Powerless and Bound, It's Simply Deadly!

Chapter 26: 

After entering the received password, he successfully opened the encrypted space. The electronic book documents that Fang Huaining had recommended stood out prominently, with the top few being the ones he wanted. However, Li Ting glanced at the time and noticed that they had just been uploaded a few hours ago. Hadn't he said he had them ready?

Li Ting raised an eyebrow in confusion, selected all the files, and clicked to download. Their room, though shabby, did have internet access, but it was shared with two other families, which caused the internet speed to fluctuate. The issues he encountered while gaming earlier were partly due to this. Just like now, it took a long time for such a small amount of files to make any progress on the loading bar.

While waiting, Li Ting idly browsed through the Lemon Tree content and discovered that, aside from a small amount of stored materials in the encrypted space, the remaining portion was filled with records resembling journals or travelogues.

Li Ting randomly opened one, which detailed an experience Fang Huaining wrote about during a visit to a well-known domestic internet company with several classmates in his sophomore year. He captured photos of the workplace environment, company landscape, and various welfare facilities, among other things. Although the descriptions were not extraordinarily vivid, they were standard and detailed enough for interested peers to gain a wealth of information, which stood in stark contrast to the detached silence implied by his demeanor.

As she scrolled to the bottom, Li Ting came across a group photo that included Wang Fu Liang and Zhao Bang. Fang Huaining was present as well, but he wasn't standing in the center; rather, he was positioned quite far back in the second row. However, the prominence of his features was unmistakable, causing one's gaze to linger on his face at first glance.

There were numerous comments below the travelogue, totaling in the hundreds. Some addressed the company directly, but more people shifted their focus to Fang Huaining's striking looks once they realized who the blogger was. Some praised him, either indirectly or directly, filling more than ten pages that seemed never-ending. After a brief scan, Li Ting noticed that these comments were mostly clustered around a particular time two years ago, and thereafter, there had been no new additions.

It must be because Fang Huai Ning had restricted access to these privacy-violating materials so that no one else could view them.

Li Ting could somewhat imagine the effort the other party had put into sharing insights, only to have the focus obscured by other factors, leaving him feeling lost and frustrated.

So... who told you to post the photo?

You reap what you sow.

Li Ting thought unkindly.

With a ping, the electronic document finished downloading.

Li Ting pondered for a moment, bookmarked the lemon tree, closed the browser, and opened a document to read carefully.

This material was indeed much easier to understand than the theoretical resources he had been randomly borrowing. It progressed gradually, bit by bit, step by step, and some chapters even included simple notes for obscure words, making it surprisingly clear.

As Li Ting flipped through the pages, he couldn't help but pause and reflect in front of the screen, a momentary look of confusion crossing his face. This material was too comprehensive... His gaze then returned to his phone.

If you have any questions, feel free to tell me...

Li Ting thought he could hear those words again from outside the library.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Li Ting picked up the phone and opened the chat application.

Just then, before he could even begin typing in pinyin in the dialog box, a loud crash suddenly erupted from outside, quickly plunging the bright surroundings into darkness.

"Hey? What's going on?!"

Tian Dian jumped out of the bathroom, half-wrapped in a towel and stumbling awkwardly toward the door. After a moment, he burst in, shouting, "Damn it! Those dog men and women next door are fighting again, and this time they cut the main power! Screw them!"

After cursing for a while to barely calm his anger, Tian Dian looked over and saw Li Ting still sitting in the dark, concernedly asking, "The computer can't be used either; are you alright, Li Zi? You didn't get delayed by something serious, did you?"

Li Ting silently deleted the words in the dialog box, closed his phone with only two bars of battery left, and replied, "It's nothing, no rush..."

...

That night, it was time for the little brother duo to hunt monsters again. Fang Huai Ning had good skills and had always been the main attacker in their team, but today the star player's response wasn't as sharp.

"Huai Ning, where did you go? Didn't we agree to meet at this time to take down the Boss in the main city?" Several people turned on their voice chat, and Wang Fu Liang anxiously asked through the headphones, "Did you go to the bathroom?"

Fang Huai Ning quickly minimized the lemon tree homepage and absentmindedly replied, "I'm back, let's go."

After pulling the group to the designated location, it wasn't too late to unleash a barrage on the Boss. Just as the big demon was about to be taken down, Fang Huai Ning's phone rang.

He paused, put down the mouse, and reached for the phone.

There was a new unread message, and Fang Huai Ning immediately tapped to open it.

——There's a meeting at ten tomorrow; drop by the research institute if you have time.

It turned out to be a message from his senior, Wu Yi. Fang Huai Ning glanced at it for a moment, then closed the chat application and opened the little ranch. Unlike before, everything was peacefully quiet today, with no records or reminders.

Fang Huai Ning was lost in thought.

Suddenly, another scream erupted from the headphones; this time it was Zhao Bang: "—Huai Ning!!!! Did you lag out?!!!!"

Fang Huai Ning hurriedly glanced at the computer, only to see that he and his teammates had all collapsed like petals in the game.

Wang Fu Liang sighed, "He's not going to the bathroom again, is he?"

Zhao Bang exclaimed, "This is kidney deficiency, Huai Ning! Totally powerless and helpless, it's unbearable!"

Fang Huai Ning: "..."

The next morning, with no classes, Fang Huai Ning went to the research institute. After the meeting, he ran into Wei Ping there.

Wei Ping was a student in the Foreign Languages Department at A University. She occasionally came to help with translations at the research institute; she was Qian Kun's girlfriend and also had a good relationship with Fang Huai Ning.

Wei Ping said, "I probably won't be coming here often anymore; if you need anything, you'll have to find Yu Yao Qing." Yu Yao Qing was the girl who translated German last time.

Fang Huai Ning was puzzled.

Wei Ping continued, "That Group Leader Xia from your Group C is the one who found her. Yu Yao Qing has a good relationship with her." As she spoke, Wei Ping patted Fang Huai Ning on the shoulder. "Xiang Wang is aiming for someone; I hope the goddess has some insight."

Fang Huai Ning didn't care much but still asked, "What about you?"

"I got a new job; I have an interview today!" Wei Ping said excitedly. "It's not for a big company, but for a reading café opened by an alumnus from our Foreign Languages Department. It's so cool to be able to run this kind of shop near my own alma mater after more than ten years; he's my idol! I want to learn from him up close."

Wei Ping performed excellently in school and accumulated quite a bit of internship experience over the past two years, but now that she was in her senior year, while others were busy, she planned to take a final breather before completely leaving campus life.

"I'm going to Hyacinth Cottage!"

Fang Huai Ning had already turned around but paused again upon hearing this.

This name... why does it sound so familiar?

"Where?"

Wei Ping responded, "Huh?"

Fang Huai Ning reiterated, "That Hyacinth Cottage... where is it?"

Wei Ping found it odd but still answered, "It's right next to the southeast gate of the school; it's a five-minute walk."

...

Qian Kun came to pick up his girlfriend for the interview and noticed that his rarely curious former roommate was also accompanying her.

Qian Kun looked over in confusion, receiving an even more puzzled glance from his girlfriend.

The bookstore was indeed very close; after just a few steps, Fang Huaining spotted a new shop with its entrance adorned with purple flower baskets. Walking inside, she found the spacious interior elegantly decorated and the atmosphere refined, complete with computers, books, and drinks. A notice posted on the wall indicated that the shop had only been open for two or three days. Although the prices were not particularly reasonable, one could easily imagine its popularity in a place like A University.

Wei Ping, standing beside her, exclaimed repeatedly, further solidifying her resolve to work here.

She pulled a passing waiter aside and asked, "Are there any seats available? Is your supervisor around? You must still be hiring, right? I'd like to apply for a position."

The waiter, who clearly was also a student, appeared friendly and well-groomed. After taking a moment to assess Wei Ping's charming appearance, he turned to call for the supervisor, then leaned closer to the bar counter and said, "I need to serve a drink; can someone check to see if there are three seats left? Please take the guest inside."

Wei Ping quickly followed the supervisor, while Fang Huaining was looking around when a familiar voice called out.

"There's a seat; follow me."

Fang Huaining looked up and saw Li Ting standing in front of him, also wearing a waiter's uniform, with a crisp white shirt and a small bow tie that made his face appear even more youthful and handsome than usual.

Fang Huaining was momentarily taken aback, but he only followed after Li Ting had walked a short distance. To avoid disturbing other patrons, orders had to be placed directly at the bar, and then the drinks were taken back to one's seat.

Li Ting handed over the menu from behind the bar and began to explain the shop's new promotional offers in a businesslike manner, showing no sign of familiarity on his face.

Qian Kun took a while to order for both his girlfriend and himself, and when he didn't hear Fang Huaining's voice for a long time, he thought he was hesitant and suggested, "Don't you like the pudding? Let's get this one, and also order a portion for Ping Ping."

He then turned to Li Ting and asked, "Did you make this?"

Li Ting nodded, "I did."

"Wow," Qian Kun said with surprise.

Fang Huaining finally spoke up, "Then I'll have this one as well."

After placing the order, Li Ting promptly began to prepare the drinks. Qian Kun and Fang Huaining stood there watching him attentively. Li Ting was incredibly fast, precise, and very professional in his work.

As Qian Kun intermittently exclaimed in admiration, Fang Huaining's gaze gradually wandered. Sometimes it landed on Li Ting's downcast face, other times on his delicate fingers as he navigated through various materials.

When Li Ting turned to pour the drinks, Fang Huaining caught a glimpse of his slender waistline, neatly cinched by the apron's ties, so thin and slender.

Chapter 27: He seemed overly concerned about one person.

Fang Huaining and Qian Kun took their drinks and sat down. After each had a sip, they found it no different from what was sold in other shops; the quality was indeed professional. Before long, Wei Ping returned from her interview. Given her comprehensive skills, her hiring was all but guaranteed; she would start work tomorrow.

Wei Ping was excited to share her earlier experience, but the attention of the two seated together was somewhat scattered, especially Fang Huaining, whose eyes frequently strayed to a passing waiter, piquing Wei Ping's curiosity.

Her boyfriend explained, "That's Li Ting; I didn't expect him to come work at this place."

Wei Ping clearly remembered him and immediately asked with delight, "Ah, is he the versatile guy you mentioned before? Where is he? Where is he?" She was quite curious about Li Ting, having heard that he was skilled in various areas and had even helped Fang Huaining and the others during the summer camp for graduate school applications. To work at a research institute, she had specifically studied relevant information and understood the challenges of crossing industries. It was surprising that Li Ting wasn't even a student at A University; she had assumed that the disparities in quality between graduates from different institutions would be significant. Clearly, however, effort was the key to bridging those gaps.

Let alone that he was working multiple jobs, as a student in the same field, Wei Ping held him in high esteem.

However, seeing him in person drew her attention even more to his appearance.

"It's him? He's really handsome," she whispered to Qian Kun.

As two tables of guests left, Li Ting walked over to clean up, balancing a tray filled with dishes in one hand and clutching seven or eight books in the other, effortlessly threading his way through the crowd. As he passed by them, he blocked part of the walkway with a chair. Wei Ping wanted to remind Qian Kun to move it to avoid Li Ting tripping, but then a hand moved faster than hers.

Fang Huaining leaned forward and swiftly moved the chair aside.

Li Ting turned his head; though he didn't speak, he cast a grateful glance at Fang Huaining.

Fang Huaining met his gaze and casually returned to his seat.

Wei Ping watched this brief exchange of glances and curiously asked Fang Huaining, "You two are quite familiar, huh?"

Fang Huaining replied without thinking, "No, not really."

Wei Ping scrutinized him for a moment, then pushed her cup toward him, "Then can you explain why your pudding milk tea has one and a half times more pudding than mine?"

Fang Huaining paused, seemingly caught off guard, then fell silent.

The workload at the Hyacinth Lodge was nothing compared to the jobs Li Ting had done previously. When he returned home, he still had the energy to read, write, and tackle his paper.

As he was writing furiously, a notification sound came from his phone.

Li Ting picked it up and saw it was a system notification.

—Your little farm hasn't recorded any accounts today; would you like to do it now?

A new prompt function? When did this become available?

His software updated automatically, so he often noticed new features only after some time. After thinking for a moment, Li Ting opened that rather colorful app, and indeed, the interface had some minor changes, including a detailed date display and color options for the background font.

Li Ting experimented and switched to a more readable color. After recording today's expenses and calculating his finances, he noted down a couple of reminders and didn't exit immediately. He suddenly remembered that this software had been designed for clients, so besides himself, were there others using it? Would their information be exposed?

However, after a quick scan, he found he could only see his own posts, which relieved him. That person seemed quite reliable, and it was unlikely that his program was unsafe.

In the game section, it was evident that someone else had used it before; all the ranking records were established by an account called "F." Who is F? Is this person also a user of this app? There are quite a few games here, including puzzle and competitive types, though the graphics are rather unattractive. Li Ting didn't seem to mind, and after watching for a while, she couldn't resist opening one to play.

A university has several sister schools in other countries.

The German school that Wang Fuliang and others previously collaborated with is one of them. In addition, there are numerous foreign exchange programs taking place in the School of Computing, which often necessitates the involvement of a translator. Yu Yaoqing may have limited experience in this context, but her beauty and cheerful demeanor have allowed her to quickly connect with many individuals at the research institute. It is not uncommon to see her graceful figure moving about the building.

While conducting an experiment in the back room, Fang Huaining was approached by his senior, Wu Yi, who entered with a playful wink. "Are you really not going to give her a chance? She's been lingering by the door all afternoon, still hopeful about seeing you." Fang Huaining shot him a cold glance. "Staring at me won't change anything; I'm not the one telling her where to find you." Wu Yi shrugged.

After contemplating for a moment, Fang Huaining rolled up his documents and decided to step out. Sure enough, Yu Yaoqing was outside, chatting with a few students who were taking a break. When she spotted Fang Huaining and started to approach him, the head girl had already turned and stepped into the elevator without looking back.

Exiting the research institute, Fang Huaining made his way out of the school and turned a couple of corners before arriving at Hyacinth Cottage. His girlfriend worked here, so Qian Kun had naturally moved his operations to this location. He was a bit surprised to see Fang Huaining appear. "What brings you here?"

As he gestured for Wei Ping to bring over a drink, he asked. Fang Huaining sat down in front of Qian Kun, not answering his question, but his gaze wandered around the store. "Because some people are out of season and prefer to court in the autumn," Wei Ping remarked while bringing over the drinks, then looking at Fang Huaining. "She approached me several times before, saying she wanted to help in the research institute. But since I'm not very familiar with her, I didn't agree. Now that she finally got in, how could she let you go so easily? I think you should come here to escape the fuss. Our cottage is great; there's drinks, fun, and beautiful people to look at."

After saying this without receiving an answer, Wei Ping looked up and followed Fang Huaining's gaze into the distance, spotting Li Ting standing on tiptoes, arranging books. Wei Ping remarked, "He's really strange." Fang Huaining's expression turned puzzled. Wei Ping continued, "He usually keeps to himself. When his colleagues invite him to dinner, he declines. He always has a serious demeanor. Once, when he was supposed to retrieve his uniform deposit and get changed, it took him three tries to get it right, and the foreman turned pale. Everyone wonders how the boss hired someone so emotionally detached to be a waiter. He doesn't act according to common sense."

"Do you think he's bad?" Fang Huaining suddenly asked. Wei Ping thought for a moment, "Well...

Although he is quite reclusive and doesn't have many colleagues who like him, and he is somewhat stingy, he is diligent in his work, knows how to do everything, and is really strong. So... I neither like him nor dislike him. Wei Ping had primarily been influenced by Qian Kun and Wang Fuliang's praise of how remarkable Li Ting was; from her perspective, it was understandable for someone like him to be self-absorbed, especially since they didn't interfere with each other. Neither like nor dislike. Fang Huaining thought this answer was quite fair. So, do I like him a bit more, or dislike him a bit more? Dislike… but why dislike? Fang Huaining didn't think Li Ting had any unbearable flaws; if he had to say, it would be that he worked too hard. As for liking… why like? What reason do I have to like a boy?! Qian Kun, overhearing Wei Ping, pretended to be angry and said, "You've only been here a few days, and you're observing so closely? Watching him every day?" Wei Ping fearlessly admitted, "Yes, I'm watching him. I'm so pretty, and he hasn't even looked at me once since he entered the store—not even out of politeness. How can I not be curious? I think he either has someone he likes or has the same sexual orientation as me." Qian Kun was taken aback, while Fang Huaining dropped his hand, causing his spoon to clink loudly against the glass. Wei Ping looked at him strangely, then picked up a cloth to wipe away the juice that had splashed onto Fang Huaining's table.

"Is it really that surprising? I trust my intuition, though I don't dismiss the possibility that he has someone he likes. With a personality like that, who knows who he might end up liking? Could it be someone prettier than me?" Muttering to herself, Wei Ping turned to get back to work. This left Qian Kun, who was speechless, and Fang Huaining, who was silent. Someone he likes? Sexual orientation? These two keywords lingered in his mind, the former causing his heart to race, and the latter... making it race even faster. He felt like his thoughts were a bit unclear... The bookstore had many promotions since it had just opened. After Wei Ping left, another waiter came over to hand out membership flyers to the two of them. Qian Kun looked at it. "Monthly and quarterly cards? The monthly card offers a 15% discount, and the quarterly card offers a 30% discount. If you come often, it seems like it would be more economical. I should get one." As long as his girlfriend worked there, he would definitely visit during his free time, so he really needed this. Qian Kun requested an application form for a monthly card, thought about the person next to him, and turned to ask, "Huaining, what about you?" He intended to encourage the other person to also get a monthly card to support his girlfriend's business, but before he could say more, Fang Huaining had already reached out to grab a form as well. Qian Kun saw that it was for a quarterly card?!

He didn't know how long his girlfriend would be able to work or if she would leave halfway; Fang Huaining was even braver than him, having already overcome similar challenges.

It became clear that the head girl genuinely disliked Yu Yaoqing and had no intention of dating him.

Watching Fang Huaining quickly swipe his card to pay, Qian Kun was convinced that he understood his good friend very well.

Thus, Fang Huaining discovered another place to go, apart from home, the teaching building, and the research institute – Hyacinth Cottage. Of course, he didn't spend all his time there; he maintained a regular routine of appearing every few days, spending a few hours each time, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening. This way, he was indistinguishable from ordinary customers, making the quarterly membership fee worthwhile.

Fang Huaining's communication with Li Ting was not frequent, mainly consisting of ordering and taking seats. He could only see him busy behind the bar and around the shop.

However, he noticed that Li Ting had many small habits while working. When dealing with difficult customers, his eyebrows would subtly furrow, and he would gently rub the edge of his pants, hinting at his impatience. Before lifting heavy objects, he wouldn't prepare himself, but after doing so, he would lightly place his hand over his chest, probably due to concern for an old injury. He appeared to be at his happiest when counting money – at that moment, the frequency of his blinking would increase, his eyelashes would flutter, and his mouth would curve upward in a slight, endearing smile.

Today, Wei Ping worked the morning shift and left in the evening. Qian Kun accompanied her and before leaving, inquired with Fang Huaining, who replied that he would stay a little longer.

Qian Kun said, "Next weekend is the Mid-Autumn Festival, my mom wants you to come home for dinner if you have time." His family has a distant relationship with Fang Huaining; their mothers are cousins, and they were close when they were young. Since Fang Huaining's parents are not in the country, Qian Kun's family naturally looks out for him a bit more.

Next week, He Xin Industrial will have some work again, but Fang Huaining is unable to schedule it precisely and suggested discussing it then.

After Qian Kun and Wei Ping left, Fang Huaining stayed for a few more hours. As he watched the bookstore crowd gradually thin out, only a few students remained to read. The number of waitstaff also decreased by half after their shifts, but Li Ting remained, as he was usually one of the last to leave.

However, the boss at the store was not particularly strict with the employees, so in the evening, with few customers around, it was acceptable for the staff to relax a bit.

Fang Huaining took a break from his work to glance up and saw some employees sitting down to read as well. He also noticed Li Ting walking out from behind the bar and opening a computer.

He had just cut his hair, and his slender neck stood out as he sat upright. Below his hair, his pale complexion stood out against the soft lighting in the bar. When Fang Huaining noticed he was looking at the electronic document he had provided, he felt a sense of comfort, almost feeling prouder than when he received an award. He was particularly attentive and focused at the moment. It was then that Fang Huaining's phone rang. He quickly checked the caller ID, put down his things swiftly, and went outside to answer. A gentle voice came from the other end: "Ning Ning, how have you been lately?"

Having finished a chapter of the material quickly, Li Ting was about to wrap up his shift. He shut down the computer, went to the staff room to change back into his uniform, and closed the door. He then heard someone chatting in the changing area next door.

The other party was gossiping about a couple who were cuddling in the corner, and then the conversation shifted. "... Did you see? That handsome guy came again today? He's really handsome…" "Which handsome guy?" "The one in the black T-shirt by the window; he just went outside to make a call, and when he stood up, he was super tall." "Oh, that's Fang Huaining." "Is he called Fang Huaining? Which department is he from?" "Computer Science College. You don't know Fang Huaining? He's quite a famous handsome guy in our school, but he usually only appears around the Computer Science department."

I've seen him a couple of times before, but I've only recently started seeing him regularly."

Li Ting thought to himself, "So why does he keep coming to our store? Can't our computers possibly be better than those in their Computer Science department? Or is he interested in someone from our store?"

As he pondered, a warm sensation started to rise behind him, which he attributed to hard work. However, when his coworker started teasing him, he began to wonder if Li Ting was really interested in him.

His coworker jokingly told him to flirt with Li Ting, but Li Ting knew it was unlikely. People often tried to catch Fang Huaining's attention, and he was notoriously difficult to get close to.

Li Ting had changed his clothes and stepped out of the small room. His coworker finished getting ready and joined him. As they walked side by side, they continued to discuss Li Ting.

Suddenly, one of the coworkers pointed outside, "Look, Fang Huaining's still on the phone, smiling warmly. Is he really that aloof?"

Her colleague replied, "Really, who knows?"

She then speculated, "Perhaps people think this so-called male god is hard to get because he probably already has a girlfriend. Even if not, he certainly wouldn't be short on options."

Her friend agreed, "That makes sense."

At that moment, Fang Huaining was in the middle of a conversation and suddenly turned his head to see Li Ting walk out of the store.

Li Ting stared straight at him, and Fang Huaining thought the young employee had something to say. Even if he didn't, they should at least acknowledge each other when their eyes met. However, Li Ting averted his gaze and brushed past Fang Huaining like a complete stranger.

Fang Huaining felt an inexplicable sense of confusion.

It was only when he heard the woman's voice on the phone that he snapped back to reality. "Ning Ning, Ning Ning, what are you doing? Are you still out and haven't gone home?" "Ah? Um, I'm near the school…" Fang Huaining replied. "It's so late; are you with your girlfriend?" The tone on the other end was teasing. "If you have one, you can come home together for the New Year this year." "Mom…" Fang Huaining sighed, "That person doesn't exist." "How can that person not exist? Not now, but there will be one in the future." Mother Fang declared resolutely. "I refuse to believe that someone your age has truly never encountered one or two people he likes or gets excited about. Isn't it that you're not looking hard enough?" Fang Huaining glanced again in the direction where Li Ting had gone. He does have feelings, but the excitement is hard to articulate; the frustration is definitely there…

Early on the weekend, Tian Dian called Li Ting. "Tian Dian," Li Ting answered. "I've arrived at A University," Tian Dian said. "I've set everything up here. If you're busy, I can handle things alone; just call the maintenance number if there's an issue." Li Ting was indeed busy today.

With the university on break and students not attending classes, many people had come out to play, and the shopping street near the school gate was filled with students. The bookstore was also packed.

"Then keep an eye on it; I'll come over when I have time."

After hanging up the phone, Li Ting got busy again, directing his staff to prepare drinks for Qian Kun and the others so that customers wouldn't bump into each other while coming up to get them. Today, Wang Fu Liang and Zhao Bang had also come, saying they were there to support Wei Ping. Of course, Fang Huai Ning was present as well, and the employees at the shop had already grown accustomed to his presence.

Zhao Bang looked at his large cup of milk tea and asked Li Ting, "I asked for it without ice; did you forget?"

Li Ting didn't hear him, as he was looking outside through the glass.

Fang Huai Ning followed Li Ting's gaze and noticed someone waving at them from across the street. With long hair and wearing the same short-sleeve sports outfit and shorts, it was the girl he had seen at the hospital. She also appeared to be Li Ting's... roommate?

Fang Huai Ning turned back to look at Li Ting and found that he was gently nodding towards her, seemingly distracted from his work. Fang Huai Ning squeezed the cup in his hand.

Wang Fu Liang said pathetically, "I-I didn't ask for it with ice either..."

Li Ting heard him this time and turned to redo the order, saying, "Sorry."

"Forget it, it's fine," Wang Fu Liang waved his hand. "The customers over there are calling for you."

After Li Ting left, Zhao Bang said to Qian Kun, "This job is tiring. Look at the waiter working so hard; how can you bear to let your wife do this?"

Fang Huai Ning suddenly interjected, "She enjoys it."

Qian Kun nodded in agreement, "Yeah, she enjoys it. It's a form of exercise; she's not that fragile, and if she gets tired, I'm here to support her."

"Oh~~~~"

Zhao Bang and Wang Fu Liang couldn't take his display of affection anymore and began their usual teasing.

Fang Huai Ning lost interest in their banter and turned his face toward the window. He noticed that the girl with long hair hadn't left; she was standing in front of a claw machine across the street, trying to catch a toy.

He instinctively glanced over at Li Ting, only to find his gaze fixed there as well, his usually dull expression now betraying a hint of concern.

Suddenly, Fang Huai Ning realized that a small portion of the drink in his cup had been sucked away. He felt it was inappropriate to go out during the festival, and the shop was far from the quiet it used to be, giving him a headache from the noise.

Fang Huai Ning took out his phone, selected a contact to call, but instead opened the little farm app. He didn't check the accounts or the notes and directly tapped on a racing game, wanting to play a couple of rounds to calm down.

However, he caught sight of the leaderboard below and noticed that his previous high score had been surpassed.

Fang Huai Ning was momentarily taken aback before realizing who had played. He looked at the new letter "L" that topped the "F" on the leaderboard and, for some reason, his mood slightly improved.

Not bad at all.

So, for the next little while, Fang Huai Ning focused all his thoughts on breaking the new record.

He usually didn't talk much, which his friends found normal, but they were puzzled as to why he was so engrossed in a game that resembled Snake.

After some time, satisfied with reclaiming the top score, Fang Huai Ning lifted his head to find that the person at the claw machine across the street was no longer there. He felt relieved and looked back at Li Ting, only to discover that there was no one at the bar either.

Fang Huai Ning waited a little longer, finished his drink, but still didn't see that person return. Unable to resist, he stopped Wei Ping as she passed by.

"Is it time to switch shifts?" Fang Huai Ning asked.

"Huh?" Wei Ping looked at her watch. "Not yet, still an hour left."

As she spoke, she turned to ask the supervisor, "Is there enough staff for the shift today? ... What? Li Ting just left? He took leave? So today there are only three of us on duty? I'm going to be exhausted."

Qian Kun hurried to comfort his girlfriend while Zhao Bang and Wang Fu Liang watched as Fang Huai Ning stood up after a moment of daze.

"What are you doing?"

The two asked, puzzled.

Fang Huai Ning replied, "I'm going to Hexin Industry. I'm leaving now."

"Huh? So suddenly?"

"I was going to go anyway," Fang Huai Ning said with a resolute expression. He told Qian Kun to greet his aunt and let her know that he wouldn't be joining for dinner, then he left decisively.

Li Ting and Tian Dian had been to the shops, subway stations, and bus stops near University A, making all the necessary preparations before it got dark.

During this time, Li Ting's phone had been ringing, but he didn't answer it. The last two calls were from Li Han.

"Bro, are you busy today? Do you want to come home for dinner? I miss you."

Li Ting remained silent.

Li Han paused, "Dad misses you too. He wants you to come home for dinner. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. He also said he has something to tell you..."

Li Ting still remained unresponsive.

Li Han sighed, "We'll wait for you; just come over if you'd like to."

After ending the call, Tian Dian asked Li Ting, "Li Zi, are you going back? Or do you want to come with me to work?" Their bar had an event tonight, and it was expected to be lively. Tian Dian felt bad thinking about Li Ting going home alone at this time.

Li Ting thought for a moment before replying, "I'll walk around a bit more."

Tian Dian hesitated to say anything else but suddenly recalled where Li Ting intended to go. He swallowed his words and simply said, "Then come back early."

Fang Huai Ning wasn't lying; Hexin Industry truly had work waiting for him. However, he wasn't in a hurry. He didn't have to choose to work on a holiday, but as someone who had always been alone, Fang Huai Ning didn't perceive this day as any different from the usual. The building, once bustling with people, had returned to a cold and quiet atmosphere, with only him sitting alone under the light, busy yet somewhat muted.

The peace and quiet had its advantages, and his efficiency during this time was particularly high. The system adjustments were completed in half the time. Unrushed to leave, and with the weather so pleasant, he brewed himself a cup of coffee and stood outside the glass wall, quietly admiring the moonlight that looked like a disc against the darkening sky.

Reflecting on his recent emotional state, he realized it had been quite unstable, fluctuating between highs and lows, calm and urgency, as if something were pulling him in different directions. This was uncharacteristic for the typically steady Fang Huai Ning. He also felt an inexplicable anxiety bubbling up inside him, causing heart palpitations. Fang Huai Ning was left feeling very confused.

He seemed to be overly influenced by someone, and he believed he needed time to carefully consider what exactly was impacting him. Was his heightened reaction to all of this an illusion, or was it a genuine feeling from deep within?

Unfortunately, reality didn't appear to grant him the space he needed.

As Fang Huai Ning was lost in quiet contemplation, a sudden flash of light streaked across the distance, vanishing instantly like the brief glow of a flashlight or electronic device.

Fang Huai Ning tilted his head, squinting as he gazed out into the distance, and even flicked off the lights inside the room to get a better look. As the darkness gradually deepened, he finally confirmed that there was indeed a person sitting far away in the shadows.

Although the silhouette was blurry and difficult to make out, it became instantly recognizable to Fang Huai Ning.

At that moment, he should have stayed frozen in place; his thoughts were still unclear, and approaching the figure would only add to his confusion. However, upon noticing that his previously calm heartbeat had accelerated once again at the sight of the mysterious figure, and the night air seemed to be growing warmer, Fang Huai Ning's feet began to move involuntarily.

Stepping over the bumpy dirt road, Fang Huai Ning found himself taking a path he had never taken before: bypassing the gate of Hexin Industrial to enter the undeveloped area from the side. Under the hazy moonlight, the vast fields lay hidden in the darkness, and the figure sat among them, legs crossed, gazing up at the moon.

Fang Huai Ning took care to tread softly; the other person should have been able to hear his footsteps, but the figure didn't glance back until Fang Huai Ning stopped. It was then that he suddenly spoke up.

"Shiyi Lu,"

Fang Huai Ning was pondering how to start the conversation when he heard this and was momentarily puzzled. "What?"

Li Ting turned his head, looking at Fang Huai Ning's feet, his clear features outlined by the moonlight. He said, "The road you just stepped over used to be called that—Shiyi Shiyi. Time has passed, and now it's just a patch of wasteland. Isn't that name quite fitting?"

Shiyi?

Fang Huai Ning didn't know why, but that name felt somewhat familiar.

He was a native of A City; had he been here before? Or had he just heard of it?

"Are you… familiar with this place?" Fang Huai Ning asked, following the thread of the conversation.

Li Ting seemed to chuckle softly. Though Fang Huai Ning couldn't see it clearly, he heard him say, "Of course, I used to live here."

Here?

Fang Huai Ning looked around nervously, afraid of seeing any grass or wooden huts. If Li Ting continued with, "I live here now, enjoying a carefree life," Fang Huai Ning might actually believe it.

Fortunately, Li Ting did not say that. Instead, he asked, "Aren't you curious why I'm here farming?"

Fang Huai Ning thought: Isn't it to make money?

The crops in the ground had already begun to sprout, a vibrant green cluster. Fang Huai Ning wasn't familiar with agriculture and couldn't tell what kind of vegetables they were.

Li Ting seemed to have guessed his thoughts, and with a soft hum, Fang Huai Ning was sure he was indeed laughing this time.

What a pity… Why wasn't the moonlight a bit brighter?

He couldn't see his face clearly.

"Why?" Fang Huai Ning asked, echoing his curiosity.

Li Ting extended a finger and gently tapped a small seedling, responding, "Because… this piece of land is mine."

Fang Huai Ning was taken aback.

"What?"

Li Ting raised his head to meet his gaze. In that moment, Fang Huai Ning could finally discern his brows and eyes clearly—exquisite features that even the dim night could not obscure, with a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

Li Ting spoke slowly, "My family used to be a prominent landlord, wealthy and influential, but later went bankrupt, and everyone perished. We lost our home and property; this piece of land is the only thing I inherited, so I've become a small landlord. Of course, I have to tend to it well."

Small landlord…

Perhaps the surrounding darkness had erased the gloom from Li Ting's expression entirely. The mischievous spark in his brows and eyes as he spoke suddenly made Fang Huai Ning want to pinch his face.

Small landlord?

Perhaps calling him a small con artist would be more fitting.

He certainly wouldn't be fooled again.

Li Ting noticed the lack of shock on Fang Huai Ning's face. Instead, his expression grew somewhat profound as he turned away, pouting in disinterest.

"So, did the small landlord intentionally trek across mountains just to admire the moon on his own land?" This area was on the outskirts, and along the bus route, there were several small hills, so Fang Huai Ning's remark wasn't an exaggeration.

Li Ting surprisingly nodded seriously: "Hmm, what's wrong with coming over to reunite with my property to celebrate the festival?"

Li Ting spoke with a sense of pride, showing no signs of depression; however, his words felt somewhat uncomfortable to Fang Huai Ning, tinged with bitterness… as if he couldn't bear it.

He recalled the melodramatic family drama he had witnessed that day, where two parental figures were present. Li Ting would rather admire the moon over the field of green seedlings than return to be with them; being compared to a neighbor wasn't necessarily an exaggeration.

Perhaps the small landlord wasn't entirely fabricating things.

Fang Huai Ning felt tired of standing, but looking at the yellow mud everywhere, he had no intention of sitting down. Moreover, in the summer night's farmland, mosquitoes buzzed all around, and in his short sleeves, he had already been bitten several times.

Li Ting, on the other hand, was protected in long sleeves and long pants. Sensing the unease of the person standing beside him, Li Ting also stood up.

Fang Huai Ning watched him walk into the nearby thicket, then stretch out his hand to feel around in the darkness for a moment before returning, extending his hand toward Fang Huai Ning. In his slender palm lay a somewhat thick and flat object.

Fang Huai Ning recognized that it seemed to be aloe vera but didn't understand Li Ting's intention.

Li Ting rolled his eyes at him helplessly, then took a piece of aloe vera himself. After squeezing some juice from the end, he reached over and began to rub Fang Huai Ning's arm up and down.

Fang Huai Ning stiffened, feeling as if electricity had surged through his entire arm, suddenly losing all strength.

Li Ting caressed for a while, using the aloe vera juice to press his fingers against the gradually throbbing red area on Fang Huai Ning's inner elbow, gently rubbing it.

Li Ting's hand was cold yet soft; he could feel the tiny calluses on his fingertips pressing against Fang Huai Ning's skin, leaving him astonished.

Li Ting's tone was unchanged as he explained, "Aloe vera relieves itching."

Fang Huai Ning thought, I'm not itchy; I just feel hot.

No one spoke, and the oppressive air of early autumn mingled with late summer seemed to burst forth at that moment, causing beads of sweat to form on Fang Huai Ning's nose. He felt his back dampening.

Li Ting also seemed to sense that something was off. He slowly loosened his grip, tossed the aloe vera aside, and took a step back. After blinking his long eyelashes a few times, he pressed his lips together and turned to leave.

It was getting late, and Fang Huai Ning needed to head back. There was only one route, so the two of them walked behind each other around Hexin Industrial to the bus stop, each immersed in silence as the awkwardness continued to spread.

However, this time the awkwardness seemed to be tinged with a hint of flirtation.

Yet the strange atmosphere between the two was far from dissipating. The bus arrived quickly, but all the seats were occupied by passengers. It turned out that the earlier stops had been near Luyewan Ecological Park, which was hosting a Lantern Festival that night. A large number of visitors who were unable to take the shuttle switched to the bus, turning it into a veritable sardine can.

Fang Huaining surveyed the tightly packed crowd, hesitating as he didn't really want to board.

Li Ting turned back and said, "You can't call a taxi now." Waiting for another one would likely result in the same situation.

After a moment of hesitation, Fang Huaining had no choice but to squeeze in behind Li Ting.

Given Fang Huaining's stature, he immediately occupied the little remaining space. If Li Ting moved inward, he would end up squished between other passengers. So Fang Huaining assessed the situation again, opting to stand inside while allowing Li Ting to lean against the door; the suburban ride was long enough that they didn't need to worry about getting on and off frequently.

With everyone's collective effort, the bus doors were finally closed, but the distance between Fang Huaining and Li Ting had been compressed to nearly nothing. Li Ting's back pressed against Fang Huaining's chest, the back of his head resting against Fang Huaining's chin.

In order to avoid leaning too heavily on Li Ting, Fang Huaining braced one hand against the door to maintain his balance, but this position inadvertently placed him in a half-embrace with Li Ting.

Although they had experienced similar physical contact before, that time Li Ting had been injured, and Fang Huaining's focus had been solely on getting him to the hospital, so he hadn't thought much of it. But right now...

His gaze flitted around, his entire vision consumed by Li Ting, leaving him with no way to escape.

Fang Huaining had no choice but to lower his eyes. It was better not to look, yet when he did, he was taken aback: Li Ting's long neck was right in front of him, and on that fair skin was a mosquito bite.

Small, round, and swollen.

Fang Huaining wanted to laugh; it turned out the other party had been bitten too but had held back from mentioning it.

It must be very itchy, but unfortunately, the aloe vera was gone, and he didn't know what else might help.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, and Fang Huaining froze for a moment, a few hints of red creeping up his cheeks.

Of course, Li Ting could sense Fang Huaining's strong presence behind him. The breath that stirred the tips of Li Ting's hair wasn't heavy, but it caused a tingling sensation on his scalp.

Li Ting shook his head, intending to discreetly shift his position, but just then the bus suddenly braked hard.

At that moment, the person who had been standing steadily behind him shoved him against the door, and at the same time, something soft pressed against Li Ting's cheek.

Li Ting: "..."

Fang Huaining: "!!!!"

Chapter 28 Is This Still the Original Fang Huaining?

The vast room was pitch black; the computer was off, and the books lay tightly closed, with only a sliver of light seeping through the bathroom door.

After taking a shower, Fang Huaining stood in front of the mirror for a long time; the droplets on his body were already half-dried. He was a homebody night and day, and his classmates often remarked on his extraordinary talent, as his appearance had remained unchanged over the years, showing no signs of decline alongside the brain cells that had been exhausted. This was all thanks to Fang Huaining's commitment to a regular amount of exercise each day to maintain his health.

In that moment, he noticed the boy in front of him—broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, tall, and with defined muscle lines. In contrast to the handsome and refined look he wore in clothes, being bare-chested added several degrees of ruggedness to him. Yet, whether dressed or undressed, the perennial cold and austere aura he projected made Fang Huaining feel that he was distant and unapproachable, exuding a high and aloof vibe.

Fang Huaining quietly gazed at the person in the mirror, thinking that this should be himself—the normal self, the familiar self.

But...

He slowly closed his eyes, and scenes from a few hours earlier suddenly resurfaced...

That person had made him a delicious pudding milk tea at the Wind Hyacinth café, which made Fang Huaining unable to resist ordering it every time he visited. The pudding, made with eggs, was chewy and soft, infused with the sweet aroma of milk and cocoa, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Fang Huaining had always believed it was the other's skill that made him enjoy it so much. Yet, in that moment—during the sudden braking, as he helplessly leaned against the other person's back—he felt as if his lips had brushed against the pudding from Wind Hyacinth: cold, refreshing, and subtly flavored with aloe vera.

In that instant, both seemed to freeze. As Fang Huaining quickly regained his footing, he could still see the slight widening of Li Ting's eyes in surprise, the glow from the streetlights reflecting in his pupils.

"Sorry, I'm sorry…"

Fang Huaining stammered, his throat feeling tight, and his voice a bit hoarse.

Li Ting didn't respond; he simply hastily adjusted his clothes and turned away.

Fang Huaining couldn't tell if Li Ting's face was flushed due to the bus entering the expressway, as the lights inside the vehicle were turned off. However, Fang Huaining knew that his own face was definitely hot enough to bleed, feeling heat surging from his neck all the way to behind his ears.

His heart raced...

He felt flustered...

Fang Huaining slowly opened his eyes once again; the person in the mirror still looked the same, but the calmness in his expression had long since vanished. The mere recollection of what had transpired caused his heart to race, heat surging to his ears, and the excitement in his eyes was impossible to conceal; even the fingers resting on the sink quivered slightly.

Is this still the original Fang Huaining?

How could this possibly be him?

Fang Huaining turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on his face repeatedly, not stopping until his entire head was drenched. Only then did he take a couple of deep breaths.

He could deceive others but not himself. There was no need to sit in meditation or ask his heart again, because the answer was already all too clear.

But why is this happening? Having lived for more than twenty years, it's only today that I've come to realize I have such tendencies, and the object of my interest is a little trickster who isn't even a friend – mysterious, changeable, and always making Fang Huaining feel unsure of what to do.

In the moment of impact, neither of them spoke again; Li Ting kept his face turned toward the car window, his hands and feet curled tightly in a small space. It was unclear whether he was also scared, and when they arrived at their destination, he jumped out of the car without looking back at Fang Huaining.

What was he thinking?

Would he dislike this kind of thing? Or would he hate me because of it?

Fang Huai Ning suddenly remembered the day he had stumbled upon a breakup scene at a restaurant near the research institute, where he had unexpectedly witnessed Li Ting's younger brother and another boy parting ways. What was Li Ting's reaction back then? It seemed like there was no apparent aversion; had he already grown accustomed to this kind of thing? Could he possibly accept it for himself?

Wei Ping had also mentioned that Li Ting's sexual orientation was somewhat suspicious.

But... what about the girl he lived with? What was their relationship like?

And what about me? What should I do?

Various chaotic thoughts swirled in Fang Huai Ning's mind, and despite his logical mind, he struggled to make sense of it all for a long time.

A sleepless night ensued.

Li Ting was busy again that day, with no time to leave the store to attend to other matters. He could only call Tian Dian again.

Tian Dian was relatively free during the day, and it was rare for Li Ting to need his help, so it didn't take long for him to arrive with a large pile of goods.

"I won't be able to get away for the next few days; watch over the store for me," Li Ting said.

Tian Dian patted his chest, "Leave it to me; I guarantee you'll be satisfied. Look at the cute stuff I picked – business will definitely be good."

Although he said that, after so many years of unreliability, Li Ting still didn't feel at ease. He grabbed a chair and sat outside the store, supervising while enjoying a snack of buns.

At this moment, his phone in his pocket buzzed again; he looked and saw that it was from Li Han.

After thinking for a moment, he decided to respond. "Brother, are you busy today?" was Li Han's typical opener. Li Ting replied, "Busy." Li Han was momentarily at a loss for words. "Then… can you still talk to me?" Li Ting paused, "Go ahead." Li Han chuckled, "Brother, where have you been working lately?" Li Ting took a bite of his bun, saying, "No beating around the bush; just say it." Li Han was taken aback, then sighed softly, "Well, that day you didn't come home, Dad was quite angry. He invited two of your classmates over for dinner; he said… he wants to send you abroad to study." Li Ting could easily guess that the original words from Li Er Yang reflected his disappointment in his son, believing him to be a failure both academically and physically, spending his days at a mediocre school and hanging around outside, destined to ruin himself sooner or later. As a father and educator, he felt compelled to take action to motivate his unambitious eldest son… But studying abroad? That was a bit surprising, and surprisingly generous. Li Ting curled his lips, neither agreeing nor disagreeing; instead, he asked, "Does he still have money to send me? Didn't he say he used up all the funds for my affairs back then?" Li Han didn't answer, seeming uncertain of how to respond. Li Ting pressed on, "What about Mom? Does she agree?" Li Han took a moment to reply, "She… she didn't know beforehand…" "Well, she should be angry.

Li Han hesitated for a moment, softly murmuring, "I'm not sure how she feels; she didn't tell me…" At their age, how could they not know? But Li Han was playing dumb, and Li Ting usually wouldn't probe beyond the surface. "Got it, I'm hanging up." "Wait, brother… if Dad asks again…" Li Ting replied, "Then just tell our mother." … Qian Kun and Fang Huai Ning had planned to exercise together in the afternoon, first meeting at the Hyacinth Cottage before heading to the swimming pool. However, when Fang Huai Ning arrived outside the bookstore, he didn't go in because he saw Li Ting sitting by the door. Li Ting was eating a bun, his eating style reminiscent of a squirrel—quickly chewing and swallowing, finishing what was in his hand in just a few bites. He was holding his phone, as if he were on a call with someone, his expression a mixture of a smile and not quite a smile, his gaze fixed in the distance, still focused. Fang Huai Ning turned his head, as if sensing something, and indeed spotted Li Ting's cohabitant again, standing in front of the claw machine, observing with great interest. She was watching others, but Li Ting was focused on her. Fang Huai Ning felt as if he had taken a sudden blow to the chest, especially since he hadn't decided on his next step yet; the blow felt particularly painful. He turned on his heel and walked away from the bookstore, preferring not to look.

Li Ting hung up the phone just in time to see Fang Huai Ning leaving quickly; he almost bumped into a delivery guy coming out of another store, but Fang Huai Ning disappeared from view in an instant.

Li Ting, however, continued to watch, reaching out as if casually brushing his cheek…

Li Ting's reading speed remained incredibly fast; within just a few days, he had completed the documents Fang Huai Ning had given him, drafted two papers, and submitted them. However, the homework wasn't finished, so he reopened Lemon Tree to check for additional references. To his pleasant surprise, he found two new folders had appeared, still carefully categorized and marked with key points, just uploaded yesterday.

Li Ting glanced at the recent date, a warm glow flickering in his eyes.

But then he pondered that perhaps those files were intended for the person himself; that person likely had a considerable amount of work on their hands, or maybe they had been prepared for someone else?

After downloading the documents, Li Ting moved his mouse around, eventually landing on a random journal entry and clicking it open.

This entry detailed Fang Huai Ning selling a design to a well-known company. Though the payment wasn't substantial, he received high praise. His restrained descriptions still conveyed his joy.

Most of the comments posted were congratulatory, but some jokingly criticized him for posting the achievement himself first, rather than agreeing to celebrate with them at dinner, making the girl at the dinner table unwittingly appear sad.

Fang Huaining vaguely recognized the person and responded with a dismissive eye roll. The person cursed him: "Just wait, one day someone will come along that you want to chase, but won't be able to. Let's see how you cry then." Fang Huaining maintained a cold and indifferent expression. Li Ting found it quite amusing and began flipping through several chapters until he discovered a statistics module in the corner of the webpage, showing visitor IPs and the number of views for this blog post. Only then did Li Ting feel a bit out of place, realizing he shouldn't have known about it. He hastily closed the webpage, thinking to himself: he shouldn't know that I looked at this, right... If he were to see Fang Huaining tomorrow, Li Ting could just say hello as a way to thank him for the new document, even if it wasn't specifically intended for him. It was rare for Li Ting to entertain the idea of actively engaging with someone, but unfortunately, it didn't come to fruition because he didn't encounter Fang Huaining. Not only did Li Ting not meet Fang Huaining that day, but for more than a week afterward, the person didn't appear at all. Even the store employees started to wonder when Fang Huaining would return.

The accounting records indeed saw a few more entries.

Although Fang Huaining was engaging in questionable activities, he felt that he still had some moral boundaries. The accounting software tracked expenses, of course, but also recorded income. Fang Huaining never peeked at Li Ting's financial information regarding income. He willingly blocked out details about how much Li Ting had in savings, his daily income, and where he kept his money. At most, he would check how many coins Li Ting had spent that day and what discounted items he had bought.

Just like now, Fang Huaining knew that Li Ting had eaten buns again today. He had been consuming buns for almost a week now, often eating five in one meal, having them for both lunch and dinner every few days. Most of the fillings were vegetables, purchased from a small stall at the corner of the shopping street.

This person was far too casual; did he really enjoy eating buns, or was he just too busy to buy something else? Why didn't the Fengxinci lodge provide employee meals? Was the portion insufficient for him? What did he actually like to eat? There was a famous grilled meat rice place nearby; he definitely hadn't tried it…

Lost in thought, Fang Huaining suddenly realized he had drifted too far. What was he thinking about? What the other was eating was none of his concern; he didn't have to worry about it at all…

Just as he was about to lose motivation and close the app, two new records suddenly refreshed on his account.

Pig Rabbit x 200, ￥: 200 yuan Machines x 3, ￥: 3600 yuan.

Fang Huaining was startled upon seeing this.

Those two entries together consumed nearly 4,800 yuan; for Li Ting, who usually spent only two or three yuan on items, using an old mobile phone, and had a computer that was picked up off the street, this was an extraordinary amount of money.

What could make this little money fan spend so much?

What major thing had he secretly done?!

Fang Huaining was very curious.

On the other side, Li Ting was on the afternoon shift today, with an accounting ledger spread out on his desk alongside a calculator, serious as he tallied up his accounts, recording each entry into his phone.

Tian Dian was sitting at the computer nearby, unusually not playing games, his fingers clumsily tapping on the keyboard.

Li Ting gave him a curious glance and asked, "What's that?"

Tian Dian's expression was serious: "An advertisement."

"Whose advertisement?"

"Didn't I tell you? Our bar owner is opening a new restaurant, and the address is really close to A University. Xiao Mi and the others are considering going to help out, and I'm considering it too, so I have to advertise before the opening. But… why do those local websites always delete my posts and ban my IP? Sigh, other people are advertising too; does it cost money?"

Tian Dian was upset.

"Fortunately, I was prepared,"

Xiao Mi had given him this, and he thought to himself, "I'll just change my IP and post again. Let's see if they can delete me."

Li Ting looked at him and said, "Didn't you say you signed a three-year contract? There are only a few months left. Are you really going to sign with the restaurant again?"

Tian Dian paused his typing and chuckled, "Well, it's not time yet."

Li Ting remained silent.

Tian Dian seemed to sense what he was thinking and turned to comfort him, "Li Zi, the money I borrowed from you, and the favors I owe, once I repay them, it's none of your business. Besides, I've earned quite a bit from the bar over the past three years; it's not like I've suffered a significant loss. If I really go to work at the restaurant, the environment will be much better than here."

Li Ting still didn't speak.

Tian Dian leaned over and pinched his face, "Don't worry about me; I'm doing just fine now. We'll both be okay."

Li Ting dodged and kicked him away, "Get lost."

Tian Dian chuckled and went back to work, but soon lost patience. When Li Ting finished his accounting, Tian Dian had already fallen asleep, lying on a nearby bench.

Li Ting helplessly moved him aside, thought for a moment, and still grabbed a blanket from the room to cover him.

Will we both be okay?

Maybe...

Li Ting had originally wanted to shut down the computer, but his gaze suddenly fell on the newly installed software on the desktop.

Change IP?

Li Ting blinked, turned back, and sat down, first opening the program.

Once connected, he opened the browser and entered the encrypted space of Lemon Tree.

He believed this place should not be known only to him; Fang Huaining's roommates likely knew the password too, so… it should be relatively safe here.

Wei Ping was wiping the table when she looked up and saw Fang Huaining—who hadn't been around for a while—walk in, seemingly carrying something.

Wei Ping stared, her eyes widening: "Wow… you actually brought Xiangmi Tang's grilled meat rice?"

Fang Huaining glanced around the shop, found a spot to sit, and casually asked, "Have you eaten?"

Wei Ping sighed: "I have, but some people haven't eaten yet."

Fang Huaining was about to respond when he noticed the new employee duty roster hanging on the back wall of the shop. It was clear who was on duty today, and the person he wanted to see wasn't among them.

Fang Huaining's expression darkened, and he suddenly pushed the grilled meat forward: "Who hasn't eaten? Give it to him."

Wei Ping looked at him in surprise: "Did you come here specifically to be a delivery boy?"

Fang Huaining replied, "I bought too much."

Was there such a thing? Wei Ping was skeptical.

"Tell me honestly, you're not actually interested in someone from our shop, right?" Wei Ping looked directly into his eyes. "Dare to tell Mama; if it's true, I'll help you make it happen, even if she's a fairy beauty!"

The Fengxinci little lodge had specific appearance requirements for hiring, and there were indeed a few very attractive girls in the shop.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Fang Huaining thought for a moment, then actually nodded and looked seriously at Wei Ping.

He said, "That's true, there is one, but he seems to already have a partner. Even so, could you help me make it happen?"

Wei Ping was taken aback and then burst out laughing. Before she could praise Fang Huaining for his sudden sense of humor, she saw him pick up the phone.

It was a call from Wang Fuliang.

"Huaining, there are many nice people here. It might be a bit late. Why don't you go to school first and save a spot for me? I can write my essay during class, just like I mentioned to you last time... Hey, wait, isn't that Li Ting? Li Ting!"

Wei Ping was about to pass the grilled meat rice she had gotten to someone else, but unexpectedly, the head chef suddenly slammed his hand down, solidifying the meal in place.

Wei Ping: "???" ... Before starting work in the afternoon, Li Ting first went to Library A. He initially intended to borrow a library card again from Liu Lei, but Liu wasn't there. Without a library card, Li Ting couldn't even enter the library's main door.

He could only hold onto his book and look around, his gaze sweeping left and right.

"Li, Li Ting... Li Ting?"

Suddenly hearing someone call his name, Li Ting turned around to see Wang Fuliang waving at him while on the phone, standing in the middle of a long line for borrowing books. "Is that really you?" Wang Fuliang exclaimed in surprise. Li Ting's eyes widened slightly as he scanned his surroundings before slowly returning his gaze to Wang Fuliang. "Did you borrow books from our school?" Wang Fuliang asked. "Are you planning to return them? I can do that for you, no need for you to stand in line." Li Ting shook his head. "No need." However, Wang Fuliang was quite chatty. "These books are on computer science? Are you interested in that?" It's hard to understand how these engineering guys think; when they sense someone might share their interests, the intense excitement in their eyes is unmistakable. "Those books are way too difficult. Who recommended them to you? If you're just starting out, I have two good ones here that I borrowed for a student from another major." Upon learning that Li Ting needed them for his essay, Wang Fuliang spoke while forcefully pushing two overdue books into Li Ting's hands. "I'm the best at selecting books, everyone says so... If you want to borrow books in the future, just come to me. Don't trust the recommendations from random people; just ignore them..." On the other end of the call... Fang Hua Ning: "...…"