Xia Yan climbed into the car. As cars were all Greek to him and he hadn’t seen the car from the front, Xia Yan didn’t know which car it was, and he also hadn’t looked at the license plate.
Since he could take a ride, he chose not to walk. The middle-aged man hadn’t spoken at all in the villa, so he didn’t leave a bad impression on Xia Yan. If it were Liu Xue’er that had come to give him a ride, he would not have got into the car.
“Thank you!”
“It’s nothing since we’re taking the same road.”
“Even if we are taking the same road, there’s no need to offer a scammer like me a ride. What do you need from me?”
“My surname is Fang. You can call me Uncle Fang or Old Fang.” The middle-aged man introduced himself and smiled, “I don’t think you’re a scammer.”
“Oh? You believe my craftsmanship is worth ¥5000?” Xia Yan asked with curiosity.
“Although Elder Liu likes to collect antiques, he’s, after all, a serviceman that had retired from the battlefield. In fact, he doesn’t understand antiques much, so it’s normal for him to make some errors. Why don’t you let me look at those two seals?”
“As you wish.” Xia Yan handed the two Soul Ataraxia Stones to him.
The middle-aged man held the Soul Ataraxia Stones in his hands and observed them carefully for a few minutes. His eyes turned brighter before he let out a deep sigh in the end and exclaimed in admiration, “It’s really One-Knife School. Little Xia, what’s your relationship with Master Han Yidao?”
“He is my master.” Since the middle-aged man could recognize his master’s school and had the surname Fang, Xia Yan had already guessed his identity.
“So, you’re Master Han’s disciple?” The middle-aged man’s eyes shined as he sized Xia Yan up and down once. He revealed a complicated expression on his face, “Has Master Han never mentioned the name Han Xiangdong to you?”
“He hasn’t.” Xia Yan shook his head without batting an eyelid. [This world is too small. Master oh Master, your disciple isn’t a coward. It’s just that I really don’t dare to recognize him when I haven’t even seen his daughter. You also don’t wish for me to take an ugly, fat woman as my wife, right?]
Fang Xiangdong, the middle-aged man seated in the car with Xia Yan was the man his master had asked him to look for in Chengdu. He was the same man that Han Yidao had once saved, and he had promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to Han Yidao’s disciple back then!
Xia Yan wasn’t planning to look for Fang Xiangdong yet didn’t expect to run into him soon after arriving in Chengdu through such an accidental encounter. He couldn’t help but feel anxious. [Don’t tell me this is God’s arrangements? His daughter and I are really fated? No, this won’t do. I cannot recognize him before meeting his daughter!]
Xia Yan was, in the end, a pure little virgin. Fang Xiangdong was a guest of honor at the wealthy Liu family and had a personal driver. Even an idiot could make out that he hailed from a wealthy and respectable background. Most men would recognize the man instantly, even if his daughter looked ugly.
Such an opportunity only came once in a blue moon, and there was no medicine for regret if one missed it!
But such reasoning had no effect towards a little virgin that looked at a woman’s face first. Admittedly, Xia Yan also looked at the breasts first sometimes, but his 18-year old heart also held some romantic delusions. Therefore, he showed no hesitation when he lied.
“Master Han saved my life 15 years ago. I’ve been looking for him all these years but couldn’t manage to find him. This is something I regret the most. How is he now?” Fang Xiangdong sighed in regret.
“He’s very healthy. Thanks for your concern, Uncle Fang.”
“That’s good! Really good!” Fang Xiangdong felt a bit emotional, “I must pay Master Han a visit… Right! Little Xia, can you tell me Master Han’s contact number?”
“Master has never used a telephone.” Xia Yan lied again. His master could receive a call at the public phone downstairs, but he didn’t wish for both to get in contact right now. [What will happen to me just in case they talk about the marriage during the call?]
“Master Han is still so old-fashioned!”
“Yeah. Master always wears a traditional long robe!” Xia Yan also sighed. Although he didn’t find his master’s eccentricity repulsive, whenever he mentioned it to an outsider, a long robe gave a very high-end, elegant, and classy feel. After being forced to say this, he felt honored about it too.
“Little Xia, since we’ve met today, you have to visit Uncle Xia’s house. I’ll introduce my daughter, Le’er, to you. As peers, you ought to have common subjects to discuss.” Fang Xiangdong looked at Xia Yan with a mild gaze, just like a father-in-law looking at his son-in-law.
[Old Fang, is there a need to act so stubborn about keeping your promise from over a decade ago? It’s the modern era now, patterns like childhood engagements are already out of fashion, okay?! I still haven’t prepared my mind and don’t wish to see your daughter!]Xia Yan howled in grief internally, yet his face showed no change, “I’m really sorry, Uncle Fang. How about next time? It’s too late today, and I still need to return to the university.”
“Fine then!” Based on his identity, Fang Xiangdong obviously wouldn’t invite Xia Yan again right away. He nodded and asked, “Are you studying in Chengdu? Which university is it?”
“Sihe University.”
“Turns out you’re actually a top student! Hehe!” Fang Xiangdong smiled happily, “Le’er studies at Sihe Music Academy. She’s also a freshman, and your universities are only a street apart. I’ll tell her to accompany you to have fun in the future.”
Xia Yan resigned himself to fate. Since such coincidences kept popping up, he too had no means to evade the matter!
After chatting for a while, the two became much closer. Fang Xiangdong fiddled with the Soul Ataraxia Stone in his hand as he mentioned the matter again, “Elder Liu made a wrong judgment today. Just based on your master’s prestige, ¥10,000 for these two…these two…”
“Soul Ataraxia Stones.” Xia Yan reminded him.
“Right! Buying these two Soul Ataraxia Stones for just ¥10,000 could be considered a huge windfall, yet Elder Liu returned them back. This is indeed…” Fang Xiangdong shook his head.
“Hehe.” Xia Yan also didn’t know what to say and just forced a laugh.
“Little Xia, can this Soul Ataraxia Stone really ward off evil spirits and safeguard the soul?” Fang Xiangdong queried with great interest.
“Do you believe it, Uncle Xia?” Xia Yan questioned back.
“I’m a firm atheist.” Fang Xiangdong smiled. These words were clearly telling Xia Yan that he was a bureaucrat.
“Belief can do wonders.” Xia Yan smiled and didn’t give an explanation.
“Right! Why did you tell Elder Liu not to go towards the southeast corner of the drawing-room?”
“If I told Uncle Fang that place is inauspicious for Elder Liu, you definitely wouldn’t believe me, right? Oh… Uncle Fang, we’re here!” The car drove very quickly and had already reached outside the gates of Sihe University.
“Wait a minute…” Fang Xiangdong took out a pen and paper and wrote down two numbers for Xia Tan, “The number on the top is my contact number, and the bottom one is Le’er’s. Give me your contact number too. Also, you must visit my house this weekend. I’ll ask your aunt to cook a few good dishes for you.”
Xia Yan wrote down his number, alighted down the car, and entered the gates of the university.
It was already 10 PM right now, so the campus was much quieter. He couldn’t help but smile bitterly after walking a few steps. He had a rich experience today, and most importantly, he hadn’t made any money at all! Therefore, he had to shelve his plan to get a smartphone temporarily.
He recalled the matter of Elder Liu again. Xia Yan had already figured out the reason behind that stubborn old fellow’s nightmares. An ebony toad figurine at the southeast corner of the drawing-room had a dense amount of undead element lingering around it.
This figurine could reflect a person and already formed a glossy surface. Clearly, Elder Liu fiddled with it every day. After accumulating over a long time, the influence of the undead element had finally shown up. Moreover, the situation was critical. If Elder Liu continued fiddling with it, his life would be at risk as next time, it wouldn’t end with just a nightmare.
Only, looking at the old fellow’s attitude, Xia Yan knew his advice was just in vain and that he would meet with Liu Xue’er once again.
After slowly walking back to the dorm, Xia Yan opened the door and went inside. Zhao Qiang was playing a game right now while Qin Jian held his cell phone in his hand and kept shaking with broad movements. His phone was at risk of slipping his hands at any time. There was also another person lying down on the final bed, and it seemed like he had fallen asleep.
“Xia Yan, you’re back!” Zhao Qiang raised his head to call out after hearing the door open then continued to attack with his bladed weapon in-game.
“We’re all finally here!” Qin Jian tossed his cell phone aside and jumped down before clapping, “Gather up! Hou Xiaotian, get up quickly!”
A long-haired boy sat up and squeezed out a smile with much difficulty after seeing Xia Yan. He extended his hand, “Nice to meet you, I’m Hou Xiaotian!”
“I’m Xia Yan.” Xia Yan shook hands with him and felt that Hou Xiaotian had run into some trouble.
Hou Xiaotian wasn’t in the mood to talk, so he returned to lay down after speaking a few simple sentences. He looked very depressed.
Xia Yan felt curious, but it wasn’t proper for him to ask about it.
“F••k! It’s another beginner!” Zhao Qiang slapped the external keyboard and turned off the laptop gloomily. He then called out to Xia Yan, “Let’s go out to have some barbecue. I’m footing the bill!”
“Isn’t it already late?” Xia Yan asked.
“It’s not that late. The dorm won’t close its door for the next few days, so don’t worry about it.” Zhao Qiang answered.
“Hou Xiaotian, you want to come with us?” Xia Yan patted Hou Xiaotian’s shoulder.
“You all can go; I’m feeling a bit unwell.” Hou Xiaotian stated lazily.
Xia Yan wanted to invite him again, but he caught Qin Jian hinting at him with his eyes, so he said, “We’ll be going then. Let’s have a meal together next time!”
“Sure.”
By the trio left through the southern gate, it had already turned 11 PM. The barbecue stalls’ business was still booming. They chose a random stall and ordered some food along with beer. The trio began dining then.
“Qin Jian, what’s up with Hou Xiaotian? Why do I feel like his mood isn’t that good?” Xia Yan asked after drinking a glass of beer.
“Alas! Anyone would feel down if something like that happens to them!” Qin Jian and Zhao Qiang shook their heads. The two of them narrated the entire affair to him one after another. Xia Yan could only sigh after hearing the whole story.
Hou Xiaotian had already arrived at Chengdu a few days ago, but he hadn’t reported to the university immediately. He had accompanied his father to the provincial hospital first. It was because his father felt unwell for the past few years but hadn’t cared about it too much and thought it was just a minor thing. Since they were going to Chengdu this time, Hou Xiaotian’s mother had told him to take his father to the hospital to get a check-up. Therefore, they had gone there and had just received the results yesterday.
After looking at the results, both father and son were left stupefied.
It was stomach cancer.