At this moment, Old Li's face looked as if he had eaten something foul, as ugly as could be, and he hurriedly said:

  "Chen Xun, I've been kind enough to treat you to noodles, but don't stick to me like a leech, alright?"

  Chen Xun, however, didn't understand what Old Li was saying. He simply held Old Li's hand high above his head, shaking it, twisting his waist and hips, utterly delighted.

  Seeing that it was getting te, Old Li lost some of his patience. He took a deep breath, suddenly pulled his hand away from Chen Xun's grip, and ran off as fast as he could.

  Chen Xun tilted his head, puzzled, watching Old Li's embarrassed retreating figure. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he bent down, nding on all fours like a beast, chasing after him swiftly!

  On the street, passersby made way, staring in shock as Chen Xun's figure sped past, wondering what madness this lunatic was up to again.

  Old Li, panting heavily as he ran, suddenly sensed something and turned his head. When he saw Chen Xun's beast-like silhouette under the dim streetlights, he was so frightened he almost lost control!

  "Good heavens!"

  Old Li was nearly scared out of his wits, but the terrifying scene also spurred him on, making him run even faster!

  And so, the two of them, one chasing and one fleeing, caused chaos and disorder on the street.

  ***

  Old Li's home was located on the west side of Little River Town. Although it was a bit remote, it was still part of the town, with its own small courtyard, living comfortably without worries.

  At this moment, Old Li fled back home, smming the courtyard gate shut behind him. In a panic, he grabbed a hoe from the side and quickly went to the fence, looking at Chen Xun outside, panting heavily,

  "You, you brat, don't push me, Old Li, too far. If you know what's good for you, scram!"

  Chen Xun looked at Old Li inside the courtyard, saying nothing, just ughing maniacally to himself.

  "Hehehe..."

  The eerie expression on Chen Xun's face, combined with his ughter, terrified Old Li, leaving him at a loss.

  Old Li couldn't help but gnce nervously at the fence, wondering what to do if this lunatic tried to climb over.

  He, Old Li, was old and didn't care much, but he didn't want Chen Xun to scare his granddaughter!

  "Chen Xun, you brat..."

  Old Li's face turned livid, about to say something, when suddenly a pleasant voice sounded from inside the house.

  "Grandpa, you're back!"

  Old Li's expression changed immediately, and he hurriedly said, "Yuan, don't come out!"

  But just as Old Li finished speaking, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl came running out.

  The girl was slender, her ponytail full of youthful energy. Her face wasn't stunningly beautiful, but it was delicate and pleasing, especially her crescent-shaped eyes, which were bright even in the dark night.

  The girl's name was Li Yuan, Old Li's granddaughter.

  Seeing Old Li holding a hoe with a fierce look, Li Yuan was startled and quickly ran up, "Grandpa, what are you doing?"

  Seeing the situation, Old Li sighed helplessly, nodding towards the fence, "It's because of this crazy schor. I kindly treated him to noodles, and now he wants to cling to me, hmph."

  Li Yuan was slightly surprised and looked through the fence, finally noticing Chen Xun standing outside, in tattered clothes with disheveled hair.

  It's him?

  Chen Xun was somewhat of a 'celebrity' in Little River Town, so Li Yuan naturally recognized him. She had seen him from afar before when she occasionally went to town with Old Li.

  Seeing another person beside Old Li, Chen Xun grinned at her, his rows of white teeth shining brightly in the night.

  "He He He."

  But that maniacal ughter made Li Yuan's face change slightly, involuntarily taking half a step back.

  Seeing his granddaughter seemingly frightened, Old Li immediately raised the hoe, threatening, "Chen Xun, you brat, get lost! Don't force me to call the authorities!"

  Unfortunately, Chen Xun didn't understand a word, which was what left Old Li at a loss.

  Old Li's threat to call the authorities was just an attempt to scare Chen Xun in desperation.

  In Old Li's view, Chen Xun was a pitiful person, and unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't really call the authorities.

  Li Yuan regained her composure, pursed her lips, and took the hoe from Old Li's raised hands, saying, "Grandpa, it's te. You should rest early. He... he should leave on his own if we ignore him."

  Hearing this, Old Li found it reasonable. He then suspiciously gnced at Chen Xun, who was just ughing foolishly without saying a word. He was just worried that this kid might climb over the fence.

  This kid wasn't mentally stable, who knew what he might suddenly do next.

  But then again, Old Li felt he might be overthinking.

  After all, although Chen Xun wasn't mentally stable, he hadn't really harmed anyone in the two and a half years in Little River Town, or he would have been in jail already.

  With that thought, Old Li finally breathed a sigh of relief, gring at Chen Xun hatefully, then looked at Li Yuan, "Yuan Yuan, go back to your room and sleep."

  "Okay."

  Li Yuan nodded, took another curious gnce at Chen Xun, and then leisurely returned to the house.

  Seeing this, Old Li gred at Chen Xun once more and then went back inside as well.

  Yuan Yuan was right; if they ignored Chen Xun, he would leave on his own.

  As Old Li and Li Yuan went inside one after the other, Chen Xun seemed oblivious, standing there, continuously ughing to himself.

  To be honest, in the dark night, this scene was quite creepy.

  ***

  Time slowly passed, and it was now deep into the night.

  The season had turned to autumn, and the midnight wind was howling.

  Outside the courtyard, Chen Xun, dressed in ragged thin clothes, seemed unaffected by the cold, standing there, ughing maniacally, continuously ughing.

  Creak.

  Suddenly, the sound of a door opening came from the courtyard. Li Yuan walked out with a ntern, and upon seeing the figure outside, she was startled, her eyes filled with disbelief.

  Whoosh—Whoosh—

  A gust of cold wind made Li Yuan shiver, and she quickly shrank her neck and went back inside.

  Moments ter, Li Yuan came out again, but this time, she was holding a quilt in her arms.

  Li Yuan approached the fence and threw the quilt out.

  "For... for you."

  The quilt fell beside Chen Xun, but he seemed completely unaware, as if he hadn't even noticed Li Yuan's presence.

  Li Yuan couldn't understand Chen Xun's state of mind at this moment, nor did she know what he was thinking or ughing about. She said awkwardly, "You... you should wrap yourself up. It's a long night, and you'll catch a cold like this."

  Chen Xun still didn't respond.

  Seeing this, a struggle fshed in Li Yuan's eyes. Finally, she mustered the courage to open the courtyard gate and, gritting her teeth, walked out.

  Li Yuan, heart pounding, cautiously approached Chen Xun. Seeing that he showed no signs of aggression, she bent down, picked up the quilt, and carefully wrapped it around him.

  Chen Xun continued to ugh maniacally, not even gncing at Li Yuan, giving the impression that he was completely immersed in his own world.

  Li Yuan looked at Chen Xun with pity, unable to see his face under his disheveled hair, only feeling that this person was very pitiful.

  "Sigh."

  Li Yuan sighed, withdrew her gaze, and turned back into the courtyard, ready to return to the house.

  The cold wind outside was biting, and she couldn't withstand it.

  "Thank... you."

  Suddenly, a faint voice seemed to echo.

  Li Yuan's body stiffened, and she quickly turned to look around. In the middle of the night, there was no one.

  Finally, Li Yuan's gaze locked onto Chen Xun, who was still ughing foolishly, and she rexed, smiling wryly, "I must have misheard the sound of the wind."

  With that, Li Yuan took another look at Chen Xun, then shrank her neck and reluctantly went back inside.