"You're truly my brother!"
Chen Shu grinned and patted Zhang Dali's shoulder.
Zhang Dali said, "Who told Du Qing to be such a scumbag and play dirty!"
Now that the competition was over, the focus wasn't on Zhang Dali, the champion,
but on the Poison Chef Du Qing and the Spraying Battle King Liu Song!
"Let's go celebrate! My treat!"
Chen Shu patted his chest and said, "Dali, you're paying!"
"?"
Zhang Dali's mouth twitched, "I'll never let you off the hook, you bastard!"
With smiles of victors on their faces, they headed to the food street in Lanhai City.
"Sir, how many people? Do you have a reservation?"
A waiter at the entrance of a restaurant asked with a smile.
Zhang Dali asked, puzzled, "How did you know I was the champion of the New Star Cup competition?"
"???"
The waiter's mouth hung open. "How would I know anything!"
"Are you Mr. Zhang Dali?"
Another waiter recognized Zhang Dali instantly.
Although the New Star Cup competition only had a few thousand spectators, it was broadcast live, and countless people were watching the competition online.
"This way! This way!"
The waiter's eyes lit up, and he respectfully ushered the four into a private room.
"Not bad, Dali! You've learned from the best!"
Chen Shu nodded approvingly. They had mastered the art of getting freebies.
"Congratulations, Mr. Zhang Dali, on winning the New Star Cup championship. Lunch today is entirely on us, as a small token of our appreciation!"
The waiter said with a smile,
"Please order whatever you'd like!"
"Oh, you're too kind!"
Chen Shu waved his hand, feigning reluctance, and then added, "Could you please bring two more menus?"
"..."
The waiter was slightly taken aback. He handed each of them a menu.
Chen Shu and the other three didn't stand on ceremony and ordered various signature dishes.
"It feels so good to eat with the champion!"
Chen Shu whistled, his mood exceptionally cheerful.
Xu Xingxing scratched his head and said, "Are the dishes we ordered a bit too expensive..."
"Do you really think restaurants are charities! They'll use Dali for publicity, and the return will be hundreds of times over!"
Chen Shu said, "Don't worry, we call this 'getting freebies through skill'!"
After lunch, they strolled around again, discussing going to the beach to see the sea together the next day.
The next afternoon,
Chen Shu and the others, wearing shorts, headed to Mingyue Beach in Lanhai City.
It was named Mingyue Beach because the sight of the moon rising over the sea could be seen at night.
A slightly salty sea breeze blew,
The four of them, wearing beach shorts and sunglasses, ambled along like street loafers.
"Old Xie, how many people have you given a 'green light' to?"
Chen Shu put his hands in his pockets, gazing at the azure sea, his mood lifting.
As soon as he said this, passersby around them all looked over with disdain.
"???"
Xie Sunan turned to look and said,
"Can't you talk properly! It's all the work of those moths and butterflies! It has nothing to do with me, Xie Sunan!"
He argued, "Besides, it's called spreading the light of love, understand?"
"I don't care if it's spreading!"
Chen Shu said, "I just want to ask, how many times have you made me take the blame! I don't even dare to go to your school anymore."
Before, Xie Sunan had instinctively blurted out his name, making Chen Shu feel a sense of crisis.
Xie Sunan gave a dry laugh and said, "It's not that many times, really. Your name carries more weight, it has deterrence!"
What did the Nanjiang Bandit have to do with him, Xie Sunan, who was notorious for his crimes?
The four walked along the beach, enjoying their holiday.
Soon, it was evening,
The beach was bustling with people, many of whom were couples taking a stroll.
The four of them remained relaxed, observing the crowds and waiting for the moon to rise.
Xie Sunan adjusted his sunglasses and looked at a couple in the distance, saying,
"What do you think brought them together?"
A sturdy young man was walking side-by-side with a woman around forty, their demeanor quite intimate.
Zhang Dali's mouth twitched, and he turned to look, asking, "What do you think?"
Chen Shu said with a serious expression, "I think it's fate!"
"En?"
The three of them widened their mouths and looked at Chen Shu back and forth.
Chen Shu smiled and said, "But I don't know how much fate it is!"
"..."
The three of them twitched their mouths, "As expected of you!"
"Seriously, our academy has a confession wall. If you want to find a girlfriend, you can tell me!"
Xie Sunan rubbed his hands greedily and said, "If it works out, just give me a small red envelope!"
Chen Shu was about to speak when Xie Sunan interrupted him.
"Chen Pi, you don't need to say anything. You're practically a wanted criminal at our school..."
Chen Shu's eyes widened, and he said, "Damn it! You've completely ruined my reputation!!"
"..."
Xie Sunan turned to Xu Xingxing and Zhang Dali and asked, "Do you guys have any ideas?"
Xu Xingxing raised an eyebrow and said, "Is it really possible?"
"Of course, the quality of girls at our school is top-notch!"
Xie Sunan couldn't help but boast, "As long as you provide the conditions and requirements, you'll definitely find someone suitable!"
Xu Xingxing said earnestly, "I hope she's over 160 cm tall and weighs around 50 kg!"
"That's easy!"
Xie Sunan wrote it down immediately, already thinking about the red envelope.
"Also, I have a few small requirements."
Xu Xingxing smiled and took out a small notebook from his pocket.
"En?"
The three of them looked over, a faint sense of unease growing in their hearts.
As expected!
Xu Xingxing began to read, "I hope her heart rate is between 60-80/min, normal blood pressure is... lung capacity is... red blood cell count..."
"Wait, wait a minute!"
Xie Sunan's brow furrowed, and he finally sighed, saying,
"I get it! You're looking for a partner, but you're looking for someone to possess!"
"..."
Xu Xingxing said, "My family has high expectations, I can't help it..."
"Get lost!"
Xie Sunan looked at him with disdain. "Are you messing with me?"
"Dali, you're the only normal one. Tell me, do you want to find a girlfriend?"
"I don't,"
Zhang Dali scratched his head and said, "I think my senior is pretty good..."
"En? Something's going on! Who is it?!"
The three of them looked over with intense curiosity.
Zhang Dali hesitated and said, "It's... my senior, Lin Weiwei, who shares the same mentor. Chen Pi, you know her, right?"
"I seem to recall something."
Chen Shu stroked his chin. It was because of Lin Weiwei that Zhong Weixing of Kyoto University of Technology had tried to cause trouble for Zhang Dali, and Chen Shu and Fang Si had beaten them up.
"But I'm a bit afraid to confess."
Zhang Dali said, "Chen Pi, what do you say?"
"Dali, what are you afraid of? Although you're quite lacking..."
Chen Shu patted his shoulder and said, "But since she caught your eye, it means it's her destiny to have this encounter!"
"..."
Zhang Dali looked at him strangely and said, "Are you encouraging me? Why does it feel so weird..."
"The moon is out!"
Just then, there was a commotion in the crowd, and many people looked towards the sea.
"What a pleasant holiday!"
Chen Shu rested his head on his hands, gazing at the moon over the sea and listening to the crowd's excitement. He felt a sense of belonging, as if he truly belonged to this world...
"Yeah!"
Xie Sunan couldn't help but exclaim, "It's rare to be with the Nanjiang Bandit and not face any life-threatening danger!"
"Indeed!"
Zhang Dali and Xu Xingxing both nodded in agreement.
"Are you guys speaking human language?"
Chen Shu shook his head and looked towards the sea horizon.
"En?!"
Chen Shu's eyes narrowed, and a hint of surprise appeared in them.