Agent Yi Leng
Author: NovelBin
Chapter 19: The Father Who Rides the Wind and Waves
Unexpectedly, Zhang Cong turned out to be the son of
. Yileng chuckled and said,
No one blamed him. This situation would have to be handled this way regardless of whose responsibility it was. Huojian Ge was a very loose and rough father. He said,
Saying this, he still untied his son’s ropes and helped him massage his limbs, which had suffered from blood restriction due to being tied up. Rou Mingrui brought a set of utensils in front of Zhang Cong and said,
Yileng recounted the incident that had happened and laughed, saying,
Huojian Ge took his flip phone out of the leather holster at his waist and said,
Rou Mingrui asked,
Yileng replied,
Huojian Ge said,
Zhang Cong chimed in,
Huojian Ge’s face turned red in anger as his muscles in the back of his head twitched. He raised his hand to slap Zhang Cong.
Rou Mingrui said,
Zhang Cong replied,
Rou Mingrui said,
Yileng added,
Everyone looked confused at this comment. How could such a mature and steady chef say something so childish?
Yileng explained,
Huojian Ge, who wasn’t well-educated, listened, bewildered. He thought games were just games and couldn’t be considered a profession.
Yileng changed the tone of the conversation:
Zhang Cong said,
Yileng asked,
Zhang Cong was speechless. He was just a casual gamer without much skill—someone who played purely for fun.
Seeing this, Yileng understood and turned to Huojian Ge:
Huojian Ge said,
The defiant teenager crossed his arms and said,
Huojian Ge said,
Zhang Cong said,
Rou Mingrui asked,
Yileng replied,
Huojian Ge said,
Yileng and he shared a drink. Yileng explained,
Huojian Ge said,
Zhang Cong remained defiant:
Huojian Ge was about to act out when Yileng stopped him, saying,
Rou Mingrui changed the subject:
Huojian Ge asked,
Rou Mingrui explained,
Huojian Ge was astonished and asked,
Rou Mingrui explained,
Huojian Ge cursed Yin Bingsong in anger.
Zhang Cong was deeply moved by this revelation. He realized that his savior was Huang Shifu. Feeling the weight of this revelation, he knelt down without hesitation.
Everyone was shocked. What had come over this child?
Zhang Cong said,
Everyone was startled. Zhang Cong was indeed Huojian Ge’s son, but his life had been saved by Huang Shifu. This was more than just respect; this was a bond.
With that, Zhang Cong sincerely knelt three times, took a cup of wine, and paid homage to Huang Shifu. His apprenticeship was accepted.
Huojian Ge had no choice but to be moved, presenting Zhang Cong with a string of red beads, saying,
Yileng humbly refused at first, saying it was too valuable but ultimately accepted the gift.
At this moment, Ali arrived, having just finished her work. She asked Huang Shifu when he would return, as the guests were waiting for their food.
Yileng said,
He stood up to leave as Zhang Cong, ever clever, expressed his desire to learn the craft. Yileng reassured him,
Huojian Ge was very touched by this, raising a glass in honor of their bond. This moment was heartwarming, and Zhang Cong began his journey toward learning this new trade.
The group drank until very late before leaving.
was thoroughly drunk and had to be dragged to the car by his younger brothers.
said he would come by the next morning to learn a few tricks of the trade, so he left with them as well.
Today’s business had been good—the
prepared had all sold out, and so did twenty side dishes. This meant
, and with other side dishes, staple foods, and alcoholic beverages combined, the total came to
That meant earning
or
Subtracting costs, the profits were astronomical.
Wu Yumei happily calculated with her calculator, a big smile on her face. Xiaohong beside her was snacking on melon seeds and asked, “Do you think we can give ourselves a pay raise?”
Over at the back kitchen,
entered to find
cleaning the stove. She seemed as though she had something to ask, and without turning his head, Yi Leng said, “Say it. What do you want to know?”
“Why did you deliver meals to Yi Nuannuan?”
Yi Leng already had his answer prepared but hadn’t expected it to come from Ali. Looking at the situation from another perspective, Ali really was a kind person, a responsible and devoted teacher with a genuine concern for her students' well-being, including their mental health.
“I… know her father,” Yi Leng said, “Very well.”
“Did you meet him in prison?” Ali asked. “Like that guy who uses a tube to eat?”
That had been something Wu Yumei mentioned earlier to Ali, not in a tone of mockery or scorn but with pride. After all, small restaurant owners sometimes rubbed shoulders with all walks of life, and being involved in these dealings was like being a part of a
—a life that wasn’t easy for a woman. Just like
Yi Leng lit a cigarette, his voice cold and distant: “No. We’re comrades, not inmates. As for who Nuannuan’s father is, I’ll find the time to speak to her alone about it.”
Ali said, “That’s great. This child has no parents and is very lonely and introverted. If you can bring news of her father, I think it would be a great psychological comfort.”
Yi Leng nodded.
“It’s too late today. I’ll bring Nuannuan to the restaurant tomorrow at noon,” Ali said. She paused before adding, “This child is too pitiful. Thank you, Huang Shi Fu.”
Yi Leng found himself a little surprised. Ali’s eyes shimmered with emotion—this girl truly had the heart of a parent, taking care of her students. If every teacher were like this, then students would never struggle in their studies.
“Thank you, Teacher Ou,” Yi Leng said sincerely. If Ali hadn’t acted as a bridge, he would never have found a way to approach his daughter, after all. The friendship between a middle-aged man and a teenage girl would have appeared strange without this intermediary.
The following morning, Yi Nuannuan couldn’t concentrate during class. The mystery of the meal boxes had finally been solved. With Ali’s assistance, by examining the food types and the smell and appearance of the meal, they deduced that the meals both she and Ali brought had come from the same source. Ali’s meal was delivered by Huang Pihu, meaning the man in question was indeed Huang Shi Fu.
Ali had said she would take her to the restaurant at noon to clear everything up. At lunch, the meal boxes arrived as usual—this time, the two girls received identical ones. The box had a
on it, with contents that included
This sumptuous lunch sparked jealousy among Jian Shiyu and Mei Xin. Unfortunately, the older sister wasn’t around, and Yi Nuannuan always seemed to be paired with Ali, leaving the two of them glaring helplessly.
Despite being middle schoolers, the students were highly perceptive to shifts in dynamics.
fell behind in social standing due to Yin Weiran’s absence, while Yi Nuannuan, aided by Ali, had risen in social influence among the
students.
Ali was undoubtedly the center of attention wherever she went. She had become an icon to her students, and her presence brought Yi Nuannuan into the spotlight as well. As their interactions grew, the students discovered that Yi Nuannuan wasn’t just shy but also a quiet intellectual with much depth beneath her reserved exterior.
After lunch, Ali brought Yi Nuannuan to Yumei’s restaurant, which had been rebranded but still maintained Huang Pihu's connection. At the moment, there weren’t many patrons. Yi Leng saw Ali enter with Nuannuan and set his work aside, leaving his apprentice Zhang Cong to continue his task of peeling garlic and onions. He led the two of them to a quieter corner.
Ali said, “Nuannuan, sit here with Uncle Huang and chat with him. I’ll be right nearby.”
Nuannuan nodded. She felt no apprehension. From the moment she laid eyes on Huang Shi Fu, she had an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Then it struck her—his voice was identical to her father’s.
“I’ve been entrusted by your father to take care of you,” Huang Shi Fu said, startling her.
“You’re my father’s friend?” Nuannuan asked. She had suspected this even on the way here, but there were still many details she wanted to clarify—her father’s occupation, how he disappeared, and so on.
“Not just a friend. We’re comrades. Brothers. We went to college together and shared a dorm. After graduation, we joined the same company. I was there when he met your mother.”
Yi Leng controlled his emotions as he narrated his history from a third-party perspective. The details and emotions felt real to Yi Nuannuan, who began tearing up, her voice shaking as she asked, “Mom said Dad was a foreign trade manager who died during a terrorist attack abroad. Uncle… is that true?”
“Child, that’s the official account. His real identity went far deeper than that. Some people work in the shadows to serve their country. Your father’s disappearance is classified as missing, not death—he’s alive,” Huang Shi Fu reassured her.
Yi Nuannuan’s eyes sparkled with hope.
At fourteen, she felt an explosion of energy. With her father alive, she was no longer alone.
“You must have faith, Nuannuan. He was captured by enemies, but we never stopped looking for him. Trust in him. Trust in yourself,” Huang Shi Fu said, extending his pinky finger. “This is highly confidential and cannot be shared with anyone. Do you promise?”
Nuannuan solemnly hooked her pinky with his, saying, “Uncle, I promise. I’ll never tell anyone—even if I see Dad, I’ll pretend I don’t know.”
Huang Shi Fu nodded, proud and comforted: “You’re the daughter of Yi Leng and Xiang Mo. Remember this—you’re stronger and better than anyone else. You’re not a mere ugly duckling; you’re a little swan who has wandered away from its flock.”
“I remember, Uncle,” she said, resolute.
“From now on, I’ll make your lunches. If you ever need money, just come to me. I’ll take care of you until your father comes back.”
“Thank you, Uncle!” Nuannuan beamed with joy.
On their way back, Yi Leng sent his daughter home and nodded at Ali, who felt warmth in her heart as she and Yi Nuannuan discussed the upcoming New Year’s gathering.
“This time’s celebration will be a little special. The idea is to hold a parent-child gathering, with parents invited to school for dinner and activities. It could help many students’ strained familial bonds,” Ali explained.
Yi Nuannuan didn’t pay much attention. She wasn’t self-conscious anymore—her father was alive, and his life was filled with meaning and heroism, a true warrior battling through darkness and storms.
[--------------------------------------------]
If you want
and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you!
. Yileng chuckled and said,
No one blamed him. This situation would have to be handled this way regardless of whose responsibility it was. Huojian Ge was a very loose and rough father. He said,
Saying this, he still untied his son’s ropes and helped him massage his limbs, which had suffered from blood restriction due to being tied up. Rou Mingrui brought a set of utensils in front of Zhang Cong and said,
Yileng recounted the incident that had happened and laughed, saying,
Huojian Ge took his flip phone out of the leather holster at his waist and said,
Rou Mingrui asked,
Yileng replied,
Huojian Ge said,
Zhang Cong chimed in,
Huojian Ge’s face turned red in anger as his muscles in the back of his head twitched. He raised his hand to slap Zhang Cong.
Rou Mingrui said,
Zhang Cong replied,
Rou Mingrui said,
Yileng added,
Everyone looked confused at this comment. How could such a mature and steady chef say something so childish?
Yileng explained,
Huojian Ge, who wasn’t well-educated, listened, bewildered. He thought games were just games and couldn’t be considered a profession.
Yileng changed the tone of the conversation:
Zhang Cong said,
Yileng asked,
Zhang Cong was speechless. He was just a casual gamer without much skill—someone who played purely for fun.
Seeing this, Yileng understood and turned to Huojian Ge:
Huojian Ge said,
The defiant teenager crossed his arms and said,
Huojian Ge said,
Zhang Cong said,
Rou Mingrui asked,
Yileng replied,
Huojian Ge said,
Yileng and he shared a drink. Yileng explained,
Huojian Ge said,
Zhang Cong remained defiant:
Huojian Ge was about to act out when Yileng stopped him, saying,
Rou Mingrui changed the subject:
Huojian Ge asked,
Rou Mingrui explained,
Huojian Ge was astonished and asked,
Rou Mingrui explained,
Huojian Ge cursed Yin Bingsong in anger.
Zhang Cong was deeply moved by this revelation. He realized that his savior was Huang Shifu. Feeling the weight of this revelation, he knelt down without hesitation.
Everyone was shocked. What had come over this child?
Zhang Cong said,
Everyone was startled. Zhang Cong was indeed Huojian Ge’s son, but his life had been saved by Huang Shifu. This was more than just respect; this was a bond.
With that, Zhang Cong sincerely knelt three times, took a cup of wine, and paid homage to Huang Shifu. His apprenticeship was accepted.
Huojian Ge had no choice but to be moved, presenting Zhang Cong with a string of red beads, saying,
Yileng humbly refused at first, saying it was too valuable but ultimately accepted the gift.
At this moment, Ali arrived, having just finished her work. She asked Huang Shifu when he would return, as the guests were waiting for their food.
Yileng said,
He stood up to leave as Zhang Cong, ever clever, expressed his desire to learn the craft. Yileng reassured him,
Huojian Ge was very touched by this, raising a glass in honor of their bond. This moment was heartwarming, and Zhang Cong began his journey toward learning this new trade.
The group drank until very late before leaving.
was thoroughly drunk and had to be dragged to the car by his younger brothers.
said he would come by the next morning to learn a few tricks of the trade, so he left with them as well.
Today’s business had been good—the
prepared had all sold out, and so did twenty side dishes. This meant
, and with other side dishes, staple foods, and alcoholic beverages combined, the total came to
That meant earning
or
Subtracting costs, the profits were astronomical.
Wu Yumei happily calculated with her calculator, a big smile on her face. Xiaohong beside her was snacking on melon seeds and asked, “Do you think we can give ourselves a pay raise?”
Over at the back kitchen,
entered to find
cleaning the stove. She seemed as though she had something to ask, and without turning his head, Yi Leng said, “Say it. What do you want to know?”
“Why did you deliver meals to Yi Nuannuan?”
Yi Leng already had his answer prepared but hadn’t expected it to come from Ali. Looking at the situation from another perspective, Ali really was a kind person, a responsible and devoted teacher with a genuine concern for her students' well-being, including their mental health.
“I… know her father,” Yi Leng said, “Very well.”
“Did you meet him in prison?” Ali asked. “Like that guy who uses a tube to eat?”
That had been something Wu Yumei mentioned earlier to Ali, not in a tone of mockery or scorn but with pride. After all, small restaurant owners sometimes rubbed shoulders with all walks of life, and being involved in these dealings was like being a part of a
—a life that wasn’t easy for a woman. Just like
Yi Leng lit a cigarette, his voice cold and distant: “No. We’re comrades, not inmates. As for who Nuannuan’s father is, I’ll find the time to speak to her alone about it.”
Ali said, “That’s great. This child has no parents and is very lonely and introverted. If you can bring news of her father, I think it would be a great psychological comfort.”
Yi Leng nodded.
“It’s too late today. I’ll bring Nuannuan to the restaurant tomorrow at noon,” Ali said. She paused before adding, “This child is too pitiful. Thank you, Huang Shi Fu.”
Yi Leng found himself a little surprised. Ali’s eyes shimmered with emotion—this girl truly had the heart of a parent, taking care of her students. If every teacher were like this, then students would never struggle in their studies.
“Thank you, Teacher Ou,” Yi Leng said sincerely. If Ali hadn’t acted as a bridge, he would never have found a way to approach his daughter, after all. The friendship between a middle-aged man and a teenage girl would have appeared strange without this intermediary.
The following morning, Yi Nuannuan couldn’t concentrate during class. The mystery of the meal boxes had finally been solved. With Ali’s assistance, by examining the food types and the smell and appearance of the meal, they deduced that the meals both she and Ali brought had come from the same source. Ali’s meal was delivered by Huang Pihu, meaning the man in question was indeed Huang Shi Fu.
Ali had said she would take her to the restaurant at noon to clear everything up. At lunch, the meal boxes arrived as usual—this time, the two girls received identical ones. The box had a
on it, with contents that included
This sumptuous lunch sparked jealousy among Jian Shiyu and Mei Xin. Unfortunately, the older sister wasn’t around, and Yi Nuannuan always seemed to be paired with Ali, leaving the two of them glaring helplessly.
Despite being middle schoolers, the students were highly perceptive to shifts in dynamics.
fell behind in social standing due to Yin Weiran’s absence, while Yi Nuannuan, aided by Ali, had risen in social influence among the
students.
Ali was undoubtedly the center of attention wherever she went. She had become an icon to her students, and her presence brought Yi Nuannuan into the spotlight as well. As their interactions grew, the students discovered that Yi Nuannuan wasn’t just shy but also a quiet intellectual with much depth beneath her reserved exterior.
After lunch, Ali brought Yi Nuannuan to Yumei’s restaurant, which had been rebranded but still maintained Huang Pihu's connection. At the moment, there weren’t many patrons. Yi Leng saw Ali enter with Nuannuan and set his work aside, leaving his apprentice Zhang Cong to continue his task of peeling garlic and onions. He led the two of them to a quieter corner.
Ali said, “Nuannuan, sit here with Uncle Huang and chat with him. I’ll be right nearby.”
Nuannuan nodded. She felt no apprehension. From the moment she laid eyes on Huang Shi Fu, she had an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Then it struck her—his voice was identical to her father’s.
“I’ve been entrusted by your father to take care of you,” Huang Shi Fu said, startling her.
“You’re my father’s friend?” Nuannuan asked. She had suspected this even on the way here, but there were still many details she wanted to clarify—her father’s occupation, how he disappeared, and so on.
“Not just a friend. We’re comrades. Brothers. We went to college together and shared a dorm. After graduation, we joined the same company. I was there when he met your mother.”
Yi Leng controlled his emotions as he narrated his history from a third-party perspective. The details and emotions felt real to Yi Nuannuan, who began tearing up, her voice shaking as she asked, “Mom said Dad was a foreign trade manager who died during a terrorist attack abroad. Uncle… is that true?”
“Child, that’s the official account. His real identity went far deeper than that. Some people work in the shadows to serve their country. Your father’s disappearance is classified as missing, not death—he’s alive,” Huang Shi Fu reassured her.
Yi Nuannuan’s eyes sparkled with hope.
At fourteen, she felt an explosion of energy. With her father alive, she was no longer alone.
“You must have faith, Nuannuan. He was captured by enemies, but we never stopped looking for him. Trust in him. Trust in yourself,” Huang Shi Fu said, extending his pinky finger. “This is highly confidential and cannot be shared with anyone. Do you promise?”
Nuannuan solemnly hooked her pinky with his, saying, “Uncle, I promise. I’ll never tell anyone—even if I see Dad, I’ll pretend I don’t know.”
Huang Shi Fu nodded, proud and comforted: “You’re the daughter of Yi Leng and Xiang Mo. Remember this—you’re stronger and better than anyone else. You’re not a mere ugly duckling; you’re a little swan who has wandered away from its flock.”
“I remember, Uncle,” she said, resolute.
“From now on, I’ll make your lunches. If you ever need money, just come to me. I’ll take care of you until your father comes back.”
“Thank you, Uncle!” Nuannuan beamed with joy.
On their way back, Yi Leng sent his daughter home and nodded at Ali, who felt warmth in her heart as she and Yi Nuannuan discussed the upcoming New Year’s gathering.
“This time’s celebration will be a little special. The idea is to hold a parent-child gathering, with parents invited to school for dinner and activities. It could help many students’ strained familial bonds,” Ali explained.
Yi Nuannuan didn’t pay much attention. She wasn’t self-conscious anymore—her father was alive, and his life was filled with meaning and heroism, a true warrior battling through darkness and storms.
[--------------------------------------------]
If you want
and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you!