C9 An Old Classmate Came to Visit

Situ Yu stood silently in the yard, his thoughts turning to the task at hand. Ke Lianna had mentioned that he'd need 100 tons of iron, 100 tons of lead, and for energy, simply purchasing 100 tons of coal would suffice. The biological gene should have been the easiest part, yet the Cortex Prime had hinted that this gene could influence his future abilities.

Could ingesting these genes grant him the powers associated with them? The possibility seemed real. He made a mental note to discuss it with Ke Lianna when he got the chance.

The simplest and most direct way to complete these missions would be to steal. But the risks of getting caught were high, and being caught was no laughing matter. A minor offense could land him in solitary confinement or a larger cage to serve the state. A more serious offense might lead to being dissected for research.

The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

"Better to find a legitimate way to acquire them," Situ Yu muttered with a sigh.

Right now, though, the pressing issue was his living situation. Without water or electricity, daily life was a challenge. He resolved to get the utilities set up that afternoon.

Glancing at his outdated phone, he noted it was just shy of 10 a.m.

Situ Yu filled a bucket with water and prepared for a makeshift bath, stripping down to nothing. As he was about to cleanse his sweat-drenched body, the yard door swung open. He spun around, his eyes widening in shock.

A sharp scream pierced the calm, turning up the heat on an already sweltering summer day.

The door slammed shut.

Embarrassed, Situ Yu stammered, "Uh, sorry about that. I was all sweaty and just about to shower. I didn't expect anyone. I'll be done in a jiffy. Please, just wait."

He quickly toweled off and dressed. Reopening the yard door, he offered an apologetic grin. "Really sorry, it wasn't intentional. I've just gotten back and there's no water or electricity, so I couldn't shower inside. I made do with the yard." He stood there, sheepishly chuckling.

Standing at the door was none other than Hee Qingshui, the old classmate Situ Yu had bumped into at the noodle shop the day before. She was giving him a once-over with an odd smirk, sending shivers down his spine.

"You're in pretty good shape, aren't you? Where'd you work out to get a body like that?" She flipped into tomboy mode in an instant.

Situ Yu was taken aback. How had she turned so bold all of a sudden? Recalling his showering stance, he realized she must have gotten an eyeful of his back. That was a big loss.

He couldn't let this slide; he couldn't be outdone by a girl. "After getting an eyeful for free, don't you think you owe me some kind of compensation?" he shot back.

With a sly grin, Hee Qingshui responded, "Okay, how about I take a shower and you can stand guard at the door?"

Situ Yu felt like he'd been peppered with holes from a Gatling gun, utterly defeated.

Thumbs up, he conceded, "You win, I'm outmatched."

Hee Qingshui burst into laughter, her cheeks flushing a bit.

"What brings you here all of a sudden? Is something up?"

"Didn't I mention yesterday that I'd come to see you?"

That's when it clicked for Situ Yu; she had indeed said that.

"It's been two years; I had to check in on you and catch up on what's been happening," she said.

"Right, of course. Come on in, then. It's not great just standing out here." They entered the house, one after the other.

Inside, Hee Qingshui surveyed the surroundings, her nose wrinkling at the faint musty odor.

Situ Yu grabbed a stool, gave it a quick wipe, and placed it before her. They sat opposite each other at the table.

"We haven't got the water and electricity hooked up yet, so we're roughing it a bit. Hope you don't mind," Situ Yu said, a touch sheepishly.

"If I minded, I wouldn't be here. You haven't been home in two years; it's not like I'm unaware," Hee Qingshui replied, then thought to herself, "In these two years, I've been to your place at least eight or ten times. Every time, no one's home. It's so frustrating."

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something. What's the story behind you getting kicked out of school two years ago? I heard rumors about you getting into fights off-campus, tarnishing the school's reputation. But honestly, who could you have taken on with your slight build back then? What really happened?"

Situ Yu gave a wry smile, shaking his head as he thought to himself, 'That whole mess was so foolish. Why did I even wander into that alley with nothing to do? I didn't accomplish anything, and it seemed like I just ended up ruining someone else's day. And why else would Wang Xiaoli have pointed the finger at me?'

Seeing that Situ Yu was reluctant to delve into the details, Hee Qingshui didn't press further. Instead, she asked, "What have you been up to these last two years? You've gotten a lot darker and bulked up quite a bit." As she spoke, a flush of red appeared on her cheeks as if she had just remembered something.

"You could pass for a Half Fairy now. You actually got it half right," he replied.

Hee Qingshui was taken aback. Her casual joke had somehow hit the mark. Could her subconscious have actually predicted something? Maybe she should buy a lottery ticket on a whim? The odd thought passed quickly, and she continued, "But why on earth did you end up mining? That seems so extreme."

"I didn't have much choice," Situ Yu explained. "My academic qualifications were lacking, and I'd just been expelled. Everywhere I turned, I faced rejection. Finally, an agency set me up with a job at the mines.

I never imagined I'd actually be mining. But once I was there, I figured I might as well give it a shot. Before I knew it, two years had passed. Then, just a couple of days ago, I got the boot from the company. So, here I am."

Hee Qingshui's eyes grew wide with astonishment as she listened to Situ Yu's story.

They chatted about various topics for a while, and soon it was nearing dinner time. Hee Qingshui tugged at Situ Yu's sleeve and said, "Come on, come to my place for dinner. You look like you're in need of a good meal, and I'm sure you don't have much here. I'll fix you something extra."

Situ Yu figured he might as well accept the invitation since he had to head out later to get his utilities set up. He wasn't fussy about food. With that, he locked up and they both headed to the noodle shop together.

Stepping into the cozy noodle shop, they caught the owner carrying a steaming bowl of noodles out of the kitchen. Spotting his daughter, he chided, "There you are, leaving your old man to toil away while you gallivant around on your own."

"Dad, guess who's here?"

"Uncle He, hello!" Situ Yu greeted with a warm smile.

Hearing the familiar voice and taking a good look, Uncle He's memory clicked. "Ah, Little Yu, it's you! You've shot up and filled out quite a bit. What's it been, two years?"

"Come on, have a seat. Today's on me," Situ Yu declared, promptly taking a spot at the table.

With the place not too crowded, Hee Qingshui joined them and called out, "Dad, I'll have a bowl too. And let's beef up Brother Yu's meal."

"Got it," came Uncle He's voice from the back.

Hee Qingshui couldn't help but chuckle.

It wasn't long before Uncle He emerged, a bowl of noodles in each hand, and set them down before them. "Here you go, Little Yu, and this one's for you, sweetheart."

"Thanks, Uncle He," Situ Yu said, his gratitude accompanied by a smile.

"Dad, that's not fair. Brother Yu's got a mountain there, and mine's just a molehill?" Hee Qingshui complained.

"If you're not worried about putting on a few pounds and scaring off suitors, I can pile on some more. How about it?" Uncle He teased, throwing a sly glance at Situ Yu. The implication was clear.

Momentarily lost for words, Hee Qingshui shot her dad a glare, then stole a glance at Situ Yu. Seeing him just smiling back, she relaxed.

"Let's eat, let's eat," she hurried, eager to sidestep any further teasing from her dad.

Uncle He chuckled, watching his daughter who usually had the air of a tomboy now showing a softer, more feminine side. It eased his mind.

He'd often worried about her tomboyish ways and whether she'd find someone. Shaking his head, he headed back to the kitchen, lost in thought.

Situ Yu was a fast eater. He polished off his noodles and a hefty pork chop in no time, then poured himself a glass of water and watched as Hee Qingshui savored her meal, taking her time with each bite.

After Hee Qingshui finished her meal, Situ Yu reached for his wallet to settle the bill. Hee Qingshui's eyebrows shot up as she protested, "What do you think you're doing? I said it was my treat."

Situ Yu's hand froze mid-air before he sheepishly withdrew it, not daring to proceed in the face of her irritation.

Her frown then softened into a smile. Turning to address someone inside, she announced, "Dad, I'll be out with Brother Yu this afternoon, so I won't be around to help."

"Go ahead, just be careful," Uncle Hee called back.

The pair lingered in the hall until 2 p.m. Once the utility office opened, they headed out.

Their stroll through the small village was leisurely, and they soon reached their destination.

Stepping inside, they were greeted by a blast of cool air from the air conditioning, making it feel like a different season altogether.

They took a number and sat waiting their turn, which came just over an hour later.

At the service counter, they explained their situation. The staff member worked at a leisurely pace, eventually charging them a 100 yuan service fee and assuring them the service would be available that evening.

Receipt in hand, they exited the office.

Passing a beverage shop, Situ Yu bought two milk teas, handing one to Hee Qingshui, and they continued on their way, chatting and laughing.

Upon reaching the noodle house, they went their separate ways.

Situ Yu made his way home, entering the courtyard and glancing around. His eyes fell on two potted plants in the corner, looking parched and forlorn with cracked soil. He carelessly doused them with well water.

"What are these plants anyway? Grandpa never told me, and I never thought to ask. It's frustrating. If only I'd asked back then. Now I'm clueless. Since there's nothing else around, I might as well experiment with you two." With that, he moved the pots onto a table inside the house.

Then, he initiated a silent conversation with Ke Lianna, their thoughts intertwining within the confines of their minds...