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

Yutian Barbecue is located at the entrance of Pingxian No.1 Middle School, and this street is also the most popular place in Pingxian.

The Panamera's engine roared deep and powerful as it stopped opposite Pingxian No. 1 Middle School.

There are only three days left until Chinese New Year, and the miserable senior high school students have just started their winter vacation.

Many students chose not to go home first, but instead gathered at a restaurant near the school gate.

They were wearing school uniforms, their faces beaming with the joy of finally being temporarily liberated, and the whole street was filled with youthful hormones.

"It's been a long time since I've been here." Bai Li lowered the car window, and all he could see were seventeen or eighteen-year-old faces.

Those eyes hadn't been violated by life; they were almost too clear.

A group of girls were sitting around a folding table inside Yutian Barbecue.

The most eye-catching one was a girl with a high ponytail.

In this cold little county town, she was as clean as a handful of fresh snow in early winter.

Her appearance is that of a classic "white moonlight" beauty, youthful and innocent.

She wasn't wearing heavy makeup; her skin was fair and radiant. She was currently sipping milk tea, waiting for the grilled skewers to be served.

In just a few short minutes, Bai Li saw two groups of boys get their comeuppance.

Some people were so nervous standing next to her that they couldn't even speak, while others went up to her and took out their phones to ask for her WeChat.

The girl with the high ponytail didn't even raise her head; she simply shook it slightly.

The rejected boy scratched his head, so embarrassed he could dig a hole in the ground with his toes. He slunk back to his table, drawing laughter from his companions.

Bai Li couldn't help but take a couple more glances.

It's not that I have any particular thoughts about it, it's just that I admire it.

"Youth is truly wonderful." Bai Li exhaled a smoke ring, a sense of vicissitude welling up within him.

There was a time when he was just as green and inexperienced.

If I were still in school, I'd probably deliberately kick the ball near her feet on the playground just for a girl like that.

Unfortunately, nowadays, he sees these young girls as if they were unripe cucumbers.

"Hmph." A cold snort tinged with jealousy came from the side.

Bai Li snapped out of her daze and noticed that Zhang Qian in the back seat was squinting, her gaze sweeping over the woman with the high ponytail.

"Big brother, is it good?" Zhang Qian's voice was a little cold.

Li Mengmeng also clung to the back of the seat, her little mouth pouting so much it could hold an oil bottle, watching the outside of the window warily:

"Brother Bai Li... I think that guy is most likely still a minor... You don't want to go to jail and get shot, do you?"

The two women instantly formed a united front.

Although they are definitely not bad looking.

But faced with this invincible youth, women naturally feel a sense of crisis.

After all, men are boys until they die, and they will always love eighteen-year-olds.

Bai Li couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the two women who had spilled their vinegar jars.

He looked away and didn't glance in that direction again.

"Not even as long as my Qianqian's legs, and not as fair-skinned as Mengmeng." Bai Li casually made up a story, then pushed open the car door: "Get out, I'm starving."

Upon hearing this, the two women's expressions visibly brightened.

The four of them found a seat on the side and sat down.

"Aunt Zhang! Forty meat skewers, ten beef tendons, and some kidneys too!" Bai Li called out skillfully.

The middle-aged woman, busy at the oven, looked up, squinted for a long time, and suddenly slapped her thigh:

"Hey! Aren't these Little White and Fatty?"

Aunt Zhang tossed aside the palm-leaf fan in her hand, wiped her hands on her greasy apron, and smiled so broadly that her face crinkled into a wide grin.

"Haven't seen you guys for years, have you? When I saw that luxury car pull up just now, I was wondering which big boss it was!"

"What big boss? Just messing around." Bai Li smiled and handed him a cigarette. "Don't you want a taste? You'll be developing your career in Ping County from now on. Come back often."

"Okay, okay! Come often and I'll give you a discount!" Aunt Zhang happily accepted the gift, then turned and added a few more skewers of hard-boiled eggs: "They're free!"

Wang Wei sat on a plastic stool, the stool beneath him creaking under the weight.

He looked around at the tables of students, his eyes somewhat dazed.

"Li-ge, I really miss those days. We used to skip class and sneak out through the wall, and we'd sit right here."

Back then, they were broke, but a few strings of skewers could fuel their bragging all night, talking about how they would make a lot of money and marry the school beauty.

Now that I have money and a car, my spirit has changed.

Zhang Qian didn't say anything, but silently picked up the teapot on the table and carefully rinsed the bowls and chopsticks in front of Bai Li with boiling water.

Just as Bai Li put the cigarette in his mouth and was about to reach for his lighter, Zhang Qian had already shielded the flame with one hand and brought it close to Bai Li's mouth.

"Clatter".

The flames flickered.

This set of movements is fluid and graceful, carrying the air of江湖儿女 (jianghu children, people of the martial arts world), yet also revealing an indescribable submissiveness.

Wang Wei, who was standing next to him, was so jealous that his teeth ached and he almost broke the chopsticks in his hand.

"Damn it..." Wang Wei said with a pained expression, "Brother Li, the way you're living is... utterly outrageous!"

Is this the difference?

He treated his girlfriend like a slave, practically giving her his heart, only to be cheated on.

What about Bai Li?

This blue-haired girl is not only attractive, but her service skills are also exceptional. The key is her gaze; she seems to want to stick to Bai Li.

"Where can you find such a good girl?" Wang Wei whispered, his voice filled with envy that made Jill blush.

Bai Li took a deep drag of his cigarette and smiled. "I picked it up by the roadside."

"I want to pick it up too..." Wang Wei wailed.

At this moment, Li Mengmeng was not to be outdone.

As soon as the skewers arrived, she picked up a skewer of lamb, carefully blew on it, and then brought it to Bai Li's lips: "Brother Bai Li, ah—"

Bai Li opened her mouth and took a bite.

Wang Wei completely lost his temper, grabbed the bottle, and took a big gulp: "Damn it, why is this liquor sour?"

Zhang Qian glanced at Bai Li, her eyes filled with a hint of reproach.

Back then at the billiards hall, it was practically like picking it up off the street.

After a hotpot dinner and a few kind words, she ended up with him without really understanding what was going on.

She even gave herself away for nothing.

But she doesn't regret it.

"Actually..." Zhang Qian placed the peeled garlic cloves on Bai Li's plate and said softly, "My older brother is a million times better than me."

Wang Wei rolled his eyes: "Alright, sister-in-law, stop killing the dog. I know Brother Li is a good person, but he's a little too good."

My own failure is certainly heartbreaking, but my brother's success is even more distressing!

Zhang Qian smiled and didn't refute it further.

Outsiders only see her glamorous appearance now, driving luxury cars and wearing designer clothes.

But when everyone was avoiding her like the plague, when she was most helpless and humble, only Bai Li reached out to her.

It's like raising a character. If you raise an R card to SSR, you'll naturally get an SSR with full affinity.

Li Mengmeng seemed to sense Zhang Qian's emotions. She quietly took Zhang Qian's hand under the table and looked at her earnestly with her big eyes.

"Sister Zhang Qian, I understand what you mean."

She was the same.

One is a street-smart delinquent, the other is a rich but love-starved young girl.

Two people who were originally completely unrelated are now experiencing a strange resonance because of the same man.