Being a TA and helping John organize his dissertation took up all of Liyan's spare time. She was as busy as a spinning top. To save time, she would cook a large batch of pasta every Sunday to last the week. She would then dump the pasta into a huge salad bowl and pack a few chopsticks worth into a lunch box each morning, hastily dealing with lunch. If she was too busy to cook, she would survive on two slices of white bread and coffee for the day, and she was visibly losing weight.

　　John, sympathetic and considerate, wanted to offer Liyan extra meals but didn't want to be too obvious about it. He was afraid Liyan might not accept his kindness and that Anna might see through his intentions and blab about it. So, he frequently used the excuse of enjoying afternoon tea in England to invite the whole lab to share the takeout he ordered.

　　Before long, they had tried every takeout place in Oxford. Anna jokingly complained that John's attentiveness had made her gain weight, while Saeed, less appreciative, said the takeout wasn’t as good as his family’s restaurant. John didn’t bother arguing with these two ingrates, as he was getting tired of takeout himself.

　　During lunch, when Liyan went to heat up her meat sauce pasta again, John asked, "Aren't you sick of eating pasta all the time?"

　　"Who says England is a food desert?" Liyan quipped, though her real concern was saving money and time.

　　"Have you ever had authentic British food? How about I show you some today?" John said, half challenging her.

　　"No, thanks. I quite like pasta," Liyan quickly declined.

　　"Anna has led you astray," John shook his head. "Today, the Christ Church dining hall is serving lamb chops. Want to check it out? Saeed, you come too?"

　　"I brought my lunch today," Saeed declined.

　　"I have plans to eat out with friends," Anna said tactfully. "Liyan, you haven't been to the Christ Church dining hall, have you? You should see it. It's the most beautiful dining hall in the world." She subtly supported John.

　　Saeed, a devout Muslim, made Liyan feel awkward eating meat sauce pasta in front of him, and Anna’s suggestion intrigued her.

　　"Save the pasta for dinner. We're going to Christ Church now," John said, closing Liyan's lunchbox, leaving no room for refusal.

　　The Christ Church dining hall was grand and opulent, with three rows of long tables extending like runways, adorned with elegant, old-fashioned candelabras. Portraits of distinguished Oxford alumni hung on the walls, and a finely crafted wooden ceiling hung above them. The colorful stained-glass windows cast a dreamy light, making it feel like a Victorian palace. For centuries, generations of Oxford students had dined at these long tables, filled with youthful ambition and spirit. Even though they would later go their separate ways, with different life paths, the ceremonious ambiance of the hall would become a cherished topic of conversation for years to come.

　　"This dining hall is even more beautiful than a church!" Liyan exclaimed in awe.

　　"The high table is for the dean and senior professors. We students sit here," John pointed out.

　　Liyan was so captivated by the dining hall that she almost forgot she was there to eat. "Seeing these academic giants dine at the high table is such a motivator for us regular students!"

　　"Relax, is your mind always on academics? Last month, the Harry Potter film crew shot scenes in this very hall."

　　"Who's Harry Potter?"

　　"A novel about a wizarding school; every British kid has a copy," John said. "I can lend it to you if you're interested."

　　"My school years were just endless assignments and exams," Liyan lamented.

　　The relaxed academic atmosphere, superior research environment, and the balance of personal development and collective honor in British education made Liyan envious. In China, the gaokao was like a million soldiers crossing a single-log bridge, with a difference of one point setting you behind thousands of others. In contrast, the British education system felt like a broad track where everyone could run side by side and cross the finish line together. How wonderful it would be to switch her children's path to this one. The thought startled her. As a publicly funded student, she shouldn't entertain such far-fetched ideas, and she felt guilty for her sudden selfish thought.

　　As they were talking, Liyan noticed a Chinese couple entering the dining hall, looking around for seats. Lamb chops were always popular among the students, and today the Christ Church dining hall was fuller than usual. Seeing fellow Chinese made Liyan feel a warm sense of kinship, and she immediately waved them over.

　　The couple reluctantly approached, the guy forcing a smile and the girl pretending not to see them. After sitting down, they deliberately spoke in Cantonese, clearly excluding Liyan from their conversation.

　　Liyan felt their intentional coldness but couldn't recall ever offending them. While she was pondering this, the ponytailed girl switched to Mandarin, saying in a sarcastic tone, "No wonder you're too busy to attend the Chinese student association events. You've been too busy cozying up to foreigners."

　　Her boyfriend also showed a look of disdain.

　　Liyan wanted to explain that she and John were not romantically involved and that she had never had such thoughts, but the couple turned their heads away, refusing to acknowledge her. Feeling wronged, Liyan glanced at John, who was happily enjoying his lamb chops, oblivious to the tension. She didn't want to create more trouble by relaying the couple's words to John, fearing it would only complicate things further. But their remarks stung like a slap in the face, making her cheeks burn with anger. Her good mood vanished, and after hastily eating a few bites, she urged John to leave the dining hall.

　　The guy whispered, "They're gone."

　　"Guilty conscience?" the girl said, raising her voice deliberately.

　　Liyan and John didn't care whether they were seen as a couple or not. But seeing Liyan and John together, the couple felt morally superior, giving them an excuse to make malicious assumptions and hurtful comments. They were jealous of Liyan, envious that she had made foreign friends shortly after arriving in the UK. What annoyed them even more was that John seemed like a decent and reliable person, while they had to cling to each other for support in a foreign country.

　　John didn't realize that Liyan was upset because of the Chinese couple's ridicule; he thought he had somehow offended her. "Wasn't the lunch to your liking?" he asked, puzzled.

　　"Lunch was delicious, and the dining hall is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here." Liyan opened her wallet, took out ten pounds, and handed it to John. "This is for the lunch you paid for earlier." Her pride was too strong; she insisted on being financially clear with John to prove that she had no intentions of using him to stay in the UK.

　　Seeing her firm attitude, John reluctantly took the money, reflecting that he must have inadvertently burdened Liyan with the cost of lunch at the Christ Church dining hall. To make up for his unintentional mistake, a few days later, John suggested a countryside outing.

　　Having been in Oxford for nearly half a year, Liyan hadn't explored outside the city. John's sincere invitation was tempting, but the Chinese couple's mockery still stung. So, she asked Anna and Saeed to join them, and to her surprise, they readily agreed.

　　John felt a pang of disappointment. After finally convincing Liyan to go on the outing, those two had to tag along, turning what he hoped would be a perfect chance to spend time alone with Liyan into a lab group activity.

　　On the appointed day, John prepared a large picnic basket filled with donuts, sandwiches, blueberries, cranberries, and a teapot, placing it on the front passenger seat. Anna glanced at the basket, unwilling to hold it for the entire trip, and quickly took the back seat of the convertible, leaving John to watch Liyan follow suit.

　　Saeed arrived last and tugged at the front passenger door, frowning. "Why is the door locked?"

　　John remembered that he had hoped Liyan would sit next to him, planning to open the door for her himself. His plan foiled, John reluctantly unlocked the door for Saeed.

　　Unaware of the situation, Saeed cheerfully thanked John and carefully settled into the seat with the picnic basket on his lap, guarding it like a hen with her eggs. John couldn't help but laugh at the irony.

　　"Let's go!" Anna urged.

　　"Buckle up," John reminded everyone, then started the engine.

　　The flashy convertible and the group of attractive young people drew stares from passersby, and Anna reveled in the attention.

　　"Let's have some music," Anna shouted.

　　John picked some soft background music, wanting to hear Liyan and Anna talk, so he kept the volume low.

　　"Is that for you or us? Turn it up! I want to hear some Michael Learns to Rock."

　　"I don't have their songs. How about the Rolling Stones?" John switched to another CD.

　　"Are you stuck in the last century?" Anna teased him.

　　John grumbled internally, I didn't invite you, and now you're making demands. He couldn't help but roll his eyes at her.

　　Anna noticed John's eye-roll from the back seat, causing a brief awkward silence. But Anna was the type to keep the mood lively. Ignoring John's slight, she untied the silk scarf she was using for sun protection and started waving it to the music.

　　Liyan, caught up in Anna's joy, laughed brightly.

　　John glanced at Liyan, distracted, making the car swerve slightly.

　　"Drive steady, or the drinks will spill," Saeed warned nervously.

　　"Got it, quit nagging."

　　Everyone chatted and joked, their cheerful banter making the journey more enjoyable. By noon, they arrived at the Peak District.

　　Chatsworth House nestled among rolling hills, its reflection shimmering in a clear, expansive lake. Black-faced sheep grazed contentedly on the early summer grass, creating a picturesque pastoral scene. The estate’s heir, unable to bear the high inheritance taxes and maintenance costs, had opened much of the house to the public to sustain it, retaining only a few rooms for personal use. The estate’s meticulous design and its collection of paintings, books, and sculptures exuded the refined elegance of old English aristocracy.

　　The spirit of Western aristocracy paralleled the Chinese cultural ideal of noble character, embodying "neither elated by material gain nor dejected by personal loss, worrying before others and enjoying after." The estate was a tangible manifestation of British noble spirit, a symbol of the former British Empire’s grandeur. This explained why the British preferred estate tours over traveling abroad.

　　Anna referred to Chatsworth House as Darcy’s estate. She felt completely at home there, even playing the role of tour guide for Liyan, enthusiastically recounting scenes and lines from the film "Pride and Prejudice." If Anna had a pause button, John would have pressed it hard.

　　"In the novel, Elizabeth didn’t fall in love with Darcy at first sight. It was only after seeing Pemberley that she realized she wanted to marry him. Living in Darcy’s estate is every woman’s dream, right, Liyan?" Anna asked, projecting her feelings.

　　John quietly observed Liyan’s expression, eager to know her thoughts.

　　"This house is too big; it would be scary to stay here at night," Liyan replied, deflating Anna's excitement.

　　Anna shook her head. "You just don’t know how to enjoy life."

　　"My family used to have a place this big—but then—" Saeed stammered, unable to finish his sentence.

　　Anna burst into laughter. "Are you daydreaming?"

　　"When I was little, I could ride horses in our garden!" Saeed said seriously.

　　"I believe Saeed. He never lies," John quickly interjected to smooth things over.

　　Anna, always leading the group, skipped ahead up the grand staircase. Halfway up, she turned around, smoothed the creases in her floral dress, straightened her posture, and placed a hand on the banister.

　　"John, take a picture of me with the grand staircase," Anna said.

　　She mimicked the elegant, noble poses of the ladies in the portraits, but the mischievous smile on her lips betrayed her humble origins. John gave her an OK gesture to indicate the photo was taken.

　　"Liyan, come over here for a group photo," Anna urged.

　　"I don’t want to. You take a few more," Liyan waved her off. As usual, she wore a plaid cotton shirt and jeans, purely there to enjoy the sights, not to pretend to be a lady of the manor. She preferred the estate’s natural elements—fountains, verdant lawns, streams with floating flowers, and the secluded Roman pavilion hidden in the garden—to the opulent mansion itself.

　　In the afternoon, the four of them had a late lunch on the estate’s green lawn. Halfway through the meal, John suggested they play a quick-response game based on hypothetical questions. The goal wasn’t the answers themselves but the fact that you had to respond without thinking, revealing your subconscious thoughts despite your usual efforts to hide them.

　　John asked first, "Who do you most want to be in this life?"

　　Liyan: Madame Curie.

　　Anna: Simone de Beauvoir.

　　Saeed: Darius the Great.

　　Saeed, usually reserved and modest, idolized a conquering king.

　　Liyan asked, "If you could relive any year, which would it be?"

　　Saeed: 1978, back in Iran.

　　John: Christmas when I was thirteen, when my grandfather was still alive.

　　Anna: Next year.

　　Anna’s unique answer stood out in this round.

　　Saeed asked, "If you could have one superpower, what would it be?"

　　John: Mind reading.

　　Anna: Turning things to gold.

　　Liyan: Seeing the future.

　　Anna asked, "What’s the saddest thing for you?"

　　John: I wanted to study music but never got the chance.

　　Liyan: Not trying hard enough and letting myself down.

　　Saeed: (silent)

　　"That’s enough. We have other places to see!" John quickly changed the subject.

　　The four of them explored every corner of the estate, and by the time they drove back to Oxford, it was evening. The sunset’s golden glow edged the clouds. What a charming day, John thought, it would have been perfect without those two spoilsports.