Chapter 191

The next day at noon, after eating lunch at his parents' breakfast shop, Li Luo said goodbye to his parents and took Ying Chanxi to the affiliated No. 1 Middle School.

He brought some sunflower seeds and fruit for the school gate security guard, chatted cheerfully with the two guards, and smoothly brought Ying Chanxi into the school.

He also ensured that several people following behind could enter without obstruction.

Whether students could enter or leave school during holidays often depended entirely on the guards' moods.

Maintaining good relations with them was always beneficial.

After entering the school, Li Luo took Ying Chanxi straight to the outdoor basketball court, where he immediately spotted Zhao Rongjun idly shooting hoops.

When Zhao Rongjun saw Ying Chanxi on the court, he sighed helplessly and accepted the reality.

"You really came…"

"Not welcome?" Ying Chanxi grinned.

"Not that," Zhao Rongjun said, exasperated, and tossed the ball to Li Luo.

Li Luo caught it with one hand and chuckled, "Hope you don't cry later."

"What do you mean?"

"Literal meaning." Li Luo dashed to the basket, sank the shot, landed gracefully, then added, "So tell me about you—what exactly happened?"

"Sigh… it's just like that," Zhao Rongjun looked troubled. "I just feel like I'm such a terrible person."

"Huh?" Li Luo blinked, wondering if the impact was really that severe—how could he be such a terrible person?

Ying Chanxi beside him was also stunned and quickly comforted him: "Don't think like that. Everyone has their first time. You just confessed—you didn't harass her."

"Huh? I didn't confess." Zhao Rongjun blinked, confused. "I just left school with Luo Jiajia after the bonfire party last night, then saw her boyfriend come to pick her up."

Ying Chanxi: "..."

Li Luo: "... So you didn't even ask her out? Then why do you feel like such a terrible person?"

"It's… not just about that," Zhao Rongjun sighed again, then walked to a nearby bench, picked up a plastic bag, and handed it to Li Luo and Ying Chanxi. "Here, try some—they've all been washed."

Li Luo took it curiously, opened the bag, and found it was filled with a large quantity of strawberries.

He didn't bother with politeness, grabbed two for Ying Chanxi, popped one into his own mouth, then asked, "So what's the real issue? If you know Luo Jiajia has a boyfriend, just give up already."

"Of course I know that," Zhao Rongjun ate a strawberry gloomily, then paced under the basket while dribbling. "But look at these strawberries—aren't they delicious?"

"Sweet, and big too."

"My grandma picked them from a relative's garden," Zhao Rongjun said. "Earlier, Luo Jiajia mentioned in conversation that she really wanted to eat strawberries, so I mentioned it to my grandparents when I got home."

"I didn't expect Grandma to silently go pick a whole box—this bag is only about one-fifth of it."

"I just… feel really guilty… because I didn't want them for myself—only Luo Jiajia did."

Hearing this, Li Luo was somewhat surprised.

So Zhao Rongjun's "terrible person" comment meant this?

"You're something else," Li Luo laughed and shook his head. "If you think this way, your grandparents must already be thrilled."

"But I feel…" Zhao Rongjun paused, "Before, I always thought Luo Jiajia was nice to me, so maybe she liked me, and I wanted to be nice to her too."

"When she said she wanted strawberries, I'd think about buying her some."

"But now I realize—if Luo Jiajia is nice to me, my grandparents are even nicer."

"So why did I never think about being nicer to them?"

Li Luo blinked, surprised to hear such philosophical words come from Zhao Rongjun.

"Good, good, impressive," Li Luo laughed and patted his shoulder. "Thinking this way is perfect—no matter how nice a girl is, family always comes first."

"You're thinking clearly now," Ying Chanxi said. "I was actually planning how to comfort you."

"You can still comfort me now," Zhao Rongjun said. "What should I do?"

"See what your grandparents need," Li Luo snatched the ball from him, executed a three-step layup, then added, "Buy them small gifts."

"Hmm… I thought the same, but…" Zhao Rongjun scratched his head. "My allowance comes from my grandparents—I never have much left over."

"I was thinking my grandparents wear cotton coats made by Grandma in winter."

"So I wanted to buy them down jackets—but even the cheap ones cost a hundred or two hundred."

"If I save up, it'll take one or two months—by then winter will almost be over."

Hearing this, Li Luo burst out laughing: "Just borrow money from me."

"No way," Zhao Rongjun shook his head vigorously. "Borrowing money changes the feeling."

"You're really hard to please," Li Luo rolled his eyes.

As the three discussed what to buy for his grandparents and how to buy it, another figure appeared at the court entrance.

"Hi~"

Xu Youyu waved and hurried over to the basket.

Zhao Rongjun saw Xu Youyu and was stunned, then turned to Li Luo: "Why is senior sister here too?"

"Ying Chanxi was just watching us play alone—it's boring," Li Luo said. "So I called senior sister over to join."

Zhao Rongjun: "... Let's just play first, no more talking."

"Fine," Li Luo smiled, dropped the subject of his buddy's embarrassment, and started a one-on-one game with him.

Xu Youyu sat beside Ying Chanxi and ate the strawberries Zhao Rongjun had brought.

Soon, Yan Zhusheng and Qiao Xinyan also appeared beside the court.

Now Zhao Rongjun was completely overwhelmed.

"You bastard," Zhao Rongjun hissed under his breath. "This wasn't the plan yesterday! Why are more people showing up?"

"Cough… calm down, calm down," Li Luo patted his buddy's shoulder. "It's not your first time—why so nervous? Just get used to it."

Zhao Rongjun's head was full of black lines: "... I shouldn't have told you about this."

"I didn't expose you—none of the others know about your breakup except Ying Chanxi."

"I'm not heartbroken; I've just suddenly seen through the illusions of the mortal world."

"Alright, alright, alright." Li Luo chuckled, "Go tell your grandparents—I'm having dinner at my place today, and let our good sisters give you some proper advice."

"I really owe you one..."

At four in the afternoon, after playing basketball with Ying Chanxi and the others, Li Luo checked the time and began assigning tasks.

"Ying Chanxi and Qiao Xinyan, go buy vegetables at the market. Xu Youyu and Yan Zhusheng, go buy snacks at the supermarket."

"What about you two?"

"I'm in charge of cooking," Li Luo said. "Zhao Rongjun will assist me."

After assigning the tasks, Li Luo urged the girls to get going, then headed toward Bihai Lanting with Zhao Rongjun.

"Why am I assisting you?" Zhao Rongjun asked, puzzled. "Aren't you usually helped by Ying Chanxi?"

"I just thought of a solution," Li Luo said. "Since you don't want to borrow money, I have another trick—something that can get you enough money to buy a down jacket in half a month."

"Really?"

"Of course it's real. Do you think I'd lie to you?" Li Luo chuckled. "It'll be a bit hard work, though."

"I don't care how hard it is—as long as I make money."

"Then come to my place these next few days," Li Luo said. "I'll teach you how to make fried rice with eggs."

"Huh?"