Chapter 243 : Isn't Our Relationship Progressing Too Fast Like This?

October 19th, Saturday.

In the morning, Lin Li rode his bicycle to school. While waiting at a red light, he contacted Bai Bufan on his phone.

[Lin Li: I'm almost at the school gate. Are you up? Get ready to come out.]

—The two had agreed to go to the Nansang train station together later.

Chen Yuying and Ding Sihan had also confirmed they would go experience the live-fire shooting, but they were having their families drop them off directly at the station, so they would meet at the train station and wouldn't come to the school.

[Bai Bufan: OK.]

Half an hour later.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Come here, Bai Bufan, tell your dad, what the 'beep—' is OK with you?"

Lin Li, who had waited at the school gate for twenty minutes without seeing anyone or getting a response, angrily pounded on the door of Bai Bufan's dorm room.

The dorm door opened. Bai Bufan was actually fully dressed, but his hair was still a mess. Facing the furious Lin Li, he could only say apologetically:

"There's a real reason this time. Something seems to be wrong with my eyes."

"What's wrong?" Lin Li frowned upon hearing this.

"It's fine, it's better now. I successfully opened them. Phew, when I couldn't open them this morning, it scared me to death. It was really thrilling," Bai Bufan said with a look of lingering fear.

Lin Li: "?"

Lin Li smiled.

Not being able to open your eyes counts as a problem, huh?

"Mount! Tai! Meteor! Punch!"

Fortunately, there weren't many people in the dorms on the weekend, otherwise Bai Bufan wouldn't dare to imagine how many people would hear his lewd screams.

"Wait a moment, just need to blow-dry my hair and we can go."

Bai Bufan took his hair dryer and left the dorm room with wet hair, leading Lin Li to the first floor of the dormitory building.

There were several rows of sockets here that students could use.

—Inside the student dorm rooms at Nansang Middle School, you couldn't find a single live socket. Even the sockets responsible for powering the air conditioners were sealed off.

Currently charging here, besides two hair dryers marked for public use that were always here, were several desk lamps and power banks.

"Investigate these power banks strictly, they definitely brought phones," Lin Li immediately deduced the truth.

There were also a few that were two-in-one desk lamp and power bank combos. They were all students; did Lin Li not know what they bought these things for?

"I suspect you're only saying this because you saw one of these power banks is mine," Bai Bufan raised his middle finger upon hearing this, then started blow-drying his hair.

"Aren't there public hair dryers here? Why did you bring your own?"

Lin Li, waiting idly on the side, asked.

"Please watch the VCR," Bai Bufan gestured with his chin, pointing to a notice posted on the wall.

Lin Li looked over.

"It is forbidden to use the hair dryer to blow-dry areas below the neck! Violators will have their photos posted again!"

Wait.

Lin Li: "..."

Remember, behind every seemingly outrageous rule, there hides a bizarre story.

This word "again" contained many stories.

"Lin Li, do you know how terrifying it is when you're blow-drying your hair and suddenly a curly hair flies out of the hair dryer?" Bai Bufan's voice was calm.

Lin Li: "..."

"Maybe it's naturally curly hair."

"But that hair was rather stiff."

"Everyone's hair texture is different."

"Lin Li, do I have to explicitly say it was a pubic hair for you to understand?"

"Hahahahaha—" This sentence made Lin Li completely lose it.

"Actually using the public hair dryer to roast chicken? There are surveillance cameras in this hallway, right? That guy is also a person with deep roots of wisdom..." Lin Li rejoiced that he didn't have to live on campus.

(Translator's Note: "Roast chicken" (kao ji) is a pun on "roast dick" (kao ji ba). "Roots of wisdom" (hui gen) is a Buddhist term, but here "gen" (root) puns on penis).

No matter how good a school is, there will always be people with low moral quality. There was no doubt about this.

After Bai Bufan finished blow-drying and put the power bank and hair dryer back in his dorm, the two left the school and headed to the bus stop, which was only half a street away from the school gate.

They took their time along the way. There was indeed no need to rush. It was the first time for both Lin Li and Bai Bufan to take the high-speed rail, so they had reserved a considerable amount of time. Otherwise, Lin Li wouldn't have waited twenty minutes without being able to contact Bai Bufan and not killed him.

On a Saturday morning, there were hardly any people even at the bus stop.

Bai Bufan looked at the schedule posted next to it, turned his head, and said: "The next bus should be here in about five minutes."

"OK. Why take the bus instead of a taxi?" Lin Li nodded upon hearing this, stretched, and asked.

"Because I feel that since you're treating me to play, courtesy demands reciprocity, so I should treat you to something too.

"After all, maintaining a relationship requires give and take. So I thought about it: you're responsible for the playing part, so I'll be responsible for the travel expenses.

"But I searched last night, and a taxi from the school to the station costs fifty yuan. It's not as cost-effective as the bus, which is four yuan for the two of us. So the bus is more suitable.

"Don't be polite with me when we get on the bus later. Pick any seat you want, treat it like your own car."

Bai Bufan indeed had his reasons, his voice bold.

"So this is courtesy demanding reciprocity, huh?"

However, Lin Li glanced at his phone and asked in confusion:

"Fifty? How could there be such an outrageous price? Did you search in the middle of the night yesterday? The price would definitely be high then. I just checked, and a taxi right now is only eighteen yuan."

Hearing this, Bai Bufan glanced at Lin Li and scratched his head in embarrassment:

"Hehe, you caught me. Actually, when I checked last night, it was also only twenty. I just felt that saying I couldn't even bear to treat you to twenty yuan would make me seem a bit stingy. Didn't fifty yuan sound much better just now?"

Lin Li: "..."

You motherfucker.

Bai Bufan was going further and further down the path of being Bai Bufan.

However, the bus had a stop at Nansang Station, which was indeed not troublesome and wouldn't be much slower.

Usually, taking a taxi was the default because taking the bus wouldn't take them directly there, and they would have to walk a distance at the end.

But Lin Li's pupils suddenly shrank.

Now was not the time to think about this!

Danger, danger, danger!

The moment of life and death for his best friend had arrived!

"Bufan! Hide! Hide quickly! Hurry!" Lin Li suddenly looked at Bai Bufan and urged anxiously.

"What's going on, what's going on!? Is Chen Yuying going to sit next to you again? Or did Xue Jian and his wife appear out of nowhere again?"

Bai Bufan didn't understand, but seeing that Lin Li's emotions didn't seem faked, even though he looked around and didn't spot any suspicious characters, he still squatted under the bus stop bench, maintaining his vigilance.

Who is trying to murder His Majesty!

"Don't speak, breathe quietly," Lin Li was a bit nervous, sweating profusely, afraid of exposing any flaws, while lowering his voice to remind him.

Twenty seconds later.

An old scavenger slowly walked to the trash can next to them and rummaged through it. When Lin Li handed the bottle in his hand to the old man, the old man even smiled and said thank you.

Then he left.

"Phew—" Lin Li finally stopped trembling, let out a long sigh of relief, and signaled Bai Bufan that he could come out: "Bufan, crisis averted."

Bai Bufan: "?"

Wait.

You motherfucker.

Bai Bufan crawled out with a cold face: "What kind of fucking life-and-death crisis was this?"

"I was afraid you'd be picked up by the grandpa," Lin Li answered honestly.

"Fuck! Last time it was monkeys, this time it's trash, right!"

"Lin! Li! I'm going to send you home!"

Bai Bufan pointed at the trash can next to them and charged at Lin Li.

Lin Li immediately ran away.

Bai Bufan wanted to chase but found he couldn't catch up to Lin Li, the number one 3000-meter runner in Class 4.

"Patriot Missile!" Bai Bufan chose a ranged attack—his water bottle hadn't been picked up.

Unfortunately, he encountered Lin Li, who had [Empty-Handed Blade Catching]. So not only did he not hurt Lin Li, but the "missile" was snatched away, and the offense and defense swapped.

When Lin Li was chasing Bai Bufan in reverse, halfway through, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw a young man.

He was also sprinting wildly.

Lin Li stopped running and looked at him in surprise.

When the young man made eye contact with him, after a second or two, he averted his gaze, looked left and right, slowed his pace, passed him, and walked towards the station.

"What happened?"

Bai Bufan also noticed this situation and came over to ask.

Lin Li narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and suddenly realized: "I get it! He saw us running towards the station just now and probably thought the bus was coming and we were rushing for it, so he ran after us. When he realized it wasn't, he pretended to look at the scenery to ease the awkwardness."

"Holy shit, just hearing the description makes me sweat profusely. That's too awkward," Bai Bufan scratched the goosebumps on his arms upon hearing this, feeling a chill.

The young man smiled.

Actually, that wasn't too awkward. These kids today were still too young.

What's truly awkward is, after doing something like this out of a brain fart, discovering that the people you were chasing actually realized your thoughts and pointed them out directly, without even trying to lower their voices.

That is fucking awkward.

In front of the desolate and cool back of the young man who had already passed Lin Li and Bai Bufan, was a crying face TAT.

You bastards, you two fucking kids, keep your voices down when you mock me, don't let me hear it TAT.

That's very impolite TAT.

"Lin Li, you seem to have guessed wrong. He kept walking forward, it doesn't look like he's here to take the bus." Arriving at the bus stop, Bai Bufan looked at the young man who hadn't stopped but was still walking forward, and said.

"He chose the solution with the most bullet comments. He's a respectable opponent," Lin Li didn't think he guessed wrong and sighed.

"The bus is here." After waiting for another half minute and clearly seeing the number of the bus at the intersection, Lin Li said.

Arrival.

"Driver, is the bus fare two yuan?" The two stepped forward, and Bai Bufan asked, holding coins.

Most of the people who still took buses in Xiling were middle-aged and elderly people. Although most of them could ride for free, there were always exceptions, so cash payments naturally hadn't been canceled.

"Yes," the driver nodded.

"Are you standing?"

The driver smiled, pressed the door button, and pointed at the door: "Get off."

A very good answer, immune to being messed with, making Bai Bufan honestly drop his coins.

In less than half an hour, the two arrived at Nansang Station.

Chen Yuying and Ding Sihan hadn't arrived yet, but it couldn't be considered them being late, because there was still quite a while before the agreed time.

Lin Li and Bai Bufan thought about it and decided to just wait for them at the station. Anyway, their car was coming here too, and there were seats here, so waiting wouldn't be tiring.

About ten minutes later.

A black car parked not far away. Lin Li had a good memory; he glanced at the license plate and recognized it as Chen Yuying's family car.

Lin Li's gaze moved up. This time he didn't see Chen Zhongping, but a strange middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. It should be the Chen family driver who was replaced during the National Day holiday.

"Here we are, here we are."

The early autumn breeze carried a hint of coolness, bringing the words over.

Chen Yuying jumped lightly out of the car, her steps hurried. She was wearing a beige knit cardigan with the cuffs slightly rolled up, revealing slender wrists. Under the cardigan was a light blue denim skirt, the hem swaying gently as she ran.

Her legs were wrapped in a pair of thin black leggings, paired with white canvas shoes.

Her long hair was slightly messed up by the wind, a few strands sticking to her cheeks. As she ran, she casually brushed her hair behind her ear with her hand. A small brown leather bag was slung across her shoulder, the strap swaying with her movements, making a slight clinking sound.

"Holy shit, the Class Rep is really pretty," Bai Bufan clicked his tongue watching this scene.

"Holy shit, black silk is really awesome," Lin Li clicked his tongue watching this scene.

Chen Yuying, who heard this sentence just as she approached, stopped, rubbed her brow with a headache and helplessness, and glared at Lin Li: "Lin~ Li! Leggings and black silk are completely different things..."

Indeed, the thickness and material of the two are completely different. After putting them on, whether it's the wearer's feeling or how it looks to others, it's completely different.

Pairing a denim miniskirt with this for warmth in autumn was just right.

"Don't care, it's black silk." But Lin Li was always incorrigible.

Chen Yuying could only sigh helplessly.

Who is the one about to turn eighteen, him or me?

So childish.

"Is Sihan not here yet?" Chen Yuying sat next to Lin Li and asked.

"She should be here soon," Lin Li looked at the group chat messages upon hearing this. Inside, Qu Wanqiu was hypocritically wailing.

"Already here!"

Speak of the King of Lateness, and the King of Lateness arrives. Ding Sihan's voice floated over.

The three looked up. Obviously, Ding Sihan had specially put together an outfit suitable for this activity today for the live-fire shooting.

Her upper body was actually a women's black tactical jacket, oversized style, with a white T-shirt underneath. Her lower body was a pair of pure black leather pants, perfectly outlining the proportions of her legs, paired with black high-top shoes. Her hair was specially tied into a ponytail, and with goggles and gloves, she looked incredibly cool and valiant.

"Holy shit, Ding Sihan's outfit is really cool," Bai Bufan clicked his tongue watching this scene.

"Holy shit, black silk is really awesome," Lin Li clicked his tongue watching this scene.

Chen Yuying: "?"

Ding Sihan, who heard this sentence just as she approached, pushed her goggles up towards her nose, revealing her eyes, and looked at Lin Li with the gaze of looking at an idiot:

"Lin Li, are you blind? These are leather pants, what fucking silk."

"Damn it, are they leather pants? Then will they bulge if you fart?" Lin Li asked with a spirit of scientific research.

"Get lost! They won't!"

"I don't believe it. Practice brings true knowledge, try farting one."

"Fine, they will bulge," Ding Sihan took a deep breath, "But they will bulge on your grave!"

Lin Li, who deserved to be scolded, naturally wouldn't fight back. Instead, he stood up and said with a smile: "Since everyone is here, let's enter the station."

"Okay."

As the four left the bus stop, the next bus arrived at the station. The doors slowly opened, and a young man stepped down. Halfway down, his footsteps stopped in mid-air.

Lin Li, Bai Bufan, and he, six eyes met.

This person looked a bit familiar, like they had seen him at the bus stop at the gate of Nansang Middle School.

Bai Bufan blinked, then looked confused: "So... this bro walking past the station back then was really doing it on purpose? And came back after we left?"

Lin Li nodded: "Undoubtedly, it was to ease the awkwardness."

The two fucking kids performed stably, their voices not lowered at all. The young man heard them clearly.

The young man who got off the bus smiled.

He had found a situation even more awkward than the one just now.

He lowered his head and checked his phone.

"What are the ways to leave Earth?"

"When will Earth roughly be destroyed?"

A ticket to Mars only costs $100,000, maybe it's worth considering.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!

This world, just explode, fuck your mom TAT.

...

After learning from Lin Li and Bai Bufan what exactly happened between this passerby and them, Ding Sihan and Chen Yuying understood what these two were laughing about.

These two guys did it on purpose.

It was unlucky enough for a normal passerby to meet Bai Bufan or Lin Li, but he had to meet both of them at once.

Pitiful.

The four walked towards the station entrance.

"What do we do now? I'm like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden," Lin Li asked.

(Translator's Note: A reference to Dream of the Red Chamber, meaning a country bumpkin seeing the big city).

"Country bumpkin," Bai Bufan said disdainfully.

"Aren't you a country bumpkin too?"

"Don't throw dirty water around. I know English: you, loser, me, niubier. So I must be a sea turtle (returnee from overseas)." Bai Bufan straightened his sea turtle's glans and coolly spouted foreign words.

"That's very foreign," Lin Li acknowledged.

"What Grand View Garden? Don't exaggerate so much. It's just scanning your ID card to enter the station, going through security, and then scanning your ID card again when the light corresponding to the train starts ticket checking," Chen Yuying explained with a smile.

"No, they're just two country bumpkins." Ding Sihan and Chen Yuying didn't coordinate very well.

There weren't too many people at Nansang Station on a Saturday morning, so there was almost no need to queue.

After self-service verification to enter the station, the two arrived at the security check area.

Chen Yuying and Ding Sihan went to put their bags through the scanner, while Lin Li and Bai Bufan, who didn't bring bags, went directly through the security gate.

"Turn around, turn around."

Bai Bufan stood on the platform and acted according to the security inspector's instructions.

Lin Li wanted to laugh.

He remembered the zoo during the National Day holiday. He wondered how the smart dog Bufan, the dumb dog Lin Li, and that bratty kid were doing.

"Good dog." So Lin Li clapped.

Bai Bufan: "?"

"Take a sip of water."

But before he had time to scold Lin Li, Bai Bufan heard the security inspector looking at the drink in his hand and saying to him.

Bai Bufan froze for a moment, then still handed the water to the security inspector. After hesitating for a few seconds, he added: "Don't touch your lips to it."

After all, it was their first time meeting, and they really weren't familiar. If they drank from the same bottle, Bai Bufan felt their relationship would be a bit too ambiguous.

Security Inspector: "?"

No.

Wait.

You motherfucker.

"No, no! You! No, not me drinking! I'm telling you to take a sip yourself! To ensure this isn't a toxic liquid! Who wants to drink your water!" The security inspector's defenses were broken, and he spoke incoherently.

"Oh, oh, oh, sorry, sorry." Hearing this, Bai Bufan hurriedly opened the bottle cap and took a big gulp.

"I didn't tell you to drink it all either!"

"So you still want to drink?" After all that, this security inspector was also saying no but meaning yes. Bai Bufan tentatively offered it.

Security Inspector: "?"

"...Forget it, go in." The security inspector, with a dark face, signaled Bai Bufan to leave quickly.

Lin Li, who was already sitting on the ground laughing, covered his mouth, then touched the floor of the station and stated his shocking discovery:

"Holy shit, I was wondering why the station was so clean. It turns out someone's face was swept across the floor!"

Bai Bufan: "?"

Fuck! There's a sword mound (bastard)!

The surrounding staff, who were already trying hard to hold it in, as well as Chen Yuying and Ding Sihan, completely lost it this time.

"Alright, alright, stop laughing, it's your turn." However, after the security inspector finished laughing, he didn't forget his job and urged Lin Li.

"Coming."

Lin Li walked through the security gate, stood on the small platform, and waited for the security inspector to scan him with the detector.

Ding.

It wasn't the machine that beeped, it was Lin Li's system.

[What an exquisite detection formation, how many profound and wondrous mysteries are hidden within it. With this formation standing here, evil cultivators and filthy things have nowhere to hide, protecting the safety of the mortal realm!

The importance of this path can be seen from this. To reach the supreme peak, one must be omnipotent. The path of formations should be studied as soon as possible.

Knowledge is still shallow, but true knowledge can be glimpsed through practice. See the formation, enter the formation, break the formation!]

[Task Triggered!]

[Task 4: Seek out and personally experience at least a hundred high-level detection formations, and there must be four or more types (1/100; 1/4).]

[Task Reward: Physique Improvement: Formation Talent increased by 50%, Divine Sense Perception Range increased by 100%; Random Complete Formation 1; Random Formation Materials 5; System Currency 100]

(End of Chapter)