Li Jing stepped forward, first patting Nezha on the shoulder before turning to Ao Bing and solemnly extending his hand. "Ao Bing, thank you for taking care of my son."
Ao Bing respectfully shook Li Jing's hand. "Uncle Li, you flatter me. It was Nezha who saved me and the Dragon Tribe; I should be the one thanking him."
Li Jing laughed heartily. "What a good lad, so polite! No wonder you're the Dragon Prince! Come, today I’ll treat you all; let’s go celebrate at the best hotel in town!"
During the meal, Li Jing unabashedly expressed his pride in Nezha, raising his glass after glass to introduce him to the other diners. "This is my son, Li Nezha, the hero who saved the Dragon Tribe and the Human World!"
Nezha felt embarrassed and wished he could hide under the table. "Dad, can you not do this... it's so embarrassing..."
Li Jing, however, was unfazed. "What’s embarrassing about it? My son is a hero, and I want everyone to know!"
Noticing Nezha's discomfort, Ao Bing timely shifted the topic. "Uncle Li, Nezha has always been worried that you wouldn’t support his dream of playing football. What do you think now?"
Li Jing set down his glass, his expression turning serious. "To be honest, I always hoped Nezha would find a stable job and lead a secure life. But after this incident, I’ve realized something important—life isn’t just about seeking stability; it’s also about having dreams and a sense of responsibility. Nezha has proven his worth through his actions, and as a father, I will unconditionally support him in pursuing his dreams."
Lady Yin gently patted Nezha's head. "We may have been too strict with you all this time and overlooked your feelings. From now on, whatever you want to do—as long as it’s positive—we will support you."
Nezha felt a warmth in his eyes; he had never imagined his parents would understand and support him like this. For a moment, he choked up and could only nod vigorously.
Seeing Nezha's touched expression, Ao Bing gently held his hand, offering silent support.
After dinner, Li Jing and Lady Yin escorted the two back to school. Before parting ways, Li Jing pulled Ao Bing aside and said earnestly, "Ao Bing, my son can be reckless and impulsive at times; please be patient with him and take care of him."
Ao Bing nodded seriously. "Uncle Li, don’t worry; I will."
Li Jing patted Ao Bing on the shoulder with admiration in his eyes. "Good boy. It’s a blessing for Nezha to have met you."
As they watched their parents leave, Nezha let out a long sigh. "Finally done. To be honest, being hailed as a 'hero' feels really strange."
Ao Bing nodded in understanding. "You’ll get used to it. However, I think we should keep a low profile and not let this sudden fame go to our heads."
Back in their dormitory, just as Nezha and Ao Bing were about to rest, they found a crowd of students gathered outside their door, all eager to catch a glimpse of the 'hero.'
"Senior Nezha, can I get your autograph?" "Senior Ao Bing, can we take a picture together?" "Can you tell us stories from the Dragon Palace?"
Faced with enthusiastic fans, Nezha felt somewhat at a loss, but Ao Bing remained calm and composed. He politely answered every question and patiently signed autographs and took pictures without any hint of arrogance befitting a prince. Watching Ao Bing’s demeanor helped Nezha relax as he began interacting with the students.
It wasn’t until late at night that the crowd gradually dispersed. Closing the door behind them, Nezha and Ao Bing collapsed onto the sofa in exhaustion.
"I can’t believe we’ve become 'celebrities' now," Nezha said tiredly. "This is more exhausting than fighting Lady Shiji."
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