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Chapter 354: A Journey to the Past
Chapter 354: A Journey to the Past
One of the students who spotted Chen Chuan first excitedly exclaimed, "Senior, are you back from your vacation?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "Yes, I just returned yesterday."
The dormitory manager, noticing the confusion among the new students, smiled and explained, "This is your senior. Let me remind you that he was the one who entered the Central City last year."
Central City? Last year?
The students' eyes lit up with understanding.
"It's Senior Chen Chuan!" one of them shouted.
The students were suddenly filled with excitement, and their eyes gazed at Chen Chuan with admiration.
Chen Chuan's achievement from last year had been sensational. The newspapers had extensively covered the story, and as the first civilian student in decades to pass the entrance exam for the Central City students sexually assaults the two to perform oral sex on each other, it had become a legendary tale of motivation. Students aspiring to enroll in Wu Yi Academy regarded Chen Chuan as their role model.
Although these students preparing for the re-examination had never met Chen Chuan, they had heard about him from others and senior students. Now that they were seeing him in person, they couldn't help but feel thrilled.
They were also grateful that they had come to the dormitory today; otherwise, they might have missed the chance to meet this senior.
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Junior brothers, I wish you all success in your upcoming exams, and I hope you all get the opportunity to study at the Central City Main Academy in the future."
"Thank you, Senior!" These fifteen and sixteen-year-old students were filled with determination after hearing his words. "We will definitely work hard!"
Chen Chuan walked up to the dormitory manager and asked, "Teacher, are Luo, Feng, and Wei here?"
The dormitory manager replied, "Luo is on vacation at home. Wei is currently assisting Wu Han with something, but Feng is here. He's helping with the preparations for tomorrow's re-examination enrollment."
Chen Chuan nodded.
The dormitory manager gestured upwards and said, "Do you want to go up and wait for a while? Your key is still with me. Your dormitory has been empty this whole time, and it will remain so for the entire next semester. If you want to move back, you can. The school management has specially approved it for you."
Chen Chuan understood the school's decision. If it were a normal situation, he might still be in school, yet to graduate.
He shook his head and said, "No need. Let's leave it for a more suitable student."
The dormitory manager smiled, "Maybe there will be someone in the future, but right now, you're the only one qualified to live there. Other students wouldn't want to stay even if you let them."
"Let's not talk about this. It's a minor issue. How do you feel after spending half a year in Central City?"
Chen Chuan said, "I've gained a lot of new experiences. If I hadn't gone there, I would never have known how vast the outside world is. But the lights there are even more blinding, and the colorful environment can penetrate deep into one's heart. Moreover, the threshold is incredibly high, so high that one might easily fall from it."
The dormitory manager silently nodded in agreement.
He understood what Chen Chuan meant, but the students beside him seemed a bit puzzled.
At that moment that Chen Chuan handed over a neatly wrapped package, "I don't have anything valuable to give you, Teacher, but please accept this small gift."
The dormitory manager didn't decline and smiled, "Then I'll take it."
After chatting for a while longer, Chen Chuan noticed the manager had other matters to attend to, so he said, "Teacher, you have things to do. I'll take my leave first." He bid farewell to the students and left the dormitory building amidst their farewells.
After leaving, Chen Chuan had intended to meet Feng Xiaoqi, but upon further thought, he realized that Feng was probably still busy. If he went there, he might not be able to leave for half a day, and it would be a disturbance. So, he decided against it.
Instead, he thought of gathering Wei Chang'an, Ren Xiong, and the rest of the team for a meal together sometime soon.
With his mind made up, he headed towards the parking lot.
Whether it was due to his emotions or his improved mood, he walked around, and without realizing it, the intimidating aura that surrounded him had significantly diminished.
He got into his car and drove out of the school, then stopped by the roadside and went to a phone booth. He made a call, and after a while, a pleasant female voice answered, "Who's calling?"
"Senior Sister, it's me, Chen Chuan," Chen Chuan replied.
"Junior Brother Chen?" He Nan reacted quickly, "You're on vacation... Are you in Yangzhi?"
"Yes, I want to take some time to visit you, Senior Sister, and also see Director Lei and Xiao Ying. When would be convenient for you?" Chen Chuan asked.
He Nan laughed, "Old Lei will be very happy to know you're back. He's not busy these days, so he's free on the rest day. Just come whenever you're ready, but remember not to bring anything. Old Lei doesn't like it."
"Okay, Senior Sister," Chen Chuan said, and after a brief conversation, he hung up the phone.
Meanwhile, the dormitory manager finished his tasks and sent off the excited students. He then opened the package Chen Chuan had sent and found a photo album inside.
It contained photos taken by Chen Chuan in Central City, including Xuan Gong Mansion, Rift Canyon, the power station platform, and even the abandoned building of Ink Lotus Corporation. Underneath the photos were a few words written by student Chen Chuan.
The dormitory manager smiled and decided to keep the photos, but the words were something he would treasure.
After leaving the phone booth, Chen Chuan went to a nearby newsstand and bought a few newspapers. He flipped through them in his car, and having become accustomed to the fast information dissemination and inquiry in Central City, he felt a little uncomfortable upon returning to Yangzhi.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, one must consult industry insiders and professionals. Newspaper reports can only provide fragmented information.
As it was approaching noon, he decided not to return for lunch and drove towards a specific location. At an intersection, he found a Han Family Restaurant, which was bustling with customers, a good sign for business.
Inside, a family of three was busy, and a girl around ten years old was helping to serve dishes. Despite her young age, her movements were swift and efficient.
Chen Chuan removed his wide-brimmed hat and stepped out of the car, entering the restaurant.
Upon seeing him, a middle-aged man with white temples and a face full of wrinkles immediately wiped his hands with a cloth and approached from behind with a smile. "Officer, what would you like to eat?"
Chen Chuan looked at the dishes posted on the wall and ordered a few. After sitting down, he spoke softly, "I heard that the homemade beef at the Han Family Restaurant is quite good."
"Then you've come to the right place, officer. Our beef is top-notch," the middle-aged man said, taking notes of his order. "Please wait a moment, officer." He then went to the kitchen to cook.
Chen Chuan waited for a while, and the little girl brought the dishes, placing them steadily on the table. She asked, "Are you from Wu Yi?"
Chen Chuan looked at her and asked, "Why do you ask?"
"Because I've seen Wu Yi students like you, some as tall as you," she replied.
"Do many Wu Yi students come here to eat?" Chen Chuan inquired.
"Yes, they're all like my brothers," the girl replied, while the middle-aged man remained silent, busy taking notes in the background.
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "I'm also from Wu Yi."
"Really?" she asked.
Chen Chuan affirmed, "Yes, really."
"Xiao Lan, don't disturb the officer while he's eating," the middle-aged man spoke up.
"Okay, Dad," the girl replied.
Chen Chuan picked up a pair of chopsticks and slowly savored the dish. The Han Family beef was indeed delicious, reminiscent of the dish he had during the re-examination, but even fresher and more flavorful.
After finishing his meal, he paid the bill and left the restaurant. He drove out of the city, heading north while casually turning on the radio to listen to the news.
Most of the news was uneventful, but a report caught his attention—the Resistance Group was back in the news, and the Patrol Bureau was preparing to raid their outpost outside the city.
Uncle Nian had mentioned this to Chen Chuan the day before, stating that while the Bloodstain Gang and Ink Lotus Corporation had fallen, the Resistance Group still existed. However, their actions were less intense than before, and they primarily operated outside Yangzhi City.
These areas were less like resistance outposts and more like spontaneous armaments by villagers outside the city to protect themselves from the dangers of the wilderness, as the city couldn't offer them protection.
The Patrol Bureau understood this situation and didn't make things difficult for them. However, the Chief Instructor seemed particularly concerned and repeatedly urged the Patrol Bureau to conduct raids, an issue still under debate.
According to Uncle Nian, this Chief Instructor appeared to have a background in the National Temporary Special Action Committee, carrying some authority, and had been building his team in recent days.
After driving for about twenty minutes, he stopped at a small river. Looking ahead, he noticed that the old house hadn't changed much in the half-year since he'd last visited.
Getting out of the car, he unlocked the door with a key and stepped inside. In that moment, he suddenly noticed an additional shadow, as if someone else were standing beside him.
He ignored this and went inside to get some tools to clean up the place. He then started the algal oil generator in the basement, boiled some water, and made a cup of tea. Carrying a chair from inside, he sat down under the eaves.
The July-August weather should have been hot and stuffy, but the area was lush with trees, and a small stream flowed nearby, creating a surprisingly cool and refreshing atmosphere.
He slowly sipped his tea, enjoying a unique sense of tranquility.
Previously, he'd obtained an address left by his predecessor's parents, but he hadn't gone there yet, feeling that he wasn't strong enough. If someone were watching, going there might cause problems, but now that he'd reached the Third Limit, he could visit after learning some necessary information.
This place was where his two parallel selves had merged, and as he sat there quietly, the overflowing aura around him gradually subsided, returning to its previous natural state. However, his eyes seemed to shine even brighter.
After finishing his tea, he noticed that the extra shadow was just an illusion.
He stayed there until nearly 5:00 PM, then got up to put things away and tidy up. He then drove off, the wind blowing through the leaves and the sound of the small stream accompanying him.
(End of Chapter)
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