The Most Random System

"Chen Tianming: Lin Li, have you arrived at school?"

Lin Li was still chatting with Chen Yu Ying, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a private message from Chen Tianming on his phone.

It was already past eleven o’clock, and by his calculations, Nansang Middle School’s bus should be about there.

He raised his hand to check and replied to the message.

"Lin Li: I’m here."

"Chen Tianming: Where are you?"

"Lin Li: By the artificial lake inside Pingjiang Middle School."

"Chen Tianming: Are you with the class president? Mind if I join the party?"

"Lin Li: You can come if you want, it’s no big deal, but did Qiaoqiao really abandon you, her lovely Fan Rou?"

"Chen Tianming: Nah, she’s got me in her heart. On the bus, she picked a seat at the back, sitting with me and her classmates, hehe."

Uh-oh, this time she really does have him in her heart.

Better think of a way to forward this to Qin Zeyu.

"Chen Tianming: But, she only brought her mistake collection book and stuff. Heading straight to the exam hall now to keep reviewing with the time left."

"Chen Tianming: I’m not really here for the competition, and I don’t think I can win any prize. Just making it to the semifinals would be a godsend, didn’t want to stay in the exam hall, so I thought I’d ask you. If you’re busy being all lovey-dovey, I’ll just take a solo school tour."

"Lin Li: ’Location’—So come over then, the class president and I don’t mind."

"Lin Li: By the way, don’t we have Prison King in our class? Why abandon him? You two could be partners."

"Chen Tianming: Haha, I’m at the top of the clingy guy hierarchy, he’s at the bottom."

"Lin Li: Got it."

Just like how Chen Yu Ying never avoided Lin Li looking over her shoulder while she chatted. She naturally leaned over upon seeing Lin Li messaging, her chin almost touching his shoulder.

So when Lin Li looked up after replying, he ’unexpectedly’ crashed into the close view of the girl’s gaze.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t entirely unplanned.

The distance was so close; he could clearly see the fine fuzz on her fair cheeks, her bright eyes reflecting Lin Li’s own image and the shimmering waves of the lake behind them.

That’s exactly what he wanted to see.

"Has Chen Tianming and Yao Qiaoqiao’s relationship just taken a step further?"

No one can resist gossip; he’d been curious on the bus but couldn’t ask with his mom there. Now, looking at the chat, alone with Lin Li, Chen Yu Ying asked curiously.

But without an answer, Chen Yu Ying instinctively raised her eyes, aligning them directly with Lin Li’s unwavering gaze.

The distance was close, but since they weren’t fresh together, Chen Yu Ying just blinked instinctively, with a hint of curiosity and a tiny bit of bashfulness, lightly tilting her head in confusion:

"What’s up? Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Lin Li didn’t immediately answer her question, still holding his gaze on her face. After a moment, his lips curled with a slight grin, his voice soft and full of genuine admiration:

"Your eyes are really beautiful."

Again?

The girl, who had already been shy since her arrival today, found her bashfulness threshold—at least for today—had risen quite a bit, so she just eased a little distance, her lips curling into a helpless yet indulgent smile, nodding feel back to a chicken pecking rice, "uh-huh uh-huh," her tone slightly perfunctory:

"Uh-huh, I think so too, but thank you for the compliment. I’ll keep it up next time, hoping my eyes look even better~"

"No, no, no, you think I’m complimenting you, sweetheart, you’re just a stepping stone for me. I’m honestly thinking my eyes are prettier than yours."

Lin Li shook his head, waving his index finger back and forth in front.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh, super pretty." Chen Yu Ying just went along with his words, perfunctorily nodding again like soothing a child.

"Being perfunctory!"

"Not at all."

"Looks like I should make you feel it properly."

As Lin Li finished speaking, he pinched Chen Yu Ying’s cheek with one hand, gently pulling her head closer for another close gaze.

Chen Yu Ying’s lips moved slightly, instinctively closing her eyes.

"Why close your eyes? Look at me."

It was only then, somewhat flustered, that Chen Yu Ying opened her eyes.

"See? My eyes are prettier than yours." After holding the gaze for a few seconds, Lin Li gave a soft laugh as he concluded, "Because I can see you in my eyes, but you can’t."

Indeed, in those close-by pupils, Chen Yu Ying saw a tiny bit of her own fluster.

The breeze by the artificial lake seemed to turn gentle, carrying with it the scent of water vapor and the greenery of early spring.

But... Alas, the bashfulness threshold is too high today!

Though her face resembled a lake rippling with redness, it was only for a moment.

The next second, shy withdrawal? Quite the opposite—

Chen Yu Ying swiftly broke free from Lin Li’s hand, lightly pounding his arm with her hand:

"No more of this talk today!"

"How can you say so many... so many... real sweet words in a single day!!"

"Save it for another time!!"

Lin Li: "Class President, I realize sometimes you’re really over the top, but, someone might ask, in what way? Haha, of course—you’re excessively beautiful, and I’m excessively captivated~"

Lin Li: "Class President, do you know what my favorite meat is? Of course, it’s you, my sweetheart~"

Lin Li: "Class President, do you know Tsinghua? Of course, I’m not talking about Tsinghua University, but—Oh baby, talk a little more about Tsinghua~ Think of me and glance again~ Do a little more~ So I can truly see~"