Chapter 1775: Li Shangfeng's Persistence

*Slurp—*

"Refreshing!!"

At an outdoor table by the roadside, Li Shangfeng slurped the last of his beef noodles into his mouth, tilted his head back, and let out a groan of soul-deep satisfaction.

Li Shangfeng had been through too much last night—terror, despair, life-and-death struggle, and a sudden turn of fortune... He was physically and mentally exhausted. As the next day's sunlight warmed him again and the fragrant beef noodles filled his stomach, he felt as if he had completely emerged from last night's nightmare, embracing a new life.

Beside him, Li Wanhua also slammed her empty bowl onto the table with a *thud*, tilted her head to the sky, and shouted along:

"So refreshing!!"

Li Wanhua truly thought the beef noodles were delicious.

"Is it just me, or do these beef noodles taste way better than that abalone and seafood stuff?"

"I think so too. You forget the taste of that fancy stuff as soon as you eat it, like you never ate anything at all... Beef noodles are the best!"

"Boss, another bowl." Li Shangfeng turned his head to the busy owner in the kitchen.

He turned back, saw the look of anticipation in Li Wanhua's eyes, and immediately corrected himself: "Make that two!"

Li Wanhua’s face instantly lit up with a smile.

Watching the siblings, still full of vitality after surviving such a life-and-death ordeal, Chen Ling took a gentle bite of his meat bun, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his eyes.

It seemed the siblings' tribulation had passed. Li Wanhua hadn't died, only lost a leg, which would recover with time... Li Shangfeng hadn't been consumed by hatred or despair, nor forced to leave his home. If nothing went wrong, they should have a long period of peace ahead.

The bright sunlight shone on the busy street. In the reflection of the breakfast shop window, figures were gathered around the tables, chattering away.

"Heart 9 doesn't look half bad when he's not going crazy..."

"Where do you see him not going crazy? He's just acting normal for now... That madness is still in his bones, it just hasn't had the right moment to show itself."

"Tsk, it actually looks quite heartwarming..."

"Great! Heart 9's regret has been mended! Who's next?"

"I wonder how I'm living in this world... But calculating the time, I'm still a child right now, not yet at the age where I need regrets mended."

"Come, come, everyone make a schedule based on your own timelines, and we'll take turns!"

"??? What does that mean? Does everyone have to watch while someone else's regrets are mended?"

"How is that any different from a public execution?!!"

"Oh, scared?"

"...Who's scared? Bring it on, one by one, let's see who has the most embarrassing past!"

“……”

Li Laide sipped his soy milk expressionlessly. On the surface, he was calm, but his peripheral vision was fixed on Chen Ling... A flicker of doubt appeared in his eyes.

There was clearly nothing around them, so what was Chen Ling looking at?

Li Laide’s gaze wandered between Chen Ling’s eyes and the void around him. Just then, he caught a glimpse of the window reflection...

The next second, he froze in place!

Those are...

What the hell??

"Hey, cousin, why are you spacing out?" Li Shangfeng asked, confused, seeing Li Laide about to spill his soy milk.

Li Laide snapped back to reality. He subconsciously glanced at Chen Ling again and lowered his head to drink his soy milk, pretending nothing happened:

"Nothing... nothing at all."

Li Wanhua suddenly remembered something:

"By the way, Boss Chen, where did you guys go last night?"

Li Shangfeng and Li Laide both jolted. Chen Ling smiled slightly but didn't answer.

"Boss Chen has his own business to attend to, why are you asking so much?" Li Shangfeng glared at her and placed the beef noodles he’d just received in front of her. "Eat your noodles and shut your mouth."

"What's wrong with asking..." Li Wanhua pouted, aggrieved, and lowered her head to eat in silence.

Li Shangfeng smiled awkwardly at Chen Ling.

After what happened last night, Li Shangfeng didn't know how to face Chen Ling... He had some guesses about many things but couldn't confirm them. The key point was, he didn't understand why such an existence would go out of their way to protect them...

What was so special about them?

"Boss Chen..." After struggling for a long time, Li Shangfeng finally spoke up. "Is it convenient to talk?"

Chen Ling raised an eyebrow:

"Of course."

Li Shangfeng and Chen Ling stood up and walked toward the factory ruins across the street.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Li Laide’s mind... He hesitated for half a second before standing up and shamelessly following behind Chen Ling toward the ruins.

He was genuinely curious about what they would say.

Although they looked like they wanted to talk alone, they didn't say he couldn't follow, right? If they got annoyed, he could just come back...

Li Laide now had a bolder hypothesis in his mind that needed verification.

Li Wanhua sat alone with her beef noodles, stunned for a long while before realizing what happened, and muttered angrily:

"So you're just isolating me... How annoying!"

She lowered her head and ate her noodles even faster.

……

Li Shangfeng found a secluded spot and was about to say something to Chen Ling when he saw his "cousin" following along quite naturally. He froze for a moment...

But seeing that Chen Ling didn't tell Li Laide to go back, he hesitated and accepted Li Laide’s presence.

He could tell that this "cousin" wasn't an ordinary person either.

"Boss Chen, I'll just ask directly..." Li Shangfeng took a deep breath. "Last night at the power plant, was it you who saved me and Wanhua?"

"I did contribute," Chen Ling replied, "but it wasn't just me who saved you."

"Then... who were they?"

Last night at the power plant, Li Shangfeng had seen the figures in the electric arcs. He knew these people must be related to Chen Ling, but he didn't understand why they would help him.

Li Laide, standing to the side, also silently pricked up his ears.

Chen Ling didn't answer immediately but asked instead:

"Do you really want to know?"

Li Shangfeng was stunned. "I do..."

"Sometimes, knowing the truth will only bring you immense pressure," Chen Ling shook his head. "You and Wanhua have finally stabilized your lives. Knowing this now won't do you any good..."

"...What does that mean?" Li Shangfeng didn't understand what Chen Ling was saying, and he continued urgently,

"But you helped me, how can I not even know who you are..."

"I know you might look down on me as a small repairman, but... I'm actually quite useful. Although I'm weak now, maybe I can help you in the future?"

"I, Li Shangfeng, have always been someone who repays kindness. To just accept your help with peace of mind... I can't do that."