Ch 239: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Lu Yao was indeed somewhat curious about the Supernatural Research Institute and didn’t overlook the receptionist’s odd demeanor. She followed her into the elevator, asking in a low voice, “Is Hu Jiao on the third floor?”

The receptionist pressed the floor button. “Hu Jiao has a full-body examination scheduled this morning. He won’t be out of the exam room until 9:30. I’ll take you to the third floor to wait.”

Almost as soon as the receptionist had seen her business card, her expression had changed dramatically, and her attitude warmed considerably. Lu Yao didn’t think she commanded such attention to warrant this enthusiastic reception.

Lu Yao couldn’t help but mutter to the system, “Feels like I’m about to be whisked away for experiments.”

System: “But you don’t seem afraid at all.”

Lu Yao remained indifferent. “Isn’t A supposed to work here? Strangely, as long as he’s around, I feel quite at ease.”

The system cringed, sensing a trap, “…Don’t think he’s a good guy or anything.”

“You seem to know him well.” Lu Yao’s tone was calm but probing. “Is A a god?”

Realizing it was about to be caught in Lu Yao’s web of words, the system took a deep breath, “Look, I’m serious. Don’t think you can handle that man so easily. He’s not an ordinary visitor from another world. Those connected to him never come to a good end.”

Especially not you, it thought but held its tongue.

Lu Yao lowered her gaze and quietly asked, “He’s a god-slayer, isn’t he?”

The system fell silent for a few moments, then replied in a tone of mild indifference, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

As the elevator reached the third floor, Lu Yao’s attention shifted. Outside was a long corridor branching left and right.

The receptionist led Lu Yao to the left, occasionally pointing out labs and state-of-the-art projects along the way. Lu Yao pretended to understand, following along until they reached a pale blue door.

The receptionist peeked in through the door, then turned back to Lu Yao. “Ms. Lu, the testing group happens to be free. Would you like a complimentary ability test?”

Lu Yao shook her head. “No need. Since Hu Jiao won’t be done until 9:30, I’ll just wait downstairs.”

But the receptionist caught her arm, laughing. “Oh, come on, Ms. Lu, you’re already here. No need to be so reserved!”

System: “Pfft.”

Lu Yao: “…What’s so funny?”

System: “You’re getting the ‘you’re already here’ treatment? Hahaha!”

Just then, Lu Yao spotted a familiar figure across the hallway and called out, “Xiao Mei?”

Xiao Mei was hurrying along, head down in a white coat, with a young man in a lab coat trailing close behind her.

At the sound of Lu Yao’s voice, Xiao Mei looked up, her impatience quickly replaced by surprise. “Auntie—uh, I mean, boss! What are you doing here?”

Lu Yao extricated herself from the receptionist’s grip and steadied herself on the railing. “I came to pick up Hu Jiao, but it seems I got lost.”

Xiao Mei walked over, eyeing the receptionist. “What’s going on?”

The receptionist looked embarrassed. “Ms. Lu’s first time here, so I thought of offering her an ability test.”

Lu Yao replied, “I never agreed to a test; I’m just here to pick up a client.”

Xiao Mei quickly understood the situation. Due to Hu Jiao’s viral livestream, Lu Yao and her abilities had gained online fame, but there was no official data about her abilities in any database. Likely, the receptionist had recognized Lu Yao and wanted to log her ability data into the research institute’s database in advance.

Xiao Mei dismissed the receptionist back to her post and led Lu Yao down the hall. “Hu Jiao is in Exam Room 3; I’ll take you there.”

The young man trailing Xiao Mei held a milk bread in his hand, looking Lu Yao over and asking, “Senior Xiao Mei, who is she?”

Xiao Mei was beyond irritated with this persistent intern. She had already rejected him before, and after completing her supplemental lessons yesterday, she was even more resolved in her stance. But it was as if he couldn’t take a hint.

Xiao Mei grabbed Lu Yao’s arm. “This is my aunt. Don’t follow us; I’m just showing her around.”

The young man took it in stride, smiling politely. “Hello, Auntie.”

Lu Yao: “…”

As the young man continued to trail them, Xiao Mei felt increasingly exasperated and embarrassed in front of Lu Yao. Along the way, they ran into Zheng Siyao, and Xiao Mei quickly handed Lu Yao over to her before grabbing the young man by his collar and disappearing down the corridor.

Zheng Siyao chuckled awkwardly. “That guy is a fellow student of Xiao Mei’s.”

Lu Yao raised a hand to stop her explanation. “It’s fine. Could you please take me to find Hu Jiao?”

Glancing at her watch, Zheng Siyao suggested, “We still have time. How about grabbing some coffee? Or, maybe I could take you to see Professor An at work?”

Lu Yao was puzzled. “Are researchers here really this idle? And why would I watch Professor An at work?”

Skipping the first question, Zheng Siyao’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Well… it’s just interesting, and everyone enjoys watching him.”

Lu Yao was baffled, even slightly taken aback. While every form A took had its appeal, Lu Yao personally felt that none could compare to his true appearance. But she hadn’t expected that in the research institute, he was so popular that his work garnered an audience.

Coincidentally, An Yan was on the third floor that morning. Before Lu Yao could respond, Zheng Siyao had already pulled her to the lab door.

They entered just as An Yan, dressed in black pants and a fitted top, was taking off his white coat to hang it up. On the other side of a glass window, an experimental subject was already waiting.

Zheng Siyao greeted him first, “Professor An, the boss is here to pick up Hu Jiao. He won’t be finished for another half hour, so I’ll go grab breakfast. Could you keep her company?”

Standing at the doorway and meeting An Yan’s gaze, Lu Yao suddenly thought, Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here?

With a twinkle in his crimson eyes, An Yan pulled out a chair beside the monitoring console, tilting his head. “Have a seat and give me two minutes.”

With little choice, Lu Yao sat, watching through the glass as An Yan entered the room, facing off against the test subject.

The room had sound equipment and monitoring instruments, allowing Lu Yao to hear their conversation.

The test subject declared, “Professor An, today, I’m going to beat you.”

A loud bang echoed as the massive, muscular subject was sent flying backward. The monitoring devices in the room blared alarms as the ability level soared past measurable limits. The readings came solely from Professor An.

An Yan approached and turned off the instruments, while medical staff entered through a side door to carry the subject out.

The same scene repeated seven times before Professor An finally concluded his morning session.

He opened the monitoring room door, one hand on the handle as he leaned against it. “Did I scare you?”

Lu Yao shook her head, unable to resist asking, “Are they going to be alright?”

A hint of amusement softened An Yan’s gaze as he looked down, a faint smile crossing his lips. “I know my limits. Otherwise, it’d be never-ending.”

For once, Lu Yao was at a loss for words. “…Oh.”

An Yan pulled out a chair and sat beside her. “I’ve been wondering recently if I should register for a childhood supplemental lesson.”

Lu Yao raised an eyebrow. “You have regrets about your childhood?”

An Yan’s tone was enigmatic. “Hard to say. I just worry that I might regret it someday.”

Lu Yao: “???”

Watching her thoughtful frown, An Yan’s mood, for once, seemed calm and steady.

Lu Yao pondered for a while before carefully asking, “Why would you regret it?”

Resting one arm along the back of the chair, his fingertips traced the patterns of the armrest. “Can’t say.”

She glanced sideways at him, noting his blood-red eyes that concealed whatever emotions lingered there. Resigned, she said, “Once an idea takes root, it’s hard to shake. If you keep going back and forth, you’ll probably just end up going through with it. Sometimes it’s better to skip all the hesitation and make a decisive choice from the start.”

An Yan nodded, “Alright, I’ll follow your advice.”

Lu Yao: “…”

That level of obedience wasn’t exactly necessary.

The system didn’t dare say a word.

An Yan and Lu Yao scheduled a session for a later date, then he accompanied her to pick up Hu Jiao.

When they arrived at the examination room, Hu Jiao had just come out.

The young man spotted her, a smile breaking through his expression, though he muttered, “I was practically dissected in there! What took you so long?”

Lu Yao walked over, “You’ve got some nerve to say that—I’ve been here since eight, waiting all the way until nine-thirty for you.”

…

Together, Lu Yao, Hu Jiao, and An Yan made their way downstairs.

The elevator doors opened on the ground floor, but as they exited, a security guard stopped them, redirecting them to a nearby waiting area.

Outside, five black armored vehicles had pulled up, and guards with firearms positioned themselves around the entrance.

Shortly after, a tall man was escorted from the central vehicle, surrounded closely by four armed guards as they led him directly into the research facility.

Once that group boarded the elevator, the crowd in the waiting area dispersed, whispering among themselves.

Lu Yao caught fragments of the conversation.

“It’s X, the superpowered criminal.”

“What’s he doing here at our research institute?”

“He’s incredibly dangerous. This guy is truly terrifying.”

As the elevator doors slowly closed, the man labeled as “X” seemed to sense something, lifting his gaze. His eyes zeroed in on Lu Yao’s small figure, piercing through all the layers of guards with startling precision.

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