Afterlife Department

Chapter 372 - Luren

"It's already dusk." Luren spoke as he looked at his wristwatch. He then turned to Yi Bing and Huo Ling. "Please let me invite you to an early dinner." He said.

Before Yi Bing could answer, Huo Ling enthusiastically nodded. "Sure!" he answered and naively grinned.

Luren looked at him and his indifferent expression slightly eased. "Thank you." He spoke before he guided them towards the school cafeteria that looked like a five-star restaurant.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling silently followed behind Luren with Yi Bing pushing Huo Ling's wheelchair.

"This guy is good." Huo Ling commented as he looked at Luren's back. The na?ve expression on his face was gone.

"How?" Yi Bing silently spoke.

"I figured he has a very high status in this school… probably the student committee's president. It can be seen from Mandy's and Hierre's behavior earlier in the pool area." Huo Ling spoke.

Yi Bing didn't answer and just let him continue speaking while he silently listened.

"So, this Luren's background must be very strong. And Iris must have spoken some words to them, so this Luren knows us already before we can even announce our identities." Huo Ling explained.

"Good." Yi Bing complimented Huo Ling's reasoning.

"But, this Luren must be not that very clear of our matter and only knows the surface." Huo Ling continued. "However, even though he invited us, because he is curious about us, but all this while he held back his curiosity." He smiled as his eyes twinkled while he watched Luren opened the door for them. "He is a man of patience." He whispered to Yi Bing before he foolishly grinned to Luren as Yi Bing pushed his wheelchair inside while Luren personally held the door of the cafeteria even though there was a security guard on the side that could do the task. "He's really good." He added after they passed by Luren and felt the warm atmosphere inside the cafeteria.

Yi Bing didn't answer. He turned to look at Luren and saw the other entered without a change on his expression. He didn't look like annoyed that he is acting like a servant of his and Huo Ling earlier. Although he hated to admit it, but Luren is really good. He can hold back his temper well, whether he is curious or mad like what happened in the pool area earlier after being annoyed by Prille's and Mandy's behaviors.

"Where did Teacher Evan and Schoolmate Howee come from?" Luren asked as they seated and after the waiter have taken their orders. He asked it with a neutral tone. He didn't look like condescending, but no one knows what he is thinking.

Maybe, he asked it to start a conversation.

Some students and teachers eating were glancing at them. One, because of Luren. Two, because Yi Bing and Huo Ling are new faces. Three, because all three of them are very handsome. One they are most familiar with is cool and indifferent – Luren Gregor, the Students' Committee Chairman. One is sunny and na?ve-looking – Huo Ling. And the one left is gentle and doting – Yi Bing.

If Di San, Gu Shi, or any other grim reaper is around and saw how Yi Bing looked like now, they would think he was possessed by a demon. But, there is no demon in the Normal World 9999. Yi Bing has changed after he fell in love with Huo Ling.

"We came from S City." Yi Bing answered with a smile as he placed a plate in front of Huo Ling when the waiter brought it to them.

"'S City'?" Luren asked. He hadn't heard of the place.

Their food has finally arrived. Yi Bing placed the crab meat in Huo Ling's plate and they began to eat. "Student Luren must have heard we are from a far place?" he said as he turned to Luren.

Luren nodded, admitting it. "I've heard it from my father." He honestly answered.

Yi Bing's expression turned brighter after hearing Luren's sincere answer. "It's a very far place. It is located outside of this country." He spoke.

Outside of this world, precisely. Huo Ling added internally as he began to eat, enjoying his favorite food – steamed crabs.

Yi Bing saw Huo Ling looking so enthusiastic and he washed his hands on the basin beside their table before he peeled open another crab and scooped out its meat, then placed it on Huo Ling's plate again after he saw Huo Ling has finished what he served on his plate earlier.

Luren saw that Huo Ling seemed to like seafood. He also washed his hand on the basin beside him before he voluntarily picked a shrimp and deshelled it, then also placed it on Huo Ling's plate – just beside the crab meat which Yi Bing placed.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling froze by Luren's actions. It's not only them, but also the people inside the cafeteria. How can the high and mighty Luren help someone with his food? They all thought as they looked at Luren, before they turned to look at Huo Ling, whom they found was also wearing the same stunned expression as them.

His bright eyes are round and wide in shock. His brown pupils are sparkling because of the lights in the cafeteria reflected on them. His lips that turned red and moist after he ate are slightly open as he gaped at Luren, surprised.

"Erm… thanks." They heard Huo Ling spoke with his soft voice, sounding awkward and at the same time, shy.

Everyone felt they were struck by an arrow in their heart. How can they hate someone like him that is filled with innocence? They could only feel envy towards him for being treated with kindness by Luren. They have already heard of a new student enrolling in the Fughlia. So, they surmised that Huo Ling must not yet know about Luren being so domineering and is full of abstinence, he hates being close to someone around one meter from him.

Yet, what are they seeing now? Not only Luren has invited someone to eat with him, but he also helped someone deshell a shrimp. They all secretly trembled in shock and fear. Their dine in order were changed to a take out, and those who were eating hurriedly finished their food. Someone even almost choked, but because he wanted to leave, he didn't even drink water and dashed out of the cafeteria.

Some time passed, only Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Luren were left. After that brief interlude, they resumed eating. At first, the atmosphere seemed to be subtle. But, Luren didn't think he has done anything wrong, and Huo Ling has a thick skin. So, that strange atmosphere disappeared.

Only Yi Bing who was faking his smile is internally irritated. He saw Huo Ling was enjoying his food and he kicked him under the table.

Huo Ling turned and blinked at Yi Bing. Although, with his youthful face, he looked ignorant, but how can Yi Bing, who had accompanied Huo Ling through nine worlds, not understand Huo Ling's gaze?

Huo Ling, using his thoughts to manipulate their communicator, sent a message to Yi Bing.

0000: what the heck is that kick for?!?!

Yi Bing, who has seen the code, paused and stared at the holographic screen that popped out before him. He felt emotional. Although 9999 was the code given to Huo Ling, and Sha Jiu is just half a grim reaper, but Shen Sheng felt that since Sha Jiu is an active grim reaper, so he had given the 0000 code to Huo Ling. This might be the official excuse he has given, but Yi Bing, Di San and Gu Shi – the ones who know the truth, naturally didn't buy it.

Yi Bing felt some complicated emotions. After he and Shen Sheng thought that day, Yi Bing finally had a clear understanding of his and Huo Ling's relationship: Twin Souls of Fate. Twin Souls of Fate are a pair of souls that their fate was given by the Heaven. If they were devout believers, they would be very grateful. But, Yi Bing isn't. Twin Souls of Fate may be a grand name, but Yi Bing only felt it is definitely not good. And he knew that it really isn't after Shen Sheng told him the truth.

Twin Souls of Fate are a pair of souls where one soul will suffer while the other is safe, or, rather, is in a good fortune. This is the fate of the Twin Souls. Like yin and yang, everything is balanced.

After Yi Bing heard it, his face is definitely darker than the night. Shen Sheng pitied him, and his hatred towards the Heaven increased. To console his 'son' Yi Bing, he had changed Huo Ling's 'official' code to 0000, and as a bonus, he told him another truth. There is another Twin Souls of Fate. Yi Bing has a guess, but he let Shen Sheng told him about who are they.

Unsurprisingly, they are Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng.