Meeting the Parents

"If she can join the Dragon Squad, it should be a win-win situation."

Hearing this, Tang Feng was surprised that Daley held such a high opinion of Liu Fei'er. He immediately slapped his thigh and said, "Alright! Vision will process Fei'er's employment paperwork tomorrow!"

A Zeng and A Sun never expected that Liu Fei'er was on the verge of breaking through to C-class, and a wave of anxiety washed over them. After all, they were merely low-level F-class operatives!

Liu Fei'er looked at Liu Lang, her large eyes filled with hope. "Can I go?"

Liu Lang felt a certain romantic yearning for a single dorm room, so he nodded without much resistance.

"Do you have any intel on who modified Song Lili, Team Leader Tang?" Daley's gaze shifted. "I believe Song Lili is merely a phased victory; unearthing the person behind her is far more crucial."

Tang Feng stammered evasively, "My superiors gave me the order to capture Song Lili..."

Qin Chuan had a bit too much to drink and chimed in, "That's right, the case of the missing wife and daughter on Niulan Street has been solved now, we should—"

Director Li hurriedly knocked him on the head. "Song Lili has been brought to justice, Xiaobao is dead, and there are no longer any doubts in the Niulan Street case. We can prosecute Song Lili's husband, Wang Dawei, for intentional homicide! This case is closed!"

Director Li had figured it out. The Dragon Squad was an up-and-coming supernatural organization that wanted to use the capture of Song Lili's mission to pull off a spectacular debut. Now that their objective had been achieved, they didn't want to complicate matters further. Nor did he want to wade into the muddy waters of supernatural factions.

Daley leaned close to Tang Feng's ear and whispered, "You must have heard of the Ghost Bride incident. I've been researching it since Min Province, and my hypothesis is that it relates to spatial rules."

Tang Feng's eyebrows twitched. Spatial rules—he had only heard rumors that the state was organizing related research; he hadn't expected Daley to be the one researching it.

"And according to my latest intelligence, Tuni, renowned as the number one Slit-Mouthed Woman of the Fusang Kingdom, has broken away from her organization. One of her supernatural abilities is spatial manipulation. I suspect Song Lili was modified by her, and her purpose may be connected to the spatial rules represented by the Ghost Bride."

"I trust Team Leader Tang already understands the value of digging deeper into the Song Lili case." Daley adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose.

Tang Feng nodded, though a trace of suspicion flashed in his eyes. "Why choose me?"

"Ever since parting ways with the military, my laboratory has been affiliated with the Academy of Sciences. Perhaps the Dragon Squad needs its own research institution, and I need spatial rules to step out of my laboratory. This is a win-win."

Tang Feng gave Daley a deep look and slowly nodded. "This might not be something I can handle alone—"

"You can. The Dragon Squad can. United, we won't need to curry favor with anyone." Daley grasped Tang Feng's hand. "Both Liu Lang and Liu Fei'er had deep contact with the Ghost Bride in Min Province. We must keep at least one of them."

Something touched Tang Feng deep within, and he returned a resolute gaze. "The Dragon Squad is newly established. Just give me time."

Daley broke into a relaxed smile and raised his glass of red wine in a toast. "The matter regarding Tuni brooks no delay. If my research direction is correct, the Ghost Bride will appear soon. I will provide targeted instruments and equipment so you can weave your net with peace of mind."

He took another sip of wine, pointed his glass toward Liu Lang, and said, "Liu Lang is kind-hearted, but he is indecisive and hesitant. As long as you secure Fei'er, Liu Lang will naturally become your man. As for the others, there is an A-class powerhouse with a mysterious background currently in closed-door cultivation at Kunlun Academy."

Tang Feng's eyes lit up. This Liu Lang had a background after all. To accomplish great things, one had to unite all forces that could be united. "Very well. Tonight, I will have your junior sister A Zeng draft a proposal, and tomorrow I will lobby the higher-ups for their support."

After the celebration banquet concluded, everyone from the Dragon Squad, from Tang Feng down to A Sun, added Liu Lang on WeChat, showing an enthusiasm as if they had been lifelong friends.

Monk Vision even sent him a video link. "I do short video self-media as a hobby, explaining Buddhist scriptures and popularizing wellness methods," he emphasized the word "wellness."

A Sun went even further, directly gifting him a brand-new tablet computer, claiming she didn't need it and wanted Liu Lang to have it for gaming. Liu Lang was about to decline, but seeing the immense excitement in Liu Fei'er's eyes, he accepted it.

"These folks from the Dragon Squad sure know how to navigate human relationships," Liu Lang muttered, shaking his head as they walked away.

"Hehe, I think they're all very warm," Liu Fei'er said, tapping away on the tablet, completely absorbed in some game. "And they're so rich! Giving away such an expensive tablet just like that."

"Director Li told me that the Dragon Squad members are all scions of noble families. Never mind them. I was too constrained tonight and didn't get to eat my fill. I found a barbecue place that's amazing—I'm taking you out for round two! I'm not going back tonight; I'm taking you to a hotel!" Liu Lang scooped Liu Fei'er up and bolted forward, the two of them playfully bickering and laughing happily.

Minnan Food Stall.

Liu Lang ordered a massive spread, practically ticking off every single item on the barbecue menu.

He was genuinely starving. Aside from the aroma, the roasted garlic chives left a hint of sweetness on his palate; the mutton skewers sizzled with fat, perfectly balanced between lean and tender; and the roasted oysters oozed a rich garlic aroma that made one's mouth water.

Although Liu Fei'er had eaten her fill at the celebration banquet, she kept up the fight like a bottomless pit. "These toasted bread slices are so good! They sprinkled sugar on them and toasted them until they're slightly charred. Biting into them together with the bread makes the sweetness feel so tangible!"

Liu Lang picked up a large oyster and placed it in front of her. "Try this. Look at how big and tender the oyster meat is—you've probably never had it before. And that chicken leg, it's not grilled, it's deep-fried, but it's delicious. I don't know what kind of seasoning the owner used..."

Liu Fei'er was so busy she didn't know what to eat first. She slurped up the broth from the roasted oyster, took a bite of the chicken leg, and let Liu Lang feed her a piece of toasted bread. Chewing the meat with her cheeks puffed out, her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled at Liu Lang.

Liu Lang's father and mother sat at a table right behind Liu Lang, watching them intently.

Sitting at the same table with them were Mr. and Mrs. Yuan.

"Hah, look at that little girl go, she can really eat! She must have polished off a third of that huge table!" Old Yuan remarked in a good-natured joke. Mrs. Yuan glared at him. "Hush."

"Well, anyway, it's getting late, so we'll head back first. Brother Liu, Sister-in-law, please ask Xiao Lang to help out with Xiao Xiao's matter," Mrs. Yuan said earnestly. Liu's father and mother repeatedly murmured, "Not at all, not at all," and "It's only right."

Old Yuan and his wife's child, Yuan Xiaoxiao, had reportedly been taken away by official authorities for days, and they had lost all contact. Coincidentally, hearing that their fellow townsman Brother Liu's son had made something of himself and become a police officer in Tianjing, they begged them to let Liu Lang help inquire about the situation.

After seeing off Mr. and Mrs. Yuan, Liu's father jerked his head toward Liu Lang's table, walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

After paying the owner for Liu Lang's table, Liu's mother walked over and sat down as well.

"Dad? Mom?"

Liu Lang was startled.

Liu Fei'er was in the midst of devouring a large deep-fried chicken leg, her white teeth and red lips immersed in the poultry, when that word—"Mom and Dad"—hit her like a thunderbolt!