The Most Random System

Mouse and Old Wen are a bit on edge now.

By this point, neither of them could possibly still be unaware of what the truth really is.

Looking at the "fake handcuffs" in their hands, the "fake police," "fake interrogation chair," and "fake notebook" in front of them, Mouse felt a bit of "fake grievance," "fake sadness," "fake cigarettes, fake alcohol, fake friends~ fake friends~ fake feelings, fake gentleness~ tricking me to your place~ kicking me out at midnight~."

——In summary, he wanted to "pinch Lin Li’s groin with a cruel twist."

Honestly, when recalling his words and actions just moments ago, Mouse felt he was still holding it together, despite the collapse.

He suddenly remembered an experience of riding on a friend’s electric scooter——

Mouse: "Damn, brother, don’t run the red light."

Friend: "That’s just an ambiance light, brother. Fake, useless."

Mouse: "Brother, you’re going the wrong way, aren’t you?"

Friend: "Hey, what are you saying, the road was just built backward."

Mouse: "There’s no road, no road, there’s really no road ahead!!"

Friend: "It hasn’t loaded yet."

Mouse: "Stop, stop, there’s a traffic cop up ahead!"

Friend: "Hey, it’s cosplay, young people love this stuff."

Mouse: "He’s waving at us!!"

Friend: "Hey brother, sorry, there’s no room in our car. You’d better catch another ride~"

Mouse: "Hey, didn’t you just run over someone’s foot?"

Friend: "That was just a speed bump."

Mouse: "But they just screamed, didn’t they?!"

Friend: "Hey, brother, speed bumps in big cities talk to remind drivers to slow down, relax."

Mouse: "That’s a truck, a truck! It’s rushing toward us!!!"

Friend: "That’s just a mirage, relax brother, fake."

Mouse: "Brother, is this the Underworld? Are we dead?"

Friend: "Murder mystery game, brother."

Hmm, the complexity and breakdown of my emotions back then seem to be perfectly mirrored by this moment, if not more so now...

Truly heartbroken.

Feeling like Lin Li sold out my love, burdened with a debt of conscience, knowing the truth makes my tears fall...

We used to be so close, so good (choking up).

The once revered "Brother Bufan," every previously understated word, now turns into poisoned needles, pricking all over the softest memories (numb).

The earnest guidance along the way, those grand words about vision and the future, those golden illusions... were nothing but a carefully woven spider’s web, trapping us naive moths (sorrowful).

The past laughter turned out to be false (wry smile).

He remembered the slight smile of the youth when he and Old Wen vied to put down the name "Yangliang";

He thought of how he genuinely admired and respected the realistic police uniform and badge (smiling at the corners);

He remembered when Lin Li talked about the "Fake Bureau," the surge of emotion and eagerness he felt to embrace the light (love);

Every time he mistakenly thought he was getting closer, every genuine echoing, every sparked desire for a high-level criminal life, all have become the harshest ridicule now (the world is gray and white).

Realizing that this journey of honesty and trust, that seemingly profound sharing and mentoring, was just like a cat tenderly toying with the mouse under its paw, sometimes revealing a blood-tinted gentleness (streams of tears)...

All the laughter was just background noise, all the brothers were harbingers of doom (teary-eyed).

The glaring, stark light of the police station illuminated the defeated, betrayed expressions on his and Old Wen’s faces (at a loss).

From today on, close the heart... lock away love.

Lin Li, though possessing "telepathy," triggered it far less frequently than "Celestial Being," so he had no idea of the flood of youthful pain literature flooding Mouse’s mind; he was cheerfully oblivious.

Especially——

[Within two months, prevent and punish at least three mecha thefts (2/3)]

The progress bar for the task had just moved and exceeded Lin Li’s expectations, with the single progress increment equal to 2.

Could it have been because "Old Liu" was taken by Uncle Yan, while Yangliang and he took "Mouse and Old Wen" the other direction, leading the system to count it as two separate instances?

Not entirely sure, but there’s no need to dwell on it since the result was a pure bonus for Lin Li, which means another time and the task would be completed for sure.

"What a delightful evening," Lin Li felt a tax-evading joy from the heart.

Yangliang gave him a disapproving glance, and Mouse and Old Wen cast him a resentful look.

It seems Lin Li is the only one who felt this way that night.

"Alright, wait in the front room for a bit," Yangliang pointed with his chin. "Ao Song is driving their minivan, it’s a bit slower but should be here soon. Once he arrives, have him drive you home."

It was already 1 AM.

Yangliang was aware that Nansang Middle School hadn’t started winter break yet and that tomorrow, or rather today, finals were officially starting.

As for why he knew about it but didn’t persuade Lin Li the whole night... no need to say more.

Moreover, he and Yan Aosong were both aware of Lin Li’s top-rank achievement for two consecutive months, but they had long since given up on such things.

"Brother Fang hasn’t arrived yet, how about Uncle Yang, I’ll do the record with you, I’m Xiling’s righteous Black Silk Hero."