Qing Kuang Chapter 91

Published at 10th of May 2023 01:03:02 PM

Kou Chen stood up, and then stared unblinkingly into his bowl for two seconds.

After Huo Ran also stood up, he suddenly sat back down again. 

“You…” Huo Ran was a little confused.

“Waiter!” Kou Chen yelled before blowing on his noodles and starting to eat.

“What is it?” The boss behind the cash register called back.

“Can I get two takeout boxes?” Kou Chen asked after swallowing his bite of noodles?” 

“We’re taking them?” Huo Ran looked at him.

“What else?” Kou Chen said. “We didn’t finish.”

A waiter brought over two big takeout boxes and put them on the table before leaving.

“At a time like this?” Huo Ran didn’t understand. “How much can two bowls of noodles cost?”

“I’m hungry, gege.” Kou Chen looked pained as he dumped the noodles into the box. Then he picked up the bowl and took a sip of the remaining soup. “I’m starving to death…”

Huo Ran’s heart melted.

A young teen not even eighteen years old yet, who only ate two cups of instant noodles these past few days, starving until his chin became pointy. Now on one side, there was his father who passed out and went to the hospital, and on the other side was a steaming hot bowl of beef noodles.

Good thing the passed-out dad went to the hospital himself, meaning the situation wasn’t very urgent. Or else he’d really have to choose between food or filial piety. 

“Leave mine, I’m not that hungry anyways,” Huo Ran said. “They might not let us in the cab if we’re both holding a box of noodles.”

“You can eat some of mine later,” Kou Chen picked up the takeout box and hurried out the door, calling out to a car that was driving slowly past. “Taxi!”

“That’s not a taxi…” Huo Ran was startled, and he quickly ran over. 

But the car still stopped, and they even rolled the window down.

“Where to?” The driver asked.

“The People’s Hospital,” Kou Chen said.

“Get in.” The driver nodded. 

Kou Chen glanced at Huo Ran as he ate his noodles.

“Oh!” Huo Ran quickly went and opened the door, taking the noodles from Kou Chen after he got in.

Kou Chen got in the car: “Sir, take shortcuts, we’re in a hurry.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you there as fast as possible.” The driver nodded and started driving. 

“How did you know this car’s taking passengers?” Huo Ran asked curiously.

“Intuition.” Kou Chen took the noodles back and continued eating. “Fuck, it’s so fucking hot.”

“Intuition my damn ass,” Huo Ran said.

Kou Chen laughed, and almost choked. “He’s driving so slowly, and he doesn’t have any decorations on the car. Even the seatbelts were pulled out, he’s obviously taking passengers.” 

“That’s right.” The drive nodded with a laugh.

“Want a bite?” Kou Chen picked up some noodles with his chopsticks and asked Huo Ran.

“What?” Huo Ran looked at him, “Are you gonna feed me?”

“Yeah, ahhhh—” Kou Chen said. 

“Fuck off!” Huo Ran cursed.

The driver barked out a laugh: “There are some disposable utensils in one of the pockets back there. I took some extra ones at lunch, you can use them.”

“I’m okay, thank you.” Huo Ran was a little embarrassed. “I’m not hungry.”

“Suit yourself then,” Kou Chen turned his attention back to the food. 

Huo Ran leaned against the car door and watched him eat.

The noodles were just cooked, so it was pretty hot. Add on the fact that it wasn’t very cold, he could see the sweat bead up on Kou Chen’s forehead and nose as he ate.

Poor thing.

Huo Ran sighed. He was also a little worried about Uncle Kou. 

What happened exactly? Uncle Kou looked pretty healthy, and Kou Chen even said the two of them couldn’t beat him, that they gotta add Chuan-ge in at least. So why did he just suddenly faint?

But it was also hard to say, seeing as he didn’t expect Kou Chen could visibly starve himself like this in just a few days. Of course, he couldn’t have been in a good mood, so it was possible that Uncle Kou could faint from not hearing any news of his son while not being able to look for him.

Half out of anger, half out of worry.

The driver was familiar with the roads, and they arrived at the hospital very quickly.

Kou Chen had already finished the whole bowl of noodles. His hunger was gone, and he looked pretty imposing as he walked into the hospital. But you could still see that he was worried.

“Don’t start an argument right away.” Huo Ran bumped into Kou Chen. “What is it?”

“Why do I feel like,” Kou Chen turned around. “This is a trap?”

“What?” Huo Ran paused. “A trap?” 

“He cares for Kou Xiao so much, but he didn’t faint when Kou Xiao and Old Yang got into a car accident. He was even about to beat Old Yang up.” Kou Chen said. “I just ran away for a couple of days, and he faints?”

“Didn’t you say it was something… something Old Yuan said?” Huo Ran said.

“Is Old Yuan that kind of person?” Kou Chen said.

“…True.” Huo Ran furrowed his brows. They didn’t have time to think about it earlier since they were so worried. Now that Kou Chen brought it up, he did have a point. He looked at him, “Your sister was in a car accident? Was it serious?” 

“No, but she had to stay in the hospital for a while.” Kou Chen looked at him. “Did you fail your essay writing portion?”

“Huh?” Huo Ran paused.

“With you going so off-topic like this the grader can’t even catch up on a horse?” Kou Chen said.

“When I write essays I…” Huo Ran glanced around the lobby, and then his eyes went wide. “Holy shit!” 

“Wha…” Kou Chen was about to turn around.

Huo Ran quickly grabbed his head: “Don’t look back, don’t look back… Move to the side a little…”

“What?” Kou Chen didn’t understand.

“Cover me!” Huo Ran hissed. 

“Fuck,” Kou Chen adjusted himself. “What? Did you see my dad?”

“I think I…” Huo Ran peeked over his ears. “What was Kou Xiao wearing when you saw her earlier? A flowery dress, right?”

“Yeah,” Kou Chen said. “My dad says it looks like my grandma’s bedsheets.”

“Then that’s her,” Huo Ran nodded. “It does look like it… And she’s holding a red bag with a chain.” 

“Yeah.” Kou Chen frowned. “She’s here? Then my dad really fainted?”

“No,” Huo Ran looked again. “Your dad’s with her. I can’t really see, but… I think…”

Huo Ran studied them for a few seconds, and then frowned again: “I think you were right, that this is a trap.”

“Fuck.” Kou Chen bit his lip, “Did they see me?” 

“I don’t think so.” Huo Ran said. “Your sister’s facing away from us, your dad… your dad’s hiding behind that pillar… What’s that about?”

“There you have it,” Kou Chen gritted his teeth. “That’s exactly his fucking style!”

Kou Xiao’s phone rang, and she picked it up: “Old Yang?”

“What’s the situation with your dad?” Old Yang asked. “I’m heading over, it’s The People’s Hospital, right?”

“It’s fine,” Kou Xiao glanced at their dad, merrily waiting to catch his son. “Why would you come? Are you gonna help my dad catch Kou Chen?”

“…You two set up a trap for Kou Chen at the hospital?” Old Yang started. “Is that okay? Kou Chen’s so stubborn, if he were a bird, he’d be the type to kill himself in the cage when you catch him.” 

“Shut up! What do you mean us two!” Kou Xiao raised her voice. “What does it have to do with me? I came to pick my dad up, and he wouldn’t leave! He has to catch his son, and then break his legs.”

“I won’t do that.” Her dad leaned against the pillar. “I just want him to know that he can stay out there for as long as he wants.”

“Stop that!” Kou Xiao pointed at him. “If he shows up here today, that only proves one thing! That he was worried about you! Nothing else!”

“And if he doesn’t?” Her dad asked. “Then he’s not worried about me, right?” 

“Then that means Huo Ran and the other kids really aren’t in contact with him!” Kou Xiao said. “Why are you doing this at your old age? Why don’t you take some of Mr. Yuan’s advice?”

“This Mr. Yuan is a good teacher,” Her dad stuck to the pillar and started moving slowly. “It’s just that it’s too cruel towards me, I…”

Everyone in the hospital had to glance at her dad when they walked by, and it was already beginning to look like a stain on Kou Xiao’s life: “You just don’t have the guts, right?” 

“Is that him?!” Her dad’s eyes suddenly went wide, and nodded eagerly at the main doors. “Look! Is that him? He’s leaving!”

Kou Xiao frowned and turned to look, and then she raised an eyebrow.

Not only did she see her beloved little brother, she also saw her beloved little brother’s beloved Little Cutie.

“Shit,” Huo Ran paused. “Your sister saw us.”

“And my dad?” Kou Chen asked.

“Dunno, he’s behind the pillar, and they’re too far away anyways.” Huo Ran whispered. “Your sister’s not gonna tell him, is she?”

“Hard to say. Everything she does depends on her mood.” Kou Chen gritted his teeth and turned towards Kou Xiao. He furiously waved his hands, trying to tell her not to say anything to his dad. 

Right as he moved, he saw his dad rush out from behind the pillar.

“Run!” Kou Xiao yelled.

“There’s nowhere to run!” His dad shouted.

“Fuck!” Kou Chen and Huo Ran both exclaimed. 

His dad ran fast. There was no way he had just fainted! He was fucking faking! He even fooled Old Yuan!

“Run, run, run, run, run!” Kou Chen turned and sprinted towards the street. “If he catches us we’re dead!”

“I’ll stop him!” Huo Ran yelled.

“He’ll kill you!” Kou Chen grabbed his arm. “Run!” 

Huo Ran could only turn and follow Kou Chen.

He didn’t know why. He didn’t do anything wrong, he just came with Kou Chen to check on his dad who just fainted, so why might he be in danger? Why did he have to run for his life?

He’s innocent!

He’s… 

Maybe not completely innocent…

He just kissed his son on the mouth.

He also wanted to touch Kou Chen’s ass but he didn’t get a chance to.

And he wanted to bite his waist. 

Huo Ran!

Huo Ran, wake up!

You’re running for your life, this is serious!

Huo Ran immediately snapped out of it. He can’t be thinking of such shameless things at a time like this, what if he gets some sort of reaction…

“Stop right there!” His dad was right on their heels. “Kou Chen, keep running and I’ll kill you!”

Kou Chen kept up his pace.

“Uncle Kou!” Huo Ran yelled as he ran. “If you have something to say, you two can sit down and have a proper conversation! Why do you have to chase him like this?!” 

“Then tell him to sit down!” His dad yelled. “Will I be chasing him if he’s not running!”

“You’re the one that wants to kill him!” Huo Ran shouted.

“I won’t!” His dad shouted back.

“I don’t believe you!” Kou Chen yelled. “Stop talking to him, Huo Ran!” 

“Kou Chen!” His dad yelled. “Stop fucking running! If I catch you, you can fly for me!”

Huo Ran suddenly really wanted to laugh. He finally found out where that phrase of Kou Chen’s came from. It was passed down through his family…

“Theif!” His dad suddenly changed tactics. “Theif!”

Huo Ran almost tripped over in shock. 

“Bastard!” Kou Chen cursed.

“Wait for me at the intersection!” Huo Ran said.

“What?” Kou Chen turned to him. 

“Wait for me at the intersection!” Huo Ran stared at him.

“You…” Kou Chen realized what he wanted to do.

“I’m telling you to fucking wait for me at the intersection!” Huo Ran shouted.

“Got it.” Kou Chen bit his lip, and continued to run. 

Huo Ran turned and leapt at Kou Chen’s dad with his arms held wide.

Kou Chen’s dad couldn’t stop himself in time. He dug his heels in and leaned back, but he still collided with Huo Ran.

“You!” His dad yelled, trying to run past him.

“Sir, Sir!” Huo Ran grabbed Kou Chen’s dad. If it weren’t for the fact that they weren’t close, he would’ve used both his legs too. “Uncle, stop chasing him. I’m not going to let you catch Kou Chen today!” 

“Okay, okay,” His dad sighed. “Let go now. You’re stronger than you look.”

Huo Ran loosened his hold, but he was still blocking the way.

Kou Chen’s dad waved him off and leaned onto a tree: “Forget it. It’s not gonna be easy to catch him now.”

“Uncle.” Huo Ran looked behind him. Kou Chen was already at the intersection. “You and Kou Chen are never going to have a proper conversation like this, and he won’t go home either.” 

“Was he with you the whole time?” His dad asked.

“No,” Huo Ran said. “He just contacted me today, and we only met… this afternoon.”

At that, Huo Ran suddenly felt a little meek. His legs nearly went soft.

“Then where was he?” His dad took his phone out. “It’s been days, and I even cut off his funds… Has he been sleeping under a bridge?” 

“…That’s a bit much,” Huo Ran laughed. “Don’t you know your own son? There’s no way it’ll come to that, right?”

“That’s true.” His dad suddenly perked up. “Let me tell you, Kou Chen that kid, he has no other talents, but I’m pretty much never worried about him going out alone. He’s a lot better at dealing with things than his sister, sons and daughters are different after all…”

“Uncle,” Huo Ran thought about it. “Why don’t we forget about it for today? Go home, I’ll talk to him. Whatever you talked about with Old Yuan, let him contact Kou Chen first. It’ll be easier after he goes back to school.”

Kou Chen’s dad didn’t say anything, he only stared at him. 

To be honest, even though Kou Chen and his dad never saw eye to eye, they were basically cut from the same mold. He could tell that the mafia boss air around Kou Chen came from his dad. And his dad’s civilized butcher feel was much scarier than Kou Chen’s scary on the outside, dumb on the inside.

Huo Ran panicked slightly.

But he still spoke his mind: “He hasn’t eaten properly in days, only two cups of instant noodles. I don’t know if you could tell, but he’s noticeably thinner. We were at a noodle place when we got the message that you fainted. He didn’t even have time to eat, we rushed to the hospital immediately.”

“Then why did he run the second he saw me?” His dad said. 

“I also wanted to run,” Huo Ran said. “You should reflect on yourself too. Don’t pin everything on your son whenever you argue. It’s wrong to think that parents can do no wrong. Are you human?”

“What did you say?” His dad was shocked.

“If you’re human, then you’ll make mistakes. You should’ve understood that long before you had your son. Haven’t you made many mistakes in all your years of living?” Huo Ran said. “So how come when it comes to Kou Chen, everything you say is right?”

Kou Chen’s dad stared at him for a while before finally speaking: “Your Old Yuan told me that you guys will say anything. Looks like he’s right about that.” 

Huo Ran cleared his throat, not daring to say anything else.

“If it were any other kid, I’d be smacking them, you know?” Kou Chen said.

“I have to say, my dad has never hit me before,” Huo Ran said. “Never laid a finger on me. If you hit me, my dad will have some words for you.”

Kou Chen’s dad burst out into laughter. 

Then he pointed at him: “You’re a good kid. I never would’ve thought Kou Chen would have a friend like you.”

Huo Ran didn’t say anything.

“I’ve talked to Mr. Yuan. I’ll consider his suggestions,” His dad said. “Tell Kou Chen this. 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, I’ll be waiting for him in Old Yuan’s office.”

“Okay, I’ll tell him.” Huo Ran nodded. 

“Good.” Then he sighed. “I’ll get you some money, take Kou Chen to eat a nice meal. No more noodles, what’s so good about them?”

“I have money, I have money.” Huo Ran quickly backed up. “You can give it to him yourself tomorrow. He remembered that you didn’t give him his allowance this month.”

“That’s the only thing he remembers.” His dad snorted.

A Land Rover pulled up, and the window was rolled down. Kou Xiao called out: “Come on! I can’t park here!”

“Then I’ll be off!” Kou Chen’s dad patted Huo Ran on the shoulder. “Go eat now, do that before anything else!”

Huo Ran nodded.

Kou Chen’s dad headed towards the car: “Where’s your own car?” 

“Old Yang will come drive it back later,” Kou Xiao waved at Huo Ran .” Little Ranran, sorry about that. Don’t blame your Uncle Kou, he just has such a temper.”

“It’s fine!” Huo Ran said.

After the car drove off, he breathed a sigh of relief. He stood there for a few seconds, and then he hurried over in Kou Chen’s direction. 

When he got to the intersection, he heard Kou Chen’s voice: “Darling!”

Huo Ran stopped and turned his head very reluctantly: “Who the fuck are you calling!”

“Calling you, Darling Ran!” Kou Chen was leaning against a wall and he smiled. “Come here!”

“You better watch your words.” Huo Ran walked over. “Princess Chen.” 

Kou Chen started laughing, and then he opened his arms and hugged him.

“We’re in the middle of the street,” Huo Ran reminded him.

“I’m not gonna do anything.” Kou Chen hugged him. “Just a hug.”

“Oh.” Huo Ran didn’t move. He patted Kou Chen’s back gently. “What’s wrong? Scared?” 

“No,” Kou Chen said. “I’m just really… happy.”

Chapter end