The system is very abstract, fortunately I am also.

Chapter 480: I ran when I saw you, and walked when I said goodbye.

Time seemed to be stretched.

It seemed like a fleeting moment, yet the feeling lingered on.

The soft, warm touch on her lips vanished in an instant, leaving behind a slightly cool, damp trace.

In my field of vision, Lin Li's face, so close yet so far, wore a clear smile. But the background clamor—the cheers of the crowd downstairs, the explosions of fireworks, the jeers from the other side of the rooftop caused by the confession, and even the gasps of my friends—all suddenly went out of focus at that moment, turning into a blurry buzzing sound.

Chen Yuying was slightly taken aback. After a brief pause, her heartbeat suddenly pounded heavily in her chest like a drum, making her eardrums throb slightly.

Her cheeks instantly felt as if they were being directly exposed to the strongest winter sun, and an undeniable heat rose up, spreading from her touched chin all the way to her ears. Without even looking, it was clear that her cheeks were burning red.

My thoughts seemed to be paused, momentarily frozen.

Although they were already considered an "old married couple," this was, in any case, the first time their four lips had come into contact.

And it happened without warning, in a crowd, next to familiar friends, even when he specifically called them over—it was the first time like this.

Chen Yuying subconsciously opened her mouth slightly, as if she wanted to say something or confirm the authenticity of that brief moment just now.

Her long eyelashes trembled gently, reflecting the flickering light of distant fireworks. Her eyes held a pure, bewildered innocence, as if she had just woken from a sudden dream and was not yet fully comprehending everything before her.

Of course, I'm happy.

"Ohhhhh—Holy crap!!"

"Ouch~ My eyes, oh my eyes~~~"

"Tsk tsk tsk, am I not human? Why didn't they tell me beforehand and just shoved all this dog food at me? Am I even human? Tsk—"

Bai Bufan, Ding Sihan, and Qu Wanqiu, upon regaining their senses, unleashed their disdain, mockery, and teasing glances and words upon the two.

"What's wrong? Why are you all making such a big deal out of giving me a New Year's gift?" Lin Li glanced at the group of onlookers with surprise.

"Damn, how can anyone be so shameless as to call this a gift?" Bai Bufan laughed in anger, then pouted and leaned closer to Lin Li, pointing with his index finger at his lips that couldn't produce any ivory:

"Come on, Brother Lin Li, give me my New Year's gift now."

"Want a two-second flight experience card?" Lin Li studied the height of the rooftop railing and finally concluded that he could throw it out.

Moreover, he was unhappy even though he had actually kissed Bufan.

"Never mind then." Mainly, Bu Fan didn't want Wang Ze to be jealous.

"Say yes!! Say yes!! Say yes!!" The crowd in the distance erupted in cheers.

It seems the male protagonist has finished his preamble and it's time for the female protagonist to respond.

Lin Li then lowered his head again and asked softly with a smile, "Squad leader, can I do it again?"

"Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!" After a brief moment of hesitation, Bai Bufan immediately joined the group on the rooftop and shouted along.

Ding Sihan and Qu Wanqiu also joined soon after.

Chen Yuying felt embarrassed.

no way.

If it were just her and Lin Li at this moment, she might nod almost imperceptibly, or even respond proactively.

Anyway, I don't dislike it.

But at this moment, while the three were still watching intently...

Chen Yuying gently turned her head away, not daring to look directly into Lin Li's smiling eyes. Her clenched fist, though weak, held a hint of reproach as she lightly punched his chest.
"Never……"

The light from distant fireworks shattered in her lowered eyes, staining her cheeks red.

His shy and annoyed expression, set against the backdrop of balloons floating in the sky, was as beautiful as a silhouette.

"Didi! Didi! Didi!"

The slightly sharp cry attracted everyone's attention, and the five of them looked down at Chen Yuying's wrist.

Next to the couple's bracelet is her smartwatch.

And at this moment——

"Heart rate too high"

"Your heart rate has reached 131 beats per minute. If you feel unwell, please rest and consult a doctor."

Chen Yuying: "!"

My heart rate spiked again instantly.

After reading the message, the four people, including Lin Li, were stunned at first, but then they couldn't help but smile.

The girl, who was no longer shy but ashamed, broke free from Lin Li's hand and tried to take off her watch while hiding behind Ding Sihan and Qu Wanqiu.

What a lousy watch!
Where else can you jump that fast!
"Whoa whoa--"

A second wave of cheers came from afar, it seemed the confession was successful.

Lin Li smiled and sighed, "Sure enough, people's joys and sorrows are not shared. I just think they're a bit noisy, after all, they succeeded in confessing their feelings, while I failed in my attempt to get a kiss."

"Serves you right." Bai Bufan raised his middle finger in disdain.

The fireworks continued in the distance, and the crowd below was still immersed in the collective noise.

"In the new year, forget all the troubles of the past and embrace new troubles!" Lin Li wished her friends well.

Undoubtedly, such a blessing would only earn you eye rolls and middle fingers.

"So, should we leave now or stay a little longer?"

After taking a few photos as a record, Lin Li asked a question.

Chen Yuying was, after all, a poised and graceful young woman. It was only because everything had happened so suddenly that she reacted that way. Now, after a moment of adjustment, she appeared calm again, with only a slight trace of shyness remaining on the tips of her ears.
"It's up to you, I'm fine with anything."

Lin Li clearly remembers her saying that if she wasn't home by 12:30, she would get a phone call to check on her, but now she says "it's fine" again. Tsk tsk, she's really... cute.

However, after discussing it, the group decided it was time to retreat.

The journey took three times longer to leave than to arrive, but thankfully nothing unexpected happened.

After finishing their "short journey," the five people got into the car, let out a satisfied sigh, and continued to use their phones to let their families know they were on their way back, to reassure them, and to respond to the well wishes in group chats or private messages.

Why do people always send mass New Year's greetings like "Happy New Year, I want a small red envelope"? What kind of internet beggars are they?

I'll give you a small red envelope, or I'll give you a full head of bumps on your head.

It turns out it was my elementary school classmate. I don't remember them at all, so I'll just delete them.

Anyway, I won't attend any elementary school reunion, so there's no need to maintain this facade.

After quickly processing a round of messages, Lin Li placed his phone on the holder and started the car: "I delivered them in order of distance: Dingzi, Yingbao, Qiuqiu, and Bufan."

"Row."

Naturally, everyone had no objection.

"If there's another awkward situation like tonight, and I call you out without any preparation, will you still come out?"

Slightly opening the window, letting in the cold winter night wind, Lin Li whistled and asked a question.

Bai Bufan: "If there is a war, I will return when summoned."

Qu Wanqiu: "I'll definitely come out if there's nothing wrong; if there is, I'll try to come out if there's nothing wrong."

Ding Sihan: "Was tonight supposed to be a game of awkwardness? I didn't feel that way at all. Wasn't it supposed to be quite fun?"

Chen Yuying did not answer, but simply smiled and looked at Lin Li in the rearview mirror, everything was understood without words.

Although he knew it in his heart, Lin Li still felt pleased to receive the answer from them. After letting out a long breath, he chuckled and said:
“When I picked you up tonight, I was driving at 50 km/h. 50 km/h is not my limit, it is the speed limit of the road. Now that I’m taking you back, I can only drive at 25 km/h.”

"Tsk tsk tsk," Ding Sihan teased, "Lin Li, don't do this sentimental stuff. It sounds disgusting and I'm not used to it. Please just go back to your usual cheeky self."

Lin Li looked at Ding Sihan with a puzzled expression:

"Who's trying to be sentimental with you?"

What I mean is that you guys are too heavy. The car can't even go 50 km/h right now; 25 km/h is the limit. Especially you, Ding Sihan, after picking up Qiuqiu I can still drive at 45 km/h, but after picking you up I can only go 26 km/h. You'd better understand the reasons behind this.”

Ding Sihan: "(゜▽゜)?"

Ding Sihan wanted to retract her previous statement.

It's probably better not to go back to your original cheeky self...

After it reverted back, it seems even more disgusting than when it was being sentimental!
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh Lin Li, you'd better die—" ...

The car arrived at Chen Yuying's building.

Lin Li turned around: "You can give me back my lip gloss now, baby."

Chen Yuying took out the lip gloss from her bag and handed it to Lin Li, but when she met his gaze, she clearly realized that he wanted more than just that.

Chen Yuying gave her a light glare—"We've already repaid what we borrowed, don't go too far."

Lin Li shook his head slightly – “That doesn’t count.”

"I don't care" - Chen Yuying snorted softly, placed the lip gloss directly on the storage compartment of the car in front, and then pushed open the door and left.

sad.

The door won't open.

Chen Yuying: "..."

The car door lock was not unlocked.

When Chen Yuying turned around, she naturally met Lin Li's smug and undisguised smile.

"Open the door..." Chen Yuying deliberately avoided looking at him and said softly.

Lin Li pressed a button on the car's control panel.

"I kissed you goodbye~ on an empty street~ letting the wind laugh at my inability to refuse~"

Being a driver is so great; you can force passengers to listen to the songs you want.

Jacky Cheung's singing voice immediately echoed in the car, which was a clear indication, thus attracting the attention of Qu Wanqiu and Bai Bufan, who were still in the car.

But before they could say anything, Lin Li shouted, "Chirp chirp, close your eyes! Bu Fan, die!"

Qu Wanqiu and Bai Bufan: "Received!"

The two cooperated well, with Bu Fan pulling his head back, while Qu Wanqiu in the back seat covered her face with both hands and turned to shrink into a ball in the corner of the car door on her side.

"Hmm?" Lin Li moved a little closer.

With her pearly teeth biting her lower lip, Chen Yuying reluctantly but irresistibly leaned in.

The target was actually aimed at the cheek, but the target had its own consciousness and actively adjusted its position, so it still successfully hit the bullseye.

Let it be.

Lin Li: "Beep beep! Beep beep! Beep beep!"

But seeing Lin Li suddenly mimicking the alarm sound of her watch, and Qu Wanqiu beside her starting to chuckle, Chen Yuying was extremely embarrassed. She was about to give him another kiss, but instead, she used both hands to pat Lin Li's cheeks to shut him up.

Lin Li didn't make things difficult for her anymore. He unlocked the car door, waved, and said goodbye until tomorrow.

—I did ask for leave from evening self-study, but today is already the 1st, so we will definitely meet again tomorrow.

……

"OK, we've arrived at your home." After parking the car, Lin Li turned to Bai Bufan, the only remaining passenger in the car.

"Mm." Bai Bufan nodded.

After two seconds, seeing that Lin Li still hadn't moved, Bai Bufan frowned and looked over: "Get out of the car and open the door for me, Lin. What kind of driver are you? Haven't you been trained?"

Lin Li chuckled, locked the car door, then lifted his shirt and began to unbuckle his belt before speaking softly:
“Bufan, do you know that Wang Ze was sick before and asked me to help him apply medicine? But that day his ointment got wet. When I was about to apply the medicine, he kept shouting that the ointment was too damp to apply.”

"I still have some of this medicine. Would you like to try it?"

"Hey! Hey! Wait a minute! Wait a minute—" Bai Bufan quickly admitted defeat, unable to hold back his tears, and clasped his hands together in prayer: "I was wrong, I was wrong, brother, let me go, please, I offended you."

Bai Bufan opened the car door and got out: "Thanks."

Lin Li waved his hand, no need for further pleasantries.

"By the way, Lin Li, I just paid for a red light VIP pass for you. Now you can cross the street when the light is red. You can try it on your way back. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Bai Bufan said sincerely as he walked towards his home.

It knows how to repay kindness; it's a good dog.

Lin Li waved his middle finger, and there was no need for further profanity.

Lin Li started the car and drove away, but his destination was not his home. Instead, he went to some places he had just searched for, which also had New Year's Day events nearby that night.

—Having said goodbye to my friends, I now have some free time and can finally think about completing the mech mission that popped up a few hours ago.

When we arrived at our destination, it was already past 1 a.m., but the shopping district behind us was still brightly lit, and there were still many people gathered there.

Some were simply playing around, but many others on the roadside seemed to be considering taking a taxi to leave.

Lin Li drove slowly along the road at almost a walking pace, while peering out to the side of the road and calling out, "Anyone heading towards Xiling? I can give you a ride! Anyone?"

"Do you have any?! Some Xi Ling ones! Give me a few Xi Ling ones!"

Many people had difficulty getting a taxi tonight, so when they heard Lin Li imitating the shouts of those soliciting taxis, several groups of people immediately came up to inquire, very tempted.

Unfortunately, they weren't heading to Xiling, but rather asking Lin Li if they could go in other directions.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Li still refused.

It's already quite late, and since the original purpose was just to test the requirements of the "commission," there's no need to go any further than that since we were taking Xiling there on the way.

Unless it's absolutely impossible to find.

But reality did not disappoint Lin Li. Soon, three young men ran over from not far away and waved to him.

"Xi Ling's! Xi Ling's! Here, here! There are three here!"

"Where exactly in Xiling is it?" Lin Li asked.

“We’re going to Xiujin Mingyuan, and he’s going to Dongjiu Street…” the boy in the lead immediately told them the destination.

Lin Li nodded: "Alright, get in the car."

"Thank you, bro."

The three of them immediately got into the car and chose to sit in the back.

"Hey buddy, how much?" The boy in the middle immediately took out his phone to ask.

"Five yuan per person, just give me 15, it's just something I did on the side anyway," Lin Li said casually as he started the car.

Actually, it wouldn't matter to Lin Li if he didn't give her money, but if he really said he didn't need to, there would definitely be a lot of arguing. Even though these three are all boys, they are probably afraid that he has ulterior motives, so it's better to take a symbolic amount of money to put their minds at ease.

"Five yuan is too cheap, buddy. Let's each pay ten yuan. We can't take too much of a bargain." The boy tried to bargain in the opposite direction, and the two people next to him nodded in agreement.

"Then I won't be coy, thanks," Lin Li nodded, and said as he drove along the navigation.

"Did you guys also come out to celebrate New Year's Eve and then couldn't get a taxi?"

“No…” The middle boy suddenly paused, then said sadly, “We were working overtime, and we just got off work now… It’s just that our office building is over here…”

"Damn, working overtime this late?" Lin Li was stunned for a moment.

"Yeah...sigh..." the boy sighed, "I was even thinking while I was working overtime, what day is it today? It's so lively outside, like New Year's Eve..."

"Ugh……"

The two boys next to him were also saddened by what they heard, and tears welled up in their eyes.

"Do you mind if I play some music?" Lin Li asked, noticing the somewhat tense atmosphere.

"I couldn't be happier. I'd like to listen to some music to relax too." The boy nodded.

Lin Li tapped the vehicle control screen a few times.

He Doesn't Understand

Zhang Jie.

"He doesn't understand how cheap your salary is—he thinks he can buy your life with a measly three thousand yuan! He gets angry when he sees you leave work on time! He never mentions overtime pay! He doesn't understand how crowded the morning rush hour is—it's so crowded every day you can barely breathe! Ugh~~"

Three boys: "(；☉_☉)?"

Hey, wait a minute.

Is it too late to say I mind now?
(End of this chapter)