Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

Steam rises from a traditional Beijing-style grilled meat restaurant with its rustic decor.

The private room was filled with the distinctive aroma of pine charcoal.

Mr. Lin draped his coat over the back of the chair and casually took the heavy menu from the waiter.

He surveyed the group of somewhat reserved teenagers with gentle eyes.

"Since we're out relaxing today, everyone, please don't be shy and see what you'd like to eat." Lin Jianguo pushed the menu to the center of the round table.

The atmosphere at the table eased slightly thanks to the elder's opening remarks.

Xie Wang didn't even open the menu.

"I'd like a serving of thinly sliced ​​sirloin beef, plus some grilled mushrooms and fresh lettuce." He turned to look at Su Qinghe sitting next to him.

"What you like to eat."

A ripple appeared in Su Qinghe's cold eyes.

Shen Hao and Xu You then ordered each other's favorite dishes.

Mr. Lin smiled and nodded, turning his gaze to the melancholy boy sitting in the corner, who was always wrapped in a trench coat.

"What would you like to eat, student?" Although Mr. Lin found Lu Yi's attire novel, he still maintained the polite manners of a scholar.

Lu Yi gazed melancholically at the neon lights outside the window.

"Anything will do. Food is just the crude fuel that keeps this body running. On this night filled with nothingness, only art can fill the soul."

Lu Yiyong provided an answer.

This philosophically insightful answer left Lin's father stunned for half a second, and he could only smile helplessly.

Then, everyone at the table turned their gazes to Lu Wen.

Lin's father's eyes, seemingly gentle but actually harboring a sharp edge, revealed an undisguised scrutiny.

Lu Wen inwardly groaned, feeling cold sweat pouring down his back.

This wasn't a normal ordering process at all; it was clearly a second hidden challenge set up by the mother-in-law and father-in-law.

Lu Wen secretly clenched his fist under the table, forcing himself to calm down.

Fortunately, he had done his homework on the road to pursuing Lin Lu, and he even remembered clearly how many sips of water Lin Lu drank each day.

He straightened his back and revealed a textbook-perfect, well-behaved smile.

"Uncle and Aunt, Lin Lu doesn't eat mutton because she thinks it has a gamey smell." Lu Wen watched as the waiter across from him began to fluently recite the menu.

"Give her a black pepper beef short rib, cooked to medium-rare, absolutely no cilantro or scallions in the seasoning, and double the amount of cumin."

He paused for a moment.

"Let's order another serving of cheese-stirred sweet potato balls and a strawberry smoothie. She gets tired of grilled meat easily and needs dessert to balance it out."

As Lu Wen spoke, his gaze remained tenderly fixed on Lin Lu.

Lin Lu stared wide-eyed, looking as docile as a rabbit whose fur had been stroked.

Mr. and Mrs. Lin exchanged a subtle glance.

Their tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and genuine smiles finally appeared on their perpetually stern faces.

A boy who can take such good care of his daughter in the details, even if he seems a bit eccentric, is someone who knows how to cherish people at heart.

The grill pan sizzled enticingly under the heat of the charcoal fire.

The rich aroma of meat filled the private room, completely dispelling the originally reserved atmosphere.

Mr. Lin picked up long chopsticks and flipped the sizzling pork belly over.

"I heard from Xiaolu that your final exam results were excellent." Lin's father looked at Xie Wang and Su Qinghe.

"Jiangcheng No.1 High School has not produced such top-notch results in many years, ranking first and fourth in the city in science subjects."

Xie Wang placed the grilled mushrooms onto Su Qinghe's plate.

"It's mainly because Teacher Su taught so well; I was just copying her methods."

Xie Wang completely denied any credit, while also giving his girlfriend face in front of the elders.

Su Qinghe's ears burned slightly at being called "Teacher Su," and she gently kicked Xie Wang under the table.

"He has strong logical thinking skills, but he just didn't want to focus on the exam questions before."

Su Qinghe defended Xie Wang in his usual cold tone, but his words were full of bias.

Lin's mother smiled and placed a piece of beef rib on her daughter's plate, then turned her gaze to Lu Wen.

"Lu Wen, I just heard you say you're starting a business. How far along is the business now?" Lin's mother's tone was much gentler than it had been outside the amusement park.

Lu Wen immediately put down his chopsticks and sat up straight.

"Auntie, we at Xinghuo Network have already signed a security protection agreement, and the first batch of two million will be deposited into our company account next week." Lu Wen clearly explained the company's progress.

"And I will absolutely not interfere with their senior year review plans. We've even turned the office area into a study room."

Upon hearing these detailed data and plans, Lin's father finally let go of his last prejudice against the young man before him.

"Since you all have clear goals, then work hard. If you encounter difficulties, you can discuss them with your elders." Lin's father raised the teacup in front of him.

A group of teenagers at the table raised their juices and cola, and the crisp clinking sound heralded a pleasant dinner time.

After more than half an hour, the barbecue party was coming to an end.

The atmosphere in the private room was warm and harmonious. Shen Hao was gesturing how he would block someone else's shot on the basketball court the next day.

Xie Wang leaned back in his chair, listening to Shen Hao brag, when his phone, which was in his school uniform pocket, suddenly vibrated briefly and urgently.

He took out his phone and glanced at the screen.

It was a string of random numbers with no indication of its origin.

Nuisance phone calls.

Without the slightest hesitation, he slid his thumb directly to the hang-up button and placed the phone face down on the table.

Xie Wang continued to pick out the bits of cilantro that had accidentally gotten stuck in Su Qinghe's plate.

Three seconds later, the anonymous number called again.

The buzzing sound was somewhat noticeable in the noisy private room.

Su Qinghe stopped drinking water and turned to look at Xie Wang.

"Uncle and Aunt, please eat first. I'll go out to take this call." Xie Wang picked up his phone from the table and politely nodded to his elders.

Mr. Lin nodded, indicating that he should do as he pleased.

Xie Wang turned around and opened the heavy wooden door of the private room, stepping outside the barbecue restaurant.

The cold wind outside dissipated the heat from the charcoal fire that clung to his body.

Xie Wang leaned against the wall and pressed the answer button.

Who is it?

There was no immediate human voice on the other end of the phone; only a faint electrical hum and rhythmic breathing mingled in the air.

Xie Wang's patience was limited. Just as he was about to hang up again, a voice processed by a voice changer entered his eardrums.

"I have evidence of your mother's murder, Xie Wang."