Chapter 140: Gathering Together

Chen Bingfeng, Xu Fan, and Qiaomucao arrived together. Ye Chen craned his neck, looking behind the trio, but Team Leader Dai was nowhere to be seen.

Chen Bingfeng spoke up: "Don't bother looking. There’s something going on at the prefecture; Team Leader Dai couldn't make it, so you'll be one dish short. However, he asked me to pass this on to you."

He handed Ye Chen the very same communicator that Team Leader Dai had confiscated earlier. With it now back in its rightful owner's hands, the message was clear: welcome back to the team.

*Wait? Does that mean I have two communicators now?* Ye Chen hadn't intended to return the one Jin Yinghui had lent him. Or rather, he had intended to borrow it for a bit longer. He always felt that if he ended up causing a stir again someday, he would just have to borrow one all over again, and going back and forth was too much trouble.

His impression of the Patrol Prefecture was not exactly favorable. If what he had seen before was merely bullying based on power, the deliberate inaction displayed during the recent child abduction case had given him a grim new perspective. As for why he wasn't in a hurry to leave the Patrol Prefecture—since he didn't exactly need the salary—the first reason was that one needed an identity to operate in the Outer City. The "Patrol Prefecture member" label was quite useful; it offered a high degree of freedom and allowed one to get into every nook and cranny. The second reason, of course, was having good friends around, even if they were all stuck in such a murky environment.

"Mama" Chen shook the thermal pot in her hand, beaming. "This is soup I made; I’ve been stewing it for a long time. My culinary skills aren't on par with a restaurant chef's, but I’m confident in my home cooking. Let’s taste it in a bit."

*Now that’s how a proper person acts. You’re truly reliable, unlike someone else nearby...* Ye Chen praised one person while cursing another in his heart.

Xu "The Slacker," his cheeks bulging, offered a half-empty bag of beef jerky. This was the "dish" he had brought, and he was very enthusiastically pre-tasting it for everyone.

Qiaomucao took out an elegantly packaged takeout box. For the first time ever, he didn't offer a lecture on the fancy dish he had brought, instead choosing to gaze at the scenery of the small courtyard. After holding it in for a long time, he blurted out, "This house isn't something an ordinary Patrol Prefecture member can afford. You really are full of surprises."

As a seasoned gossip, he knew the housing prices in various parts of the Inner and Outer Cities like the back of his hand. Even though the Tenth Residential District was located in the Outer City, its total price was no lower than some areas in the Inner City. You certainly couldn't get a layout like this in the Inner City for the same amount of money. That was why many people who worked in the Inner City still chose to buy property in the Outer City, like their neighbor, Meng She. Moreover, there had always been rumors—who said the area of the Inner City was set in stone? When the time came for further development, an expansion of the Inner City wasn't out of the question.

When that happened, those with a permanent place to live would naturally join the ranks of the "Inner City residents," while the drifting tenants would be forced to migrate further to the outskirts, finding another place to continue being "Outer City residents."

*If I told you I could buy two more houses just like this, I wonder what you’d think.* Ye Chen answered with a smile. After all, it was a long story that couldn't be explained in a few words, so it was better to play it cool for now.

Qiaomucao was a man of high emotional intelligence and chose not to press further, sensing that some of Ye Chen’s secrets might be involved. The fact that Ye Chen invited him over meant he had already shared part of his secrets, treating him as one of their own. Having come to this realization, Qiaomucao reverted to his talkative self, offering professional insights on the courtyard's scenery and the indoor decor.

...

"Clang... clang... clang..."

Before long, heavy knocking echoed from outside the courtyard gate.

"Open up! Come out and pay the cab fare!" shouted Jin Yinghui.

*Pay the cab fare? What kind of nonsense are you pulling now, you old goat?!*

When he opened the door, he was stunned. Outside stood not a passenger vehicle, but a small truck. Zhou Peng was helping the driver unload cargo, moving case after case of liquor.

*What is this? Is the tavern moving into my house, or do you want to use my place as a warehouse?*

Jin Yinghui, unfazed and looking perfectly satisfied, said, "Excellent, I’m very pleased. So I’ve decided, I’ll come stay at your place whenever I feel like it, so we need to stock up on booze. I bought all of this; you can drink as much as you want—consider it rent. Yep, it’s settled!"

With that, he wandered into the house to "look around"—or rather, to pick out his room.

*Settled... settled your sister! Did you even ask the owner for permission?!*

Just as Ye Chen was helping Zhou Peng move the liquor with a darkened face, a voice drifted down from the second-floor balcony: "Wow, this room is great! No one’s living here, I’ll take it."

*You’re making yourself at home again...*

"And why aren't you and Ye Shan-shan sleeping in the same room? You’re truly useless, you haven't managed to win her over yet? Hahaha!"

His hearty laughter echoed over the courtyard... *Not giving the communicator back. It’s mine now. That’s settled.*

Ye Shan-shan walked out of the kitchen with a dish, smiling sweetly. "That’s great, that’s great! I welcome you to stay often, and while you're at it, keep an eye on someone for me."

The little cook had a hidden meaning: *Beware of fire, theft, and the landlord.*

She then added, "On the condition that you aren't allowed to smoke in the room!"

Jin Yinghui, who loved to smoke while lying in bed, looked conflicted. This... this was a bit disappointing.

...

At Zhou Peng's suggestion, everyone moved the dining table into the courtyard. Under the light spilling from the house and the streetlamp outside the wall, they decided to have dinner al fresco. It was the time when the biting cold of winter had passed and spring was just around the corner; the wind was no longer piercing, slowly brewing a sense of intoxication.

The three women were all skilled cooks, and with their combined efforts, a table laden with delicacies was set in no time.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The gate was knocked on again.

Those who knew Ye Chen well were puzzled. The kid didn't have a wide circle of friends; everyone who was supposed to be here was already here. Who else could it be?

The host himself didn't look overly surprised, as if he had expected others to arrive. Miss Yuan, coming all the way from the Inner City, had naturally taken longer than the others.

Amidst the curious gazes of his friends, Ye Chen went to open the gate with a cheerful expression. But the expected words of welcome didn't come; instead, the host stood at the door like a wooden statue, frozen in place.

The chatter and laughter died down, and everyone exchanged puzzled glances. They were all just waiting for the host to step aside, eager to see who had arrived.

"Wow, your house is actually so big!" came the sweet, youthful voice of a girl.

The young girl who had been setting the table accidentally knocked over a vinegar dish.

"Yo, you only called Yuan and not us? What, you don't count me and my brother as friends anymore?"

Another woman's voice rang out—magnetic, alluring, and aloof. Even without seeing her, a vision of an icy beauty immediately sprang to everyone's mind.

"Crash!" The vinegar bottle on the table was knocked over!