Chapter 237: Long Time No See

Chapter 237: Long Time No See

It was late morning, two days later.

Wang Haoran sat in the back seat of a car en route to the airport, flanked by Lin Chen in the driver’s seat and Qiu Qianwei beside him. Technically, it should’ve been Lin Chen’s job to pick up Bian Suwen—but Wang Haoran had insisted.

He told Qiu Qianwei he wanted to meet this legendary Divine Doctor in person, to see what kind of woman could earn such a title. A simple request—and one Qiu Qianwei naturally agreed to.

Lin Chen, however, was visibly unhappy. The entire drive, he gripped the wheel with a stiff jaw and kept glaring at Wang Haoran in the rearview mirror, throwing in the occasional sharp turn just to jostle the backseat and rattle Wang Haoran out of comfort.

Of course, Wang Haoran noticed all of this.

Truth be told, he didn’t like Lin Chen either. If it weren’t for the guy’s damn Protagonist Halo with its cheat-like invulnerability, Wang Haoran would’ve taught him a lesson long ago. But since he couldn’t hurt him directly, he’ll simply attack his mind instead.

So while Lin Chen threw yet another rearview glare, Wang Haoran calmly reached over and gave Qiu Qianwei’s thigh a subtle squeeze.

The next moment, Lin Chen’s hands tensed on the wheel and his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

【Ding! Host has disrupted Protagonist Lin Chen’s mental balance. Gained 1000 Villain Points. Lin Chen’s Protagonist Halo -50. Host’s Villain Halo +50!】

“You filthy perv! Where do you think you’re touching?!” Lin Chen shouted through gritted teeth.

Wang Haoran replied with an innocent shrug. “Hey, you’re the one jerking the car all over the place. My hand just happened to land somewhere it shouldn’t. Pure accident.” He turned toward Qiu Qianwei with a soft smile. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Qiu Qianwei gave him a serene smile in return. “It’s fine. It wasn’t your fault.”

Lin Chen ground his teeth until they practically sparked but could do absolutely nothing. And after that little stunt, he didn’t dare swerve the car anymore. The rest of the ride was much smoother.

Of course, what Lin Chen couldn’t see in the rearview mirror was that Wang Haoran’s hands continued to misbehave.

Qiu Qianwei simply closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep, feigning ignorance.

Before long, they arrived at the airport.

Lin Chen pulled into a parking spot and got out, followed by Qiu Qianwei and Wang Haoran.

“Seventh Sister, why’s your face all red?” Lin Chen asked, noticing her flushed cheeks.

“Is it?” Qiu Qianwei instinctively touched her face, feeling the warmth still lingering there. Her heart skipped slightly, but her voice remained calm. “It’s just hot. The car was a bit stuffy, that’s all.”

“Then let’s hurry and pick up Third Sister,” Lin Chen said with concern. “She can check on you.”

Wang Haoran inwardly chuckled.

Even your Third Sister can’t cure that heat. Only I can. If I took her away for an hour and brought her back… she’d be completely fine by then.

Of course, these were just thoughts. Wang Haoran wasn’t stupid enough to say them out loud.

“I’m fine,” Qiu Qianwei said, shaking her head. “Some fresh air will fix it.”

Lin Chen relaxed a little and didn’t press further.

The three waited at the airport terminal’s exit.

The crowd came and went in waves.

Then, a breathtaking figure appeared amidst the flow of people—none other than Bian Suwen.

She paused for a moment after stepping through the gate, lifting her gaze to the towering buildings and azure sky.

The scene was both familiar and foreign.

Familiar, because she had lived here once, and the land beneath her feet still held memories etched deep into her soul.

Foreign, because she had spent years trying to forget those memories. And for a time… she had succeeded.

Yet now that she had returned, those long-buried emotions inevitably stirred again.

She hadn’t truly wanted to come back—but she had no choice. One of her junior disciples had gotten into serious trouble here and had been arrested. Bian Suwen had returned to Qiling City with one goal: rescue her disciple. Maybe, afterward, catch up with a few old sisters.

Qiling was big. She figured she wouldn’t run into anyone she didn’t want to see.

Drawing in a soft breath, Bian Suwen took her first step forward.

At the exit, Wang Haoran caught sight of her.

Even in a crowd, that kind of beauty could never go unnoticed. There was no doubt—this was the female lead, Bian Suwen.

“Third Sister!”

“Third Sister!”

Qiu Qianwei and Lin Chen both called out.

Bian Suwen turned toward them and walked gracefully over.

Now that she was closer, Wang Haoran could see her clearly.

She looked a little different from how she appeared in the “memories” of the original plot—prettier, more refined, with an even more stunning figure.

Her temperament was equally striking. She carried herself with elegance, but unlike Qiu Qianwei’s noble, peony-like grace that dazzled at first glance, Bian Suwen exuded a colder, loftier aura—like a snow lotus blooming high on Tianshan, untouched by the dust of the world.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries between Bian Suwen, Qiu Qianwei, and Lin Chen, Wang Haoran finally stepped forward. Head slightly lowered, he spoke softly.

“I’ll carry your luggage.”

Since he didn’t show his face at first, Bian Suwen didn’t recognize him right away. She turned to Qiu Qianwei and asked casually, “Who is this?”

“He’s my friend,” Qiu Qianwei replied.

Bian Suwen nodded and let go of the suitcase handle. “Thank you.”

“No trouble,” Wang Haoran said, bending down to pick it up.

But as he did, his wallet slipped out and landed near Bian Suwen’s feet.

She bent down to pick it up, but as her fingers brushed the wallet open, her gaze fell on the photograph tucked inside.

She froze.

It was a picture of her.

Eyes narrowing, she looked up and studied Wang Haoran’s face. The moment she saw him clearly, she gasped aloud.

“…It’s you?”

Her voice trembled with a flurry of emotions: anger, sorrow, disbelief… and something unspoken.

“Long time no see,” Wang Haoran murmured, lifting his gaze at last. His voice was calm, but his words carried the weight of past entanglements.

Bian Suwen stood silent, overwhelmed by a storm of feelings.

Compared to two years ago, Wang Haoran had shed his boyishness and grown into a composed, confident man. There was something else about him now—an alluring presence that tugged at people, making them want to draw closer without understanding why.

【Ding! Female lead Bian Suwen’s favorability toward Host has increased by 10. Current total favorability: -60 (Resentment)】

The system prompt brought a flicker of amusement to Wang Haoran’s heart.

Turns out being handsome and charming really does pay off.

All she did was look at his face, and her favorability had already ticked upward. Still negative, yes—but an increase was an increase.

And where there’s progress… there’s potential for conquest.