58: Chapter 58 You don't have a fever, so how can you say such nonsense?

The door opened.

Standing at the very front was indeed Su Wan.

She was dressed simply today in a light-colored jacket and black trousers, her hair draping down over her shoulders. Her face retained that same cool, aloof expression, and the light shining down from the hallway ceiling made her already fair skin appear even colder.

She glanced up at Lu Cheng, a trace of subtle awkwardness in her eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she quickly suppressed that ripple of emotion, and her expression returned to its usual cool, aloof state.

Stay calm, Su Wan told herself silently.

Everything is for the sake of cultivation.

After consuming the ice spirit water yesterday, her blood energy value had jumped significantly, with the increase exceeding her expectations. The results were undeniable and right before her eyes.

Besides, the system task wasn't over yet.

There were three more times.

As long as she completed it three more times, she would be able to get three more rewards.

Thinking of this, the awkwardness in Su Wan's heart was quickly suppressed, and her gaze steadied once more.

It was just cultivation, only cultivation!

Standing behind her was a woman who resembled her by seventy percent; her features were delicate, and her brows and eyes also leaned towards coldness, though that coldness was different from Su Wan's.

Su Wan's coldness was a natural aloofness, clean and crisp. Her mother's coldness, however, was wrapped in exhaustion; fine lines at the corners of her eyes bore the marks of time, and her expression carried the weariness of years of toil.

Both of them were carrying quite a few things.

Fruits, nutritional supplements, and several boxes of exquisitely packaged deli food. The bags were bulging, clearly showing they had been carefully prepared.

Lu Cheng quickly stepped aside.

"Auntie Tang, Su Wan, come on in."

"You shouldn't have brought so much stuff just for coming over."

Tang Weilin smiled, her voice very gentle:

"It's my first time visiting, I couldn't come empty-handed."

The living room soon became lively.

Chu Mu had already placed the last two dishes on the table, not even having had time to remove her apron, her face beaming with obvious smiles.

"Sit, sit, dinner is just ready."

"Sister Tang, you really shouldn't have, why bring so much stuff?"

"The kids are here, let's not stand on ceremony."

The table was laden with dishes: spare ribs, steamed fish, stir-fried beef, spirit vegetable and egg soup, along with a few home-style stir-fries. The aroma wafted up in layers, filling the already small room completely.

Chu Mu ushered everyone to sit down and then began to introduce them with a smile.

"This is Auntie Tang, and this is her daughter, Su Wan."

"Auntie Tang's home is just a street away from ours. We used to run into each other often during work hours, only realizing later that we lived so close."

Lu Cheng and Su Wan exchanged a glance. Su Wan was fine, but Lu Cheng's expression was a bit strange.

When their eyes met, both Chu Mu and Tang Weilin noticed something.

While ladling soup, Chu Mu looked up at the two of them and asked with a smile: "Do you two know each other?"

Lu Cheng gave a light cough and answered quickly.

"Ah... yes, Su Wan and I are teammates in the same squad."

He said it with a straight face.

Know each other, more than that...

Just two days ago, I snuck into your house in the middle of the night, and last night she was massaging my shoulders at the club.

Of course, Lu Cheng couldn't say this out loud unless he had lost his mind.

Tang Weilin looked at Lu Cheng, but her gaze was a bit strange.

There was scrutiny in those eyes, as well as an indescribable nuance, as if she were confirming something, or perhaps recalling something.

Lu Cheng felt a bit unnerved by her gaze.

Just then, Tang Weilin smiled and picked up the conversation.

"It's good that you know each other."

"Since the two kids are teammates, we can get together more often in the future."

As she said this, her gaze swept lightly between Lu Cheng and Su Wan, and her smile deepened.

She knew her daughter best.

Usually, she was cold and distant, indifferent to everyone. Many boys in school chased her, but she couldn't even be bothered to take an extra look at them.

Yet today, just as they arrived at the door and Lu Cheng opened it, the momentary change in Su Wan's expression was something she, as a mother, had seen clearly.

Moreover, these two were in the same squad, and she was so close to Chu Mu.

This relationship was naturally a step closer.

Chu Mu also laughed: "That would be great. Living nearby, it'll be convenient to visit each other."

The atmosphere at the dinner table soon smoothed out.

The two elders chatted about work and life, occasionally mentioning things from the old factory and sighing a few times.

After eating for a while, Tang Weilin put down her chopsticks, her expression gradually becoming more serious.

"By the way, when I was at work today, we heard some news."

Chu Mu looked up: "What news?"

Tang Weilin sighed softly.

"Things outside the city have been getting increasingly restless lately."

"You know, it's already been chaotic out there for a while. Didn't they say an Ancient Ruins was discovered a while back? I heard the location is quite special, and the military has already sent quite a few people in to investigate."

Lu Cheng's action of picking up food paused.

Tang Weilin continued: "News came back today that another ten soldiers went in, and they haven't returned yet."

"Their life or death is unknown."

As these four words fell, the atmosphere at the table clearly grew heavier.

The smile on Chu Mu's face faded, and she furrowed her brows slightly.

"It's that serious?"

"Yes." Tang Weilin nodded, "Someone on our side has family in the relevant department. Although the news hasn't been spread openly, it's basically almost certain."

"Outside, it might look the same as before, but in reality, it's becoming increasingly unstable."

Chu Mu gripped her chopsticks lightly.

Her emotions had only just calmed down, but upon hearing this, worry resurfaced in her eyes.

"But aren't the children supposed to go out for field training in two days..."

"The school should have arrangements." Tang Weilin offered a word of comfort, but her tone wasn't very light either.

Su Wan sat quietly with no expression on her face, but her mind was racing.

The Ancient Ruins were about to fully open. In her past life, she hadn't caught up to these ruins and had suffered quite a bit in the early stages.

Based on this trend, she had to raise her strength as quickly as possible.

At the very least, before that place completely erupted, she needed to have the qualifications to go in and compete.

She still lacked resources...

She subconsciously glanced at Lu Cheng, her eyes flickering slightly.

Three more times—wasn't that a resource??!

Lu Cheng sensed her gaze, and his heart stirred as well.

For some reason, the slightly trembling figure of Commander Ji Yunlan suddenly flashed through his mind.

He took a sip of soup and said: "For matters like this... let nature take its course."

"Since the military has already intervened, they definitely know more than we do."

"It's useless for us to worry now; let's just take care of ourselves first."

After listening, Chu Mu could only nod.

"That's true."

"You kids, behave yourselves lately and don't go running outside the city randomly."

Lu Cheng was very cooperative: "Don't worry, Mom, I cherish my life very much now."

Chu Mu glared at him: "You'd better."

Once this sentence was out, the atmosphere at the table finally relaxed a bit.

Towards the end of the meal, the two elders steered the conversation back to work and neighborhood trivialities, occasionally mentioning old stories from when they lived in the old district during their childhood.

When the table of food was mostly finished, Lu Cheng stood up very consciously.

"I'll clean up."

Su Wan also rose: "I'll help."

Chu Mu wanted to stop them, but Tang Weilin had already waved her hand with a smile.

"Let them go, it's good for young people to move around more."

The two of them carried the plates into the kitchen.

As the faucet turned on, the rushing sound of water instantly separated them from the conversation in the living room.

After Su Wan rinsed the last plate and placed it on the rack, she turned to look at Lu Cheng.

"Go out for a walk?"

Lu Cheng was stunned.

"Now?"

"Yeah."

Su Wan's expression remained cold, and her tone was calm.

He glanced towards the living room.

Chu Mu and Tang Weilin were sitting at the dining table chatting; the two mothers were in the middle of a lively conversation and clearly wouldn't stop anytime soon.

If he had to sit back down and accompany them, he definitely wouldn't be able to sit still.

Lu Cheng thought about it and nodded.

"Alright... let's go out and walk off the meal."

The two came out of the kitchen and each greeted their mother.

"Mom, I'm going out for a walk."

"Auntie, Lu Cheng and I are going for a turn outside."

Chu Mu looked up at the two of them, and the smile on her face became even more obvious: "Go ahead, don't go too far."

Tang Weilin also nodded with a smile: "Just come back later, be safe."

"Got it."

The door closed.

The hallway quieted down.

Inside, only the two elders were left looking at each other.

Chu Mu laughed first: "These two kids, their relationship seems pretty good."

Tang Weilin also laughed, her eyes holding a bit more profound meaning.

"Yeah."

"Pretty good."

The two exchanged a glance and finally both laughed out loud.

...

The night had fully descended.

The streetlights lit up one by one, casting a dim yellow strip of light across the road.

The evening breeze blew in from the river, carrying a hint of dampness, which felt very comfortable on the skin.

Lu Cheng and Su Wan walked forward side by side, neither speaking first.

After walking a dozen steps, Lu Cheng rubbed his nose and took the initiative to find a topic.

"It really is a coincidence, our moms... uh, I mean, both of our mothers actually work at the same place."

Su Wan gave an "hm," her voice still in that cold tone.

She had no interest in small talk right now.

Her mind was entirely focused on how to bring up tonight, to make him honestly accept the massage.

Seeing her indifferent reaction, Lu Cheng could only continue the awkward chat.

"How has your cultivation been these two days? Do you have confidence in reaching the peak of the Body Refining Realm by June?"

"It's fine."

Su Wan answered briefly, her expression slightly conflicted.

Lu Cheng added: "By the way, didn't the instructor say today that in two days we're going to have a joint field training with other schools..."

"Lu Cheng!"

Su Wan suddenly spoke, interrupting him directly.

Lu Cheng was stunned by her shout.

"Huh?"

Su Wan stopped and turned to look at him, her cool face tense under the streetlights, as if she had made a major decision.

A few seconds later, she bit the bullet and spoke.

"How about... we go back to that place from yesterday for a massage?"

"Cough, cough!"

Lu Cheng was choked by his own saliva.

Coughing, he stared at Su Wan with wide eyes, completely shocked.

Was this girl addicted to massages??!

The wind blew by the roadside; Su Wan stood in place, her face still wearing that cold, aloof look, but the roots of her ears had already started to turn a little red.

She forced herself not to look away.

It was only cultivation.

As long as she could become stronger, what was losing a little face?

Lu Cheng caught his breath and took a step forward.

Su Wan subconsciously took a step back.

Lu Cheng moved a little closer, and Su Wan's whole body instantly tensed up, her shoulders stiffened, and her fingers curled tightly, as if she were preparing to go to the battlefield.

The next second.

Lu Cheng raised his hand.

Su Wan's breathing slightly hitched, her entire body's muscles tensing instantly.

Then... that hand gently touched her forehead.

Lu Cheng touched it with a serious expression, frowned, and said:

"You aren't even running a fever, so why are you spouting such nonsense?"