Volume 1 Chapter 7 Childhood Friends

  Dong'an is an ancient city with a very long history and profound cultural heritage. However, as the city undergoes large-scale renovation, high-rise buildings sprout up one after another, and those traditional flavors can only be found in preserved tourist attractions.

  Zhao Rui's home is located in a small district built at the end of the 1980s in the southern suburbs of Dong'an, although it looks somewhat shabby surrounded by high-end residential buildings nearby, but it's still relatively quiet.

  Zhao Rui returned home and the first thing he did was take a bath. After being blown by the wind and exposed to the sun for so many days, and then soaking in seawater for so long, he had become filthy.

  Rushing into the bathroom, letting the showerhead spray water to wash his body, he let out a comfortable sigh, feeling that even a golden nest or silver nest couldn't compare to his own doghouse, being at home was truly relaxing and carefree.

  After washing for an hour and carefully cleaning the dirt off his body, Zhao Rui wiped the water droplets off his body with a towel and casually picked up a mirror to take a look.

  Since his body merged with the ancient demon gene, a huge change had taken place, but he never knew what his face had become.

  The round mirror clearly reflected his face - ancient bronze skin, sword eyebrows and star eyes, with clear contours, looking very handsome. Compared to the ordinary appearance that could not be found in a crowd before, it was obviously not on the same level. Fortunately, the current appearance still had some shadow of the past.

  "It's okay, it's okay, at least I can still be recognized. Otherwise, those neighbors, classmates and teachers wouldn't be able to recognize me either, that would be a real hassle."

  Zhao Rui touched his face with his hand and let out a big sigh of relief.

  He had always been worried about the demon gene's transformation of his body being too great, but now it seems that he was overthinking.

  After washing up, he went to the bedroom to get some clean clothes and change into them. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

  "Who is it?"

  Zhao Rui asked, feeling a bit puzzled in his heart, how could someone be looking for him as soon as he returned.

  As the door opened, a tall and slender girl in her early twenties was standing outside. She wore a white T-shirt on top and a pair of denim shorts below, with a pair of pink flip-flops on her feet, and her long legs shone with a dazzling glow.

  "Xiao Rui! Is it really you? You're back!"

  The girl saw Zhao Rui and immediately exclaimed with joy, opening her arms to give Zhao Rui a warm hug, but suddenly thought of the difference between men and women, and her arm stretched out halfway and then put it down again.

  "Xiao Lan jie, we haven't seen each other for just over ten days, do you miss me like this?" Zhao Rui smiled and let the girl in.

  The girl's name is Sun Xiaolan, who lives opposite Zhao Rui. Her father is a university professor and her mother is also a high school teacher.

  As neighbors, the two had a very close relationship since childhood, and they also attended the same primary school, junior high school, and high school, and later even enrolled in the same university, which can be called a lifelong friendship.

  Sun Xiaolan is one year older than Zhao Rui, and since childhood, she has regarded herself as Zhao Rui's sister, with a strong protective desire, to the point where the aunt downstairs once joked that Sun Xiaolan was a mother hen who overflowed with love, always maintaining Zhao Rui.

  "Of course I miss you." Sun Xiaolan walked into the house, sat down on the sofa, and felt as comfortable as if she were in her own home. Her white, slender legs crossed over each other, swinging gently back and forth.

  "The day before yesterday, I heard from Aunt Li of the residents' committee that the Hailing luxury cruise ship you were on encountered a massive storm at sea and many people died or went missing. You were even on the list of missing persons, with little hope of survival. At the time, I was so heartbroken that I cried my eyes out! And then, just after I finished crying, you suddenly showed up safe and sound - it really made me cry for nothing!"

  Sun Xiaolan's tone was somewhat complaining, but her big eyes kept turning around Zhao Rui's face, revealing a hint of joy, obviously very happy for his safe return.

  Zhao Rui smiled lightly, feeling a little moved. Since his parents passed away in a car accident, it seemed that only Xiaolan had been the most concerned and taken care of him in this world.

  "How did you know I was back?"

  "I was just watching TV at home, when I suddenly heard my mom say that there was a sound of opening the door across from us, and I thought it was a thief. So I went to your doorstep and listened carefully, but instead, I heard the sound of someone taking a shower inside. I quickly knocked on the door, and unexpectedly, a lively little Rui appeared before my eyes!"

  As she said this, she seemed to have thought of something and tilted her head, looking at Zhao Rui and asking: "By the way, how did you survive the shipwreck? I heard Aunt Li say that the survival rate was not high!"

  Zhao Rui hesitated, unsure whether he should tell her about the Xianmo Cemetery.

  After some consideration, he thought it would be better to conceal his own experience. After all, that experience was too strange, and anyone with a clear mind wouldn't believe it.

  If I really tell the truth, I'm afraid Xiao Lan will immediately determine that I've been strongly stimulated and have lost my mind, and she'll send me straight to a mental hospital.

  "When the storm came, I fell into the sea and was rescued by another passing ship after losing consciousness, so I survived." He made up an excuse to gloss over it.

  "Oh? Really! Xiao Rui, your luck is indeed good. " Sun Xiaolan did not show any suspicion towards this explanation, "However, I feel that you have changed a bit since coming back!"

  "What's changed?" Zhao Rui was slightly startled, thinking she had seen through a flaw.

  "He's gotten darker and more handsome, it seems like even his temperament has changed a lot!" Sun Xiaolan slightly furrowed her eyebrows, carefully sizing up Zhao Rui, looking somewhat perplexed. "But upon closer inspection, it seems like nothing has changed after all."

  Zhao Ruixiang let out a sigh of relief, smiling and saying: "Of course I haven't changed, being on the sea with the wind blowing and sun shining is naturally healthier, as for being handsome, I've always been very handsome!"

  "Don't brag too much." Sun Xiaolan smiled and stretched out her hand, gently tapping his head: "Great difficulties will not kill you, there must be good fortune afterwards. You can come back alive, it's a great joyous event. How about this, I'll treat you to dinner, to calm your nerves."

  "Little Orchid, it should be me treating you instead."

  "You're not rich, don't waste money." Sun Xiaolan seriously lectured him as an elder sister, then continued to say, "Let's go to the Hunan restaurant across from our residential area, their Hunan dishes are very authentic, I've been craving for them for a long time, and now we finally have the chance!"

  Zhao Rui knew he couldn't outdo her, so he could only smile and nod in agreement.