After leaving the courtyard house, the two of them drove back. In this conversation, Luo Zheng didn't obtain any substantial clues; it was all just baseless rumors and speculations, not to be taken seriously. It made sense; given Mr. Li's status and style, if there were any clues about his daughter's murder, he would have already retaliated furiously and wouldn't have waited this long. Luo Zheng felt even more disheartened. What could he do without clues?
Irritated emotions slowly crept into his mind. Luo Zheng leaned back in the passenger seat, closing his eyes to rest while thinking of solutions. The matter had already been twenty years without any clues; with things changing and people different, how could he trace it? Thinking of the difficulties made him furrow his brows in worry.
Focusing on driving, Lan Xue glanced at Luo Zheng and, guessing what Luo Zheng was thinking, said sympathetically, "Don't rush; take it slow. There will be clues eventually."
"I can't not rush." Luo Zheng slowly opened his eyes and looked at Lan Xue, saying, "The two-year agreent with your grandfather is almost due, yet I still can't beco the Strongest Soldier King. How can I marry you into my ho? If I can find out the truth quickly, your father promised to acknowledge as his son-in-law. If things don't work out in the East, they might in the West."
"Oh you, as if I could run away?" Lan Xue rolled her eyes at Luo Zheng playfully, feeling sweet inside.
Unknowingly, they arrived at the rented apartnt building. After parking the car, Lan Xue, holding the tea leaves she brought from her grandfather's, linked arms with Luo Zheng and entered the elevator. With identities confird, Lan Xue did this to reassure Luo Zheng's parents. At the door, she pressed the doorbell.
The door was opened by Mrs. Luo. Seeing Luo Zheng and Lan Xue co in, especially Lan Xue's intimate gesture of linking arms with Luo Zheng, Mrs. Luo was delighted and enthusiastically ushered them in to have a seat, calling into the inner room, "Tiger head, Xue Er is back. Little Sis, co out and make tea." Her deanor was as if her daughter-in-law was visiting for the first ti. Luckily, Lan Xue was prepared and didn't blush red.
Luo Zheng understood Lan Xue's thoughts, gratefully nodding at her in acknowledgnt. Indicating for Lan Xue to sit, he took out the tea leaves collected, brewed so tea, and greeted his parents. After chatting briefly with Lan Xue, Mrs. Luo went into the kitchen, and Little Sis rushed out to sit in front of Lan Xue, thoroughly captivated by her military charisma, thinking that only a person like her was worthy of her older brother.
The family chatted leisurely together. Lan Xue, having been there several tis, behaved familiarly yet modestly, like a real daughter-in-law. As an elder, Luo Hu spoke with Lan Xue for a bit before going to the kitchen to help, while Little Sis dragged Lan Xue to the bedroom, whispering about who knows what. Luo Zheng, enjoying the rare quiet ti, leaned back on the sofa watching the news and unknowingly fell asleep. It was a rare mont of peace without the smoke of gunpowder.
Half-asleep, Luo Zheng was woken up and saw a sumptuous al spread out on the table before him, its fragrance overwhelming. Embarrassedly smiling, he said, "How long did I sleep?"
"You can sleep however long you want at ho, but now get up quickly and get the liquor," Luo Hu jokingly scolded. As Luo Zheng agreed and ran off, he smiled contently, thinking to himself that no matter how capable his son was outside or even reached the rank of Major, at ho, he was still a child.
"See how smug you are," Mrs. Luo scolded playfully.
Luo Zheng brought the liquor and poured it for everyone. With Lan Xue visiting, Mrs. Luo didn't stop them. Everyone sat down to enjoy the al together. Seeing their son succeed, Luo Hu and his wife felt greatly pleased, even more so upon seeing Lan Xue, the kind and understanding future daughter-in-law, inwardly laughing with satisfaction.
As the family happily shared a al, halfway through, soone knocked on the door. Little Sis rushed to open it, and it turned out to be the Ghost Hand siblings. Seeing everyone's enjoynt, Ghost Hand excitedly exclaid, "What a perfect ti to arrive, just right, today's feast is a treat. Pour a cup too, Uncle Luo, and let's have a good drink together."
Having joined hands with Gui Fang in business, they had beco regular visitors here, running to the kitchen for utensils as if they were at ho. Luo Hu and his wife looked at the Ghost Hand siblings and smiled joyfully. Knowing their children had many true friends, how could parents not be happy?
"You reincarnated from a starving ghost, your nose is the sharpest. How else could you match this perfectly?" Lan Xue teased.
"Absolutely, if it weren't for the traffic jam, we could have been faster. It's uncontrollable how frustrating the traffic is getting." Ghost Hand laughed, naturally overlooking Lan Xue's captain status since it wasn't a work setting. Here, they were life-and-death brothers without so many formalities.
With two more joining, the atmosphere beca even livelier, and everyone joyfully enjoyed the al. After eating to their fill, they cleared the table, brewed tea, and Ghost Hand, with his discerning palate, imdiately recognized the tea as special supply upon tasting it, looking at Lan Xue with an understanding smile.
"Shopping tomorrow, you two big guys better not chicken out at the last minute. It's been a while since I've had a good shopping trip. Brother, you rarely co back, so be the bodyguard and porter, hehe…" Gui Fang laughed.
Ghost Hand instantly had a face of black lines, looking gloomily at Luo Zheng. Luo Zheng casually thought accompanying family for shopping was happiness. Seeing Little Sis look over, he was about to agree but noticed Lan Xue's subtle glance, suddenly taken aback. With an unaffected smile, he said, "Let's see tomorrow, there might be sothing to handle."
"Right, right, sothing to handle, you two can go shopping yourselves. If anyone bullies you, report my na, and I'll handle them later," Ghost Hand quickly added.
Gui Fang and Little Sis knew their brother well and didn't press further, looking at Lan Xue, who forced a wry smile and said, "I do have sothing to take care of tomorrow, might not accompany you."
"If there's sothing, go take care of it. Don't worry about these two spirited girls." Luo Hu diated from the side. Seeing Little Sis still wanted to speak, he widened his eyes and said, "You two are still students, plenty of ti you have, but they have formal jobs with no control over their schedules. Talk about it next ti."
"Oh." Little Sis quickly acknowledged and said no more.
After so idle chatting, everyone stood up to leave. Luo Zheng saw everyone off downstairs. As they parted, Lan Xue sat in the driver's seat and softly told Luo Zheng, "The task is out. The situation is a bit complicated, also a bit strange. I'll co pick you up tomorrow, and we'll discuss it in detail then. Go back."
"Alright, drive carefully," Luo Zheng said caringly.
"Complicated, strange?" Luo Zheng watched Lan Xue's car turn around and leave, mulling over her words. While "complicated" was understandable, how should "strange" be interpreted? Shouldn't it be described as sothing more arduous?
Once Lan Xue's car completely disappeared from sight, Luo Zheng turned and walked ho. With his mind filled with curiosity about the new task, he unknowingly returned ho, chatted with his family for a while, and then retreated to his room, pondering ways to investigate Lan Xue's mother's death.
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