Chapter 218: What

"Tuan Cang, do you want to stroll around the Village with me?"

At Zhi Cun Zu Di, the door of Tuan Cang's house was knocked, and as soon as Tuan Cang opened the door he was warmly invited by Lian Ye.

Various complex emotions flashed across Tuan Cang's eyes—shock, puzzlement, surprise, terror, disbelief…

The intertwining emotions left him frozen in place for a moment, without answering immediately.

Lian Ye—this guy—actually invited him out to have fun!

I wonder what wind he's pulling today?

Tuan Cang thought Lian Ye was coming to take him out on a mission, but unexpectedly he was being asked to go shopping…

Did the sun come out in the west?

Thinking that, he looked up at the scorching sun in the sky, squinting as he watched its path.

It rises in the east and sets in the west—no mistake!

The sun didn't come out in the west; what's up with Lian Ye?

Tuan Cang and Lian Ye have spent several years together; each day is either carrying out a mission or on the way to a mission.

So whenever Lian Ye shows up, he assumes another mission is about to start.

It had been like that for years, and it had become a habit.

But today Lian Ye broke the pattern—he didn't call him to a mission, but instead suggested going shopping…

It left Tuan Cang utterly baffled—could this still be the same Mission Maniac?

When things go against the norm, there must be a monster!

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, even the absurd idea that Lian Ye might be luring him for an experiment.

It might actually be possible—being tricked into becoming a Lab Mouse for testing a drug.

Otherwise, Lian Ye's behavior would be inexplicable…

Lian Ye watched Tuan Cang stare silently at the sun, a huge question mark appearing above his forehead.

What on earth is this guy doing, staring at the sun?

Does he not know this hurts his eyes?

Although he doesn't understand, he maintains respect.

He stood silently aside, wondering how long Tuan Cang could keep staring at the sun.

When his eyes began to sting, Tuan Cang finally snapped out of his wild thoughts.

Instinctively, he rubbed his throbbing eyes, and everything before him was shrouded in a dark haze.

"Tuan Cang, why are you staring at the sun?" Lian Ye asked curiously.

Tuan Cang: "……"

He could never tell Lian Ye whether the sun was coming out in the west, could he?

If he actually said it, he'd definitely be laughed to death!

There's no way around it; this guy's behavior today is so abnormal, it feels like he's plotting something unknown.

If Lian Ye knew what Tuan Cang was thinking, he'd be utterly speechless.

He's just overthinking.

He simply thought Qianshou Feijian made a good point: one shouldn't stay home every day; indeed, a walk outside is needed.

Moderate entertainment can refresh body and mind.

Lian Ye thought that since they're out to have fun, they should invite a few friends as well.

He was the first to find Tuan Cang, intending to call him out together.

But when this guy heard about going out shopping, his behavior turned odd, leaving him baffled for a moment.

"What are you planning when you call me out?" Tuan Cang asked warily.

His hands rested calmly on the door; at any sign of something amiss, he would shut the door immediately.

Lian Ye—this guy—won't let himself become a Lab Mouse!

"Do what? Of course we're going shopping," Lian Ye said, not understanding why Tuan Cang asked such a foolish question.

Someone who didn't know might think he had ulterior motives.

Although he has no interest in women, that doesn't mean he's interested in men…

Even if he were truly starving, he wouldn't attack Tuan Cang!

Tuan Cang—this guy—is being excessive; is it necessary to be so wary of himself?

"What are you afraid of? I won't eat you," Lian Ye snapped, giving him a cold stare, suddenly sounding all cryptic.

Tuan Cang didn't readily believe Lian Ye's words, still asking warily: "Just shopping? Just the two of us? You're not lying to me, are you?"

His three questions were interlinked; simple shopping is fine, but if not, that indicates a problem.

If only the two of them go shopping, that would definitely be a problem!

He wouldn't dare go shopping alone with Lian Ye; who knows what could happen.

He looks like an innocent girl worried about being lured by a bad person…

One can't blame Tuan Cang for overthinking; Lian Ye's behavior is truly abnormal.

The impact of inviting him out to shop is comparable to Tuan Cang saying he doesn't want to become Hokage.

…

The rapid succession of questions made Lian Ye's complexion darken instantly; why does this guy have so many wall paintings?

But he still patiently answered one by one: "Just shopping, there are others, I'm not lying to you."

If Tuan Cang keeps babbling, don't blame him if he resorts to hitting.

After finally getting them to go out and have fun once, this is the outcome!

I don't know whether he noticed Lian Ye's expression, or the question was truly finished, but this time Tuan Cang didn't ask again.

"Alright, I'll go out shopping with you."

As long as Lian Ye has no improper thoughts toward him and doesn't use him as a Lab Mouse for experiments, that's fine.

Seeing that Tuan Cang said no more idle talk, Lian Ye led him to the homes of the other few people.

When Yuanfei Rizhan and the others learned that Lian Ye had invited them to go shopping, the expression on their faces was exactly the same as Tuan Cang's at that moment.

It's simply unbelievable!

……

Konoha Commercial Street.

After the war, the village became even livelier, with shops lining both sides of the street and vendors' cries rising and falling.

Pedestrians came and went, children darted and played among the crowd, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of roasted dumplings and SanseMangzi.

"How nostalgic…" Uchiha Jing said softly, his gaze falling on a newly opened dessert shop. "When was the last time we strolled so leisurely?"

They've actually opened a new Meatball Shop here; we must try the taste properly.

"At least two years, right?" Shuihu Menyan pushed up his glasses. "We haven't gone out since the war began."

Lian Ye smelled the sweet aroma in the air, his gaze instinctively landing on the newly opened Meatball Shop, then quickly shifting away for fear that Tuan Cang beside him would notice.

He doesn't like sweets; he just finds the scent pleasant and is merely curious about what dessert is being sold.

Yeah, that's right!

"There's a new shop over there!" Zhuan Qin Xiaochun pointed at the dessert shop, eyes lighting up. "It smells so good, let's go try it."

"Haha, that's exactly what I had in mind!" Uchiha Jing agreed.

"Then let's go take a look." Yuanfei Rizhan was the first to walk toward the dessert shop.

The rest hurried after him, all eager to taste how this newly opened dessert shop's offerings were.

Lian Ye and Tuan Cang walked at the end of the line.

He looked at the people ahead, gave a disdainful smirk, and said to Tuan Cang.

"Only kids love sweets. You agree, right, Tuan Cang?"

Tuan Cang: "……"

The scene of Nara Motoya bringing SanseMangzi to him flashed in his mind.

If I recall correctly, Lian Ye ate faster than he did.

Tuan Cang's gaze toward Lian Ye showed a hint of contempt.

Lian Ye saw that and instantly flared up.

"Tuan Cang, what's that look you have?!"