Uesugi repeatedly apologized, realizing his daughter’s rudeness.
The girl named Hu Qiandai also followed with an apology.
It was clear that this girl, just like her father, was well-mannered.
"Hu Qiandai, why are you here?"
"Didn’t I say to wait in the hall?"
"I was just curious about the exorcist you found, Father, so I came to have a look."
Hu Qiandai replied in such a manner.
However, after just a glance, she turned her attention back to Hui Lijing.
Though Jason’s height and build were indeed impressive, it was still Hui Lijing who captivated her more.
Because she felt as if she had seen Hui Lijing somewhere before.
A kind of inexplicable familiarity.
Maybe it was the height?
Could it be that we’ve met somewhere?
Hu Qiandai thought to herself.
And while Hu Qiandai was pondering this, Hui Lijing spoke up directly.
"Have we met somewhere before?"
"Sorry, I was just thinking about that, so I couldn’t help exclaiming out loud."
"Are you from ’Echigo’ High School?"
After her exclamation, Hu Qiandai began to inquire in a low voice.
"I’m from ’Yamanashi’ High School."
The female detective shook her head regretfully.
But the exchange between the two girls was far from over.
They spoke in low voices about clothes, movies, songs, and even desserts and food.
In short, their chat covered an expansive array of topics.
When the conversation unexpectedly steered towards the topic of ’dumplings,’ their friendship began to swiftly warm up.
Upon seeing this, Uesugi couldn’t help but shake his head.
Women’s friendships are really strange.
The middle-aged man sighed.
Then, he turned his gaze toward Jason.
"Hu Qiandai rarely finds friends she can talk to so freely..."
His voice was tinged with embarrassment, but the message was crystal clear.
Uesugi hoped that Hui Lijing would talk more with his daughter.
To this, Jason raised no objections.
"Is the ancestral home just ahead?"
"Right ahead, I’ll take you there."
Uesugi promptly nodded in response.
After that, the journey became one where Jason and Uesugi led the way, with Hui Lijing and Hu Qiandai following behind.
Jason, walking ahead, remained silent, and Uesugi also found it hard to say anything.
Meanwhile, Hui Lijing and Hu Qiandai behind them were chatting even more enthusiastically.
At this moment, Hui Lijing had already told Hu Qiandai how she used cow dung to teach a lesson to the boys who bullied her.
"Oh, they must be really scared of you."
Hu Qiandai muttered softly.
"Hmph, such guys deserve to be scared."
"This ’Yachin’ title is not even as nice as my childhood nickname."
"Hui Lijing’s childhood nickname?"
Hu Qiandai asked curiously.
"Does it sound weird?"
"Don’t laugh, or I’ll get angry if you do."
Hui Lijing emphasized.
Because this nickname was too boyish.
Hu Qiandai reassured her newly acquainted friend.
Just as Hui Lijing disclosed her childhood nickname, that strange sense of familiarity intensified.
We really seem to have met somewhere.
She couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Hui Lijing felt something similar as well.
Jason, walking ahead, suddenly halted in step, vanishing from the spot.
By the time Jason reappeared, he was already standing behind Hui Lijing and Hu Qiandai.
At that very moment, a long knife slashing out from the shadows had just approached, and without any hesitation, even as its target had shifted, it continued to thrust forward directly.
Straight toward Jason’s neck.
The long knife shattered.