Because the music fountain has a fixed schedule, the girls didn’t spend too long at the stalls or browse other ones.
These little stalls without storefronts sell disposable colored contacts for four to five yuan apiece, even monthly ones with fragrance.
The fountain happens every weekend, except for special holidays, and the content is the sa, so there’s no big crowd gathering by the fence to wait in advance. Instead, the upper steps of the square beco the best viewing spot.
"Let’s sit here." After confirming their view wouldn’t be obstructed, Lin Li pointed to a row of steps and said.
Bai Bufan sat down.
"Forget it, let’s change spots." Lin Li changed his mind again.
Bai Bufan got up with an annoyed look on his face, then watched as Lin Li pushed him aside and sat in the spot he just occupied.
Bai Bufan: "..."
Do you have to use your pants to wipe the dust off the ground first?
"Give back my spot!"
"I’ve got tissues..." Girls always carry tissues, Chen Yu Ying said with amusent as she watched the two suddenly start a playful fight.
"A paper-wiped surface isn’t as fragrant as one wiped by Bai Bufan’s pants!" But Lin Li simply ignored her.
"Ship it." Qu Wanqiu looked at the two with good-natured anticipation, hoping for more dramatic events.
"Shipping everything will only harm you." Ding Sihan sighed, shaking her head, still more devoted.
In the end, Lin Li’s behind won.
The five of them sat side by side on the steps.
Bai Bufan was to Lin Li’s left, Chen Yu Ying to his right.
"Woof woof woof."
Next to him, Bai Bufan used a little canine summoning trick to call over a stray dog that seed to be a frequent at Nanxin Lake Park.
Though it was a mongrel, it was of decent appearance, its fur quite shiny, likely cared for by soone regularly, and was not afraid of people. Hearing its kind’s call, it eagerly ca over, warmly letting Bai Bufan pat its head, sniff around him, and even tried to shake hands.
"Rember to wash your hands after petting a dog, especially one that’s not clean, or it could make you sick." The scene was cozy, but amidst the warmth, Lin Li reminded.
"Got it——" Bai Bufan was just about to nod, then saw Lin Li go up and hug the dog, taking it to the public sink to wash its paws.
Bai Bufan: "..."
Wait, let think.
Wasn’t the one supposed to wash hands himself?
Was the unclean thing referenced just now actually him?
Well.
Watching the dog being taken to wash up by Lin Li, the girls laughed.
Ding Sihan felt fortunate she hadn’t hurriedly greeted the dog earlier, otherwise, Lin Li’s teasing might have been directed at her.
Because there were many people around and they were in school uniforms, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing. When Lin Li returned, Bai Bufan didn’t curse out loud but rather mouthed an elaborate family tree for Lin Li.
Lin Li pretended not to see it this ti, just saying not to curse next ti.
With still five or six minutes left before the fountain show comnced, the five sat together, enjoying the cool evening breeze, feeling the tousle of hair on their foreheads, and listening to the whispering conversations around them.
Even without looking at their phones, squinting, it’s even more comfortable than sitting in the library with air conditioning. If sumr nights were always like this, they would be worth cherishing, right?
Maybe because you have to study while in the library.
"Splash." Sound of water splashing.
"What fell down, was it a rock?" Bai Bufan looked up to ask.
"Not sure, maybe a frog." Lin Li lazily squinted, too comfortable to open his eyes, shrugging indifferently.
"Oh."
"Bufan, let quiz you, who’s the best diving duo in the world?" Lin Li suddenly asked.
"Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi?" Bai Bufan answered.
"Nope, it’s your girlfriend and mom." Lin Li provided the correct answer.
Bai Bufan: "..."
The three girls who overheard laughed aloud.
"Lin Li, here’s the question: your girlfriend and mom both fall in the water, and you can only save one, who do you save?" Ding Sihan asked.
"Mom." Lin Li answered without much thought.
"Aww, such a good son, Mom’s proud." Ding Sihan was moved to tears.
Lin Li: "?"
Not quite sisterly.
"Then Mom, could you demonstrate a fall into the water with Ding Sihan, and I’ll see who I save?" Lin Li sincerely asked Ding Sihan.
"No way."
Ding Sihan proudly turned her head, already victorious, she wouldn’t fall for that.
"Inventing such questions is truly either stupid or malicious, just to ruin relationships."
Lin Li earnestly evaluated this category of questions.
The whole day is filled with hypotheticals. If you’re so free, why not go plow two miles of field for the old ox?
"Hey, let’s change the scenario. Lin Li, if your best buddy and your girlfriend both fell into the water, and you could only save one, who would you save?" But Ding Sihan was still pushing for an answer.
Bai Bufan sighed.
At a ti like this, as the understanding friend, I should probably tie a stone to my leg and sink myself first.
"Before I answer that question, can you explain why my buddy would be with my girlfriend, and why they’d fall into the water at the sa ti? I feel like I’m being betrayed, so I won’t save either. They can both die for all I care."
However, unlike how Bai Bufan imagined, Lin Li narrowed his eyes and spoke in a cold voice.
Ding Sihan: "Eh?"
Bai Bufan: "Uh-huh!"
"Sounds like a bargain!" Bai Bufan suddenly spoke up cheerfully, only to receive an elbow jab from Lin Li.
"What if it’s just a regular fall into the water?" Ding Sihan continued to ask.
"I’ll recite pi backwards for my buddy." Lin Li chuckled.
"What do you an by that?" Ding Sihan didn’t understand.
"I’ll entertain him, so if he dies, it’s no big deal." Lin Li explained.
Ding Sihan: "..."
"You sure do know how to entertain," Ding Sihan couldn’t argue with that.
Amidst the laughter, with a "whoosh" sound, a water column rose from the center of Nanxin Lake, and the surrounding lights lit up.
The night fell, and the city lights ca on.
The music started, and the fountain show began. Passersby who had already seen it gradually gathered around again.
The lights and water screen wove into flowing paintings.
Under the glow of the lights, the water splashes transford into brilliant colors, sotis like delicate ribbons dancing in the air, sotis like flas leaping in the sky.
Chen Yu Ying’s clear eyes reflected all of this. She didn’t record it on her phone, just quietly watched the scene.
"Watch out!"
Until an urgent shout ca from behind her.
Chen Yu Ying turned her head. It turned out to be a shuttlecock flying toward her. It was gleaming and a bit dazzling as it got closer. Although the top wasn’t sharp, it would definitely hurt if it hit her head.
She saw it clearly because the shuttlecock stopped quietly in front of her, caught by a hand from beside her without even looking back.
Chen Yu Ying tilted her head and looked at Lin Li. Under the lights of the musical fountain, his jawline seed even sharper.
Was it her imagination, or did Lin Li look even more handso?
Lin Li was still watching the fountain, his eyes reflecting the neon lights, but Chen Yu Ying suddenly found it amusing, especially noticing his seemingly proud lips as she said:
"Don’t pretend anymore; it’s getting too deliberate."
"Class rep! Wasn’t that aweso? I caught it without even turning my head! Saved your life! So cool, really so cool! Can we adjust a satellite to send this video? I want to make it a QR code and engrave it on my tombstone!"
Originally wanting to stay cool and stylish, Lin Li couldn’t help but turn his head proudly, self-praising with a fluctuating tone.
This was the real Lin Li.
Coolness had nothing to do with him.
"Wow! So cool!!" Ding Sihan and Qu Wanqiu, seeing Lin Li break his cool facade, imdiately exclaid in an overly dramatic voice.
"So-so."
Lin Li seed to ignore the intentional tone, gesturing for them to stop the praise while his expression urged them to continue.
By then, the culprit and his guardian had already rushed over, and the guardian quickly apologized: "Sorry, sorry, the kid got the direction wrong while playing. We’re really sorry, are you hurt? Co on, apologize to the brother and sister!"
"S-sorry."
"Class rep, what do you think? Should we make him pay with his youth?" Lin Li whispered.
Ding Sihan, standing next to him, rolled her eyes. Could Lin Li make a coback from this?
"What’s there to pay for?" Chen Yu Ying laughed and scolded, shaking her head at the apologizing adult and child: "It’s okay, no one got hurt."
Since it wasn’t about unruly kids or irresponsible parents, it was indeed just a small accident without any real consequence, no point in making a fuss. Lin Li also returned the shuttlecock to them.
A harmless disturbance.
The show continued.
The music reached a climax, and so did the fountain, sending high jets of water into the air like rockets, commanding attention.
Then, the water splashes descended at a nearly touchable speed, creating layers of white mist, resembling a fairyland.
Chen Yu Ying was still gazing at the highest point reached by the water column just now.
Why should the one who got hit have to pay with their youth? Can’t they be a bit more shaless?
In the lake.
On both sides of the lake shore, dazzling neons lit up, the water columns burst forth sequentially.
On the shore.
The shadows nestled close together.
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