Zheng Fan met Lin Yilin and Hong Yijia, who were hurrying out, at the supermarket entrance.
"Yo, did you finish your shopping?"
Lin Yilin first gestured to the shopping bags she was carrying, then squinted her eyes and asked, "Illusion, what happened?"
"Nothing, just ran into a crazy woman and had a bit of a treasure clash," Zheng Fan replied, shaking his head.
"Is that crazy woman red-haired...?"
"Truly a genius, as expected of Binary Little Sister." Zheng Fan clapped his hands and laughed.
"Sigh." Lin Yilin could only sigh.
"What, what? Xiao Lin's Illusion ran into Ye-jie? Is he okay!" Hong Yijia, just hearing Lin Yilin's words, completed the blanks and filled in the details in her mind. "Is Illusion okay?"
"Then you should ask if Ye-jie is okay," Zheng Fan said sarcastically, even though Hong Yijia couldn't hear him.
Lin Yilin looked at Zheng Fan's expression and roughly guessed the situation: "A draw, or even Illusion gaining the upper hand...?"
"Ah?!" Hong Yijia was shocked. "That's Ye-jie! The super free agent who debuted in middle school! I've never seen her suffer a loss!"
"Good, keep praising her, you'll praise her to death," Zheng Fan said casually.
Lin Yilin, on the other hand, said, "It's good that everyone's fine."
Zheng Fan teased, "Your statement is a bit too much of a central air conditioner. I'm the one who was put on the spot."
"Illusion must be very happy to meet a master, right? Besides, I haven't even communicated with her yet. It would be very troublesome if you two started fighting beforehand," Lin Yilin retorted with reason.
Zheng Fan didn't dwell on the topic: "You can worry about these things yourself later. First, help me buy something."
"Hmm?"
After fully acquiring the collector's edition of the forbidden mecha-human taboo, Zheng Fan was like a child who had received a beloved toy. Except he wasn't a child, and the toy was indeed a toy.
"How come I remember Ye-jie also liking this?" On the way back, Hong Yijia looked at the large box Lin Yilin was holding and asked.
"Yes, taboo is Ye-jie's favorite in the entire taboo series. Because it's a transitional work, the series was originally going to be completely revamped. taboo inherited the ancient style of the taboo series while boldly incorporating innovative elements, creating a classic that combined with the times, a brilliant stroke in taboo's history," Lin Yilin recited like a connoisseur.
"So... you watch it too?" Zheng Fan listened, pondered for a moment, then asked directly.
"Ye-jie dragged me to watch it five times in college..." Lin Yijia's expression wasn't very good.
"I knew it! Every time I went to the club, it seemed like you two were mostly watching this..." Hong Yijia suppressed a laugh and sighed.
Lin Yilin looked at Zheng Fan: "You two didn't fight over this, did you?"
"How could it be that childish?" Zheng Fan scoffed.
Lin Yilin nodded.
"She just wanted to package me and this taboo together and take us away," Zheng Fan added.
Lin Yilin: "..."
It perfectly matched her stereotype of Ye-jie. And you really did want to compete with Ye-jie, didn't you?
After returning to the office, it wasn't long before Lin Yilin's shift ended. After saying goodbye to Zheng Fan, she and Hong Yijia set off for her home.
As Zheng Fan looked at the taboo in front of him, he suddenly remembered that this thing needed to be assembled himself.
Zheng Fan was silent for a moment, then looked up and called out, "Calling Perfect Toast, come help out."
Toast, holding a Lu Lu Shoes in its mouth, trotted out from inside the office: "Woof!"
"Bullying Lu Lu Shoes again? Never mind, come assemble Gundam. No, this is taboo."
"Woof?" Toast looked at the parts in the box in front of it and couldn't help but stare blankly, the Lu Lu Shoes in its mouth dropping to the floor.
Does Perfect Toast have to do even this?
...
Hong Yijia had a car, but she didn't drive it this time and didn't want to squeeze onto the subway, so the two ended up walking home. It was a bit far, but it wasn't a problem for either of them.
"You know, so-and-so from our class got married," Hong Yijia gossiped about the current status of other university classmates.
"As expected. They met each other's parents in college and were deeply in love, and all their living habits were compatible, so it's not surprising that they got married immediately after graduation." Lin Yilin recalled briefly, and some old memories naturally surfaced.
"How did you know about their living habits...?"
"I could tell."
"As expected of you."
"Jia Jia, did you not continue your studies? It should be more convenient for your work if you further your professional knowledge of the world," Lin Yilin asked about something she hadn't had many opportunities to ask about after graduation.
They hadn't inquired too much about each other's situations online on a daily basis; some people were simply more accustomed to face-to-face communication offline than online chat.
"Oh, that? Good enough is fine." Hong Yijia looked up at the distant sunset. "My family thinks it's useless for me to continue studying. Being an external consultant is enough now. I can do what I can, but I won't achieve anything big. Later, I'll find someone I can tolerate and get married. If I don't find anyone, I'll be free alone, work until I'm forty, then retire and escape Dadu!"
She smiled and raised her hands, full of vitality.
Hong Yijia was also a top talent, but her plans for her future were actually quite laid-back. This was also related to her family situation within the Processing Bureau.
Lin Yilin's lips curved slightly: "Retiring at forty is already enough to make countless people envious."
"Heh heh, then be envious. Xiao Lin, do you want me to give you a ride?"
"I don't need to." Lin Yilin looked at the street ahead.
"Then how about I give you a ride?" Suddenly, a mature, husky voice accompanied by the roar of an engine approached. A red supercar pulled up in the lane next to Lin Yilin and Hong Yijia.
Red hair shimmered dazzlingly under the setting sun. Luo Ye took off her sunglasses, one hand resting on the car door: "Two beautiful ladies, would you like to go for a drive?"
"...How cheesy. I told you not to use that old-fashioned pickup style to say hello." Lin Yilin looked speechlessly at the familiar person in front of her.
"What a nostalgic car, Ye-jie, long time no see!" Hong Yijia leaned out and greeted her with a grin.
"When I first saw Hong Yijia, I really didn't recognize her, but no matter how proper you dress, you're still this laid-back," Luo Ye didn't hold back in teasing her old friend.
Then she smiled at Lin Yilin: "Heh heh, pick-up lines and styles can go out of date, but supercars and luxury cars won't. Lin Yilin, you haven't changed inside or out. You look so boring at first glance."
"Tsk." Lin Yilin clicked her tongue softly.
"Get in the car. I heard from Hong Yijia that you bought a new house? Give me the address." Luo Ye didn't intend to chat too much by the roadside and went straight to the point.
Lin Yilin and Hong Yijia were not polite; both got into the back seat.
"Is no one going to honor me by sitting in the passenger seat?" Luo Ye complained, looking into the rearview mirror.
"Ye-jie, just be a good taxi driver," Hong Yijia said with a comical expression.
After Lin Yilin reported her new home address, she remained silent and said nothing more.
The car drove for a while, with only Luo Ye and Hong Yijia chatting.
When the conversation came to an end, Luo Ye slowly said, "Speaking of... Lin Yilin, have you found a new 'partner' you're satisfied with?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the previously relaxed atmosphere suddenly became a little tense.
Lin Yilin's gaze shifted from outside the window to inside the car, meeting Luo Ye's narrow, sharp golden eyes beneath her sunglasses through the rearview mirror.
"I have," she said, her tone unchanged.