Chapter 722: Remove

A drop of brownish-yellow sauce slowly trickled down the contours of the plump chicken leg, landing on the piled-high white rice.

But Qian Fu paid no mind to it. He grabbed a braised chicken leg in each hand, took a big bite, and pulled forcefully. The delicious taste immediately reached the tip of his tongue, filling his mouth with a savory aroma, leaving him utterly satisfied. Yet, even with all that, he still felt it wasn't enough, eating while keeping an eye on the platter, fearing Chen Hongyu might snatch more.

Across from them, Li Huowang watched their eating habits with a speechless expression, regretting inviting them to his home.

"Come on, come on, eat more! There's plenty left!" Sun Xiaoqin said with a cheerful laugh, emerging from the kitchen with another platter of chicken legs. Her hair was permed and curly again.

"Mom, don't make any more. It's already plenty."

Sun Xiaoqin said nothing. Beside him, Yang Na reached under the table and pinched Li Huowang hard.

"Why did you pinch me?" When Li Huowang looked over, he saw Yang Na gazing at him with a hint of displeasure in her eyes.

"Burp!" Qian Fu's long burp interrupted their silent exchange.

"You're already burping from fullness. Don't force yourself. Money aside, don't upset your stomach."

Qian Fu grabbed two more chicken legs from the platter, stuck them into his rice, and glared at Li Huowang.

"What do you know! This is a hungry burp!" With that, he picked up his chopsticks and began voraciously shoveling rice into his mouth.

Beside him, Chen Hongyu refused to be outdone. She picked up a braised chicken leg, sucked on it vigorously a few times, and when she pulled it out, it was a perfectly clean bone. Compared to her previous disgusting displays of bursting pustules, Li Huowang found this feat more akin to a superpower.

Just then, Sun Xiaoqin leaned in and whispered into Li Huowang's ear. "Son, how can you talk like that? They're guests, and they're here to help you. Besides, a big bag of frozen chicken legs from the supermarket costs next to nothing; it's cheaper than some vegetables."

Li Huowang sighed and said nothing more, watching the two continue to devour their food.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"No, thank you. I'm full just watching."

After three consecutive platters, Li Huowang watched their stomachs swell up. It turned out the cartoons he watched as a child were true after all.

When lunch was over, the two leaned back in their chairs, patting their bellies and breathing contentedly.

Glancing towards the kitchen, Li Huowang leaned forward and asked quietly, in a surprised tone, "Have you two had nothing to eat this whole time? How could you be so hungry?"

"Last night's meal can't last until today, and when do we ever not eat? You're funny." Just as Qian Fu said this, there was a knock at the door.

"Coming!" Yang Na padded over in her slippers. "Qing Wanglai? Please, come in. Oh, and who are these two behind you...?"

As Li Huowang turned to look, he saw Qing Wanglai, dressed in white and blue, enter with two other people. The two newcomers didn't speak to Li Huowang but directly instructed him to lift one of his feet so they could remove the device from his ankle.

After they left, Li Huowang looked at Qing Wanglai. "What was that...?"

"The neighborhood committee's surveillance has been lifted, but they will conduct regular visits. Also, you still can't leave the province or the city."

"You're free to move around now, but there's still a device on your ankle. It's best to avoid crowded places if possible, so you don't agitate them."

Li Huowang's face showed his surprise. He rushed to the window and looked outside, seeing Aunt Qi and some others pointing towards his place for a moment before turning and leaving the residential complex.

"They really left? How did you manage that?" Li Huowang turned, looking at Qing Wanglai in astonishment. Although he had only just met this guy, he seemed far, far more reliable than those two mental patients.

"It was simple. I found a lawyer and inquired. It turns out that this kind of long-term surveillance and house arrest actually violates your personal freedom."

"Since you've already passed the doctor's examination, according to standard procedures, you should have regained your freedom last month. But you know how it is: when the top says 'one,' the bottom does 'ten' to avoid trouble and shunt responsibility. Plus, I pulled some strings."

"I see. I understand."

Qing Wanglai smiled and shook his head. "Haha, I think you probably still don't quite understand."

Hearing this, Li Huowang couldn't help but frown. Why was this guy speaking in such an ambiguous way?

"Anyway, thank you for your help. Now that I've regained my freedom, let's go somewhere else to talk properly." Li Huowang eagerly started walking towards the door.

"Don't be so eager. If you start running around right after having your restrictions lifted, it'll arouse suspicion," Qing Wanglai said, stopping Li Huowang.

Seeing Sun Xiaoqin place the after-dinner fruit on the table, Qing Wanglai patted Li Huowang on the shoulder. "I'll pick you up at nine tonight. I've found a safe place, and you'll get to meet some new friends."

"New friends?" Hearing this, a flicker of curiosity stirred in Li Huowang's mind. Could it be that he had other allies besides them?

Having said all that, Qing Wanglai didn't linger. He left Li Huowang's home, taking Qian Fu, who had stuffed fruit into his clothes, and Chen Hongyu with him.

"Son, are you... are you really okay now? You can go out?" Sun Xiaoqin seemed far happier than Li Huowang about this news.

"Yes, that's right." Li Huowang nodded, his mind buzzing with thoughts about what to do next.

"Then you rest at home. I'll go buy groceries right away. I'll call and tell them not to send you on the night shift today. We'll have a good celebration!"

Once Sun Xiaoqin left, only Yang Na and Li Huowang remained in the room.

"Huowang, do you really think what Qing Wanglai said is true? I still don't trust what he told you."

"I don't trust it either, but if I want to get rid of these people, I have to rely on them. They're watching me more and more closely now." Li Huowang turned and looked at the buildings outside.

"They're here now?" Yang Na quickly went to the window, drew the curtains, and peered out through a gap. "Where? Where are they?"

"They're not in the complex; they're watching me with binoculars from a distance!" Li Huowang stared intently at the tall buildings in other distant residential complexes.

"Are they?" Yang Na glanced into the distance, then stared at Li Huowang's face. "Can you really feel that?"

"Yes, the feeling is very specific. Of course, I can feel it! The hostility in their gaze is getting stronger and stronger!"

"I estimate it won't be long before they make a move on me. I must act preemptively before then."

Time passed quickly, and soon it was evening. Although dinner was lavish to celebrate Li Huowang's freedom, he had little appetite. His mind was preoccupied with who these "new friends" Qing Wanglai mentioned were, and how he should join forces with them against their common enemies.

Unconsciously, it was already night. Li Huowang bid farewell to Sun Xiaoqin and prepared to leave with Yang Na. His mother didn't ask any questions, and his father even slipped some money into his hand. Li Huowang surmised they had misunderstood something.

When Li Huowang stepped out of the residential complex for the first time without anyone watching him, a four-seater white sports car pulled up in front of him.

"Get in," Qing Wanglai said, holding the steering wheel with one hand.