The System is Abstract, Luckily, So Am I

Chapter 167 : Countless Light Sources Bring Countless Shadows

Because the music fountain started on a schedule, the girls didn't linger too long at the stalls, nor did they browse any others.

These little stalls without even a storefront can actually sell daily disposable colored contacts for four or five bucks a pair. Monthly disposables are still the better deal.

The fountain show happened every weekend, and unless it was a special holiday, the content was always the same. Therefore, there wasn't a huge crowd of people gathering by the railing early to wait. Since they didn't need to stand right behind the railing, the upper steps of the plaza actually became the best viewing spot.

"Let's just sit here," Lin Li pointed to a row of steps after confirming their view wouldn't be blocked.

Bai Bufan sat down.

"Never mind, let's change spots," Lin Li suddenly changed his mind.

Looking annoyed, Bai Bufan stood up, only to watch Lin Li immediately shove him aside with his butt and sit down exactly where he had just been sitting.

Bai Bufan: "..."

Did you really have to use my pants to wipe the dust off the ground first?

"Give me my seat back!"

"I have tissues right here..." Girls usually carry tissues with them. Watching the two suddenly start roughhousing, Chen Yuying said with some amusement.

"The ground wiped by a tissue isn't as fragrant as the ground wiped by Bai Bufan's butt!" But Lin Li completely ignored her.

"I ship it," Qu Wanqiu looked at the two of them squeezing their butts together with a fujoshi's gaze, seemingly anticipating an even more blood-pumping scene.

"Shipping everything will only harm you," Ding Sihan shook her head and sighed. She was much more single-minded.

In the end, Lin Li's butt proved superior.

The five of them sat in a row on the steps.

Bai Bufan was on Lin Li's left, and Chen Yuying was on his right.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Beside him, Bai Bufan used a dog-summoning technique to call over what appeared to be a stray dog that permanently resided in South Lake Park.

Although it was a mutt, it looked decent and its coat was quite shiny. It was probably fed regularly by someone and wasn't afraid of people at all. Hearing the call of its own kind, it trotted over happily. It was very friendly, letting Bai Bufan pet its head, sniffing around Bai Bufan's body with its nose, and even trying to offer its paw.

"Remember to wash your hands after petting the dog, especially an unclean one like this, otherwise it'd be bad if you get sick." The scene was very heartwarming, but amidst the warmth, Lin Li still offered a reminder.

"I know—" Bai Bufan was just about to nod when he saw Lin Li step forward, pick up the dog, and carry it over to the public sink to wash its paws.

Bai Bufan: "..."

Wait, let me think.

So I wasn't the one who needed to wash my hands?

So I was the 'unclean one' in that sentence just now?

Fuck.

Watching the little dog being kidnapped by Lin Li to wash its paws, the girls all burst out laughing.

Ding Sihan, meanwhile, rejoiced that she hadn't rushed to call the dog over, otherwise she would have definitely been the target of Lin Li's attack.

Because there were many people around and they were wearing school uniforms, they couldn't afford to lose too much face. So when Lin Li returned, Bai Bufan didn't curse out loud, but instead used his mouth to silently and sublimely trace Lin Li's entire family tree.

Lin Li pretended not to see it this time. No cursing next time, okay?

There were still five or six minutes until the fountain started on the hour. The five of them sat side by side, feeling the cool evening breeze, the stray hairs fluttering on their foreheads, and listening to the scattered whispers around them.

Even without looking at their phones, just squinting their eyes, it felt even more comfortable than blowing the AC in the library. If summer nights were always like this, they would be truly worth missing.

Of course, it might also have something to do with the fact that they had to study while in the library.

Plop. The sound of a splash.

"What fell in? A rock?" Bai Bufan looked up and asked.

"I don't know, maybe a frog," Lin Li squinted comfortably, too lazy to even open his eyes, and just shrugged nonchalantly.

"Oh."

"Bufan, let me test you. Who is the best synchronized diving duo in the world?" Lin Li suddenly asked.

"Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi?" Bai Bufan answered.

"Wrong. It's your girlfriend and your mom," Lin Li gave the correct answer.

Bai Bufan: "..."

The three girls beside them, who had also heard, burst out laughing.

"Lin Li, then here comes the question. Your girlfriend and your mom fall into the water at the same time, and you can only save one. Who do you save?" Ding Sihan asked.

"My mom," Lin Li answered without needing to think.

"Ah, good son. Mom is very gratified," Ding Sihan teared up.

Lin Li: "?"

Bro, what?

"Then Mom, could you perform falling into the water at the same time as Ding Sihan, so we can see who I save?" Lin Li asked Ding Sihan sincerely.

"No way."

Ding Sihan smugly turned her head away. Having already won, she wasn't going to take the bait.

"But whoever invented this question is truly either stupid or evil. It's purely meant to destroy interpersonal relationships."

Lin Li offered a sincere evaluation of this type of question.

Hypothesizing this and hypothesizing that all day long. If you have that much free time, you might as well go replace the old ox and plow two acres of land.

"Hey, then let's change the premise. Lin Li, if your best bro and your girlfriend fell into the water together, and you could only save one, who would you save?" But Ding Sihan was still in hot pursuit.

Bai Bufan sighed.

At a time like this, a sensible bro like him should just tie a rock to his leg and sink himself first.

"Before I answer this question, could you explain why my bro is with my girlfriend, and why they fell into the water at the same time? Why do I feel like the top of my head is glowing green? I'm not saving either of them, they can both go to hell."

However, contrary to Bai Bufan's expectations, Lin Li narrowed his eyes, his voice cold.

Ding Sihan: "Eh?"

Bai Bufan: "Hmm!"

"Seems like a good deal!" Bai Bufan suddenly exclaimed happily, and then received an elbow strike from Lin Li.

"What if it was just a normal accidental fall?" Ding Sihan was still asking.

"I would recite pi backwards for my bro," Lin Li chuckled.

"What does that mean?" Ding Sihan didn't understand.

"I would put on a show for him, so it wouldn't matter if he died," Lin Li explained.

Ding Sihan: "..."

"You really do know how to put on a show," Ding Sihan couldn't refute that.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, accompanied by a "Pfft—" sound, a column of water shot up from the center of South Lake, and the surrounding light strips also lit up.

The curtain of night hung low, and the evening lights were just coming on.

The music started, the fountain show began, and the passersby who had already seen it gradually began to gather around.

The lights and the water curtain intertwined to form flowing pictures.

Under the illumination of the lights, the splashing water transformed into a myriad of brilliant colors. Sometimes it danced in the air like delicate silk ribbons, sometimes it burned like leaping flames.

Chen Yuying's clear eyes reflected all of this. She didn't take out her phone to record it, but quietly watched the scene.

"Watch out!"

Until a slightly urgent shout came from behind.

Chen Yuying turned her head. It turned out to be a shuttlecock flying toward her. It was still flashing, and as it got closer, it was a bit blinding. Although the top wasn't sharp, it would definitely hurt if it hit her head.

She saw it very clearly, because the shuttlecock stopped silently right in front of her face. As for the hand that caught it without even turning around, it belonged to the person beside her.

Chen Yuying tilted her head and looked at Lin Li. Under the lights of the music fountain, his jawline seemed to have become a bit sharper.

Is it my imagination, or has Lin Li gotten even better looking?

Lin Li was still looking at the fountain, neon lights flowing in his eyes. But Chen Yuying suddenly found it a bit funny, especially when she noticed the corners of his mouth seemingly struggling to hold back a smug smile. So she spoke up:

"Stop posing, it's starting to look too deliberate."

"Class Rep! Am I amazing or what?! Caught it without even looking back! I saved your life! So cool, truly too cool! Can we hack a satellite and send me the video of this?! I want to turn it into a QR code and engrave it on my tombstone!"

Lin Li, who had originally wanted to play it cool and handsome, instantly broke character upon hearing this. He turned his head, looking incredibly smug, and boasted with an exaggerated, rhythmic tone.

This is the real Lin Li.

Being aloof and cool has absolutely nothing to do with him.

"Wow! So handsome!!" Ding Sihan and Qu Wanqiu, seeing Lin Li break character, immediately used extremely fake, high-pitched voices to tease him.

"Just average, just average."

Lin Li acted as if he hadn't heard the deliberate sarcasm in their voices. His gestures said "stop praising me, stop praising me," but his expression said "hurry up and keep going, keep going."

At this time, the culprit and his parent had also run over. The parent immediately apologized: "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. The child aimed in the wrong direction while playing. I'm truly sorry. Are you hurt? Come here, apologize to the older brother and sister!"

"S-sorry."

"Class Rep, what do you say? Should we make him compensate you with his youth?" Lin Li asked in a low voice.

Ding Sihan, standing to the side, rolled her eyes upon hearing this. He can even do a callback to that?

"Compensate what?" Chen Yuying also laughed and scolded him, then shook her head at the apologizing adult and child. "It's fine, no one was hurt."

Since they weren't a bratty kid and a Karen parent, and it was indeed just a small accident that caused no harm, there was no need to make a fuss. Lin Li also returned the shuttlecock to them.

A harmless little incident.

The show continued.

The music reached its climax, and the fountain seemed to be encouraged as well. Suddenly, towering columns of water shot out, soaring straight into the sky like rockets, drawing everyone's attention.

Immediately after, the water fell at an almost tangible speed, stirring up layers of white mist, making it look like a fairyland.

Chen Yuying was still staring at the highest point the water column had just reached.

Why does it have to be the person who threw it that compensates with their youth? Can I be a little shameless about it?

In the lake.

Countless brilliant neon lights lit up on both shores, and the water columns surged in sequence.

On the shore.

Shadows leaned against each other.

(End of Chapter)