A Good-for-Nothing

133. Shaken Up (1)

Translator: Dragon Rider

He Zheng, who had always been casual and straightforward, had never thought that Chen Qianlin would also come. It was only too obvious that Chen Qianlin had feelings for Li Zong and were scheming to steal him away, and he’d even offered to stand Li Zong a meal. He Zheng instantly felt an urge to directly turn around and go back home.

Lan Bai, an observant girl who was good at gauging people’s mood from their micro-expressions, could tell that He Zheng was displeased. After a brief moment’s thinking, she walked to He Zheng’s side and asked quietly, “What’s the matter?”

He Zheng casually told her that he’d nearly gotten into a quarrel with Chen Qianlin the first time they’d met.

A flicker of upset crossed Lan Bai’s face after she heard this. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand he’d come as well, He Zheng. If you’re no longer in the mood for a meal, we could just leave.”

“Never mind. You didn’t know.” Though ill-disposed towards Chen Qianlin, He Zheng believed that since they were already here, if anyone was to leave, it should be Chen Qianlin, not him. And Lan Bai was not the one to blame.

He Zheng took a step sideways and said, “It’s okay. Are there any other people we’re expecting?”

Chen Qianlin, seeing his reaction, gave a snort and moved to the other side, as if saying his dislike for He Zheng was even deeper than He Zheng’s for him.

Kang Ba, oblivious of the subtle tension between He Zheng and Chen Qianlin, replied, “There are several locals coming, and the couple of disciples from Taoist sects accepted the invitation as well.”

As they were talking, a young man got out of a Benz in haste and ran in their direction. Probably because the run had been a little strenuous, he bent from the waist, supporting himself with hands on his knees, and panted for a few moments.

“Sorry I’m late!” Lin Zhuo raised his head and beamed heartily at them.

“Don’t be. You’re not really late.”

Lin Zhuo was somewhat surprised to see He Zheng. “Oh, He Zheng, you’re here as well.”

Lin Zhuo had an air of positiveness and sincerity about him, which struck He Zheng as pretty pleasant. Arms crossed across his chest, He Zheng gave a bob of the head.

“Let’s go inside,” Chen Qianlin said brusquely and then directly entered before any of them could make a response.

He Zheng rolled his eyes upwards. “What a cocky dick.”

Lin Zhuo smiled, flicking his tongue out.

The group of people walked into the restaurant. No sooner had Chen Qianlin entered than a waiter walked over to lead them to the private room they’d reserved.

It was a high-end restaurant. He Zheng had previously dined in this place with Qin Huai several times. Lin Zhuo was walking rather slow, and He Zheng had been the last one to enter, so the two of them were lagging behind.

They pushed the door of the private room open and saw that sitting inside were seven or eight people, male and female.

He Zheng and Lin Zhuo were the last ones to enter.

On seeing them walking inside, a man said with a smile, “The latest comer is to drink some wine as a punishment.”

“Haha… I couldn’t agree more!” laughed Kang Ba, who seemed to know that man.

That man also gave Chen Qianlin a nod of acknowledgement, but the latter ignored him.

Then the man’s eyes rested on He Zheng and Lin Zhuo, the only two strangers to him. He rose from his chair and ebulliently walked up to them.

“I’m Tao Wujiu. You two must be He Zheng and Lin Zhuo, I suppose? I’ve long desired to know you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

He Zheng smiled politely, while Lin Zhuo acted like a fool. “Oh, you know me?” he asked.

Tao Wujiu had a somewhat embarrassed smile on his face. Of course he didn’t know Lin Zhuo. His hometown was in Jiangxi Province; he was not a staff member of the Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB), and he didn’t meet the two of them on the day of the interview. How could he have heard of Lin Zhuo or He Zheng before this day?

Why Lin Zhuo had asked back was everybody’s guess.

He Zheng, also surprised by the question, felt it rather inappropriate for the two of them to just stand there, so he blandly responded in salutation, “Nice to meet you. I’m He Zheng.”

He Zheng had failed to notice that a man sitting beside Tao Wujiu had slightly squinted as he walked inside. The moment He Zheng finished these words, a dark look flitted across that man’s eyes.

Tao Wujiu was the one who had suggested and organized this dinner party. Seeing almost all invitees were present, Tao Wujiu took a glass of wine from the table and said, “There are some who couldn’t make today’s party. I think it was destiny that brought us to the same examination, and I hope some day we’ll fight shoulder by shoulder watching each other’s back. For the record, this meal is on me, and none of you are to steal my thunder. I’m a terrible red-packet-snatcher (snatching red packets is a popular game played with the social media app Wechat), and I’m almost certain I won’t be able to outrun any of you who try to pay the pill.”

The last few remarks of his were very humorous, which sent a ripple of laughter through the others, and the awkwardness in the atmosphere resulted from lack of acquaintance also dissolved completely.

Though all of them had attended and passed the interview, they hadn’t really had many dealings with each other, so Tao Wujiu suggested they each make a brief self-introduction.

“I’m from the Hezao Sect, and I’m good at alchemy. These friends beside me are all from the Tigers and Dragons Mountain, and they’re pretty powerful cultivators as well.”

The Hezao Sect was very prestigious. He Zheng remembered that the Purity Pill given to him by his master shifu that day, according to Zu Zhichong, was worth almost 200,000 yuan. No wonder Tao Wujiu was acting like a moneybags. It seemed that the Hezao Sect was very wealthy.

Chen Qianlin, with an air of superiority, flintily took up his wine glass and said, “Chen Qianlin.”

Kang Ba and Lin Zhuo also informed the others of their respective origins.

A voice interposed from outside the door, “Alas, I’m sorry I’m so late!”

Jin Qianlai, radiant with joy, turned up at the doorway, still in a white T-shirt, jeans and fake Nike sneakers with cracks in the rubber edges of the uppers.