Chapter 603: Introverts

"Oh hey!" Chen Jun Nan let out a wicked laugh and looked at the big rat in front of him. "You're awfully talkative, aren't you?"

"You're too kind." Di Shu chuckled awkwardly. "Compared to you, the leader, I'm probably more of an introvert."

"Hey, what are you saying?" Chen Jun Nan waved his hand dismissively. "I'm the top introvert in the capital—I don't even dare to burp when I'm out and about. We're two of a kind."

"Then we're really compatible. I'm the type who wouldn't speak up on my own for eight hundred years." Di Shu bared his rat teeth and grinned at Chen Jun Nan. "We introverts are perfect for making friends."

"Isn't this just perfect?" Chen Jun Nan smiled broadly as he walked toward the Sheng Xiao, eyeing the other closely the whole time. "I've been introverted my whole life and still don't have many friends."

Di Shu scanned Chen Jun Nan from head to toe, and though both were smiling, the atmosphere felt strangely off.

At that moment, Qiao Jia Jin lazily scratched his head. "Are you two alarm clocks or something? Why are you so noisy the second you meet?"

"Hey, Old Qiao, don't worry about it—I'm just making friends here."

"Huh...?" Qiao Jia Jin felt his energy returning and slowly got up from the ground. He looked at the two approaching figures, completely baffled.

Di Shu bowed slightly toward Chen Jun Nan and said, "Leader, since we hit it off so well, why not come in and sit for a bit? I have some fruit inside."

"You're being too polite. Fruit isn't cheap, is it?"

"You're putting me in a tough spot with that, leader." Di Shu shook his head. "I wouldn't take your money—just a life or two. You all can lie in the street pretending to be corpses, so 'life' must be worthless to you anyway."

"Hey, so it's about lives? I thought it was about money—what a misunderstanding!"

"Yeah, yeah, ha ha ha!"

As they chatted, the two ended up face-to-face. Qiao Jia Jin sensed something was wrong and quickly followed.

"Jun Nan, what are you up to?" Qiao Jia Jin asked warily, eyeing Di Shu. His years on the streets had taught him that these smiling types were trouble.

"I'm just chatting, aren't I?" Chen Jun Nan smiled. "This big rat wants us to join his game... What do you think, Old Qiao?"

"I think..." Qiao Jia Jin glanced at the rat. "It doesn't matter. I don't like this kind of person, but if they're bold enough to come at us, they're asking for it."

"You two leaders, I didn't say I want you to join a game. Just come in and sit." Di Shu opened his mouth a bit sheepishly. "I really do have a lot of fruit. Come in and have some?"

After hearing this, Chen Jun Nan and Qiao Jia Jin exchanged glances, their expressions calm and unruffled.

"Since you're offering fruit, we'll come in then."

The two strolled confidently into Di Shu's game area, and Di Shu naturally opened the door to welcome them, leading them all the way to the Shu Wu inside the game.

"Leader..." Di Shu looked at Chen Jun Nan's face and smiled slightly. "Please, come in."

Chen Jun Nan and Qiao Jia Jin noticed that the building was filled with the sweet scent of fruit, and in the Shu Wu that Di Shu led them to, there were indeed fresh fruits on the table.

"Huh...?" Chen Jun Nan was a bit stunned. "Big rat, you're really planning to treat us to fruit?"

"You bet." Di Shu nodded. "I get a fixed amount of fruit every day. Today, most of the participants probably died, so no one's coming to play. Better to share it than let it go to waste."

"What kind of weird logic is that...?" Chen Jun Nan couldn't quite grasp it. "Couldn't you just eat it yourself or throw it away? Is that why you've been watching us at the door?"

"Leader, I'm always this kind-hearted." Di Shu smiled, then stared at Chen Jun Nan's face for a long time.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Jun Nan asked with a laugh.

"Leader, I have to say, you look pretty presentable."

"Of course, between us, one of us has to be the looker, right?" Chen Jun Nan shot back.

"Ha..." Di Shu slowly grinned. "I really miss those days..."

Chen Jun Nan frowned at the word "miss"—it didn't sound good.

"Not gonna lie to you two, I brought you here not just for the fruit but also to chat a bit."

"Chat?"

Di Shu nodded, and after leading them inside, he closed the door. He went over and turned on the radio on the table, blasting out a noisy rock song at full volume, which left the two feeling irritated and disoriented.

The old radio's speaker was loud and crappy, making the floor vibrate under their feet.

"What's with this nonsense?" Chen Jun Nan asked.

"What?!" Di Shu cupped his hand to his ear over the racket. "Speak up, leader! I can't hear you!"

"Damn it, can't you turn off that crappy speaker?!" Chen Jun Nan shouted. "Weren't we supposed to chat?!"

"I can't, leader!" Di Shu yelled back over the music. "This is the only way to chat! Don't you like listening to music when you're slacking off at work?!"

"I don't have a job, damn it!" Chen Jun Nan shouted.

"Leader, if you don't have a job, how do you support a wife?" Di Shu yelled.

"I don't have a wife either!" Chen Jun Nan thought the rat in front of him was acting strange—it felt oddly familiar.

"What...?" Di Shu looked genuinely surprised. "Leader, are you kidding me? Don't you have a bunch of dating strategies?"

"I...?" Chen Jun Nan really wanted to have a proper talk with Di Shu, but the music in the room was just too loud. "Who the hell are you anyway?"

Di Shu stepped closer to Chen Jun Nan and lowered his voice. "Leader, I'm an old acquaintance of yours."

"An old acquaintance...?" Chen Jun Nan furrowed his brow, looking at him. He had preserved his memories for nearly eight years, but he didn't recall knowing this person.

"There's a bit of trouble now that needs your help, you two." Di Shu's voice grew softer, but Chen Jun Nan could hear it more clearly.

"What trouble...?" Chen Jun Nan paused.

"The plan you and Qi Xia are working on is already underway. A lot of Sheng Xiao are involved, and I suspect there are enemy spies among them." Di Shu smiled casually, as if chatting about everyday things.

Chen Jun Nan and Qiao Jia Jin glanced at each other, unsure whether to believe what Di Shu was saying.