CHAPTER 1701: CHAPTER 806: STEALING BOOKS IS NOT THEFT, REN FEI

Then he started to feel puzzled again. He had already thought it through the night before—he only needed to pull off one last heist. But now, as he reconsidered, it suddenly dawned on him that perhaps he’d need to do one more.

Why? At this late hour, trying to find a professional bookstore that’s still open was far less convenient than pulling off another heist. After all, there were definitely more shops closed than open.

Thankfully, as the old saying goes, ’Books are best read when borrowed,’ and a renowned modern writer, Mr. Kong Yiji, once said: "Stealing books doesn’t count as theft. Matters concerning scholars, could they really be called theft?"

Adhering to the principle of "a rabbit doesn’t eat grass close to its burrow," Yan Fei refrained from targeting the area around the world-renowned university he was currently near. Boss Yan prided himself on being a man of principle, and given the respectful treatment he’d received from Hans and Carter, an elderly duo—one white, one black—he couldn’t bring himself to act poorly nearby.

After flying around for a while, he returned with a haul full of loot.

This particular outing was the easiest, with little effort involved. After all, bookstores being targeted by robberies was almost unheard of. Few would suspect someone of being bold enough to rob a bookstore...

However, after this night, perhaps some people’s perspectives would shift a little—after all, actions speak louder than words.

Along with raiding the bookstore, Yan Fei also stopped by a few gift shops to pick up some other items—after all, he couldn’t prioritize romantic gestures over friendship. If he came back with gifts only for his wife, it would seem rather unfaithful.

Now it felt like a proper outing. Although he’d been there for several days and never explored the city during the day, at least he’d enjoyed the nightlife scenery and made quite a haul; it was already worth the trip.

Toward dawn, Yang Xing received a notice from the airport informing them that a special vehicle would pick them up and take them to another nearby airport for their continued travel. They would also receive small compensation gifts, since their journey had been delayed due to issues at the airport.

Sitting on the airport shuttle bus, Yang Xing reflected to Yan Fei: "You have to admit, while the security here is a mess, their service mindset is top-notch. Such a major incident just happened at the airport, and I thought we’d be stuck here for days!"

Yan Fei couldn’t suppress his amusement. The previous security issues had nothing to do with him, but this time the chaos was entirely thanks to Yang—the one who insisted on bringing him here.

Thinking this, he remained silent. Suddenly, someone behind them chimed in: "You see, it’s not the same as back home. Here, the airport losses are covered by insurance companies. They cooperate with the government departments investigating the incident, and there’s even a possibility of compensation. So, the airport’s primary task is to quickly arrange for us to board flights, ensure the number of flights remains stable, and avoid further negative impacts."

Yang Xing turned to look at the middle-aged man behind them: "You feel like a fellow countryman here. You seem familiar with the situation!"

The "fellow countryman" chuckled, "My name is Ren Fei. I do business back in Wuyang City and often travel back and forth, so I’m quite familiar with things here."

The two struck up a casual conversation, and soon Ren Fei directed his attention to Yan Fei: "Is this young man your student? Why isn’t he very talkative?"

Earlier, after chatting for a bit, Ren Fei had already learned that Yang Xing was a paleontology expert here for academic discussions.

Yang Xing glanced at Yan Fei, who merely smiled without speaking, then explained jokingly, "Yes, he’s not much of a talker. He came here to broaden his horizons. But instead of sightseeing, he’s stuck with me in the lab the whole time."

Ren Fei admired them: "If you brought him along, his academic performance must be excellent. I really respect folks like you, devoting yourselves wholeheartedly to research for a lifetime. This young man, being so young yet able to endure the monotony—it’s truly impressive."

Yan Fei responded to the praise with the shy smile of someone inexperienced with worldly matters.

While Yang Xing seemed delighted to meet a fellow countryman, Yan Fei felt differently. He instinctively sensed that Ren Fei seemed unusually focused on him.

In a foreign land where he knew no one, encountering someone who paid him particular attention made him inclined to assume the worst.

Seeing Yan Fei remain silent, Ren Fei didn’t mind. He continued chatting with Yang Xing: "Schools in the Capital are always producing top students. Meanwhile, in places like ours, though the economy has developed in recent years, cultural and educational progress still require time. Talented young men like this fellow would surely opt for the Capital, where the academic atmosphere is much better..."

Yang Xing, sparked by the mention of academic atmosphere, was suddenly in his element: "You’re absolutely right. Education doesn’t develop overnight. Many prestigious schools in the Capital have taken decades to reach their current scale. The academic environment there is indeed superior. For example, the Capital..."

While listening, Yan Fei couldn’t help but find it amusing. Ren Fei clearly wanted to fish for more information from Yang Xing. But the moment he mentioned schools, Yang Xing launched into a lecture on the history of renowned institutions, leaving Ren Fei no chance to interject.

The conversation was becoming noticeably awkward.

As they traveled, the shuttle picked up a few more passengers. At one stop, everyone was treated to a free meal—part of the airport’s compensation package. No one had to pay out of pocket.

The journey continued into the morning, and while Ren Fei was still eager to chat, Yang Xing was starting to flag.

Since arriving in America, there hadn’t been a moment of rest. Yan Fei had caused a ruckus as soon as they landed, followed by an intense schedule of academic research. Daytime was filled with discussions, and evenings were likely spent verifying ideas, so Yang Xing hadn’t had it easy.

Seeing Yang Xing begin to lose focus mid-conversation, Ren Fei sensibly refrained from prolonging their chat. He turned his attention to Yan Fei again but realized the young man had already "fallen asleep."

In truth, Yan Fei was deep in thought. Surely, he didn’t have any traits that made him particularly noticeable? Why had this guy inexplicably taken an interest in him? If Ren Fei’s ability to secure a ticket on the same flight was purely by chance, then he must have considerable resources.

The timing was bothering him too—he hadn’t felt watched in the past few days.

Based on his intuition, even if someone used binoculars to observe him, he would sense it. Ordinary people might occasionally feel when someone stares at their back; how could Yan Fei, who considered himself extraordinary, fail to notice? He was confident in this.

Hopefully, he was merely overthinking things. Maybe Ren Fei was just curious about him, a young guy studying abroad alongside his professor.

Soon, the shuttle reached the nearby airport. Passengers alighted one after another, followed by a meal arranged for everyone. Then, each person received a complimentary gift: neckties for men, scarves for women, and toys for children—thoughtfully tailored for everyone. Yan Fei didn’t know their exact monetary value but couldn’t help marveling at how these folks excelled at creating goodwill. Security checks, however, were stringent, much stricter than usual. Even ordinary people could sense the increased security presence throughout the airport.

Finally, Yan Fei boarded the plane, determined to get a proper sleep this time.

As it turned out, Ren Fei was seated directly behind him, but Yan Fei wasn’t concerned. Even Yang Xing was done for—after catching a nap on the bus, it still hadn’t been enough. Shortly after boarding, he fell into a deep sleep.

This time, Yan Fei took his sleep seriously. While he wasn’t physically exhausted from the last few days of activity, his mind was. A long-haul flight of over ten hours offered nothing better to do than sleep.

Aside from a brief meal, Yan Fei slept through the flight.

When he woke up, he immediately heard Yang Xing’s voice: "You young folks are impressive. You approach tasks with boundless energy and sleep so deeply you’re immovable! You’ve slept through thousands of kilometers on this trip!"

Yan Fei chuckled and replied, "So, we’ve arrived? Looks like you’ve rested well too."

"We’re here, we’re here!" Yang Xing was in a great mood. "Back in the old days, I could sleep through rough car rides in the wild. Planes are no different. What’s the first thing you plan to do after landing?"

Yan Fei caught the hint and laughed, "Head to the tech market? Judging by the time, it should be open now. Shall we go buy a computer first?"

"Sounds great!" Yang Xing agreed enthusiastically.