Chapter 301 - A PAIR OF STRONG HANDS

LUO YAN quickly answered the phone. "Hello? Brother?"

Luo Ren's slight cold voice came over the phone. "Yan Yan, Uncle Chu called me. He said you asked him to get Xiao Jin from school? Are you not going home together? How about Uncle Tan?" he asked consecutively, talking about their family's other driver.

Luo Yan was slightly surprised. He didn't expect Uncle Chu to report that to his older brother. Well, maybe he should have expected it. If his father was not in his business trip right now, maybe he would also be calling him. 

"I'm out eating with my friend. It's kind of a celebration for finishing our exam," Luo Yan explained. "Don't worry, Brother. Uncle Tan is waiting in a parking lot nearby. And we also won't stay out late," he added to make sure that his older brother wouldn't worry.

"Then be careful. And make sure not to take off your coat. The weather is already cold. It would be bad if you get sick."

Luo Yan secretly smiled. Because what his brother said was the same thing as what Shen Ji Yun said. "I know, Brother."

Then he hung up the phone and ended the call.

"That's your elder brother?" Yu Jiao guessed when Luo Yan put his phone back in his pocket.

"Yeah. All of them are big worrywarts," Luo Yan said with a helpless smile on his lips.

"It's good that they worry. It's a sign that they love you."

Luo Yan had to look at Yu Jiao when he heard what she said. Because he had a feeling that she was not simply making a comment. He could hear a bit of envy in her voice. She probably didn't even notice it herself. He knew her family situation and he didn't really want to pry into it. Unless she opened up to him herself. 

So, he decided to change the subject. He didn't want Yu Jiao to be sad, albeit inadvertently. It's better to talk about something else, rather than let her wallow in sadness.

"By the way, Jiao Jiao, Luo Jin and I already have materials for the weapons. Should we meet up tomorrow in the game so we could give them to you?"

"Okay. Where should we meet?"

Luo Yan let out a sigh of relief when he heard that her tone was back to normal. "How about at Moonriver in Goldcrest City? Just after lunch?"

"I have no problem with that," Yu Jiao said. "I will make a preliminary design tonight. Do you have an idea on what you want your weapon to look like?"

"No, you're free to design it anyway you want. But it would be good if it could look beautiful."

Yu Jiao chuckled. Yes, Luo Yan deserved only beautiful things. "Of course. You're an Assassin, right? And Luo Jin is a Gunslinger?"

"Yes. I'm using twin daggers and Ah Jin is using two guns."

She nodded. "I'll take that into account."

"I'm not sure about Ah Jin's materials. But I have two pretty unique materials. One is an Umbra metal. Anything that is made from it would have a shadow attribute. Then the other material is the Eternal Lotus' Core – it has the ability to suspend time."

Yu Jiao's eyes brightened when she heard what Luo Yan said about the two unique materials that he had. A lot of ideas about the weapon's design were already pouring into her mind. "Those are indeed good materials. It's hard to find materials that could incorporate elements. And yet you have two. You're amazing, Yan Yan!"

Luo Yan grinned and puffed out his little chest. "I know."

The two of them looked at each other and then burst out laughing at the same time.

"Have you made weapons for major teams?" Luo Yan thought of asking.

"Yeah. Most of the players that belong to major teams are, well, rich, I guess. So, they could afford a lot of good materials."

"And they could also afford your fee."

Yu Jiao smiled. "That too."

Luo Yan finished eating the opera cake.

"Do you want more? I could give you mine," Yu Jiao said, pushing the plate of blueberry cheesecake to his side.

"No, I can't. I'm not allowed to eat too much sweet, you see."

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know," Yu Jiao said, taking back the plate. It's probably because of the whole 'seven-year in a coma' situation. He needed to watch out his diet. "That must be hard." Considering how much Luo Yan obviously loved sweets.

"You have no idea." 

They finished eating and drinking their tea while talking about non-sensical issues here and there. 

"It's only five, do you want to go some place else?" Luo Yan asked when they walked out of the café.

"No. Let's go back. It's much colder nearing the evening. It won't be good if you get sick."

Luo Yan chuckled. "Why does everyone say that? It's almost like I'm going to croak with just one cold wind. Do I really look that frail?"

"Ahm, do you want an honest answer?" 

Luo Yan appeared as if he was shock. "Are you saying I look weak?"

Yu Jiao looked tangled before deciding to nod.

"Jiao Jiao, how could you?" he said, acting like he was hurt.

Yu Jiao laughed. "Okay, stop acting."

He gave her a huge grin. 

They were about to cross the road to go to the parking lot where the car was parked when Luo Yan accidentally glanced at a donut shop two shops away from the café. "Wait, I'll buy some donut for Ah Jin." 

He walked towards it. But before he could even reach the place, two people suddenly stopped his tracks. He raised his head and saw two teenage boys looking down at him with interest. 

"Hey, want to come hang out with us?" one of them asked.

"Yeah, it will be our treat," another followed.

Luo Yan smiled at the two but his eyes were filled with coldness. And he simply said, "I'm a boy."

Both seemed taken aback at first. Then they appeared like they didn't believe what he said. 

"No way. Are you kidding? You need to think of a more convincing excuse that that," one said.

"Maybe we should take a look inside 'his' pants."

[These little shits.]

Luo Yan was getting ready to kick their 'little brothers' when someone pulled him back. He hadn't reacted yet when he saw Yu Jiao standing in front of him.

"S-stay away," Yu Jiao said with a firm voice.

"You're the one who should stay away."

"Yeah, we saw her first."

Then one of the two suddenly pushed Yu Jiao to the side. Luo Yan didn't expect that the two would quickly become violent. So, he wasn't able to react immediately.

Yu Jiao was pushed hard. She quickly lost balance. She was already expecting to fall down. That's why she could only close her eyes. But then, that didn't happen. Instead, her shoulders were held by a strong pair of hands.

She opened her eyes and saw a very handsome face. It belonged to that of a man wearing a crisp black suit. His black eyes had no temperature. As if nothing or no one could ever enter them. 

"Are you alright?" he asked in an equally cold voice.

Before she could answer, Luo Yan suddenly exclaimed;

"Brother?"