GRMFBS CH280

Zhan Yan’s two large suitcases were incredibly heavy, mostly filled with delicious food, including the two jars of pickled diced vegetables and potted meat he hadn’t been able to mail out earlier.

Thanks to his daily exercise, his physical fitness had improved; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to move them at all.

Fortunately, there was Student Gu, who hauled the two large suitcases up to the fourth floor in one go without even breaking a sweat.

Halfway up the stairs, enthusiastic classmates offered to help—Zhan Yan’s luggage definitely contained good food!

They all retreated one after another, defeated by the weight of the suitcases. Gu Jiancheng looked down on the crowd, face unblushed and breathing steady, climbing to the fourth floor amidst quiet exclamations of “Holy crap!”, “What kind of stamina is that?”, and “Damn, he’s strong!” At the dormitory door, he turned back to continue staring at Zhan Yan with bright, shining eyes.

Zhan Yan didn’t hold back his praise: “That was amazing!”

Back in the dorm, they started their routine cleaning.

While rinsing the mop, Bao Qingshan leaned in conspiratorially toward Zhan Yan by the sink: “Let me tell you a massive scoop! I’ve been holding it in for the whole holiday.”

Zhan Yan was curious too: “What scoop?”

If Bao Qingshan was telling him privately, it had to be gossip from the Chaofan Forum; other rumors didn’t require avoiding their roommates.

Bao Qingshan: “You know there are three major organizations here, right? Well, we have a fugitive here who is wanted by all three…”

Zhan Yan: ? That sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Then he listened as Bao Qingshan told a legendary, tragic, and heroic story. The protagonist was steady, tough, indifferent, aloof, and persistent. The plot was full of twists and turns. Apart from the fact that the protagonist’s code name was Deep Shadow and nine-tenths of the plot Bao Qingshan described was news to him, it was actually quite a good story.

Zhan Yan started searching the Gossip System. When did Xiao Gu go through all these things? How come I didn’t know?

[Bao Qingshan shared with you a story organized from the Chaofan Forum.]

Good heavens, it’s been a while since I checked the ‘flooding’ section. Have things developed to this extent?

No, I know that since Deep Shadow’s arrest warrant was revoked, he’s had a wave of popularity on the forum, but how did you guys manage to weave such a huge pile of unrelated stories from those few scraps of information?

Zhan Yan opened the Chaofan Forum to take a look and, with the help of the Gossip System’s strips, finally figured out what was going on.

The people in the Retiree Alliance were truly idle. Ever since Deep Shadow’s arrest warrant was taken down, they had been excited. Whenever they had free time, they would get on the forum, “process and organize” the legends they had heard about Deep Shadow in the Infinite realm, and post them.

As a mysterious, lone wolf with a dramatic backstory, Deep Shadow had always been popular. Many people were curious about how his sequelae were cured.

The message box in the top right corner of the forum was flashing a red dot.

Zhan Yan clicked it and saw a private message from “The Father Just Saved the World!” and remembered that Approaching Science hadn’t explained to Deep Shadow how he found the Di Ting horn.

This is troublesome… Zhan Yan worried for a moment. Forget it, I’ve already made up so many lies for Xiao Gu, I’m so tired! Why do I have to keep making up lies for him when facing ‘The Father Just Saved the World!’?

Approaching Science: “It’s too complicated to explain. In short, it’s all thanks to the Candle Dragon.”

“It’s good that the matter is resolved.”

Gu Jiancheng, who was currently rolling cobwebs off the wall in the dorm, frowned: ?

Approaching Science had promised to explain, and yet he was just brushing him off? What did he mean by “too complicated to explain”?!

Gu Jiancheng was very dissatisfied, but he couldn’t pressure Approaching Science. Approaching Science had just done him a huge favor, and he didn’t even know how to repay him. Although Approaching Science had said before that he would provide free intelligence in the future, this had already exceeded the scope of ordinary intelligence.

Repayment, repayment. Gu Jiancheng frowned while holding the drying pole.

In the past, Approaching Science would have wanted points; now, he seemed to have no desires. But had he saved up enough points? He checked the leaderboard; Approaching Science’s position hadn’t changed much, meaning he hadn’t spent a large amount of points. If he had enough points, why didn’t he exchange them for what he wanted? Could it be that he had already obtained it through other channels?

Gu Jiancheng wiped the cobwebs off the drying pole with a rag, deep in thought, his expression blank.

The relationship between him and Approaching Science could no longer be defined by a simple transaction. Even without points, Approaching Science would help him; even without reward, he would help Approaching Science solve troubles.

But this had resulted in Approaching Science starting to brush him off!

He actually found himself missing the days when he dumped massive amounts of points on Approaching Science. At least then, he could spend points to make Approaching Science explain things clearly…

Someone poked their head into the dorm, and Gu Jiancheng looked over.

Their class monitor chuckled awkwardly: “Um, is it just you here? I brought some local specialties to share with everyone.”

The class monitor had been classmates with Gu Jiancheng for a few years, and having seen him and Zhan Yan acting like a couple, he wasn’t as scared as he was at the beginning. But the sight of Gu Jiancheng frowning and pulling a long face was still a bit scary…

What was Big Boss Gu thinking just now? That blank intensity, holding a drying pole to wipe cobwebs—it looks like he just finished killing someone and is wiping away the blood…

“They should be in the bathroom.” Gu Jiancheng glanced at what the monitor was carrying.

Bringing local specialties? It’s clearly because he’s craving the good food Yan Yan brought from home. Yan Yan said there was something made specifically for me, heh~

Gu Jiancheng: “Come back later when they’re back.”

Watching Gu Jiancheng’s brow smooth out between those two sentences, looking like he was in a great mood, the class monitor was a bit confused.

Huh? Did I say something that pleased Big Boss Gu? Could it be that the specialties I brought hit the spot? The monitor looked down at the plastic bag he was carrying.

Although the mugwort rice cakes he brought were homemade, you couldn’t see anything through the opaque bag…

The Big Boss in a good mood had already taken the rag to the bathroom.

Bao Qingshan was still describing vividly amidst the splashing sound of the faucet and mop: “…and then those three arrest warrants were revoked.”

Zhan Yan: “That doesn’t really count as a big scoop.”

The story was pretty good, though. He could tell it to Xiao Gu once their identities were all revealed.

Bao Qingshan let out a long sigh: “The real scoop is here: this is my exclusive news.”

He spoke secretively to Zhan Yan: “Let me tell you, I was observing the stars in the mountains over the holiday, and suddenly had an epiphany: I think Deep Shadow’s sequelae being solved has to do with love!”

Zhan Yan’s expression couldn’t help but change.

I haven’t seen him for one holiday, and Old Bao’s skills have evolved to this point?

Zhan Yan: “That… could it be that you felt wrong?”

Bao Qingshan was firm: “Ancestor Granny said she didn’t feel it, so I can’t be sure, but I’m definitely right!”

Zhan Yan: “Why is that?”

Bao Qingshan: “Intuition.”

Zhan Yan: …

Those in the ‘Inspiration’ school really do rely on intuition.

Bao Qingshan was also a bit confused: “Normally, I shouldn’t be able to feel it.”

What level of big shot was Deep Shadow? A little newbie at his level couldn’t break through the information interference surrounding someone like that.

With such a huge gap in strength, if one could sense the other’s situation, it was usually because there was already a very close connection. Just like the huge strength gap between him and his Ancestor Granny—if something major happened to her, he would definitely sense it.

But it was impossible for him to be close to Deep Shadow and his lover.

“I think it’s because I practiced hard over the holidays and my inspiration suddenly exploded,” Bao Qingshan said firmly.

“I haven’t had anyone to share this big scoop with since I found out.” Bao Qingshan was truly bursting to tell someone.

This scoop couldn’t be shared with ordinary people, and it couldn’t be shared with people in the Chaofan circle, either; they either wouldn’t believe it, or if they did, spreading it out wouldn’t be good.

“What scoop?” Gu Jiancheng’s voice drifted from behind them, cold and eerie.

Rinsing a mop for so long and still huddled so close…

Zhan Yan: “Nothing, just some soap opera story Old Bao is obsessed with lately.”

The last few days of the holiday had been exhausting. Back at school, away from the pile of identity-hiders at home and the storm of recently exposed secret identities, Zhan Yan actually felt that the start of the semester was quite happy.

My heart isn’t tired anymore, it’s so relaxing~

Although autumn had arrived, it was still a bit hot. Zhan Yan didn’t open the potted meat yet, choosing instead to dish out the pickled diced vegetables first. If these were pickled for too long, they became too salty, and if they were too salty, they didn’t taste good, so it was better to give them all away.

Zhan Yan harvested various local specialties in return.

While eating a sumptuous meal, he opened the gossip strips to watch the situation at home.

His sister had already returned home and was facing a “siege” by their parents.

Watching the gossip strip showing Mom gently asking his sister why she didn’t bring Yang Ran back as well, Zhan Yan lit a tiny candle for his sister.

Fortunately, I’ve started school.

Zhan Suiru silently picked up two large bags of cookies: “He is helping the Iron Prison Ghost King improve the office system in the Underworld.”

She had carefully considered letting Yang Ran meet her parents later.

Her parents had just learned about so many shocking events; they were likely slightly stressed and in a state of high vigilance. The difficulty of introducing a partner at this time would definitely be high.

Moreover, the focus of the meeting at this time would definitely be on their own family affairs. It wouldn’t be easy to talk if Yang Ran were there.

Would Mom and Dad not want to ask her about Yan Yan?

With Yan Yan’s mouth, Mom and Dad wouldn’t believe everything he said. They would still have to ask her.

“I only found out this holiday too,” Zhan Suiru said. “When we went to the game exhibition together, that person was targeting Yan Yan.”

Ji Yueming’s gaze turned sharp. She knew about this; because of Rong Sui’s involvement, she had read the mission report. So, the “Path of Life” ability they used at the time was pointing toward Yan Yan… Infinite really still has the means to track Yan Yan.

Zhan Yunkai didn’t know about this and asked: “What happened?”

Zhan Suiru explained it to him.

The Demon King’s gaze also turned dangerous.

Tsk, the Wan Yao Alliance’s “letting things slide” style was indeed not safe enough.

The two big shots were overflowing with a sense of crisis.

“Does Yan Yan have any other exposure risks?”

“Why don’t I go to Beiling City tomorrow?”

The two began to sort through whether Zhan Yan had any risk of being exposed.

Daily life was fine; the most dangerous thing should be the identity of Approaching Science. An information-type who appeared out of nowhere with both comprehensive and strong abilities would be hard not to be targeted.

However, the identity of Approaching Science wasn’t as active as it used to be. In the past, he often did missions to earn points to exchange for thunder talismans. Hmm, he doesn’t need to exchange for them now.

Ji Yueming suddenly remembered something: “Yan Yan said before he wanted to exchange for six thunder talismans. There are only five of us in the family.”

Who was that extra one for?

Zhan Suiru was silent.

Yan Yan, honey, it wasn’t sister who let it slip, Mom discovered it herself, there’s nothing I can do.