Chapter 26: Yifei: Choosing the Senior or the Foster Sister?

"Did the senior really agree to go on a date with Zhang Li so easily?" Cai Wenjing's eyes flashed with confusion and surprise.

If Jing Tian knew what she was thinking, she would certainly refute it. First of all, this was not a date; she simply wanted to have more contact with Zhang Li. Secondly, this decision was not made easily at all; it was something she had pondered deeply. Her grandfather held status and power, and her father was a wealthy and successful businessman. Having seen all sorts of strange and extraordinary things growing up, she knew more than the average person. Therefore, encountering a supernatural phenomenon where acting as a guide could improve her own abilities and talents shocked her more than it would anyone else. The moment she realized her frail health could be cured, she felt a surge of excitement and longing to explore and connect with him. Just as someone who has been to the desert understands the true value of a single drop of water!

"Why, are you unwilling because I agreed to have dinner with you?" Seeing Zhang Li silent, Jing Tian smiled and blinked. "You weren't just being polite to me earlier, were you?"

"That's impossible." Zhang Li immediately shook his head, his eyes smiling. "Of course, I am willing to treat you to dinner, senior. I was just pleasantly surprised."

Although he didn't know why Jing Tian was so "easy to ask out," he certainly didn't mind becoming friends with such a "wealthy flower." Moreover, this flower could bring him enhancements to his abilities and talents.

"Alright, it's a date then." Jing Tian beamed.

Cai Wenjing: "..." These two were actually playing for real. However, she didn't say anything this time, and her expression remained unchanged. She had been quite casual and even a bit temperamental with Zhang Li earlier because they chatted online frequently and were about to become classmates, so they were close. But when it came to normal interpersonal interactions, it wasn't her place to comment.

At this moment, Jing Tian thought for a moment and asked, "I'm going to bring one of my roommates along. You don't mind, do you?"

Upon hearing this, both Zhang Li and Cai Wenjing felt this was more normal. Jing Tian was an established artist and a student in the Performance Department at the Beijing Film Academy; it would have been suspicious if she had agreed to a one-on-one dinner with a freshman she had just met.

"Bring a few more, it doesn't matter," Zhang Li replied generously. "I should be thanking you seniors for giving me the chance to host." He added, "I heard that in college, the more seniors you know, the more popular you are."

"So that's the game you're playing." Jing Tian reached out and tapped Zhang Li with her slender finger.

"Do you want to come along?" Zhang Li looked at Cai Wenjing.

"I think I'll pass," Cai Wenjing said, wanting to refuse. It wasn't appropriate for her to appear at a dinner Zhang Li was hosting for Jing Tian and her friends. Besides, she had to get to her dormitory and meet her own roommates for dinner.

"I was planning on eating outside of school, at a famous local spot for copper-pot hot pot and roast duck," Zhang Li shrugged. "That place requires a reservation at least three days in advance, which I made before coming to school. I guess you'll have to wait for next time?"

"That won't be necessary." Cai Wenjing's inner foodie was activated, and she flashed a sweet smile. "Since you're with the seniors, you might feel a bit lonely. I'll reluctantly accompany you."

Jing Tian shook her head with a smile. These freshmen were quite interesting.

"I appreciate it." Zhang Li raised his phone and gave it a little shake. "Then we'll meet tonight. Bye."

"See you tonight." Jing Tian waved gracefully.

"I'll eat you out of house and home," Cai Wenjing said, showing a perfect set of teeth.

"Please, don't hold back," Zhang Li said, waving without looking back.

Watching him walk into the male dormitory building, Jing Tian looked at Cai Wenjing: "Junior, let me take you to your dormitory." The two women walked away chatting and laughing, becoming a beautiful sight on campus.

The dorms at the Beijing Film Academy are not hard to find. Both the Haidian and Huairou campuses have two dormitory buildings, separated for men and women. The Haidian campus mainly houses undergraduates, while the Huairou campus houses vocational students. Zhang Li was in Building No. 2 of the Haidian campus, where each building is equipped with two elevators, stopping at odd and even floors respectively.

Arriving at the entrance, he swiped his campus card to enter and spotted the card-recharge machine on the side of the lobby.

"Zhang Li." A boy with a sunny smile had just finished recharging and waved when he saw Zhang Li.

"Dou Xiao." Zhang Li dragged his suitcase over. This boy was someone he had met during the art exam, and now they were classmates.

"We're in the same dorm." Dou Xiao came up to Zhang Li, looking very happy.

"That's lucky." Zhang Li chatted with Dou Xiao for a bit while waiting in line. After recharging, he went to the side to buy daily necessities, including a mattress, a straw mat, and a quilt.

"Let me help you carry some." Dou Xiao was very enthusiastic.

"Thanks." Zhang Li nodded with a smile. "I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow."

"Don't be so formal," Dou Xiao shook his head. "We're going to be 'dorm-mates' from now on."

"That's even more reason to treat you to dinner." Zhang Li gave Dou Xiao a deep look.

The two took the elevator to their floor and chatted all the way to the dorm. Performance students lived in four-person rooms with beds on top and desks below. Zhang Li was the last to arrive, so only the spot closest to the door remained, but he didn't mind. Two others were already in the room, and Zhang Li took the initiative to greet them. One was Li Tingzhe from Ma'anshan, Anhui, and the other was Wang Zirui from Changsha, Hunan. Both were outwardly polite.

Zhang Li had originally intended to chat with them to expand his social circle, but his phone suddenly rang. Looking at the caller ID, it was Yang Mi.

"Sister Mi, what's up?" Zhang Li sat down at his desk.

Dou Xiao and the others glanced at him subconsciously.

"Have you checked in?" Yang Mi's voice sounded tired.

Zhang Li raised an eyebrow: "With the help of a very warm-hearted senior, it went very smoothly."

"Oh, is that a jab at me?" Yang Mi's voice suddenly regained some energy.

"How could I dare?" Zhang Li lowered his voice. "I'm just lamenting that our seniors at the Film Academy are actually quite nice, not all of them are... well, you know."

"You dare to imply something about me?" Yang Mi scoffed. "Do you not want to return to the set?"

"Look, you're getting agitated again." Zhang Li immediately changed his tune. "I was talking about Liu Yifei."

Yang Mi curled her lip: "..." For someone like you who is so obsessed with your sister, you actually dare to talk about that "brother-obsessed" person? That's truly rare.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell on you?" A flash of excitement crossed Yang Mi's eyes.

"Ha," Zhang Li chuckled. "Then make sure to record it next time. Otherwise, if you tell Sister Yifei, she'll only think you're trying to sow discord."

Yang Mi: "..." The face of Liu Yifei appeared in her mind, looking haughty as she said, "Ah Li was raised by my own hands; how could he possibly speak ill of me?" That person had an inexplicable trust in both her and Zhang Li.

"As long as things are settled, I might come back to school tonight. Should I bring you some late-night snacks?" Yang Mi decisively changed the subject. For some reason, she wanted to see Zhang Li before going to sleep tonight.

"Sure, I'll wait for your call." Zhang Li didn't refuse. *Late-night snacks... maybe I can milk her for more?*

"Alright then." Yang Mi hung up happily.

Zhang Li had just put away his phone and was preparing to talk to Dou Xiao and the others when it rang again. Looking at the screen, it read "Auntie."

"Sister Yifei." Zhang Li answered immediately.

Dou Xiao and the others glanced at him again.

"Have you arrived at school?" Liu Yifei's cool, clear voice came through.

"Just got to the dorm." Zhang Li's voice was filled with a smile. "Everything is taken care of."

"Mm." Liu Yifei responded softly, her hair falling as she flipped a page of a book, looking beautiful and fresh. "Come home for dinner tonight."

"About that..." Zhang Li thought, *this is really unfortunate.* "I've already made plans for tonight. I'm taking a senior who acted as my guide out to dinner. It wouldn't be right to stand her up, would it?"

"Oh?" Liu Yifei's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Taking a senior to dinner, so you don't need your 'sister' anymore?"

"Between your senior and your sister, you can only choose one!"