Quadruple split.

Chapter 2840 An Invitation

"A pair of invincible, unbeatable, and unbreakable fists..."

Li Lei softly repeated Bai Fujin's words, then gently shook his head: "I don't quite understand what you mean, Miss Bai, and I have no interest in responding to your invitation. In short, thank you for going to so much trouble for me. I'm really sorry for spoiling the mood."

"Great strength?"

Bai Fujin smiled slightly and said calmly, "I don't understand that."

"Although I don't know how much preparation Ms. Bai has made for this meeting, I think that from choosing the location to the point where I had to share a table with you just now, it must have taken a lot of manpower and resources. So, both morally and logically, I should apologize for my abrupt rejection."

Li Lei looked around, then sighed softly, his gaze meeting Bai Fujin's with unwavering resolve. He said solemnly, "From both a moral and legal standpoint, I am the captain of the [Crimson Constellation] club. The club, the boss, the fans, and my partners have all treated me very well, and I have an obligation to stay with them until the end."

Bai Fujin nodded and echoed softly, "Of course, I know that Mr. Li is an upright person, so much so that he is not the best candidate for us, but... is it really okay to continue like this?"

"What do you mean?"

Li Lei frowned slightly and said seriously, "I got almost everything I wanted from [Red Constellation]. My current life and fame are all thanks to the club that took me from an unknown ordinary student to where I am now. Not to mention that [Red Constellation] is no different from my 'home', even from the perspective of gratitude, I will not leave here."

Li Lei didn't talk about money because he knew very well that since the other party had come to him, and was the daughter of the Bai Group, they were very likely to offer him a salary much, much, much higher than his current income. In fact, Zhang Fei and others from [Breaking Wind Bird] had already tried this before, and without exception, they had all been turned down by him.

In fact, even Luo Ou himself had discussed a raise with Li Lei several times, saying that he couldn't offer a lower salary than others who tried to poach him, but Li Lei had seriously rejected it each time.

The reason is simple: Li Lei is a person with a very clear self-awareness. Therefore, he knows very well that money is basically just a number to him now. As long as he doesn't develop any bad habits, the string of numbers in his salary card, which is terrifying to others, is enough for him to live a life of comfort for ten lifetimes. Under these circumstances, Li Lei, whose salary is basically commensurate with his abilities, does not want Luo Ou to pay him extra to stay.

This isn't simply because he's a principled person; rather, Li Lei himself doesn't want to be under so much pressure. Ultimately, all the highest-paid players in the sports world need to provide convincing proof of their abilities, and Li Lei believes that his current pressure is just right. If he were to get a raise, it would only cause him to have unnecessary worries that would affect his performance.

Bai Fujin seemed to be well aware of this as well.

"Please don't misunderstand, Mr. Li. Although I believe I am 'sincere' enough in every aspect, I am not the kind of person who thinks you can be bought off simply by 'salary'. In fact, that is the least significant part of our conversation in my opinion."

Bai Fujin casually picked up a steamed bun in front of Li Lei and asked leisurely, "Mind if we find a place to have a cup of tea together? This place is nice, and I like the lively atmosphere, but it's not exactly a place to have a quiet chat."

Li Lei shook his head and said helplessly, "I'm sorry to refuse, Miss Bai. I'm very sorry, but the most I can give you right now is probably just an autograph."

"Okay, then please sign this bowl in a bit. Consider it proof that we had breakfast together. Heh, isn't that a bit ambiguous?"

Bai Fujin poked at the large bowl of tofu pudding in front of her, then smiled and said softly, "However, I would still like to invite you to have a cup of tea with me. Trust me, it won't take up too much of your time. And I can guarantee that if you still refuse after we finish talking, I will not pester you like those persistent pests. By the way, no matter what the outcome, Bai's Group will offer at least a 5% discount on its peripheral cooperation with [Chixing Network Technology Co., Ltd.] next quarter."

Li Lei: "..."

"However, if you decline my invitation to have tea~"

Bai Fujin blinked and said casually, "Just based on your signature, I can still promise to give your company preferential treatment in the future cooperation. However... for a long time to come, you may face the situation you are in today. Hmm, having a meal with someone like me once in a while sounds like a good idea?"

"That sounds really good."

Li Lei smiled wryly, and finally sighed, "But, let's just forget about it."

Bai Fujin's lips curled slightly: "So, you agree?"

"If your previous promises stand... okay."

Li Lei scratched his head, then took a deep breath and said seriously, "Let me finish my meal first."

"it is good."

Bai Fujin nodded readily, then ate his breakfast quietly without saying another word.

……

A moment later, a car that didn't look particularly flashy, but was considered a dream car by car enthusiasts like Yi Dong, slowly pulled up to the side of the road. A young woman wearing a pretty pleated skirt, who, although not as beautiful as Bai Fujin, was still quite pretty, stepped out of the driver's seat and walked gracefully to the two of them, giving a slight bow: "Miss, Mr. Li, I've come to pick you up."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Bai Fujin gracefully stood up, then turned to Li Lei, who had just finished the last bite of his fried dough stick and looked weak, and gestured for him to enter: "Then, please, Mr. Li."

"Ok."

Li Lei nodded helplessly, then nodded to the girl who opened the car door for him and politely said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Mr. Li."

The girl smiled, looking quite pleased with herself.

"Ah Qing, could you please ask the owner to wash the bowl I used to eat tofu pudding, and then find me a ballpoint pen?"

Bai Fujin gave a lighthearted instruction and smiled at the somewhat bewildered A Qing, saying, "I just got Mr. Li's autograph."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Ah Qing nodded vigorously and said in a light tone, "Then please wait a moment, Miss and Mr. Li, I'll be right back..."

"no need."

Bai Fujin shook his head and then walked to the driver's seat: "After you pack your things, drive the car in the back back. After all, he is my idol, and I think it's more sincere to drive him myself."

"I...I understand, Miss."

Ah Qing, whose expression changed slightly, trembled and, abandoning her previous crisp and decisive manner, stammered out a sentence. Then, she bowed slightly to Li Lei again and turned to get the bowl of tofu pudding that Bai Fujin had just eaten to negotiate with the owner.

"This……"

Li Lei, who was already sitting in the back seat, awkwardly poked his head out and said with a wry smile, "It can't be that bad, can it?"

"That's really going too far."

Bai Fujin gently closed the car door from the outside, then walked around to the front of the car and sat in the driver's seat. While skillfully turning the key to start the engine, he said without turning his head, "Didn't I tell you? You're my idol. It's my honor to drive for my idol."

"Uh……"

For some reason, Rebecca Hopkins suddenly flashed into Li Lei's mind. He opened his mouth and said helplessly, "By the way, who are Miss Bai's idols?"

"That depends on the situation."

Bai Fujin shrugged, started the car and drove slowly forward, saying without turning his head, "At least at this moment, my only idol is Xinglong, the legendary player of [Red Constellation], and you, Mr. Li."

"I see, I understand now."

Li Lei nodded, then suddenly said in a somewhat serious tone, "In that case, Miss Bai, please don't call yourself my fan anymore."

Bai Fujin paused for a moment, looked up at Li Lei in the back seat through the mirror, and asked, "Why?"

"Because that wouldn't be fair to my real fans." Li Lei looked straight ahead at the road and said calmly, "I don't want to let down those who truly like me."

Bai Fujin shrugged and casually turned on the windshield wipers: "So, Mr. Li isn't planning on giving me an autograph?"

"The signature is still fine."

Li Lei smiled and asked curiously, "Is it raining outside?"

"No, I just bumped into it by accident."

Bai Fujin gently shook his head, then raised his hand and sounded a whistle.

Li Lei/The old man on the sidewalk who had just bought breakfast: "?!?!"

"I'm sorry, this car is usually driven by Ah Qing, so I'm not very familiar with its functions."

As Bai Fujin spoke, he calmly closed the baby lock.

"that……"

Having already obtained his driver's license, Li Lei, whose forehead was inexplicably beaded with cold sweat, took a deep breath and whispered a reminder: "I think the windshield wipers should be a little in front of Ms. Bai's right hand, yes, that... not that! That's for spraying windshield washer fluid, don't spray... no, ouch!"

"Don't panic."

Bai Fujin shook his head and said calmly, "I've already turned it off."

"Open it!"

While frantically fastening his seatbelt (he didn't have the habit of wearing a seatbelt when sitting in the back seat; good kids who don't want to die shouldn't follow his example), Li Lei shouted, "The windshield is covered in washer fluid!"

"Ah."

Bai Fujin nodded slightly, then expertly (?) turned the windshield wipers back on, and then frowned slightly, saying, "Why does it feel a bit weak? Did A-Qing forget to fill up the gas tank?"

"No energy? Keep going!"

Li Lei froze for a moment, then abruptly looked down to the other person's right and shouted loudly, "Handbrake! Handbrake! Handbrake! Handbrake! Handbrake!!!"

"Oh?"

Bai Fujin glanced at the handbrake on his right, then raised the corner of his mouth slightly, casually put it down, and said with a half-smile, "Interesting."

"It's not fun at all!"

Li Lei quickly pulled his ID card from his wallet, held it in his mouth, and asked in a terrified voice, his voice trembling with fear, "Do you even know how to drive?!"

"I can drive."

Bai Fujin tightened her grip on the steering wheel slightly, then took a deep breath, as if reaffirming a certain belief, and emphasized, "That's right, of course I can drive!"

"..."

Li Lei said nothing, but gripped the handrail above the car window with both hands and began to pray to the gods and Buddhas for protection.

……

Half an hour later, Bai Fujin smoothly parked the car using the automatic parking system and arrived at the teahouse [Baihe], which was about 1.5 kilometers away from the breakfast stall. He turned to Li Lei, who was almost fainting, and smiled slightly: "Let's go."

"So you weren't sent by [Windbreaker] or any other club to assassinate me..."

With a trembling right hand, Li Lei stuffed the ID card he had been holding in his mouth back into his wallet. His eyes filled with the relief of surviving a disaster, he hurriedly unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the car door, and got out of the iron coffin. He almost tripped and fell as he got out.

"Excuse me."

Bai Fujin wasn't the type to be overly concerned with saving face, so he said in a generous manner, "I haven't driven for a while, so I'm not very skilled. Please forgive me."

No, no, no, no, no! This has absolutely nothing to do with being skilled or not skilled. You're simply not good at driving and are not suited to driving at all!

While inwardly complaining, Li Lei forced a smile and said in a dry voice, "It's...it's okay."

"Okay, then come up with me."

Bai Fujin smiled slightly and led the way into the elegant-looking teahouse. He said in a calm tone, "This is one of my properties. It's not open to the public this morning. Apart from two trusted chefs, everyone else has been given half a day of paid leave, which is perfect for chatting."

"I think so too."

As if reborn, Li Lei, who had inexplicably become particularly Zen-like, nodded and then followed along with unsteady steps.

……

Ten minutes later
Teahouse [Baihe], second-floor inner room [Wuhan Fengyue]

"Thank you."

Having finally recovered, Li Lei accepted the tea and thanked the white-haired master beside him. After the master left, he turned to Bai Fujin and said solemnly to the elegant beauty who seemed to have stepped out of a painting in this scene: "Then, please allow me to say it again, under no circumstances do I intend to leave the [Red Constellation]. I didn't before, and I won't in the future."

“Nothing in this world is static, Mr. Li.”

Bai Fujin took a sip of tea, narrowed her beautiful eyes, and said softly, "Just like not long ago, no one could have imagined that the once-famous divine song would have the opportunity to return to the world, including you and me, right?"

"Ms. Bai, you..."

“I have many sources of information, Mr. Li, but that’s not the point.”

"..."

"The key point is that I hope you can rediscover your true 'self'."

"I don't understand..."

"Instead of being strangled into weakness by so-called responsibility and emotions."

"..."

"You are never weaker than anyone else."

"I never thought I was better than Ren..."

"The premise is that you can make up your mind to be yourself again, the 'self' that is purer than anyone else's."

Chapter 2831: The End