Seeing the mute notification, Ning Chen burst out laughing.
Holy hell!
That's hilarious!
But jokes aside—
Jingfeng was really capable.
The guy had actually started pulling strings and building bridges for him the moment he joined.
That kind of dedication?
No question about it—
A true brother!
Since he'd already gone that far, Ning Chen felt it would be rude not to respond properly.
After chatting in the group with a few big shots for a while, Ning Chen added Liu Fusheng as a friend.
They exchanged a few casual messages.
Then he listened to several of her voice messages.
And honestly—
He suddenly felt an intense urge to meet her in person.
There was only one thing he could say:
Loli voice is GOD-TIER!
His fists clenched.
He felt like if he punched something right now, it would cry for a long time.
But thinking about how there was plenty of time ahead, Ning Chen didn't rush things.
After chatting for more than ten minutes, he politely said goodbye and logged off.
Putting down his phone, he stood up and stretched lazily.
Recalling what the group owner had said earlier, Ning Chen made up his mind.
Even though the ghost on Jiangxi Road had disappeared—
If they could take care of that ghost bus, the trip wouldn't be wasted.
"Hongdou! Tonight, we're going out to look for that ghost bus!"
"Okay~"
After settling the plan—
Ning Chen checked the time and saw it was almost when his parents got off work.
He absorbed Hongdou back into his body.
The beauty of the Spirit Binding and Command technique was that bound spirits could be stored within the lower dantian.
His inner energy circulated between one human and one ghost.
When Hongdou grew stronger, it fed back into his cultivation.
When his cultivation improved, it also boosted Hongdou.
A different kind of dual cultivation, really.
After half an hour of proper cultivation—
A noise at the door snapped Ning Chen out of meditation.
Before he could even stand up, he saw a well-kept middle-aged handsome man and a graceful middle-aged woman carrying bags walk in.
They were his father, Ning Lide, and his mother, Xia Wanqing.
One was the director of Jinling First People's Hospital.
The other owned a beauty salon.
Parents who could give birth to Ning Chen?
Looks were clearly not an issue.
Even in middle age, you could still see traces of their former elegance.
"Dad! Mom!"
"Oh? Son? You're back?!"
Seeing Ning Chen, Ning Lide's face immediately lit up.
He hurriedly changed his shoes and came inside.
After tossing a cigarette to his son, the two of them sat down in the living room and started puffing away.
"Son, why are you back? Where's Jiangjiang?"
Ning Chen smiled but hadn't spoken yet—
When his mother's voice suddenly rang out.
"Do you even need to ask?!"
"This little bastard definitely skipped class!"
"Instead of studying properly and enjoying your little couple life with Jiangjiang, why are you running home all the time?!"
"When you're home, do your father and I even get any private time?!"
"After dinner—"
"Forget dinner!"
"Go back right now!"
...
Ning Chen: "..."
Ning Lide: "......"
Listening to his mother rant nonstop—
And watching his father sit there pretending nothing concerned him—
Ning Chen nearly cried.
"Mom… am I really your biological son?"
"Tell me the truth. I can take it!"
His mother plopped onto the couch, grabbed an apple, crossed her legs, and rolled her eyes.
"Nonsense!"
"If you weren't my son, would your dad's head still be green?"
...
Sighing, Ning Chen gave up complaining.
He felt like he'd been born just to be played with.
Played with for a few years—
Then tossed into a boarding school under the noble excuse of "developing independence."
In reality?
So he wouldn't disturb their couple world.
That he'd grown up safely was practically a miracle.
As for his father?
Watching his dad's drifting gaze and complete lack of presence—
Ning Chen sighed again.
Better not mention it.
"Mom, I took leave today to come back specifically to give you two a gift."
"Doesn't effort deserve a little appreciation?"
"You're not even letting me eat—too much, isn't it?"
He stared earnestly at his mother.
"Gift?"
The moment she heard that, Xia Wanqing froze—
Then her eyes lit up.
"Good son!"
"I knew you were filial!"
"Where is it?!"
Ning Lide's expression also changed instantly.
"Give it!"
The moment gifts were mentioned, he was suddenly all smiles.
Human nature at its finest.
Ning Chen twitched the corner of his mouth but said nothing.
Pretending to dig in his pocket, he pulled out two red-stringed talismans with jade pendants from his system space and handed them over.
"Jade pendants?"
"Oh my—this is top-grade Hetian jade!"
"One piece like this costs at least a hundred thousand!"
"Son! Where did you get this?!"
Ning Lide knew his stuff. He sucked in a breath of cold air.
"Why are you asking so much?!"
"Your son gave it to you—just wear it!"
"Do you think our son would do anything illegal?!"
Slapping the jade onto her wrist, Xia Wanqing glared at him.
"Wife, you're overthinking it! I was just worried—"
He paused mid-sentence.
Then looked at Ning Chen with a strange expression.
"…Son, um—how are things between you and Jiangjiang lately?"
"Pretty good!"
"Then… you didn't meet any thirty- or forty-year-old 'aunties', right?"
"Dad, do you think I'm being kept?!"
Ning Chen raised an eyebrow and asked cautiously.
Seeing his father nod seriously—
Ning Chen's face went dark.
What the hell.
Was he that kind of person?!
When you're young, you don't know how good lolis are—
And you mistake rich cougars for treasure?!
What rich cougar?!
Isn't Jiangjiang fragrant enough?!
"Our son does have that kind of face…"
"If you say it like that, it is possible…"
Xia Wanqing frowned, clearly agreeing with her husband now, and looked at Ning Chen strangely.
"Son, tell Mom the truth."
"I won't blame you!"
Ning Chen: "......"
Pointing at his own nose, he spoke solemnly:
"Me! Ning Chen!"
"I would rather starve to death!"
"I would rather jump off a building!"
"Than go looking for a rich cougar!"
"How could you think that of me?!"
Putting on an expression of heartbreak, he spoke through gritted teeth.
Only then did Ning Lide finally relax.
He happily put on the jade pendant and started chatting with his wife about it.
Seeing the two of them completely ignore him—
Ning Chen touched his nose, feeling slightly embarrassed.
After clearing his throat to get their attention, he explained:
"College students start businesses all the time these days."
"I made a little money."
"And with all those supernatural stories online recently, I asked a friend to get these protective jades for you."
"Once you wear them, don't take them off."
"Didn't you go through nine years of compulsory education?"
"How can you still be this superstitious?"
Xia Wanqing rolled her eyes.
But Ning Lide nodded seriously.
"Don't say that."
"There are things science really can't explain."
"Since our son has good intentions, just wear it."
"Peace of mind matters."
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