Chapter 345 Happy Chinese New Year Eve
âMei Nan, school is over?â
The girl called Mei Nan showed Zhang Heng a threatening look, warning him not to laugh at her name. She whispered, âDonât talk during dinner later. Although you say youâre my classmate, you donât know my school well. You also donât know much about my high school as well. Talk less, and my mother wonât be suspicious.â
As soon as she was done talking, the door opened.
The woman standing at the door smiled. âGive me your schoolbag, take off your shoes, and eat first,â she said warmly. She was stunned, though, when she saw Zhang Heng.
âThis isâŠâ
âHe is my classmate. About that⊠His parents are doing something important, and he canât go home for now. Thereâs nowhere for him to go, which is why I brought him home first.â
Mei Nan quickly explained the situation before Zhang Heng could say anything.
âOh, oh, oh, welcome, welcome! It just so happened that I cooked a lot. Letâs eat together.â
âThank you, auntie,â Zhang Heng replied as he followed the two of them into the house.
There were only two rooms and a living room in the entire house. Cramped and looking in dire need of a revamp, the ceiling was so low that Zhang Heng hit his head on the incandescent lamp when he entered the house.
Mei Nanâs mother immediately apologized, âIâm sorry⊠Iâm sorry! Are you all right?â
âItâs okay. His head is made of iron. You should worry about the light instead,â Mei Nan jibed.
Through the aisle, Zhang Heng could see the kitchen. Some kind of meat was stewing in the iron pot above the gas stove, its fragrant aroma instantly hitting him in the nose. He also saw a little boy who looked only about three or four years of age, lying on the dinner table doing his homework.
The little boy shouted immediately when he saw Zhang Heng, âMom, sisterâs got herself a boyfriend from school!â
âYou little bastard! Do you want more homework or are you looking for a good beating?â Mei Nan growled and rewarded the little boy with a punch at the back of his head. âMy brother⊠he is a fool,â she sneered.
The little boy then cried while clutching his head, âMom!!! Sisterâs talking too much, and she beat me as well!â
Mei Nanâs mother brought the food out of the kitchen and reprimanded them, âStop messing around! Mei Nan, come help me scoop the rice.â
After that, she turned around and enthusiastically spoke to Zhang Heng. âWhy are you still standing there? This place is a mess! I hope you donât mind.â âNope, itâs all good here.â Zhang Heng grabbed a stool beside the table and sat down. At the same time, Mei Nanâs younger brother pretended to do his homework, but his eyes were curiously eyeing the stranger.
Seeing that his sister and mother were in the kitchen, he leaned over and asked in a low tone, âBig brother, my sister is ugly and bad-tempered. Why do you like her?â
Zhang Heng then informed the boy, âYour sister is standing behind you now.â The little boy was shocked when he heard this. âYou are going to lose your brother-in-law, big brotherâŠâ
ââŠyou know what? Iâm not going to wait until the end of the world. I think I might just kill him now!â Mei Nan threw her bowl in front of the little boy and said to Zhang Heng, âThere are no chopsticks here. You canât use them in your current state anyway. Just use your hand to eat later.â
Zhang Heng nodded.
Mei Nanâs mother still seemed a little curious about Zhang Heng. However, she was very polite, where all she did was to ask his name and where he lived. She even kept making him eat more, worried that the food she cooked didnât suit Zhang Hengâs taste. Only when she saw her guest heartily finishing two bowls of rice did she put on a smile.
Mei Nan was still helping Zhang Heng to cover his story, but gradually, her attention shifted to her mother and younger brother. Zhang Heng was soon ignored by her. A while later, after finishing the food, Zhang Heng got up. âThank you for the dinner. The food was delicious. My parents should be home now, and I think I should make a move,â he said.
âLet me send you off.â Mei Nan put down the rice bowl in her hand and stood up. The two then walked downstairs. Mei Nanâs younger brother was peeping from the window upstairs, prompting a slitting-throat gesture from his sister and a flash of gritted teeth. Her little brother was so startled he almost fell off the stool.
âThank you for coming back with me. I didnât expect a family reunion on New Yearâs Eve even though itâs not New Yearâs Eve in this quest.â
âWhat happened?â Zhang Heng asked, âWhy havenât you been home for such a long time?â âWell, because I needed to send you off and guide you to a nearby hotel?â
âIâm talking about the real world. What happened to your parents or your brother?â Zhang Heng asked as he looked into Mei Nanâs eyes.
âOh, they are all okay. Actually, Iâm the problemâŠâ Mei Nan said, but she appeared uncomfortable and didnât want to elaborte. âDonât worry. The problem will be solved soon. By that time, I will be able to reunite with them. I know there several good hotels nearby. You can stay there for two days, or you can stroll around the city. Other than Canto Tower, you can go in any direction you wish. I will find you when the world is destroyedâŠâ
âSee you at the end,â Zhang Heng interrupted Mei Nan. âYou should go home and accompany your family. I can take care of myself.â
âOkay,â Mei Nan nodded.
âHappy New Yearâs Eve.â Zhang Heng said.
âHappy New Yearâs Eve.â
Zhang Heng waved and walked back to the alley they passed. After bidding farewell to Mei Nan, he decided to look for a place to stay. This quest wouldnât last too long. After converting three days in the quest to real-world time, it was only 9 minutes. Since it would be many hours till midnight arrived, it meant Zhang Heng wouldnât get to use his extra 24 hours. Besides, the questâs mechanism allowed players to leave anytime they wanted. In fact, he could have returned to the real world right after accompanying Mei Nan home if he wanted to.
But then again, it was a rare opportunity to live in a world built entirely out of LEGO. Just like what Mei Nan had told him, he could consider this trip as a vacation. Zhang Heng enquired a few ladies nearby who were square dancing, and they directed him to a hotel with relatively convenient transportation.
Just as he walked in, he saw the bald man who was reading Harry Potter at Starbucks that afternoon. This time, he was holding a copy of Yangcheng Evening Newspaper in his hand, pretending to read it.
Sitting on the sofa in the lobby with an automatic piano in front of him, he seemed to be waiting for Zhang Heng to approach. Instead, the boy went straight to the front desk.
âCan I have a business suite?â Zhang Heng asked the receptionist.
âOf course, sir. Please wait a moment.â
The bald manâs plan to wait for Zhang Heng failed. He had to get up from the sofa. As he cleared his throat, he walked toward Zhang Heng, consciously attempting to maintain his calm and composed demeneour. Before he could get to him, Zhang Heng had already gotten his room card and was walking to the elevator.
The bald man finally got a little anxious when he saw this. He quickly ran to the elevator and squeezed himself in before the doors closed.
âAre you following us?â Zhang Heng raised his eyebrows.
âGive me 15 minutes to explain everything.â The bald man looked gravely serious.
âBecause the world will be destroyed in three days?â
âHow did you know this?!â The bald man was shocked, but continued, âYou are the chosen one, so come and save the world with me!â
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