119: Let's go to the hotel.

Liu Nansheng turned to look at Chen Li, who was laughing and joking with his friends, and thinking of everything that happened today, a blush couldn't help but rise on her face.

She nodded gently, even her ears turning red, appearing exceptionally charming and moving under the bright lights of the food stall.

As the thin veil of uncertainty between them was finally pierced, they seemed to be able to feel each other's heartbeats.

When their gazes met in mid-air, neither of them looked away this time.

Chen Li gazed at Liu Nansheng's slightly flushed cheeks, and Liu Nansheng looked at Chen Li's focused eyes.

An indescribable sentiment quickly spread between the two of them, like a flower bud quietly blooming in spring.

【Liu Nansheng】

【Affection Level: +89】

The moment the system prompt rang in his mind, Chen Li could almost not suppress the wild joy in his heart.

On the surface, he remained calm, but his heart was already in a state of upheaval.

Old friends reunited, a beauty by his side, plus inexhaustible wealth and endless abilities—at this point in life, what more could a man ask for?

Caught up in the mood, Chen Li and Liu Nansheng also shared a few drinks with their friends.

Liu Nansheng couldn't drink much to begin with, but after the ups and downs of the day, she also had a few glasses.

The alcohol painted a layer of crimson on her cheeks, making her look even more glamorous against her fair skin.

With Chen Li by her side, she completely let down her guard for the first time while out, enjoying this rare sense of ease and freedom.

However, this beauty didn't last long.

A young man with dyed yellow hair walked over from the side; his face was pale, but it was flushed red from excessive drinking.

He completely ignored the presence of Chen Li and the others, walking straight up to Liu Nansheng with a smile he thought was very graceful.

"Beautiful, can I buy you a drink?"

"I'm not drinking," Liu Nansheng refused with a cold face, feeling a surge of annoyance in her heart.

It wasn't easy to have a gathering with friends, yet she had to run into such a bothersome fly.

Chen Li immediately stood up, shielding Liu Nansheng.

Liu Zhao and Zhong Hao also stood up at the same time, the three of them forming a human wall as the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"What? You want to have a go with me?" The yellow-haired guy looked Chen Li up and down with disdain.

His height reached exactly to Chen Li's eyes, and his aura was not at all inferior, his eyes filled with an arrogant disregard for others.

From the moment Liu Nansheng walked into the food stall, his gaze had never left her.

Watching her talk and laugh freely, watching her flushed cheeks after drinking—every subtle movement of this girl was tugging at his heartstrings.

In GaoCheng County, as long as it was a girl Li Weishan took a fancy to, he had never failed.

The reason was simple: his father was Li Chang—the local richest man, worth hundreds of millions, and truly unparalleled in Gao Cheng.

"You're not welcome here, please leave," Chen Li watched him calmly.

Li Weishan chuckled, as if he felt Chen Li wasn't even worthy of talking to him.

He turned his head and said directly to Liu Nansheng, "Beautiful, fifty thousand. I'll give you fifty thousand a month. Come with me now, and I'll transfer the money immediately."

He believed no woman could refuse this price; if someone did, it was only because the price wasn't high enough.

For a top-tier beauty like Liu Nansheng, he was willing to go up to a hundred thousand.

Chen Li laughed out of extreme anger. "Are you done? If you're done, please be on your way."

Liu Nansheng cursed "lunatic" in her heart; comparing financial power with Chen Li? It was simply asking for humiliation.

"Get lost already, don't ruin our meal," Liu Zhao took a step forward and said bluntly.

Li Weishan didn't expect Liu Nansheng to be indifferent to this price.

Usually, even if the girls he took a fancy to refused at first, they would visibly waver upon hearing this number.

As long as he added a bit more, there was nothing he couldn't settle.

Unwilling to give up, he raised the price again: "One hundred thousand. One hundred thousand a month, surely that's enough?"

Liu Nansheng didn't even bother to look at him, a reaction that left Li Weishan completely stunned; this was already the highest price he could offer.

"Keep that small amount of money for yourself," Chen Li smiled contemptuously.

At this time, another young man walked over, clearly Li Weishan's companion. "Young Master Shan, not settled yet? Need help?"

He glared fiercely at Chen Li, looking ready to strike at any moment.

Chen Li's heart tightened slightly; he wasn't afraid of a fight, but he was worried it would affect Liu Nansheng and He Min.

Surprisingly, Li Weishan stopped his companion.

He gave Chen Li a meaningful look and was the first to turn back to his seat.

"A Li, those people look like trouble, we need to be careful," Zhong Hao lowered his voice, casting a wary glance at the table not far away.

Those young men were looking over here with ill intent, whispering to each other from time to time.

Chen Li's expression was as usual as he asked, "Brother Hao, do you know them?"

"I don't know them, but one looks a bit familiar, like he was in our year, though I can't remember which class."

Zhong Hao frowned, trying hard to remember. "I heard his family has some influence locally, and he's usually quite arrogant."

"Should I call some brothers over?" Liu Zhao took out his phone, his expression serious.

They grew up in this small city and had some trustworthy friends.

"What are you guys doing!" He Min immediately interrupted, glaring at them anxiously. "We agreed to come out for a meal, no fighting allowed!"

"Don't worry, it's fine," Chen Li smiled reassuringly. "We'll leave as soon as we're done eating, don't mind them."

In this rule-of-law society, he wasn't afraid of these thugs at all.

As for that rich yellow-haired guy, he cared even less—comparing financial power? Have a go if you dare.

The latter half of the meal was noticeably more somber.

No one was in the mood to chat, and they hurriedly finished the remaining dishes.

Chen Li took the initiative to get up and pay the bill, then called for a designated driver.

When Chen Li led everyone toward that Audi, Liu Zhao and Zhong Hao were both stunned.

"A Li, this... this is your car?" Liu Zhao walked around the brand-new Audi, his tone full of disbelief.

"Yeah," Chen Li leaned against the car door and casually pressed the key, the car lights flashing in response.

"My god! When did you buy an Audi? Where did the money come from?" Zhong Hao also stepped forward, eyes wide, unable to help patting Chen Li on the shoulder, his face written with shock and excitement.

Facing the curious and envious gazes of his two friends, Chen Li just smiled slightly. "I've had good luck these past two years, made some investments, and earned a lot of money."

Amidst the non-stop exclamations from Liu Zhao and Zhong Hao all the way, Chen Li dropped them off at their homes one by one.

Finally, only he and Liu Nansheng were left in the spacious back seat.

The streetlights outside the window sped past in a blur of colors, casting shifting lights and shadows inside the car.

Chen Li turned his head and looked at Liu Nansheng, who was sitting quietly beside him.

Her profile looked exceptionally soft in the flowing light and shadows, but there was a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

"Chen Li,"

She spoke softly, her tone a bit embarrassed. "All my luggage was kept at home by them. Now I don't even have a change of clothes..."

She paused, her voice getting even lower. "I have nowhere to go, either."

Chen Li took her hand, the warmth from his palm making Liu Nansheng tremble slightly.

He gazed into her eyes, his tone gentle with a hint of testing: "Then shall we go to the Shopping Mall to buy some clothes first? And then... do you want to rest at a Hotel, or would you like to come home with me?"

As soon as Chen Li finished speaking, Liu Nansheng's face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, the blush spreading from her cheeks.

Even her fair neck was stained with a light shade of pink. She subconsciously bit her lower lip, wanting to hide her face.

But there was nowhere to hide; her bashful maidenly state was fully revealed, making one feel pity and love.

Even though she had already committed to Chen Li in her heart, with her strong and straightforward personality, being asked to go home with a man to spend the night still made her so shy she didn't know what to do.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:

"Let's... let's just go to a Hotel..."