The Most Random System

Unexpectedly, after a brief pause, the other person asked me, "Really, bro?"

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, responding with, "You’re such an easy mark, and you have the nerve to call yourself a con artist."

The call lasted another twenty seconds, but neither of us spoke during that time. In the end, he was the one who hung up, still silent.

"Heh—" Song Xin couldn’t help but chuckle, "Lin Li, your mom says you’re a handful, but I think you’re quite amusing."

"Well... it’s normal for my mom to say that," Lin Li waved his hand, "The closer people are to you, the less objective their evaluations are. Mothers have a filter, it’s normal."

"Isn’t that filter usually a positive one? I think my Yingying is the best in the world," Song Xin asked with a smile.

Lin Li: "Yeah, my mom is already beautifying me."

Song Xin: "O.o oh?"

"Actually, I’m more than just ’a handful,’ I’m ’a big headache.’ Auntie, you just find it amusing because you’re an outsider. If you were involved, you’d most likely sincerely say, ’Kid, that’s not funny.’

Lin Li had long since shed his initial awkwardness and spoke with a smile.

"I see," Song Xin nodded ambiguously, then looked meaningfully at Lin Li through the rearview mirror,

"But it seems Auntie might have a chance to be involved, after all. Who knows, one day if you call me ’auntie’ again, I might be quite displeased. What do you think, Lin Li?"

"I get the hint," Lin Li nodded seriously, then genuinely looked at Song Xin: "Sister."

Lin Li paused, his tone becoming more earnest: "I’ve actually wanted to call you that for a long time; you really look young."

Song Xin: "?"

"Stop it," facing such a deliberately earnest compliment, Song Xin found it amusing but quickly brought the topic back:

"Lin Li, Auntie’s asking you, have you ever thought about the future and what comes after with Yingying?"

"Mom—" Chen Yu Ying’s dissatisfied voice and gaze came over.

"I’ve thought about it," Lin Li’s left hand gently supported his right elbow, fingers unconsciously brushing his hair by his ear, voice softening a bit, "just that talking about it now feels too distant and too... embarrassing, so I’d rather focus on today and tomorrow."

Song Xin nodded, didn’t comment on this answer, but asked more directly: "Lin Li, do you like Yingying?"

"I like her, of course I do."

Even hesitating for one second would be disrespectful to the class leader.

"Sometimes answering too quickly and smoothly isn’t good either; it makes it seem like you’re casually saying it, making it sound insincere," Song Xin ignored her daughter’s protesting look and continued to press, "Could it be that you’ve said that to many people?"

Contrary to what Song Xin and Chen Yu Ying expected, Lin Li didn’t hesitate but nodded with a smile, his response was—"Yes."

"Mm-hmm?" Song Xin raised an eyebrow, feeling that Lin Li must have more to say.

"I’ve told many people that I really like Yu Ying."

Halfway through his words, Lin Li turned his face to look at the retreating scenery outside the window, even unconsciously lowering his voice a little.

The car fell into a brief silence.

They were already nearing Pingjiang Middle School, and it was Song Xin’s light laugh that broke the car’s brief silence.

She turned her head looking for a parking spot, watching her daughter in the passenger seat.

The action was exactly the same as Lin Li’s, having no intention of making eye contact, turning her face to look outside the window, not saying a word.

But the flushed cheeks and fingers constantly tapping on the car door revealed the girl’s fluttering heart.

Tsk-tsk.

"We’re here, can’t park at the entrance, so walk a little bit." After finding a parking spot and stopping, Song Xin spoke.

"Bye, Mom!" Chen Yu Ying pulled the mechanical handle, but the car door lock hadn’t been released yet.

Seeing her daughter so eager to get out of the car, Song Xin turned her head to look at Lin Li, who was also anxious to ’escape,’ and asked with a smile:

"Lin Li, Auntie has one last question, just how much do you like Yingying?"

"Mom—You clearly promised the day before yesterday that you wouldn’t ask these questions," Chen Yu Ying said with discontent, "Yet you keep talking about them."

And the questions just kept getting more over-the-top.

"How to describe it," Lin Li paused his movement toward the school side car door, speaking gently.

Song Xin glanced amusingly at her daughter, who instantly quieted down—at this moment, the bright eyes were undoubtedly flickering with anticipation.

But she was also curious about Lin Li’s answer.

"I don’t know if Auntie has ever experienced, as a child when bored, sticking a hand into the blankets in a closet, feeling that cool air instantly make you aware of your boundary with the outside world, feeling that moment making your existence feel more real."

Lin Li’s voice was soft, as if describing a dream: "Mm, it’s probably that kind of feeling of liking.

Sorry, it might be a bit stream of consciousness, but I think only like this, can I maybe describe what it feels like to like someone.

’Very’? ’Especially’? ’Willing to do anything for her’? These words all came to mind, but I just felt they weren’t right, or rather, not quite enough."

"..."

As Lin Li’s words fell, the car was enveloped in a subtle silence.

As if invisible ripples were spreading through the air, softly wrapping that kind of genuine and tender emotion.

"..."

The blushing girl quickly lowered her lashes, trying to hide the embarrassment and fluttering feelings in her eyes.