Everyone gathered in Jie's room, and the large round table was piled high with an impressive spread of food. The lazy Susan in the center spun slowly, laden with exotic meats and an array of colorful dishes, each more tantalizing than the last.
Kris scanned the room, taking in the dynamics of the gathering. He noticed a blonde girl with a model-like figure sitting beside Xiaoyi, her presence striking, a proper eye candy. Next to Jie, a woman with long black hair, clad in a cheongsam, sat with an air of composed affection, clearly playing the role of a doting wife, and doing it well.
Lan stood off to the side, her posture stiff with displeasure. She shot an irritated glance at the two men, a derisive snort escaping her as if she found them utterly contemptible.
As she was about to find her seat, she saw Zheng and Lori join the table.
Jie was enthusiastically discussing the exchange system with Xiaoyi, praising his wife's qualities and raving about how she was the best decision he'd ever made. But his attention shifted, and the conversation took a turn toward Lan, who was still sulking in the corner.
"… And life creation includes men, too. Lan, why haven't you made the man of your dreams?"
"I'm not as desperate as you guys, wanting things you can't get in the real world," Lan replied, her voice sharp. "I've never written one of those YY (overpowered MC) novels. The whole idea of creating the perfect man just feels wrong to me. I'd rather exchange for a vibrator."
Xiaoyi's cheeks flushed a bright pink, while Jie burst out laughing. "Come on, Lan, live a little. You don't know what you're missing."
Lan's cheeks reddened slightly, but she maintained her composure. "That's the difference between men and women. Men want to find the woman of their dreams and fall in love, while women want to fall in love with the man they've found. Do you really think I'd be foolish enough to start a physical relationship with someone I barely know?"
Just then, a voice chimed in from beside Zheng. "Well said. Men are detestable and perverted. They don't understand the importance of true love," Lori added, her tone light but pointed.
Lan glanced at Lori, seeming to find a kindred spirit. The two women quickly fell into their own conversation, pointedly ignoring the brutish men around them.
A while later, Biscuit joined them, sharing her own stories. Her tales alternated between making the two women blush and leaving them wide-eyed with shock. Both Lan and Lori appraised Biscuit with fascinated curiosity, urging her to continue. Biscuit, clearly pleased by their interest, wore a proud smile and eagerly indulged them.
Jie's wife, unsurprisingly, was an executive-level chef. The meal spread before them was a feast. Though there were only ten dishes, each one was a luxury they could only dream of back in the real world: bear paws, monkey brains, and some insane seafood they hadn't even seen before.
Kris and Biscuit stirred clear of the more exotic dishes, though.
---
Jie lit a cigarette, leaned back in his chair, and grinned like a cat who'd just snatched the cream. "God really knows how to spoil us when it comes to food. Even a billionaire back in the real world couldn't keep up with this. We're drinking wine that's older than half the people out there, smoking the finest cigarettes. Honestly, if it weren't for the whole 'dangerous dimension' thing, this place wouldn't be too bad. You could pop over to the real world whenever you're bored, then come back here for a nice meal."
Zheng and the others nodded, their earlier feelings of jealousy and suspicion melting away, swept up in the easy camaraderie and the jovial atmosphere.
Seizing the opportunity to bond with the team, Zheng casually steered the conversation toward their lives in the real world.
When it was Kris's turn, Zheng raised an eyebrow. "Kris, you've never mentioned what you do for a living in the real world…"
The room fell quiet, all eyes turning to him. Kris let out a long sigh. "Yeah, that's because I haven't," he said, his tone light. But when he caught Biscuit's pointed look, he knew it was time to stick to their cover story. He straightened up a bit and shrugged. "Well, if you really want to know, I work for a chop shop in Hong Kong. We deal with high-end sports cars and tweak them for underground races. You ever seen *Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift*?"
Kris leaned back in his chair, his tone casual but his eyes sharp as he recalled the past. "So, here's the deal. I ran with a chop shop in Hong Kong—high-end sports cars, underground races, all that. One night, I got into a race with some guy who turned out to be tied to the triad. Think *Fast and Furious*—but with more dirty tricks."
He paused, his gaze sweeping the group. "I had my custom-built car, but this guy had the muscle. Halfway through, I noticed a black SUV following us, cutting off my routes. It wasn't just a race anymore—it was a setup. Long story short, he rammed me off the road. My car's totaled, and I barely walked away from it."
Kris's voice dropped, his mood darkening slightly. "By the time I got to my shop, it was already trashed. Cars stolen, equipment wrecked. The triad didn't just take the race—they made sure I got the message. No car, no shop, no options. That's how I ended up here. Had to disappear before they came for me next. But then… I received that email."
Lan raised an eyebrow. "I always thought you were some high school dropout."
Everyone chuckled. Xiaoyi added, "Yeah, how old are you anyway? You really look like you're still in college."
"I'm 25." Kris answered with a smirk. He made a mental note that, after the next movie, Xuan would send people to dig up their backgrounds, and the military would be sending agents from this version of the real world to help with the mission or their own agendas. Best to keep it consistent for now.
---
Once everyone had rested, Jie motioned for them to follow. "Alright, time to get to work," he said, leading them down a set of stairs.
The basement they entered was nothing like they expected. The space stretched out before them—huge and almost surreal, like stepping into a different world. It felt like the size of a football field.
"At first, I had no idea you could change the rooms like this," Jie began, as they all took in the expansive area. "But once I figured it out… it's simple, really. You just focus, picture what you want, and hold the door handle. God fills in the rest."
The others looked around, eyes wide. The room was split into different sections. There was a target practice field, neatly set up with varying targets, each one marked with different levels of difficulty. On the far side, a long-distance running track looped around, and further still was an obstacle course, complete with walls to scale and tunnels to crawl through. In the middle, a close-combat platform stood ready for sparring.
Jie took a deep breath, rubbing his hands together. "Alright, here's how it's going to go down. Starting tomorrow, we train. We train hard. Every day, from 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. to midnight. This isn't just about getting stronger—it's about getting smarter. You won't see huge physical changes overnight, but if you stick with it, you'll be ready."
He looked at the group, his gaze flicking over each of them. "We'll begin with the basics. Shooting, hand-to-hand combat, running. And yeah, you'll be pushing your limits. The more you know about your own weaknesses, the better you'll be at planning ahead for the movies. Trust me, your limits will get tested, and you'll need to know exactly where you stand."
Xiaoyi looked a bit unsure, glancing around. "You really think we can survive whatever this place throws at us?"
The group exchanged looks, some nodding in determination, others still unsure of what they were walking into. But one thing was clear—tomorrow was going to be the start of something much harder than anything they'd faced so far.