Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

An unnatural blush appeared on Chen Tingting's and Li Jiaxin's faces, and Lin Xiaoshuang also lowered her head in embarrassment.

But they pretended nothing had happened. These energetic young women, aside from anything else, are incredibly resilient! They can withstand hunger!

Bai Li didn't say anything, she just followed the crowd off the bus.

The Jinniu service area is much larger than the previous one, and it's brightly lit, like a small commercial center.

The aroma of food wafting from the restaurant, a blend of grilled sausages and oden, was an irresistible temptation for anyone starving.

After Bai Li finished using the restroom, he leaned against a pillar by the door and lit a pebble.

Amidst the swirling smoke, he spotted the three girls loitering near the restaurant entrance.

Chen Tingting put her hands in her pockets, pretending to sneer, but her eyes kept glancing inside.

Li Jiaxin maintained her cool and sassy demeanor, bending down to kick the small pebbles on the ground with the tip of her shoe.

Lin Xiaoshuang, on the other hand, pitifully clutched the hem of her clothes, her throat bobbing involuntarily.

Bai Li overheard their conversation.

"Tch, this lousy food is so expensive! Rice plus two vegetable dishes costs fifteen yuan, are they robbing people? Who cares?"

Chen Tingting's voice was quite loud, as if she was deliberately speaking to others.

But her gaze remained fixed on the glistening braised pork at the stall, unable to look away for a long time.

"It's okay to skip a meal," Li Jiaxin muttered to herself.

"Let's go back to the city and get some barbecue skewers." But there was a clear lack of confidence in his voice.

Lin Xiaoshuang swallowed hard and whispered a suggestion:

"How about... we go to the kitchen and ask if we can get some leftovers?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Tingting glared at him fiercely:

"How pathetic! When have the three of us ever bowed our heads to anyone?"

Ultimately, they reached a tacit agreement: they would rather go hungry than ask for a free bowl of rice and water.

This is the only face they can hold onto as "spiritual young women".

Bai Li stubbed out his cigarette, threw it into the trash can, said nothing, and walked straight to the fast food window.

"Hello, four set meals, please."

The woman serving vegetables at the window didn't even look up: "Which kind do you want? Fifteen or twenty?"

"The most expensive kind." Bai Li's voice was calm.

The older woman then looked up and glanced at him:

"A deluxe set meal for thirty-one yuan? Two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, plus a large chicken leg."

"Yes, that's the one."

Bai Li paused, then added, "Give those three servings as well, and add a poached egg to each one."

After paying, he picked up his portion and sat down at an empty table.

A short while later, the waiter brought over three more boxed meals piled high with food.

The steaming rice was topped with braised pork, stir-fried chicken pieces, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and green vegetables, with a golden poached egg and a glistening chicken leg on top.

The rich aroma instantly drew the attention of the three girls.

When they realized that the three meals were prepared for them, an indescribable shock appeared on the three young faces.

"Holy crap, bro, you're so extravagant!" Chen Tingting was the first to rush over, her eyes widening as she looked at the food in front of her.

Li Jiaxin followed, her brows furrowed slightly: "We might as well have bought the cheapest meal; the money saved could have bought a cup of milk tea."

In their value system, a 30-yuan boxed lunch is considered extravagant.

At the electronics factory, this was enough for them to eat white rice and pickled vegetables for several days.

Bai Li ignored their chatter, simply handed over three pairs of chopsticks, and then called out to the milk tea shop not far away:

"Three more cups of the most expensive 'Full Cup Domineering Fruit Tea' and a bottle of mineral water."

This sentence became the last straw that broke their psychological defenses.

The three girls could no longer care about being reserved. They took the chopsticks and began to wolf down their food.

Their eating manners were utterly unrefined, like those of wolves that hadn't eaten for three days.

Chen Tingting stuffed her cheeks until they were bulging, while Li Jiaxin shoveled rice down her throat quickly and hurriedly.

Lin Xiaoshuang went hungry for three days and nine meals with her two older sisters. In the afternoon, Bai Li gave them a pack of instant noodles, but the three of them had to share it, so how could they possibly be full?

Now that she had finally managed to get a top-notch boxed meal, even the corners of her eyes welled up with tears.

As they ate, they praised Bai Li indistinctly.

"Dude, you're awesome!"

"I've never eaten such delicious food in my entire life!"

"Big brother, from now on you're my real brother!"

These simple and direct compliments were the most sincere expression of their emotions that they could think of at that moment.

In Bai Li's mind, the long-awaited voice rang out one after another, like heavenly music.

[You invested 45 yuan in "Chen Tingting," and she was deeply moved: "I'm so grateful!"]

This investment has triggered a 10x return!

[Congratulations, host, you have received a rebate of 450 yuan!]

[You invested 45 yuan in "Li Jiaxin," and she was deeply moved: "I'm so grateful!"]

This investment has triggered a 10x return!

[Congratulations, host, you have received a rebate of 450 yuan!]

[You invested 45 yuan in "Lin Xiaoshuang," and she was deeply moved: "I'm so grateful!"]

This investment has triggered a 10x return!

[Congratulations, host, you have received a rebate of 450 yuan!]

The phone screen lit up, displaying three bank transfer notifications neatly arranged together.

[XX Bank: Your savings card account ending in 8868 has received a deposit of 1350.00 yuan...]

In just a few minutes, an investment of 135 yuan yielded a return of 1350 yuan!

Bai Li felt a surge of excitement. He brought up the system panel and saw that the information for the three girls had been completely updated.

Name: Chen Tingting

【Affection Level: 30 (Friend)】

Name: Li Jiaxin

【Affection Level: 30 (Friend)】

Name: Lin Xiaoshuang

【Affection Level: 30 (Friend)】

In a flash, they went from having "some goodwill" and "gratitude" to becoming "friends".

When they looked up at Bai Li again, their eyes had completely changed.

If before it was gratitude and curiosity, now, that gaze carries a kind of worship.

After we finished eating, the milk tea was delivered.

They held the cups of fruit tea, which were packed with ingredients, took a couple of sips, and then took out their phones to take pictures and post them on their WeChat Moments.

[My brother treated me to top-of-the-line milk tea! Don't be too envious.]

After posting on her WeChat Moments, Chen Tingting opened the QR code again.

"Hey bro, can I add you on WeChat?"

After Bai Li scanned the QR code and passed the request, she was immediately added to a WeChat group called "People Who Get By".

The group smoked another cigarette before heading towards the bus.

The bus still had that unpleasant smell, which made people feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Some people had already fallen asleep, and to make themselves more comfortable, they had taken off their shoes, leaving the aisle full of bare feet.

Bai Li felt extremely disgusted and could only walk sideways in the narrow space.

Back in her seat, Bai Li wanted to continue sitting by the window, but Chen Tingting grabbed her arm.

"Big brother, why don't you sit in the middle? Xiao Shuang is too young; she'll probably fall asleep soon."

"We can chat and relieve our boredom."

Bai Li had just benefited from these three spirited young women, so he didn't refuse and plopped down on one of them.

Then, Chen Tingting put her hand on his shoulder and continued talking to Bai Li as if they were already very familiar with each other.