The Most Random System

All this just for this?

Lin Li ran his finger along the stick and shared with Chen Yu Ying, "Class Rep, check out my Holy Sword, isn't it cool?"

Clearly, that's exactly what it was for.

Chen Yu Ying: "?"

"Your Holy Sword isn't as long as mine! Inferior quality!" Bai Bufan sneered before Chen Yu Ying could respond.

"Nonsense, your cheap stick isn't even straight. Now that's truly inferior! Straightness is the real essence!"

"Arguing is meaningless, let's duel!"

"Ha!"

"So, what's the point of this?" Ding Sihan asked, echoing Chen Yu Ying's confusion.

"You can duel with it." Lin Li, already sparring with Bai Bufan, explained.

"…Childish. You two don't still buy plastic toy swords at the convenience store, do you?" Ding Sihan quipped after confirming the simplicity of it.

"No, no, no, you're missing the point. Man-made ones are worthless, but naturally formed ones are worthy of a second glance."

Lin Li spun the stick in a flair, explaining with a master's air.

Then he got ambushed by Bai Bufan's stick on his rear.

A master can't beat a trickster.

"If any guy sees it and doesn't pick it up, he must have kicked the habit." After retaliating, Lin Li continued explaining.

"It's just that I'm older now. If I found one before I turned ten, not a single wildflower or grass by the roadside on the way home would remain unscathed; they'd all meet their doom!"

Actually, Lin Li had another small goal: to see if he could trigger a system task. Maybe the system would regard it as some kind of treasure.

But his rare initiative led to an utter defeat, damn it!

—Not a single reaction.

"More important than legs?" Ding Sihan inquired.

"First, are we talking about the Class Rep's legs? Secondly, if it's not her legs, then what are they like? Are they as straight as the Holy Sword? Long? White..."

It was a serious matter, not to be answered impulsively, and Lin Li immediately verified cautiously.

As he pondered, Lin Li grew slightly wistful and softly mused:

"Sigh, my pre-ten-year-old self probably wouldn't hesitate on this issue and would stand firmly by the Holy Sword, right?"

"Growing up really is a sad affair…"

Ding Sihan: "…"

"Don't get all sentimental over something so absurd!? It's not about growing up, it's your problem!"

...

No answer was reached between the Holy Sword and the legs.

The four of them continued to walk, but occasionally, the sound of sticks cutting through the air would come from behind Chen Yu Ying and Ding Sihan.

And they started to believe Lin Li, because every now and then, the boys, young men, and men coming up and down the mountain would glance back at them, and even a man in his early twenties asked Lin Li where he found it, as he wanted to find one too.

One could only say that the thinking of boys was incomprehensible to them.

"TGA is such a silly award show." Suddenly, the stick stopped and Bai Bufan, looking at his phone, said, "It's hilarious."

"How so? What's so funny about it?" Lin Li turned curiously, not having followed such things.

"The annual award went to a little robot."

"Which little robot?" Lin Li was even more confused.

Bai Bufan approvingly nodded, "That's the joke."

Lin Li thought for a moment and then understood, "SEER got an award without a sound; this guy is really inconspicuous."

Bai Bufan: "?"

Then Bai Bufan explained to Lin Li.

"CS2 is highly likely to be the Shooter of the Year"

"Valorant also has a chance"

"Could it be Delta?"

"Wow, Forbidden Comic Heaven!"

Lin Li now truly understood.

Suspecting he had wilder ideas than Bai Bufan regarding history.

"There's a temple here too." While both critiquing, Lin Li noticed a fork in the road leading to a temple entrance, prompting his comment.

"Yeah, I heard it's quite famous and spiritually significant. Initially, there were thoughts of including it in our route since it wouldn't take much time. But Teacher Xue said it involves feudal superstition, and official school trips should avoid contentious sites, so it was excluded." Chen Yu Ying explained.

"I remember there's a viewing platform here… There it is, you get a fantastic view of Yunliu Mountain from there." Chen Yu Ying pointed out the platform with reinforced railings in the distance.

"Quite a big platform." Ding Sihan glanced at it and sighed.

Lin Li looked at the two and then smiled, "Come on, let's go see. Since there's a viewing platform, I'd like to take some photos."

"But we promised the teacher…" Chen Yu Ying hesitated upon hearing this.

Lin Li immediately interrupted her, "It's not a scenic spot, and we're just taking photos for a few minutes. Think of it as resting since we're tired, wouldn't that be reasonable? Don't worry, if the sky collapses, we'll offer up Bai Bufan. He's behind it all."

Bai Bufan: "?"

Never mind, no use arguing with Lin Li.

Bai Bufan figured his image in Xue Jian's eyes should be better than Lin Li's. Once offered up, Lin Li wouldn't get away.

"Lin Li makes sense. When it comes to writing reflections, it'll be the two of them handling that anyway. Ying Bao, let's take a few photos; I brought a Polaroid, too. Perfect opportunity." Ding Sihan eagerly suggested.

"...Alright." Chen Yu Ying checked the time on her phone, considered for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

At that time, the observation deck wasn't crowded.

"Lin Li, hand me my phone." Chen Yu Ying reached out to Lin Li.

Pretty dresses rarely come with pockets, so Chen Yu Ying's phone was kept in Lin Li's bag, which might be one of the downsides of dressing nicely.

Lin Li opened Chen Yu Ying's bag and handed her the phone.

Upon a quick peek, there weren't many items—water, mirror, lip glaze, earphones, portable charger, USB cable, tissues, and a pack of sanitary pads.

But she probably wasn't on her period, otherwise, this attire wouldn't be fitting—most likely a precautionary measure to keep them handy.

Seeming to only realize her personal items' presence, Chen Yu Ying blushed a little.

With the phone acquired.

They photographed the landscape and themselves, while Lin Li watched the scenery and them.

"Didn't you say you wanted to take pictures? Why aren't you taking any yourself? Just taking photos of them?"

Bai Bufan nudged Lin Li's behind with his knee, curious, while holding his phone.

Lin Li hardly took any pictures.

"I'm not someone who posts on social media, don't have much attachment to photos. It's just that I noticed those two wanted to take some but felt it wasn't right to say it. So, I proposed it, giving them an excuse." Lin Li chuckled as he replied, ensuring that the two weren't paying attention to him.

Bai Bufan widened his eyes at this.

"Huh?"

"No way, you're so sensitive?"

"If you channeled this level of detail into our matches, our win rate would go up ten percent!"

Lin Li: "…"

"Even without you supporting me, my win rate could go up ten percent." Lin Li calmly replied.

Details are mine and not ours.

That's also part of the detail.

Bai Bufan: "…"

"No, Lin Li, you're really getting way too considerate, like after me now?" Bai Bufan teased Lin Li, but the more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became, and in a yin-yang change of tone he said, "Damn it, I give you so many hints and signals, how come you never pick up on those?"

"I do pick up on them, just can't be bothered." Lin Li casually answered, "Like how you actually want me to take some pictures of you now, I noticed, but I acted oblivious."

Bai Bufan was taken aback.

"You, you, you… damn it!!"

Pointing at Lin Li and finding himself at a loss for words, Bai Bufan resorted to joking with a "damn", expressing all his feelings.

Too sincere, this critical hit to Bai Bufan was extremely powerful.

Defense shattered, rage triggered.

"Alright, alright, I'll take your photo." Noticing the piercing gaze of Bai Bufan, Lin Li amusingly took his phone.

"Fine, can't hold this against you. Thanks! As long as you take my photo, Bao Wei will do anything." Bai Bufan instantly lightened up, readying himself, then asked, "Where's the best spot for a photo?"

Having observed Lin Li's photo-taking with Chen Yu Ying and Ding Sihan, Bai Bufan had faith in Lin Li's skills.

Standing firm, Lin Li professionally assessed the lighting and composition, then directed:

"Step back a bit, um, better lighting there, move a bit to the left, yes, yes.

Hit the back railing, huh? Climb over it, stand on the outside, and then let go and lean back. Yes, yes, keep going, huh? Bufan, flip over. Come on, I'm ready to shoot."

Bai Bufan, with one foot raised: "…"

You damn…