CHAPTER 449: CHAPTER 284: SO, MAKE A CHOICE_2

"This floor..." Chen Yu Ying’s eyes glanced at the ground, the entrance, from Lin Li’s room door to everywhere were ribbons, and there were quite a few cream stains on the living room floor.

"Why don’t we clean up a bit before we leave?"

"No need, I’ll take care of it myself later, it’s not a big deal. You guys head downstairs first, don’t keep Old Jian waiting," Lin Li waved his hand, indicating it wasn’t necessary.

Indeed, it wasn’t very dirty, cleaning wouldn’t be too much trouble.

"Exactly, the surprise was for him, why should we clean up? Lin Li always gets the good stuff, let him clean it himself," Ding Sihan agreed.

"Lin Li, is that one yuan still around? Bring it out, give me some ceremony," Bai Bufan rubbed his hands expectantly.

"I have it, but I’m too lazy to take it out. Let’s go, let’s go downstairs," Lin Li said with a smile.

"You’re coming downstairs too?"

"Yeah, I should see you to the community gate and also thank Old Jian," Lin Li nodded.

"That makes sense."

They took out the shoes hidden in the shoe cabinet so that Lin Li wouldn’t notice anything unusual at a glance, changed them and went downstairs.

"So, birthdays can be so fun, huh? Thanks, everyone." Walking toward the community gate with the four, Lin Li, who was at the back, sincerely expressed his gratitude, "A night to remember."

"Lin Li, do you not celebrate your birthday often?" Chen Yu Ying asked upon hearing this.

"Yeah."

"Why not?"

"It’s a hassle, doesn’t seem necessary, or maybe the setting just isn’t right," Lin Li shrugged, spreading his hands.

Chen Yu Ying remembered that Lin Li spent most of his time alone at home and regretted it a bit, gently patting her own mouth.

"You should celebrate more often, there are many benefits to celebrating birthdays," Bai Bufan chimed in.

"Like what?"

"Research shows the more birthdays a person has, the longer they live. Clearly, celebrating birthdays can prolong your life," Bai Bufan explained.

"Makes sense, I’ll celebrate from now on," Lin Li realized.

"Yeah, you should celebrate every time," Chen Yu Ying eagerly nodded at Lin Li.

While chatting, the five of them reached the community gate and pushed open the iron gate that wasn’t even locked.

Lin Li looked around and saw Xue Jian’s car parked in the parking space across the side, and he was standing next to his car, smoking.

Parked across, no wonder Lin Li didn’t notice when he came home.

To be fair, even if it were parked at the community gate, he might not have noticed since he didn’t even think in that direction.

Seeing Lin Li and the others come out, Xue Jian extinguished his cigarette and started the car.

"All set?" Xue Jian asked as they approached.

"Yeah, yeah, thanks, teacher," Chen Yu Ying gave a sweet smile.

"Thank you, teacher," Lin Li stepped forward and bowed ninety degrees formally to Xue Jian in appreciation.

"No need," said Xue Jian, finding the unusually serious Lin Li amusing.

But then again, the kid is an adult now, maturing is normal.

"Happy Birthday, Lin Li," Xue Jian said with some gratification.

Lin Li didn’t straighten his bowed body, but instead, put his hands together like begging and extended them forward: "Teacher, although you haven’t given me anything yet, I’m accepting your gift, and you can keep your thoughts."

Xue Jian: "?"

Mature, my foot.

Xue Jian regretted extinguishing the cigarette butt earlier; otherwise, these hands would be the perfect ashtray.

It could even count as a gift.

"The gift I’m giving you is me not scolding you today," Xue Jian said with a cold smile.

Lin Li stood up straight upon hearing this, laughing heartily: "Thank you, teacher, I really like this gift."

"Alright, get in the car and head back to school. Lin Li, go home and take a shower and sleep early, your hair’s covered in cream, don’t be late tomorrow," Xue Jian opened the car door, got into the driver’s seat, and gestured while starting the car.

Although Lin Li had wiped the whipped cream with tissues, there was still quite a bit left.

"Got it! Thanks, teacher!" Lin Li replied with a smile.

Bai Bufan was the first to sit in the front passenger seat, sitting properly like a good boy.

Ding Sihan opened the back door, and the "three" of them got in one after another.

Chen Yu Ying was the third.

Under the old streetlight, a warm yellow glow diffused onto Xue Jian’s car. Just as Chen Yu Ying’s fingertips touched the car door handle, she paused.

Seeing her pause, Lin Li naturally noticed and was about to ask if she forgot something when the girl suddenly turned around.

In the moonlight, Chen Yu Ying’s pretty face was a little flushed. The force with which she grabbed Lin Li’s wrist felt like a spider silk caught by the wind, light enough to break in the next second yet extremely firm.

It was hot and a bit burning.

She pulled slightly; Lin Li, who hadn’t reacted, found his body tilted toward her.

Chen Yu Ying stood on her tiptoes, her face gradually moving closer.

Lin Li: "?!"

The cream on his sideburns was brushed by Chen Yu Ying’s breath carrying words into his ear, her voice, cool yet comforting, swept over his ear’s arch:

"I wove the scarf and bracelet. If you like them, they’re for you. If you don’t, they’re for the little bear——"

From the front passenger seat, Bai Bufan made a light cough unintentionally, not noticing anything, but Chen Yu Ying was like a startled fawn, her pupils constricted suddenly. Her fingertips drew a half-circle across Lin Li’s wrist bone, then quickly withdrew.

As she stepped back, her heel crushed a dry leaf by the roadside, the crack hidden within the car engine’s roar.

Sounds hidden within the roar obviously included more than just breaking leaves.

"Thump, thump, thump."

"Bang——"

Chen Yu Ying had shut the door, sitting in the back seat, her head bowed looking at her straight legs.