Chapter Twenty-Nine: No Longer Serving

Regarding satellite phones, Fang Yuan had some understanding. Someone like Old Master Pei’s device was certainly one capable of making calls anywhere in the world, without a single dead zone. There was nowhere you could not reach—as long as you could get there yourself, the signal would be there. This was the most powerful tool in the communications world, serviced by fifty or sixty satellites. The fact that Old Master Pei kept such a phone by his side was proof enough that he was an enthusiast of exploration.

“Old Master Pei truly knows how to live,” Fang Yuan praised sincerely, while secretly lamenting his own poverty.

After exchanging contact numbers, Fang Yuan didn’t wait for Old Master Pei to speak; he simply confessed straightforwardly, “Sir, in fact, I’ve only known Pei Xi for a few days. There’s nothing between us but an ordinary boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. What Pei Xi said just now was just a little joke she wanted to play on you. I heard you haven’t seen your daughter for quite a long while, and now that you’ve just come back, if you ever need my help, just let me know. I won’t intrude on your reunion today, so I’ll take my leave.”

He had only just sat down, but now he stood to go—of course, this would dampen the mood. Yet Fang Yuan was keenly aware that if he stayed any longer, this meal would easily become the most anxiety-ridden of his life.

Before leaving, he made sure to clarify his relationship with Pei Xi, paying no mind to the meaningful glances she shot at him. Fang Yuan simply pretended she didn’t exist—yes, didn’t exist.

Without waiting for Old Master Pei’s response—nor caring about the glare Pei Xi shot him, her eyes nearly rolling back in exasperation—Fang Yuan turned sideways and slipped out between the fat assistant and Zheng Hao.

What a joke—did these people expect him to get caught up in their internal strife and become cannon fodder?

This was a high-end hotel, so as Fang Yuan made his way out, staff along the way greeted him with polite nods and smiles.

“Master, I think perhaps we could finish the meal before heading back,” came Chong Chong’s voice in his mind.

No doubt, the little bug had seen the menu and was now craving a taste.

“If you want to eat, go by yourself. I’m afraid I’ll have indigestion if I stay,” Fang Yuan muttered loudly.

Still upset from almost being falsely accused, his voice was not exactly low. The passing waitstaff gave him odd looks, hearing him apparently talking to himself.

Not long after Fang Yuan left the restaurant, the fat assistant—Fat Da Hai—who had been by Old Master Pei’s side, also exited.

Fat Da Hai gestured to both sides of the entrance, and immediately several men in black gathered around. After a few words from him, they quickly melted into the crowd and disappeared.

“Master, I’m so hungry! Won’t you take me to eat something delicious?” Chong Chong’s soft voice echoed in his mind, making Fang Yuan feel like the bug’s father.

He had to provide a home for it, and now he had to feed it as well. And this bug was a total foodie—it would never suffer its own appetite.

“You really are just a little glutton. I wonder if you’ll ever grow bigger. If you do, I’m warning you—if you make me look like a big-headed freak or a bobblehead, I’ll fight you with everything I’ve got.” Fang Yuan envisioned all sorts of scenarios in which Chong Chong grew inside his brain.

“Master, how could that happen? Don’t worry, no matter how much I eat, I won’t grow bigger, and I definitely won’t turn you into a big-headed freak. So just let me eat in peace. But you should pay attention to your own health—if you’re worried about gaining weight, just exercise more. That way, I get to enjoy good food, and you stay fit. What’s the phrase? Right, killing two birds with one stone. Master, am I right?”

Chong Chong was immensely proud of its cleverness, eagerly awaiting praise.

“Hmm, you’re at least on the level of a kindergartener,” Fang Yuan forced out after a long pause.

“Really, Master? I’m so disappointed in you. I’m ignoring you now, hmph!”

Despite its age, Chong Chong was like a little princess at heart. Without proper praise, it would sulk.

“Alright, you’re the most brilliant bug ever. Your intelligence is far beyond any kindergartener’s. Is that good enough?” Clearly, this was flattery without conviction, but to cheer up Chong Chong, Fang Yuan had to go against his conscience.

He had spoken this way because he recalled his ordeal that morning. Now, at lunchtime, the streets were bustling, and he really didn’t want to be mistaken for a lunatic or a fool.

Even half-hearted praise was enough to instantly cheer Chong Chong up.

“Really? You really think I’m the smartest bug in the world?” it exclaimed, overjoyed.

Chong Chong’s reaction left Fang Yuan speechless—wasn’t this just a kindergartener’s way of thinking? Yet it insisted otherwise.

Ah…

Fang Yuan felt a pang in his liver, but for his own sake, he could only massage his forehead and nod.

It was the lunch hour, and all the restaurants with decent food were packed. After searching around, Fang Yuan ended up at a rather inconspicuous little shop.

He’d eaten here the day before—the food was decent and the prices reasonable. Oddly, there were few customers even at this busy hour; only a handful of people were inside.

Fang Yuan didn’t know the owner had put something in his meal yesterday—after all, he’d eaten and felt fine. As for Pei Xi, he’d simply assumed she’d eaten something else by mistake.

So he walked in openly, saw the owner busy, and ordered the same bowl of noodles and portion of crayfish as yesterday without even glancing at the menu. This time, though, he was careful to ask for only mild spice.

To be honest, the owner’s nerves were paper-thin. The moment he saw Fang Yuan, his face changed. Hearing him order exactly the same food as yesterday, the owner’s complexion turned green.

“Boss, is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Fang Yuan asked with genuine concern, noticing the owner’s odd expression. His inquiry only made the man look even more distressed.

“Brother, about yesterday… yesterday, I really owe you an apology.”

From his demeanor, it was clear the owner was usually an honest man. Having done such a thing, he’d been uneasy ever since. Now, seeing Fang Yuan return, he couldn’t sit still.