In the following days, after dealing with the fraud gang case, the situation with the Ji Yun's family also settled down.
The shop also waited for the meeting on Saturday to start taking action.
For the time being, with nothing else to do, Xu Lin returned to his busy and simple study routine, attending classes during the day and typing at night.
Actually, he also planned to record a video at night, preparing to restart his career as a content creator. This time, he didn't want to procrastinate anymore.
It's a pity that after shooting a food video, he realized his phone wasn't up to par, and he needs a more professional device.
Of course, there's also lighting and other factors, but he doesn't understand any of it, so he will need to find a professional to learn from.
However, he doesn't know any professional content creators, so he will have to put it on hold for now and try again on the weekend.
In the blink of an eye, it was already Saturday afternoon after school. In the chilly November evening, the temperature had dropped significantly.
Xu Lin, along with Li Bin and Ma Zhiyu, walked along the path, observing the students around them wearing thin school uniforms, feeling that the school should be more flexible.
Although they could wear thicker clothes underneath the uniform, and the uniform itself was quite loose, it still felt very uncomfortable.
Why can't we have a bit more flexibility in dressing during winter, so everyone can freely choose what to wear?
School uniforms are meant to unify students and prevent comparison, but in today's society, comparison extends beyond just clothes and shoes.
Um, let's go and tell Chu Fengyi as she's now the school's top public welfare supporter, which carries some weight.
"Xu Lin, what's wrong? Are there any beauties around?" Ma Zhiyu scanned the surroundings.
"Where!?" Li Bin also glanced around.
"No, Ma Zhiyu, you've already got a girlfriend, and you're still checking out other girls?"
"Checking out girls and my loyalty are two separate things," Ma Zhiyu patted his chest.
"You are still being sassy with your words when you scored only 40 points in Chinese."
"Oh, by the way, how's Lu Man doing now?" Xu Lin asked.
"She has got her ID back and is looking for a job. She should be interviewing at Zhenhe Shopping Mall today."
"Regular job is not bad either. When you two were called for a talk that day, did you say anything inappropriate?"
Xu Lin was afraid this kid might blurt something out, and Lu Man would definitely undergo a thorough questioning.
"I didn't, you reminded me, right? Do you think I am that foolish?"
"You are quite silly, but now that you're back to school, aren't you planning to inherit your dad's title as the Fruit King?"
Li Bin joked, and Ma Zhiyu lifted his head, gazing at the dim blue sky, then stretched lazily.
"After the matter was over, I talked with my parents all night. I learned a lot about their thoughts. In the end, they told me they will respect all my future decisions."
"I know they want me to study hard and go to college, but I'm really not cut out for studying."
"I was planning to drop out and work elsewhere with Lu Man to ease their burden and save money to marry Lu Man."
"But Lu Man persuaded me to finish high school, telling me not to worry about her. Actually, I was quite afraid back then, wondering if she was just playing with me."
"Now that she's okay, will she leave me? After all, I'm just a nobody, without money, and not that handsome..."
"She secretly went to my house the day before yesterday and talked to my parents for a long time. She said not to worry about money, her parents are very open-minded, they don't need much dowry, and don't need a house."
"If my parents agree, she will marry me after I turn a certain age. When she left, she gave them 50,000 yuan, all her savings, saying it's for the down payment in the future."
"My parents asked me to return it to her, but she declined many times, insisting that I keep it for her."
"I really don't know what to say. Although I'm still young, I understand that I'll be following this woman for the rest of my life!"
"Lastly, Xu Lin, I also thank you for helping us so much!" With that, Ma Zhiyu bowed to him.
"Alright, stop being so sentimental! Let's celebrate with a meal!" Xu Lin slapped his chest.
"Sure! What should we eat? You can choose whatever you want!"
"Let's go to Qingzhen Xia Lan Ge!"
"It's out of my budget; I just bought a pair of shoes for Lu Man with the money I saved."
"Forgetting about your bros once you have a wife, huh? Then what are we going to eat?"
"How about self-service hot pot?"
Ma Zhiyu also felt a bit embarrassed; he had just splurged again, and now the money in his pocket was only enough to treat his friends to self-service hot pot.
"Xu Lin, let's just make do with what we have, okay?" Li Bin glanced at Xu Lin, and he retorted directly.
"Make do with what? Last time you ate so much! The waitress kept looking at you!"
"Hey, I had to eat more to get my money's worth. You only drank beverages! You ate so little, it wouldn't even cover the cost."
"Rest assured, no matter how much you eat at the self-service, you won't be able to eat back what you've spent. Let's go to Xia Lan Ge, it's my treat," Xu Lin waved his hand generously at the two.
"Really?"
"Of course, from now on, I'll be busy, so I'm afraid I won't have time to treat you to dinner."
"Okay, thanks, we should have been the ones treating you."
"What's there to thank for? Let's go!"
Three people walked shoulder to shoulder towards the parking shed, their shadows stretching under the streetlights, their lives just beginning.
At 8:30 in the evening, the three of them walked out of the restaurant after eating and drinking their fill. Ma Zhiyu didn't have much to do, but Xu Lin had to go back to update his novel.
Li Bin, on the other hand, was under strict control by his parents. If he stayed out any later, he might end up getting a lecture from the "combo" of his parents when he got home.
"Now, how are we going back?" Xu Lin glanced at Ma Zhiyu and Li Bin, who were a little tipsy after drinking and had to help each other to stand firm.
Fortunately, he didn't drink, or else all three wouldn't make it back, not even 30 meters before falling into a ditch.
"My girlfriend is coming to pick me up. Oh, there she is... Lu Man! Over here!"
Ma Zhiyu shouted, and a girl in a goose-yellow coat riding an electric scooter across the street stopped her bike and quickly walked over.
Seeing Lu Man's appearance, both Xu Lin and Li Bin were stunned. Her originally very conspicuous golden curls were now dyed black.
Her very colorful makeup was also replaced with a natural look. Although not as exquisite, it gave her a spirited aura and made her look like someone of the same age.
She went straight up and supported Ma Zhiyu, who immediately started dry heaving. She quickly gently patted his back.
"How did you drink so much?" Lu Man frowned, her eyes showing a hint of reproach and concern.
"Not much, just a few bottles. I'm not used to drinking much, haven't built up tolerance."
Ma Zhiyu also felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. Lu Man pinched his earlobe directly and laughed, saying, "You can't drink, yet you still do!"
"Ahem! Lu Man, it's getting dark, and there aren't many lights around his house. Be careful on the way."
Li Bin was fed a mouthful of dog food and quickly interrupted.
"By the way, thank you both of you for what happened last time, especially Xu Lin," Lu Man bowed slightly toward him.
"It's nothing, just a small favor."
"When I find a job, the two of us should treat you to a meal as thanks."
"Ma Zhiyu is our good friend, these things are trivial, let's talk about it later! Alright, take him back and let him rest for now."
"Okay, then we'll be off," Lu Man nodded, supporting Ma Zhiyu as they walked towards the electric scooter.
"Take care."
"Okay!"
The two watched as the electric scooter got further and further away, until it completely disappeared from sight, before finally looking away.
"Wow, it's great to find your future love in high school," Li Bin leaned against the tree, his face full of envy.
"How about you, are you feeling the stirrings of spring too?" Xu Lin asked.
"I've felt it long ago, but unfortunately, my family is strict and there's no one I fancy, nor are there many who fancy me."
"Haha, take it slow then."
"Fortunately, you're still a good comrade, still an old singleton, accompanying me, your brother," said Li Bin as he placed his hand on his shoulder.
Looking at his bitter face, Xu Lin felt embarrassed to tell him that although he indeed didn't have a girlfriend, he was already a man.
"How are you going back, Li Bin?"
"I'll take a three-wheeler."
"It's not safe. Let me take you back."
"How are you going to take me back?"
"Someone is coming to pick me up."
"Great, I'll catch a ride then!"
Just as he said that, Xu Lin saw Chu Fengyi's red Maserati slowly pulling up beside the stage, drawing the attention of many people around.
"Teacher Chu came to pick you up?"
"Yeah."
"By the way, Teacher Chu is just your teacher, not a relative like a cousin or something, right?"
"Yeah, can I be honest with you? Will you believe me?"
"What?"
"In fact, she's my wife."
"Hey, Xu Lin, you got drunk without even drinking alcohol!"
"If you don't believe it, forget it, I'm leaving!" Xu Lin didn't care whether the other party believed it or not, and walked towards the car.
Li Bin also got into the car, but as soon as he got in, he saw Xu Lin casually handing over half of the drink in his hand to Teacher Chu.
The other party simply twisted it open, took a sip, and then handed it back to Xu Lin, as if it were a usual occurrence.
Instantly, Li Bin felt the effects of the alcohol completely fading away, his head clearing up.
Something's not right! You won't become a clown yourself, right? No, it can't be!