Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 421: Giving You a Mission

Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Giving You a Mission

Today, Xu Haowen was very excited and arrived at Gu Fan’s school with great enthusiasm, seeing Gu Fan, Lu Yi, Jie and others waiting for them for quite some time.

Feeling touched that his friends valued him so much, Xu Haowen dispensed with formalities and greeted each of them with a robust hug, making sure no one was left out.

"Enough already, I understand we haven’t seen each other in a while and I’ve missed you all, but have you got your fill of hugging?" mumbled Gu Fan, who was uncomfortable from all the hugging and finally managed to push Xu Haowen away.

"Sorry, I got a bit carried away with my feelings. Bear with me." said Xu Haowen. His smile revealed anticipation as he asked, "You summoned me here for a special mission, let’s get on with it. Are we going on another adventure?"

Gu Fan, Lu Yi and Jie were speechless after hearing this. After two adventures in the wilderness and Yuxueyun Mountain, everyone just wanted to stay home safe and sound. They simply couldn’t understand Xu Haowen’s fondness for risky endeavors.

Gu Fan patted Xu Haowen on the shoulder and gravely said, "Although this time it’s not an adventure, it’s still a very important task. I hope you’ll take it seriously."

Xu Haowen hesitated before replying, "Are you saying if I don’t take this seriously, you won’t include me in the next adventure?"

Lu Yi became anxious and retorted, "Buddy, that’s not how you negotiate with friends who have been through thick and thin together."

"Alright, alright, I got it. I’ll just do it." Xu Haowen felt a bit embarrassed. He chuckled awkwardly and then mentioned, "You haven’t told me what the task is yet?"

Jie shook his head and said, "You accepted the task without even knowing what it is?"

"That’s trust, trust built from our bond formed through adversity." Xu Haowen tried to appear serious but Gu Fan hurried him along, "Alright, alright, enough with the nonsense. Let’s get to the point."

Lu Yi then took out a picture of Yang Xinran. Before he could explain, Xu Haowen’s eyes lit up, "This girl is pretty hot. Are you guys introducing her to me? How did you know I was looking for a girlfriend? And how did you know I like this type?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Fan, Lu Yi and Jie all shook their heads, "Xu Haowen, we think you are not suited for this task. You can go home. We will reimburse you for the cab fare."

"Please, guys. Give me another chance because of our bond." Xu Haowen admitted his mistake, pleading earnestly. He even seemed ready to embrace Gu Fan’s leg. But he was also quite puzzled, wondering what he did wrong.

Gu Fan continued, "The woman’s name is Yang Xinran, Lin Xi’s roommate. Your task is to follow her to find out where she’s meeting her boyfriend. After they part ways, tail her boyfriend to see where he lives and who he interacts with."

Xu Haowen looked puzzled and worried, possibly realising the magnitude of the task. This worried Gu Fan too. Xu Haowen wasn’t a professional and tracking both Yang Xinran and her boyfriend without blowing his cover was risky. But there was no one else suitable for the task.

However, what Xu Haowen said next dumbfounded everyone, "Gu Fan, seriously, aren’t you content with having Lin Xi? Now you’re aiming for Lin Xi’s roommate? Sure, Yang Xinran is pretty, but not as much as Lin Xi. Is Lin Xi too hard to get, so you’re going for an alternative?"

Gu Fan almost lost his cool, "What does one thing have to do with another? Can you not think wildly?"

Xu Haowen was further puzzled, "Isn’t this a normal assumption given that you want me to follow Yang Xinran and see who she’s dating? Aren’t your intentions clear - to sabotage her relationship so you can extend your evil claws towards her?"

Gu Fan rubbed his forehead, seemingly developing a headache, "Is it too late to find someone else for the task?"

"No, no, no. I admit my imagination can be a bit wild but that won’t hinder me from completing this task. Leave it to me, I promise there will be no issues." Xu Haowen hurriedly took the photo of Yang Xinran, patted his chest, and assured them confidently.

"Fine, I will trust you this once. Remember, Yang Xinran will be leaving the school entrance in a short while and will be taking the subway. Thankfully, her boyfriend’s car is in the shop, otherwise, he would have picked her up. This is a rare opportunity for us to tail her, so don’t mess it up." Gu Fan implored Xu Haowen, hoping he won’t mess this up.

Xu Haowen once again reassured them that there will be no issues. Though it was his first time doing such a thing and he didn’t have any experience, he believed he could handle it perfectly.

Gu Fan had no other choice but to place his hopes on Xu Haowen. He then received a call from Lin Xi who informed him that Yang Xinran had just left her dorm and that they should get ready.

"Alright, everyone get into positions. We’ve done all that we can, now it’s all up to you," said Gu Fan. He, along with Lu Yi and Jie, quickly retreated into a nearby corner.

"Sure, thank you for your trust in me. I appreciate..." Xu Haowen wanted to say more but turned around to find Gu Fan and the others had already left. He quietly sighed to himself, "Couldn’t you have waited for me to finish my words of gratitude before leaving? It’s disappointing when no one respects the emotions one tried so hard to evoke."

Gu Fan and the others, hiding in the corner were aghast upon seeing Xu Haowen standing at the school entrance. Could this guy be expecting Yang Xinran to spot him? Didn’t he realize he should hide?

When shadowing someone, the rule is to stay inconspicuous. Once the person spot you, even the faintest impression will tip them off if spotted multiple times. They could start suspecting they’re being followed.

From the corner, Gu Fan was trying to beckon Xu Haowen to hide, but he misinterpreted it as a greeting. Xu Haowen waved back and even thumped his chest as if saying, "Leave it to me".

Gu Fan quickly dialed his phone, but it was too late. Yang Xinran arrived earlier than expected, escorted by her friend on a bicycle to the school gate.

Xu Haowen noticed Yang Xinran and to confirm, he stared at her for some time.

Then, Yang Xinran noticed a guy named Xu Haowen standing at the school gate. Their gaze met for a brief moment, then awkwardly diverted their attention elsewhere.

Though Yang Xinran didn’t pay much attention to Xu Haowen and casually walked past him, the problem was that she did make a mental note of him.