Chapter 925: Chapter 433: Two Wishes That Can’t Be Fulfilled at Once (Part 3)

Before Lin Li could speak, Ding Sihan raised her hand: "Bai Bufan, Santa Claus just came to me in a dream, asking which Iron Man suit series you want."

"...Damn."

Bai Bufan closed his eyes and covered his face with an unavoidable smile and curse.

The same words, coming from different people, carry different levels of aggression.

If Lin Li had said it, Bai Bufan would have calmly, or even mockingly, responded with "I knew it."

But coming from Ding Sihan, it was a bit harder to handle.

Lin Li, on the other hand, looked at Ding Sihan with satisfaction. Clearly, Dingzi had learned something real from him.

Seeing Lin Li smilingly raise his right hand to her, Ding Sihan immediately understood, raising her hand to high-five Lin Li.

Haha, Lin Li feigned and quickly turned his hand into a fist, pulling it down to leave Ding Sihan hanging.

Watching Ding Sihan’s joyful expression freeze, her eyes growing mischievous, Lin Li nodded smugly. Clearly, she hadn’t learned everything yet and wasn’t ready to graduate.

"Lin Li! Go die!" Ding Sihan shouted playfully, immediately starting to chase after Lin Li.

"Rebound."

Chasing and running, the two began circling the "Duo Dog" Qin King’s Pillar, until Ding Sihan was exhausted.

"You’re weak~ you’re weak~" Lin Li laughed, hooking an arm around Bai Bufan’s shoulder, then looked at him curiously: "Bufan, during the chase just now, it seemed like Dingzi bumped into you, how are you still alive? Shouldn’t you be trembling all over and foaming at the mouth, dying on the spot?"

Ding Sihan, Bai Bufan: "What the (heck) am I? Why (heck) would a bump make me die immediately!"

They spoke in unison but not identically; Bai Bufan apparently had a better relationship with elders than Ding Sihan.

"I meant your gynophobia," Lin Li shrugged, "Is it cured?"

Bai Bufan was taken aback, then looked at Ding Sihan: "Ding Sihan, are you a girl?"

Ding Sihan: "?"

"Ma’am, I’m the translator," Lin Li immediately did a simultaneous translation: "Bufan meant to ask what your brother is doing now."

"Hmm? My brother?" Ding Sihan, who was about to explode, paused upon hearing that.

Lin Li: "He was asking about your elder brother’s whereabouts?"

Ding Sihan: "(;☉_☉)?"

"Ding Sihan, are you a girl?"

Lin Li repeated Bai Bufan’s words but was sure Ding Sihan now understood it differently.

Lin Li speculated that in future meetings between world leaders, they could completely invite him as a translator, surely bringing about world peace.

He could mediate the sweet and savory tofu pudding wars within 24 hours!

Bai Bufan: "?"

"No! Not at all! I didn’t mean that! I was joking that we’re all bros, not joking about that!"

The misunderstood translator, Bai Bufan worried that Ding Sihan would chase him as she did Lin Li, hurriedly explained.

— Bai Bufan still wasn’t good at interacting with fellow girls his age; with the "trio," he was better, but limited in progress.

For instance, if asked to walk back to school with one or several from the "trio," Bai Bufan wouldn’t be scared to his knees pleading Lin Li like before. But while he’d tolerate it, he’d still not initiate conversations or extend topics; it’d be the girls asking, and him responding, estimating many cold silences on the way.

As for other girls his age, especially those he only knew by name, Bai Bufan still avoided them like the plague.

Bai Bufan finally sighed in relief because Ding Sihan wasn’t pursuing him; she was still after Lin Li.

The most supportive episode.

Bai Bufan made a decision — quietly stretched out his leg, and tripped this scoundrel!

Lin Li, go die!

F*ck, Lin Li stepped on his foot.

F*ck f*ck, Ding Sihan, chasing from behind, also stepped on his foot.

So painful, so painful, so painful...

...

After the play ended, this time Lin Li didn’t outrun Ding Sihan, several faint shoe prints adorned his pants, forbidden to squirm off, utterly aggrieved.

"Auntie, we’ll first go and see if there’s anything suitable to buy as gifts, we’ll find you later."

When Ding Sihan finished writing blessings on the card, Chen Yu Ying said gently to the two volunteer aunties.

Nobody had known about this activity in advance, and besides Ding Sihan’s toy, everyone lacked suitable gifts.

So, to participate in the small activity, they needed to buy a small gift at the church or outside and return later.

"Okay, okay, no problem! Even though there’ll be a shift at night, there’ll definitely always be someone here," the aunts laughed and replied.

The church courtyard was now bustling, filled with stalls displaying various items.

Most eye-catching were the Christmas-themed stalls: mini Christmas trees, gingerbread men, candy canes, reindeer hairbands, Santa hats, Christmas-themed nightlights, mugs...

Next were objects with church elements: cross decorations or necklaces, Virgin Mary statues, bookmarks with Bible verses, old-fashioned candlestick holders...

Besides that, there were fragrant hand-made pastry stalls, colorful handmade woven items, and some second-hand books and small items provided by devoted believers.

"Come, come, kids, try some cake from Auntie!"

The five had barely walked a few steps before being stopped by a lively auntie.

She swiftly took five exquisite little cupcakes from a nearby table and handed them to each of them without waiting for a response.

Noticing their hesitant looks, she smiled and explained: "These are samples, they’re free, don’t worry, just eat, nothing’s for sale by force."

Though small, the cakes were substantial and almost palm-sized, so Lin Li and his friends exchanged glances. He stepped forward with a sincere smile: "Auntie, for tasting samples, one each is a bit much. We’ll just share two."

"What are you talking about! How can one each be too much?" The auntie began her classic "enthusiastic frustration":

"This is for charity, Auntie’s cake is meant for everyone to eat, I wouldn’t mind if you all tried until full. Just one each, if you like it, come get more!

Buying or not is secondary, I’ll be satisfied if you enjoy it!"

Unable to refuse such enthusiasm, the five laughed and accepted, thanking her.

"Such a passionate auntie," Qu Wanqiu whispered.

"Yeah, the last time I felt such enthusiastic care was in Shanghai," Lin Li nodded.

The "trio" turned their sight to Lin Li, waiting for the rest of his story.

Lin Li didn’t disappoint, not waiting for a prompt, biting into the cake, and nostalgically began:

"Back then, it was the first time this country boy entered the city. After arriving in Shanghai, the first thing I did was head to Mixue Ice to try the drink that high-society folks enjoy."

"That was also my first time seeing lemons. I didn’t know what kind of fruit it was, so I asked other customers in the store, but none of those outsiders would answer me, and they looked at me strangely."

"It was only a Shanghai local," Lin Li said with fondness, "He was the only one who eagerly provided the answer — it’s called ’Xiangwu Ning’."

"And let me tell you, that Shanghai local’s enthusiasm was the highest level, the kind that’s silent yet nurturing."

"He noticed my awkwardness, so instead of telling me directly, which would’ve made me feel awkward, he pretended to chat with friends, pointing in my direction, explaining, ’Look, that’s the authentic Xiangwu Ning!’"

"Pretending to explain to his friends, but in reality, enlightening me, truly considerate," reaching the end, Lin Li used his arm to wipe his eyes:

"I won’t say anymore, if I continue, I won’t be able to hold back my tears."