118: What's going on between you and Chen Li?

For a moment, Chen Li was somewhat dazed, just staring blankly at Liu Nansheng in front of him.

Her eyelids were slightly lowered, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her cheeks, and those eyes, which usually held a hint of aloofness, were now as soft as spring waters.

Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes; this inadvertent little movement made Chen Li's heart race wildly.

He had never seen Liu Nansheng like this—shedding her usual defensiveness and coldness, her whole being exuded an indescribable gentleness and dependence.

At this moment, Chen Li suddenly understood something.

Her hesitant expression, her slightly flushed cheeks, and those eyes that didn't dare to meet his gaze—all of them were sending the same signal.

It's finally settled now... This thought quietly surfaced in his heart, a moment of irrepressible joy.

Being stared at so intently by him, Liu Nansheng felt her cheeks getting hotter and hotter.

She could clearly hear her heart beating like a drum, so she hurriedly lowered her head to stare at the tips of her shoes, even her breathing becoming light without her realizing it.

She was no longer an innocent schoolgirl who knew nothing of the world.

Having struggled in society for the past two years, seen all kinds of people, and experienced the indifference and calculations of her family, she had long ago built a thick wall around her heart.

Now, Chen Li, with his sincerity and gentleness, was bit by bit chipping away at this hard shell.

She didn't want to weigh the pros and cons anymore; she only wanted to follow her heart's truest desire—to be close to him, to trust him.

In the small living room, the air seemed to become thick.

There was less than half an arm's length between them, yet an indescribable ambiguity permeated the space.

Chen Li could almost smell the faint fragrance of her hair and feel the warmth radiating from her body.

His Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously, a strong impulse surging in his heart, wanting to have her right now.

But in the end, he suppressed the thought with his reason.

I still can't be impulsive... The system's quota hadn't been maxed out yet; according to her current favorability, spending about ten million or so would be just about right.

And looking at this trend, her favorability would likely continue to rise. It would be better to wait a bit longer for the most suitable moment.

The two of them sat quietly side by side like that, neither speaking, yet they seemed to be able to hear each other's heartbeats.

Not until Chen Li's phone rang did the silence break.

It was a message from Liu Zhao: "A Li, I'm out. Shunan Food Stall, you know the place, the old spot."

"Okay, heading over now."

After Chen Li quickly replied, he turned to look at Liu Nansheng, his voice softening unconsciously: "Nansheng, let's go eat."

"Mhm."

She nodded gently. As she stood up, a faint, genuine smile played on her lips... Chen Li parked the car steadily by the roadside, and Liu Nansheng followed him out.

Before them was the familiar Shunan Food Stall, brightly lit under the night sky and bustling with people.

The sound of spatulas hitting woks, the chatter and laughter of diners, and the clinking of beer bottles intertwined, full of the atmosphere of everyday life.

Chen Li stood at the entrance, his eyes searching through the noisy crowd.

Liu Nansheng followed quietly half a step behind him, her head slightly lowered.

She wore a simple white T-shirt and beige sweatpants, yet they couldn't hide her ethereal, fairy-like temperament; the ordinary T-shirt couldn't conceal her soft, rounded fullness.

In such a mundane environment, her fresh and refined Appearance was exceptionally striking.

Soon, several young men at nearby tables drinking beer noticed her.

The originally noisy atmosphere suddenly quieted down a bit, followed by a burst of suppressed discussion.

"Old Three, have you seen this girl before?"

"Never. She's definitely not a local..."

"She's way too stunning..."

"Who's that guy? He looks like a student..."

Gaze after gaze focused on Liu Nansheng, making her feel uneasy all over.

She rarely went out, spending her time either working or doing part-time jobs at home; it had been a long time since she had experienced being the center of attention like this.

The last time she felt like this was back in school.

Chen Li naturally noticed these gazes as well.

Although he was long used to attracting attention when going out with beautiful women, this was a small county town after all; people here might be more direct and bold than in the city.

However, he wasn't too worried; these hoodlums would at most just gawk, not go as far as actually causing trouble.

Chen Li finally saw some familiar figures at a corner table—Liu Zhao, Zhong Hao, and Zhong Hao's girlfriend, He Min.

He led Liu Nansheng through the crowded aisle toward them.

Liu Zhao was just raising his beer glass to drink when he looked up and saw Chen Li and Liu Nansheng behind him.

He froze completely, his glass suspended in mid-air, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"A Li, is... is this Liu Nansheng?" Liu Zhao asked stutteringly, his eyes wide.

He knew this girl all too well—during their three years of High School, the three of them had mentioned her countless times.

It could be said that they might forget their own Appearance, but they would never forget what Liu Nansheng looked like.

This was also why, when Chen Li had only seen her profile at the 'Jade Emperor Clubhouse' back then, he had recognized her and become captivated.

"Liu Nansheng!!" Zhong Hao was also so startled that he stood up directly from his plastic chair, nearly knocking over the beer bottles on the table.

"Nansheng!" Beside him, He Min cried out in surprise and quickly stood up to greet her.

"He Min." Liu Nansheng also recognized this rare friend from her High School days, and a sincere smile finally appeared on her face.

The scene immediately became lively.

Liu Nansheng was pulled by He Min to sit on a long plastic bench, and the two girls immediately began chatting warmly.

Meanwhile, Chen Li was sandwiched between Liu Zhao and Zhong Hao. The two stared at him with scrutinizing gazes, as if waiting for him to provide a reasonable explanation.

Looking at his two best friends' expressions of disbelief, Chen Li nodded with a bitter smile.

The two immediately understood and let out an exaggerated wail in unison.

"You're good, kid!" Liu Zhao slapped Chen Li's shoulder hard, both envious and happy for him.

"At least the good stuff didn't go to an outsider," Zhong Hao also remarked, clinking his beer bottle against Chen Li's.

After some pleasantries, Chen Li formally introduced Liu Zhao and Zhong Hao to Liu Nansheng.

He Min leaned in closer to Liu Nansheng and asked curiously in a low voice, "Nansheng, you haven't been back for years. What’s going on between you and Chen Li?"