154: Pure youth

Zhong Lili was completely stunned, her mind buzzing, and a voice inside her screamed frantically:

Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!

She subconsciously lowered her head to examine herself—the camisole dress outlined her full curves, and her meticulously maintained skin glowed white under the lights.

She didn't believe any man could remain indifferent when she threw herself into his arms so proactively, unless he wasn't a normal man at all.

Recalling today, the fervent gazes from those male classmates were the best proof.

Which boy present could refuse an invitation like hers? The more she thought about it, the more unwilling she felt.

She secretly clenched her fists, her nails almost digging into her palms.

Just wait. When they get to The Beach for the barbecue, she will definitely find an opportunity.

This time, she would have to be even more proactive—she refused to believe that Chen Li could truly remain indifferent to her forever.

She remembered a dense forest behind The Beach where she had had unforgettable experiences before; that thrill would definitely make people crave more.

By then, most of the classmates in the private room had left. She was urged by the girls accompanying her, so she had no choice but to temporarily put aside her thoughts and follow them out.

Seeing many people coming out of the private room, Liu Nansheng guessed their dinner party must be over.

Her gaze kept drifting towards the private room door—a while had passed, but she still hadn't seen that familiar figure.

Just as she was about to send a message to ask, the private room door opened again, and Chen Li and Liu Zhao walked out side by side.

Liu Nansheng's eyes lit up. She stood up, her voice filled with unconcealed joy: "Chen Li, are you done eating?"

"Yes, just finished. Let's go, let's go to The Beach for a barbecue together." Chen Li smiled and walked over to her.

Just then, many classmates who hadn't left yet noticed the commotion.

When they saw Chen Li and his group standing with Liu Nansheng, chatting and laughing, several boys immediately gathered around.

Some pretended to run into them, some directly struck up conversations, and others followed not too far away—everyone's gaze involuntarily drifted towards Liu Nansheng, trying every means to get closer.

Even Zhong Hao and Liu Zhao couldn't escape, being approached with arms around their shoulders—everyone wanted to use this opportunity to get close to Liu Nansheng, even if it was just to say a word to her.

Chen Shimei was walking out with the crowd, his gaze inadvertently sweeping across the lobby.

His footsteps abruptly halted—Liu Nansheng was actually standing with Chen Li and his group, and their conversation revealed an indescribable familiarity.

He couldn't believe his eyes. How could Liu Nansheng know Chen Li and them?

Why was Chen Li everywhere?

He watched the curve of Liu Nansheng's eyes as she looked up and laughed with Chen Li, and Chen Li's posture as he leaned slightly to listen.

That uninhibited intimacy pricked his eyes like a needle.

Chen Shimei clenched his fists, his teeth aching from clenching—judging by their intimate appearance, their relationship was clearly not ordinary.

It was then that he remembered Chen Li had indeed paid for many people's expenses. He hadn't paid attention at first, but he didn't expect it was to help Liu Nansheng and her friends.

In terms of financial resources, he indeed couldn't compare to Chen Li, but he could have completely paid that amount for Liu Nansheng!

How did Chen Li even get to know Liu Nansheng? Why did all good things and all beautiful women get involved with him? Was it just because he was rich?

Watching Chen Li and his group being surrounded by everyone, Chen Shimei felt a surge of anger rush to his head, and his chest felt tight.

He wished he could immediately pull out his phone and have Fire Head bring people to rush in and beat up this group.

But he clenched his fists tightly, his cold gaze fixed on Chen Li's back, and he forced himself to swallow his anger.

He would wait for the scene at The Beach, let Fire Head beat them half to death, and then he would step in to rescue them.

At that time, Liu Nansheng would witness his strength and righteousness firsthand, and perhaps she would see him in a new light... This thought was like a shot in the arm, allowing him to barely suppress the urge to act out on the spot.

He took a deep breath, his cold gaze never leaving Chen Li—what he needed to do now was to patiently wait for the show to begin.

The group grew larger and larger until they reached the restaurant entrance. Liu Nansheng and a few sisters walked straight towards that Audi.

Many male classmates' gazes were still glued to the car window, only reluctantly retracting their eyes when the car slowly drove out of sight.

While waiting for their cars, the classmates couldn't wait to ask questions, their eyes shining with excitement:

"Zhong Hao, how do you know Liu Nansheng?"

"Exactly, introduce us to her!"

"How about we ask Liu Nansheng to go hiking with us tomorrow?"

"Is that girl next to her her younger sister? They look so alike..."

"What's that sister's name?"

...Everyone chattered away, not giving Zhong Hao and his group a chance to speak. All the topics along the way revolved around Liu Nansheng and her friends.

Zhong Hao and Liu Zhao experienced being sought after like this for the first time, and they couldn't help but feel a little flattered.

They knew this was all thanks to Chen Li and Liu Nansheng, and watching their classmates trying to curry favor, they couldn't help but feel secretly smug.

At the same time, they also couldn't help but lament that Liu Nansheng's charm had not diminished at all; instead, it was even greater than it had been back then.

How could these 'satisfied men' understand the hunger of 'hungry men'? Back then, weren't they just as crazy about Liu Nansheng?

Watching the boys crane their necks one by one to see Liu Nansheng's car drive away, the accompanying female classmates finally couldn't help but tease them sourly:

"Oh my, your eyeballs are almost falling out! There are so many of us girls standing here, why isn't anyone looking at us?"

A short-haired girl put her hands on her hips and said, deliberately feigning a stern face.

Another girl with a ponytail chimed in:

"Exactly, from High School until now, you only have eyes for Liu Nansheng. We've been classmates for three years, and we've never seen you this enthusiastic."

"Isn't that right? It's been so long since graduation, and you're still the same as back then. Don't you get tired of it?"

The boys immediately retorted with playful smiles:

"You don't understand this. This is called youthful sentiment, understand? The campus belle will always be the campus belle, it has nothing to do with graduation."

The tall boy next to him chimed in: "Exactly, even if we know we can't get her, aren't we allowed to appreciate her? It's the same logic as you fangirling."

"That's right, that's right. Those idols you chase, don't you also shout 'husband' through the screen? We've actually seen the real person!"

Watching everyone bicker back and forth, Chen Li couldn't help but smile.

This kind of unrestrained joking, this purity of cheering only for what they liked, was the most precious part of youth.

They hadn't yet been bent by the pressures of life; they could still rejoice over a smile, a glance.

Once they truly graduated and entered society, they would have to worry about making ends meet.

Chen Li knew this all too well—he had done too many part-time jobs before.

Delivering takeout until his legs were weak, standing until his feet swelled from busing tables in restaurants, and suffering heatstroke while handing out flyers in a mascot costume during the summer.

That kind of hardship, those who hadn't experienced it firsthand couldn't even imagine.