CHAPTER 380: CHAPTER 377 [BANG BANG BANG]

Chapter Three Hundred and Seventy-Seven [BANG BANG BANG]

Brother Lei was the epitome of reliability when it came to handling matters.

In less than two days, he had thoroughly grasped Hou Changwei’s family situation.

After listening to Brother Lei’s introduction, Chen Nuo carefully contemplated.

How should it be put? The situation seemed quite good.

Hou Changwei’s father had passed away, and his mother was still alive, retired, and living on her pension.

They owned two properties—a special perk for people from the previous generation.

One was a single-room flat allocated by the elderly lady’s employer, and the other, a two-bedroom flat, was allocated to Hou Changwei and his late wife when they married.

Neither was particularly large; both were old-style apartment buildings with one kitchen, one bathroom, and two bedrooms—without a living room.

After becoming a widower, Hou Changwei moved his mother in to live with him, and the single-room flat was rented out, yielding an extra few hundred yuan each month to help with household expenses.

Together with his mother’s pension and Hou Changwei’s own salary, their life could be considered quite comfortable.

Hou Changwei didn’t have any bad habits, nor did his family have any debts.

Two old properties, no debts, some savings, and a stable income—this type of family could be considered to have a high happiness index.

Another thing Chen Nuo found quite favorable was the fact that Hou Changwei was an only child.

No brothers or sisters.

In this case, if he and Ou Xiuhua were to become a couple, there would be no troublesome relatives like sisters-in-law or brothers-in-law in the family.

It would also avoid family disputes over how to divide property after the elderly lady’s passing—don’t think this is overthinking; such matters are all too common in this era.

Moreover, Chen Nuo had heard another piece of information from Brother Lei that significantly improved his impression of Hou Changwei.

Every year, on holidays, Hou Changwei would pay a visit to his late wife’s parents. Chongyang Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, Spring Festival—he never missed any.

Just last year, Hou Changwei’s father-in-law, that is, his late wife’s father, took a fall when he was going up and down stairs due to old age and injured his leg.

Without a second thought, Hou Changwei took a lengthy leave from work to take the old man to the hospital and diligently looked after him for over a week.

This act became well-known among the neighbors near and far, and everyone who knew about it spoke highly of Hou Changwei’s character.

Since the old couple’s daughter had passed away, having such a son-in-law who still acted this way was rare.

What’s more... in fact, Hou Changwei’s late wife wasn’t an only child and had siblings. When the old man injured his leg, not even his own sons were as filial as Hou Changwei.

It’s often said that people grow distant when someone is gone, but seven years after Hou Changwei’s wife passed away, his devotion had not faded.

This showed that he was a man who cherished memories and was sincerely good-hearted.

His character was certainly not bad.

After hearing all this, Chen Nuo compared it with his own impressions from the time he talked with Hou Changwei.

He felt relieved.

Chen Nuo’s concern was addressed. Next, it would be up to Ou Xiuhua herself.

Sun Keke had been visited, all family affairs had been arranged, and he had seen his brothers. Next, Chen Nuo planned to resolve the final remaining issue before setting off for Britain.

Nivelle Devonshire appeared in the hotel gym at two in the afternoon.

As a foreign guest, and as the long-term VIP tenant of a luxurious suite in this downtown five-star hotel, she also enjoyed VIP treatment in the hotel gym.

Nivelle had her own private gym and specialized fitness equipment.

Of course, all of these amenities came at a hefty price.

Initially, the hotel even offered a personal trainer, but the local trainers were hardly a match for the extreme sports expert Nivelle, who promptly declined the service.

From two to four PM, Nivelle completed her regular exercise routine, adding an extra set of aerobic exercises—recently, since it was summer and she had been staying in Jinling City, she’d indulged a bit too much in spicy crayfish, always eating beyond the calorie limit.

Eighteen-year-old Nivelle had reached the most beautiful age for a Caucasian girl. Thanks to her consistent exercise and controlled diet, she boasted a fit and voluptuous figure favored in Europe and America, with curves that were delicate and proportionate.

When wearing her tight-fitting athletic apparel, she resembled a super-hot, S-shaped figure.

Her blond hair had been dyed black, but it had been a while since the last dyeing, and some blond was showing at the roots.

Her hair had a slight curl to it, which she tied up with a headband while running, her ponytail swinging with the movement of her body.

From behind, the contrast between her slender waist and the large, peach-shaped buttocks was striking, drawing the eyes to the bold waist-to-hip ratio.

On the other side of the gym, in the boxing area, Li Yingwan was also fervently expending her energy.

The tall girl had grown past one meter seventy, and her long straight black hair had been cut short, the length even with her shoulders.

A stretchy gym top outlined the slender and graceful curves of the girl’s upper body.

At the moment, Li Yingwan wore fingerless boxing gloves and assumed a standard boxing stance, weaving back and forth in front of a hanging leather punching bag. Her surprisingly long legs were exposed under short shorts, the lines long and toned.

She delivered straight punches and hooks, occasionally adding a few side kicks.

The bag swung back and forth, battered by her assault.

Sweat beaded on the tall girl’s forehead, face, and body. With each punch and kick and her increasingly heavy breathing...

After more than a year, Li Yingwan’s figure had filled out, turning her into a model with a classic broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, long-legged silhouette. Thanks to keeping up with Nivelle’s workout regime, she too had developed a habit of consistent exercise. Her body proportions and muscle definition were impeccable.

Beneath the gym top, the lines of her toned abs and the clear definition of her obliques were visible.

If this were more than ten years later, with that face and figure, she could shoot a video and throw it on TikTok, easily becoming a fitness goddess and a super internet sensation.

After she finished her aerobic exercise, Nivelle began her final stretches.

She threw herself onto the yoga mat and arranged her body into incredible positions.

Once she was done, she looked up to see Li Yingwan already sitting to the side, having taken off her boxing gloves and resting while drinking water.

"Where are you planning to go later?"

"I don’t have class today, so I’m planning to play video games."

"Still Civilization IV?" Li Yingwan frowned.

Nivelle hummed lazily in response.

Li Yingwan had tried to play the game twice, but it just wasn’t in her nature to sit still for so long—she couldn’t understand Nivelle’s obsession with such a boring game.

Nivelle didn’t bother to explain.

Lately, the tall girl had developed a more aggressive personality—she’d taken a liking to combat sports and had recently become interested in firearms.

"I’ve booked some time at the shooting range tonight to practice for a while," Li Yingwan said after finishing her sports drink, shaking her head. "Do you want to come and have some fun?"

"The range... requires crossing the river. It’s too far, and I don’t feel like moving."

"It’s up to you," Li Yingwan replied indifferently, stood up, and left.

In the VIP area’s changing room, after taking a shower and changing clothes, Li Yingwan put on a loose sweatshirt, but her lower half was still clad in a pair of hot denim shorts. When the long hem of the sweatshirt fell, it almost covered the shorts, making those bare long legs particularly eye-catching.

Really, so white and long and straight.

When she walked out of the gym, she came from the VIP corridor to the public area and immediately drew several looks from around her.

The gym already had some clients working out, mostly guys practically bursting with hormones, and immediately, some bolder ones started whistling.

Li Yingwan cast a cold side glance at them, but instead of being deterred, they laughed even more brazenly.

Then, a well-built guy swaggered over.

"Beauty, you’re training pretty well, but you could still work on your muscle definition a bit..."

Saying this, he reached out as if to gesture—clearly trying to cop a feel.

Li Yingwan raised an eyebrow, dodged with a standard combat step to the side, and avoided the man’s salacious hand.

"Hey, don’t get me wrong, I had no other intention. Fitness, you know. I’m a senior personal trainer here; I can teach you what you don’t know." Saying that, the man intentionally flexed his biceps. "Leave me your number; I’m available for consultation 24 hours a day."

"...Move," said Li Yingwan with a cold face.

"Hey, why so ungracious?" The man forced a smile but didn’t move aside, seemingly wanting to keep up the pestering.

Li Yingwan could no longer bear it.

After all, Firefly’s nature was somewhat obsessive and even a bit prone to violence.

She arched an eyebrow and let loose a standard South Korean curse.

"Assi..."

She hadn’t even finished the word when suddenly, a hand gently pinched Li Yingwan’s ear and twisted it clockwise.

The leggy girl instantly knitted her eyebrows in pain, cried out, "Ah!" and just as she tried to struggle, she heard a familiar voice close to her ear, as if it had descended from the heavens.

"How many times have I told you, no swearing. A young lady shouldn’t be spouting off ’Assi-something, Assi-something.’ It’s unbecoming."

BUZZ! Li Yingwan’s mind felt as if struck by a sledgehammer; she froze on the spot, her ear still held by that hand, unable to muster even a twitch.

As her gaze followed the hand, Li Yingwan felt her vision instantly blur with fog.

Through the haze, that guy stood next to her, his face bearing that forever half-smiling, sly expression she remembered so well, dressed in a snow-white hoodie and jeans, one hand in his pocket, squinting and looking at her. When he smiled, he even showed a mouthful of white teeth.

Li Yingwan started to tremble uncontrollably.

Seconds later, she let out a sharp scream and then darted into Chen Nuo’s arms, spreading her arms wide, clinging to him desperately like an octopus.

"I’m not dreaming... I’m not dreaming... This isn’t a dream, it’s not a dream..." she mumbled, her voice quivering.

Listening to the quivering mumbles of Firefly in his arms, Chen Nuo sighed softly and patted Li Yingwan’s back. "It’s not a dream; I’m back... Yeah, okay, let go of me now."

"I won’t let go!"

"Look, there are so many people here."

"I still won’t!"

The arms around his waist tightened even more.

The man nearby looked somewhat embarrassed; after a moment of hesitation, he stepped back and prepared to leave, his demeanor sullen.

"No, wait a second," Chen Nuo suddenly spoke up, stopping him.

The man’s face stiffened. "What’s the matter? Do you need something?"

Chen Nuo sighed, peeled Li Yingwan away from his embrace, and stood her up properly. "Did he just hit on you?"

"Um."

"Hitting on someone is normal, but clinging on and not letting go is a bit distasteful... and..." Chen Nuo glanced coldly at the man. "Are you a senior personal trainer here?"

"...Yes, so what?" The man’s expression turned ugly.

"Then that’s not very good." Chen Nuo waved his hand. "Call your manager over."

"You can talk to me if there’s an issue," the man said, obviously intimidated but still trying to stand his ground with a false sense of bravado.

"I can’t talk to you." Chen Nuo shook his head, then pointed to the gym’s reception desk. "Make a call, give them your room number, and have the hotel handle it." Li Yingwan nodded and headed to the hotel reception without hesitation.

A few minutes later, finally, a hotel manager in uniform arrived.

"Sir, is there a problem?"

"I don’t have a problem, but she does," Chen Nuo said sternly, pointing at Li Yingwan, then addressing the hotel staff, "What position do you hold at this hotel?"

"Hello, I’m from the hotel’s commercial management department..."

Chen Nuo nodded, then asked Li Yingwan, "You’re a long-term suite guest at the hotel, right?"

"...Um."

"How much per month?"

"I don’t know, about half a million for the year, I guess," Li Yingwan thought for a moment before answering.

The staff from the hotel’s commercial management department immediately nodded. "Yes, this lady is a VIP guest at our hotel..."

Chen Nuo waved a hand dismissively. "Never mind VIP or not for now." He then asked Li Yingwan, "How much have you spent at this gym?"

"I’m a member, the top tier one, over a hundred thousand for the year, I think."

Chen Nuo nodded, then looked at the hotel staff. "You understand what I’m getting at, right?"

"Uh..." The staffer from the hotel seemed a bit nervous.

"So, I want to ask you a question," Chen Nuo said calmly. "As a VIP guest at your hotel, how do you explain her being harassed by your male staff member right here in your hotel?"

"I didn’t harass her, I just wanted to promote personal training..." The male trainer quickly defended himself.

"Whether it’s harassment isn’t for you to explain. Such a high-end hotel must have surveillance video. Should we check it?" Chen Nuo shook his head.

The hotel’s commercial management staff immediately looked grave, took a deep breath, and bowed. "I apologize, sir, and to this lady as well. I will definitely investigate this immediately and provide both of you with a satisfactory resolution!"

Chen Nuo nodded. "If the resolution isn’t satisfactory, my friend will check out, and she will never choose your hotel again."

"Please rest assured, we will handle this matter seriously."

As Chen Nuo and Li Yingwan were about to leave, the male personal trainer became desperate and couldn’t help but shout, "What’s wrong with just hitting on someone! Just because you have money, you think you’re something special?!"

Chen Nuo suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"It’s not about being something special because of having money.

A girl is beautiful and attractive, and it’s normal for men to want to hit on her...

But if you see someone on the street and you hit on them, at most people would think you are frivolous; they wouldn’t accuse you of anything else.

But not here!

If it were some other gym customer hitting on her, at most I’d chase them away or scold them a bit, nothing more.

But you’re an employee here, and we are the consumers.

Here, as an employee on this gym’s payroll, yet harassing its customers—that’s tarnishing this establishment’s reputation. Satisfying your own desires and harassing customers hurts your employer’s interests.

This is called a lack of professional ethics."

Chen Nuo smiled. "So, if you’re not the one to be dealt with, then who? Should I just leave you here to continue harassing female customers in the future?"

Having said that, Chen Nuo walked out with Li Yingwan, followed by the hotel’s commercial management personnel who kept explaining carefully things like, "The fitness center is not operated by the hotel itself, it’s a third party..." and so on.

Chen Nuo couldn’t be bothered to pay attention. After leaving the hotel with Li Yingwan, they got into the car parked at the door by her family’s driver and left.

In the car, Li Yingwan clutched Chen Nuo’s hand tightly, her body almost leaning on him as she let out a deep sigh.

"I thought you would give that guy a harsh lesson."

"How? By beating him up?"

"Yes! Just like back in South Korea..."

As Li Yingwan spoke, she suddenly realized, glanced at the driver in front, then closed her mouth.

The driver, meticulous as ever, kept his eyes on the road, though his mind was full of surprise.

The daughter of the chairman, who was always cold and indifferent to everyone, showing no favor, was today pulling this young man into the car, and her whole being seemed eager to throw herself into the young man’s arms...

The driver, however, dared not look too much, striving to maintain his composure and concentrate on driving.

However... after they get out, I’ll definitely need to make a call to report this.

"Oppa~~"

The long-legged girl leaned heavily against Chen Nuo as if trying to meld into his embrace. "What in the world happened to you all this time..."

"Just some minor trouble that came up while I was out. After dealing with it, I came back."

"..." Li Yingwan thought for a moment. "Like... what happened back in South Korea?"

"Hmm, a bit more complicated than that."

"I get it!" Li Yingwan immediately nodded. "They all thought something had happened to you! But I always felt that, with your tremendous skills and capabilities, Oppa, you wouldn’t have any trouble! If you didn’t return, it must be because you’d run into some minor issues! Once you resolved the problems, you’d definitely be able to come back!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Nuo turned his head to look at Li Yingwan and smiled. "Is that really what you thought?"

"..." Li Yingwan pursed her lips tightly, her eyes already red, yet she nodded forcefully. "I... I..."

Suddenly, she could no longer hold it in.

The girl burst into tears, then with a sobbing face said, "I, I was worried about you too, worried sick! So many times, I had nightmares and woke up crying..."

Chen Nuo comforted her for a while, then asked, "Have you been with that Nivelle this past year?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, should we go back and let her know I’m back too?"

"No way!" Li Yingwan suddenly hugged Chen Nuo’s arm ferociously. "Don’t tell her!"

Well... it seems all so-called alliances are as fragile as paper.

"It’s impossible not to tell her." Chen Nuo smiled. "With that commotion we caused in the gym, Nivelle will definitely hear about it when she comes out. If she can’t figure it out then, she’s got the brain of a pig..."

He had just finished speaking when suddenly Li Yingwan’s phone in her pocket started to vibrate frantically.

Li Yingwan picked up the phone and glanced at the caller ID; her face immediately fell.

Chen Nuo laughed, took the phone, and pressed the answer button. Instantly, he heard Nivelle’s angry roar.

"Li Yingwan!! WTF?!!!! You actually...

Where is he?! Is he with you?!!! WTF!!!! You actually didn’t tell me and just took him away!!

You Bichi!!"

At this moment, the Squatting Little Witch was like an enraged female beast. While she roared, the sound of an engine revving could be heard from her end of the line.

Chen Nuo smiled, leaned close to the car window, and looked back...

He saw a red sports car speeding up, chasing behind their minivan!

"Li Yingwan! You stop the car! Stop the car!!!" Nivelle raged over the phone.

"Oppa, I, I, we..." Li Yingwan looked at Chen Nuo, a bit excited. "Do we stop the car?"

"No, don’t stop." Chen Nuo quickly gave the driver an address, then said, "Keep driving, don’t stop."

"Oppa!" Li Yingwan’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Are we... is this like eloping?!"

"Elope? You wish!" Chen Nuo slapped the girl’s forehead.

The car sped through the streets of Jinling City for more than twenty minutes and finally stopped at the entrance of the Chen Family’s residential complex.

"Oppa, are we going to your place?" Li Yingwan looked out the car window, somewhat surprised.

"Yeah, get out."

Chen Nuo got out of the car, then reached out and pulled Li Yingwan out.

Behind them, the red sports car also sped up and stopped by the side of the road.

The car door was practically kicked open. Nivelle was still wearing her workout clothes from the gym; she hadn’t even had time to change.

The Squatting Little Witch got out of the car with an angry face. Then she saw Chen Xiaoguo standing by the roadside, squinting and smiling at her. Nivelle suddenly felt weak and stumbled.

Chen Nuo sighed, went over, and supported Nivelle. She screamed and threw her arms around him.

"Chen Yang! You bastard! Bastard! You came back, saw Li Yingwan, but you completely ignored me!!! You are such a bastard! Why are you doing this to me!!!"

Chen Nuo sighed. "It was on purpose. If I had gone to see you and let you come with me, you have too many tricks up your sleeve. You’d surely start asking all sorts of questions and playing tricks on me again. This way is much better. You didn’t have time to ask questions and just obediently followed along."

Nivelle wanted to say something else, but Chen Nuo waved his hand. "I just went out to take care of some troublesome business. Now it’s done, and I’m back—there, explanation over. No more questions."

"..."

Nivelle looked at Chen Nuo, then at Li Yingwan. "You... you brought us both here. Are we going to your place?"

"Right."

"...What for?" Nivelle’s eyes widened. "Me and Li Yingwan, the two of us... together... to accompany you?"

"What are you thinking!"

Chen Nuo also slapped Hummingbird on the head. "My mom and my sister are home! Stop having such wild thoughts!"

Damn it, I can’t be too nice to this little Hummingbird. Otherwise, she might just hang a bell around her neck and try to seduce me again.

Chen Nuo sighed and looked seriously at the two girls. "We’ve dragged out our matter for too long, and it’s gotten annoying. Today, I’ll take you to meet my mom."

"...We’ve met your mother before."

"That doesn’t count. Today is the official visit... Um, in my mother’s presence, we’ll clarify our relationship," Chen Nuo said seriously to the two.

The two girls: "(・∀・(・∀・*)?"

Wait a second... clarify the relationship? In front of Chen Nuo’s mother?

Suddenly, a spark lit up in the eyes of both girls.

So, they were led by Chen Nuo in a daze through the neighborhood, up the stairs, and into the apartment...

Entering the Chen Family home, Ou Xiuhua was busy in the kitchen, and Xiao Yezi also ran out from the inner room, cheerfully greeting Li Yingwan and Nivelle Devonshire.

The two girls absentmindedly responded.

Chen Nuo didn’t waste words; today was about being straightforward and direct. He pulled Ou Xiuhua over to sit on the living room sofa.

"You sit tight," Chen Nuo said, pressing down on a bewildered Ou Xiuhua.

Then, he came over and pulled the two girls, one to his left and one to his right, to stand in front of the sofa facing Ou Xiuhua.

"Kneel!"

The two girls were stunned, but Li Yingwan, excited, was the first to kneel down with a PLOP!

Nivelle saw this. Fuck, that won’t do!! Kneeling first is paramount!! This little Bichi got ahead of me?!

PLOP! Nivelle also kneeled down!

Chen Nuo nodded. "Now, call her Mom!"

The two girls: "Huh?"

Isn’t it... too quick to start addressing her that way?

Li Yingwan was a little hesitant.

But then Chen Nuo also kneeled with a THUD, right between the two girls, facing Ou Xiuhua.

"You two, repeat after me...

With Heaven above, Earth below, and our Elder before us!

Today, I, Chen Nuo..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Li Yingwan. Li Yingwan, startled, blurted out, "I... Li Yingwan."

Chen Nuo then looked at the Squatting Little Witch.

The little foreign girl, dazed, murmured, "...I, Nivelle Devonshire."

Chen Nuo, satisfied, continued:

"The three of us, kindred spirits, wish to become sworn siblings..."

No!! Wait a minute!! Sworn siblings? What the hell is that?!!

The two girls’ expressions changed simultaneously as they reacted, looking up sharply at Chen Nuo.

Chen Nuo, however, pressed down on each girl’s head...

"Here we go!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The three of them knocked their heads on the ground in unison, right in front of Ou Xiuhua!

Li Yingwan instantly felt darkness cloud her vision, and only one thought echoed in her mind: I’m done for!!!!! This... This isn’t the script I wanted!!!!! Fucking hell!!!

Nivelle, whose Chinese was relatively poor, was still in a daze.

Sworn siblings? What does that mean? Chinese is really complex. This ’sworn siblings’... does it mean ’getting married’? I’m so happy!!

Beside her, Chen Nuo was still speaking...

"We do not ask to be born on the same day, in the same month, of the same year, but we ask to die on the same day, in the same month, and of the same year..."

Nivelle’s heart leaped with joy!

This I understand! I’ve seen this episode! It seems Chinese people like to say this when they get married, but the Chinese teacher taught me the phrase ’to grow old together’ though... Never mind, it sounds like it means the same thing; it’s all about dying together, right? Awesome!!! Oh my God!! My wish has come true!!!

She turned her head to look at Li Yingwan...

Huh? Why does this Bichi look so desperate? Hmm?

[Yes, the title of this Chapter is BANG! BANG! BANG! You get the idea~]