School Beauty's Peerless Soldier

"Lan, there are some things in the store I need to deal with, so I won't keep you company," Xiao Lan said.

Embarrassed by Xu Fan's actions, Chen Longhu had lost all face. When the food was finally ready, he could not bear to sit any longer. He nodded and stood up, ready to leave.

"Wait a moment."

At that moment, Xu Fan called out to him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Kid, are you looking for trouble?"

Chen Longhu's two henchmen glared furiously, ready to lash out! Chen Longhu raised his hand to stop them and forced a smile, asking, "What can I do for you?"

Squinting, Xu Fan looked at Chen Longhu calmly and smiled, "Oh, nothing much, just wondering if Mr. Chen's earlier offer to pay the bill still stands? After all, I didn't bring much money with me today."

"..."

"Of course."

Chen Longhu could feel Xu Fan's gaze on him, as if he were a big sucker. Gritting his teeth, he hummed a response and then stormed out with a flick of his sleeve.

Restroom.

Chen Longhu kicked open the door, charged in, and punched the mirror, shattering it!

Looking at the cracked mirror from his punch, a hint of fear appeared on the faces of his two henchmen.

"Boss, you, are you alright..."

Hearing his subordinate's question, Chen Longhu took a deep breath and shook his head.

After splashing cold water on his face, he looked at himself in the mirror and asked, "Who exactly is that kid?"

Chen Longhu did not remember having such a person around Xiao Lan.

"Boss, we haven't seen that guy either..."

After the two henchmen spoke, they looked somewhat fearful, worried about being blamed for their lack of information.

Chen Longhu frowned and sneered, "Huh, is he some pretty boy Xiao Lan found? How's the thing I asked you to handle going?"

"This..."

Hearing Chen Longhu bring this up, the two henchmen looked discomforted, but upon seeing Chen Longhu's grim expression, they rushed to tell the truth.

"Boss, as you instructed, we had Flying Eagle put pressure on Xiao Lan, trying to force her to comply, but someone messed it up. I suspect it might be this kid..."

"Huh, this bumpkin?"

Chen Longhu sneered, the scar on his forehead twisted, making him look sinister and ferocious.

"If Xiao Lan said she would quit, why does she still keep that thing? Plainly spoken, doesn't she still have ulterior motives? You two, hurry up, I must get my hands on that thing."

Hearing Chen Longhu's instructions, the two nodded, saying, "Yes, we know what to do, but boss, this kid?"

"Heh."

In the mirror, Chen Longhu's handsome face gradually darkened.

"Don't let me see him again."

...

After such an incident at the dining table, it was hard to speak of having any appetite left. Xiao Lan casually ate a few bites then suggested leaving.

"Xu Fan, I still have some things to take care of, you go upstairs first," Xiao Lan said.

Xu Fan drove back to the supermarket entrance, where Xiao Lan, heavy with thoughts, said something from the passenger seat.

Xu Fan paused, glanced at Xiao Lan, then nodded and got out of the car first.

From dinner until now, Xiao Lan had not explained who exactly Chen Longhu was. Watching the Bentley GT speeding away, Xu Fan shook his head with a smile, without speaking.

Xu Fan hadn't planned on going straight upstairs. His two girls were locked at home and probably starving. He checked his pockets, found some money, and decided to look for a night snack stall to buy some food to take upstairs.

Not far away, there was a barbecue stall. Compared to the Summit Restaurant, this place was bustling with much more business, with over ten tables filled with customers.

Just as Xu Fan walked over, a group of customers paid their bill, and as the waiter began cleaning the table, Xu Fan approached it.

At the Summit Restaurant, Xu Fan had not eaten much, and now he was hungry. Besides the food for the girls at home, he ordered some dishes for himself and awaited their arrival.

At that moment, an old man dressed in a Zhongshan suit approached Xu Fan.

Seeing Xu Fan sitting alone, he asked, "Young man, do you mind if I join your table?"

Since the business was booming here, the old man most likely couldn't find a spot elsewhere. Xu Fan smiled and nodded, saying, "Sure, if you don't mind, let's sit together."

The old man chuckled heartily and sat down, then said, "You're straightforward, young man. Since we're fated to meet today, let me treat you to this meal."

He immediately called the waiter over and ordered some more dishes.

"Young man, what kind of liquor would you like to drink?"

The old man asked Xu Fan for his choice when it came time to order the drinks.

The old man exuded an air of calm with every gesture, making Xu Fan feel that he was no ordinary man.

Xu Fan, without any pretension, smiled and said, "I've heard that Jinling's Double Hook Liquor is not bad, let's start with two bottles."

"Oh?"

The old man was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter, "Two bottles? Young man, it seems you have quite the capacity for liquor, eh?"

"I manage."

Xu Fan smiled modestly. Since he was young, he used to secretly drink the liquor brewed by the villagers of Banan Village, and alongside his comrades at White Crescent, he competed in drinking, naturally boosting his tolerance.

"All right, please wait a moment," said the waiter after taking their order and left. The old man, observing the bustling scene around them, couldn't help but sigh, "It's been long since I've been around such lively surroundings. Staying home every day almost drove me sick."

Xu Fan smiled slightly and said, "Old sir, getting out more is indeed good for your health."

The old man laughed heartily, replying, "Exactly, that's why I came out to get some air tonight. Young man, since we're fated to meet, let's drink till we're thoroughly intoxicated!"

"Absolutely."

Soon, the waiter arrived with kebabs and two bottles of Double Hook Liquor. Once the items were placed down, the old man immediately grabbed a bottle and unscrewed the cap, tilting his head back and gulping down the liquor. Xu Fan, watching this hearty way of drinking, couldn't help but be simultaneously amused and moved.

"Old sir, if I'm not mistaken, you were a soldier before?"

"Ah, I picked up my life from the battlefield and survived to this day,"

The old man set down his bottle, sighed, and said with a bitter smile, "Back then, the conditions weren't this good. Unfortunately, those fellows I used to drink with are all meters under now..."

As he spoke, his expression tinged with melancholy, Xu Fan felt a pang of emotion.

Only those who have truly been on the battlefield understand this kind of profound sorrow of losing comrades. Xu Fan took a deep breath, opened the bottle of Double Hook Liquor on the table, and said to the old man, "Old soldier, soldiers never die, nor do they fade away! If you want to drink in the future, find me! This drink, I toast to you!"

With that, Xu Fan tilted his head back and heartily guzzled down more than half the bottle of liquor.