Chapter 118 : Chapter 118
Chapter 118
In the manga, Ji Qing directly flattened the two people who were brawling with gravity.
An icy, piercing gaze swept across Xie Chang’an, and Xie Chang’an instantly sat back down in his seat like a well-behaved child. Inside, he ground his teeth in fury: Damn that Jiang Cuo. Stop bringing up my sexual orientation all the time!
Zhou Que gloated at the sight. After all, he had been sitting here obediently the whole time. Someone else was the one who had angered Ji Qing! Yet when Ji Qing’s gaze swept over him, Zhou Que immediately nodded obediently like a chick pecking at rice.
Zhou Que was stunned. Damn it, how did he count too?!
【Hahahahahahaha.】
【I’m dying of laughter.】
【What kind of hopeless scene is this? Is Ji Qing seriously going to carry three people by himself? Is there not a second reliable person in this group?】
【Xie Chang’an should count as reliable too, but unfortunately he ran into Jiang Cuo... (looks away)】
【Zhou Que counts as pretty well-behaved too, right? (the more I say it, the less convinced I feel)】
“Heh.” Ji Qing let out a cold laugh.
Once he thought about how he would still have to face those three problem children after waking up, he felt that he was the truly hopeless one here. Ji Qing could feel the vitality of youth gradually slipping farther and farther away from him.
In the manga, Ji Qing asked the three of them why they were going to Huangtie City.
Xie Chang’an and Jiang Cuo answered one after the other, and through that, the trajectory of their recent movements was clearly laid out before the readers. Then, at the very end, Zhou Que said bluntly, “I don’t know. I heard you say you were going, so I just followed along.”
Ji Qing instantly punched him on the head, then turned to the other two with a dark expression and threatened them.
【Why is this so funny?】
【I can’t stop laughing, hahahaha.】
【Is Zhou Que really this dumb?】
【I feel like Ji Qing is practically numb from being messed with. Jiang Cuo and Xie Chang’an were already noisy enough, and Zhou Que is even more White-Sweet-Dumb.】
【One carrying three. (Amen)】
In the manga, Jiang Cuo asked Ji Qing why he was going to Huangtie City.
After hearing Ji Qing’s answer, he realized that aside from Xie Chang’an, the others were all currently free.
Jiang Cuo instantly discovered a new continent. Excitedly, he declared on the spot, “Then let’s just form a team right here, charge straight into the Hunter’s Guild, and pick a commission! Oh, heavens, it won’t be the missions choosing me anymore—it’ll be me choosing the missions! Mom, I can finally become an A-Rank Hunter!”
Zhou Que and Xie Chang’an both froze at that.
The two of them quickly responded to Jiang Cuo’s call, while Ji Qing alone propped his chin on one hand and said worriedly, “You three little children, I really don’t want to run around for now. Why don’t the three of you go by yourselves?”
【I’ve already started sympathizing with the Valedictorian.】
【It feels like the Valedictorian is about to be reduced to barely alive by those three.】
【But that line was so swoon-worthy.】
【If the Valedictorian weren’t the same age as everyone else, I would really be eating this up.】
【The Valedictorian is completely out of options now. (laughing and crying)】
In truth, Ji Qing really had felt a little like dying at the time.
After all, during Winter Break Practicum, Ji Qing had already been on the same team as Xie Chang’an and Jiang Cuo. Naturally, he knew very well what kind of teammates those two were. As for Zhou Que... Ji Qing no longer needed to know him any better. Half a year of being classmates was enough for Ji Qing to have fully grasped Zhou Que’s disposition.
But what was truly terrifying?
Not a single person from Class S who could keep Zhou Que in line was there.
The more Ji Qing thought about it, the sadder he felt.
In the manga, Jiang Cuo hurriedly shoved his Terminal in front of Ji Qing. On the way over, Jiang Cuo had been browsing through the A-Rank Commissions near Huangtie City the whole time. He firmly believed that those commissions would definitely become the best possible aid in persuading the Valedictorian.
But Jiang Cuo had not expected this—
Rather than the content of the commission, the first thing Ji Qing noticed was the name of the client.
“Is the person who posted this commission called Miao Weiyong?” Ji Qing said calmly. “All right, then. I’ll join.”
Jiang Cuo’s inner thoughts: ...Huh?
【What just happened? Ji Qing agreed that easily?】
【Does Ji Qing know the client?】
【Damn—】
【Are we really about to run into someone Ji Qing knows?】
【Are we finally going to get a glimpse into the Valedictorian’s past? This early? I have to admit, I’m a little excited.】
【Probably not.】
【I feel like this volume’s plot is starting to become harder and harder to read.】
At the start of the next chapter, the four of them arrived in Huangtie City.
After saying goodbye to Xie Chang’an, who needed to go meet the client, the remaining few decided to eat first. After some conversation, they successfully arrived at a private room in a Chinese restaurant. Ji Qing directly ordered three Northeastern dishes, while Jiang Cuo added a plate of vegetables with dipping sauce.
While waiting for the dishes to arrive, the three of them discussed topics like “the client asking to meet” and “teaming up with other Hunters.”
Jiang Cuo: “Valedictorian, have you had much contact with other Hunters?”
Ji Qing: “No.”
After hearing that, Jiang Cuo silently came to a conclusion: there really was something off. On the train, Ji Qing had noticed the client’s name first, and only afterward the content of the commission. Could Miao Weiyong possibly be someone the Valedictorian knew?
But just as Jiang Cuo was about to ask, Xie Chang’an pushed open the door.
【Xie Chang’an, your timing is terrible!】
【It was just one last step away!】
【So there really was something suspicious just now? I completely failed to catch it.】
【Did the other two not notice?】
【Maybe because Jiang Cuo was the closest to the Valedictorian at the time, so he could notice the difference in his behavior. But I don’t think it’s someone he knows. If the Valedictorian knew him, he would at least introduce him, right? It’s not as though it were some relationship that needed hiding.】
【Jiang Cuo is way too suspicious.】
【Not really, though. Wouldn’t any normal person react like that?】
【If I saw my best friend react to the name of a stranger, I’d ask too.】
Seeing that, Ji Qing propped his chin on his hand and sighed softly.
He admitted that he had not managed his reaction particularly well at the time, but Jiang Cuo really was far too sharp, was he not? Ji Qing said helplessly, “I hope my answer later can fool him. If it can’t...”
Then he would just leave it to fate.
Ji Qing thought weakly: it looked like he really would have to pay attention to his words and actions lately. It would be a disaster if Jiang Cuo’s secret stayed hidden while his own secret got exposed by Jiang Cuo instead. If that happened, Ji Qing would genuinely want to die a little.
Ji Qing complained, “What kind of classmate teamwork is this? It’s practically turning into a little spy game.”
In the manga, Jiang Cuo could not hold himself back and asked Ji Qing directly. Ji Qing answered casually, “I thought you were going to ask something serious. Although I really haven’t interacted much with Hunters, I still read the Hunter Forum. That client is one of the less troublesome ones.”
Zhou Que cut in, “How could it be so easy to run into someone you know? If I had to say it, I know someone surnamed Miao too. That doesn’t mean the two people surnamed Miao are related.”
Jiang Cuo: “Miao counts as a pretty uncommon surname, doesn’t it?”
Zhou Que: “Uncommon? I don’t think so.”
【Why do I understand this less and less the more I listen?】
【Could it be that in the end, the one they run into is actually Zhou Que’s acquaintance? (hesitant)】
【That’s possible.】
【The Valedictorian’s answer makes perfect sense, but Zhou Que’s sudden interruption feels strange. What on earth is Yuexia planning to draw this time?】
The readers were probably about to get thoroughly confused, Ji Qing thought.
At the time, both he and Jiang Cuo had actually ignored what Zhou Que said, because Zhou Que often said outrageous things, so neither of them paid much attention. But the points of emphasis in a manga and in reality were naturally different. Readers would of course think about how those lines might connect.
In the manga, Jiang Cuo was still dwelling on that issue when Ji Qing suddenly said, “You don’t seem to have spoken in the class group chat at all since Reporting Day. You weren’t held up by something, were you? Or rather, what exactly were you busy with before you met up with Xie Chang’an?”
Jiang Cuo instantly broke out in a cold sweat. “Hahahaha, because I’m just naturally the sort of person who doesn’t like chatting online, hahaha...”
Xie Chang’an: “But I don’t think what you’re saying is—”
Jiang Cuo: “My friend, please don’t expose me!”
Zhou Que blankly glanced at Ji Qing beside him. He saw that a smile of successful scheming had quietly curled at the corner of Ji Qing’s lips.
Understood. Zhou Que instantly reached enlightenment.
As long as he followed Ji Qing, he would win in the end. That was the “Acquaintances-Are-Invincible Theory” that Brother Huayu had taught him!
【Did Shao Huayu really teach you that? (deeply doubtful)】
【Why did this suddenly become so funny?】
【I get it now too.】
【Ji Qing has a secret, and Jiang Cuo has a secret too. The two of them are testing each other, while Xie Chang’an and Zhou Que are both standing there confused.】
【Xie Chang’an doesn’t even compare to Zhou Que. Zhou Que at least managed to read the room, but Chang’an failed to read the room entirely. (mixed feelings)】
【Damn—】
【Now that you put it that way, I get it too!】
【So was Ji Qing’s final question a counterattack because Jiang Cuo asked about his private matters without permission? Since Jiang Cuo kept pressing him, Ji Qing also threw out a fatal question of his own?】
【Damn, damn, I get it too!】
【Xie Chang’an, how are you not even as good as Zhou Que?! (frustrated beyond belief)】
“Isn’t it perfectly normal that he can’t compare to Zhou Que?” Ji Qing said, caught between laughter and tears.
Zhou Que had, after all, received years of elite education from a Noble House.
If Xie Chang’an could match Zhou Que in that regard, then he never would have made such a mess of his own situation at the start of the semester. And although Zhou Que was straightforward and easily caused trouble, he had never once made a mistake where the bigger picture was concerned.
Most importantly—
Even if Zhou Que had taken the wrong path at first, was Shao Huayu not still there?
The next chapter then shifted to the coffee shop. In this chapter, Yuexia formally introduced the contents of the commission and informed the readers of the detailed situation through narration. Although Ji Qing and the others all arrived at the meeting place on time, the client was late.
During that stretch, the personalities of the four were portrayed vividly and completely.
Half an hour later, the client’s son appeared. The boy first explained why he was late, then his gaze came to a complete stop on Zhou Que.
Zhou Que: “Yo.”
The boy: “Mm... long time no see, Zhou Que.”
【Damn—】
【I knew it. I just knew Yuexia wouldn’t draw useless scenes. I just knew it!】
【Jiang Cuo was dumbfounded, Ji Qing was dumbfounded, and we were dumbfounded right along with them.】
【The most unexpected thing possible just happened.】
【So that conversation in the previous chapter was really there to foreshadow Zhou Que meeting someone he knew? Yuexia, you’re evil.】
After the awkward reunion between the boy and Zhou Que, the boy tried to return to the main topic, only to quickly talk himself into confusion.
Seeing that, Ji Qing helplessly stepped in to guide the conversation.
Zhou Que remained silent at the side, and the boy finally calmed down. The rest of the conversation then became much steadier, and the cooperation between both sides was quickly settled. But before leaving, the boy asked in a light tone, “May I ask who the leader of your team is?”
Ji Qing was still thinking after hearing that, but the others all looked toward him in unison.
Naturally, that scene made the boy understand everything at once. He smiled and said, “All right. I understand. Once again, I wish our cooperation a smooth conclusion.”
【Ji Qing: Huh? Me?】
【Honestly, there really isn’t anyone more suitable than Ji Qing. (facepalm)】
【It’s not just that. I feel like without Ji Qing, Zhou Que would leave the cooperation within seconds, and Xie Chang’an would also flee from Zhou Que within seconds. (serious tone)】
【Hahahaha.】
【That reminds me of Zhou Que’s muttering from before.】
【Is Ji Qing really that popular? Yes. Yes, he is.】
【The way you all put it, why do I suddenly have this image of “Ji Qing starts a rebellion in the future, everyone else is completely baffled but still instantly follows him”?】
【That imagination is something.】
【But honestly, don’t say it—this really could turn into reality, hahaha.】