Chapter 21: There is This Life, No Afterlife

Words : 1661 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: There is This Life, No AfterlifeSeeing Qin Xiaorou suddenly appear before him, Chen Feng was momentarily dumbfounded. It wasn’t a chance encounter with Zhang Jingwen this time but with Qin Xiaorou instead. He didn’t have much of a liking for Qin Xiaorou; she had a bad temper, loved to talk back, and was impolite. Of course, he couldn’t say he disliked her either. "What are you doing here?" Since they knew each other, Chen Feng casually asked. "Is it that strange for me to be here?" Qin Xiaorou was indeed naturally argumentative. Chen Feng asked further, "Are you here with your family?" Finally speaking politely, Qin Xiaorou nodded and said, "Yes. With my mom, a bunch of pretentious adults. I was bored in the private room, so I came out to sit in the hall. I didn’t expect to have just sat down when I saw you. Hehe, what a coincidence, huh?" Chen Feng could only nod honestly, "It is quite the coincidence," "So, uncle, are you here to have a meal with someone? Take me with you," That wild girl didn’t beat around the bush and wasn’t shy either. "Aren’t you eating with your mom? Why join me?" Chen Feng certainly didn’t want to dine with her and immediately rejected the idea. Qin Xiaorou retorted dissatisfiedly, "Didn’t I just tell you? I don’t want to eat with those adults." "Aren’t I an adult too?" "You wouldn’t be so petty," Qin Xiaorou pouted and glared, "Last time I even bought you a drink, and you won the big prize. Is it that bad to have a meal with me?" That was indeed true. Qin Xiaorou wasn’t being unreasonable either and asked, "Are you eating with a lot of people?" Looking at her innocent face and recalling that her buying him a drink did indeed help him win a prize, Chen Feng found it hard to lie. "No, I’m eating alone." In the end, Chen Feng told the truth. "What? You’re eating alone?" Qin Xiaorou couldn’t help but widen her eyes. It was widely known that Fuman Building was a place for hosting banquets, and there was also a minimum spending requirement. You couldn’t possibly just order two or three dishes. "Is it that odd for me to eat alone?" Chen Feng echoed her tone in his question. Qin Xiaorou giggled and said, "Uncle, I didn’t misjudge you. You’re indeed quite the character." After saying that, Qin Xiaorou even gave Chen Feng a thumbs-up. "Let’s go. Book a private room." Since he couldn’t shake her off, he might as well bring her along. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to finish a table full of good food, which would be a bit wasteful. Moreover, he was returning to his hometown that afternoon. Once he left, his days might be numbered, and who knows if they’d ever meet again. After making the reservation for a private room on the second floor, Chen Feng took the menu, and since he had eaten here a couple of times before, he expertly ordered a few unforgettable dishes, then handed the menu to Qin Xiaorou. She unceremoniously ordered a few dishes as well. "Would you like to drink? Moutai, Wuliangye, it’s all good, don’t worry about saving money on my account," Chen Feng teased her on purpose. Qin Xiaorou rolled her eyes and said, "Can I take it away? If I can, then I’ll order two bottles of ’Feitian’." Chen Feng had no wish to play the sucker and shook his head, "It’s definitely not allowed to take away. Forget it, I’ll get you two bottles of juice instead." "I don’t want juice, just bring a large bottle of Sprite," "Then I’ll have a bottle of Coke." After the waiter left, Qin Xiaorou quickly put on a serious face and said, "I sent you a message on WeChat yesterday, and you didn’t reply at all? Don’t you think that’s a bit too much?" Chen Feng was somewhat sheepish; indeed, it was his fault for not replying to the WeChat messages. Plus, it seemed like Little Rou had sent several messages, which Chen Feng simply couldn’t be bothered to check. He mainly thought that they were just ships passing in the night, never to meet again until he died. Little did he know they would run into each other here and get caught red-handed. "I’ve been in a bad mood these past few days. I’ve basically cut off contact with the outside world." Chen Feng wasn’t exactly lying when he said that. "I’ve been in a bad mood these past few days. I’ve basically cut off contact with the outside world," Qin Xiaorou blurted out without any filter. "So what’s the deal? You got a divorce, or did your wife have an affair? Why else would you be here alone, ordering food?" At that, Chen Feng’s face darkened, and he said irritably, "You just have a foul mouth, don’t you?" Qin Xiaorou giggled and said, "Did I hit a nerve?" Chen Feng glared at her but eventually said, "Divorced." "Why? Your wife cheated on you?" Qin Xiaorou asked with the curiosity of a child. Chen Feng glared at her again. In the past, if he’d encountered such an unrestrained brat, he would have lost his temper and sent her packing. But now, his tolerance was incredibly high, for he knew he was close to death. After this meal they had together, it would likely be a final farewell. So, he could tolerate her to the greatest extent possible; after all, to meet and meet again was a kind of fate, with no next life to look forward to. The young girl wasn’t afraid of him and switched to a softer tone to persuade, "Just talk about it, there’s just the two of us here. If you say it out loud, you’ll definitely feel better." Chen Feng shook his head. "I don’t think there was an affair. It’s just that there was no love left between us. We amicably parted ways. It was me who initiated the divorce." Qin Xiaorou suddenly frowned and asked unhappily, "What about your daughter then?" Chen Feng paused before remembering the lie he had casually told in a previous WeChat message. Since after this they would say goodbye for good, Chen Feng didn’t want to continue lying to her and confessed, "I don’t have any children. I was just rambling last time." Qin Xiaorou looked at him disapprovingly, almost putting Chen Feng under a bit of pressure. Chen Feng coughed to clear his throat and quickly changed the subject, "Why did your mom bring you here to eat today?" Qin Xiaorou indeed got distracted by the change of subject and said with furrowed brows, "Isn’t it just because she wanted to socialize? Bringing me along makes her seem closer to the others. A bunch of men and women, and there’s just me, the youngest—how could I be comfortable with that?" Chen Feng thought about it and nodded in agreement, "That makes sense. Your mom shouldn’t do that. Next time tell her straight out that you don’t want to dine with so many adults. I think she won’t take you out to these social events anymore." "What do you know?" Qin Xiaorou glared at Chen Feng, not holding back, "My mom is very stubborn. She requires that I obey her unconditionally; I can’t have my own opinions. Talking to her wouldn’t make any difference." Chen Feng realized he had been hasty. After all, it was a matter between mother and daughter, and as an outsider, he really had no place to say much. He could only nod awkwardly and switch the subject again, "How old are you this year, in the ninth grade?" "You’ve got some nerve. Do I look like I’m in the ninth grade?" That cheeky girl, seriously lacking manners. I’ll tolerate it! "I’m in the eighth grade. Next year I have my middle school exams, and after that, I might go abroad for school, we’ll see." "Go overseas for high school? Isn’t that too young?" Chen Feng asked with concern. Qin Xiaorou lifted her chin and said, "What’s the big deal about that? Plenty of kids go abroad right from elementary school, or they’re sent to international schools and then move abroad after finishing elementary, or they just finish high school and apply to universities overseas. You didn’t know any of this?" I am being looked down upon! I’ll tolerate it! "But surely they won’t send you abroad alone? Is there someone from your family going with you?" Qin Xiaorou pouted and said somewhat gloomily, "My dad is already over there." Upon hearing this, Chen Feng immediately understood. Mom’s in China, dad’s abroad—could their relationship be in good shape? It’s quite possible they had already divorced. Just when he was considering whether to offer some words of comfort, Qin Xiaorou’s cellphone rang. She picked it up, gave a resigned look, and answered. After a few noncommittal responses, she said, "I ran into a friend, so I won’t come over to where you are. He just started eating, no, there’s just the two of us... a guy, just a regular friend, not what you’re thinking. Okay, okay, you’re just diagonally opposite, in the Furong Hall." Putting away her phone, Qin Xiaorou gave Chen Feng an awkward look, "My mom might have got it wrong. She’s quite assertive. Later, if she speaks unpleasantly, just do me a favor and give in a bit, for appearances’ sake. She’s been going through menopause and has been single for years, you know how it is." Chen Feng was at a loss for words. With a hand to his forehead, he hesitated whether to avoid the coming storm when the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open with force. A woman stormed in angrily, then stopped short upon seeing Chen Feng seated. Chen Feng was equally taken aback. "It’s you!" "It’s you!"

Chapter 21: There is This Life, No Afterlife

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