Chapter 35

In the blink of an eye,

Chu Nan had already arrived outside the so-called "Cold Willow Hall."

Uncle Zhao parked the car in an inconspicuous spot, and Chu Nan, inside the car, looked through the window at the so-called Cold Willow Hall.

"Xiao Chu, is this what you're looking for?"

"..." Chu Nan gazed at the medical beauty institution for a long time, then said, "...Uh, I'm not quite sure. The three characters 'Han Liu Tang' are the only clue I have."

"Although I don't know what you're looking for, you at least need to tell me how you plan to investigate, so I can help you. ——Of course, if you don't mind, you can tell me what you're looking for, or who. As long as you tell me, I'll do my best to help you. You know my character."

"Your character... is to burn bridges after crossing them, right?" Chu Nan gave Uncle Zhao a displeased look. Even if Chu Nan didn't care, Brother Dandan wouldn't easily forgive this sinful old man.

"Don't say such useless things, Xiao Chu. I'm being serious. ——Are you sure you won't tell me?"

Seeing Uncle Zhao's serious expression, Chu Nan finally sighed helplessly and, unusually, put on a serious face: "Uncle Zhao, I'm not telling you. Actually, it's to... protect you."

"Protect me??"

Uncle Zhao was taken aback.

"Some things... knowing them will bring trouble. It's better for you to know as little as possible about my affairs. Ignorance is bliss. If you know, it will be hard to pretend you don't."

Suddenly seeing Chu Nan so serious, Uncle Zhao was a bit uncomfortable, but Chu Nan's words were slightly harsh.

It's as if he's saying that Uncle Zhao is someone who needs so much protection!

What a joke? ——He, Zhao Dezhu, is the most trusted confidant of Li Badao, the king of Chinese special forces! Just from the name, you can tell how powerful he is. What could he not handle?

"Xiao Chu, are you joking? Do you think I'll be scared by what you're saying? Back in the days when I fought alongside the old man, I never even frowned."

"You never frowned because you never encountered real difficulties." Chu Nan suddenly looked up and asked Uncle Zhao, "Have you ever seen the old man frown?"

"..." Uncle Zhao was silent, not understanding what Chu Nan meant.

"Have you ever heard the old man say the words 'powerless'?"

"No! In my memory, the old man never said anything was impossible." Uncle Zhao said firmly.

"But when my parents died, the old man could only stand by. I asked him, and he said... back then, he was powerless." Chu Nan's eyes, devoid of emotion, looked at Uncle Zhao, but this emotionless gaze was like a black hole, making Uncle Zhao feel lost. The death of his parents, spoken by a young man, was said calmly, but it seemed to carry endless complex emotions. The atmosphere was indescribable. And the sudden, inexplicable aura that emanated from Chu Nan made Uncle Zhao feel that this young man had become strangely unfamiliar.

He knew Chu Nan wasn't lying, but he had never heard the old man mention these things.

"So..." Chu Nan suddenly changed his expression and yawned, "Some things are better left unknown. ——For now, I'll note down this Cold Willow Hall. I'll investigate it myself when I have the chance. Even if it's just a coincidence, I won't let it go."

A hint of determination flashed in Chu Nan's eyes!

...

Back to school.

Finally back to school.

After pretending to be a patient in the hospital for two boring days, Chu Nan returned to the familiar university dormitory.

Yes, even though he doesn't live in the dormitory now, it's where his three closest friends in school are.

"Hmm? No one's here?" Chu Nan looked at the empty dormitory, puzzled, "It's the afternoon break, and the military training ended early. According to their personalities, they should be playing computer games in the dormitory. What's so unusual today?"

Although Chu Nan had been stuck in "Dragon Bone" for three years and even missed the entire smartphone craze, he's not a wild man from the mountains. At least he knows about computers and computer games. Even if he hasn't played, he's seen them.

Chu Nan had long planned to learn about computers and play with various mobile apps, but he didn't have the time now.

His phone was given to him by Uncle Zhao, and his friends didn't know the number, so Chu Nan first thought of meeting up with them.

"Are they eating at the restaurant by the gate?"

Muttering to himself, Chu Nan walked out of the dormitory building.

The path from the dormitory building to the school gate happened to pass by a playground.

So, unfortunately...

Chu Nan saw Liu Sanfeng on the basketball court, looking arrogant and smug.

And by the basketball court, there were a few brainless fangirls cheering and encouraging. ——This is just a practice, do they need a cheerleading squad?

"Hey! Look who's here? Ha ha —— it's the 'Runaway Guy'!"

Someone on the basketball court started the commotion, and Liu Sanfeng and the other basketball team members looked over.

"Ha ha, that's right, isn't it the 'Runaway Guy' who abandoned his brothers in a critical moment?"

"Runaway Guy, where are you going? To visit your injured brothers in the hospital?"

"You're such a damn actor, running away to avoid a beating, and now you have the nerve to come back?"

Hearing their cold ridicule, Chu Nan didn't want to pay attention, but he seemed to have accidentally picked up some troubling information from their words.

"Injured brothers?... The 'Runaway Guy' who abandoned his brothers?" Chu Nan was astonished.

But when he saw Liu Sanfeng walking over with a contemptuous sneer, he had a vague idea.

"What? Can't find your three friends? ——They're all in the hospital across the street. But to be honest, weren't you four together that night? How come only your three friends ended up in the hospital, and you're fine?" Liu Sanfeng had a sly smile, but he was disappointed that Chu Nan hadn't been beaten, which made him quite unhappy. So after he came back, he immediately spread the word that Chu Nan had run away and abandoned his friends, and now the whole school knew about the unrighteous coward named "Chu Nan."

After hearing Liu Sanfeng's words, Chu Nan suddenly understood!

So... that night, after he left the Fengtian International Grand Hotel, Jiao Chun and the others were beaten up?! ——If they were beaten up there, it must have been Liu Sanfeng and his so-called Brother Zhu who did it!

How dare Liu Sanfeng act as if nothing happened and turn around to bite him!

"..." Chu Nan frowned and looked at Liu Sanfeng, then took a deep breath and said, "If I find out this was your doing, then... pray for yourself before I come back."

With that, Chu Nan turned and, suppressing his anger, walked straight to the school gate.