402: Chapter 401: Making a Phone Call 402: Chapter 401: Making a Phone Call “Commander, we finally received the signal.

That lucky gamer is surprisingly reliable.

He actually didn’t log off after obtaining the legendary elixir, making us hang around for several hours!

I had to work overtime, and couldn’t go anywhere.

That’s truly hateful!”

A man clad in white robes threw the compact signal receiver onto the table, taking a sigh of relief.

“Where is the location?”

“26, Alley 3, Kui Street, Changshi.”

…

“Slow down, Little Ran.

Eating too fast isn’t good for you!”

Seeing Su Ran wolfing down his food but in high spirits, his mother was filled with satisfaction.

“Oh, right, how is it going for you in the game?

Did you get any valuable items?”

After waiting for Su Ran to finish eating, she couldn’t help but ask.

She felt that ever since their neighbor Li Wan’er had come by, her son stopped talking about his gaming exploits.

This puzzled her, so she decided to take the initiative to ask Su Ran about it.

“Um, nothing interesting.

It’s just mindlessly slaying monsters to gain experience and level up.

Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand.”

Su Ran quickly made his excuses.

Oh boy, once his mother got to talking, she was unstoppable.

If he dared tell her anything, the whole world would soon find out!

Furthermore, his current character in the Human Race was something he needed to keep a secret.

If anyone found out, his easy days would be over.

Su Ran had made up his mind.

He wouldn’t expose his secret identity no matter what, at least not until he was stronger.

“Wait, for several days in a row, you’ve got nothing good?

Doesn’t your luck stat at 13 increase your loot drop rate?!

Speak up, have you secretly opened a second bank account and transferred all the money from the sold items there?

Are you now hiding it from your mother?”

His mother suddenly said, casting a scrutinizing glance at Su Ran.

“Oh mom, how could you think that way?

I’m a homebody who never sets foot outside.

When would I possibly have time to go to the bank?”

The suspicious look in his mother’s eyes made Su Ran’s head spin.

What in the world are women made of?

Their minds are like galloping steeds, the way they suddenly change topics leaves him completely blindsided.

“Something is off.

I feel like you’re hiding something from me.

You’re my own flesh and blood, do you think I wouldn’t see though your deviousness?

Speak up.

What are you hiding?

Or else there will be no meat for tonight’s dinner!”

The more his mother observed Su Ran, the more suspicious she felt.

In the end, she started making threats.

“Mom, are you menopausal?

Irregular menses could cause delusions and suspicions.

If it’s really serious, go get some traditional Chinese medical therapy.

You wouldn’t want to transform into a haggard housewife and have dad despise you when he gets back!”

Su Ran chuckled, trying to turn the tables on her.

“You mischievous brat, how dare you mock your mother!

This is outrageous!”

His mother said angrily, raising her hand as if to hit him.

But suddenly she lost her vigor, her hands began to rub her cheeks, and she asked in a soft voice, “Son, do I really look like a haggard housewife now?”

“Of course not, I was just joking!

You’re as beautiful as a fairy, ageless by birth, and as beautiful as a flower, that can topple empires…”

Su Ran said while sweating profusely.

Indeed, one’s appearance was a lethal weapon for a woman.

“Enough, enough.

Go away.

Even if you praise me to high heaven, it won’t work.

I have decided, it’s veggies for tonight!”

His mother couldn’t tolerate Su Ran’s excessive flattery and abruptly cut him off, then got up to clean up the table.

Su Ran quickly offered to help, but was met with a glare and a dismissal from his mother, “Don’t bother with these trivial matters.

Go and play your game!”

Having heard those words, Su Ran quickly made his exit.

He was finally at ease, relieved from the fear of being interrogated by his mother, afraid that he might accidentally spill the beans.

Su Ran returned to his room, dug out his phone from the bedside table.

Though he had the gadget for almost a month, he rarely used it and was not familiar with its functions.

“Beep beep…”

“Hello,”

The phone had barely rung when a soft feminine voice sounded from Su Ran’s phone.

That sweet voice was quite appealing to Su Ran, stirring some feelings in the depth of his heart at hearing the familiar voice.

“Su the Talented, finally thinking of this little lady?

It’s disheartening, my productive afternoon is now disrupted by you calling during my lunch break, how do you expect me to attend classes with this state of mind!”

Su the Talented?

Su Ran was taken aback.

It was a title he hadn’t heard in a long time, and couldn’t help but feel somewhat nostalgic about the days he used to share a desk with Lin Yuqing.

However, those happy times were now in the past.

Unbelievably, he had gotten used to life after being expelled from school – a fact that still stung a bit.

“Hello?

Is the signal weak?

Why can’t I hear anything?”

The girl’s voice was getting anxious.

She was unaware of Su Ran’s current situation and was worried he might be in some kind of trouble.

“I’m here, Yu Jing.”

Su Ran came back to his senses, and gently addressed Lin Yuqing.

“You…

you did it on purpose to make me angry, didn’t you?”

Rustling sounds of irritation came from Lin Yuqing.

Su Ran could almost visualize Lin Yuqing’s adorable expression, with her ponytail bouncing up and down.

“I kind of miss the taste of mushroom soup.”

Su Ran deliberately said in a serious tone, as his memory traced every small move and smile of Lin Yuqing.

The corners of his mouth naturally lifted into a smile.

“Fat chance!

You think you can still have my mushroom soup after getting me in such a state?

Keep dreaming!”

Su Ran could tell that Lin Yuqing had fully awakened by now.

“Besides, you’re home all day.

I can’t possibly deliver the mushroom soup to your home, right?

How would your mom look at me?

I don’t have that much nerve…”

Lin Yuqing’s voice gradually faded till it was barely audible by the end of the sentence.

“Alright, Yu Jing, enough kidding around.

I have a question that I hope you can help me answer.”

Out of the blue, Su Ran’s demeanor turned serious.

“I knew it, you never concerned yourself with me unless you have something up your sleeves.

Say your piece, this lady is all ears.”

Although Lin Yuqing was somewhat disheartened by that, she knew Su Ran wouldn’t make calls for nothing.

Nevertheless, if she could offer him any help, it would still bring her joy.

“Do you remember the secret file you showed me?”

“Of course I remember!

I still find it extremely hilarious remembering your shocked expression at that time.”

“What does the CIA in it stand for?”

“Gaming Information Intelligence Analysis Center.

It’s just a small department under the Shinmoo Game Company.

What about it?”

“…”

Su Ran was at a loss for words.

So this was the case.

Such a ridiculous piece of intel would never come from any secretive national institution; this explanation was much more plausible.

“Su Ran, did something go wrong with the intel?

Are you okay?”

Lin Yuqing sensed something was amiss.

Could it be that there was a mistake in the intel and Su Ran was implicated because of it?

“No, do you know the fate of the people who took the elixir from the Dream Seeker?”

Su Ran finally asked the question that mattered the most to him.

He was desperate to find the answer to this question!