CHAPTER 210: CHAPTER 207: 【DIDN’T CARE AT ALL】

Chapter 207: Didn’t Care At All

It was just past noon, and the three young people were bored sitting in the café.

Luo Qing thought for a moment. "Why don’t we go to my place to hang out?"

After a pause, Luo Qing added with a smile, "My dad isn’t home; he’s out busy. Oh, right, we just got a new gaming console at my place. We could all play together."

Glancing at Sun Keke, Luo Qing continued, "We could also play cards, whatever works. Sitting here is no fun."

Chen Nuo was indifferent.

Sun Keke thought for a moment. "I don’t have any cram school today. I’ll tell my dad later that I won’t be home for dinner; that should be fine."

With that settled, the three young people got up and left.

Yes, Young Master Luo paid the bill.

Luo Qing’s house was in the Jiangning District, in a villa area along General Avenue. It was a new development that had opened last year.

Boss Luo had supplied the sand during the construction of this complex. Later, after the houses were built, he personally took a couple of tours and took a fancy to the one furthest inside the community, a large, detached European-style house built against the mountain at its foot. The yard was at least two acres, with meticulously manicured lawns and greenery. There was also a very large swimming pool.

However, upon arriving at the entrance of Luo’s House and looking inside, Chen Nuo was taken aback.

"Ah, that swimming pool... my father thought it was too wasteful. Nobody in our family likes swimming, so it was pointless to leave it empty. He had some people come to work on it, dig a ramp for entry and exit, then covered it... and turned it into a garage," Luo Qing explained with a laugh.

Chen Nuo took a deep breath. Creative!

Approaching the front door, Luo Qing pressed the doorbell.

"Usually, it’s just the housekeeper at home..." Luo Qing said with a laugh as he pressed the doorbell.

Then, the door opened!

Inside stood an old man, built like an iron tower! He had a square face, half-white hair, yet a burly figure. The lines on his face appeared very stern, and his narrowed eyes seemed to radiate an intimidating chill! Especially since the man had his sleeves rolled up and was holding a knife! On the gleaming blade, as well as on his shirt and sleeves, there were faint traces of blood!

What the hell?!

Instantly, Chen Nuo shot out his hands, pulling Sun Keke back with one and Luo Qing back with the other. Simultaneously, he stepped forward, positioning himself in front of them!

Luo Qing, however, was startled. "Dad?"

Luo Dachan?

Chen Nuo looked at the bloodstained knife in the old man’s hand with a peculiar expression.

Luo Dachan glanced at his son, then at Chen Nuo and Sun Keke. He immediately realized something was amiss and lowered the knife. He especially stared at Chen Nuo, focusing on the hand that had just pulled Luo Qing back.

A slow smile spread across Boss Luo’s face. "You’re back? Are these your classmates? Oh, perfect timing. I had someone get a sheep, and I’m cutting it up now. We’ll stew it in a bit!"

Boss Luo wasn’t lying.

He was indeed cutting a sheep!

And... it wasn’t just cutting!

It was... damn, he was slaughtering it fresh!

Once inside Luo’s House, Boss Luo took the three young people to the backyard. There, a basin of sheep’s blood was already set aside. On a nearby stone slab lay a disemboweled sheep, its various organs neatly processed.

"A brother from the Northwest sent me a sheep! A blue sheep! It tastes excellent. Later, I’ll cut off a hind leg for your classmate to take home and try."

Despite his fierce appearance, Boss Luo was quite courteous to Chen Nuo.

Chen Nuo, thoughtful, smiled and politely replied to Boss Luo, "Thank you, Uncle. In that case, I won’t be polite; I love lamb the most."

"No need to be polite! It’s best if you’re not! I can’t stand it when people are too formal," Boss Luo said, sizing up Chen Nuo again. "You’re Chen Nuo, right? I’ve heard Luo Qing talk about you. You’re deskmates at school, and you two are the best of friends."

After some thought, Boss Luo led the three back into the living room.

The Luo residence was quite spacious. The living room alone was several tens of square meters, with a high ceiling that made it look very grand.

He invited the youngsters to sit on the sofa. Boss Luo then grabbed a crystal ashtray, took out a pack of Huazi cigarettes from the coffee table drawer, and tossed it to Chen Nuo.

"Open it yourself, help yourself. Don’t be polite, just make yourself at home." Boss Luo sat down and lit a cigarette with Chen Nuo. He didn’t even comment on Luo Qing smoking.

If it were an ordinary day, Boss Luo wouldn’t be too happy to see his son smoking.

After finishing his cigarette, Boss Luo checked the time and stood up. "I’m going out to buy a few things. Luo Qing, take care of your classmate! There are drinks in the fridge; get them for your classmate."

He glanced at Chen Nuo. "Chen Nuo, make yourself at home! Don’t be polite!"

Chen Nuo quickly nodded.

Boss Luo then went to the door, changed his shoes, and left, smiling amiably.

Only after Boss Luo left did Sun Keke, who had been quiet as a quail, finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She patted her chest, leaned against Chen Nuo, and said to Luo Qing in a low voice, "Luo Qing, your dad... he has a really intimidating aura."

"It’s okay. He’s actually quite affable in private, as long as you don’t provoke him. At home, he usually doesn’t lose his temper."

Luo Qing chuckled, but he also looked at Chen Nuo with some puzzlement. "How come I feel like my dad is especially nice to you?"

Chen Nuo grinned. "Maybe it’s because I’m handsome?"

Actually, the reason Boss Luo held Chen Nuo in high regard was quite simple.

Aside from Luo Qing often mentioning at home how well he got along with his deskmate, Chen Nuo, there was another key reason: that moment when he opened the door!

Boss Luo might look rough, but his mind was definitely not! He had realized it instantly. He knew how terrifying it must have been to open the door holding a bloody knife. Chen Nuo definitely didn’t know him. Anyone would be scared to suddenly see a man covered in blood, holding a knife, standing at the door.

And what was Chen Nuo’s first reaction?

He pulled that little girl away! He also pulled my own son, Luo Qing, away! Then he proactively stepped forward, shielding the two kids with his body!

What does this show? It shows this kid, Chen Nuo, genuinely considers my son a friend! When they face danger, he actually steps up, actually pulls my son back! In my eyes, that’s excellent character! I’ve been on the streets my whole life; what kind of demons and freaks haven’t I seen? How many people have I met who call you ’brother’ to your face and stab you in the back? Just based on that moment at the door, this friend my son has made... He’s worth it! My son made the right friend!

I had Luo Qing late in life. I’m already fifty-seven this year; how many more years do I have? My son is only eighteen. If he can make one or two trustworthy friends—even if they aren’t wealthy or influential, but are loyal and dependable—it will naturally be of great benefit to his future!!

Just for this reason, Boss Luo was very willing to be as kind as possible to his son’s friend.

At home, Chen Nuo and the others sat in the living room. Luo Qing turned on the TV, took out the game console, and played with Chen Nuo for a while.

Sun Keke was actually very curious about such a large mansion. It wasn’t out of any vanity, just pure curiosity.

Luo Qing simply put down the game console and gave his two classmates a tour of his home.

Luo’s House had three and a half floors. Luo Qing had two rooms to himself: one bedroom and one study. Boss Luo and his wife lived on the top floor, so the three didn’t go up. The basement housed a gym and a home theater for watching movies.

Sun Keke felt a bit wistful. Her family’s financial situation had been ordinary since she was young. Old Sun had only started to rise in status in the past year. But no matter what, compared to a major figure like Boss Luo, their assets were vastly different—in all likelihood, she’d never catch up in her lifetime. This kind of mansion, Sun Keke figured she would probably only ever see on TV.

"Usually, the house is just empty. I don’t really like to stay at home."

"Neither my dad nor I like having strangers live at home, so the housekeepers don’t stay overnight."

"They come at eight in the morning and leave at six in the evening, just like going to work," Luo Qing explained as he showed his two good friends around.

They walked to the adjacent garage door and took a peek inside. In the double garage, there was a large Mercedes-Benz sedan and an aggressively styled off-road vehicle.

"Wow, this car is so cool!" Sun Keke’s eyes lit up. "What kind of car is this?"

"Hummer H2," Chen Nuo answered offhandedly.

The car was indeed a legendary model—a huge gas guzzler, but its design was truly stunning. However, it would be discontinued in a few years. After production stopped, it became a prized item among car collectors, and its price was driven higher and higher.

"There’s another car parked in the garage converted from a swimming pool. I don’t know what my dad was thinking. Someone owed him money before and used the car to pay off the debt. I can’t drive, and he doesn’t usually drive it himself. Having so many cars at home... what for? They just sit there collecting dust. I really don’t understand what the old man is thinking."

Luo Qing shrugged, an indifferent expression on his face.

Saying this, he led the two of them to the garage converted from the swimming pool for a look.

Yes, it was a sports car.

Seeing the familiar prancing horse logo, Chen Nuo sighed, glanced at Luo Qing, and was somewhat speechless.

This silly brother! Why on earth are you trying so hard to chase after Xu Lücha? What’s the point? If you just park this car in front of her, I bet she would cry and scream to throw herself into your arms! The kind that you can’t kick away even if you try!

That was the situation in 2001. If it had been over a decade later, this Young Master Luo could have demonstrated a legendary seduction technique! Driving a Ferrari with one hand.

Chen Nuo could tell that Boss Luo had built this house of his like a damn fortress. The materials used were absolutely solid! Other houses might have cut corners, but Boss Luo’s own home, for which he was one of the construction material suppliers for the development, was definitely built to be top-notch.

Back in the living room, the three young men sat down to chat. Luo Qing took some snacks and drinks out of the fridge.

"The housekeeper must have gone out on an errand, probably took the clothes for dry cleaning," Luo Qing mentioned casually, then invited his two friends to eat and drink.

After chatting for a while, they heard a sound from the door outside.

Boss Luo was back.

Carrying a large leather bag, Boss Luo walked in and looked at the three young men. "I remembered there wasn’t much food at home for tonight, and we can’t just eat mutton, especially with a young lady here. So I went out and bought some cold dishes and cooked food."

Chen Nuo immediately smiled. "Uncle Luo, you’re too kind." He then walked over. "Let me help. What dishes can I make?"

"Don’t be polite! What’s there to be polite about! I just bought them at the community entrance; it’s just a couple of steps away."

With a chuckle, Boss Luo headed to the kitchen, placed the bag on the kitchen table, unzipped it, and started taking things out one by one.

Chen Nuo followed, ready to lend a hand.

"Cold seaweed salad, dried tofu with celery, pig head meat, assorted duck pieces..." Boss Luo continued to pull out items from the bag...

Alright, dishes, dishes, dishes, dishes... A gun.

Huh? Holy shit!

Seeing Boss Luo had absentmindedly taken it out, he’d actually pulled a gun from the bag.

Startled for a moment, Boss Luo instantly reacted and gave a dry laugh. "Took the wrong thing."

He quickly stashed the gun back into the bag.

The worst is when the atmosphere suddenly...

Boss Luo gave a sheepish smile. He and Chen Nuo locked eyes, staring at each other for two seconds.

"Well..." Boss Luo coughed, "Little Chen..."

Chen Nuo, however, directly rolled up his sleeves, moved the dishes to the kitchen counter, and said with a completely unfazed expression, "Uncle Luo, the dried tofu would be best stir-fried again, right?"

"Er... Yes, yes, stir-fry it, stir-fry it."

Although he replied, Boss Luo’s gaze narrowed as he looked at Chen Nuo.

My son’s classmate... seems to be no ordinary fellow.

Chen Nuo wouldn’t actually be allowed to cook. Given Boss Luo’s demeanor, there was no way he would let a guest cook.

The Luo family’s housekeeper happened to return just then, and Boss Luo immediately ushered Chen Nuo out of the kitchen, making way for the housekeeper.

Luo Qing, worried his friends might feel uneasy with his father around, invited Chen Nuo and Sun Keke upstairs to his room to play.

On the second floor, Luo Qing also had a study, which contained his collection of action figures and models, as well as a computer.

Luo Qing arranged for Sun Keke to use his computer to surf the internet, while he showed off his collection of action figures and models to Chen Nuo. This happened to align perfectly with Chen Nuo’s interests.

Time passed, minute by minute.

Not long after, Chen Nuo’s heart stirred. A commotion was coming from downstairs; faintly, it seemed like loud voices, even arguing.

Chen Nuo raised an eyebrow.

Luo Qing also heard it. He stepped out to take a look and then returned. "It’s nothing. Guests are here to see my dad; they’re discussing things. The argument is probably about business."

Chen Nuo’s expression turned a bit strange. He paused for a moment, then shook his head. "I’m going to use the bathroom."

The bathroom was in the hallway between the two rooms on the second floor.

Chen Nuo opened the study door and walked out, clearly hearing the arguing voices from downstairs...

"Boss Luo, this isn’t very good of you. We agreed: if there’s food, we eat together; if there’s money, we earn it together. That was the agreement."

"It’s true we agreed to earn together, but your appetite is too big! In business, there’s lending money, and there’s earning money together. But brother, you don’t just want money; you want my money-making channels! Money can be given, but channels cannot!"

"Old Luo, it’s not that I’m too greedy, but that you’re too domineering. In this business, this area, you can’t monopolize it forever. Someone will enter the market eventually! If you block me today, can you keep blocking everyone in the future? Rather than let others enter, it’s better if it’s me. At least we have an old friendship. We’re all the same kind of people, we know each other’s backgrounds. What do you say?"

Boss Luo seemed to sigh. "Your point isn’t wrong, but the terms you’re offering are unacceptable."

"Why not? Tell me. Business deals are always negotiated, right?"

"Your company doesn’t have the qualifications. To enter this field, you have to operate under my license, right?"

"That’s right! It’s called borrowing a shell."

"And the management fee? Brother! This license, I spent real gold and silver, a huge investment to get it back then. You can’t just say a word to me today, and I’ll hand it over for you to use, can I? There’s no such principle under heaven."

"For projects under your license, I’ll give you ten percent of the profit."

"And if it fails?" Boss Luo sneered.

"Then you tell me!"

"Two million management fee per year, plus an additional ten percent of the project’s profit. Old Li, don’t haggle. An entry fee of two million really isn’t expensive!"

"Old Luo! You’re being... I’ve invested so much in this business, and I haven’t earned a cent yet, and now I have to pay out two million in management fees first?"

"You will earn it," Boss Luo shook his head. "You know full well how high the profits are in this industry."

"You’re being too..."

In the living room, Boss Luo sat on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers, his expression stern.

And by the living room’s French windows, an old man stood with his side to the outside. He also had half-white hair; his build was somewhat lean but ramrod straight. In his hand, he clenched a cigar.

The old man, his face indignant, was saying, "You’re being too..."

Mid-sentence, his voice suddenly cut off. Blinking, he saw someone slowly walking down the stairs.

Young, short-haired, wearing a shirt and jeans, with a handsome face and an amiable smile...

The old man forcefully swallowed, blinking twice.

Right! No mistake!

"Ah, Uncle Luo, sorry, I came down to get a bottle of water," Chen Nuo said with a grin, his eyes not even looking at the old man.

That "Uncle Luo"... Hall Master Li immediately felt the breath in his chest shorten by a notch.

Boss Luo waved a hand at Chen Nuo. "It’s okay, help yourself. It’s in the fridge."

Then, he nodded to Hall Master Li. "A junior of mine, here to play. You sit first, we can talk slowly."

A junior?

Hall Master Li: "..."

Talk? What’s there to talk about now! He’s already calling you Uncle! He’s your junior! What the hell am I even negotiating for! I... How dare I?!

Exhaling, Hall Master Li slowly walked to the table and sat down.

Suddenly, he slammed the table! "Old Luo! You’re being too..."

Boss Luo frowned, about to stop him— The kids are here, what’s all the shouting? Can’t it wait?

But he heard Hall Master Li quickly continue, "...you’re not treating me like a brother at all!!"

"Huh?"

"What two million! Am I the kind of person who exploits his brothers and takes advantage of them?! Two million five hundred thousand! It’s settled!!"

This time it was Boss Luo who was taken aback.

Hesitating for a moment, Boss Luo looked at Hall Master Li and couldn’t resist asking, "Old Li... you didn’t drink too much before coming here, did you? Or did you eat something that upset your stomach?"

"I... I damn well want to!!"

Chen Nuo, still smiling, took his water and went upstairs.

Hall Master Li sat there, finally letting out a sigh of relief. Quietly, he touched his leg with his hand.

Did Hall Master Li offend Chen Yanluo?

Well, not really. It was merely that he had quietly, silently, arranged for Lu Xixi to live in the apartment opposite Chen Nuo’s. And then, just as silently, subjected Chen Nuo to a hell-level Asura Field.

Right?

Just a minor issue.

Chen Yanluo didn’t care at all!