Wu Tianzhen found the situation increasingly absurd and decisively gave up thinking about it.
A group of people carried packages into the house. During their recent exchanges, these people had been very busy coming and going.
“By the way, Xiao Hua, are you redecorating?” Wu Tianzhen asked, puzzled. He knew Xie Yuchen was wealthy, and this villa was merely a simple workspace, so the grand display surprised him.
“Of course not,” Xie Yuchen denied flatly.
He brought up his optical computer to check the equipment list, selected a few more items, and replied, “Zhang Haike kept his word. He gave me a lot of information collected by the Zhang family about the Bronze Gate.”
“I’ve also discussed many times with Song Shuning during this period and have grasped more details.”
Xie Yuchen looked at Wu Tianzhen, his expression very serious. “You should still remember what I said when we cooperated, right?”
“Finding the truth behind Xie Lianhuan’s disappearance has always been my goal. I’ve been to that Forbidden Land before, but I never found anything. Now that I have more information related to the Bronze Gate, I plan to try again.”
Wu Tianzhen was speechless.
He watched Xie Yuchen busily taking stock of the equipment, knowing that his strong-willed childhood friend had no intention of asking for help.
Although their first meeting after many years was under the guise of cooperation, after spending so much time together, everything Xie Yuchen had done was filled with loyalty and righteousness, even taking unnecessary risks for them.
Wu Tianzhen opened his mouth, wanting to suggest participating in the plan to help Xie Yuchen.
But—
The Bronze Gate.
He looked at Zhang Qiling. Zhang Qiling, noticing his gaze, quickly turned his head. His quiet demeanor made him look exceptionally obedient.
But Wu Tianzhen knew this was just an appearance.
If they were to encounter the Bronze Gate again, Zhang Qiling wouldn't be so docile. He would still abandon everything and go inside that damned gate.
By now, Wu Tianzhen’s adventurous spirit, once eager to explore forbidden lands, had significantly diminished. What he wanted now was for everyone around him to be well and as far away from dangerous things as possible.
He hesitated, the fear of the Bronze Gate and his worry for Xie Yuchen clashing, making it impossible to resolve, causing a throbbing pain in his head.
Just then, he looked up and realized that Zhang Qiling had been looking at him for some reason.
Zhang Qiling still looked calm, as he always did. Even though he remembered nothing, he seemed to be able to see directly into a person’s heart.
He looked at Xie Yuchen, then turned back to stare fixedly at Wu Tianzhen, his eyes holding a captivating certainty.
“Do you want to continue being his bodyguard?”
The words were almost comical, but Zhang Qiling spoke with such seriousness.
In an instant, Wu Tianzhen felt his vague anxiety and fear being washed away by that gaze. He didn’t know what he was thinking, but when he came to his senses, he had already smiled and spoken.
“Okay, we’ll be Xiao Hua’s bodyguards together.”
“Wait, Wu Tianzhen, you—” Xie Yuchen had just sorted out his thoughts when he heard these two inexplicably start operating in a way that disrupted his plans.
But Xiao Wu, now supported by Zhang Qiling, was fearless. He arrogantly interrupted Xie Yuchen’s questioning, his tone filled with the bravado of having a backer.
“Xiao Hua, don’t worry, I’ll call Fatty right now!” Wu Tianzhen grabbed his optical computer and typed furiously. “The few of us are daredevils who have campfires in forbidden lands; we definitely won’t hold you back!”
In the silence while waiting for the call to connect, Wu Tianzhen looked at Xie Yuchen solemnly and said,
“You’ve helped us so much, and we want to help you for once. Aren’t we friends?”
Xie Yuchen: …
Xie Yuchen didn’t know how to express his emotions. He hesitated, remaining silent for a moment.
Just then, the call connected.
As Wu Tianzhen was about to greet Fatty, he heard the familiar voice of Zhang Haike from the other end.
But unlike usual, Zhang Haike’s usually calm voice was now incredibly distraught.
And accompanying the distraught Haike was a piercing noise, like being in a disco.
Amidst the chaotic pop music, Fatty’s voice, shouting and singing, was particularly prominent.
“Damn it, Wu Tianzhen!!!” Zhang Haike swore, breaking his usual composure. He must have been tormented by Fatty for quite some time. “Take this fatty away quickly!!!”
“Uh—” Wu Tianzhen couldn’t help but hold his optical computer further away from him, but even so, Fatty’s melodious singing from the other end chased after him like a harbinger of death.
“…You love me, I love you, Mi Xue Bing Cheng is sweet~”
“I love you. You love me~”
With a “click,” Zhang Qiling silently extended his finger and hung up the call.
To make the usually desireless Zhang Qiling, who seemed on the verge of ascending to immortality, actively express rejection, Fatty’s ability could be said to be unparalleled.
Wu Tianzhen, Zhang Qiling, and Xie Yuchen stood there, looking at each other, speechless for a moment.
After a long while, Wu Tianzhen stammered, trying to make excuses for Fatty’s image: “Hahaha, Fatty’s skill in blocking enemies has improved so much, hahaha, ha, ha…”
Little Zhang and Xiao Hua didn’t cooperate, and Wu Tianzhen gradually stopped smiling.
He slapped himself in the face and said helplessly, “I’ll go see Zhang Haike and bring Fatty back.”
“Stop—” Wu Tianzhen stopped Zhang Qiling, who was about to walk away, as soon as he finished speaking.
Zhang Qiling paused, slowly withdrew his foot, and stood back in his original position obediently.
“I’ll go, Xiao Ge, you don’t need to go!” Wu Tianzhen forced a smile, winking at Xie Yuchen to continue being Xiao Zhang’s caretaker for a little while longer.
…Sending Zhang Qiling to annoy Zhang Haike, Wu Tianzhen wasn’t stupid!