Chapter 282

On the way, Ning Chen passed through a small town.

After restocking on essentials there,

he officially set off for Mount Tiantai.

While they were in that town,

the young man got out of the car.

Ning Chen thought he wouldn't come back.

Just as he was about to leave,

he discovered the guy had actually bought himself a whole new outfit.

Cheerfully, he climbed into the RV.

And said to Ning Chen, "I plan to travel with you for a stretch—wherever you're going is fine!"

The vehicle got back on the road.

Zhang Xiao didn't ask where the destination was.

She just sat in the passenger seat, watching the scenery outside the window.

She liked watching the landscape sweep past behind them.

Seeing the atmosphere inside the vehicle was stifling,

the young man took the initiative to introduce himself: "My name is Wan He. Aren't you curious about my background?"

No one responded.

Wan He went on talking to himself: "I told you, I'm a person who chases lightning. As for why—it's because someone said a line to me—'Don't you want to be free?'"

Lost in his memories, Wan He began telling his story.

"I was born into a family with extremely strict rules. My family runs a big corporation, so we never lacked money. Basically, whatever I wanted, I could have—but that was only what they saw."

Wan He sat down to one side, also gazing at the scenery outside.

"When I was very young, my dad's sworn enemy arranged for someone to drug his breakfast. I was being mischievous, so I ate his portion—and ended up in the hospital. Luckily, they rescued me in time; otherwise, my insides probably would have dissolved into blood!"

"After that, my family didn't dare let me go out on my own. Even the food I ate and the clothes I wore had to be strictly controlled—no slip-ups allowed. Today I want to wear yellow? No way. According to the rules, it must be blue!"

At this point, Wan He looked toward Zhang Xiao and said:

"Back then, I was about the same age as you. No freedom. Every day was the same, over and over, and I could see the end of it at a glance. It was a life under control, a life with no joy. But in front of my family, I played the part desperately, trying hard to make them happy."

Wan He took a deep breath and clasped his hands behind his head: "I used to think my whole life would just pass like this—school, marry a wife and have kids, work, until death. I'd accepted my fate. I've seen plenty of people who even struggle just to stay alive; compared to them, my conditions were already pretty good!"

"But!" Wan He made a turn, his gaze fixed intently on Ning Chen. "But then, suddenly, a person appeared! No! A girl!"

Wan He seemed to suddenly get excited. He stood up, braced his hands on the driver's seat, and said to Ning Chen: "She was a beggar. I didn't look down on her or anything; she just suddenly said to me—'Don't you want to be free?'"

"I went crazy—like I was possessed—every night I'd think of what she said!" Wan He grew agitated and began pacing back and forth inside the vehicle. "It's like getting hooked, craving it, unable to stop thinking about it—wanting to escape, wanting freedom!"

"So!"

Wan He pointed at the car window with both hands and said: "I ran away! I went to see her! I asked her where I should go!"

"She said! She said!"

Zhang Xiao watched this young man who had slipped into a manic state as he spoke.

For a moment, she felt a little scared.

She nervously glanced at Ning Chen, not daring to speak.

Ning Chen glanced at Zhang Xiao.

His hands never left the steering wheel.

After a brief pause,

Ning Chen picked up the thread and asked: "What did she say?"

Wan He laughed—that was exactly the line he'd been waiting for.

"She said I should go chase lightning!"

Zhang Xiao pressed her lips tightly together, mentally roasting him.

What on earth!

How can this guy be so crazy!

At that moment, the comments in the livestream also started flooding in.

【Holy crap, I thought it was some tragic, miserable childhood—turns out it's just a rich second generation who didn't want his family's control and ran away!】

【Bro, I really envy you! I'm living hand-to-mouth right now!】

【Without money, you don't have freedom either.】

【How about we swap? I'll take the loss—no freedom is no freedom!】

For a moment,

everyone in the livestream was envious of this rich second-generation's life!

Ning Chen asked: "Where are you going to chase lightning?"

Wan He sat in his chair, spread his hands, and answered: "I don't know either, but I have a hunch—you might take me to see it!"

Ning Chen said nothing.

In his mind,

based on the map's display and the RV's speed,

factoring in rest stops,

it would take at least two days to reach Mount Tiantai.

Ning Chen wasn't in any rush either.

He kept driving safely, unhurried and steady.

Wan He approached Ning Chen and asked, "Brother, what is your name?"

Ning Chen casually replied, "Codename A."

Wan He was stunned. "What does Codename A mean?"

Ning Chen gripped the steering wheel tightly and said without turning his head, "It means Lightning."

"Hahahaha!"

Hearing Ning Chen's explanation,

Wan He burst into laughter: "Brother, you are truly amusing. The outside world is indeed different; one can meet interesting people and fresh things wherever one goes!"

"This is what I want! Freedom!"

"Long live freedom! Huzzah!"

Wan He raised both hands and shook them, shouting loudly.

Zhang Xiaonian was driven to distraction by him.

Unable to bear it any longer, she crossed her arms over her chest and said angrily, "Can you keep it down? It's too noisy!"

Scolded by her, Wan He immediately quieted down considerably and lowered his previously raised hands.

He said apologetically to Zhang Xiaonian, "I'm sorry, beautiful lady, I was a bit abrupt!"

After speaking, Wan He asked again, "May I ask your name?"

Zhang Xiaonian remembered Ning Chen's "Codename A," so she also gave herself a title.

"Codename S."

Wan He could not stop laughing.

Stirred up by him,

the atmosphere in the live stream also improved considerably.

【So this guy is a joker! Quite funny!】

【Setting aside everything else, he has a knack for driving the atmosphere. Is he really not from the hype squad?】

【He is so funny! I'm going to recommend him to my besties!】

【Brother Shiguang, let him open a separate live stream. This kind of joker will definitely see his popularity skyrocket.】

【I think I'm witnessing the birth of a live-streaming genius joker!】

【Streamer, are you there? Can you give me this young man's contact information? I have some top-tier resources on hand that can absolutely make him filthy rich!】

For a moment,

many people began to like Wan He's joker personality.

But they did not forget the main and the secondary.

They came here.