made up her mind, no one could change it; in the end, they could only go along with her.

Cai Meina glanced at Gong Tao, "This is all your fault."

What? How was this his fault? What had he done? He hadn’t agreed with his daughter’s idea at all.

"Same stubbornness." Again, it was his problem. Gong Tao could only accept this blame; what else could he do?

Knowing Gong Ruini hadn’t eaten well at school, everyone at the table kept offering her food.

This worried Gong Ruini; although they walked home, after eating half a duck and other dishes, her stomach really couldn’t take any more food.

Gong Ruini kept signaling to Zhao Xuran and Gong Ruwen for help.

Gong Ruwen turned his head to talk to Gong Ruzhi about homework since he hadn’t been home for a week, needing to catch up on siblings’ studies.

"Aunt Cai, we’ve already eaten, Ni Zi has already eaten half a roast duck." Zhao Xuran stood up to help Gong Ruini out, even though he didn’t do it willingly.

What? How could his daughter have eaten half a roast duck? Cai Meina didn’t care; even if her daughter wasn’t happy, "Come find me once a week from now on."

"Or I’ll come find you at the law faculty."

"Oh, alright then." What could Gong Ruini do but comply?

"And I’ll pack you some dishes; if they can’t afford to eat out, at least you’ll have homemade meals to take back." Cai Meina remembered her local classmates used to do this when she was in school.

This suggestion was rejected by Zhan Jing before Gong Ruini could object, "An occasional treat is fine, but if it’s regular, then without it, the dorm mates will wonder why."

"Will they think it’s expected?" Zhan Jing thought this through thoroughly.

Gong Ruini nodded fervently; that was the logic. Although currently, Liu Yun and the others felt nice, who knows about the future? It’s safer to be cautious.

This proposal was dismissed just like that, leaving Cai Meina with dilemmas about how to get along well with roommates without making them expect Ni Zi always to provide food.

Altogether, this left Cai Meina worried.

But Gong Ruini wasn’t worried at all. She sat in the study, listening to Sister Jiaxin and her siblings talk about recent family happenings.

"You said Gong Zheng is planning to come to Beijing to congratulate me on getting into university?" No way, it’s been years since Zhang Lan passed away. Ever since, they’d completely lost contact with Gong Qiang and Gong Zheng.

Even though Gong Qiang is still in their hometown, Gong Zhuang has always known his news clearly. But since Gong Zheng left the hometown, he’s never returned, not even taking his son to Yangcheng as planned.

How could this guy have the time to congratulate her on getting into university instead of figuring out his son’s arrangement? "I think it’s not that simple, he probably wants something."

"No way, he must be planning to take advantage of us." Gong Zheng would never visit unless there was a benefit involved.

Gong Jiaxin sighed, "If only we were in our hometown, we could have heard something." Gong Qiang’s side revealed information quickly.

But with Gong Zheng, if he didn’t want to say something, there was no way anyone would know.

"If not borrowing money, maybe he’s looking if Dad can help him a bit."

"Or he wants help with his son, but I think he’s unlikely to agree." Gong Ruini had no fondness for Gong Zheng’s son. A child like his, capable and mature beyond his years, seemed terrifying to her.

Neglected from a young age, and after his mom went to college, she remarried and had more kids, treating him ordinarily; the Wu Family had no affection for this extra drag. Growing up in such an environment, Gong Ruini didn’t believe he’d have a healthy mindset—maybe not impossible, but unlikely.

Possibly not, Gong Jiaxin thought Gong Ruini might be overthinking; even if Gong Zheng’s wife agreed, Gong Zheng probably wouldn’t.