Xia Xianning thought this was fine, as high visibility would be troublesome, so he said: “Then don’t overthink it.”
Luo Yingbai laughed and said: “Okay, got it. Let’s eat.”
This case was coming to a close, and follow-up work had already begun. Regardless of the reasons, Zheng Hui had harmed several lives and was extremely guilty, sentenced to have his supernatural powers stripped away and suppressed in the eleventh small hell of Hot Nao Great Hell.
This required his original body’s ashes, and Wei Shou had already agreed with Zheng Yishan to have her send over the ashes, only saying it was for deliverance, without revealing the exact reason.
When she was about to leave the Special Investigation Unit, Luo Yingbai called her to stop.
Zheng Yishan turned back, giving a friendly smile to the young man who had helped her several times, her eyes still slightly red. She knew her face was frightening but never deliberately concealed it.
“What are your plans going forward?” Luo Yingbai asked casually, hands in his pockets, walking leisurely beside her.
Zheng Yishan replied: “Same as always, doing odd jobs, taking on roles when suitable. I’m familiar with that place.”
Luo Yingbai smiled: “Yeah, that makes sense.”
He couldn’t help but shudder, blurting out: “What’s wrong with you?!”
Xia Xianning calmly said: “Nothing, am I wrong?”
Luo Yingbai originally thought Xia Xianning was joking, but looking at the other’s slightly pursed lips, he actually seemed a bit unhappy.
Luo Yingbai couldn’t help but say: “Xianning…”
Chapter 34 Son, Check In
Xia Xianning responded with an “En”, and Luo Yingbai was about to ask what he was hiding, but his phone rang first.
Xia Xianning was really acting strange. Luo Yingbai was quite worried about him. His words were interrupted, so he answered the phone impatiently without looking, saying boldly: “Hello, who’s this?”
Xia Xianning glanced sideways.
Then he saw Luo Yingbai’s furrowed brow instantly relax, and his face quickly filled with a flattering smile: “No, no, what are you talking about, I didn’t… Oh heavens, I’m wronged!”
He was originally lounging lazily in the passenger seat, but upon hearing this voice, he seemed to be responding to a call to action, straightening his back and shoulders, sitting up straight.
Xia Xianning caught a glimpse of his reaction and knew who was on the other end of the phone.
Sure enough, Luo Yingbai was silent for a long time, finally saying weakly: “Xianning is also here… yes…” and then the call was hung up.
Xia Xianning consciously turned the steering wheel, and the car originally heading to Luo Yingbai’s school turned in the opposite direction: “Was it a teacher?”
Luo Yingbai said: “Yes. Both Dad and… Mom are back. Dad asked us to return. But Mom’s illness is not yet cured.”
Xia Xianning kept one hand on the steering wheel and reached out to pat the back of his head: “She’ll get better.”
“
Carefully calculating, Luo Yingbai hadn’t seen his parents for a long time.
The separation curse that Luo Yingbai suffered belongs to the latter.
The separation curse: if not separated, then death will separate. Those cursed cannot speak about anything related to witchcraft but will develop murderous intentions towards all relatives and friends known before the curse. Initially, Luo Yingbai had to leave home and couldn’t explain the reason to his family, so he had to pretend to have a conflict with his father to escape.
Although the Xia and Luo families didn’t know about the separation curse, they never gave up searching for the attacker. Three months after leaving home, Xia Xianning’s side finally investigated the mastermind’s identity and passed the message to Luo Yingbai.
Luo Yingbai, staking his life as a contract, turned passive into active, using the special relationship between the curse caster and the cursed to restrain the other party. Although he never found the person’s exact whereabouts, he could at least ensure they wouldn’t act rashly.
The person originally meant to control him ended up being controlled instead – a feeling that was probably not pleasant.
Luo Yingbai always suspected that his death in the previous life was a trap set by the other to escape him, though this was never confirmed. Now reborn, with the curse gone, he didn’t know what changes this would bring to the entire situation.
With only this precious son, Luo Qiao’s love for Luo Yingbai needed no explanation. Luo Yingbai had been away for nearly two semesters, and though he had run away, Luo Qiao clearly knew where the kid was wandering. Fortunately, he was studying, which was better than overthinking at home.
He was busy treating his wife and investigating the culprit, so he let Luo Yingbai stay outside until Luo Yingbai called him after meeting Xia Xianning. Luo Qiao immediately started arranging his trip, returning home at the fastest speed with his wife.
Luo Yingbai heard the braking sound and broke out in a sweat. He could hear his heart pounding like a drum.
He wanted to rush over and hug his parents but was oddly shy near home. His hand pressed against the car door trembled, unable to push it open. To others, he was a child returning home after studying away for less than a year, but only he knew what this reunion truly represented.
Xia Xianning paused, neither moving nor urging, just sitting with him.
They didn’t move, but Luo Qiao recognized Xia Xianning’s car.
Without complex emotions, he pushed open his car door and roared before even getting out: “Luo Yingbai!”
Luo Yingbai trembled and decisively pushed the car door open, quickly ran to Luo Qiao and stood at attention, chest out: “Respectfully welcoming Father and Mother!”
Xia Xianning parked the car and was about to walk over when he watched Luo Qiao kick Luo Yingbai away.
Luo Qiao cursed: “What nonsense, go move the boxes. I’ll deal with you when we get home!”
He then shouted at the driver about to help: “Old Zhou, you can go. Let him move everything!”
Luo Yingbai rubbed his nose, not daring to speak, running to the trunk to carry luggage. Xia Xianning glanced at him and then turned to say: “Teacher, you’re back.”
“Mm, Xianning, come in,” Luo Qiao was much gentler with his disciple than with his son. He carried the unconscious Jiang Yujia from the car to a special wheelchair, casually handing Xia Xianning a piece of chocolate.
The chocolate wasn’t sealed, wrapped in a patterned foil. Xia Xianning knew the flight Luo Qiao took was a famous gourmet flight, with world-renowned in-flight meals, especially handmade desserts.
Luo Qiao surely found it rare and brought a piece for Xia Xianning.
His teacher looked like an aloof old man, but he always treated them like children.
Xia Xianning smiled and held it in his hand. As he took the chocolate and was about to say “Thank you, teacher,” Luo Yingbai came over from behind.
He dragged a suitcase and rushed over, saw the chocolate in Xia Xianning’s hand, and shouted, “Dad, am I really your biological son? I haven’t seen you for a year, and when I come home, I’m kicked to carry luggage, and then you secretly give chocolate to your disciple? How can you do this!”
Luo Zhan took out the key and opened the door, humming, “You’re the only one who could be my biological son. Otherwise, would I have brought someone like you into my home? Xianning, come in!”
Luo Yingbai suddenly grabbed Xia Xianning’s arm and pulled him close, then took a bite of the chocolate: “Hmph, if you won’t give it to me, it’ll end up in my mouth anyway!”
Luo Zhan wanted to kick him but just glared at Luo Yingbai and entered the house first.
Xia Xianning was both angry and amused, shook off Luo Yingbai’s hand, and stuffed the other half of the chocolate to him, whispering, “It was meant for you all along. You insisted on competing with the teacher, so take it all and go!”
