Published at 7th of February 2020 07:25:09 PM
Chapter 716
I'm the one who has to do it? Lou Cheng absently browsed his contact list for his cousin's number .
His finger froze for a moment when he saw the "cousin-in-law" entry .
We used to be brothers-in-arms, fighting our way to the championships . But that was before . Since then, I've attained Physical Invulnerability while he remains an Inhuman . To receive an invitation from me to revisit old places and reminisce on the past? Heck, I wouldn't come if I was him . As the wise internet says, who wants to go to a ten-year reunion if they're doing bad in life? Not to mention pride… Lou Cheng nodded slightly at his phone, feeling as though he had read his cousin-in-law's thoughts .
Won't I just be rubbing it in if I call like this?
Hmm, I'll have to be brief with it… Switching to the contacts tab, Lou Cheng found Lin Que's QQ and sent a message .
"Are you coming back to Songcheng to attend the opening ceremony?"
After clicking send, he didn't expect to get a reply right away . His cousin-in-law was the type to stay offline for days .
But just as he was about to log out of the interface and report the progress to wife, there was a beep .
"Yes," replied Lin Que .
Lou Cheng's jaw dropped at the simple word .
An unusual answer, brother!
He couldn't probe . After struggling for some time, he finally came up with an answer .
"Haha! See you there," he wrote .
Lin Que was quick to reply .
"Sure . "
How awkward, thought Lou Cheng . He left the chat to text Yan Zheke .
"Your cousin's going… [wipes sweat nervously]" he wrote .
The girl replied with a jaw-dropped emoji .
"Ummmmmm… Well I guess my cousin feels attached to Songcheng University and the martial arts club after all . He won't admit it, but it's not hard to tell . [eyes moving thoughtfully]"
"At least he's honest with his actions," quipped Lou Cheng . "Is he always so cool and standoffish when he chats online? He never spares a second word for me…"
"Don't read too much into it . My cousin is just used to expressing himself concisely . [rubs chin thoughtfully]"
"I could feel his coldness… [shivering]" wrote Lou Cheng .
"Isn't he like that in real life too? It has nothing to do with chatting online, [dumbfounded]" wrote Yan Zheke .
"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Lou Cheng . He thought for a moment . "I'll try asking him a harder question and see how many words he uses to reply!"
"What is it? What's the question?" she pressed curiously .
"I'm gonna ask him when he's going to arrive at Songcheng . Let's see if he can answer that with one word! [confident]"
A few seconds later, a second message from him came . It was a sad emoji .
"Hm? Did he do it with one word? How?" Yan Zheke's eyes sparkled with curiosity .
"He didn't use a single word this time… [blank look]"
"He sent me a screenshot of his flight details . "
Yan Zheke paused, then giggled and sent a "pummels ground laughing" emoji .
. . .
June 6th . Songcheng Scenic Hotel .
The committee staff who received him led him to his room .
"Mr . Lou, please be reminded that there will be a party at 11:30am tomorrow . The opening ceremony will commence at 7pm sharp . We have arranged a car for you," said one of the staff politely .
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"Got it," nodded Lou Cheng gently . He watched as they left .
Once the door was closed, he bid farewell to his mature, taciturn facade and held up his phone . With a smile on his face, he casually snapped photos of his room from every angle to send to Yan Zheke .
"The committee isn't too stingy . "
It was 5am in Connecticut and she was still asleep . After sending the message, he planned on contacting Talker to check on his teammates and maybe plan to meet up .
As he typed the first word, he felt something . He looked at the door .
A few seconds later, a rhythmic hand rapped on the door .
Smiling, Lou Cheng walked over and pulled it open . Without a doubt, it was Xiao Ming in his casual clothes .
"I was just going to look for you . Great minds think alike," he jested .
"I've been knocking on every door and inviting whoever's in for a gathering," said Cai Zongming disdainfully .
A couple of faces popped up behind him . There was the square-faced Li Mao; the soon-to-be-wed Sun Jian and Lin Hua; and He Zi, Wang Dali, and Mu Jinnian, who still had more competitions ahead of them . Standing against the wall was Lin Que, dressed in his usual simplicity and neatness . He still kept his hair short and was reluctant to talk . It seemed as if nothing had changed .
Cai Zongming smiled and threw up his hands .
"Surprise?"
Surprise? Surprise, my ass! I'm not blind, and my brain isn't defective! The moment you guys gathered at the door, I knew who and how many of you were there! Lou Cheng's mouth twitched and his eyes showed his disdain .
"Let's go . There's a restaurant nearby, perfectly suited for us to have a good chat," said Cai Zongming . He pointed his chin at the lift .
"Alright," said Lou Cheng . Without speaking further, he took his things and shut the door .
He took a serious look at Lin Que when he walked past him . To his relief, he realized that his cousin-in-law had recovered well from the inhumane modification experiment . His spirits were good and his body in normal condition . However, it didn't seem like he had improved much . But, as Ke Ke said, maybe it was a blessing in disguise .
A smile set on Lou Cheng's face . He raised his right hand at Lin Que, like how they used to high-five during their days in the martial arts club .
Lin Que did not move . Lou Cheng could sense the judgment in his look .
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Now, this is awkward… Just as Lou Cheng was about to laugh drily and retract his hand, Lin Que raised his palm and gave him a high five .
Beside them, Cai Zongming stifled a laugh .
"How come you don't high-five with the rest of us, Cheng? I'm going to sue you for discrimination!" He sighed dramatically . "Everyone hears the laughter of the new wife, but the weeping of the old wife goes unheard . "
"You're so dramatic," chided Lou Cheng .
Behind them, He Zi watched their interaction intently . She had taken out her pen and paper, but didn't draw anything after a long time .
"Are you thinking of drawing yaoi?" said Wang Dali, subconsciously moving away .
He Zi nodded seriously .
"I've already thought up a 500,000 word fanfiction . "
. . .
Ten minutes later, Lou Cheng was studying his surroundings, stunned . Peevishly, he said to Cai Zongming,
"Is this what you meant by 'a restaurant that suits us'?"
How does someone mistake the food market as a restaurant!
Cai Zongming gave a heh-heh laugh .
"I call this a journey down the bittersweet memory lane . With all of us here, there's bound to be a lot of emotions as we drown in reminiscence . A private room isn't the place for that . This is the best place after all . No one will bother us even if sing at the top of our lungs, swinging bottles in our hands . "
"I have missed the Songcheng food market," said Li Mao sentimentally .
So have I, thought Lou Cheng secretly .
It had been an memorable phase of their lives .
They found a secluded place and set up a table . As usual, Cai Zongming busied himself with ordering food and drinks . When he was done, he sat beside Lou Cheng . Placing a hand on Li Mao's shoulders, he said,
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"You are glowing with health, Senior Li Mao . Looks like you're doing well . "
"Nothing worth mentioning," said Li Mao .
"Really? I heard that you're now the head of security in your company," laughed Cai Zongming .
Talker's well informed with how everyone's doing… He's so much better than me at this . Some people are born a people person, thought Lou Cheng, listening to their conversation with a smile on his face .
"I'm the head of a small department," said Li Mao self-deprecatingly .
"At least you don't have to guard the door…" mumbled Sun Jian . "Ow!"
Lin Hua pinched his leg .
Li Mao pretended not to hear . Continuing on the subject, he said,
"Before this, I had to go all the way to Huahai to do security courses . " He sighed . "That moment when you realize nothing you learned in university is useful at work… what a damn waste of time," he said, tongue in cheek .
"A waste of time? That only applies to people who made it through university without getting into a single relationship!" said Cai Zongming . A few of those that were present felt like they took an arrow to the knee .
After garnering some attention, he took a cup and clinked it against the table .
"Come! Here's to Songcheng University Martial Arts Club, our champion title, our passionate dreams, our unforgettable youth, and this long-awaited reunion!"
Ho, good with words, aren't ya? Becoming a streamer has done you plenty of good, huh? said Lou Cheng through telepathy . He followed suit and raised his sodfilled cup .
"To our youth and this reunion!"
"To our youth and this reunion!" echoed the rest, following suit . Even the aloof Lin Que tapped his cup and raised it .
Cai Zongming glanced at Lou Cheng .
"To becoming the champion!"
He threw back his head and gulped down the contents of his cup .
"To becoming the champion!"
The resounding cheers made it seem like it was only yesterday .