"Aah!!!"
"A ghost!" The dopey boy sprang to his feet, screaming in fright.
"Are you nuts?!" The cocky boy rolled his eyes at Wang Quan.
"Say, it's pretty late, and you've all got luggage. You don't look local, either!"
"You're so young. Did you run away from home?"
"Or are you here to find work?"
Wang Quan pulled over a stool and sat beside the four of them, asking his questions with the air of an elder.
In truth, he had sensed mental power stronger than an ordinary person's in three of them and guessed that all four were recruits here for training camp.
"None of your damn business!" The cocky boy was getting impatient and struggled to keep himself from throwing a punch.
"Meeting like this must be fate. Let me buy you dinner!" Wang Quan smiled faintly. Before any of them could refuse, he called toward the kitchen, "Boss, upgrade those four orders of egg fried rice to the deluxe version, too."
"Sure thing!"
"Just a moment, folks!"
"Seriously, what's wrong with you?!" The cocky boy finally lost his patience and snapped, "Do we even know you?"
"Who asked you to treat us?!"
"We're not short on money!"
No sooner had he said that than the dopey boy added quietly, "Brother Shen, we spent a lot on the hotel. We actually are short on money."
Undermined by his own buddy, the cocky boy frowned, looking a little embarrassed.
"I'm sure you'll get to know me very soon!" Wang Quan patted the cocky boy on the shoulder, his tone mysterious.
Before long, five plates of deluxe fried rice arrived.
"If you don't want to eat it, just throw it away!"
Wang Quan picked up his chopsticks as he offered that reminder. He could tell that the cocky boy was stubborn-or rather, the type who acted prickly to hide his softer side.
"Brother Shen, throwing it away would be wasting food!"
"Brother Shen, there's even a big lobster in the rice!"
"Brother Shen, let's eat. We've been traveling all day. I'm starving!"
After his three buddies wore him down with pleading, the cocky boy reluctantly nodded. He didn't pick up his own chopsticks, however, and instead walked over to Wang Quan.
"How much is it? I'll pay you for their three portions. I don't need to eat!"
"No need. I said I'd treat you, so I'm not taking any money!"
Wang Quan had only offered to buy the four youngsters dinner because he knew their journey hadn't been easy.
"How much was all this?"
The cocky boy refused to let it go and insisted on paying. He knew how exhausting the journey had been, too, so he didn't mind his buddies having a good meal.
"No idea!"
"I'm off!"
Wang Quan pulled out a tissue, wiped his mouth, and vanished on the spot in the blink of an eye.
The cocky boy stood rooted to the spot, taking a long time to recover.
"That guy is so strong!"
"Just what does he do?"
He swallowed hard, deeply shaken. In that fleeting instant, the pressure he had felt had been downright chilling.
The cocky boy couldn't understand why this white-haired stranger had bought them dinner when they had no connection whatsoever.
The next day, Wang Quan headed out early and went straight to the best flower shop in downtown Cangnan City.
"Boss, get me two bouquets. I want the best, most expensive, prettiest ones!"
Wang Quan's request was simple and blunt, with money clearly no object.
The florist was a woman who looked gentle and considerate. She set down the bouquet she was trimming, turned to look at her customer, and asked politely, "May I ask who the flowers are for?"
"My friends."
The florist smiled at that and continued, "Men or women?"
"Girls!"
"They gave me a jar of homemade candy, so I want to give them something in return!"
"I see!" The florist looked taken aback. She had assumed the flowers were for a romantic partner, so she suggested, "For friends, sunflowers, tulips, or yellow roses would all work."
"You pick for me. I don't know much about flowers!"
"All right, two bouquets of yellow roses, then!"
Soon, the florist handed Wang Quan two bouquets of fresh, radiant yellow roses. He glanced at them and complained, "Only fifteen flowers in each bouquet? Isn't that too few?"
"Yellow roses stand for everlasting friendship, and fifteen roses symbolize a perfect friendship. It's just right," the florist explained.
"All right, all right, got it!" Wang Quan knew absolutely nothing about the language of flowers.
"I'll scan to pay!"
"The payment code is on the counter!"
After paying, Wang Quan walked out with the bouquets in his arms. The florist smiled and called after him, "Have a lovely day, sir!"
"Got it!"
The underground lounge at the Peace Office.
The members of the 136 Squad sat scattered around, each enjoying their own pastimes, relaxed and at ease.
Just then, crisp footsteps sounded outside the lounge. Everyone exchanged glances, already guessing who had arrived.
Even those footsteps exuded confidence. Who else could it be but Wang Quan, who had suddenly disappeared?
Wang Quan walked into the lounge carrying two bouquets of yellow roses. He glanced around, handed one bouquet each to Hongying and Si Xiaonan, and said with a smile:
"Thanks for the candy. It was delicious!"
"These roses are for you!"
"Huh?!" Hongying's eyes widened. Her fair little hands hovered in midair, hesitant to accept them, while her heart filled with delighted surprise.
"Big Demon King, have you been possessed?" Si Xiaonan was utterly baffled. From what she had learned of him lately, Wang Quan was definitely not the sort to give girls flowers.
"What are you talking about?!" Wang Quan rolled his eyes. "It's a return gift. Isn't giving a return gift perfectly normal?!"
"Also, I wish you two a long and lasting relationship!"
At those words, Hongying let out a soft "Huh?" and went blank.
Si Xiaonan's head buzzed.
In an instant, it was as though every fold in the other 136 Squad members' brains had been smoothed flat, sending them straight back to the Stone Age.
Wishing Hongying and Xiaonan a long and lasting relationship? They weren't a couple.
"Holy crap!" Zhao Kongcheng was the first to speak.
"Damn it, you idiot!" Si Xiaonan was furious.
"Ah, young people!" Chen Muye heaved a long sigh.
Leng Xuan said, "Brother Quan, you're a legend!"
Now it was Wang Quan's turn to be confused. He thought there was nothing wrong with what he had said. Weren't yellow roses supposed to bless people with something long-lasting?
As for what they actually symbolized, he had already forgotten.
Wang Quan was rather immune to romance.
Caught between laughter and tears, Hongying accepted the flowers, while everyone else returned to what they had been doing.
Then Wang Quan spoke again. "Um, can I ask you two a question?"
He scratched his head awkwardly, which looked a little bashful to everyone else.
"Wh-what question?" Hongying held the flowers, her little head lowered so far it nearly disappeared into the bouquet.
"Big Demon King, just say whatever's on your mind." Si Xiaonan set her yellow roses aside.
"Don't hit me after I ask!" Wang Quan stressed.
"Okay!" Hongying nodded.
"Who could beat you in a fight? Give me a break!" Si Xiaonan grumbled.
"What are your bust, waist, and hip measurements?"
At those words, Si Xiaonan sprayed out the juice she had just taken into her mouth.
Pfft-!
Wang Quan's question was far too outrageous, far too blunt.
Everyone else's expression froze, carrying the helpless look of people who had died a little inside.
The lounge fell utterly silent!
Before you continue