Chapter 136: Dream Lover 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Lin, buddy, I’m doing all this for your sake. Don’t be ungrateful and bite the hand that feeds you. We’ve known each other for more than a year or two. Even though your parents have been missing for five years, I’m someone who values old ties. Besides, do I not know you well enough? Leaving it to you, I couldn’t be more reassured."

As for Nangong Shui, the old fox, Lin Zifeng knew him all too well. He met Nangong Shui through his parents’ introduction five years ago. Later, when he went abroad, he kept in touch with Nangong Shui during his three years overseas. Because his parents had disappeared, Lin Zifeng had no reliable relatives in China, so he always stayed in contact with him, hoping his connections could unravel the reason behind his parents’ disappearance. However, what happened later was unexpected for both of them. A failed mission had almost cost Lin Zifeng his life, and he inadvertently ended up in Dark Prison. Two years passed in the blink of an eye, and just a few days after returning, Nangong Shui had found him by spending a fortune and through various sources of information. The saying "money talks" was indeed forever true.

However, this time Lin Zifeng seemed to have changed drastically since his return, and even Nangong Shui, who used to understand him well, found it hard to see through him now. But whenever he was asked what he had been doing these past two years, Lin Zifeng would just smile faintly.

He never mentioned the reason behind his disappearance.

"You’re reassured if I take over? Heh, I’m not even assured about myself, yet you trust me so much, Nangong Shui. You think too highly of me, Lin Zifeng."

Lin Zifeng pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Nangong Shui, who, like an old rascal, didn’t hold back at all. Speaking with Lin Zifeng, he exuded none of the air of a superior, just like chatting with some close buddies.

"What’s up? Kid, haven’t seen you in two years; have you turned chicken?"

"It’s not that I’ve turned chicken, I’m just scared. To this day, I still don’t even know if my parents are alive or dead. You’re asking me to hit on your daughter; can’t help but feel you’ve got some ulterior motive against me."

By any normal reasoning, what kind of parents would urge a loafer to pursue their daughter, let alone encourage someone to date her? Could such parents really be considered ’normal’?

Based on Lin Zifeng’s understanding of this guy, there were definitely some tricks up his sleeve.

But he didn’t want to point it out explicitly. Everyone’s smart here; some things are understood without being said. All you want is for me to protect your daughter’s safety. Is there really a need to beat around the bush and waste so much breath talking about it?

"Don’t worry about that. As long as I, Nangong Shui, am around, I’ll make sure to get to the bottom of your parents’ disappearance. But I have to say, your parents’ vanishing act has been quite puzzling. I’ve spent quite a sum over the years to investigate their case, but to no avail. And what’s even more baffling is that all the private detectives I sent out were strangled to death, those who did return either ended up as idiots or lunatics. What do you think about this?"

At this point, Nangong Shui was somewhat baffled himself, convinced that this matter was far from being as simple as he had imagined. Even if Lin Zifeng’s parents had indeed died, their bodies should have been found. But with neither sight of them alive, nor their corpses when dead, it was genuinely troubling.

"Strangled to death? What do you mean? Where were they strangled to death?"

Lin Zifeng grew agitated, knowing that the deaths of these detectives must somehow tie into news about his parents.

"This, I’m not sure about. But I had those detectives eliminated to prevent any leaks. After all, this matter is too significant. It’s definitely not just about your parents."

"By the way, have you ever heard of a place called Dark Prison?"

As Lin Zifeng fell into deep thought, Nangong Shui’s expression turned icy, as though he had broached a subject he himself was reluctant to discuss.

"Dark Prison?"

Lin Zifeng’s face twitched slightly as he spoke with a steady voice, "I don’t know, I’ve never heard of it. Why do you ask?"

"I’m not certain either. It’s just that those detectives who barely escaped with their lives kept muttering about this Dark Prison, so I just found it strange and thought I’d ask you. Haven’t you been abroad all these years? Haven’t you heard of such a place?"

...

"Cousin, what do you think Uncle will say to this beast? Could he be fired? If Uncle really fires him, does that mean we’ll never see this annoying ghost again? Then, then no one will play with Huahua anymore."

By the end of her words, Hua Buqi’s adorable eyes sparkled with a hint of reluctance.

If things really were as she imagined, then wouldn’t she truly never see this beast again? Wouldn’t she be bored in the future? Although he was annoying, without his presence to bicker with occasionally, would she feel lonely? If that were the case, should she plead with her cousin on his behalf?

In Hua Buqi’s memory, Lin Zifeng always played the role of a bodyguard; she had no idea about the relationship between Lin Zifeng and Nangong Bing. At most, she thought this bodyguard took too many liberties, not only loving to argue with her but particularly fond of sneaking her snacks. And most infuriating of all, he was a greedy little miser.

Faced with the little girl’s question, Nangong Bing couldn’t help but silently chuckle inside. If only firing him were possible, she feared not only could he not be fired, but their parents might even meddle.

She wondered what her parents were really thinking. If it was just to repay someone’s kindness, they shouldn’t use their own happiness as payment. At most, they could just give some money and be done with it. In their eyes, money was merely a matter of numbers. As long as Lin Zifeng named his price, they’d give it to him.

But she feared that even if he was willing to take money, her father wouldn’t agree to give it.

"Cousin, are you even listening to me?"

Seeing Nangong Bing lost in thought, gazing blankly at a distant window, the little girl was a bit puzzled.

"Huh!?"

Nangong Bing raised her beautiful willow eyebrows in indulgence and asked, "What’s wrong, Huahua?"

"Ah, never mind, it seems like you’re even more melancholic than I am. Let’s just pretend I never said anything." Hua Buqi pouted, wriggling her small bottom, and decided to go grab something to eat instead.

"Wait, Huahua, may I ask you something?"

As Hua Buqi got up and headed towards the room, Nangong Bing bit her vibrant red lips, looking as if she was wrestling with some inner turmoil.

"Sure, ask away. If Huahua knows, I’ll definitely answer all your questions." The little girl was in a rare good mood. As for Lin Zifeng’s fate, she couldn’t care less at the moment. If things turned out as she expected, she couldn’t do anything about it. They could just hire him again, right?

"Do, do you know much about the man with the bronze mask?"

At this point, Nangong Bing’s lovely face had already reddened, looking almost ready to drip with moisture. It was her first time ever asking about a man. Moreover, this man seemed so elusive; she knew she had no future with him, but driven by curiosity, she still wanted to know who this mysterious man was.

"Him? He’s my idol! Without him, the incident with that beast hitting people probably wouldn’t have been resolved by now, and my reputation and fame would surely have suffered. It’s just a pity for such a man—I never got to see him in person; otherwise, I would definitely marry him."

The little girl clasped her hands in front of her chest, a face full of longing, her innocent cheeks showing a yearning expression.

As if the man with the bronze mask was the lover of her dreams.

Seeing her infatuated look, Nangong Bing couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

But soon after, she felt a sense of secret loss. The man she admired was also liked by Huahua, and that made things particularly difficult. If she were to compete with her own cousin for a man, what a terrible thing that would be. But upon further thought, such a mysterious man seemed unattainable, just to meet him was a desire, so how could she possibly end up in a relationship with someone else?