Game of Deception Chapter 119: Gao Fan's Parents

The three of them made it all the way back to Gao Fan's base without encountering any other Deceivers of the World.

Bringing up the rear, Ming Po cautiously looked around before slowly shutting the door.

It seed that, at least for now, the area around Gao Fan's house was relatively safe.

Was it only the Deceivers near his own ho who liked to stir up trouble?

Ming Po felt a bit relieved, yet slightly disappointed.

He had thought he might be able to grab an extra al.

"Every ti I see such a huge house, it makes sigh in awe..." Ai Shiping spread his arms wide at the entrance, shouting loudly, "My God!"

"Don't block the way."

Ming Po turned around and gave Ai Shiping's calf a light kick, causing his legs to give out. He stumbled a few steps before managing to stand straight. "If you want to praise the sun, go inside and do it."

"Hehehe..."

Ai Shiping chuckled and quickly jogged inside, afraid Ming Po might give him another kick. He surveyed the surrounding decor and sighed, "It's not easy, huh? I'm finally soone who can live in a villa in Shanghai... as a ghost."

"aning you think my place is too small?"

"How could that be, Foster Father?" Ai Shiping rely cried foul with a cheeky grin. "By the heavens, Foster Father!"

Ming Po couldn't be bothered with him and just walked over to Gao Fan.

After entering, Gao Fan had sunk into the sofa. From behind, it looked as if he had lted away, completely swallowed by a sofa monster.

"What's wrong, Little Fan?" Ming Po leaned over the top of the sofa, resting his arms on the backrest. "In a bad mood?"

He sounded quite serious when he spoke.

Although concern was audible, there was no warmth to it—it was exactly like a strict horoom teacher leaning in to ask, 'What, are you in a bad mood today?' It was impossible to tell whether his next sentence would be an attempt to comfort you or a harsh scolding.

However, Ai Shiping knew that this was actually Ming Po's way of caring. He genuinely wanted to help Gao Fan.

Ming Po's personality was just like that—he would indeed take the initiative to ask others if they needed help, but he had no interest in coaxing people. For instance, if soone fell on the side of the road or was sobbing loudly in public, Ming Po would go and help if they genuinely needed it, making a serious attempt two or three tis. But if after three tries the person was still talking nonsense, throwing a tantrum, or howling without responding, Ming Po's face would darken, and he would turn around and walk away. Ming Po didn't have the patience to gently wait on others.

Those who deliberately sought people out to vent their emotions, crying and whining without getting to the point, would only continuously increase the level of annoyance in Ming Po's heart.

If it were Ai Shiping, it would depend on whether he had the ti—as long as he was free, he would usually help soone to the very end.

But from Ai Shiping's perspective, this only highlighted Ming Po's value. Because Ai Shiping knew that he was different from Ming Po.

Ai Shiping could genuinely derive pleasure from helping others—although he seed very cheerful, there was always an anxious unease lingering in his heart. It was a strong feeling of unworthiness, like a dark fire burning inextinguishably inside him, which would occasionally jolt him awake from his dreams.

It was a psychological condition known as survivor's syndro.

If he could actually help others, this dark fire would be quelled, because that would an his life had aning.

From this angle, helping others was inherently a form of "self-amusent" for Ai Shiping. Because he truly derived joy from it and regained his vitality, he rely happened to help others in the process.

But Ming Po was different.

He had always hated trouble and despised stupidity.

Ming Po wouldn't, and couldn't, draw strength from the adoration and praise of others; he would only feel awkward, uncomfortable, and utterly miserable.

Precisely because Ming Po knew that Ai Shiping's forms of address for him fluctuated back and forth from "brother" to "grandpa," and that he was just making frivolous jokes, Ming Po accepted Ai Shiping as a friend. If Ai Shiping truly believed that he owed Ming Po a massive debt of gratitude and treated him as a benefactor who must be repaid, Ming Po would have kicked him out long ago.

—He was just that kind of eccentric and awkward person.

And under these circumstances, Ming Po was still able to endure his internal discomfort to earnestly help others—which ant he chose to perform good deeds even without receiving positive feedback internally.

Furthermore, because Ming Po couldn't gain strength from praise and was terrified of bringing trouble upon himself later, he usually helped people anonymously, never leaving his na or contact information.

This was exactly why Ai Shiping respected Ming Po.

Even though Ming Po's personality was rather indolent, proud to the point of arrogance, obsessive-compulsive, prone to internal friction, taciturn, and even had violent tendencies...

Ai Shiping still believed that Ming Po was far more noble than himself.

Fortunately, although Gao Fan didn't understand Ming Po's personality, he very cleverly avoided stepping on his landmines.

"I was just wondering... could there have been an accident behind my parents' deaths?"

As long as Ming Po asked, Gao Fan answered directly.

He wasn't lodramatic, nor did he weep bitterly; he didn't beat around the bush, nor did he act like a riddler.

Ming Po really liked this kind of highly efficient communication. He nodded in satisfaction and said, "Elaborate."

"My parents died in a car crash—at least, theoretically, that's what it should have been," Gao Fan spoke softly. "It happened on the day I graduated from elentary school..."

He narrated the story he had experienced.

"Our elentary school graduation ceremony had a ritual that required parents to attend. After the teachers finished their speeches, it was the parents' turn to speak. Following that, there was a ceremony for giving blessings, hugs, letters, and gifts to the children, and finally, a group photo.

"Because of this, even though my parents were very busy with work, they decided to attend my graduation ceremony that day."

"..."

"And then sothing happened on the way?" Ming Po raised an eyebrow and asked.

According to typical plotlines, it should be sothing along those lines.

Gao Fan was neither provoked nor saddened by Ming Po's interjection. He rely nodded slowly in silence. Because that was the truth, and he had long since accepted the facts.

"Normally, my father didn't drive at all. But on that specific day, instead of having the chauffeur drive, he chose to drive himself, even though the chauffeur was clearly at ho.

"They were at a traffic light, and my father didn't slow down; instead, he chose to accelerate. It seed he wanted to rush through before the yellow light ended, but he was still a second too late. anwhile, the dump truck coming from the perpendicular direction had just gotten a green light—it was charging forward at full speed, never having stopped in between, and therefore hadn't slowed down either.

"The mont my father's car rushed out, the dump truck hit him perfectly. I saw the dashcam footage... From the dump truck's perspective, my father's car basically appeared out of nowhere. Combined with the fact that my father was the one violating traffic rules, I didn't really have anything to say."

Gao Fan's voice was low. He pulled down the hood on his head, obscuring most of his face.

"I didn't really have anything to say"—the phrase sounded light, but Ai Shiping didn't even dare to imagine how Gao Fan had managed to "let go" at the ti.

Going from a winner in life with both parents and a wealthy family, to an orphan in an instant.

Yet he neither scread nor threw a fit—simply because his own family was in the wrong, he silently accepted the reality.