Bald Youth Rescue Plan (Part 2)

"Wow~

Ling Ren, you actually have abs!"

Just as Ling Ren pulled a clean shirt over his head, Xiao Wu's voice suddenly came from beside him.

A smooth touch brushed across his stomach as well.

Ling Ren hurriedly put on his shirt properly and saw the smile on Xiao Wu's face.

Having been suddenly touched by her when he had been completely unprepared, Ling Ren, who had always been thin-skinned, became embarrassed.

His face flushed red as he asked quietly,

"Xiao Wu, weren't you in the room? When did you come outside?"

"I was already outside when you went to get your clothes. You just never noticed."

Xiao Wu blinked her big eyes.

"But...

I didn't expect you to have such a good build. Your abdominal muscles are pretty well developed." Xiao Wu patted Ling Ren on the shoulder. "Not bad, Ling Ren!"

Ling Ren's face instantly turned even redder.

It was his first time being praised for having a good body by a girl.

It was like a maiden riding in a sedan chair for the first time. He could not help feeling a little awkward.

"Alright, let's go back inside."

After saying that, Xiao Wu turned and entered the room.

"Mm."

Ling Ren quickly followed her.

That night, they were carrying out the final step of the Bald Youth Rescue Plan—

"Chemotherapy"!

Ling Qing, the "understanding big brother," would have a face-to-face conversation with Ling Ren, the "bald youth."

This only referred to a verbal exchange, absolutely not that kind of "deep" exchange involving physical contact.

Of course, if necessary, Ling Qing would not mind performing an "operation" on Ling Ren!

All the earlier steps had been preparation for this final step, meant to raise the success rate of this crucial last stage.

"Ling Ren, come here."

Smiling, Ling Qing beckoned Ling Ren over.

"What is it, Brother Qing? Did you need something from me?"

Ling Ren walked up to Ling Qing, somewhat puzzled.

Ling Qing pulled out a chair.

"Sit."

"Mm."

Ling Ren sat down.

"It's nothing. I just wanted to chat with you."

"Chat?" Ling Ren was confused. "Don't you usually cultivate at night? Since when did you want to chat with me? This isn't like you, Brother Qing."

Ling Qing smiled and said gently,

"Isn't it mainly because you seem to have something on your mind lately? You've been gloomy all day. I wanted to give you some advice and help ease your worries."

"No, Brother Qing, you're overthinking it."

As Ling Ren said this, his eyes slanted upward. There was an obvious fluctuation in his tone, and he unconsciously sped up his speech.

Ling Ren was still trying hard to hide it.

Seeing this, Ling Qing withdrew his smile and put on an expression of being deeply hurt. His voice also carried a faint note of sorrow.

"Ling Ren, it seems you don't trust me. I genuinely wanted to help you ease the troubles in your heart. If you truly don't want to tell me, then forget it."

Seeing that he seemed to have "hurt" Ling Qing's feelings, Ling Ren struggled inwardly, unsure whether he should tell him.

On one hand, if he told Ling Qing, Ling Qing might tell the others, and then he might get laughed at.

On the other hand, if he did not tell Ling Qing, it seemed a little unfair. Ling Qing only wanted to help him.

Ling Qing secretly glanced at Ling Ren. Seeing his hesitant expression, he directly placed both hands on Ling Ren's thighs, his expression stern.

"Ling Ren, don't worry. Once you tell me, I absolutely won't tell anyone else."

Of course, there was another sentence Ling Qing kept to himself.

"Except...

I already told everyone before you did."

"Alright then, Brother Qing. After I tell you, you absolutely can't tell anyone else."

"Definitely!"

"Okay...

Actually, it's nothing much."

Ling Qing was speechless. Was there any point in saying that now?

Ling Qing waved a hand, covered his chest, and turned his head away.

"Alright, you don't need to say anything.

I understand!

I thought our relationship was pretty good, but now...

I understand!

It was all just my wishful thinking!

Alright, Ling Ren, you don't need to say anything."

Ling Qing's "professional" performance immediately made Ling Ren panic, and he hurriedly said,

"No, no, no, I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"

Ling Qing slowly turned his head back, his face still bearing a trace of desolation.

"Go on."

Ling Ren let out a long breath, as though he were about to make an important decision.

"I think I'm going bald."

"What? You were too quiet. I didn't hear you just now. Going what?"

Acting required attention to detail!

Ling Ren's voice had been very soft just now, so under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible to hear clearly. Ling Qing had fully considered this detail, so he deliberately asked again. He really did not mean to rub salt in the wound, really!

"I think I'm going bald!"

After saying that, Ling Ren lowered his head deeply. He did not dare look Ling Qing in the face, and he likewise thought Ling Qing would laugh at him.

But...

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

A full half minute passed in silence, yet Ling Ren did not hear Ling Qing laugh. He slowly lifted his head and saw Ling Qing's serious expression. There was not the slightest hint that he was mocking him.

Ling Qing finally caught sight of Ling Ren raising his head, then smiled.

"What's so serious about that? Hair loss is very common."

"But...

But in twenty days, I've lost a tenth of my hair. So much falls out every day."

"Mm... then have you not been resting well lately?"

"No, I've been resting quite well."

"Then why is that?"

Ling Ren said uncertainly, "I'm not too sure either. Maybe...

it has something to do with my daily training."

The reason Ling Ren said this was—

Ling Qing put on a thoughtful expression, though he had long since prepared his lines.

After "thinking" for a minute, Ling Qing finally said slowly,

"Actually, hair is something that will always fall out eventually. Look at Uncle Zhao next door. Isn't he bald?"

At this point, Ling Qing complained inwardly. Old Wang Next Door, on the other hand, had a head of glossy black hair.

Meanwhile, Wang Defa, who was lying bored on his bed, suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo~"

Ling Qing continued,

"Besides, what does hair amount to for a Soul Master? Strength is definitely the most important thing. As long as it can improve your strength, what does losing a little hair matter?

Look, you train every day now, and your physical fitness has clearly improved, right?"

At that moment, Ling Ren recalled the scene of Ling Qing and Xiao Wu praising him, and he nodded.

"Also, isn't your meditation efficiency and focus higher than before?

Losing a little hair is really nothing. As long as it improves my strength, I wouldn't mind even if all my hair fell out."

In the end, Ling Qing was talking big because it was not happening to him. If he were in this situation, he would have gone mad.

After hearing Ling Qing's words, Ling Ren fell silent.

"Besides, only by becoming stronger can you fulfill the unfulfilled wish of your father that you talk about every day."

Ling Ren's body trembled, and he murmured to himself,

"That's right. Why am I worrying about something like this? I'm someone who wants to become the greatest Mourner. How could I care about such a trivial matter!"

"If you care about what other people say, you can wear a headscarf or a hat in the future to cover your hair."

"Mm!"

Ling Ren nodded. The knot in his heart vanished, and a brilliant smile appeared on his face once more.

It seemed that...

the Bald Youth Rescue Plan had succeeded.

Yet Ling Qing's left eyelid twitched twice without warning. He had a feeling that things...

might not be over yet...