My Demon Friends-Chapter 687 - 648: This Son is Extraordinary

"When is Zhu Shuang coming back?"

"He'll be back in a few days."

"Will Zhu Bing come to play too?"

"How would I know that?" Old Zhou said casually. These trivial matters weren't something he'd personally inquire about. Even if he wanted to know, his children should be the ones to report to him. However, awkwardly enough, neither Zhou Li nor Zhu Shuang would report to him; they would report to Aunt Jiang instead. So he pretended to be relaxed. "You should ask your Aunt Jiang; she manages those things."

"Oh." Zhou Li wasn't really concerned either.

"When are you guys going on the rural trip?" Old Zhou placed his hands on his knees.

"The day after tomorrow. We're staying in tomorrow."

"So, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"Not sure. Might take Baozi around Yan City. Seems like there's not much else to do."

"Okay, then have fun. Make sure to treat them well." Old Zhou paused. "I have some things at the company tomorrow, so I won't join you."

"Alright." Zhou Li nodded, pondered a bit, and then kindly added, "We might take Baozi for a stroll by the river, but we won't go far, just along the river here in the city... and even if we do wander, we'll wait until it gets dark."

"..."

Old Zhou was silent for a few seconds, then stood up and headed to the kitchen. "I don't care where you go to play... I'm going to help your Aunt Jiang cook."

He had barely walked away when he heard the faint sound of Huai Xu's silly laughter behind him.

How can this young student be so silly? Feeling depressed, Old Zhou slandered in his mind.

「After dinner.」

A group of young people left the house.

Zhou Li's gaze passed over Old Zhou, saying to Aunt Jiang, "We're going out for a walk, and then we'll drop them off."

Aunt Jiang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, take Baozi to the riverside for a good walk!"

After speaking, she slightly lowered her eyes and saw the tiny Lord Dumpling toddling around their feet. The doorway was narrow and crowded, and she watched anxiously. "Be careful! Don't step on Lord Dumpling! Also, if you're going to crowded places, there will be many feet, so make sure to carry Lord Dumpling... Such a tiny cat, one step could squash him to death!"

"Got it."

Zhou Li picked up Tuanzi. "She said one 'foot-sie' could squash you dead."

Tuanzi widened his eyes curiously. "One foot-sie!"

"One step."

"One foot-sie!"

"Lord Dumpling is so silly."

"Lord Dumpling is a Great Demon! No one can step on Lord Dumpling!" Tuanzi clamored.

"Alright, alright..."

"You're the silly one!!"

"Lord Dumpling, you're such a slowpoke..."

"Stop blabbering!" Brother Nan slapped him on the shoulder, producing a sharp smack. "The elevator's here! You two idiots!"

"Zhou Ni, you got slapped, haha..."

"THUMP!"

"Lord Dumpling, you got slapped too."

"MEOW~"

Zhou Li carried Tuanzi, talking as they entered the elevator.

The evening was the peak hour for the elevator, which was already a bit crowded when they entered. After they got in, an overload alarm sounded but quickly ceased. Predictably, it was thanks to some old monster capable of adjusting its own weight.

Zhou Li focused on an advertisement board, while sneakily glancing at the other few people in the elevator.

All were middle-aged men and women, and all were strangers. This made him recollect the old neighborhood where he used to live, which was primarily inhabited by children and the elderly. Many faces there were familiar. Sometimes, even when just going downstairs to throw out the garbage, several old ladies would ask him for his cardboard. In summer evenings, there would always be groups of elderly huddled at the building entrance, fanning themselves and chatting about family matters in their distinct local accents, passing time with a sense of homeliness.

This neighborhood had none of that.

The elevator reached the first floor. The building entrance was very quiet, Yueli blooming tranquilly, with only the swallows chirping and circling in the sky.

Baozi turned back to look at Zhou Li. "Cousin, where are we going?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"It's so hot..."

"Okay."

So they bought milk tea and ice cream. Holding the ice cream in one hand and the milk tea bag with their pinkies, they licked the ice cream and sipped the milk tea, slowly walking along the street, leisurely dissipating the summer heat of Yi Province. This is probably the life I've always aspired to, Little Cousin thought.

"Yan City is so hot," Brother Nan said.

"Yes," Zhou Li chimed in.

"MEOW!" Tuanzi nodded too.

"..." Baozi stealthily glanced at Tuanzi, hesitated for a moment, then added, "It's indeed hotter than Chunming, and there's no breeze, just stifling."

After she had spoken, she glanced at Tuanzi again.

Perhaps this could close the distance between me and Lord Dumpling? Maybe Lord Dumpling will start to feel that I belong with them, and gradually come to like me, Baozi thought, licking her ice cream.

The twilight still held remnants of its stunning hues, easily imaginable from not long ago in Chunming. But in Yan City, it seemed like a welcoming ceremony for them.

Lord Dumpling was also eating ice cream, the same one as his cousin. Lord Dumpling would take a couple of licks, and his cousin, without any hesitation, would pick it up and continue eating. Once Zhou Li was done with the ice cream, he placed it precisely in front of Lord Dumpling, perfectly positioned for a lick with just a stretch of the tongue.

Just then, Huai Xu's voice came from the side.

"Isn't that Old Zhou?"

Following his pointed direction, the group craned their necks to see.

The street was straight, about four or five hundred meters long, roughly as if a university track had been cut and straightened to that extent. They were at one end of the street, and Huai Xu pointed to the other. At that distance, people appeared no larger than ants. For someone with myopia and astigmatism, at night they would just look like scattered light, with hardly even a black dot visible.

But Zhou Li spotted him.

Moreover, he saw Old Zhou entering a fishing tackle shop—the white light, and the traditionally unlit sign, as clear as if right before his eyes.

Zhou Li and Huai Xu exchanged a glance, both poker-faced.

Half a second later, they looked at each other again.

And again.

The Old Monster grinned foolishly, unmoved.

Eventually, Zhou Li, resigned, shook his head and could only suggest himself, "Let's go over quietly and have a look."

The Old Monster readily agreed, "Sure!"

Zhou Li remained silent.

This Old Monster was especially curious and even had a voyeuristic streak. If Zhou Li hadn't been present, and Huai Xu had run into Old Zhou while walking alone, he'd probably follow just to see what Old Zhou was up to. Zhou Li had intended to have Huai Xu suggest this, but this Old Monster was very cunning; he had Zhou Li completely figured out and deliberately stayed silent.

Little Cousin timidly said, "Cousin, so you're that nosy."

Brother Nan draped an arm over her shoulder. "That's not being nosy. That's being sneaky, being shameless..."

"It's curiosity, right?" Little Cousin defended her cousin's image.

"You don't understand."

"Oh, but what if, just what if we see something we shouldn't?"

"You're overestimating Old Zhou!"

"Oh."

The group quickly drew closer, slowing their steps about a hundred meters away, and crossed the street to the side opposite the fishing tackle shop.

It was pitch-black under a Small Ye Rong tree, and parked cars offered additional cover. Zhou Li stood up straight confidently, peering into the shop. This way, even if Old Zhou spotted him, it wouldn't seem too sneaky. He watched as Old Zhou expertly selected one fishing tool after another, from small fish hooks and lines to foldable chairs. Old Zhou chatted comfortably with the shop owner, appearing very much like a regular customer...

Zhou Li was puzzled. Why are you so proficient?

Some people, you see, claim they dislike fishing. They say they only do it when they have nothing better to do, that it's a waste of time. Yet, covertly, they've researched so much that they've become expert-level armchair enthusiasts.

"TSK TSK..."

Old Zhou finished his shopping, carrying bags big and small as he walked out of the shop. He didn't notice the group across the street and quickly got into his car and drove away.

Zhou Li shook his head and withdrew his gaze. Seeing that the milk tea was finished and the ice cream was gone, he said to them, "We should head back. I'll drop you off shortly."

Little Cousin timidly nodded her head.

Zhou Li patted her head, smiling. "Don't worry, everyone at Brother Nan's home is easy to get along with. Oh, and they even have an orange cat named Pumpkin. Although it's a bit fierce, it's not like Lord Dumpling who won't let you touch him at all. You might actually be able to pet this one. You can finally pet a cat."

Tuanzi turned his head. "MEOW?"

Little Cousin immediately puffed out her chest. "I only like Lord Dumpling."

「Half an hour later.」

When Zhou Li arrived home, Old Zhou was already there, sitting with his legs crossed, watching TV. He asked them, "Where did you wander off to?"

"Just wandering around. What about you?"

"Why would I wander?"

"Oh."

Zhou Li nodded and pondered for a moment. "Did you go buy the stuff you needed for fishing tomorrow?"

Old Zhou's face suddenly stiffened.