CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: THIS IS SO AUTHENTIC!

Lin Li returned to his seat with a frown.

As mentioned before, Lin Li’s English grades are average, and his spoken English is a mess. He can spell many words, but reading them aloud is a no-go.

I just scored a big fat zero on my recitation test. Why don’t you give it a try?

Anyway, he still has to recite something next class.

Actually, Bai Bufan’s recitation is also dog poo, but he managed to fumble through it. All he needs to do is recite it to the group leader after class.

That’s no big deal; the group leader’s basically a buddy, turning a blind eye most of the time.

Now Bai Bufan is more curious about something else and while facing the English textbook, his eyes have already been glancing at Lin Li:

"Lin Li, what’s up? What did the principal want with you?"

"Confession." Lin Li answered gloomily.

Bai Bufan: "?"

"I told him student-teacher relationships are not appropriate, and I’d consider it after graduation." Lin Li said with an air of seriousness.

Bai Bufan recalled the principal’s image in his mind and felt a wave of admiration, cupping his hands as he said: "You must really be desperate."

Then Bai Bufan, with quick reflexes, intercepted two envelopes Lin Li was about to put in his drawer. Seeing they weren’t sealed, he invaded Lin Li’s privacy on the spot by opening them, and then his eyes widened.

Thinking quickly, Bai Bufan looked sympathetically at Lin Li: "Did the principal strong-arm you? Is this hush money? Lin Li, buy some good preventive medicine, don’t get sick."

Lin Li couldn’t be bothered to respond.

"Wait, will your farts be soundless from now on?" Bai Bufan found another blind spot.

Lin Li: "?"

After swearing at Bai Bufan’s ancestors a bit, Lin Li took back the envelopes. The one containing money was casually thrown into the drawer.

In school, it’s perfectly safe to keep money in drawers or even on desks. Most students wouldn’t covet such things, and besides, there are large surveillance cameras above the front door keeping an eye on everyone.

However, if it’s tissues or snacks, don’t even think about leaving them on your desk. They’re a highly risky proposition, even in drawers.

Especially tissues, after gym class, coming back late is a disaster; they’re like eggs by the roadside in India, all you find is their hollow, empty shell after being fried by many.

Lin Li started to tally up the supermarket card’s value.

"Why is there a supermarket card, and it’s only for these things? Lin Li, I remember you don’t really cook, do you? Do you even know how to use it?" Bai Bufan asked after seeing the envelope’s contents.

"Who said I don’t cook? I know many recipes. Let me put it this way, I have a homemade little dish~" Lin Li replied in a perfect Beijing accent.

Bai Bufan reacted quickly: "No soy sauce allowed."

"...Then there’s nothing left."

Yu Qian’s recipes have three characteristics with one core. The characteristics are simple, cheap, and hard to eat, with soy sauce being the core.

Better go and learn some recipes from Huang Lei, his seem awesome, with virtually no negative reviews on any shows.

Whoever says the recipe is bad, I say it’s fantastic.

Having finished counting, the value of the supply card is nearly eight hundred. Even cashing it out should guarantee at least seven hundred, a handy hidden reserve for emergencies.

Bai Bufan could no longer hold back his curiosity and asked: "Bro, what’s the deal? I’m begging you bro, tell me, I feel ants crawling all over me, driving me crazy."

"It’s nothing, just that I helped the local police station solve a case over the weekend. They came today to deliver a commendation letter alongside this prize money and gifts." Lin Li explained.

Since the commendation letter is to be posted up, absolutely keeping it a secret wouldn’t be feasible, and continual questioning would be a hassle. Better to say roughly what happened.

"Really? That’s pretty awesome." Bai Bufan widened his eyes. This sounded a bit more believable than the principal confessing, "What kind of case? Must be a big prize like several thousand, right? What did you do to get so much?"

"I discovered and reached the crime scene, confirmed the criminal act, and immediately called the police. Then I personally tangled with one of the suspects to buy time.

My body endured her numerous rubs and presses, and though I couldn’t help letting out a few noises, relying on my unwavering resolve, I held on until the police arrived, finally unraveling the entire case and restoring peace to Xiling Town."

Lin Li smiled slightly, calmly recounting his glorious exploits.

"Bro, stop exaggerating, just tell me the truth, did you find a wallet full of a billion cash?" This description was too far-fetched; Bai Bufan didn’t buy it at all.

"If even a single word just said is false, may I become impotent." Lin Li sneered, staring coldly at Bai Bufan.

This time, Bai Bufan had to believe it. He knew Lin Li would never joke about his authentic Old Xiling Chicken Rolls.

Moreover, Lin Li actually hadn’t uttered any lies just now.

He only regretted not having another twenty minutes of battle with Xiaojing.

Stunned, Bai Bufan covered his mouth, then looked Lin Li over as if searching for leftover bruises but found none.

"The pain is in my heart, not my body. In this incident, the greatest torture I suffered was mental." Lin Li stated calmly.

That statement was true too, grieving that unexperienced twenty minutes.

Bai Bufan was genuinely impressed: "You really are something. But given your weak constitution, how did the criminal not beat you? It’s a bit ridiculous?"

"Even the weakest person, if they use a slide tackle, even a tiger has no choice but to accept its fate of being gutted by a toenail, let alone an unguarded person. Besides, I’m not the same weakling I used to be.

Bafan, abstain from lust, you wouldn’t understand if you haven’t truly abstained, abstinence works like this."

"Who hasn’t truly abstained? What’s hard about abstaining? I do it every day." Bai Bufan flushed red, indignantly defending his honor, "But you still haven’t said, what kind of case was it? Was there a robbery or a theft?"

The question is well asked; next time, don’t ask.

But Lin Li was well prepared.

"This was discussed with the school and police station, and it needs to be kept confidential, so I’m sorry, I can’t tell you." Lin Li said with the air of a sage.

"But you know, I can keep secrets really well, I even swear on my chicken rolls, please tell me, I promise I won’t spill it." Bai Bufan was itching to know, feeling itches all over his body.

"As Buddha said: ’Not to be said.’" Lin Li shook his head with a smile, "Bufan, just pay attention in class."

Lin Li adjusted his position, preparing to fall asleep, he hadn’t forgotten his original intention.

Bai Bufan was so annoyed he ground his teeth.

Soon after.

Bai Bufan suddenly turned his head again.

Xiling Town isn’t a big place.

The news flow should be pretty fast here, but this week, he hasn’t heard of any major incidents happening.

Additionally, helping with a case, what’s there that can’t be said, it’s so commendable, such an achievement, yet you can’t even tell your close buddy.

The bond between himself and Lin Li, to describe it simply, if both were watching TV on the couch and one couldn’t find the remote, they’d never accuse the other of sitting on it.

What could possibly be unspeakable?

—— Unless it’s the anti-vice case that Zhou Baowei mentioned.

"Lin Li, did you assist in uncovering Bao Wei’s anti-vice raid?" Bai Bufan inquired.

Lin Li closed his eyes.

"I know you’re not asleep."

Lin Li opened his eyes and immediately rolled them in exasperation: "How is that possible? Don’t bother me, I’m going to sleep now."

"Oh." Bai Bufan nodded, seems like he overthought it.

A minute later.

Bai Bufan turned his head again.

He recalled Lin Li’s reaction when he heard Zhou Baowei mentioned this before.

Something felt off.

So, he whispered:

"Lin Li, why don’t you swear on your chicken rolls again?"