At this moment Old Li's expression looked as though he had eaten shit, setting a new benchmark for ugliness as he blurted out,
"Chen Xun, I treated you to noodles so I'm being kind enough, don't you go acting all shameless and sticking to me like a piece of dog-skin plaster, Old Li!"
Yet Chen Xun did not understand a word Old Li was saying; he merely grabbed Old Li's hand with a radiant smile, hoisted it above their heads, shook it vigorously, and twisted his waist and hips, happy beyond measure.
Seeing that the day was growing late and losing his patience somewhat, Old Li took a deep breath, yanked his hand fiercely out of Chen Xun's grip, and bolted.
Tilting his head in confusion, Chen Xun watched Old Li's panicked and fleeing figure. His eyes suddenly lit up, and dropping down onto all fours like a wild beast, he gave chase with a rapid swish-swish-swish!
On the street, passersby hurriedly made way, staring dumbfounded as Chen Xun's figure flashed past, silently wondering what kind of madness this madman was up to this time.
Pant-panting heavily from his run, the fleeing Old Li suddenly felt a premonition and looked back. The sight of Chen Xun's human-beast form pursuing him under the dim streetlights scared him out of his wits!
"Holy crap!"
Old Li was nearly frightened out of his skin, yet this horrifying spectacle also unlocked his potential, driving him to sprint even faster!
The two of them carried on thus, one chasing and one fleeing, turning the street completely upside down.
The household of Old Li was located in the western part of Little River Town. Although its geographic location was considered remote within Little River Town, it was still a proper town resident's home, possessing its own small courtyard and a worry-free life for clothing and food.
At this moment Old Li had run for his life back to his home, slammed the courtyard gate shut behind him, hurriedly grabbed a hoe from the side, and marched briskly over to the wooden fence. Staring at Chen Xun on the other side of the fence, he panted,
"You, you brat don't push me, Old Li! If you know what's good for you, get lost right now!"
Looking at Old Li inside the courtyard, Chen Xun said not a single word, solely focusing on giggling foolishly by himself.
"Hehehe..."
The weirdness on Chen Xun's face coupled with his laughter scared Old Li out of his wits, leaving him at a complete loss.
Guiltily eyeing the courtyard fence, Old Li couldn't help wondering what would happen if this madman Chen Xun forcibly climbed over.
He, Old Li, was getting on in years and didn't much care, but heaven forbid that this freak Chen Xun should frighten his own granddaughter!
"Chen Xun, you brat..."
With an ashen face, Old Li wanted to say more when a sweet voice suddenly rang out from inside the house.
"Grandpa, you're back!"
Old Li's expression shifted instantly as he barked urgently, "Yuanyuan, don't come out!"
Yet just as Old Li finished speaking, a young girl of fifteen or sixteen trotted out.
The girl possessed a slim figure, and her tied-up ponytail radiated youthful vitality. While her face could not be called stunning enough to sink fish and drop geese, it was very delicate and pleasing to the eye, especially her pair of crescent-moon eyes that shone brightly even in the dark night.
The girl was named Li Yuan, and she was precisely Old Li's granddaughter.
Seeing Old Li holding a hoe with a menacing aura, Li Yuan gave an immediate start and hurried forward. "Grandpa, what are you doing?"
Seeing that matters had reached this point, Old Li let out a helpless sigh, jerked his chin toward outside the fence, and said, "It's all because of this mad scholar. Grandpa was kind enough to treat him to noodles, but not only does he refuse to leave, he even wants to latch onto Grandpa, humph."
Slightly surprised, Li Yuan tilted her head to look through the fence, only then catching sight of the ragged, disheveled Chen Xun standing outside the yard.
It was him?
Chen Xun could more or less be considered a "celebrity" in Little River Town, so Li Yuan naturally recognized him, having occasionally accompanied Old Li to the street in the past and seen Chen Xun from afar.
Noticing an extra person beside Old Li, Chen Xun grinned broadly at her, his rows of pristine white teeth dazzling in the night.
"Jiejiejie."
Yet that frantic laughter caused Li Yuan's expression to shift slightly, and she involuntarily took half a step back.
Seeing that his granddaughter seemed frightened, Old Li immediately raised his hoe and shouted a stern threat, "Chen Xun, get lost this instant! Don't force me to report this to the authorities!"
Regrettably, Chen Xun could not understand a word, and this was precisely what left Old Li completely helpless.
Naturally, Old Li had only spoken of reporting him to the authorities in the heat of the moment to try and scare Chen Xun.
In Old Li's eyes, Chen Xun was fundamentally a pitiful person, and barring absolute necessity, he would certainly never go to the authorities.
Recovering her wits, Li Yuan pressed her lips together, stepped forward to take the high-raised hoe from Old Li's hands, and said, "Grandpa, it's getting late. You should turn in early. He... he'll probably leave on his own once he sees we're ignoring him."
Hearing this, Old Li felt it made sense, and he cast a suspicious glance at Chen Xun, who was just standing there giggling stupidly without uttering a sound. He was simply afraid this kid would climb the fence.
The kid was mentally unstable, and who knew what kind of stunt he might suddenly pull next.
On second thought, however, Old Li felt he was overthinking things.
After all, even though Chen Xun's brain wasn't right, in the two and a half years he had been in Little River Town, he had never actually harmed anyone; otherwise, he would have landed in a prison cell long ago.
With this reflection, Old Li finally relaxed. He glared hatefully at Chen Xun before turning to Li Yuan and saying, "Yuanyuan, go back to your room and sleep."
"Okay."
Nodding, Li Yuan cast one more curious look at Chen Xun before gracefully returning to the house.
Seeing this, Old Li glared at Chen Xun once more and likewise went inside.
Yuanyuan was right; as long as they ignored this Chen Xun, he would leave on his own.
As Old Li and Li Yuan successively entered the house, Chen Xun acted as though he hadn't seen a thing. He simply remained standing on the spot, keeping his head lowered and giggling frantically.
Truth be told, in the dark of night, this scene still looked rather hair-raising.
Time slowly slipped away, and the deep of night arrived.
The season was already autumn, and the midnight chill whistled past.
Outside the courtyard, Chen Xun was dressed in a tattered, thin cyan robe yet seemed entirely insensible to the cold. He just stood there, laughing like a madman, laughing crazily without stop.
Screeech.
The sound of a door opening suddenly broke the silence of the courtyard. Li Yuan walked out carrying a lantern, and upon catching sight of the figure outside the yard, she started in surprise, her eyes turning to one of sheer disbelief.
Whoosh-whoosh-
A gust of cold wind made Li Yuan's body shiver, and she hurriedly shrank her neck and retreated into the house.
Before long, Li Yuan emerged from the house once more, the difference being that she was now cradling a quilt in her arms.
Approaching the fence, Li Yuan tossed the quilt outward.
"Here... for you."
The quilt landed beside Chen Xun, yet he remained completely oblivious, acting as if he hadn't even noticed Li Yuan's presence at that moment.
Unable to comprehend Chen Xun's state of mind at present, nor knowing what on earth he was thinking or laughing about, she murmured, "You... make do and wrap yourself in it. The night is long, and if you keep going like this, your body will catch a chill."
Still, Chen Xun gave no response.
Seeing this, a flash of internal struggle crossed Li Yuan's eyes. Finally mustering her courage, she opened the courtyard gate and, gritting her teeth, stepped outside.
Approaching Chen Xun slowly with a trepidatious heart and seeing that he showed no signs of attacking, she bent down to pick up the quilt from the ground and carefully wrapped it around Chen Xun's body.
Throughout the entire process, Chen Xun continued his frantic laughter without glancing at Li Yuan once, giving the distinct impression that he was completely immersed in his own world.
Pitying Chen Xun with a glance, Li Yuan could not make out his features beneath his disheveled hair, feeling only that this person was truly pitiful.
"Sigh."
With a sigh, Li Yuan withdrew her gaze, turned back into the courtyard, and prepared to head indoors.
The biting cold wind raged outside, and her delicate frame simply couldn't withstand it.
"Tha... nks."
Suddenly, a faint, indistinct voice seemed to ring out.
Li Yuan's body stiffened, and she whipped around to scan her surroundings. It was the dead of night, so where could anyone possibly be?
Finally locking her gaze onto Chen Xun and discovering that he was still giggling foolishly, she relaxed and couldn't help a wry smile. "Looks like I mistook the howling of the cold wind for a voice."
With that, Li Yuan glanced at Chen Xun one last time before shrinking her neck and retreating crestfallen into the house.
Before you continue