Chapter 708
Chapter 708
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 708
>Chapter Title: Qing Wanglai Arrives
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Chapter 708: Qing Wanglai Arrives
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> A normal person had finally shown up after all this time, and Li Huowang really wanted to get to know this new addition. He hoped to learn more from him.
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> But Qing Wanglai was a graduate student, and Li Huowang was currently shackled at the ankles, strictly forbidden from approaching the school grounds. So he had no choice but to ask Yang Na to go in his place, along with Chen Hongyu and Qian Fu.
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> Li Huowang had of course considered Yang Na's safety, but thinking it over, it was broad daylight with people everywhere— one shout and someone would come running. Plus, the destination was a prestigious university, so he felt reassured.
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> "Huowang, I'm on the subway... have you had dinner yet?"
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> "Rush hour, so crowded. Good thing Chen Dama's got strength, (-)"
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> "Why aren't you replying to my texts? When are you gonna fix that bad habit? Don't just read and not respond. How am I supposed to know what you're thinking if you don't say?"
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> Seeing the line from Yang Na, Li Huowang—his expression tense—rapidly tapped out a response with both thumbs on the screen. "Nana! They're here! They're here again! They're still watching me!"
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> After sending it, Li Huowang—still tense—hunched over by the window, peering outside at the vague silhouettes under the twilight tree shadows.
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> He couldn't see them clearly, but Li Huowang could feel they were looking right this way!
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> Ding-dong. Li Huowang glanced down at the screen, where Yang Na's message lit up. "Could it be Aunt Qi?"
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> "No way! Aunt Qi's off work by now. I've been on good behavior lately—the street office isn't watching me as closely."
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> "What do we do then? Should we call the police?"
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> "It's fine. They seem hesitant right now, don't dare make a move on me. Besides, I'm not exactly helpless!" Li Huowang yanked open a drawer, revealing a gleaming dagger.
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> In Li Huowang's view, these people showing up was actually good news. At least it meant Yang Na and the others were safe for the time being.
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> "Huowang, come eat!" Hearing the voice outside the door, Li Huowang called back. "Whoosh~!" He drew the starry curtains, blocking the line of sight and giving him a slight sense of relief.
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> Whether now or in the past, it was just mother and son for meals. His dad drove a taxi, and rush hour was prime earning time.
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> Tonight's dishes were chicken stewed with mushrooms, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, and leeks with snail meat. The seaweed and dried shrimp soup's aroma alone was enough to make one's mouth water.
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> Sun Xiaoqin's cooking was naturally top-notch, but Li Huowang clearly wasn't in the mood to savor it. He ate while staring at his phone, occasionally glancing toward the balcony.
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> "Son, where's Nana?" Sun Xiaoqin clearly noticed someone was missing.
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> "She had something come up." Li Huowang brushed it off with a vague excuse.
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> Sun Xiaoqin couldn't quite grasp the ways of young people these days, so she could only think from her own perspective.
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> "Son, you have to take responsibility for Nana. Mom's not rushing you or anything, but we really need to hold on to a girl like her. Good ones like that are hard to find nowadays."
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> "Take the Li family next door, for example. Their son, Li Changnan—the one you played with as a kid—he went on a blind date with a '93 girl. I saw her once, and she's nowhere near as good as our Nana. Tsk tsk tsk, you know how much they spent just on the bride price?"
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> Normally, this was where Li Huowang would chime in, but when the video call invite popped up, he shoveled the rest of his meal into his mouth, cheeks bulging as he bolted for the bedroom.
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> "Mom, something came up. We'll talk later."
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> Back in his room, Li Huowang took a deep breath to steady himself. With a light tap on the green button, Yang Na's face appeared.
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> "Huowang! Quick, look—we're here!"
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> As the screen turned, the main road of a university came into view. It was evening, but the path was still bustling with people.
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> Li Huowang brought his phone close to the screen and spoke in a hushed voice.
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> "Qian Fu, find that guy."
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> "No rush, we're already here. What's the hurry?" Qian Fu's voice came from off-screen, and soon the screen started shaking as they moved.
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> From the changing sounds in the video, Li Huowang gathered they'd entered a building, taken an elevator, and even asked someone for directions.
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> When the screen steadied, amid the lively clamor of a cafeteria, a lean man with square frameless glasses appeared before Li Huowang.
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> He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with short hair and the collar of his white shirt slightly open.
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> He was eating quietly. Compared to others chatting or glued to their phones, he seemed refined—one hand holding his bowl, the other his chopsticks, eating steadily without haste. Handsome in an elegant way.
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> If Li Huowang was right, this was the Qing Wanglai that Qian Fu had mentioned.
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> "Wow~! Huowang! See that? He's so handsome!" Yang Na's comment instantly soured Li Huowang's impression of the guy.
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> Just then, Li Huowang saw Qing Wanglai look their way. He set down his bowl, stood, and walked over.
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> "Long time no see. How've you been?"
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> "Little Qing, not good at all, really not good! They locked me up again. I tried sending you a message to come save me, but it wouldn't go through! Man, you have no idea how they tortured me in there!" Qian Fu stepped forward, prattling on nonstop, leaving Chen Hongyu no chance to get a word in.
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> "Shut it!" Chen Hongyu clapped a hand over Qian Fu's mouth and turned straight to Qing Wanglai.
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> "Give me your meal card. I'm hungry!"
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> Qing Wanglai glanced curiously at Yang Na before pinching a meal card between two fingers from his left pocket and handing it over.
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> "Our school's sandpot bullfrog and sweet-and-sour pork ribs are great. You should try them."
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> Soon Chen Hongyu returned with two huge trays of food and plunked them on Qing Wanglai's table. The four sat down together.
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> Clearly, for Chen Hongyu and Qian Fu, eating trumped everything. They grabbed their bowls and didn't stop shoveling.
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> With those two not speaking, Li Huowang cut in directly.
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> "Hi, Qing Wanglai. I'm Li Huowang."
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> Hearing Li Huowang, Qing Wanglai set down his bowl and took Yang Na's phone, studying the man on the screen.
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> His reaction puzzled Li Huowang. What was this guy's deal? He started to introduce himself again.
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> "No need to say it twice. I know you're Li Huowang. Had dinner yet?"
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> (End of chapter)