The system is very abstract, fortunately I am also.

Chapter 422 "The Lakeside Breeze Competes with Him"

Wait a minute, something seems to be wrong.

The background of that ape reconstruction really does look a lot like Moonlit Lake.

Damn, this monkey is me.

No wonder this kid said the photos made him look 300,000 years younger!
This isn't youth, this is regression!

The woman took back her phone, her hands clenched so tightly they were white, but she still forced a smile, almost gritting her teeth as she thanked Lin Li: "The... the photos are alright."

After all, Lin Li had helped him free of charge at his request, so there was really no reason for him to give him a hard time or blame him.

I can only blame myself for making the wrong choice; you can know a person's face but not their heart.

"Auntie, you don't need to say such insincere things. It's just that I'm not used to using this phone, and I don't know if there's something wrong with the light sensor, but when I turn up the brightness, it goes straight to the darkest setting. Otherwise, it wouldn't be like this."

Lin Li doesn't usually study photography much, and the reason he always manages to take perfect photos of Chen Yuying is simply because she is Chen Yuying. But that's not entirely true, so he tries to make amends with some apologies:

"How about I take a few pictures of you with my phone? I guarantee it's a person this time!"

It was definitely not my usual habit to take photos with so many other people's cameras around.

Recording it might be better, but what the aunt needs is a photo, not a video.

"No, no, no," the aunt waved her hands awkwardly but politely, her smile becoming increasingly forced. "Actually... I didn't really want to take any more pictures..."

It seems I have completely lost my aunt's trust.

Lin Li didn't mind, but Chen Yuying stepped forward with a smile and said, "Auntie, shall I take the picture for you?"

"Is that alright? Then please, young lady!" The aunt's eyes lit up again.

Chen Yuying's intervention was effective, and the aunt quickly regained her normal life. Looking at the photos on her phone with their excellent composition, lighting, open background, and clear figures, a genuine smile finally appeared on her face, and she thanked her repeatedly.

After comparing them, this photo looks much better.

"You're welcome."

After saying goodbye to her aunt, Chen Yuying returned to Lin Li's side and continued to feed the animals grains into the lake or along the railing.

Lin Li hummed an off-key tune, admiring the scenery before him. What he did was not important; as long as Chen Yuying was by his side, he was comfortable and at ease.

"Do you want to feed them too?" Chen Yuying's question attracted Lin Li's attention, but he looked in the direction of the voice.

Suddenly, two identical four- or five-year-old girls appeared beside Chen Yuying, dressed and looking exactly alike, as if they had been made from the same mold.

They should be identical twins.

They were standing on tiptoe, their little hands gripping the fence posts, their round eyes sparkling as they watched the ducklings and fish happily scrambling for food on the water.

Upon hearing Chen Yuying's gentle question, one of the little girls looked up and nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

"Then you can feed them too," Chen Yuying said gently, squatting down and handing them the feed bags.

"Thank you sister!"

Seeing this scene, Lin Li felt that Lin Shouying and Lin Ziwei should have a wonderful childhood.

What about Wu Min? She should learn from her!
Seeing the two little girls excitedly feeding the fish, their movements and expressions were incredibly cute, Chen Yuying couldn't help but pat one of the girls on the head: "Are you two twins?"

"Ok!"

"So, which one of you is the older sister?"

"It's me! It's me! I'm the older sister!" One of the girls immediately raised her hand excitedly, even wiping her hands, which were covered in feed powder, carefully on her clothes before raising them high, her face full of pride.

Seeing this, Lin Li understood Wu Min; he wasn't this cute when he was a child.

He bent down beside Chen Yuying, his gaze gently falling on the other little girl who hadn't said much, and his voice softened even more: "So, which one of you is the younger sister?"

Upon hearing this, another girl looked at Lin Li and said, "Big brother, are you an idiot?"

Lin Li and Chen Yuying: "(；☉_☉)?"

The next second, Chen Yuying: "(*▽*)!"

Haha, how embarrassing!
If Lin Li hadn't asked that question, Chen Yuying, who also found the two little girls adorable, would have asked the same question next.
Luckily, Lin Li asked first.
"..."

Of the four people present, Chen Yuying was the first to speak.

"puff--"

A very short, muffled laugh escaped from the girl's tightly pursed lips.

But seemingly feeling that it wasn't right to laugh at her boyfriend, Chen Yuying raised her hands and covered her mouth and lower face tightly, trying to suppress her overwhelming laughter.

However, when you can still see the twin sister's innocent eyes saying, "Is this older brother really an idiot?", it's impossible for a human to resist.

There wasn't a trace of malice in his eyes, only innocent doubt and a hint of... pity.

My shoulders trembled uncontrollably, and even my eyes welled up with tears.

"Ugh... Hmm... Heh heh..."

Laughing until she felt weak all over, Chen Yuying fell to her side, her forehead bumping against Lin Li's leg with a thud. Instinctively, she stretched out her arms and hugged Lin Li's calves, pressing her cheeks and forehead tightly against them.

But they're still laughing!

Chen Yuying really wanted to look up and see Lin Li's expression, but she was afraid that if she did, she would lose all her rationality.

Lin Li: "..."

Baby, your laughter is a bit too loud for my sensitive, insecure, and fragile self.

At this moment, Lin Li's expression still held the same smile as before, the only difference being that it was now stiff.

"Little friend, it's not good to swear." Lin Li tried to maintain an awkward but polite smile, attempting to give a gentle lesson.

"Sorry, big brother, I couldn't help myself just now," the little girl apologized immediately.

Lin Li: "..."

Hey little brat, you're going even further, you know that?

There was silence for a moment, with only Chen Yuying's restrained soft laughter remaining.

The twin sister seemed to sense the strange atmosphere as well. She stopped feeding the animals, hugged the feed bag, and looked at Lin Li, whose smile was stiff, with some unease along with her sister.

Lin Li slowly squatted down, one hand on her shoulder and the other around her waist, forcefully lifting Chen Yuying to her feet—"You guys keep feeding her, you can feed her the rest, your brother and sister have something to do, we're leaving now!"

I understand Wu Min now. It's only natural to hit a child, especially when that child is your own.

Anyone who can resist smoking is a superhuman.

But other people's children can't smoke, so Lin Li decided to have a blast.

So... we ran away!
As Lin Li carried her away, Chen Yuying, seeing Lin Li choose to run away, could no longer hold back and let out a bright, unrestrained laugh that echoed along the lake shore.

"Still laughing!" Lin Li slapped Chen Yuying angrily. "We're in this together, sharing both glory and ruin. Still laughing?"

"ah--!"

Chen Yuying straightened her back abruptly as if she had been burned, and the blush on her face, which had been flushed from the smile, deepened and spread instantly.

Lin Li was patting his own butt (へ╬).

But seeing Lin Li's anxious escape, Chen Yuying couldn't tell whether Lin Li was doing it on purpose, intentionally, or deliberately.

"you--"

Chen Yuying instinctively wanted to spit at Lin Li, but the lingering effects of her laughter still lingered on her.

A fierce battle raged within her between shyness and the irresistible urge to laugh, ultimately resulting in an unusually vivid and distorted expression on her face.

Yay, impulsiveness won!

Let him pat her butt a few times, Chen Yuying is more interested in mocking Lin Li than feeling ashamed or angry.

So the girl reached out and slapped Lin Li's butt in retaliation, thinking to herself, 'It's much, much harder than mine!' She then teased him with a smile, 'Brother, are you an idiot?'

Chen Yuying rarely swears, and it's uncommon for her to utter the word "idiot."

But it would be even better if it wasn't self-criticism.

Having moved away from the observation deck, Lin Li slowed his pace slightly and turned to look at Chen Yuying. Although Lin Li was smiling, he didn't forget to bite his lower lip to express his 'annoyance'.

"Still imitating, huh?!"

Lin Li was about to make another move, but his plan was anticipated: Chen Yuying had already covered her strategic high ground with her palms facing outwards.

After successfully blocking the attack, Chen Yuying pursed her lips, chuckled smugly, and her smiling eyes seemed to say, "A pervert is a pervert after all," with a hint of provocative smugness.

"What's wrong with kids these days? Seriously, I started swearing at least in preschool, a year later than them."

Lin Li, thick-skinned, remained composed despite being stared at like that, and then began to lament the terrible state of the world.

"People who start swearing in preschool have no right to look down on them!" Chen Yuying said irritably.

"It's at least a year late, isn't that a big difference? Besides, back then I would never have dared to swear in front of adults—to be precise, I still avoid it now," Lin Li argued.

Even among children with many mischievous traits, none of them would say to their older brother, "Brother, are you an idiot?" when they were young.

“That’s true.” Chen Yuying agreed.

"It can only be said that children are getting exposed to the internet too early these days," Lin Li couldn't help but feel worried about the country and its people.

So many children are addicted to the internet these days. Everyone says the internet has both advantages and disadvantages. Lin Li has only seen the disadvantages the internet brings to them. But what about the advantages?
Oh, I remember now, Klee puts bouncing bombs in Genshin Impact.

Let's revise that: these kids are only seeing the advantages of the internet right now, but what about the disadvantages?
Oh no, the plane crashed.

Well, so the internet is only left with Klee.

“No, I think children should have more contact with the internet.” So Lin Li corrected his thinking.

Chen Yuying: "?"

Why did Lin Li start refuting himself in just three seconds?
But she was used to it. Chen Yuying smiled and shook her head, gently pushing Lin Li toward the bicycle: "Okay, keep riding. Just consider it childish talk. Besides, your question was indeed... um."

"'Hmm' What?! This is just how adults tease children, right? Any normal person would say that, wouldn't they?" Lin Li complained as he got into the car.

However, considering that the two were just little girls and indeed quite frivolous, Lin Li forgave them.

"It's rare to hear you use the word 'normal person'," Chen Yuying said with a smile, wrapping her arms around Lin Li's waist. Then she gestured with her chin forward.
"If we ride for another ten minutes or so, we should reach a small dock where we can rent small boats. Let's go for a ride on the lake and give your legs a rest."

"it is good."

……

"Boating on Moonlit Lake, all worries disappear!"

Just as Chen Yuying said, after riding for another ten minutes or so, they saw vendors hawking their wares on the shore.

After parking their bicycles, the two approached the vendor: "Boss, we'd like to rent a boat." "Sure thing, what type and style do you two want?" The vendor handed them two orange life jackets while asking them enthusiastically.

What types and styles are available?

"In terms of type, there are pedal boats and rowboats. The type you see along the shore is the pure black one, the swan-shaped one..." The shopkeeper first explained, pointing to the boats along the shore, and then suggested:

"I would recommend pedal boats, as they are easier to control than rowboats."

"Don't you have electric ones?"

"There are only two electric boats, but they've already been rented out," the owner said apologetically.

"Row."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuying looked at Lin Li and asked, "Which one should we choose?"

"I'm fine with anything," Lin Li said indifferently.

He has plenty of strength. Whether he steps on it or slips on it, if he gets tired, it's just an act to make himself look like a human being.

"Then let's have the rowers?" Chen Yuying tilted her head slightly, blinked, and explained to Lin Li's curious gaze:
"Because I just said I wanted your legs to rest, and if you choose a pedal boat, it would be a bit of a slap in the face, and I would lose face."

0v0→v.

Looking at the girl with her cheeks slightly puffed out and her serious expression, Lin Li chuckled: "Yingbao, I've decided that from now on, if I eat fish by myself, I'll only eat the fish head."

"Why?" Chen Yuying asked, puzzled by the sudden turn of events.

Lin Li: "Because my fish body has to be with you. Without you, the fish body is tasteless."

"Tch!" The girl, who had anticipated the sweet talk, quickly scoffed and turned her head to look for the vendor. But judging from her lighthearted movements and tone when she spoke to the vendor, she was clearly quite pleased.

Chen Yuying selected a rowboat and asked the vendor to untie the mooring ropes.

"Speaking of fish heads, class monitor, do you remember that elementary school text called 'Fish Head'?" Lin Li asked with a smile when Chen Yuying returned. "It's the one where 'Women love to eat fish heads after they become mothers.'"

"I remember, what's wrong?" Chen Yuying nodded, then asked curiously.

"I suddenly thought of my mother," Lin Li sighed, then laughed, but there was a hint of sadness and melancholy in his laughter.

“When I was little, my mom also followed the textbook. Because she was raising me alone, every time we ate fish, she would take the whole fish head away. When I asked her why, she would always smile and answer me, ‘Silly child, Mom loves to eat fish heads, the rest is all for you.’”

Chen Yuying blinked.

Logically, upon seeing her boyfriend in this state, she should have gone over to comfort him, give him a hug, or hold his hand.

But the problem is that her boyfriend is Lin Li.

"And then?" So Chen Yuying remained motionless, even inexplicably wanting to laugh, and asked.

"And then? So I guess I'll just have to eat rice with chopped chili peppers then?" Lin Li shrugged innocently and helplessly.

Chen Yuying: "...Huh?"

"Wait a minute! Is the fish you're eating chopped chili fish head?"

“Yeah,” Lin Li nodded. “Did you think I was very thin when school first started? It’s because I ate so much chopped chili peppers.”

"I'm going to report you to Auntie and say you're slandering her." Chen Yuying couldn't hide her smile.

If Chen Yunsong's "Mom Likes to Eat Fish Heads" is a song praising maternal love, then Lin Li's "Mom Likes to Eat Fish Heads" is a song praising rice with chopped chili peppers.

The vendors had already pulled the boat closer and were calling out to the two people at the dock that they could board.

"You go first," Lin Li said.

"why?"

"Because 'Little sister, you sit at the bow of the boat, and brother walks on the shore,'" Lin Li explained earnestly.

"You're sick." Chen Yuying couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Li then laughed and stepped into the boat first, turning back to Chen Yuying and reaching out his hand: "Little sister, get on the boat!"

Chen Yuying maintained her smile, took his hand, and carefully stepped onto the slightly swaying boat: "Okay, brother~"

No matter how much she expressed her dislike, the girl would always cooperate with Lin Li through her actions.

"It's such a difficult choice... From now on, should you call me 'brother' or 'young master'? Or should I call you 'young master brother'?"

Lin Li, who had also appreciated being called "brother" earlier, was now in a very complicated predicament.

"Dream on." Chen Yuying gave a light scolding, picked up the oar, and prepared to row.

"I'll do it." Lin Li naturally wouldn't let Chen Yuying row. He took the oars fixed to both sides and started to row.

The small boat rippled in circles, carrying the two of them leisurely towards the open center of the lake.

The lake water was fairly clear. Even before reaching the center of the lake, close to the shore, one could still see sparse aquatic plants swaying gently underwater.

The ripples created by the ship reflected the leaden-gray clouds, imprinting the silhouettes of the two figures within them.

Chen Yuying couldn't resist reaching out to splash the cool lake water, her fingertips forming a string of glistening water droplets.

"Lin Li, watch out behind you." The girl rubbed her wet fingers and looked behind Lin Li, giving him a warning.

"What?" Lin Li turned around and looked behind him. There wasn't a single boat, let alone ducks or water birds.

Fingers, cool as lake water, poked into his collar from behind.

"Hiss—" Lin Li gasped, shrinking into a "not a buddy" shape.

Immediately afterwards, a laugh even clearer than the lake water came from behind.

In fact, Lin Li did not show that he was so greatly stimulated. Just like when he couldn't do math problems, it was all for Chen Yuying's performance.

The laughter behind them was the perfect reward for this performance.

When Lin Li turned around, the girl was already sitting comfortably opposite him again, looking at him slyly. She then turned her head away, as if nothing had happened.

Lin Li stopped rowing, and in front of Chen Yuying, he turned sideways, reached into the water, and paddled a few times before gesturing with his chin towards the direction behind the girl:

"Holy crap, squad leader, Old Jian is doing a pole dance over there dressed as a bunny girl."

Chen Yuying was still a little breathless from laughing just now. Upon hearing this, she shook her head vigorously, her slightly upturned hair swaying as she said, "I want to save face for Teacher Xue, so I won't watch it."

"Wow, Mu Fan is in Chishi!"

"I'm used to seeing this, so I don't look at it anymore."

"Holy crap, Baowei is fighting with Bufan for the stone!"

"I won't even look."

"Please, just take a look."

"It's no use begging me, I won't look at it no matter what."

Lin Li continued paddling in the lake, but after several unsuccessful attempts, he thought for a moment and then asked, "Squad leader, do you know what a crow is?"

“I won’t look at crows unless they’re right in front of me,” Chen Yuying shook her head.

"No, I mean the crow will flip the table."

Chen Yuying: "?"

Which crow are you?
The reason Lin Li suddenly said this was because the next second, Lin Li stood up and pounced on Chen Yuying.

Flip the table!
"ah--"

Chen Yuying didn't expect Lin Li to launch a strong counterattack, and she didn't expect him to act so quickly.

She gasped and instinctively shrank back, but the boat was small, and this dodge, combined with Lin Li's movements, caused the boat to sway violently. The girl, who was off balance, was thrown forward uncontrollably.

Oh dear, she bumped right into Lin Li's arms as he came rushing in.

"Heh heh, caught you! Squad leader! Prepare to die!"

Lin Li held her arm firmly with one hand to prevent her from falling, while the cool, damp fingertips of his other hand deftly slipped into the neckline of her sweater, accurately touching the warm skin on the back of her neck, and then sliding down.

"Cool! Lin Li! Stop! It itches!"

Chen Yuying was both embarrassed and anxious, yet she couldn't help but laugh. Like a kitten whose scruff of the neck was being pinched, she twisted and turned in his arms, trying to break free of his fingers.

Lin Li: Aa ...
There are already so many clothes to wear in winter, and you two just had to come and join in!

While harboring resentment towards the rows of life jackets, my fingers inadvertently brushed against the edge of a more elastic, soft, raised area.

Don't get me wrong, the finger is on the back, or rather, it's not even the back, it's just the area about one finger joint below the neck. That bulge is the bra strap.

As Lin Li slid, he was gently pulled up, then bounced back and struck the girl's back.

The touch felt like a tiny electric current, causing both of them to pause for a moment.

It was by no means intentional, but Lin Li did not panic. He did not make any further moves, but slowly withdrew his hand and wiped the remaining bits of lake water on Chen Yuying's face with affection.

Chen Yuying leaned against Lin Li's chest, doing nothing and saying nothing.

From an unseen angle, Chen Yuying's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes, moistened by the playful banter and the brief pause, seemed devoid of tears.

Inside, there was a shyness, and a gentle dependence that she herself was unaware of.

The boat rocked slightly, and the pale sunlight of the overcast day filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns on the water and on the two people.

The afternoon's hustle and bustle subsided in this small corner of the world, with gentle ripples lapping against the hull like soft whispers.

The boat stopped rocking violently and slowly circled in sync with the gentle breathing of the lake.

Lin Li took off his own clothes and then took off Chen Yuying's clothes as well.

That sounds weird, but don't misunderstand, Lin Li was taking off the life jacket he was wearing over his clothes. Also, this is a dangerous action, and if there are no cultivators on the ship, it is not recommended to imitate it.

After that, Lin Li gently rested his chin on the top of Chen Yuying's fluffy hair, and the girl relaxed her body and nestled softly into his arms, her cheek pressed against his clothes, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat.

Breaths mingled in the slightly sweet air, while the sounds of wind and water became distant and indistinct background noise.

The places where their bodies touched were warm, and the warmth flowed slowly through their limbs and bones.

No one spoke again, they just nestled together quietly, letting the small boat carry time and them, drifting gently on Moonlit Lake, as if time had stood still at that moment.

"next time……"

Chen Yuying nestled in the familiar embrace. After a long while, her voice rang out, trembling slightly, but after saying two words, she said nothing more.

Lin Li lowered his eyes and saw a gentle breeze brush past a few unruly strands of hair on the girl's forehead and kiss her forehead.

No.

More than just a breeze.

(End of this chapter)