Chapter 19: An Old Classmate

Chapter 19: Old Classmate

It had been more than a week since Jiang Ren cleared the "Hunter" world. Feeling that his mental state had returned to normal, he was ready to start the second world, "Demon Hunt."

“But first, the immediate priority is to solve the dinner problem.”

Rubbing his hungry stomach, Jiang Ren prepared to go downstairs for a meal.

He picked up his phone from the bedside table, and just as he unlocked the screen, a push notification popped up.

He was about to swipe it away, intending to check which useless app had secretly changed its push settings again, and then delete it. But the content and the accompanying image of the news caught his eye—they looked oddly familiar.

[Executive of a certain internet company hospitalized after injury; colleagues visit with gifts piling up in the ward!]

The picture showed a middle-aged man lying in a hospital bed, pale-faced and forcing a smile. Around him were numerous bouquets and various green plastic bags.

A closer look revealed that the bouquets were actually white latex products, and the bags bore the names of certain pharmacies.

The middle-aged man was none other than Wang Wuliang, who was still recuperating in the hospital.

After Zhuo Dazhi had gone to the hospital to deliver a bouquet and a box of medicine to Wang Wuliang, the news spread through the company. Many colleagues imitated him by bringing flowers and medicine when visiting, and those who were too busy placed orders through delivery apps to have them sent over.

Even Jiang Ren couldn’t help but send a box of kidney medicine through a delivery service, contributing a little of his modest effort.

After experiencing such an event, Wang Wuliang, even if fully recovered, would probably have no face to return to work here.

Not to mention the fact that this was already in the news. Although it was just a self-media outlet, with the clear photo and several anonymous comments explaining the situation, Wang Wuliang might even become an internet sensation.

“Well, the outcome is not bad.”

Jiang Ren nodded slightly. Although his mental state had been somewhat unstable due to repeatedly entering simulated lives, leading him to handle Wang Wuliang without much preparation, the result was still acceptable.

He casually deleted the news app that had sent the notification, cleared some junk files, and went downstairs.

After dinner, Jiang Ren didn’t return immediately but took a walk on the sidewalk to speed up digestion and ponder how to clear the "Demon Hunt" world.

Each time at moments like this, his emotions would become very calm.

“Have I gone a bit mad? A system meant to simulate life has been turned by me into a game to be beaten.”

At this thought, Jiang Ren showed a faint, bitter smile.

He glanced casually behind him and suddenly noticed a little girl about two or three years old sitting on the ground in front of a parked car. She was playing with her fingers, while the young driver, who had just inserted the key into the ignition, didn’t see the girl because of the angle.

The engine started, and the car was about to move.

In a moment of urgency, Jiang Ren grabbed his phone and threw it.

Bang!

The phone traced a beautiful arc in midair and struck the windshield precisely, leaving a fist-sized crack.

The little girl was startled by the noise and burst into tears.

“Who the hell—”

The young driver immediately pulled the handbrake, opened the door, ready to curse, but froze when he saw a crying little girl sitting less than a fist’s length from the front of the car.

Jiang Ren rushed over, picked up the girl, and placed her on the sidewalk.

“Oh dear, don’t cry, tell grandma who bullied you?”

An elderly woman chatting nearby hurried over upon hearing the voice, hugging and comforting the little girl.

“Such a young child shouldn’t be left alone to play.”

Seeing the old woman’s actions, Jiang Ren’s expression turned cold.

Leaving such a small child unattended was no different from intentional harm.

The young driver swallowed nervously. If the windshield hadn’t been smashed, he would have driven off and surely hit the girl in her spot, with dire consequences.

Now, he felt grateful that the phone had struck the glass instead.

“Mind your own business. Am I her grandma, or are you?” The old woman seemed to realize her mistake, kicked the car’s body once, picked up the girl, and grumbled as she left.

Jiang Ren shook his head and picked up his fallen phone.

The young driver stepped forward to thank him but suddenly froze, “Jiang Ren?”

Hearing his name, Jiang Ren didn’t check his phone for damage, instead looking at the driver puzzled. “Do we know each other?”

It turned out that coincidences really did exist in the world.

The young driver named Zhao Liming felt a complex mix of emotions. He had recognized Jiang Ren over a week ago when picking up his girlfriend and had been debating whether to contact him. After all, although they were high school classmates, their relationship had not been friendly.

Back in high school, Zhao Liming had been disciplined by Jiang Ren for mimicking certain “brotherhood” movie antics during studies—a memory still vivid to him.

But thinking that so much time had passed and that they had met twice in different places now, he took it as fate and said, “I’m Zhao Liming.”

“Zhao Liming?”

Jiang Ren studied the man carefully but couldn’t recall the name or face.

“I’m your high school classmate. In the first year, when a few of us were collecting protection fees, you even beat me up. Do you remember?”

Zhao Liming’s lips twitched slightly, a sudden pang of sadness arising. He hadn’t expected that the person he held a grudge against for so many years wouldn’t recognize him.

“Oh, it’s you. Sorry, sorry, I’ve been sleep-deprived and foggy-headed lately, couldn’t remember for a moment.”

Jiang Ren immediately wore a look of realization and said, “Hello, classmate Zhao.”

A trace of grievance flickered in Zhao Liming’s eyes. Clearly, Jiang Ren had just forgotten his name again. He took a deep breath and enunciated each syllable heavily: “Zhao! Li! Ming!”

“Classmate Zhao Liming, I’ve got you now. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Jiang Ren showed no embarrassment. Seeing no serious damage to his phone other than a cracked screen protector and a chipped case, he prepared to leave.

He really had little impression of this high school classmate.

Or rather, very few people from high school left any impression on him.

“Wait, old classmate meeting, let’s exchange contacts.”

Zhao Liming hurriedly stopped him. “And if it hadn’t been you just now, I would have hit someone. You should at least let me thank you.”

“No problem.”

Seeing Zhao Liming’s firm attitude, Jiang Ren exchanged contacts with him but politely declined his invitation to dinner.

After all, he had just eaten and had no appetite for another meal.

Back home, Jiang Ren turned off the lights, lay on his bed, and started the "Demon Hunt" world.

Since it was his first time and he wasn’t yet familiar, to avoid heavy losses, he refrained from purchasing anything from the in-game store.

(End of Chapter)