Chapter 19: Chu Nai

Wang Xi put down his phone, and the doorbell rang.

The delivery had arrived.

Opening the door, he found the familiar delivery driver standing there.

"Mr. Wang." The young girl, clad in a yellow uniform and helmet, handed over the insulated bag. "Your delivery is here. Enjoy your meal!"

"Miss Ning Meng, it's you again. Thank you."

Wang Xi smiled as he took the bag.

Ning Meng offered a professional smile and replied that it was her pleasure. She turned to leave, but Wang Xi called out to her:

"Miss Ning Meng, when you were picking up the order, did you happen to notice the hygiene conditions at this restaurant?"

The delivery girl paused.

She turned back to look at Wang Xi, her expression turning serious as she spoke in a measured tone:

"Clean and hygienic!"

She immediately added:

"The floors and tabletops are spotless; if it’s not quite a 'sterile laboratory,' it’s close enough. The young lady in charge of the kitchen is also very meticulous. Every dish is crafted with care, and she even holds a master chef certificate..."

"So, Mr. Wang, please feel free to eat with peace of mind."

"That impressive?" Wang Xi laughed in surprise. "Though it feels like you're very familiar with this place."

"Yes," Ning Meng nodded earnestly. "My family owns it."

"The dish you’re eating was cooked by me, too."

"..."

Wang Xi froze.

So, this young girl is not only a part-time delivery driver and courier but also a master chef?

No wonder she was praising it so tirelessly...

"Alright, Mr. Wang, please give me a five-star review if you can. I've received a new order. Goodbye."

Ning Meng checked her phone and stepped into the elevator on her own.

An interesting girl.

Wang Xi chuckled and returned to the living room with his meal. The food tasted just as good as ever, and since he was genuinely hungry, he devoured it until the container was clean.

With the sun still above the horizon, he took off his shirt and sat cross-legged on the balcony.

— "Photosynthesis"

Wang Xi activated this card for the first time.

A flash of green light.

His skin turned green at a visible rate, as if he had been coated in dye.

The late afternoon sun, no longer blinding, felt like a soak in a hot spring as it washed over him. Beneath his skin, it felt as if tiny mouths were constantly sucking in the sunlight, converting it into a miraculous energy that fed back into his muscles and bones.

"Whew... that feels good."

Wang Xi closed his eyes and faced the sun.

He remained on the balcony like that until the sun went down.

Once it was completely dark, he deactivated "Photosynthesis." As the green hue faded, he felt a subtle improvement in his body.

Although the progress was slow, he was still delighted.

After all, this was a reusable utility card. Over time, the cumulative benefits to his body would definitely be no less than those of a cultivation technique card.

Finishing his sun-bathing cultivation, Wang Xi immediately activated the "Randall Body-Tempering Method."

He didn't even bother putting his shirt back on before lying prone on the balcony, receiving invisible blows.

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Invisible forces struck his body, producing a continuous dull thudding sound.

Wang Xi grunted, his muscles trembling as sweat sprayed into the air.

...

...

The next morning, Wang Xi woke up feeling sore.

His limbs felt as if they had spent the entire night playing mahjong behind his back; they were now listless and incredibly weak. The alarm clock on his bedside table blared incessantly, and he slapped it, ending the noise that had disturbed his dream.

Just as he was about to go back to sleep, he remembered something.

*I think I have a meeting with Chu Nai today.*

He glanced at the electronic clock; it was eight o'clock, leaving him two hours before their ten o'clock appointment.

The apartment his parents left him was located in the Nest District, just south of the center of Gu City, and it wasn't far from the appointed meeting place in the Illusion Light District. A half-hour train ride would get him there.

With plenty of time, he got up, washed, and changed into a simple gray t-shirt and striped casual pants. He grabbed a cream-colored crossbody bag and headed downstairs.

When Wang Xi arrived in the Illusion Light District via the train, it was just past nine.

He strolled leisurely along the road near "Illusion Light Elementary," lined with a row of sycamore trees.

It was late May, and the trees were lush. Among the large, dark green palmate leaves were some small, immature spherical fruits. The bark was mottled and peeling, and a few flying mechanical drones were sweeping the sidewalk.

Wang Xi walked to a small, abandoned amusement park. The facilities inside were old and damaged; the paint on the slides was peeling severely, and the sandpit was filled with dead branches, leaves, and trash.

There wasn't a soul in sight. He and Chu Nai used to come here to play often.

He found a spot to sit on the edge of a flower bed, and his phone pinged.

It was a message from Chu Nai:

"Are you up yet?"

Wang Xi replied:

"I'm already here. (Rolling eyes)"

*Ping.*

"Huh?!"

After a dozen seconds:

*Ping.*

"Wait a little longer, Brother Xi, I'll be there soon!"

"(Goose running wildly)"

Wang Xi switched out of the chat app and scrolled through the news.

In this era, the media was still the same—writing whatever grabbed people's attention, even if the headlines were explosive. Like a latrine hit by a firework tossed by a mischievous child, it was a total mess.

"'Sky Dome Consortium' announces takeover of Gu City water system. Public protest: Water rates triple, and it tastes like urine!"

"'Flashy Consortium' launches artificial universal card 'Neon Contacts,' with one hundred thousand colors and patterns to switch between at will, and can even serve as a light source at night!"

"Maid droid at a restaurant in the Dawn District malfunctions, tossing a customer into the synthetic food cabinet and attempting to turn them into a new-style burger!"

"Major homicide in the Furnace District; two card users fought in the street, resulting in 22 deaths and hundreds of injuries."

"Public Security Bureau releases latest bulletin: the identities of the two perpetrators have been confirmed as members of the underground force 'Ghost Grid.' Below is the photo information of some wanted personnel from the organization... If citizens have relevant clues, please call the bureau's hotline to report. A reward of up to one million credit points is available."

Wang Xi continued to scroll through news and advertisements.

*A new world with extraordinary powers—where great strength belongs to the individual, and the potential for destruction and harm increases accordingly...*

He mused.

In this seemingly peaceful city, one had to not only guard against disasters that could strike at any time but also remain vigilant against criminal forces hiding in the shadows.

If one’s own strength was insufficient, whether one could survive an accident was entirely up to fate.

"Hey!"

Wang Xi's shoulder was suddenly tapped lightly, and a soft, beautiful female voice reached his ears.

Turning around, he saw a girl wearing a pristine white dress, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, standing prettily before him.

Chu Nai’s light blue eyes were filled with a smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

The girl apologized.

She handed him a cup of hot sweet milk.

"As compensation, I brought you a drink."

"Thanks." Wang Xi smiled as he stood up, taking the drink, and pulled a bag of breakfast food from his canvas bag. "Your favorite glutinous rice balls."

"Brother Xi, you still remember what I like to eat."

Chu Nai held the breakfast, took a light sniff, and her smiling eyes crinkled like crescent moons.

"It smells so good."

"Sit down and eat."

Wang Xi and Chu Nai sat on the edge of the flower bed and began their breakfast.

"How have things been for you in the East Continent all these years?"

Wang Xi took a sip of milk and asked casually.

The girl fell silent for a moment before smiling:

"Not bad. The cities there are bigger than here in the South Continent, but disasters are also more frequent. Fortunately, 'East Continent University,' where I studied, has strong protective measures, so everything went smoothly."

"How about you?"

"You know my grades; I barely got my diploma. I spent half a year looking for work afterward and came up empty-handed."

Wang Xi shook his head with a faint smile.

"Fortunately, Uncle Tang Yi recommended me to Cupid Housekeeping, and I just started working a few days ago."

"Cupid Housekeeping? What’s your position?"

Chu Nai’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.

"Scavenger," Wang Xi said with a smile.

"That... that's too dangerous."

Worry flashed in the girl's eyes.

"Brother Xi, why don't you find a safer job?"

"I'm almost out of money to put food on the table, so I'll just stick with it for now."

Wang Xi shook his head.

Chu Nai turned away and rummaged around. Then, she actually pulled out a bank card and handed it to him, whispering:

"This is the scholarship money I've saved over the years. There's a few hundred thousand. Please take it and use it, Brother Xi."

"What are you doing?" Wang Xi didn't take it, instead glancing at the girl and saying playfully, "Trying to keep me as your boy toy?"

Chu Nai giggled, her smile captivating.

"Is that not allowed?" she whispered.

"Not enough," Wang Xi said, finishing his last sip of milk. "At least a million."

"You have high requirements," Chu Nai huffed.

"Alright then." She thought for a moment and whispered, "When I save up a million, you have to change jobs."

"Deal." Wang Xi smiled and pushed the card back.

That settled that.

Even in his past life, he never took money from girls. Playing with emotions but not money was his bottom line as a professional "sea king."

"What made you think of returning to the South Continent instead of staying in the East Continent to continue developing?" Wang Xi changed the subject.

Chu Nai looked at him deeply, turned her head away, and tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, saying:

"The competition there is too intense. Whether it's officials or consortiums, there are endless geniuses. They have such strong backgrounds; how could I compete..."

*Lying!*

Wang Xi could tell at a glance that Chu Nai wasn't telling the truth.

Because every time Chu Nai lied, she had this little habit of turning her head and tucking her hair—he was all too familiar with it.

But Wang Xi didn't expose her.

Or rather, he never would.

"Even a genius like you couldn't compete? That's rare," Wang Xi remarked.

"So, now that you're back in Gu City, what are your plans?"

"My advisor made arrangements for me in advance. If nothing goes wrong, I should be working at the Bureau of Oversight," Chu Nai said.

Wang Xi wasn't surprised.

A genuine top student like Chu Nai would either be pre-booked by a consortium or selected by the government; after graduation, she would inevitably be starting on a different track from ordinary people.

"Returning home in glory, becoming a civil servant, are we?" Wang Xi teased. "What position?"

"I'm not sure yet," Chu Nai tucked her silver hair again, averting her gaze. "It should be something like a clerk, I suppose."

*Lying again...* Wang Xi thought.

Because the two were sitting close together, Wang Xi clearly saw a long, thin golden scar on Chu Nai’s fair, slender neck.

In his vision, a tag slowly emerged above the girl's head—

「Chu Nai (Green/Skull)」

Wang Xi’s pupils constricted sharply.

The skull icon was an assessment that surpassed five stars.

Not only that, but Chu Nai’s tag was surrounded by silver patterns, making it look extraordinary.

Her strength was definitely not simple!