CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103: SURPRISE

The next day, early in the morning, Chen Shouyi returned from sword practice at the Haunted House.

As he walked into his house, he noticed an extra person inside.

"Shou Yi, why are you just coming back? She’s been waiting for you for a long time," Mrs. Chen complained.

Bai Xiaoling quickly stood up, a bit embarrassed, and said, "Auntie, it’s okay, I haven’t been waiting long. I’m the one causing trouble for you."

Today, she wasn’t wearing her police uniform. Instead, she wore a black-and-white business attire, making her look like a city office worker.

"What brings you here?" Chen Shouyi asked, puzzled.

"Hello, Advisor Chen, I am your dedicated liaison officer from now on. Today is my first day at work," Bai Xiaoling said cautiously.

So that’s it, Chen Shouyi remembered. The director did mention yesterday that they would appoint a dedicated liaison officer, though he didn’t expect it to be someone familiar.

He wasn’t embarrassed since they hadn’t met that many times.

"Sorry, I need to wash my face first, we can talk more later."

"It’s okay, please go ahead."

Chen Shouyi placed his sword in the bedroom and was just entering the bathroom when his sister sneaked in with a conspiratorial look on her face.

"Brother, do you have a mistress now?"

"What mistress? That’s so crude. She’s a liaison officer from the police substation, and she’s a police officer," Chen Shouyi said as he washed his face.

"Why did they pick such a pretty liaison officer with a face sharp like a vixen?" Chen Xingyue grumbled.

"How would I know? Kid, don’t randomly speculate!"

Chen Xingyue pouted, "As if you’re much older than me. You’re only two years older."

"I could run while you were still nursing!" Chen Shouyi hung the towel on the rack and said lightly.

Chen Xingyue’s face froze, just as she was about to retort, Mrs. Chen called from outside, "Xing Yue, we’re leaving, we still have to check the shop today."

...

After his parents and sister left, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

"Have a seat, make yourself comfortable!" Chen Shouyi sat on the sofa, motioning with his hand.

Bai Xiaoling adjusted her skirt and sat down, her long legs clad in thin, flesh-colored stockings pressed tightly together.

"Sorry, I thought a liaison officer just makes phone calls? But from what you’re saying, it seems different?" Chen Shouyi asked, puzzled. Her presence was more like an assistant or secretary.

"Advisor Chen, it used to be just that, but now with mobile communications down and contact limited, unless a safety advisor happens to be at home, it’s hard to reach anyone except through landlines. Once a major event occurs..."

This is the fallout from the mysterious forces’ invasion, causing a severe decline in societal operational efficiency.

Chen Shouyi frowned and interrupted, "I understand! I just hope this won’t affect my family life."

"I apologize for the unexpected visit today. In the future, you can treat me as a driver or an invisible person; I won’t affect your life in any way," Bai Xiaoling hastily said.

"Do you have a car?" Chen Shouyi keenly noticed her mention of a driver and immediately asked.

"Yes... yes," Bai Xiaoling replied, confused.

"That’s great, take me to Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy!"

...

Chen Shouyi sat in the backseat with his eyes closed, while Bai Xiaoling held the steering wheel, carefully watching his profile through the rearview mirror.

Handsome indeed, even his cold and domineering demeanor is charming. It’s said that martial artists are incredibly strong. If he really forced himself on her, should she resist?

At this thought, she couldn’t keep her legs together.

In reality, it wasn’t that Chen Shouyi was incredibly handsome beyond compare; he was just ordinarily handsome, but the martial artist’s aura made him feel completely different to Bai Xiaoling.

"What are you thinking about?"

Without realizing when, Chen Shouyi had opened his eyes.

"N-nothing!" Bai Xiaoling quickly looked away, her face flushing with heat.

Oh my, what on earth is this old lady imagining?

He’s only seventeen years old.

Chen Shouyi didn’t dwell on it, glanced at the time, and asked, "When will we get there?"

"If there’s no traffic, about half an hour!"

Having a dedicated driver was great, especially since he didn’t have to pay for it, his resistance to the liaison officer lessened significantly.

Chen Shouyi nodded and didn’t say more. He took out an "Explorer’s Survival Manual" and began flipping through it.

The increase in intelligence not only enhances memory but also boosts thinking speed, logical understanding, and more.

An intelligence of 13 points is in the realm of a top genius.

Especially for knowledge that requires just memory and little understanding, he could flip a page every few seconds. By the time the car arrived at Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy, he had read a third of the 300-page Explorer’s Manual.

Chen Shouyi opened the car door and said, "Wait here for me."

"Okay, Advisor Chen!"

As Chen Shouyi walked onto the campus, Bai Xiaoling immediately got out, found a nearby public phone, and called the substation’s security information department to report her location.

...

Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy is located in a mountain area, surrounded by peaceful and secluded surroundings. The buildings are well distributed, rising and falling in elevation, filled with parks and trees, making one feel like they’ve entered a paradise when walking onto the campus.

This didn’t feel like a school to Chen Shouyi; rather, it felt like a sect from a TV novel. He saw many students practicing swords in the nearby serene park or sparring with each other.

Any student walking his way looked strong and full of spirit, each having the strength of a Martial Artist Apprentice.

Seeing these students, he felt a slight tinge of regret and envy in his heart.

This is the Martial Arts Academy of his dreams.

If his abilities progressed slower, he might have been one of them next year.

Sigh, his strength advanced too quickly!

...

The campus is vast, covering four to five thousand acres. Despite having a map on his lecture permit, the varied terrain and winding trails still disoriented him.

Chen Shouyi had no choice but to stop a female student, "Excuse me, how do I get to the ’Basic Intelligence Gathering in Other Worlds’ short-term intensive course?"

Xiao Peipei glanced at the well-dressed Chen Shouyi, blushing slightly, then shyly said, "It’s quite secluded and hard to find; let me take you there!"

"Alright, thank you very much," Chen Shouyi expressed his gratitude.

"You’re welcome!"

...

"Are you looking for someone?" Xiao Peipei couldn’t help but ask on the way.

"Oh no, I’m here for a class!" Chen Shouyi raised his lecture permit.

"What kind of company do you work for that requires this class? I’ve heard that those attending are martial artists not from the Martial Arts Academy," Xiao Peipei asked curiously. After all, these courses were mandatory for those from the Martial Arts Academy.

"Do I really not look like a martial artist?" Chen Shouyi asked unhappily.

"Not really. You look younger than me," Xiao Peipei covered her mouth and giggled, thinking Chen Shouyi was boasting.

Chen Shouyi was speechless; his age was always a sore point, and he had been troubled by it for a long time.

The two walked through a forest path and after another ten minutes, they arrived at a quiet little building concealed by trees. Many people were already chatting in the garden in front, indicating class hadn’t started yet.

"Thank you for bringing me here," Chen Shouyi thanked her.

Xiao Peipei quickly replied, "You’re welcome, I was heading here for class anyway."

...

"Chen Shouyi, I didn’t expect to see you here for class too?" Lu Weifeng greeted him with a smile as soon as he saw Chen Shouyi.

A female martial artist, who had joined the academy at the same time, also greeted him, "What a coincidence."

Her name was Song Yingjie, with short hair and a heroic demeanor, making her gender hard to discern at first glance, looking like a handsome young man.

"Yeah, we have to take classes, the martial artist trading network is too expensive. If I don’t earn money soon, I’ll go broke. By the way, are you both staying in Hedong too?" Chen Shouyi asked.

"I thought about it and decided to move to Hedong; money sure doesn’t last," Lu Weifeng replied with a helpless smile.

"I’m a native of Hedong City, so of course, I’m staying here," Song Yingjie said with a smile, "Let’s exchange numbers; we should keep in touch."

They didn’t bother to lower their voices while talking, and as Xiao Peipei walked a few steps away, she suddenly turned around in surprise and looked at the small building, seeing two people circling around the man she had just brought over, chatting enthusiastically.