A flush of unnatural red crept across Chen Tingting's and Li Jiaxin's faces, and Lin Xiaoshuang lowered her head in embarrassment.
Still, they all pretended nothing had happened. Say what you will about wild girls — they were tough. They could take a beating and go hungry without complaint.
Bai Li said nothing, simply following the flow of passengers off the bus.
The Jinniu Service Area was far larger than the previous stop — brightly lit, like a small commercial center.
The aroma of food drifted out from the restaurant, mingled with the smell of grilled sausages and oden, an absolutely lethal temptation for anyone running on an empty stomach.
After using the restroom, Bai Li leaned against a pillar by the entrance and lit a Yuhuashi.
Through the curling smoke, he spotted the three girls hovering near the restaurant entrance.
Chen Tingting had both hands stuffed in her pockets, affecting a look of disdain as she curled her lip — yet her eyes kept drifting uncontrollably toward the inside.
Li Jiaxin maintained her usual cool, aloof expression, head down, nudging a small pebble on the ground with the toe of her shoe.
And Lin Xiaoshuang clutched the hem of her clothes pitifully, her throat bobbing up and down on its own.
Bai Li caught snatches of their conversation.
"Pfft, this crappy food is so overpriced — fifteen yuan for rice and two vegetable sides? Highway robbery. Who'd bother?"
Chen Tingting's voice was loud, as if she were saying it for someone else's benefit.
But her gaze was glued to the glistening braised pork belly in the serving tray, and she couldn't tear it away.
"Missing one meal is no big deal," Li Jiaxin muttered under her breath.
"We'll grab skewers when we get back to the city." Her voice, however, carried a distinct lack of conviction.
Lin Xiaoshuang swallowed and offered a quiet suggestion:
"Maybe… we could ask the kitchen if there are any leftovers?"
The words had barely left her mouth before Chen Tingting shot her a fierce glare.
"Have some pride! Since when have the three of us ever bowed our heads to anyone?"
In the end, they reached a silent understanding: they would rather go hungry than open their mouths to beg for a free bowl of rice with hot water.
That was the only dignity they could hold onto as wild girls.
Bai Li stubbed out his cigarette, tossed it in the trash, and without a word, walked straight to the fast-food counter.
"Hi, four meal sets, please."
The woman behind the counter didn't look up. "Which kind? Fifteen yuan or twenty?"
"The most expensive one," Bai Li said calmly.
The woman finally raised her head and gave him a look.
"The deluxe set at thirty yuan each? Two meat dishes, two vegetable sides, plus a big drumstick."
"That's the one."
Bai Li paused, then added: "And for those three sets, add a poached egg to each."
He paid, picked up his own set, and found an empty table to sit down.
Before long, a server brought over the other three sets, piled high and heaping.
Steaming rice was blanketed with braised pork belly, stir-fried chicken pieces, tomato and egg, and greens — topped with a golden poached egg and a glossy, fat drumstick.
The rich aroma instantly locked the attention of all three girls.
When they realized those three sets had been ordered for them, a look of indescribable shock broke across all three young faces at the same moment.
"Holy crap, big bro, you're seriously loaded!" Chen Tingting was the first to rush over, eyes going wide at the food in front of her.
Li Jiaxin followed, brow furrowing slightly. "You could've just bought the cheapest option — the money you saved could've bought us bubble tea."
In their world, a thirty-yuan meal box already counted as extravagance.
Back at the electronics factory, that amount could keep them fed on plain rice and pickled vegetables for days.
Bai Li ignored their commentary and simply handed over three pairs of chopsticks, then called out toward the milk tea shop not far away:
"Three of your most expensive Full Cup Fruit Tea, and one bottle of mineral water."
That was the final straw that broke through their composure.
The three girls abandoned all pretense of restraint, grabbed their chopsticks, and buried their heads in the food, wolfing it down.
Their table manners were nonexistent — they ate like wolves that hadn't seen food in three days.
Chen Tingting stuffed her cheeks until they bulged; Li Jiaxin shoveled rice into her mouth fast and furiously.
As for Lin Xiaoshuang — she'd been going hungry alongside the other two, surviving on practically nothing for days. That afternoon, Bai Li had given them a single pack of instant noodles to share among three people, which was nowhere near enough to fill anyone up.
Now that she finally had a top-tier meal in front of her, the corners of her eyes even glistened with a faint shimmer.
Between mouthfuls, they mumbled praises at Bai Li.
"Big bro, you're the absolute best!"
"I've never eaten anything this good in my whole life!"
"Big bro, you're my real brother from now on!"
Simple and unpolished as these compliments were, they were the most sincere expression of emotion the girls could manage in that moment.
And in Bai Li's mind, the long-awaited voice rang out one after another, like music from the heavens.
[You have invested 45 yuan in 'Chen Tingting'. The target has experienced a powerful emotional surge: moved to tears of gratitude!]
[This investment has triggered a 10x Critical Return!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have received a return of: 450 yuan!]
[You have invested 45 yuan in 'Li Jiaxin'. The target has experienced a powerful emotional surge: moved to tears of gratitude!]
[This investment has triggered a 10x Critical Return!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have received a return of: 450 yuan!]
[You have invested 45 yuan in 'Lin Xiaoshuang'. The target has experienced a powerful emotional surge: moved to tears of gratitude!]
[This investment has triggered a 10x Critical Return!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have received a return of: 450 yuan!]
His phone screen lit up in sequence — three bank deposit notifications lined up neatly.
[XX Bank: Your savings account ending in 8868 has received a deposit of 1,350.00 yuan…]
In just a few minutes: invest 135 yuan, earn back 1,350 yuan!
Bai Li's heart blazed with excitement. He pulled up the System panel and saw that the three girls' profiles had been completely refreshed.
[Name: Chen Tingting]
[Affection Value: 30 (Friend)]
[Name: Li Jiaxin]
[Affection Value: 30 (Friend)]
[Name: Lin Xiaoshuang]
[Affection Value: 30 (Friend)]
All three had jumped in unison — from "slight goodwill" and "gratitude" straight across the threshold into "Friend."
When they looked up at Bai Li again, their eyes had completely changed.
If before it had been gratitude and curiosity, now those gazes carried something unmistakably close to reverence.
After the meal, the milk tea arrived.
They cradled their generously loaded cups of fruit tea, took a couple of sips through their straws, then pulled out their phones to take photos and post to their Moments.
[Top-tier milk tea, courtesy of big bro! Try not to be too jealous.]
After posting, Chen Tingting opened her QR code.
"Big bro, add me on WeChat?"
Bai Li scanned and accepted, and was immediately pulled into a group chat called "Street Life Crew."
The group smoked another round of cigarettes before heading back to the coach.
The bus still had that unpleasant smell — a bit nauseating.
Some passengers had already fallen asleep; a few had even taken off their shoes for comfort, leaving the aisle littered with bare feet.
Bai Li grimaced in disgust and had to turn sideways to navigate the narrow space.
Back at his seat, he was about to settle in by the window when Chen Tingting grabbed his arm.
"Big bro, sit in the middle — Xiao Shuang's young, she'll probably fall asleep soon."
"The two of us can chat and keep each other company."
Bai Li had just benefited from these three wild girls, so he didn't refuse — he dropped into the middle seat.
Almost immediately, Chen Tingting draped an arm over his shoulder, as if they were already old friends, and carried on chatting with him.