Chen Fan walked out of the park, Wang Yue trailing close behind. His eyes scanned the area, eventually landing on a noodle shop across the road. Without hesitation, he headed straight for it.
"Why are you following me?" he asked abruptly, his voice calm but firm.
"Huh?" Wang Yue blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. "I… I want to repay you?"
"I thought we already went over this," Chen Fan replied flatly, continuing his stride without sparing her a glance. Wang Yue, however, quietly persisted, following him in silence.
After placing his order, Chen Fan chose a table outside the restaurant, settling in to wait for his food. Naturally, Wang Yue sat across from him, her presence drawing some curious stares from passersby. The combination of a ruggedly dressed but strikingly handsome man and a delicate, refined woman was hard to miss. Yet, the two seemed oblivious to the attention they were attracting—Chen Fan calmly observing his surroundings while Wang Yue was lost in thought, replaying the earlier events in her mind.
The silence between them stretched uncomfortably, and Wang Yue eventually decided to break it.
"Um… may I know your name? I'm Wang Yue," she said hesitantly.
"Chen Fan," he replied curtly.
"Once again, I want to thank you," she continued, her tone earnest. "Is there anything you need? Anything at all?"
Chen Fan realized then that she wouldn't stop following him until she felt her so-called debt was repaid. Resigned, he leaned back slightly and met her gaze.
"Do you know someone named Feng Xueying?"
"Feng Xueying?" Wang Yue repeated, tilting her head. "Do you mean the only daughter of the Feng family?"
"Maybe,"
"The Feng family is one of the three most influential families in Lingzhou City. Why are you looking for her? Oh, sorry, you don't have to answer that," she quickly added, catching herself.
"It's fine," Chen Fan said with a shrug. "I'm looking for my fiancée."
"Fi-fiancée?!" Wang Yue stammered, her eyes widening in shock.
"Why? Do you think a beggar-like man like me is just deluding himself by claiming to be the fiancé of the renowned Feng Xueying?" Chen Fan teased, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
"No! I don't think like that!" Wang Yue blurted out hastily, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Chen Fan chuckled softly at her flustered reaction. "You don't have to be so tense," he said, his tone lighter now.
Wang Yue fell silent, listening intently as he continued.
"It's just a little surprising to hear, that's all," she admitted after a moment.
"Is she married?" Chen Fan asked, his expression unreadable.
"No," Wang Yue replied.
"Does she have a boyfriend?"
"Perhaps not. At least in public, I've never seen her with a man."
"Is she that famous?" Chen Fan inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"I'd say she's one of the most well-known figures in this city," Wang Yue replied earnestly.
"Let me guess," Chen Fan said, a faint trace of amusement in his voice. "Because she's beautiful?"
"That's part of it," Wang Yue admitted with a small nod. "But primarily, it's because she's built a lot of orphanages across the city."
Afterward, Chen Fan continued questioning Wang Yue about Feng Xueying, and with each answer, he grew increasingly amazed. Wang Yue explained that Feng Xueying had built a billion-dollar company in the medical sector from scratch within seven years. On top of that, she was a renowned "iceberg beauty" with countless admirers—so-called "licking dogs"—not just in Lingzhou City but even in neighboring regions.
What surprised Chen Fan the most, however, was learning that Feng Xueying was a first-rate martial artist.
In this world, martial artists were a known phenomenon. Everyone was aware of individuals who had surpassed human capabilities, and many aspired to become one. The benefits were clear—enhanced strength, vitality, and even an extended lifespan.
Martial artists were classified into several ranks:
Third-rate martial artists were the lowest tier, only slightly stronger than the average human and with the same natural lifespan.Second-rate martial artists were stronger than the third-rate, with marginal improvements in endurance and skill. First-rate martial artists stood at the pinnacle of this category, possessing significantly heightened strength, reflexes, and combat skills. They could still live only as long as ordinary humans, but their abilities made them highly respected.
Above these ranks were the true legends:
Masters: These individuals could throw cars with ease and had a lifespan of up to 150 years. Grandmasters: Capable of leaping over 10-story buildings in a single bound, their extended lifespans reached 250 years. Peak Masters: A realm that had become almost mythical. No one had seen a Peak Master in over a thousand years, but historical records described them as individuals who could demolish entire buildings and live up to 500 years.
"She really is exceptional in so many ways," Chen Fan remarked, amused by all the remarkable things he'd learned about his fiancée.
"You're pretty great too," Wang Yue said softly before realizing what she had just blurted out.
"Oh? What's this? So this is what it feels like to be admired by a beautiful woman," Chen Fan teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
"W-Who said I like you, you narcissistic man?" Wang Yue stammered, her cheeks turning pink as the words of that annoying voice echoed in her mind about them being "fated."
"So you don't like me?" Chen Fan asked, his expression suddenly serious, as if he genuinely wanted to know her feelings.
"No, that's not what I meant!" Wang Yue panicked, waving her hands in a fluster.
"So you do like me," he concluded with a grin. "Well, with my looks and the way I saved you, it's no wonder, really."
"Wha—!" Wang Yue gaped, realizing from his smug expression that he was just toying with her. Her face burned even brighter.
"Hmph! And to think I thought you were a kind and gentle gentleman when we first met. Turns out you're just a shameless narcissist," she huffed, crossing her arms.
"It's called confidence," Chen Fan retorted with a soft smile, his gaze drifting back toward the bustling city streets.
Wang Yue found herself looking at his profile, taking in the calm and steady demeanor he exuded. Slowly, it dawned on her that his teasing was his way of lightening the tension that had lingered because of her earlier guilt and awkwardness. A small smile tugged at her lips, her annoyance melting into quiet gratitude.
"It seems you've caused quite a stir among the girls out there," Wang Yue remarked with a sarcastic tone.
"Oh? Does that mean my words earlier actually moved your heart?" Chen Fan teased, an amused gleam in his eyes.
"I never said that," Wang Yue quickly retorted.
"Haha," Chen Fan laughed, clearly enjoying the banter.
"Hmph," Wang Yue stood up, pretending to be angry, before turning to leave. If not for the fact that she walked in the direction where more food was displayed, he might have genuinely thought he upset her.
Amused by her playful reaction, Chen Fan turned his gaze toward the horizon, a peaceful smile spreading across his face. Their earlier conversation had given him a wealth of new knowledge—smartphones, computers, countless cars, diverse foods, destinations, music, movies, and so many events he had never heard of. The list was endless and filled with mysteries, leaving him uncertain of the timeline, but also eager to dive into this new chapter of life.
'I wonder what that old man is up to now?'
-----
After finishing their meal, Wang Yue and Chen Fan stood outside the restaurant, each lost in their own thoughts, contemplating their next steps.
After a moment of deliberation, Wang Yue turned to Chen Fan.
"Do you want to exchange contact information? I still haven't properly repaid my debt to you."
"You already answered my question earlier," Chen Fan replied casually.
"Anyone could've done that," Wang Yue countered.
"And anyone could've helped you out back there. Not everyone would've bothered to spend time answering my questions either. Let's just call it even."
"Even so, I'll make sure to pay you back," Wang Yue insisted.
"Quite stubborn, aren't you?" Chen Fan said with a smirk.
After a brief pause, Wang Yue made a decision.
"Then let's be friends," she said firmly. Deep down, she still had many questions about the strange voice in her head that seemed to know about the future. Staying in touch with Chen Fan might offer some answers—or so she told herself. Yes, that was definitely the only reason.
"I don't have a phone."
"Then I'll buy you one," Wang Yue said before pausing to glance at his outfit. "Wait. Are you sure you want to keep wearing that?"
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow, glancing down at himself. His clothes were practical and rugged, but they stood out awkwardly in the modern city. "What's wrong with it?"
"Everything," Wang Yue replied bluntly. "No offense, but if you want to blend in—or, you know, look less like a wandering vagrant—you'll need something better. Come on, I know a place nearby."
Chen Fan sighed but didn't resist. "Alright, lead the way."
Wang Yue guided him to a nearby mall, where she enthusiastically dragged him into a clothing store. It was clear that she enjoyed picking out outfits, even as Chen Fan stood there, bemused by her energy.
When he stepped out of the fitting room, Wang Yue's eyes lit up. "See? Much better. You almost look like a normal person now," she said with a grin.
"Almost?" Chen Fan repeated with mock offense, though his lips twitched in amusement.
After selecting a few more items, they moved on to a store selling phones. Wang Yue helped Chen Fan choose a basic model, explaining the features as she set it up for him.
"You really don't know how to use one of these?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"Let's just say I've been… away for a while," Chen Fan replied cryptically.
"Away where?" she asked, but Chen Fan didn't answer, and she decided not to press him further—for now.
After buying some new clothes and a phone, Wang Yue took the time to teach Chen Fan how to use it. Once he'd gotten the basics, they exchanged contact information.
"Contact me if you need anything. I'll help you," Wang Yue said earnestly.
"Alright. Thanks," Chen Fan replied, deciding to stop the teasing, at least for now.
With that, they parted ways, each heading off in their own direction, though their thoughts lingered on the other.