Chapter Seventeen: First Meeting with Xiao's Father

  Ouyang Li has never been as happy as he is today, because Wang Long, who even the old man couldn't move, was blown to death by him today. Those who offended him had never lived for so long a time. For Ouyang Li, Wang Long's ability to live until now was also a gain.

  "Brothers, today is all thanks to your help. I'm so happy that I can finally get rid of my arch-nemesis! Tonight's expenses at the Baisang Red Dance Hall are on me. You guys can let loose and have fun, haha, it's just too great!" The thugs were overjoyed instantly. The Baisang Red Dance Hall was the top entertainment venue in the city, with all sorts of facilities and most importantly, the girls inside were all beautiful and charming, and you wouldn't even get a glimpse of their legs without spending thousands. This group of thugs flattered him, saying: "Thank you, Brother Li! You're like our second parents!" Various flattering voices rose up, but Ou Yang's eyes flashed with a hint of disdain that quickly passed. However, these happy thugs were still basking in the joy and didn't notice it.

  Ouyang Li led the way out of the factory's large iron gate, planning to first go home and take a bath before meeting up with some female students he was close to for a stroll. As soon as his foot stepped out of the gate, he suddenly froze in place like he had been put under a spell, his mouth agape, staring blankly ahead. The hoodlums following behind him curiously asked, "Li Ge, what's wrong? Let's go." When these hoodlums walked out of the factory, they too were like Ouyang Li, staring at a spot not far in front of them where Wang Long, who had just entered the mine and been hit by an explosion, was standing unharmed. He was even holding an unconscious Xiao He, gazing at them with a menacing smile.

  Ouyang Li shouted: "Impossible, I buried several hundred kilograms of explosives inside, even the World Trade Center in the US could be blown down, how is it possible that you can't be killed?" Wang Long shook his head and looked at Ouyang Li with a pitiful gaze: "Your little explosives are not enough to take my life, Ouyang Li. I have never done anything to you, but you repeatedly try to deal with me. Today, you actually want to blow me and Xiao He to death together. You are truly unforgivable. It seems that I need to give you some punishment so that you can learn a lesson." Ouyang Li gathered his courage and shouted to the thugs beside him: "Let's go together, chop him up!" After finishing speaking, Ouyang Li ran towards the distant car like a mad dog.

  The thugs beside Ou Yang Li simultaneously pulled out the big chopping knives attached to their waists, and one by one they charged towards Wang Long in a show of bravado. Before they could even get close, the hands holding the knives all fell to the ground at the same time. Seeing Wang Long, who had made them lose an arm in an instant, smiling calmly as he looked at them, was like seeing a demon. They let out a shout and scattered like birds and beasts. These thugs were used to bullying others with their numbers, but today this killer hadn't even moved and they had already lost an arm, it was simply inhuman.

  Ouyang Li was about to get into his BMW when he suddenly felt like he had hit a wall and couldn't move forward. He turned around to see Wang Long standing in front of him with a smile on his face. Ouyang Li's legs went weak and he knelt down, "Wang Long, spare my life! I won't dare again!" He slapped himself repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. Wang Long thought to himself, "With Ouyang Li's talent, it's a shame he doesn't act in movies." However, this incident had indeed made Wang Long furious. The Ouyang family had been taking revenge on him with vicious methods, and they kept targeting his friends. Wang Long used his divine thoughts to invade Ouyang Li's brain, messing up his neural connections. From then on, Ouyang Li became like an idiot, with the intelligence of a three-year-old child.

  The next day, at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, the school bell rang on time. As soon as Wang Long went downstairs to the first floor, he heard someone calling him from behind. Wang Long turned his head and saw that it was Xiao He. Today, Xiao He was wearing a light blue dress, which made her 1 meter 65 centimeter tall figure look even more slender and straight. Xiao He's face was slightly red as she said to Wang Long: "Little Dragon, my dad is inviting you to come to my house for dinner tonight, do you have time?"

  Wang Long thought for a moment, and since there was nothing else to do at night, he nodded. Xiao He saw Wang Long agree and excitedly jumped up like a little girl, running over to grab Wang Long's hand and heading out of the school. Wang Long smiled and followed behind her.

  As they arrived at the school gate, a stretched black Mercedes-Benz E-Class was already waiting there. A man in his fifties stood by the car door, with a weathered face and a forehead full of wrinkles, but his eyes shone brightly. Xiao He let go of Wang Long's hand and introduced him to the man: "This is my Uncle Lü, he's very good to me." Wang Long smiled and greeted him: "Uncle Lü, hello." The old man's wrinkles spread out like blooming flowers as he smiled and said: "Mr. Wang, nice to meet you. My name is Lü Liang. Xiao He has been talking about you in front of me all the time, and I've wanted to meet you for a long time. Now that I see you, you're indeed a talented young man, not bad at all!" Wang Long and Xiao He were both embarrassed by old Lü's words. Wang Long said: "Uncle Lü, just call me Little Dragon." They got in the car, and the Mercedes-Benz navigated through the crowded streets.

  About twenty minutes later, the car arrived at Tingyuan Villa in the northwest, which is the largest high-end residential area developed by Far East Real Estate Company. The people living here are either rich or noble. It's said that more than 80% of the city's high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen live in this villa area. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it's a bit closer to the suburbs, but the tall trees and lush green grass around make it even more serene and secluded.

  The car entered the gate, drove into the underground garage, and Lao Lü took Wang Long and Xiao He up to the first floor. The European-style villa occupied over a thousand square meters of land. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, they were already in the large garden inside the courtyard. Various rare flowers and plants competed with each other in beauty, and in the middle of the garden was a pond where hundreds of goldfish swam back and forth. Occasionally, one would jump out of the water's surface and release several bubbles. Wang Long felt envious in his heart - this is what it means to be rich!

  As he approached the gate, Wang Long saw a man about the same age as Old Lü sitting on the long sofa in the living room, holding a newspaper and reading intently. Wang Long took a closer look at the man: his two-inch short hair made him look very spirited, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing an Adidas casual suit, and a rich glow shining from his forehead like a knife cut. Xiao He called out "Dad" in a lukewarm tone, then pulled Wang Long towards the sofa, Old Lü said to Wang Long: "This is Xiao He's father." And to Xiao En, he said: "Xiao Ge, the Wang Long you wanted to see has arrived." Wang Long hastily greeted him: "Uncle Xiao, hello, I'm Wang Long, Xiao He's classmate." Xiao He's father quickly stood up, shook hands with Wang Long, and happily said: "Wang Long, nice to meet you, I'm Xiao En, just call me Old Dragon from now on." Wang Long saw that this old man who was once a big shot in the business world was so kind and gentle, his good impression of Xiao En increased greatly.

  What made Wang Long feel very strange was that Xiao He seemed to be in a bad mood since he saw his father at home, and his attitude towards his father was also cold. Only when talking to himself did he seem very happy. The dinner ended in a fairly pleasant atmosphere. The nanny of the Xiao family, Gao Ma, hurried over to clean up the table.

  Xiao He said to Wang Long: "I'll go to my room to change clothes, you wait downstairs for a while." Wang Long nodded.

  Xiao Sean let out a sigh after seeing his daughter go upstairs, and upon seeing Wang Long's puzzled eyes, he said to Wang Long: "This child Xiao He and I have some misunderstandings between us. Since her mother passed away when she was 7 years old, she has been like this towards me, and it can even be said that she hates me." Wang Long asked in surprise: "Uncle, what's going on?"

  Shaun seemed to be lost in thought, and after a while, he spoke up: "When Xiaohua was seven years old, it was still a cold winter. Her mother had fallen seriously ill. I had been staying with them in the hospital room all along, but that day, something urgent came up and I had to leave. By the time I returned, it was already around one o'clock at night. Xiaohua was holding her mother's cold body, with tears on her face frozen into small icicles, filled with grief and confusion. From then on, Xiaohua became distant towards me, no matter how I treated her, she always had a grudge against me. Maybe it was because I wasn't by their side to take care of them when her mother passed away. I owe an apology to both mother and daughter." After finishing his story, Shaun's eyes also became moist, and Wang Long could feel the deep sorrow in the old man's heart.

  Lao Lü, who was also crying beside him, advised: "Xiao Ge, people can't come back to life after they die. You've been thinking about your sister for over a decade now, you need to let go a bit." Xiao En wiped away the tears on his face and forced out a smile that looked even more painful than crying. He said to Wang Long: "Xiao Long, I'm really sorry. As people get older, they like to reminisce about the past. This child, Xiaohua, lost her mother at a young age, she's had a tough life. But over the past two years, I can clearly feel that she's been happier than before. Lao Lü told me that she often mentions your name in front of him, it seems like my daughter has a good impression of you. I don't have any other wishes, I just hope that in the future, you can help me take good care of this child and let her live happily. Xiao Long, can you promise me that?"

  Wang Long's eyes also became moist, and his heart felt a inexplicable pain. He couldn't believe that Xiao He, who always appeared cheerful and gentle in front of others, had such a miserable childhood. He nodded firmly and replied: "Uncle, don't worry, I'm classmates with Xiao He and we're good friends, I'll definitely take good care of her."