“So, are we alright now?” Jiang Youyou peeked out from behind Xiang Ning.

“I think so. What about you? Do you have anywhere safe you can hide?” Xiang Ning asked, but he already knew the answer. As long as the Jiang family was around, without anyone protecting her she wouldn’t be safe. Looking at her poor state, he shook his head in exasperation. “Fine, follow me. But I need to change clothes before I bring you to my friends.”

Jiang Youyou nodded. She knew that Xiang Ning was one of the most anticipated contestants, but why was he alone right now? Based on what she knew, this was his first time in Hang City.

Xiang Ning found a public bathroom and put on some clothes from his dimensional ring. As he walked out, he saw Jiang Youyou’s pitiful figure sitting by the road. He remembered how the once energetic lady was now homeless. What a messed-up fate! He didn’t know why she would leave her family, but he knew that it was her own personal story so he did not question her. He could only bring her back to the hostel. They called a cab and bought supper along the way.

“Wait here. I need to go in and confirm the situation. So the story is that I went out to take a breather and sightsee before I coincidentally met you. Since we were out for so long, my friends will be anxious. That’s why I’m going in to talk to them first, understand?” Xiang Ning tried hinting to her about his predicament.

Jiang Youyou just nodded in a daze. When Xiang Ning walked in, she finally understood what he meant. He was so far away! What did he mean, sightseeing? It took half an hour by cab just to return.

......

Back in the hostel, the situation wasn’t contained. Lei Zhongyuan had already received news about the events and was waiting for Xiang Ning. Li Zimo was nervous. He felt that something similar had happened before.

“Zimo.”

“Yes, Instructor Lei!”

“Don’t be nervous. Did Xiang Ning not tell you what he went to do? As you know, he’s in a foreign city. If anything were to happen…” Lei Zhongyuan said gravely.

“Instructor Lei, it’s true. He didn’t say anything, just told me not to look for him. I saw that he’d been worried about something ever since we stepped foot into Hang City. I don’t know why.”

Lei Zhongyuan massaged his temples. “Sure, don’t tell anyone else yet. I’ll just wait here—” 

He didn’t even finish his sentence before Xiang Xiaoyu popped her head into the room and said, “Brother Zimo, uncle Lei, my brother just returned with supper. Come eat with us!”

Lei Zhongyuan’s face twitched as he looked at the dazed Li Zimo. The two of them followed her into the hall and saw Xiang Ning bringing out a variety of dishes.

“Come and eat. I heard that there was gourmet food here in Hang City before we even came here. It seems that they were right,” Xiang Ning chuckled. He had Jiang Youyou here, how could she not know all the best places for supper?

But Lei Zhongyuan was suspicious. He might not know Xiang Ning that well, but he knew that he had a screw loose. He didn’t believe that the brat had gone out just to buy supper. He looked at the time and chuckled. When his gaze met with Xiang Ning’s, the latter almost flinched. While he appeared calm, Xiang Ning’s back was drenched with sweat.

Only Li Zimo realized that he had changed his clothes and could only guess why he’d had to do so. His brows furrowed. Was Xiang Ning hurt? Did he fight?

“And why’d you come back so late?” Lei Zhongyuan asked a simple question as he chewed on a xiao long bao. He wanted to see what Xiang Ning would say.

Xiang Ning scratched his nose as his gaze wandered. Wu Rui knew that he was about to lie.

“I went out and met a friend. Some things happened, but it wasn’t too serious. She took me to the food district and bought all of this for you,” he said.

“Hoh? Do you have friends in Hang City?” Lei Zhongyuan smiled. With the exception of Tranquil City and the fortress, he had never set foot out of Marsh City. How could he have friends in Hang City? Lies!

“It’s true! Her name is Jiang Youyou. She helped me during the stampede in Tranquil City. At that time I didn’t know she was from Hang City. I swear I’m not lying. It was a coincidence that I met her this time,” Xiang Ning explained. No one believed what he was saying this time; even Wu Rui could not bear to look any further.

He swore he was telling the truth, how could he lie? But the most explosive reaction to the news was at the back. As Xiang Ning explained further, both Fang Rou and his sister were so shocked that they forgot to chew their food.

“Erm, she wanted to come and meet you guys, so I brought her here.” Xiang Ning laughed as he scratched his head.

His smile was so forced that even Lei Zhongyuan felt something was off. “Bring her in then.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Youyou was standing in front of them two minutes later. She was like a chick compared to Lei Zhongyuan’s gigantic frame.

“Explain.”

“Erm… I’m really here to meet you.”

“Hmph. Before you say anything further do you dare swear that not one of your sentences were lies? Look at the time! It’s already midnight!” Lei Zhongyuan clenched his fist. If it weren’t for everyone being there, he would have choked Xiang Ning and punched his head like a sandbag.

As for Fang Rou, her expression was complicated. She didn’t know how to describe her feelings right now. She understood that Xiang Ning was not that kind of person, but he was the only one who could explain it now. 

“Erk… well… it’s not really a huge problem.”

“Talk!”

“Yes sir!”

Under their watchful eyes, Xiang Ning finally explained the entire situation, only leaving out his encounter in the sewer. He started from the moment he met Jiang Youyou. After hearing his explanation, everyone sighed in relief. Xiang Ning felt embarrassed. Were they sighing at how fate had worked for him?

In reality, they were sighing in relief that Xiang Ning was still Xiang Ning. As long as you treated him right, he would repay your generosity graciously. He was as gentle as an idiot.

This was how Fang Rou was feeling at the moment lmao