Bai Shasha covered her mouth and yawned, wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes. She gently nudged Li Si, who was engrossed, and whispered, "Si, we've been here for hours! Let's go take a walk?"
Li Si shook her head helplessly. This person was like a hyperactive monkey, just like Xiao Guai—neither of them could sit still. "Alright, Your Majesty."
After she finished speaking, she packed up her items on the desk, put the books back in their original places, and the two of them left hand in hand.
"Si, tell me, why have you been hanging out in the library so much lately?"
Bai Shasha remembered that Li Si wasn't this studious last semester—especially recently—when all her life revolved around the classroom, cafeteria, and library, a classic three-point routine.
"The dorm atmosphere has been depressing lately, I don't want to stay there. After that thing about the computer between Kong Dan and Yao Meiling, the tensions have only gotten worse. I don't want to get involved in their verbal sparring!"
"What about Wang Shishi in your dorm then? Oh, speaking of which, I think she's been quite close to Wang Kai from Cao Yufan's dorm recently. Guess there's something brewing between them!" Bai Shasha recalled bumping into Wang Kai a few times at the dorm entrance, escorting Wang Shishi back to her room.
"Wang Kai? Ah, now I remember. Isn't he the skinny one with short hair and glasses?"
"Yes, that's him!"
"They both have the surname Wang, maybe they're related?"
Li Si wasn't the type to gossip about others behind their backs. Besides, judging by Wang Shishi's haughty demeanor, it didn't seem like she would be attracted to Wang Kai's type.
"Don't be ridiculous! Just because they share the same surname, they're automatically related? Then Meng Zijun and Meng Xi both have the surname Meng—are they relatives too?"
Bai Shasha laughed at Li Si's naivety. After speaking, she remembered how she didn't like Meng Zijun as a person, and she wasn't fond of Meng Xi either.
"Well, that is actually possible!"
Although Li Si had dated Meng Zijun in the past, the relationship had never been made public, and only a handful of people knew about it. She wasn't clear about which relatives his family had either.
Bai Shasha glanced around and quickly changed the subject. "Let's stroll over to the lake, shall we? I heard the negative ions by the water are higher, so let's breathe in some fresh air."
"Sure, let's stroll along the lake. The weather's freezing cold; we can hold hands, share some heart-to-heart talk, and then maybe slip and slide for some romance. Hah, it would be more perfect if I swapped places with Cao Yufan, wouldn't it?" Li Si teased.
"Get lost! Say that again, and I'll really get mad! Who even likes him? I only want to talk to you, okay?" Bai Shasha stomped her foot in frustration, her face flushed.
"Haha, alright, alright, it's whatever you say!"
Li Si suddenly thought of how this very line would go viral across Huaxia in the future, and she couldn't suppress her laughter.
By November, North City had fully entered winter. North City was a city with distinct seasons, and at the moment, the tree branches along the campus paths were dusted with a light layer of snow. The lake had already frozen over, and occasionally a few classmates walked past.
Li Si strolled leisurely by the lake with Bai Shasha hanging onto her arm, chatting as they went. Suddenly, a loud shout from a girl reached them from a distance: "But I just like you!"
Li Si and Bai Shasha stopped in their tracks and exchanged wide-eyed looks, both seeing astonishment in the other's eyes. In such cold weather, who would perform a love confession scene? Wasn't this too over the top?!
Bai Shasha couldn't resist her nosy nature and dragged Li Si toward the small forest by the lake, curious to see which "goddess" was this bold and daring.
They crouched low and took about twenty steps forward. Through the gaps in the trees, they could vaguely make out a girl in a red down jacket with long hair draped over her shoulders, standing with her back to them. The guy was wearing a dark blue padded jacket, but from this distance, his face was unrecognizable.
Li Si tugged on Bai Shasha's arm and whispered in her ear, "Let's leave. If they see us, it won't be good!"
Bai Shasha turned back and made a shushing gesture. "Let's just watch for a bit and see if it's someone we know!"
Li Si could only shake her head helplessly again. Bai Shasha's gossipy nature was truly omnipresent and pervasive. If she ever became an entertainment journalist, she would undoubtedly capture all the top news stories!
The boy remained silent, and after a while, the girl tilted her head up and said, "From the moment I first saw you, I've liked you. I don't know why—I just do! If you ask me what I like about you, all I can say is I like everything about you!"
Bai Shasha giggled quietly to herself. Clearly, this girl had read too many romance novels. Li Si, however, was a little surprised. Listening to the voice, this girl was clearly Li Fei. But who was she confessing to?
Just then, a low male voice responded, "Liking me is your right, and I can't interfere. But please remember to stop disrupting my studies and life in the future!"
Bai Shasha almost let out a shriek but quickly covered her mouth. "Oh my god, it's Meng Zijun?" she whispered nervously and glanced sideways. Li Si's face was tinged with surprise. Bai Shasha internally cursed—had she known, she wouldn't have come to watch this spectacle. It really was true: the more you wanted to avoid someone, the more likely they'd show up!
Li Fei grew agitated. "Meng Zijun, how am I disrupting your studies and life? Isn't it normal for me to ask you for help with my computer since your department offers free assistance?"
"I suggest you find someone else if your computer has any issues in the future. Just don't come to me anymore." Meng Zijun replied coldly before turning and walking away.
Li Fei stood frozen, shouting loudly after him, "I will definitely win you over, Meng Zijun. You can only be mine!" The woods echoed with a refrain of "mine, mine."
Once Li Fei left, the two of them quietly exited the lake area, intending to satisfy their growling stomachs.
At KFC, Bai Shasha chewed on her burger, speaking indistinctly. "I would've never guessed your little sister could be so bold. Chasing after a guy? That's supposed to be easy—like piercing a thin layer of gauze!"
Li Si sipped from her hot orange juice, lightly biting on the straw, and smiled. "Maybe she'll actually succeed. Who knows?"
Her thoughts drifted to her past life. Li Fei's boldness wasn't limited to just this; her audacious antics were too numerous to count. But something struck her as odd—didn't Li Fei and Meng Zijun only meet during their third year in her previous life? Was this some butterfly effect?
Whatever, it didn't matter. Even if they did end up together, it had nothing to do with her, right? Better focus on handling her own affairs—that was what truly mattered!
Cui Hao moved quickly. Within two short months, he had everything completed—from store renovations and hiring staff to obtaining business licenses.
When Li Si arrived at the store, it felt completely renewed. Thanks to Fan Xiajuan's previously high-end renovations, everything had come together so quickly.
On the second floor hung a large plaque with gilded, flamboyant calligraphy reading: "Uncle Bo's Home Cooking." Inside, the wallpaper had been replaced with golden patterns, making the space feel even more luxurious. The lighting fixtures now featured countless crystal chandeliers. The original partitions in the hall had been removed and replaced with wooden screens. The tables and chairs had a rich mahogany finish, and private dining rooms could be opened up for larger gatherings as needed.
All 30 private rooms had been simply redecorated, with high-quality replicas of traditional paintings adorning the walls, adding a touch of classical elegance. What satisfied Li Si the most, though, was the kitchen. On the existing foundation, even more equipment had been added.
"Li Si, should we set the opening date ourselves, or do you want to consult someone to pick an auspicious time?" Cui Hao, noticing Li Si's satisfaction with his work, felt quite proud. Though he worked for someone else, Li Si never intervened in the shop's operations and allowed him full autonomy, which made his job much smoother.