When she realized what Lin Li was really saying, Ding Sihan had to scold with a stern face while suppressing a smile, which was quite exhausting.

"Since I fooled you once," Lin Li reverted to his human form, got up, took the bill from Ding Sihan's hand, and smiled, "Dingzi, this meal, it's on me."

"You sure know how to be filial." Ding Sihan wasn't shy at all, accepted without any thought of rejection, feeling at peace.

Lin Li was about to walk out when his clothes were suddenly grabbed.

Turning back, he saw Bai Bufan looking serious as he told Lin Li word by word, "Bro, prank me once, quickly."

"Baby, for you, I don't even need to prank you; I'll treat you."

Bai Bufan nodded contently, not because of brotherhood, but because he understood that what Lin Li said was indeed a prank.

Thus, the precondition of a prank for a treat was fulfilled.

So Lin Li paid for it.

"I'll go find someone to settle the bill, you guys clean up." Lin Li, seeing Bai Bufan understood, indicated this.

"Okay."

The "trio" cleaned up in a few seconds and found Lin Li still standing by the table, looking at him with some confusion.

At that moment, Lin Li was looking around, his gaze sharp, more brilliant than lightning. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Lin Li, what are you doing?" Chen Yu Ying asked.

"Looking for someone to settle the bill." Lin Li turned back and explained naturally.

"The front desk is at the entrance," Chen Yu Ying tilted her head slightly, a lock of hair falling by her cheek, adding to her confusion, "Are you waiting for a waiter?"

Everything you do exudes charm, Ha Ji Ying, there's really nothing I can do about you.

"No, I'm waiting for an opportunity." Lin Li could only elaborate further.

Bai Bufan's eyebrows suddenly furrowed, realizing things might not be simple, and briskly stepped forward to grab Lin Li's clenched left hand.

Then he saw in Lin Li's hand, sometime unbeknownst, was a bottle cap.

Bai Bufan: "..."

Bai Bufan's mouth twitched a couple of times before he couldn't hold it any longer:

"What the hell kind of looking for someone to settle the bill is this!!"

"Shut up—"

With Bai Bufan, there was no need to be gentle like with Chen Yu Ying, Lin Li didn't even bother to look at Bai Bufan, his gaze continued to search the restaurant.

Now everything was ready, just missing a fiery Freljordian.

"Found him! That seems to be the Northeastern guy! Bufan, carry the speaker and follow me, remember to help me play 'With all the past hardships, exchange for a bit of happiness and bliss tomorrow' in a moment."

"Idiot—"

Bai Bufan laughed and gave a standard middle finger.

...

The internet was full of lies; the Northeastern guy didn't treat them, but instead asked Lin Li if the spherical thing above his neck was a basket, questioning how a local could ask a non-local for a meal.

So in the end, Lin Li used the money he originally planned to give to Wu Min for the New Year to settle the bill.

"Wait a minute, Lin Li, you said you'd treat Bai Bufan and Si Han, and Yu Ying is your girlfriend, does that mean I'm the only one who has to transfer you money?" As they walked out of the restaurant, the afternoon breeze gently blew, Qu Wanqiu frowned.

Then, without waiting for Lin Li to answer, Qu Wanqiu's eyebrows relaxed, having self-resolved: "Then I won't transfer either."

Lin Li nodded appreciatively, giving a thumbs-up, his tone kind: "Truly my daughter."

"But you're using shamelessness in the wrong place. Of course, as a father, I would not favor one over the other, even if you did have face, I wouldn't take your money, Jiujiu."

"As I deserve."

"Tsk— heh—"

Beside him, Bai Bufan suddenly let out a meaningful sigh, shaking his head, looking at Lin Li with deep pity.

"What's the matter?" Lin Li noticed the gaze and turned to ask Bai Bufan.

"Nothing, just feeling a bit sorry for you rich folks." Bai Bufan commented with a sense of superiority, his eyes shifting to concern:

"Lin Li, in the still of the night, won't you feel that having money is really pitiful?"

"Why would you think that?" Lin Li was curious.

"Because us poor folks, when things are tight, we experience more pleasure during those quiet nights than you guys do."

Bai Bufan's face was lit with pure joy:

"And you wealthy people, relaxed with your money, likely don't feel much; just thinking about it is quite sad..."

Bai Bufan smiled lightly, the sense of superiority fully exposed at this moment, his eyes gathering into a silent sneer.

Lin Li: "(;☉_☉)?"

Your mother.

Even a sage at Bai Bufan's household wouldn't help with such logic.

Lin Li shook his head, unconcerned: "I just transfer the money out while doing it, won't that solve it?"

"I could even go back and forth with transactions while at it, nine tight and one loose, what about you?"

"Wait, no?" Bai Bufan's triumphant logic found its flaw, and suddenly he wasn't smiling.

"..."

"Lin Li, you're hurting my sensitive, insecure, and fragile self. As an apology, you also pay for the ride back."

...

After taking a cab back to the library, everyone put away their playful manner, thinking they might as well study seriously since they were already there.

Since they were already there.

No unexpected incidents occurred, after all, they had studied like this a couple of times already.

Except for Ding Sihan acting weirdly, every now and then suddenly lowering her head to check under the table, inspecting Lin Li's legs and Chen Yu Ying's legs, still sitting next to Lin Li, to see if they were positioned normally.

Every time Lin Li's hand went down, this woman didn't even pretend, closely following, even taking out her phone.

If only Ding Sihan were male, Lin Li would have let Ying Bao report her for secretly filming.

No, under the current version, he could start with "I thought you were a boy."

In conclusion, the stumbling block on the road of relationships, none past Ding Sihan.