<h4>Chapter 55</h4>
This incident had a significant impact on ss Leader''s Dad, causing him to reflect on many aspects of his life.
As one approaches middle age, it bes crucial to prioritize one''s health.
After all, no matter how sessful one''s business bes, everyone must face the inevitable cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death.
At his age, thepetition was no longer about who could earn more money, but rather who could live longer.
ss Leader''s Dad thus made a firm resolution to take better care of his health, determined to outlive all his enemies.
Of course, all of this urred before ss Leader''s Dad learned the details of Xue''s Father''s kidnapping.
When he discovered that Xue''s Father had been abducted at the same time and ce as Mr. Hei, he turned a scrutinizing gaze towards his son.
The intensity of his father''s stare made ss Leader feel extremely ufortable.
ss Leader''s Dad examined his offspring from head to toe, unable to see anything that suggested connections with powerful figures.
Yet it was this very boy who had given him an address and date, coinciding with his arch-rival''s misfortune.
Could it be that his son had be involved in illegal activities without his knowledge?
With most of the kidnapping gang now arrested, would they implicate his son?
If his boy had indeed broken thew, should he, as a father, choose justice over family loyalty, or family loyalty over justice?
ss Leader was oblivious to his father''s inner turmoil, unaware that his dad was already preparing himself to prioritize thew over family ties if necessary.
However, ss Leader''s Dad didn''t just ponder; he opened a search engine to find out how many years in prison his son''s alleged crime might carry.
He dared not consult the legal department of hispany, believing that family disgrace should be kept private.
On Baidu, every health search starts with cancer; on Weibo, every legal query begins with the death penalty.
After his online research, ss Leader''s Dad could already envision hisw-abiding but legallypromised son''s life behind bars.
When they were alone, ss Leader''s Dad spoke to his son with grave seriousness, "Son, you''re still young, not yet eighteen. If you turn yourself in, the judge will be more lenient."
ss Leader was bewildered.
His only thought was that if his father could speak inly for once, he might actually understand what was going on.
However, being father and son, ss Leader quickly grasped his father''s meaning.
With an exasperated tone, ss Leader dropped a parting shot before leaving, "Dad, I''m starting to suspect that the reason Mr. Xue keeps outbidding you for contracts is because your thought process is so... unique."
He mmed the door as he left, leaving ss Leader''s Dad staring nkly into the air.
That ungrateful brat, how dare he speak to me like that, he thought.
However, judging by his son''s reaction, it seemed he hadn''t been involved in any illegal activities after all.
As for the rest, ss Leader''s Dad decided not to pursue the matter further.
Shi Li and all her ssmates received invitations to attend Xue''s Father''s funeral.
It felt strange to be invited to a funeral for the first time.
Xue Xuejia: "Don''t you remember attending Wei Yi''s father''s funeral before?"
Shi Li: "Hehe, that was different. I went of my own ord then."
Xue''s Father''s funeral bore simrities to Wei Yi''s father''s funeral; both were hastily arranged.
In both cases, the body was quickly sent for cremation.
Xue''s Father''s funeral didn''t simplify the proceedings, following all the usualplex rituals.
The only difference was that instead of a body lying in the coffin, there was now an urn of ashes.
Xue Xuejia had learned from Wei Yi''s father''s experience. To prevent any potential ims from unknown children, she opted for immediate cremation, putting an end to any such possibilities.
As it turned out, this strategy proved effective.
During the funeral, several young women showed up with their daughters, demanding a share of the inheritance.
Just like at Wei Yi''s father''s funeral, Xue Xuejia''s prowess in arguing was second only to her desk mate.
Using only thirty percent of her full capabilities, she managed to rout the women, sending them fleeing in defeat.
Shi Li, who had witnessed the entire spectacle, couldn''t help but remark, "Now that was a thoroughly satisfyingmunication."
Others: "You call hurling insults about each other''s ancestors munication''?"
After the ceremony concluded, Xue Xuejia, like Wei Yi had done, treated everyone to a meal.
Thinking back, thest time the entire ss had gathered for a meal was due to Wei Yi''s father''s passing.
Shi Li voiced a wish as earnest as hoping for world peace.
"I hope the next time our whole ss gets together for a meal, it won''t be because something bad has happened to someone."
Everyone: "We share that hope, but it seems unlikely."
By the time they finished eating, it was quitete. Those who had drivers to pick them up were fine, but some ssmates needed to take taxis or public transportation home.
The location was rather remote, with limited ess to buses and subways.
Taking a taxite at night wasn''t particrly safe either.
Considering this, the ss leader asked about everyone''s addresses and arranged for those who lived nearby and had drivers to help drop off the others.
In other sses, where rtionships between ssmates might be more casual, this situation could have been awkward. Some might feel ufortable asking for a ride, while others might feel burdened by the unexpected task.
But this ss shared a deep bond, forged by their shared secrets and experiences over the past few months of the school year.
Their rtionship had evolved to that of family members.
Dropping off a rtive on the way home? That''s just a small favor among family.
Sitting in the hotel''s private room, some students called out their addresses while others listened attentively, ready to volunteer for the task.
Shi Li was no exception.
However, upon hearing one particr address, she suddenly became uneasy.
"If I remember correctly..." she thought.
Others: Here she goes again with her "if I remember correctly." Let''s see who''ll be the next lucky star.
"There was a perverted underwear thief active in the University''s faculty housingplex just before the Winter Solstice."
This news was both bizarre and disturbing, making it difficult for Shi Li to forget.
Duan Yaojing, who became the next "lucky star," had mixed feelings about this turn of events.
Not wanting to be favored by the goddess of fortune in this way, she thought to herself, surely she couldn''t be so unlucky as to be one of the victims of the underwear theft?
"The pervert stole underwear from every first and second-floor apartment balcony in the entireplex."
While news of underwear theft wasn''t umon, what made this incident memorable to Shi Li was its sheer audacity.
Duan Yaojing''s gentle smile froze on her face; her family lived on the second floor.
Shi Li volunteered, "My home is close to the Universityplex. I can drop you off."
Her house and the Universityplex were actually in opposite directions, but Shi Li wanted to warn Duan Yaojing during the car ride.
Sitting side by side in the car with Shi Li, Duan Yaojing''s emotions were indescribable.
After dropping Duan Yaojing off at her destination, Shi Li got out of the car and made a show of visiting Duan Yaojing''s home. Then, this tactless guest suggested that residents on lower floors should take appropriate anti-theft measures.
Duan Yaojing''s parents worked away from home, so she lived with her grandparents in the assigned apartment building.
This apartment building was also about 50-60 years old. When it was originally constructed, security measures against theft weren''t taken into consideration.
Her grandparents were also quite elderly and had never really thought about the issue of theft prevention.
Living on a university campus, the elderly couple felt that thoseing and going were mostly students, so it was rtively safe.
Knowing the background, when she heard Shi Li remind her about improving security measures, Duan Yaojing didn''t find this guest overly meddlesome. Instead, she felt a warmth in her heart, which slightly dispelled the nauseating feeling she had upon first hearing about the underwear theft incident.
Duan Yaojing gratefully expressed her thanks, saying, "Thank you, I''ve noted your suggestion. When I have time, I''ll call someone to install security grilles."
Shi Li had originallye over to remind Duan Yaojing to be careful about safety. Her grandparents, being courteous, insisted that since their granddaughter''s ssmate had escorted her home, Shi Li must take some local specialties with her when she left.
Unable to refuse the two elderly people, Shi Li finally went downstairs with a jar of homemade pickled radish from the grandparents.
After returning to her room, Duan Yaojing received many caring text messages from her ssmates.
Her ssmates mentioned that they had tagged her in the group chat, asking what she wanted to do.
She replied: [I n to follow Shi Li''s advice and install protective grilles on the balcony]
Seeing her reply, someone said their family had a home improvement business and could provide the sturdiest and most useful protective grilles for free.
After this ssmate''sment, the discussionpletely derailed.
[Does your protective grillee with an electric fence service? The kind that zaps with 100,000 volts on contact]
[Honey, that''s for special facilities like prisons, not really suitable for our homes, right?]
[Why not suitable? Let''s make sure that pervert has no way back]
Based on the discussion above, someone gave a more reasonable suggestion.
[Jing Jing, you could have your dad stake out the pervert with a baseball bat]
[That''s right, that''s right. If that pervert dares to show his face, give him a good whack]
Duan Yaojing appreciated her ssmates'' good intentions in offering suggestions.
[Thank you all for your kindness, but my parents aren''t home. I live with my grandparents, and nighttime burr-catching activities might not be suitable for our family of elderly, women, and children]
[If your parents aren''t home, you''ve still got us!]
[Yeah, we can help you catch the thief]
Duan Yaojing: ??? What on earth are you all talking about