Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation-Chapter 1603 - 876: Night Patrol (Part 2)

Jiang Ning still played with a light touch, but the shuttle speed was incredibly fast. Zhang Ruyun chased after it quickly but still couldn’t catch it.

Next, Zhang Ruyun picked up the shuttle for ten consecutive rounds.

Butcher Zhang’s face turned dark, wishing he could deduct 1,000 yuan from his son’s living expenses.

Xue Yuantong, great at reading the room, chimed in, criticizing: "Jiang Ning, your play is just too bad. Zhang Ruyun can always get to your shots; why don’t you let him catch them?"

Jiang Ning admitted earnestly: "Indeed, my fault."

Zhang Ruyun slinked away.

Mr. Qian and Butcher Zhang each went home. The originally calm atmosphere fell into silence.

Xue Yuantong went up to play badminton with Jiang Ning again. Considering how Tongtong dared to boss him around earlier, Jiang Ning decided to play seriously.

He hit the shuttle vigorously in all directions, and though Tongtong had amazing dynamic vision and was quite agile, her short legs had her scrambling all over.

Xue Chuchu squinted slightly, thinking Tongtong was rolling around on the ground.

Jiang Ning was too rough, leaving Tongtong covered in sweat.

Tongtong knew he did it on purpose. Furious, she went home to shower, changed into pajamas, and nestled into her small bed.

Jiang Ning and Chuchu waited a while inside, realized she wasn’t coming, and went to find her.

Tongtong’s bedroom felt cozy, with many cute stuffed toys—little rabbits, kittens, tigers—all caught for her by Jiang Ning.

Tongtong curled up under the blanket, only her adorable face showing, eyes wide open, reminiscent of a child tucked in by their mom before sleep.

Today, Tongtong changed her sheets, and the quilt had been sun-dried all day. Once inside, she felt like she melted, surrounded by the sun’s fragrance.

"Tongtong, aren’t you playing games tonight? Chen Siyu asked me," Jiang Ning said.

Xue Yuantong, still mad at him for earlier, closed her eyes to shut out the world: "Hmm, going to sleep, you guys stay up."

"Chuchu, doesn’t she seem like a feisty little kid who loves breaking up with friends?" Jiang Ning asked.

Xue Chuchu didn’t join Jiang Ning in teasing her, earnestly replying, "No, but right now, Tongtong’s glass heart is shattered to pieces, can’t be mended tonight."

Jiang Ning was regretful: "Oh, alright then."

Xue Yuantong kept her eyes shut, their conversation right in her ear yet somehow distant.

The next second, Jiang Ning said, "Chuchu, it’s not even 9 yet, how about we go to the city for hotpot? I know a place where they stir-fry the ingredients fresh, the aroma alone will daze you. Their fresh tripe and beef are amazing, the pork brain is super tender, and they have special ice rice wine that’s even better than the ones outside. Let’s get some crispy fried meat and fried milk too..."

Xue Chuchu, who never went out at night, was actually tempted by Jiang Ning.

In the blanket, Tongtong’s little ears perked up, secretly swallowing.

Jiang Ning: "Chuchu, let’s get ready and head out."

So the two each went to their own homes. When Jiang Ning pushed his electric scooter out the door, he found Xue Yuantong standing at the door fully dressed.

Jiang Ning feigned surprise: "Who is this?"

Tongtong, expressionless: "Xue Yuantong."

Jiang Ning: "But wasn’t Xue Yuantong asleep?"

"She woke up, is that not allowed?" Xue Yuantong gritted her teeth.

Chuchu, in a light blue down jacket, stood prettily next to Jiang Ning. Xue Yuantong felt betrayed—Chuchu had actually gone behind her back to sneak out for food with Jiang Ning.

Weren’t they supposed to be best friends?

Jiang Ning: "Hop on."

Xue Chuchu moved to join him on the scooter.

Xue Yuantong’s eyes flickered as she casually asked, "Oh, Chuchu, where’s your electric scooter?"

...

Five minutes later.

Chuchu, Tongtong, and Jiang Ning were all on the same electric scooter because Chuchu’s scooter had run out of charge.

Jiang Ning drove his cool scooter along the asphalt road by the river dam. Under the street lamps, the road seemed lively, lots of street food stalls lined up selling skewers, fried rice and noodles, milk tea, toys, and fireworks. Plenty of people strolled around, with young people setting off Kongming lanterns.

Xue Yuantong’s crisp voice rang out: "It’s so nice. In the past, there was hardly anyone here during winter nights, it was dark and desolate."

No one expected that within a year or two, it would become so lively.

Jiang Ning laughed and said: "Once the nearby police station and community exercise facilities are built, it’ll get even busier."

Tongtong’s little face was full of anticipation: "How lively will it be?"

Jiang Ning chuckled: "So lively that even without my presence, you won’t be afraid to go out at night."

Xue Chuchu felt her heart skip a beat, a hint of worry about separation surfaced deep inside.

Xue Yuantong still carefree: "Hmph, if you’re not around, where would you go?"

Jiang Ning: "Just a metaphor."

While riding halfway, a vicious dog by the roadside barked hysterically at the electric scooter.

Xue Yuantong was furious: "How dare you disturb us! Jiang Ning, quickly turn around and knock it flying!"

Jiang Ning, being very magnanimous: "Forget it, spare its dog life."

Xue Chuchu was speechless, thinking: ’Tongtong, you’re the bold one here, right?’

She recalled when they were at Xue Dazhuang Primary School, on the way after school, a vicious dog chased them barking. Tongtong ran away quietly and shakily, swore at home she’d return the favor if she saw the dog again the next day. But when they saw it again, she hid away shakily, suggesting they take a different route home to avoid the dog.

Looking back now, it’s a complete transformation.

...

Han Bridge Street is a historical old street in Yuzhou, but due to demolition and reconstruction, this area has been abandoned for quite some time, not even having streetlights, making it worlds apart from the bustling Li Zhuang Food Street in the distance.

At the entrance of Han Bridge Street, there’s a large empty space. A taxi parked at the intersection, and Yan Tianpeng and Zhang Chi got out from the backseat. These two miserly guys wouldn’t normally take a taxi, and from the passenger seat came Lu Qiqi.

Yan Tianpeng looked at the lively Li Zhuang Food Street in the distance, happily saying: "Chi Zi, look how considerate Qiqi is, taking us for a big meal first before finding someone to fight."

Zhang Chi was equally satisfied: "You need to be full to have the strength to fight!"

Lu Qiqi was fed up, chastising them: "Bullshit, the person I’m looking for is nearby, help me out later, if I’m satisfied I’ll treat you to a meal."

Lu Qiqi led the two of them to the old street’s entrance, quietly waiting for the counterpart to show up.

It was very cold, and Lu Qiqi, in pursuit of beauty, wore little, her legs were trembling from the chill, but Yan Tianpeng and Zhang Chi beside her said nothing, both having executed many missions and possessing professional qualities.

Just as Lu Qiqi was growing impatient, the dark Han Bridge Street suddenly shone with dazzling lights, a point of car light first lit up, followed by Ghost Fire appearing.

Zhang Chi used his hand to shield his face, noticing there were seven or eight electric scooters, each with at least two rebellious young men.

He demanded: "What the hell, Qiqi, are you screwing me over?"

Lu Qiqi was equally bewildered, before she and Yu Wen arranged a fight with a mistress, the opposition only had two people.

Seven or eight electric scooters hemmed them in, a girl in a flashy leopard print short skirt strutted up to them.

She looked down and asked: "Sis, you only brought two people?"

As soon as she finished, a group of supporting young men burst into mocking laughter.

Yan Tianpeng stepped forward, his towering 1.9-meter frame shielding Lu Qiqi.

Normally insecure, Lu Qiqi felt somewhat more at ease.

Though Yan Tianpeng liked a good deal, he wasn’t stupid. He knew when to tactically retreat and greeted warmly: "Brothers, brothers, this might be a misunderstanding!"

The young fellows, seeing such a fierce giant willingly back down, felt even more triumphant. A stocky, small-eyed youth boasted: "What’s a misunderstanding? This girl steals boyfriends, yet dares to show up?"

"You don’t give me an explanation tonight, I’ll give you one!"

Yan Tianpeng forced a smile, about to speak again.

A white large G drove over in the distance, but because of the electric scooters blocking the way, the large G honked, urging them to make way.

The cocky group of Ghost Fires immediately protested, they were a group of seventeen or eighteen-year-old youths, quick-tempered and eager to show off in front of their pals.

The stocky, small-eyed youth dragged a steel pipe, swaggering over to the big vehicle, tapped the pipe on the car window: "Don’t bother us!"

Wei Zishan inside the car was dumbfounded, asking bystander Zhuang Jianhui: "Brother Hui, is Yuzhou still this chaotic?"