Demonic King of the Metropolis - Chapter 86 - Visiting Old Friends

Tang Jie fixed his gaze on Chen Jiankai with certainty, but after hearing his gentle smile, he felt a bit confused. Then he heard Chen Jiankai continue, “I’m not preventing you from associating with Qin Tian’s son. He is my archrival, and I certainly know his background. His son hasn’t inherited his character; instead, he’s a bit weak and charitable, which doesn’t pose a threat to Shuran. What I want to tell you is that my feud with the Qin Family has been going on for quite some time, but there are some things I can’t share with you. So, if you want to make friends in the future, I won’t stop you.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Jie felt a bit muddled. He didn’t understand what Chen Jiankai was trying to say-one moment, he was told to keep his distance from Qin Haozhong, and the next, he was saying he wouldn’t obstruct him.

Chen Jiankai saw the confusion on Tang Jie’s face and let out a slight sigh. “Tang, let me put it this way. I might need your help with my issues with the Qin Family. Recently, Qin Tian’s hostility toward me has intensified. Not only has he been making things difficult for me in business, but he’s also been stirring trouble behind my back. After all these years, I’m tired. If I can mend things between Qin Tian and me, it would be beneficial for both of us.”

As Chen Jiankai spoke, he glanced over at Chen Shuran, sitting beside him, and there seemed to be a hint of awkwardness on his face, as if he had more to say but was holding back.

Oh! With that, Tang Jie finally understood; Chen Jiankai wanted him to help resolve the conflict with the Qin Family. However, he had no idea about the origins of their feud or how he could resolve it.

Besides, he was just a bodyguard and didn’t really understand or care much about business matters.

“Sure, Uncle Chen, I’ll do my best,” Tang Jie replied. Chen Jiankai had been vague for a while without explaining everything, which led Tang Jie to suspect that there were things he couldn’t speak about. But thinking of Qin Haozhong, he decided to agree for now.

After all, with Chen Shuran present, it would be impolite to refuse, and he felt responsible for what had happened that evening.

Hearing Tang Jie’s response, Chen Jiankai smiled. At that moment, a waitress entered with a waiter bringing dishes. Seeing that Tang Jie had been waiting, Chen Jiankai stopped talking and urged him and Chen Shuran to eat quickly.

By the time they returned, it was already past ten in the evening. Arriving at the villa, Tang Jie took his usual shower. He stood in front of the window in his bedroom, looking at the twinkling stars outside, reflecting on the events of the night. For some reason, Li Feifei’s image kept flashing in his mind-her words and her icy gaze lingered in his thoughts, refusing to fade away.

Was he going crazy over a beauty? Tang Jie chuckled at himself inwardly just as he heard the door of the room behind him make a sound.

“You’re not asleep yet?” Chen Shuran asked, wearing cartoon sleepwear with her damp hair indicating she had just taken a shower.

“Not tired,” Tang Jie answered briefly, flashing a smile at her.

“I want to go somewhere tomorrow. Can you come with me?” Chen Shuran said, a hint of sadness crossing her face.

“Where?” Tang Jie didn’t pay much attention at first but recalled that tomorrow was Sunday.

“Don’t ask. You’ll know when we get there.” With that, Chen Shuran turned and went back to her room. Tang Jie found her behavior a bit odd but didn’t press further; he was becoming accustomed to Chen Shuran’s demeanor lately.

They say a woman’s heart is like a needle in the sea, and it seemed to be true.

Since it was the weekend and he didn’t have school, Tang Jie didn’t wake up as early as usual. However, when he opened his eyes, he could hear some noise outside-it sounded like Chen Shuran.

Suddenly, Tang Jie remembered what she had said last night about wanting him to accompany her somewhere. He quickly climbed out of bed and got dressed. Just as he finished putting on his clothes, he heard Chen Shuran calling him.

“Tang Jie? Hurry up!” Her voice came from outside his door, accompanied by a knock.

Tang Jie exited his room and saw Chen Shuran in a white dress, her black hair tied back in a ponytail. She resembled a graceful fairy, exuding a completely different freshness. However, for some reason, her face still carried an inexplicable coldness and a hint of sorrow, reminiscent of what he had seen after they returned from dinner last night.

“Where are we going?” After a quick wash, Tang Jie asked as he noticed the lovely weather outside; the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly.

Without answering, Chen Shuran opened the door and walked out. Seeing her lack of liveliness, Tang Jie felt a bit puzzled but decided not to ask further. He quickly followed her outside.

Once they left the apartment, Chen Shuran went straight to the roadside to hail a cab. At that moment, Tang Jie suddenly realized that Chen Shuran hadn’t asked him to call Uncle Zhao. Normally, if they had plans, they would have Uncle Zhao drive them. What was going on with her today?

With a belly full of questions, when a taxi arrived, Tang Jie followed Chen Shuran into the car.

Chen Shuran told the driver an address, and Tang Jie recognized it as a location in the city center, but he realized he had never been there before.

The taxi soon arrived at the location Chen Shuran had specified. As Tang Jie looked outside, he noticed several flower shops across the street. Just as he was about to ask Chen Shuran why they were here, she had already gotten out of the car and instructed the driver to wait.

Not wanting to hesitate, Tang Jie quickly followed her out. Chen Shuran walked toward the largest flower shop nearby.

“Can I have a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and a bouquet of carnations, please?” Chen Shuran said to the shop owner when she reached the entrance.

“Sure, please wait a moment,” the flower shop owner replied before turning to go inside.

“They need to be fresh, and please wrap them nicely,” Chen Shuran added, and Tang Jie stood nearby, watching her curiously. He wasn’t sure what she needed the flowers for, but the vibrant colors of the fresh blooms displayed at the shop were strikingly beautiful. While he wasn’t particularly fond of flowers, he still found himself enjoying the pleasant fragrance wafting through the air.

The shop owner quickly emerged with a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and another of carnations, but when Chen Shuran saw the flowers in his hands, her brows furrowed for a moment before she could even take them.

“I’m sorry, but could you please change the wrapping? I don’t want this kind,” she said. The shop owner looked surprised and seemed a bit reluctant at first, but upon noticing Tang Jie standing beside her, he opened his mouth to say something but ultimately remained silent.

“I’ll pay extra for a different wrapping; I want a solid color,” Chen Shuran pointed out, sensing the owner’s hesitation. Hearing this, the shop owner quickly turned back inside.

Chen Shuran stood there for a moment, seemingly anxious, so she decided to accompany him in. Tang Jie, captivated by the floral fragrance at the entrance, lingered for a bit, inhaling the delightful aroma while waiting.

After a while, Chen Shuran emerged holding a newly wrapped bouquet. The pink wrapping had been replaced with blue, adorned with tiny stars.

“Let’s go.” Chen Shuran said as she approached Tang Jie, leading him back toward the taxi.

As they walked to the car, Tang Jie glanced at the flowers in her hands and then at her white dress, suddenly grasping the situation.

“Are you going to see someone?” he asked as they got into the vehicle.

“Mm-hmm,” Chen Shuran nodded, telling the driver the address of a place in the outskirts. The driver started the car promptly.

Tang Jie quickly connected the dots in his mind and realized that Chen Shuran was heading to the cemetery.

As Tang Jie observed Chen Shuran, he began guessing who she was headed to visit. Could it be her mother? The thought crossed his mind as he noticed an unfamiliar sorrow on her face, solidifying his suspicion.

Despite being there for some time, he had never heard Chen Jiankai mention Mrs. Chen, nor had Chen Shuran ever talked about her mother.

He never pried into other people’s family matters, but if Chen Shuran was indeed going to see her mother, it likely meant that she had passed away. This was probably why both Chen Jiankai and Chen Shuran had chosen not to bring it up.

With this realization, Tang Jie felt a chill running through him. The word “parents” was already a cold and sensitive topic for him, but seeing the sadness on Chen Shuran’s face and imagining how much she must miss her mother tugged at his heart.

Lost in these thoughts, the taxi arrived at the cemetery after about half an hour.

“Go ahead; I’ll wait for you here,” Tang Jie said as they got out of the car. For some reason, he didn’t want to witness the sight of Chen Shuran standing in front of her mother’s gravestone, crying sorrowfully. Just thinking about the word “parents” troubled him.

“Okay, you stay here,” Chen Shuran replied, not elaborating further, as she made her way toward the cemetery, flowers in hand.

“Call me if you need anything,” Tang Jie shouted through the car window just as she was about to enter. Chen Shuran turned back and nodded before walking into the cemetery.

Sitting in the car, Tang Jie gazed at the distant, faintly visible green mountains, surrounded by a tranquil stillness. The breeze was pleasant, making this a truly beautiful place. He wondered if, after he passed away, he would end up in a scenery like this.

To distract himself from his uneasy thoughts, Tang Jie began to amuse himself mentally.

He leaned out of the window, soaking up the sun and savoring the fresh air, mixed with the scents of earth and grass. After taking a deep breath and exhaling, he opened his eyes, only to see a black sedan parked nearby.

Pulling his head back inside, Tang Jie noticed a middle-aged man stepping out of the black car, wearing sunglasses. He was accompanied by a driver who carried a flower basket. The two men walked together toward the cemetery.

As Tang Jie looked at the middle-aged man, he felt a sense of familiarity, but before he could get a clearer view, the man had already entered the cemetery, leaving only his silhouette behind.