Electronic Nezha

Chapter 160 Chemical Reaction
When I told Ma Chaoran that I was going home to see Qiao Yan, she was clearly taken aback.

"Isn't that Han Shiya's current boyfriend?" Ma Chaoran said. "You two seem to be getting along quite well, always having meals and coffee together."

"Isn't it normal for you to have a meal or coffee with ordinary friends? The only difference is that we met through a slightly unusual means..."

Ma Chaoran asked, "Will Han Shiya go?"

"I'll probably have to go." Although I told Qiao Yan that I didn't have to bring Han Shiya every time, I guess he didn't really listen. After all, it's too awkward for just the two of us to be together. It's better to invite Han Shiya along to make it a bit awkward—actually, it still means awkward. You see how amazing Chinese characters are.

Ma Chaoran frowned a few times.

I chuckled and said, "What, are you scared? You don't have to go." Actually, I didn't want her to go either...

Ma Chaoran said, "I need to report our matter to Sixth Master first. If the organization has no objections, I can appear in your circle under a new identity from now on."

I said, "You have Shark accompany Liu Zhenhua back to the fifth floor after school. Qiao Yan doesn't want to see me; she mainly wants her daughter to go find Liu Zhenhua."

Ma Chaoran's eyes lit up: "What kind of plot is this?"

“His daughter is depressed, and Qiao Yan has been helping her with treatment recently. It’s easier to talk to someone her own age.”

"Poor thing, I understand."

Ma Chaoran started making calls to various people. She first needed to inform the Sixth Division of our next destination, then have Shark pick up Liu Zhenhua, and finally call Sixth Master to report the latest situation. Sixth Master seemed to be busy and didn't answer, so Ma Chaoran switched to sending a voice message. Finally, she said urgently, "Sixth Master, please reply as soon as you hear this, we're almost there!"

Our car had already entered the residential area when another car followed us. To get my attention, it gently honked at me.

I turned around and saw an Audi A8. I slapped my thigh and exclaimed, "Oh no, it's Qiao Yan!"

Ma Chaoran also said anxiously, "Sixth Master hasn't replied to my message yet!"

Given our social circles and identities, it's impossible for us to be sitting in the same car. Although Qiao Yan doesn't know Ma Chaoran, it's obvious that something's up for a girl to drive me back in my car. If Sixth Master agrees to Ma Chaoran's plan, that's fine, but if he doesn't, how are we going to cover up this lie?

Xiao Wu said, "Brother, should I dump him?"

Bullshit! Putting aside the fact that the neighborhood is terribly congested at this hour, the car behind me has a depressed daughter, a sensitive father, and an awkward stepmother in it. If I were to run away right now, those two families would never have to see each other again.

When the car arrived downstairs, Qiao Yan and the other two got out first, carrying various KFC bags. Seeing that I was still not getting out of the car, Qiao Yan walked towards us, puzzled.

At this moment, Sixth Master replied slowly and deliberately: "The plan is quite good, but the problem is that you two don't really have any chemistry—"

Ma Chaoran got impatient: "Liu Laoliu, just give me your opinion. I don't have time to waste with your nonsense."

I sensed that Sixth Master seemed to shudder, and replied with a single sentence: "You guys handle it."

Qiao Yan had already walked to my car. I opened the door and jumped out, startling him.

"Why did you get off from that side? Who was driving?"

“Me!” Ma Chaoran stepped out of the car confidently and greeted Qiao Yan.

"What is this?" Qiao Yan was immediately stunned.

Han Shiya suddenly stopped a long distance away from us, her eyes fixed on Ma Chaoran. Ma Chaoran stared back at her—the air was filled with the dazzling light and pungent smell of welding sparks. These two women had a chemical reaction the moment they met!

Qiao Yuchen looked at this and that, and her pale and haggard face regained a little color... I laughed it off and said, "I'll introduce you when we get home."

This was the first time I'd returned to this house since I was ambushed by the strange fish. I was a little nervous when I opened the door, afraid that there might be something stimulating inside. Fortunately, apart from some dust, everything seemed normal.

The most exciting scene was actually right beside me: Ma Chaoran and Han Shiya would occasionally exchange glances, smile politely, and hesitate, as if they wanted to say something but couldn't, which seemed like both a gesture of goodwill and a test. When I opened the door, Qiao Yan's chin was almost touching my back, clearly determined to be the first to know.

As soon as I stepped into the house, Qiao Yan said, "Old Liu, don't tell us this is just an ordinary friend. We can all tell. Tell us the truth."

I pointed at Ma Chaoran and said in a shy yet boastful tone, like an older man taking a bite out of a younger woman, "Ma Chaoran, a reporter from our integrated media company, we... haven't known each other for very long."

Han Shiya said, "I felt you were 'someone' the first two times we met, and you still won't tell the truth—" She looked Ma Chaoran up and down and said, "She's really beautiful, and her workplace is good too. Liu Chuanfeng, what kind of bewitching words did you give this young lady?"

Ma Chaoran laughed and said, "That's right, I love listening to Lao Liu talk. You must be Sister Han?"

Qiao Yan said, "Then guess who I am?"

Ma Chaoran said, "So you're my brother-in-law."

Qiao Yan gestured back and forth among us: "Have you figured out our relationship?"

Ma Chaoran said, "It's not that complicated. You two have the same aesthetic sense, so it's normal for you to become friends."

Qiao Yan was taken aback, and exclaimed, "Look how eloquent this reporter is!"

Han Shiya said quietly, "It's a pity that aesthetic tastes change."

We were at a loss for words this time, so Qiao Yan tried to smooth things over by saying, "You two haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's get some junk food."

I said, "I was just about to say that to you. I was expecting you to bring me some fancy meal, and this is what you're going to eat?"

Qiao Yan laughed and said, "At our age, we usually focus on health, so it's nice to have this once in a while to reminisce about our youth."

We laid out the KFC on the table: cola, fries, burgers, fried chicken—a huge, generous pile. Han Shiya ran her finger across the table, frowned a few times at the dirt on her finger, and took out an alcohol wipe to clean her hands, saying, "Xiao Ma must really enjoy cooking, right?"

Ma Chaoran said, "I don't have time, and my cooking skills aren't good enough." She took off her coat, revealing a "What's up with that?" hoodie, and casually sat down, picking up a hamburger and starting to eat.

Han Shiya asked, "Have you two moved out? What about Zhenhua?"

I quickly waved my hand: "It hasn't come to that."

Han Shiya said, "If you feel it's inconvenient, you can have Zhenhua come with me."

Qiao Yan said unhappily, "What kind of person do you take Lao Liu for?" Then he said to me, "Lao Liu, it's not that I don't want Zhenhua, it's that I don't think you're that kind of person. Of course, if you and Xiao Ma want to have some time alone together or go on a trip, I can bring Zhenhua to my place."

Ma Chaoran swallowed a bite of her hamburger and protested, "What do you mean? Why are you making it sound like I abused Liu Zhenhua?"

Han Shiya looked at her and finally asked the same question she had asked her parents: "Does Zhenhua know about your relationship?"

Ma Chaoran and I exchanged a quick glance, neither of us agreeing. Just then, Liu Zhenhua took out his keys, opened the door, and walked in. Seeing everyone in the room, he said while changing his shoes, "Old Ma, you're here too?"

(End of this chapter)