The moment the car door closed, two figures approached.
Principal Jane and Professor Wu Feng had just finished their conversation and were now walking toward them.
Hei Bao's expression shifted seamlessly into the refined professionalism expected of the CEO of the Lycan Corporation.
Stepping forward, he extended his hand in greeting.
"Good afternoon. My name is Charles Lee. I'm Gou Feng's uncle."
The alias rolled off his tongue with practiced ease.
It was the name he had used in the human world for many years, a second identity that had accompanied him through decades of business and public affairs.
Only a handful of trusted acquaintances knew such a name.
Principal Jane accepted the handshake with a courteous smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lee. I'm Jane, the principal of Mingde University."
She then gestured toward the man standing beside her.
"This is Professor Wu Feng. He was the one who found Gou Feng and intervened before the situation became any worse."
Professor Feng stepped forward and extended his hand.
"It's an honor to meet you."
Hei Bao returned the handshake with the same composed courtesy.
"Likewise. You have my sincere gratitude. I appreciate what you did for my Gou Feng."
Professor Feng gave a humble smile.
"I simply did what anyone should have done."
Hei Bao returned the smile.
To an ordinary observer, the exchange appeared no different from a courteous conversation between two professionals meeting for the first time.
Yet behind Hei Bao's composed expression, his instincts remained quietly alert.
His senses observed what his eyes could not.
Professor Wu Feng's heartbeat, breathing, and posture, which shows neither nervousness nor excessive confidence.
Every answer came naturally. Nothing felt rehearsed, or seemed out of place.
Even so, Hei Bao had lived for centuries. Time had taught him that appearances could be deceiving.
Some people concealed their intentions behind fear. Others hid them behind confidence.
The most dangerous were those who revealed neither.
Regardless of who Professor Wu Feng truly was, he had stepped in when Gou Feng needed help.
For that alone, Hei Bao owed him thanks.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was noticeably different.
Shen Jiu and Huan Zhan both leaned forward from the back seat, their anxious eyes fixed on Gou Feng.
"A-Feng," Huan Zhan asked nervously,
"Did the Pact Leader say anything else before telling us to get in the car?"
Gou Feng turned slightly in his seat and shook his head.
"No."
He offered them a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. I'm here. He won't blame either of you."
The two cousins exchanged uncertain glances before quietly letting out sighs of relief.
"That's good..."
Huan Zhan leaned back against his seat before frowning again.
"You're really going to let today's incident go just like that?"
Gou Feng nodded without hesitation.
"There's no point making things bigger than they already are."
Shen Jiu elbowed his cousin and gave a subtle shake of his head, silently telling him not to press the matter any further.
They knew Gou Feng well enough. Once he had made up his mind, no amount of persuasion would change it.
Huan Zhan clicked his tongue in frustration before crossing his arms.
"Fine. I'll let it go too."
He glanced out the window, his eyes narrowing.
"But if those idiots lay another finger on you..."
His lips curled into a dangerous smile.
"I'll personally tear their heads off and feed them to my sevendire wolves."
He paused before muttering to himself,
"They've been stuck eating beef for years because of the clan laws. They'd probably appreciate something different for once."
Shen Jiu looked at him and exhaled sharply.
"You and your impulsive decisions. That's exactly what always gets you into trouble."
Huan Zhan shrugged.
"Those mother fuckers lucky I have self-control. Otherwise..."
He left the sentence unfinished.
Gou Feng couldn't help letting out a small, helpless laugh.
"You really shouldn't say things like that."
"I'm only joking." Huan Zhan grinned.
"Mostly."
The tense atmosphere inside the vehicle eased slightly. Then, as though remembering something, Huan Zhan suddenly leaned toward the front seats.
"What do you guys think they're talking about outside?"
He looked through the tinted window before squinting.
"Why can't we hear anything?"
He frowned dramatically.
"Damn it. This SUV has soundproofing. Even with our Lycan hearing, we can't catch a single word unless the barrier system is turned off."
His eyes immediately wandered across the dashboard.
"There has to be a button somewhere."
He pointed excitedly.
"A-Feng! Check those controls!"
Before Gou Feng could even respond, Shen Jiu reached over and smacked Huan Zhan lightly on the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Stop messing around." Shen Jiu shot him a warning look.
"This is our Pact Leader's car. Don't go pressing random buttons. What if you accidentally activate something?"
Huan Zhan rubbed his sore arm with exaggerated pout.
"You're no fun."
He slumped back against the seat, and crossed his arms again.
Then, as if another thought struck him, he suddenly sat upright.
"Wait! Our cars!"
Shen Jiu frowned in confusion.
"What about them?"
"Our cars are still parked at the university!" Huan Zhan exclaimed, pointing dramatically toward the window as though the parking lot were somehow visible from there.
"Who's going to drive them home?"
Shen Jiu froze, he blinked once, twice until realization dawned on him.
His eyes widened in horror.
"My baby!"
He nearly lurched forward from his seat before catching himself.
Huan Zhan slowly turned to look at him, his face twisting into one of pure disgust.
"Did you seriously just call your car your 'baby'?"
Shen Jiu frowned and folded his arms defensively.
"What's wrong with that?"
He lifted his chin.
"You wouldn't understand."
Huan Zhan snorted loudly.
"It's a machine."
He gestured with both hands as though presenting an obvious fact.
"It doesn't even breathe."
He shivered dramatically before rubbing both arms.
"Calling it your baby gives me goosebumps."
Shen Jiu scoffed and pointed an accusing finger at him.
"You're one to talk. You call your entire Naruto figure collection your precious babies."
Huan Zhan's confident expression instantly faltered.
He let out an awkward cough before looking away.
"That's different."
Shen Jiu raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? How exactly is it different?"
Huan Zhan straightened his back and answered with complete seriousness.
"They're collectibles."
He gently placed a hand over his chest.
"They have sentimental value."
"So does my car!"
Shen Jiu protested without missing a beat.
The two glared at each other across the seat.
Neither looked willing to back down.
Gou Feng watched them in silence before the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Even after everything that had happened today…
These two somehow still found the energy to argue over the strangest and ridiculous things.
It was childish, yes. Completely unnecessary, even.
Yet every time they argued like this, Gou Feng couldn't help but feel at ease.
Because as long as they could still laugh, tease each other, and quarrel over trivial matters.
It reminded him that his best friends were still the same people he had grown up with.
If anyone else had to put up with the two of them every day, he doubted they would last very long.
Their antics could be exhausting at times.
Truthfully, even Gou Feng occasionally wondered how he had managed to tolerate them for so many years.
Then again, perhaps it was simply because his patience ran deeper than most people's.
Or perhaps it was because he understood them better than anyone else.
Whatever the reason, it was probably why their friendship had endured for so many years.
Besides, life would be strangely quiet if they weren't bickering over the smallest things.
After all, it simply wouldn't be Shen Jiu and Huan Zhan if they weren't.
Just as Shen Jiu opened his mouth, ready to continue defending the honor of his beloved car, the driver's door suddenly opened.
The three of them instinctively straightened.
The cousins' playful expressions disappeared almost instantly, and the interior of the SUV fell silent as Hei Bao stepped inside.
His expression remained calm and unreadable as he closed the door.
Without looking at either of them, he spoke.
"If the two of you want to drive your own cars home, then go ahead."
The words left Shen Jiu and Huan Zhan completely speechless.
The two exchanged bewildered looks.
How did he hear that?
The car's soundproofing had been activated.
Even with their Lycan hearing, they couldn't make out a single word from outside.
So how had their Pact Leader heard every bit of their conversation?
Neither of them dared ask.
Hei Bao glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
"So?"
His tone remained as calm as ever.
"Do you want to drive your own cars home or not?"
The two cousins looked at one another before silently shifting their eyes toward Gou Feng.
The meaning behind their pleading expressions couldn't have been more obvious.
Please help us.
Gou Feng looked from the two of them to Hei Bao before letting out a quiet, helpless sigh.
"Ge."
Hei Bao turned his head slightly.
"They'd like to drive their own cars home."
Hei Bao looked at the rearview mirror again and gave the two younger Lycans a flat look.
"Why weren't the two of you the ones saying that?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't injured your jaws, have you?"
Shen Jiu and Huan Zhan immediately lowered their heads.
"...No, my Lord."