The Most Random System

Pear? What pear! Not pear!

...

"So is uncle henpecked?"

Standing at the entrance of Pingjiang Middle School, Lin Li looked at Chen Yu Ying, who was replying to Chen Zhongping’s messages without hiding the chat records from him. He smiled and asked.

"Not exactly, mom isn’t really fierce, and she doesn’t control dad much. But dad indeed dotes on mom a lot. When there are rare disagreements, he listens to her, at least that’s how I see it. And there’s almost never any conflict over major decisions~"

After replying with a "not telling you," Chen Yu Ying pocketed her phone and answered lightly.

The family does seem very happy.

"Auntie really isn’t fierce. Today’s banquet was smoother and more comfortable than I expected." Lin Li nodded.

"Mom originally planned to have lunch with us. It was my insistence on eating at Pingjiang Middle School’s cafeteria that made her relent. If she’d spent more time with you, especially when it was just the two of you, you wouldn’t have said such things."

Chen Yu Ying made a little "hmph" sound, laughing.

"That’s true." Lin Li didn’t deny it.

If I were to strike with my primal stance, forget about mere mid-aged elders, even centenarians would have their hundred-year soul rings absorbed by me.

But if I need to strike while in human form... well, sorry, I’m not used to being human.

"Hmm-hmm, let’s go, let’s check out the school."

"Okay, Pingjiang Middle School sure lives up to being a city-level public school, definitely more upscale than our small county-level middle school." Lin Li nodded.

It’s now ten-thirty in the morning. The air still carries a tinge of early spring’s crispness, but the sunshine is already quite bright, spilling over the bustling school gate.

The entrance to Pingjiang Middle School was evidently busy.

Across the spacious square and the surrounding roads, the only vehicles allowed to temporarily stop were buses hired by the school, while private cars like Song Xin’s could only drop people off at a distance.

Students in different colored and styled uniforms streamed off these buses, with variations more diverse and novel than during the initial contest round.

"Pingjiang Third Middle School, gather here!"

"New Stand Middle School students, freshmen and sophomores follow me!"

"Seven Counties students, look here! Check your school badges!"

"Students from Teyvat Continent, gather here! Sign-in gifts include ten Primogems!"

Such calls echoed at the entrance.

Hold on, was there something odd mixed in?

Chen Yu Ying watched, a bit annoyed, as Lin Li came trotting back—the guy had just rushed into the crowd, shouted something with his head down, causing a ruckus at the entrance before he ran back.

Oh well, he didn’t embarrass himself while standing by my side, so I won’t blame him.

After all, he likes me so much, hehe.

It’s not time yet; Nansang’s bus naturally hadn’t arrived.

"We should enter from over there, need to show our exam entry tickets."

Streams of students in different colored uniforms began orderly moving towards the gate under local teachers’ guidance.

The two drew closer to each other tacitly, merging into the crowd.

No matter what, it’s inappropriate to hold hands prominently while wearing school uniforms.

So Chen Yu Ying’s fingers merely gently tugged at the corner of Lin Li’s school uniform as their connection.

The school gate served as the grandest and most authentic backdrop of youth.

"The weather’s pretty nice today," Chen Yu Ying brushed her hair behind her ear. When Lin Li looked over upon hearing this, she turned her gaze skyward. "Also, I really like you."

"Such a stiff transition, such blatant confession." Lin Li shook the folder in his hand with a smile.

Of course, he knew that this seemingly abrupt display of emotion was just the girl’s way of responding to his actions on the bus.

"I’ll try being subtle next time."

"No need, being straightforward is nice."

The moment they officially stepped into the campus, the crowd dispersed.

Great, Pingjiang Middle School has a fountain too, and it’s operational today.

Lin Li glanced at the system panel—no tasks triggered for now.

"Let’s first check out the exam venue’s location." They arrived at the notice board set up by Pingjiang Middle School, searching for the specific building where they’d take their exams.

"I’m in exam venue 9, which should be in that building." Chen Yu Ying pointed to a teaching building.

"I’m in the one opposite yours, further back." Lin Li looked towards another building in the distance.

Lin Li’s exam sequence number was 57. Before coming to Pingjiang Middle School, they knew that not only could they not be in the same exam venue, but not even in the same building; hence, this result was anticipated without much extra emotion.

"Shall we go check out the exam venues now?" Chen Yu Ying asked.

The exams start in the afternoon, with many schools’ students arriving in the morning. Regardless, Pingjiang Middle School has to provide these people with a place, thus the exam venue serves that purpose; though the exams begin in the afternoon, the exam venues have always been open, without any seals.

"Since we’re here, might as well stroll around Pingjiang Middle School." They only carried a folder with stationery, free from burden. Coupled with curiosity and hope of triggering tasks, alongside nothing much to do once back at the exam venue, Lin Li instantly suggested.

"Sure." Chen Yu Ying had no objections.

After scanning the school map beside the exam venue area and memorizing it completely, Lin Li led Chen Yu Ying inward, initiating a conversation:

"Speaking of which, I missed Pingjiang by ten points in the entrance exams, what about you, class president?"

"Me? I didn’t miss it; my entrance exam scores met the standard. But since I’m not a local urban student, I could only enter the experimental class. I didn’t study competitions, thus even with qualifying scores, it was still useless."

"Good thing you didn’t study competitions, otherwise with a stroke of luck, you might’ve escaped my clutches." Lin Li exaggeratedly patted his chest.

"Whether I studied it or not doesn’t matter," Chen Yu Ying gave a sweet smile, "I don’t want to be too far from home. So even if I had studied competitions, I’d still be in Nansang. Perhaps in a competition class? But we’d still meet."

"No way, not being in the same class is no fun."

"True, then really lucky." Chen Yu Ying pondered briefly, earnestly nodded.

Watching the extremely obedient Chen Yu Ying, Lin Li couldn’t help but chuckle.

Ying Bao has a husband-controlled demeanor!

Feels like deceiving Ying Bao in the future into working hard to earn money so that the unemployed me can play pachinko isn’t impossible.

Now is, fantasy time!

"But if you don’t want to be too far from home, then what about university? Forget Xiling, even Nansang doesn’t have a university." Lin Li asked.

"Then let’s attend the same university. If it’s near you, I think I can accept being far from home." Chen Yu Ying tucked her hands behind her back, her steps and voice equally light.

Such a straightforward pitch, making Lin Li’s pink bubbles spin.

"No problem." Lin Li thumped his chest, smiling. "When university comes, we’ll stroll around campus together, no need for sneaky actions like now—forget holding hands, by then I’ll carry you or even piggyback you around the new school."

"Carrying might be a bit much, piggybacking is worth considering."

Having said slightly bold words, Chen Yu Ying felt a bit shy, gently lowering her head, her toes subconsciously nudging a small stone on the ground, her voice soft.

Watching her shy yet striving to stay composed demeanor provoked a deeper smile.

Thus, they conversed about the future and strolled side by side through the campus of Pingjiang Middle School.

Unbeknownst to them, they reached a shimmering artificial lake within the school grounds.

A gentle breeze brought moist and refreshing watery air, and a few water birds leisurely swam in the distance.

"We’ve walked quite a bit, how about sitting down to rest?" Lin Li gestured towards a clean long wooden bench by the lakeside.

"Mm, sure."

Lin Li walked a few steps quickly, symbolically brushed off the bench with his sleeve, then stepped aside.

Chen Yu Ying sat down beside him, her hands neatly placed on her knees, her school uniform’s hem gently swayed in the breeze.

"Beyond the bamboo, a few branches of peach blossoms bloom; the spring river water warms, first noticed by the ducks." Lin Li suddenly spoke.

Cher Yu Ying turned her head, curiously watching Lin Li, she didn’t think these were merely his sentiments.

At least shouldn’t be so pure.

Lin Li: "According to unofficial records, these verses describe the ancient male prostitutes frolicking in the river."

"Is that so?" Chen Yu Ying laughed softly, responding with warmth.

This is aligned with the mood.

"Wild celery covers the ground, reed sprouts are short; it’s the time for pufferfish. Speaking of which, pufferfish is a famed admirer of male company."

Chen Yu Ying chose to pretend she didn’t hear this line.

"Err~err~err~! Crooked necks sing towards the sky; this is the formal start between the admirer and male prostitute, depicted by the poet on the shore."

"White feathers float on green water; red palms stir clear waves; oh, it’s a Western white-feathered duck!"

"Plop!"

Unbearable!

Chen Yu Ying placed her hand over Lin Li’s mouth, helplessly and reproachfully saying:

"Zip it~"

"Alright."