Chapter 720: Remove

Chapter 720: Release

A droplet of amber-brown sauce slowly slid down the plump thigh of chicken, dripping onto the steaming pile of white rice.

But at this moment, Qian Fu paid no attention to such matters. With one hand on each leg, he bit into the braised chicken thigh with force, tugging it apart. The delicious flavor reached the tip of his tongue, and the rich aroma of meat filled his mouth, leaving him visibly satisfied.

Still, he wasn’t content. As he chewed, his eyes flickered toward the plate, as if afraid that Chen Hongyu would snatch it from him.

Across from them, Li Huowang stared in silence at their appetite, feeling a twinge of regret for inviting them to his home.

“Come, come, eat more—there’s still plenty,” said Sun Xiaoqin cheerfully, carrying a tray of chicken legs from the kitchen. Her hair had curled again from the heat.

“Mom, stop cooking. It’s already enough,” said Sun Xiaoqin without reply. Beside her, Yang Na reached under the table and pinched Li Huowang hard.

“What are you pinching me for?” When Li Huowang looked over, he saw a hint of dissatisfaction in Yang Na’s eyes.

“Hiccup~~~” Qian Fu let out a long hiccup, interrupting their stare.

“You’ve all had your fill. Don’t push yourself. Whether it’s about money or not, don’t ruin your stomach.”

Qian Fu grabbed two chicken legs from the plate and stuck them into the rice before glaring at Li Huowang with his eyes wide.

“What do you know! I’m just hungry!” With that, he picked up his chopsticks and began eating noisily.

Chen Hongyu beside him was equally unyielding. She took a braised chicken leg, pulled it into her mouth with force, and after a few tugs, handed him a clean bone.

Compared to the previous disgusting pus-filled burst, Li Huowang now thought her trick resembled some kind of supernatural ability.

At that moment, Sun Xiaoqin appeared by Li Huowang's ear without warning. “You child, how can you speak like that? They’re guests here. They came to help you. Besides, those frozen chicken legs at the supermarket cost less than some vegetables!”

Li Huowang sighed and said nothing more, watching the two continue to devour their food with wild hunger.

“Don’t you want any?”

“No thanks, I’ve seen enough.”

Three plates were served in succession. Li Huowang watched their bellies swell, realizing that the cartoons he’d seen as a child weren’t just fantasy.

When lunch ended, they lay back on the chairs, breathing heavily with full stomachs.

Looking into the kitchen, Li Huowang leaned forward and asked in a low voice, “Have you been going without meals for days? How could you be so hungry?”

“We ate last night, but it doesn’t last until today. Who doesn’t go without food sometimes? You’re really funny,” said Qian Fu. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Coming.” Yang Na, wearing slippers, walked over with quick steps. “Qingwang? Come in quickly. Oh wait, who are these two behind you...”

As Li Huowang turned to look, he saw Qingwang Lai enter with two people dressed in white tops and blue bottoms.

Without greeting him, the two immediately lifted one of his feet and removed something from around his ankle.

After they left, Li Huowang looked at Qingwang Lai. “What was that...?”

“The surveillance from the street office has been lifted. But they’ll still visit regularly. Also, you can’t leave the province or city.”

“You’re free to move about now, but there’s still something on your foot. Try not to go places where there are many people. Avoid triggering their nerves.”

Li Huowang was stunned. He rushed to the window and looked outside, seeing Old Lady Qi pointing and gesturing toward him with others, then turning and walking away from the residential complex.

“She really left? How did you manage that?” Li Huowang turned around, looking at Qingwang Lai in surprise.

Though they had only met recently, this man seemed far more reliable than the previous two psychiatric patients.

“It’s simple. I got a lawyer to check. This kind of surveillance and house arrest actually violates your personal freedom.”

“Since you’ve passed the doctor’s examination, you should have been released last month according to standard procedure. But because of the higher-ups’ fear of complications and responsibility shifting, they made it tenfold. Then I pulled a few strings.”

“I see,” said Li Huowang.

Qingwang Lai shook his head with a smile. “Heh, I think you still don’t understand.”

Hearing that, Li Huowang frowned. Why did this guy talk so ambiguously?

“Anyway, thank you for helping me. Since I’m free now, let’s go somewhere else and talk properly,” said Li Huowang, eager to leave.

“Don’t be so hasty. Just freed, running around will raise suspicion,” said Qingwang Lai, blocking him.

Seeing Sun Xiaoqin place fruit on the table, Qingwang Lai patted Li Huowang on the shoulder. “Nine tonight, I’ll pick you up. I found a safe place and also met some new friends.”

“New friends?” Li Huowang felt a spark of curiosity. Were there other allies besides them?

After saying that, Qingwang Lai didn’t linger. He took the fruit from Qian Fu and Chen Hongyu and left with them.

“Son, you... you’re really okay now? You can go out?” Sun Xiaoqin looked even happier than Li Huowang upon hearing the news.

“Yes, I am,” Li Huowang nodded, his mind already racing with thoughts of what to do next.

“Then rest at home. I’ll go buy groceries. I’ll call your dad to tell him not to work night shifts today. We’ll celebrate properly!”

Once Sun Xiaoqin left, only Yang Na and Li Huowang remained in the room.

“Huowang, do you really believe what Qingwang Lai said? I still don’t trust anything he said.”

“I don’t trust it either, but if I want to escape these people, I have to rely on them. They’re getting stricter,” said Li Huowang, turning to look outside.

“They’re here now?” Yang Na quickly moved to the window, drew the curtain shut, and peered through a crack. “Where? Where are they?”

“They’re not in the complex—they’re watching me from afar with binoculars!” Li Huowang stared intently at the distant high-rise buildings across the neighborhood.

“Really?” Yang Na glanced at the distance, then at Li Huowang’s face. “Can you really sense it?”

“Yes, it’s very distinct. I definitely can! Their hostility is growing stronger!”

“I estimate they’ll strike soon. I must act first.”

Time passed quickly, and evening arrived. Though dinner was lavish to celebrate Li Huowang’s freedom, he had little appetite, lost in thoughts of who these new friends might be and how he could fight together with them.

Before he knew it, it was night. Li Huowang bid farewell to Sun Xiaoqin and prepared to leave with Yang Na.

His mother didn’t ask questions, while his father stuffed some money into his hands. Li Huowang judged they misunderstood.

When he stepped out of the residential complex for the first time without surveillance, a four-seater white sports car pulled up in front of him.

“Get in,” said Qingwang Lai, holding the steering wheel with one hand.

(End of Chapter)