Back at the top of the mountain, Wang Yan asked nonchalantly, "So, you had your laugh?"
Xie Yufei smiled and replied, "Yes, I laughed heartily!"
Was that the standard response?
Wang Yan's face darkened. At that moment, Xie Yufei didn't seem so cute anymore.
"Alright, enough joking around." Xie Yufei stuck her tongue out playfully and added, "Wang Yan, you've taught them to use fire, helped them learn words, established order, and developed religious beliefs. From a normal perspective, you've done quite well."
"Xie Yufei, we could communicate better if you left out the phrase 'from a normal perspective,'" Wang Yan said, feeling slightly annoyed.
He finally understood why he always felt a bit off when talking to Xie Yufei. She had a habit of throwing in phrases that stung a little, even during a regular conversation.
This way of talking was just as irritating as Liu Wanjun's smug condescension, and it left Wang Yan feeling uncomfortable.
But Xie Yufei continued as if she hadn't heard him, "Wang Yan, do you know why the development of the Caesar tribe is so chaotic? Do you see what the real issue is?"
"Where?" Wang Yan asked. Despite her teasing, he genuinely hoped to hear some advice that could help get the planet's civilization back on track.
"It's simple," Xie Yufei began, "The development of civilization is not a one-person job. Earth's civilization progressed over millennia with countless people contributing across different fields, working together, building on each other's knowledge. Wars, conquests, diseases, inheritance, destruction—they all shaped humanity's journey to becoming what it is today."
"And now, you're trying to single-handedly fast-track the development of an entire planet's civilization. Your ambition is admirable, and that's why I said you've done quite well," she added, giving him a look.
Wang Yan frowned. "So, what's your solution? Just give them fire and wait a thousand years for them to develop on their own?"
"Of course not!" Xie Yufei glanced back at him, her lips curling in amusement. "If that were the case, what would we even be doing here? With our knowledge of civilization's foundation, we can help them progress much faster. It's not about waiting—it's about guiding."
"Then tell me your plan," Wang Yan said.
"Talent. We need a lot of talent to truly develop the civilization of this world," Xie Yufei said firmly.
Wang Yan sighed. "We've come full circle, haven't we? That's exactly why I went to the hospital to get you. But I was criticized for it, and Wang Lin almost got exposed. So how exactly do I gather more people without causing trouble?"
Xie Yufei smiled mischievously. "You know, I was only trying to show off my intelligence to get your attention at the time. The truth is, your plan wasn't bad at all."
"Why do you say that?" Wang Yan asked, intrigued.
"The only reason I figured things out was because I experienced it myself. I pieced it together backward," Xie Yufei explained, counting on her fingers. "First, no one would guess your motive. You didn't have any obvious enemies or grudges with the patients at the hospital. Plus, most of them had lost the ability to move on their own. Frankly, kidnapping them wouldn't make sense to anyone."
"Second, no one would think your goal is to bring them to another planet to help you build a new civilization. That's just beyond imagination."
"Third, the methods. The world operates on science and technology. Nobody's going to think you committed your crime through a portal to another dimension. That alone will stump any investigator. So, in the end, this will likely be classified as an unsolved case, or it'll become one of those supernatural legends."
"So, I can kidnap them without any real risk?" Wang Yan's eyes lit up as the pieces fell into place.
"In theory, yes. You could kidnap anyone on Earth without much risk," Xie Yufei said, "But you still need to be careful. Avoid security cameras—if you're seen, you'll leave a trail, and modern criminal investigation techniques are advanced. So, just be cautious."
"I'll be careful," Wang Yan nodded, his heart racing at the thought of returning to Earth and abducting more talent.
"Wang Yan, you don't have all your superpowers on Earth, right?" Xie Yufei asked suddenly.
"Right," Wang Yan admitted. A smart person like her didn't need much to figure it out.
"Thanks!" Xie Yufei said with a cryptic smile. Then she added, "Don't rush off yet. I'll tell you exactly which wards to visit and who to take. You can't just barge into random rooms like last time. If I hadn't kept my cool, or if I'd had someone with me, you might've been exposed."
"That wouldn't have happened," Wang Yan said confidently. "I was prepared. If there had been any risk, I would've taken everyone into my world. Even if a nurse or doctor had come in, I would've captured them too. No one would've found out."
Xie Yufei gave him an exasperated look. "That's such a brute-force solution... but it fits your IQ."
Wang Yan chuckled. "Maybe. But hey, I got lucky when I found you—smart, beautiful, and helpful."
"Ugh, that was a terrible attempt at flattery," Xie Yufei rolled her eyes. "Wang Yan, if you're going to flirt, at least try to do it properly. Otherwise, it's just embarrassing."
Wang Yan felt his confidence take another hit.
"Room 303, next door to mine, is Professor Luo Mingde from the University of Science and Technology. He's recovering from a cerebral infarction and hemiplegia. No one's with him, so he's a perfect candidate."
"Room 304, Tang Shulin, former chief engineer of Jianghai City's Road and Bridge Company. Also hemiplegic, no one with him, definitely a good choice."
"Room 306, Yin Lujun, the father of the current mayor of Jianghai City. He's also recovering from hemiplegia, but as an old bureaucrat, he won't be useful to us. You can skip him."
"Room 310, Feng Chunlai, Vice Chairman of Dongling Group, an economics expert and billionaire. Optional, but could be useful."
"Room 324, Jiang Yanping, a renowned teacher—must take him."
"Room 328, Zhang Dongping, a geological expert—definitely take him."
"Room 330..."
"Room 335..."
Xie Yufei drew a detailed map of the hospital's VIP ward on the ground using small stones. She marked which patients were inside each room, their specialties, and whether they were accompanied.
Wang Yan was amazed. Having someone on the inside made everything so much easier—it was much better than stumbling around like a clueless fool.
Dropping the stone, Xie Yufei said, "Alright, you're ready to go. You're lucky it was me you encountered. If it had been anyone else, you wouldn't have this kind of inside knowledge."
Wang Yan asked curiously, "Xie Yufei, I've been meaning to ask—what exactly did you do on Earth?"
"I didn't really do anything. I'm a PhD student," she replied, brushing the dust off her hands.
"What kind of PhD?" Wang Yan asked.
"Social Psychology," she answered with a smile. "Is there a problem?"
"No, none at all," Wang Yan shook his head, smiling back. "I just feel sorry for your professor. He must have a lot of psychological pressure."
"Stop talking nonsense and get going!" Xie Yufei gave him a playful glare. "We've got a time ratio of one to thirty in our favor—don't waste it. And before you leave, take me to the Caesar tribe. I like it there—it's a fun place."