Asking the obvious.
Aren't friends allowed to eat together?
Mu Qing glanced at Yao Ji. Yao Ji, finally unable to stay on the sidelines, was ready to insert herself into the situation. Mu Qing had seen through her intentions long ago, but there was nothing she could do to stop her; the organization wouldn't allow it.
"Mm."
A cold response, devoid of emotion. She truly disliked Yao Ji. For some reason, a sense of worry gnawed at her. She didn't know what Lin Fan would do.
She indeed disliked Yao Ji, but she also had to admit that Yao Ji possessed considerable charm. Few men could resist her allure.
"Hello, I'm Mu Qing's cousin, Yao Ji."
Yao Ji blinked her electrifying eyes. If Lin Fan's resolve wasn't firm, he would surely be stunned, his body tingling, sinking softly into the depths of her captivating gaze.
Lin Fan and Old Zhang exchanged a glance.
They stood up.
And extended their hands simultaneously.
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
This was their standard greeting for new acquaintances. They presented a friendly demeanor, harboring no ulterior motives. They simply wished to shake hands, conveying their warmth to the other person.
Their main goal was to express their friendliness.
Yao Ji stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her.
Confused.
These two hands…
Inwardly, she scoffed. Men, she thought. A handshake upon first meeting, just an excuse for physical contact. She was long accustomed to such behavior.
She glanced at Mu Qing, her eyes conveying a clear message: See? I didn't even have to do anything. They offered their hands first.
But the crux of the matter was…
The current situation was a bit perplexing. What was the meaning of these two outstretched hands? Which one should she shake first?
Of course, such a simple question wouldn't stump her.
Yao Ji grasped Lin Fan's hand, smiling.
"Hello."
But when she tried to retract her hand, she found he hadn't released his grip. This left Yao Ji slightly bewildered, yet also secretly pleased. She overthought, assuming Lin Fan was captivated by her soft, delicate hand and thus reluctant to let go.
Seeing Yao Ji hadn't shaken his hand yet, Old Zhang felt a little miffed. He spoke up, "Hello."
His meaning was clear: I'm being so proactive in greeting you, how can you not react at all? It's really quite rude.
"Why aren't you shaking Old Zhang's hand?" Lin Fan inquired.
He found her behavior strange. They were shaking hands, so why wasn't she responding? She should be interlacing her fingers and shaking both their hands simultaneously.
The evil rooster desperately wanted to interject. These guys are nuts.
He simultaneously felt sorry for this unfamiliar human woman. Encountering two such foolish humans, did she even want to live anymore?
"I…"
Yao Ji wanted to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Their routine was too deep; she was completely bewildered.
"Lin Fan, she doesn't understand," Mu Qing explained.
"Oh!"
Since his wife had spoken, he naturally had to obey. He was disappointed, though. It turned out she didn't really want to be friends with them. He didn't voice his disappointment, keeping it buried within his heart.
He made a mental note of it.
Old Zhang leaned close to Lin Fan's ear, whispering, "I don't think she really wants to be friends with us."
"Really?"
"Yes, I can sense she's not being sincere."
"Mm, I trust your feelings."
"I knew you'd always believe me."
The two men exchanged whispers, seemingly secretive, yet their actions appeared rather furtive. It was obvious they were gossiping.
Yao Ji felt something was amiss.
But she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
This guy in front of her wasn't what she expected.
Mu Qing smiled openly, directing her smile at Yao Ji, as if to say, I'm definitely laughing at you, though the exact meaning behind the smile was left for Yao Ji to decipher.
Yao Ji gritted her teeth. She knew exactly what Mu Qing was laughing about.
Under the table, she kicked Mu Qing, glancing at her meaningfully. Her message was clear: Enough is enough. It's time to talk about our business.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Mu Qing pondered for a moment, ultimately deciding to comply with the organization's orders. The consequences of betrayal were dire – relentless pursuit and potential elimination.
"Mm."
Lin Fan nodded expectantly, wondering what Mu Qing wanted to tell him.
Perhaps…
Husband, I know you're my husband. I was just teasing you before. Let's be together now.
Yes, he was anticipating those words.
However, Lin Fan kept imagining Mu Qing feeding him strange and unusual foods.
"Husband, this is tiger penis."
"Husband, this is donkey penis."
"You need to eat more of this to stay healthy and energetic."
Thinking about these scenarios always brought a smile to his face.
His wife was truly too good to him.
"I need to leave for a while. My cousin will be staying here, and she has no one to look after her, so I was hoping she could stay with you for a while," Mu Qing said.
"Ah?"
"You're leaving?"
Lin Fan stared at Mu Qing in astonishment, his face etched with reluctance. The matter of Yao Ji staying with them didn't even register.
"Yes."
Mu Qing replied. As a woman, she could easily discern the affection in his gaze, a look reminiscent of the connection between husband and wife.
"Does he really have feelings for me?"
"Has he always considered me his wife?"
Mu Qing felt a flicker of panic.
Their acquaintance had been quite peculiar. She hadn't initiated anything; it was Lin Fan who had taken the lead, claiming her as his wife from the very beginning.
His constant calls of "wife…wife" had put Mu Qing in a passive position, unable to control the narrative. She mostly followed Lin Fan's lead.
She found this rather unsettling.
Upon closer reflection, all signs pointed to Lin Fan being a skilled charmer, using his proactive approach to conquer all. It seemed Mu Qing's situation confirmed this theory.
Lin Fan said, "Can you not go?"
Old Zhang added, "Yeah, it's so nice here. I really like this place. He'll be very sad if you leave."
Who dared say Old Zhang was a man without sentiment?
He could see that if Mu Qing truly left, Lin Fan would be heartbroken. As his best friend, he naturally didn't want to see Lin Fan suffer.
Mu Qing sighed inwardly.
I don't want to leave either. But…
Yao Ji chimed in, "There are some family matters my cousin needs to attend to back home. She'll return once they're resolved."
She thought to herself, Good riddance. She was confident that by the time Mu Qing returned, Lin Fan's eyes would hold only her, Yao Ji.
As the saying goes, My eyes are full of you. As for you…who are you?
Mu Qing said, "I'll be back as soon as I've handled everything."
She had a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. Why did she have to assure him she would return? What was their relationship?
It felt strangely ambiguous.
Lin Fan appeared very reluctant, but he understood Mu Qing had things to attend to. Despite his reluctance, he couldn't stop her. He was always considerate of others.
"Alright."
There was nothing he could do.
Then, Mu Qing asked, "Will it be convenient for her to stay with you temporarily?"
Lin Fan replied, "It definitely won't be convenient for me. I can't sleep with any woman other than you, and we only have two beds. So, I was thinking, she could share a bed with Old Zhang."
"I'm willing to share my bed," Old Zhang declared earnestly.
Mu Qing wanted to laugh.
Yao Ji's expression froze.
Listen to this.
Were these even words a human being should utter?
She glanced at the rather scruffy Old Zhang. If she had to share a bed with that old geezer, she'd rather die.
Mu Qing said, "Cousin, if there's really no other option, could you just make do with him?"
If the situation allowed, she would have burst out laughing.
Seeing Yao Ji's disgruntled expression made her feel as though all the frustration she had just experienced had dissipated.
Yao Ji said, "That arrangement would be rather inconvenient. Is there anywhere else?"
Her plan was simple. Ideally, she'd live alone with Lin Fan. Then, in the dead of night, amidst the sparks of passion, they could engage in some pleasurable activities, allowing her to completely ensnare him.
"Let me think. Qing Shan should have some availability," Lin Fan said.
Old Zhang added, "They definitely have space there. Plenty of beds. She can stay as long as she needs."
Yao Ji asked curiously, "What kind of place is Qing Shan?"
Lin Fan replied, "It's the Qing Shan Mental Hospital. I'm quite familiar with the place. If you're willing, I can take you there. I'm sure they can arrange accommodations for you."
Mental hospital?
Yao Ji hadn't expected him to suggest a mental hospital. Was he even taking her seriously?
Dinner concluded.
Following the organization's instructions, Mu Qing introduced Yao Ji to Lin Fan. The outcome was now in Yao Ji's hands. If she couldn't win Lin Fan's heart, it was her own fault, not anyone else's.
"It's so lively tonight."
They strolled along the street. Mu Qing wore a hat and a mask, concealing her face. Given her fame, she would undoubtedly attract attention otherwise.
Even so, she still drew the gazes of many passersby.
Primarily due to Yao Ji's alluring appearance.
A man walking with his girlfriend found himself captivated by Yao Ji, his gaze lingering on her, much to his girlfriend's displeasure.
With her irresistible charm, Yao Ji was the center of attention wherever she went.
Meanwhile, Mu Qing's thoughts were in turmoil. Her biggest fear was that Yao Ji would actually succeed.
After spending some time with Lin Fan, she didn't know how to describe him.
Overall, he was a genuinely good person.
However, he seemed too trusting. Given Yao Ji's cunning, if she managed to gain Lin Fan's trust, he would likely be exploited.
This was her greatest concern.
Just then, Lin Fan stopped, his gaze fixed on something ahead, as if he'd spotted a familiar face.
"What's wrong?" Old Zhang asked.
Mu Qing and Yao Ji followed Lin Fan's gaze.
They saw a man and a woman standing not far away.
The man wore a suit and was quite handsome.
The woman, however, was not only obese but also rather plain-looking. Standing next to the man, they resembled a beast and a prince.
They held ice cream cones, licking them while looking at Lin Fan.
Wu Sheng licked his ice cream and said, "Is he Lin Fan, the strongest in the Dragon Kingdom?"
"Yes, that's him. I can't believe I'm actually seeing my idol," Wu Xiu Xiu exclaimed excitedly.
They had traveled from Xia Du to Yan Hai City.
For Wu Xiu Xiu, as long as she was with Wu Sheng, she was willing to go anywhere.
Throughout the journey, Wu Sheng hadn't spent a single penny; Wu Xiu Xiu had paid for everything. Perhaps being a "simp" transcended age and gender.
Mu Qing asked, "Do you know him?"
"No," Lin Fan shook his head.
"Then why are you staring at them? And why do I feel like they know you too?" Mu Qing felt they must know each other; otherwise, why would they exchange such looks?
It was as if long-lost friends had suddenly reunited.
That feeling couldn't be mistaken.
"He's very powerful," Lin Fan said.
Mu Qing noticed Lin Fan's expression growing serious. She had last seen this look when he faced the Sea God.
"I'll go say hello."
Wu Sheng patted Wu Xiu Xiu's head and walked towards Lin Fan with a smile.
He sized up Lin Fan.
He didn't exude the aura of a powerful individual, yet there was an indescribable quality about him.
It seemed powerful individuals did have distinctive traits.
If they didn't, they wouldn't be powerful.
"Hello," Wu Sheng greeted with a smile. "I've heard people say you're the strongest in the Dragon Kingdom. Being able to spot me in this vast crowd suggests you possess considerable ability."
Lin Fan replied, "I can sense your strength."
"Is that so?" Wu Sheng chuckled. "Being able to perceive my strength indicates you're no slouch either. I didn't expect to encounter someone like you in this place. However, without a proper exchange, it's difficult to gauge your true capabilities."
"I would appreciate your guidance," Lin Fan said, cupping his hands in respect.
Wu Sheng smiled.
"Alright, come with me. I'm also curious to see just how powerful you are."
Wu Sheng wasn't from this planet. He was curious about the local cultivation system. The spiritual energy in this world seemed relatively abundant, theoretically capable of nurturing numerous powerful individuals.
But along his journey, he had been disappointed.
There were too few powerful individuals.
Wu Xiu Xiu had told him that the strongest humans were Heavenly King level experts. However, after seeing them on television, he found these Heavenly Kings to be rather unremarkable. They had some skills, but they weren't truly impressive.
Wu Sheng floated into the air. "Follow me."
With that, he flew off into the distance.
Lin Fan leaped into the air. He couldn't fly, but he could jump, and his speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, he caught up with Wu Sheng.
"Huh!"
Wu Sheng glanced back, surprised to find the other man couldn't fly. However, he had to admit, his jumping speed was truly remarkable.
Interesting.
Back in the city, Mu Qing and Yao Ji witnessed this scene, their expressions shifting.
Who was this mysterious man?
If he was a powerful individual, they would have known about him.
They exchanged glances.
Their eyes conveyed confusion. Who was this person, and why had he come looking for Lin Fan?
Then, they looked at Wu Xiu Xiu.
Wu Xiu Xiu was utterly bewildered.
Why are you looking at me? I'm just an ordinary girl.