Dark Light Chaser.

Chapter 206 A Great Danger
Ai Liang has been living in Qianhua City for over a month.

During this time, Ye Qing ate quite a few meals cooked by Ai Liang.

After all, Ai Liang's body doesn't need to eat; she eats purely to enjoy the food and doesn't care about whether she's full or not.

Every time he ate, he would leave enough for himself and pack the rest into a lunchbox to give to Ye Qing so she could help him deal with the leftovers and improve his meals.

At first, Ye Qing felt embarrassed, but she gradually got used to it.

In return, she would always share some of the free or discounted ingredients she brought back from the supermarket with Ai Liang.

Ye Qing put down the plate piled high with rice, which looked like a small mountain.

Before she picked up her chopsticks to start eating, Ai Liang asked her, "Haven't you been to Experimental Middle School before?"

"No, what's wrong?"

Ye Qing asked, holding her chopsticks in confusion.

"I remember your junior high school was nearby, right? Haven't you ever come in here before?"

The security personnel at the experimental middle school only pay attention to outsiders who are over twenty years old.

They rarely paid attention to people like Ye Qing, who were clearly students.

Logically speaking, Ye Qing's home is nearby, so she should have visited at least once or twice over the years.

"Oh, so that's what it is. After I graduated from elementary school at the age of twelve, I moved out of the orphanage. Back then, I was so busy working illegally at the supermarket that I didn't have time to wander around other schools."

Ye Qing shoveled a mouthful of rice into her mouth, chewed and swallowed, and said, "Besides, I was living in the supermarket's staff break room back then, which was far from here. Even if I had free time, I used it to catch up on my homework."

"I thought that given your personality, you would definitely make time to come and visit."

Ai Liang said casually.

After saying that, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a dumpling, and put it in his mouth.

But... Ai Liang's chewing movements became slower and slower.

After swallowing the dumpling in his mouth, he stared at the plate in front of him without moving.

While silently eating, Ye Qing noticed Ai Liang's unusual behavior: "What's wrong? Is the dumpling hard to eat?"

Ai Liang said with a complicated expression, "It's not bad, in fact, it's quite delicious, but... the taste is a bit strange."

The dumplings were delicious. In terms of texture and taste, they were far superior to the frozen dumplings from fast food restaurants. They were truly handmade dumplings.

However, eating it always gives people a strange feeling.

It tastes delicious at first, but after chewing a few times, a strange taste appears that shouldn't be in dumpling filling at all.

This flavor is indescribable with normal metaphors, but if I had to give a similar example...

It's like you're alone in a private mountain villa, enjoying a drink and a hot spring experience, when suddenly you discover a gorilla wrapped in a towel sitting next to you.

It's like a state banquet when you first taste it, but like stargazing when you swallow it—that's really strange.

"strange?"

Ye Qing tilted her head, her face full of confusion: "May I try some?"

"Ah."

Ai Liang nodded, then raised her arm, picked up a dumpling, and placed it on Ye Qing's plate.

Without saying a word, Ye Qing threw it directly into her mouth.

Then, like Ai Liang, she didn't feel anything at first, but gradually, her chewing movements slowed down.

After swallowing the dumpling in her mouth, she began to look at Ai Liang's plate with the same gaze.

Ye Qing looked at Ai Liang with some hesitation: "How about... I get you another meal?"

Even she, a big eater who never picks at her food, found the smell strange.

It's not bad to eat, but that strange taste isn't for everyone.

"It's okay, it just tastes a little strange."

Ai Liang shook her head, refusing the suggestion to order another meal.

He picked up the plate, poured some vinegar and chili oil at the window, and ate it with the sauce, hoping it would dilute the flavor a bit.

Buzz~~ Buzz~~ Buzz~~
When Ai Liang was halfway through his meal, his phone suddenly rang.

It wasn't a phone ringing, but a message notification.

"Waaah... Ai Liang, my grandpa still won't let me leave Nevada City." — Yang Xingyue

【Oh…】—Ai Liang.

[Wow, you haven't given up after all this time?] — Ma Yu

[I remember Sister Hua and Xingyue have been preparing ever since Ai Liang rented the house, haven't they? It's been so long and they still haven't succeeded.] — Fang Xiaoxiao

[Expression (sigh)] — Yue Qihua.

"Don't even mention it. Uncle Yang had promised to take us to Qianhua City for a trip, but my grandfather absolutely refused." — Yue Qihua

"No way, if it were just the two of you going out together, it's understandable that your grandfather would be worried. But why won't he allow Uncle Yang to come along?" — Ma Yu

[Who knows? Uncle Yang even got a severe scolding from Grandpa for it.] — Yue Qihua

It's clear that not only Yang Xingyue, but also Yue Qihua harbored resentment towards Yue Chongshan's decision to forbid them from going out.

"Didn't you ever try to secretly pack your things and leave? Your grandfather can't possibly watch you 24/7." — Fang Xiaoxiao

[We tried it; we were stopped by Grandpa's bodyguard as soon as we arrived at the station.]

Yang Xingyue posted a picture of a cat sighing and then wrote: "[We've tried not only city buses, but also trains, airplanes, and chartered cars. Every time, the bodyguards stop us just before we're about to depart.]"

【Wow... Your grandpa is terrifying! I remember his educational philosophy for you was mainly based on self-education, aside from family precepts. How come he's suddenly become so strict?】 — Fang Xiaoxiao

[Who knows? I went to ask him, but he wouldn't tell us. He just told us not to run around.] — Yue Qihua

Could it be that Yue Chongshan has informants in Qianhua City who know that things haven't been peaceful here lately?

Ai Liang ate her dumplings, lost in thought.

No matter what, Yue Chongshan was the underground godfather who managed the entire Nevada City.

Even if you can't get involved directly, you should still have intelligence channels to understand the changes in the power dynamics of your neighbors, just in case.

After all, it's not their own territory, so they're probably worried about them being kidnapped.

Ai Liang guessed to herself.

[We were planning to go see Ai Liang's new house together once you were all ready, but it looks like we'll have to wait until the next long holiday.] — Fang Xiaoxiao

[Hey Xiao Ai, why haven't you said anything?] — Ma Yu

[Eating lunch.] —Ai Liang

【Huh? Don't you usually start cooking and eating after midnight? Why are you here so early today?】—Yang Xingyue.

[Had lunch out.] —Ai Liang

After considering the questions that might be asked in the group chat, Ai Liang added: "Qianhua Experimental Middle School allows early registration. After registration in the morning, you can have lunch in the cafeteria."

[Is it really possible that Qianhua Experimental Middle School allows students to register so many days in advance? The earliest registration date for experimental middle schools in Nevada is only one day in advance.] — Yue Qihua

[I'm so envious! I can already imagine the huge crowds on the day of the report.] — Yang Xingyue

"Come on, Uncle Yang probably already took care of it for you (rolls eyes)." — Fang Xiaoxiao

[Exactly, are you envious of Qianhua Experimental Middle School being able to register early, or are you envious that Xiao Ai is there?] — Ma Yu

[System message: Ma Yu has been removed from the group chat.]

Yes, it's a traditional skill.

[System message: Ma Yu has joined the group chat.]

[After spending over ten days painstakingly chatting in groups, all that effort was wasted in a single day.] — Ma Yu

Ai Liang quietly watched the farce unfolding in the group chat.

After I left, Ma Yu's personality suddenly became more unconventional.

If he doesn't change this personality, he probably won't ever reach level 10 in group chats in his entire life.

[However, are there many people reporting on this? Knowing your personality, Ai Liang, you should have gone there early this morning, so why are you still at school?] — Yue Qihua.

[Reading in the library.] —Ai Liang

[I get it. Xiao Ai must have been so engrossed in her book that she lost track of time, and by the time she realized it was already noon, so she just ate at the school cafeteria.] — Ma Yu

【What? Couldn't it be that Ai Liang was hit on by a female classmate who came with him, and then she dragged him to the cafeteria?】—Fang Xiaoxiao.

After these words were spoken, the group fell silent again.

Ai Liang looked at the messages on her phone and was speechless. If she didn't know that Fang Xiaoxiao was just an ordinary person...

He seriously suspected that this guy might have awakened some incredible ability as well.

Otherwise, why would she always be able to use very vague language to precisely describe her situation and experiences, thus arousing misunderstandings in others?

【Huh? What's wrong? Why are you all so quiet? I was just saying, it couldn't possibly be true, could it? With Ai Liang's personality, how could he possibly eat with a girl?】—Fang Xiaoxiao.

Ai Liang subconsciously raised her head and glanced at her surroundings.

"what happened?"

Ye Qing, sitting opposite Ai Liang, noticed Ai Liang's unusual behavior and looked up from her plate.

Her current expression is like that of a squirrel holding a walnut, looking adorably dazed.

She often makes this expression while eating.

"It's okay, you can continue," Ai Liang said dismissively.

"Oh."

Ye Qing lowered her head again and quickly finished a few mouthfuls of rice.

After peeling off the last leaf of the green vegetable, she put down her chopsticks and asked with some curiosity, "Ah Liang, who are you chatting with? A friend from Nevada?"

"Mmm." Ai Liang hummed in agreement, without denying it.

Ye Qing couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow~ I didn't expect you to have friends you get along with so well. Let me see."

As she was talking, she leaned her head closer.

But after seeing that Ai Liang's chat interface was a group chat, he immediately lost interest.

Ye Qing patted Ai Liang's shoulder with a heavy heart: "I know, it must be really hard to watch your classmates chat but not find a chance to join in, right?"

Ai Liang had a cold face, her forehead covered in black lines.

Do I look that much like someone with autism?

As if reading Ai Liang's expression, Ye Qing chuckled and said, "Just kidding, don't be angry. Your dumplings will get cold if you don't eat them soon."

Ai Liang pushed the plate directly to Ye Qing: "You eat it."

After saying that, he buried his head in his phone again, considering what to say next.

"Ah Liang, do you know that you're like a picky eater right now?"

Looking at the half-eaten plate of dumplings, Ye Qing couldn't help but complain.

Ai Liang said calmly, "Eat your food."

In a sense, Ye Qing was right; he really didn't want to eat those strangely-tasting dumplings anymore.

As usual, Yue Qihua stepped in to smooth things over and ease Fang Xiaoxiao's embarrassment.

[Okay, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's change the subject. What's the cafeteria like at Xiao Ai Qian Hua Experimental Middle School? How's the food?] — Yue Qihua.

This was originally Ma Yu's job, but recently his personality has become a bit erratic, and he's gradually become a second Fang Xiaoxiao.

[The cafeteria is quite large, and there are many dishes, but the handmade dumplings taste a bit strange.] —Ai Liang

After saying that, he casually took a picture of the cafeteria and posted it online.

[Hmm, I think the cafeteria at Neihua Experimental Middle School should be about the same size. After all, it's a key municipal school, so the difference shouldn't be that big.] — Yue Qihua

"Is that so? By the way, Ai Liang, who is that person on the other side?" — Yang Xingyue.

【？】——Ai Liang.

The person on the other side?

Did I include Ye Qing in the shot?
【Xingyue, did you develop the ability to see ghosts? There's clearly no one in Ai Liang's photo. (Hamster scratching head)】—Fang Xiaoxiao.

【No, that's not true... Look at the transparent glass of the food serving window next door, isn't there a silhouette in it? Ai Liang's hair shouldn't be that long.】—Yang Xingyue.

[Indeed, I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out! Did you examine your phone with a microscope?] — Ma Yu

"What are you looking at me for?"

Ye Qing picked up the last dumpling, about to put it in her mouth, when she looked at Ai Liang, then at the plate, and tentatively asked, "There's only one left, do you want it?"

"...It's nothing, let's go after we finish eating."

Ai Liang shook her head, picked up the empty plate, and walked towards the tableware recycling cart.

The group chat exploded.

[Long hair, could it be the literary girl Ai Liang met in the library last time?] — Ma Yu.

The reflection in the glass was somewhat blurry, but it did look somewhat like someone else. — Fang Xiaoxiao

[As expected! Xiao Ai, you've changed. You weren't like this before! You used to ignore pretty girls who tried to chat you up, but now you're eating with them!] — Ma Yu

[It's still far from certain, don't speculate. It's probably the same as last time, some freshman she met during registration who tried to chat her up.] — Yue Qihua

【Really? (Feeling wronged, like a cat)】—Yang Xingyue.

Yue Qihua remained very calm, unlike the other three who were flustered.

She knew Ai Liang's character all too well.

This guy never takes the initiative to eat with me and Yang Xingyue at school, and he won't go no matter how many times we invite him.

On weekends, when I tutor Yang Xingyue, I always keep a two-meter distance from them on the way to the library.

This applies to acquaintances as well, let alone strangers.

[That makes sense. They probably sat down opposite Xiao Ai halfway through the meal, and Xiao Ai felt awkward leaving with her plate.] — Ma Yu

【Why bother guessing? Just ask the person directly. Ai Liang, who is that person over there? Do you know them?】——Fang Xiaoxiao.

Ai Liang glanced at Ye Qing beside her, who was rubbing her belly, and slowly said, "[We know each other.]"

【？！】——Ma Yu.

[Just met you? I didn't expect someone with thick eyebrows and big eyes like you to start changing your personality!] — Ma Yu

【No, we've known each other for a long time.】—Ai Liang

【(Staring wide-eyed and sniffling)】—Ma Yu.

[The hamster that startled the melon seeds] - Fang Xiaoxiao.

[...]—Yue Qihua.

[...] — Yang Xingyue.

Ai Liang did not hide Ye Qing's existence from the others; to him, it was nothing shameful.

She's my online friend.

Ai Liang made a statement that contained a lot of information.

Yue Qihua and Yang Xingyue, who were far away in Nevada, exchanged a glance.

They both saw a bright red "danger" character above each other's heads.

(End of this chapter)