Chen Feng honked his horn, signaling for people to make way, and then prepared to drive into the residential area.
As for the guard shack at the entrance of the neighborhood, there was no one on duty.
After all, how could such a run-down area afford to hire security guards?
So, Chen Feng didn’t stop at the gate and drove straight into the neighborhood.
He had intended to drop Wang Hao off at his building and leave.
But once Chen Feng drove into the neighborhood, he found that the main road was nearly filled with bicycles and electric scooters.
Walking would be fine, but driving was impossible.
Having no other option, Chen Feng had to find a place to park near the main entrance and stopped the car there.
"Haozi, stop sleeping, we’re home!" Chen Feng pushed the sleeping Wang Hao in the passenger seat and said.
"We’re home?" Wang Hao rubbed his bleary eyes and asked, still not fully awake.
"Yeah, get out and go back. Remember to talk things over with your parents properly, there’s no problem that can’t be solved, and if you really decide to drop out, I can help you!" Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Boss, I really don’t know how to talk to them. I don’t want to argue either. Maybe... you could come up with me? You help me talk to them?" Wang Hao looked at Chen Feng with earnest eyes and said.
"This early, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to go up?" Chen Feng frowned.
"What’s wrong with that? You’re my boss; my home is your home!" Wang Hao said.
"Well... okay then, I’ll see it through to the end!" Chen Feng nodded, agreeing to it.
"Haha, I knew you’d help me, Boss!" Wang Hao said with a laugh.
The two then got out of the car and walked towards the building where Wang Hao’s family lived.
Chen Feng had planned to buy a gift first from the supermarket at the entrance of the neighborhood since it was his first time visiting.
But Wang Hao insisted it wasn’t necessary, and Chen Feng, unable to persuade him otherwise, had to go empty-handed.
The two went straight upstairs and arrived at the door of Wang Hao’s home, knocking on the rusty, peeling security door.
About five or six seconds later, a haggard middle-aged woman wearing an apron opened the inside door.
"Mom!" Wang Hao, seeing the middle-aged woman, gave a sheepish smile and called out softly.
This middle-aged woman was his mother, Zhou Yulan.
When Zhou Yulan saw Wang Hao and Chen Feng outside the door, her eyes immediately reddened, and she said with tears and much agitation:
"Xiao Hao, where did you run off to last night? You really worried your dad and me to death."
"Mom, don’t worry, I didn’t go anywhere. I just stayed over at my boss’s place, and here I am, back safe and sound!"
Seeing his mother in such distress and about to cry, Wang Hao felt a pang in his heart, and the resentment he had from last night’s argument vanished in an instant.
"Your boss? You’ve joined the underworld? Oh, Xiao Hao, you’re going to be the death of me. Can’t you give me some peace of mind?"
Zhou Yulan’s emotions surged even more when she heard this.
She obviously misunderstood the meaning of "boss" as mentioned by Wang Hao.
This put Chen Feng in an awkward spot, finding it a bit ridiculous that he’d been misunderstood as a gang leader.
"Mom, what are you talking about? The ’boss’ I’m talking about isn’t a gang leader!"
Wang Hao, too, was at a loss for words, and quickly waved his hands, pointing at Chen Feng while explaining:
"Look, this is my boss. We’re classmates; he’s older than me, so I call him ’boss’. It’s a trendy new term among us young people!"
"Oh, is that so? You scared me to death there. I thought you’d really gone bad!"
Zhou Yulan patted her chest, relieved, then turned to Chen Feng with gratitude, "So, you and Xiao Hao are classmates? Thank you for taking in my son last night. I really can’t thank you enough."
"No worries, Auntie. Haozi and I are good friends, best buddies. It’s what we should do!" Chen Feng responded with a smile.
"What a sensible boy!" Zhou Yulan showed a smile at the corner of her mouth; she clearly had a very favorable first impression of Chen Feng.
"Mom, let’s not stand out here chatting. Hurry up and open the security door to let us in!" Wang Hao gave his mother an exasperated look and said helplessly.
"Oh, oh, I’m really sorry, I was so caught up talking to you two that I forgot to open the door!" Zhou Yulan said apologetically, quickly unlocking the security door and saying, "Please come in!"
Only then did Chen Feng and Wang Hao finally enter Wang Hao’s home.
The house wasn’t very large, only about fifty to sixty square meters. The furniture was old, but Zhou Yulan kept it very clean, creating a cozy, homely atmosphere.
It was clear that, aside from the lack of money, Wang Hao’s family life was quite happy.
The two sat down on the worn-out couch in the living room.
Zhou Yulan quickly served tea for Chen Feng and Wang Hao.
Chen Feng was just about to take a sip from the cup.
At that moment, the bathroom door opened, and a dark-skinned, slightly hunched, but stern-looking middle-aged man emerged.
This man was Wang Hao’s father, Wang Yue.
Seeing Wang Hao on the couch, Wang Yue had a reaction that was identical to Zhou Yulan’s, freezing on the spot.
However, his expression turned grim in an instant, and he barked angrily, "You little brat, you know to come back? Weren’t you going to run away from home? Why come back?!"
"Dad... I know I was wrong. Whatever happens, I shouldn’t have run away from home!" Wang Hao lowered his head, saying with an apologetic face.
"Hmph!" Hearing Wang Hao’s apologetic words, Wang Yue’s expression softened slightly, as he snorted coldly and was just about to scold Wang Hao some more.
But, at that moment, someone knocked on the door again.
"Who’s there?" Wang Yue furrowed his brow, puzzled.
"I don’t know. I’ll go open the door!"
Zhou Yulan said and prepared to open the door.
"Wang Yue, open the door quickly. If you don’t, I’ll smash this damn door down. Don’t think hiding inside means you don’t have to pay back the money. I’m telling you, you can’t short me a penny of the principal or the interest, or else I’ll make sure neither of you enjoys any peace!"
However, before Zhou Yulan could reach the door, an extremely arrogant voice sounded through it.
Hearing this, both Wang Yue and Zhou Yulan’s faces turned ashen.
Chen Feng also furrowed his brow.
It was clear to anyone with eyes that Wang Hao’s family was in some kind of trouble.
And that trouble was definitely related to money...