Worries and Misconceptions

Papa Kang's Mama Kang left early in the morning, saying they were going back to their hometown to clean the house. Kang De brought Xiaoman a state banquet-level breakfast, with the table full of food.

Xiaoman took a sip of the crystal-clear lean meat congee with relish, then picked up a piece of stir-fried beef noodles, and sighed contentedly, "It's such a simple breakfast, but why does it taste so good?"

Kang De tore off a piece of the croissant, dipped it in the chili sauce in the small porcelain dish, and took a bite—the latter was his special request. Its soft texture released the aroma of wheat and butter. He chewed a few times and swallowed. "The quality of the ingredients and the chef's culinary skills are all different."

Xiaoman took a sip of plum juice, squinted her eyes, and looked completely satisfied.

"That's so nice, so nice."

The dining table next to the dining table was set with various breakfasts, and the exquisite tableware was printed with the Diaoyutai logo. She was enjoying top-notch catering service in China, but she was at home. The reason she was able to eat this was because Kang De made a phone call at Building 18 of Diaoyutai, ordered a carload of breakfast, and then opened a spatial portal to bring the entire food cart over.

She's probably the only person in the whole world who gets to enjoy this kind of treatment.

She exclaimed, "Having superpowers really does mean you can do whatever you want."

Kang De smiled and said, "Why the sudden urge to go to London?"

Xiaoman blushed slightly and put down the plum juice. "Xiao An invited us to go play."

"An Youyi?" Kang De asked casually, "Isn't she in Fr*nce?"

"We've had our fill of fun in Paris, next stop London. Let's head there and meet her up." Xiaoman's cheeks flushed as she thought of An Youyi's suggestion. "Are you free?"

Kang De pondered for a moment and said, "I do have some free time..."

The flow of time has been modified again, and this time he can stay on Earth for at least three days, or even longer. Battle of the Broken Isles, all nations were shocked by the Nuclear Light Lance shining in the sky. This period is when Kang De's deterrent power is at its strongest, and there is basically no chance of any unexpected changes. With the establishment of the four departments of the Shogunate, he no longer needs to do everything personally or wait in Distant Harbor at all times.

The only concern is the Star Palace's underhanded tactics and threats, but the Parrot has already joined, Dong Tianming is also stationed in the Distant Harbor, Horus and A Fu are also focusing most of their energy on the Distant Harbor. Even if something happens, they can notify him to return immediately through the cross-world communication signal.

In terms of time, there is plenty of time.

He has to go back every now and then to help Tina and the others rest. After all, he's not some cheapskate; he can't treat the girls like tools. Even if he does, he has to pay attention to their mood changes, appear appropriately, and help them recover. It's all about scientific management.

Upon thinking of this, Kang De felt somewhat guilty. "There should be time."

Xiaoman's eyes lit up, and her smile brightened, "I thought you were very busy."

Yes, yes...

Kang De lowered his head and ate his porridge, his expression calm. "That's true, there are a few. The scientists in Capital have hundreds of questions to ask me, and they'd love for me to live and eat at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. But that shouldn't be a problem, because they have an endless supply of questions. Even if I stayed in Capital for a year, they still wouldn't be able to finish asking me."

He smiled and said, "I'll go say hello over there in a bit."

Xiaoman thought for a moment, then said softly, "The country won't stop you from leaving, will it?"

"They probably wish I could stay in the capital forever from now on, but I have my own secrets and my own things to do. Although they want to keep me here, it's not up to them to decide."

Kang De smiled and said, "We're all in a phase of mutual understanding and consideration right now, so there's no problem."

Xiaoman then smiled and nodded, "Mm!"

"By the way, when will An Youyi arrive in London?"

"Let me see..." Xiaoman opened her phone, "The day after tomorrow morning... yes, the day after tomorrow morning."

Kang De calculated for a moment. "Then we'll have to set off at least tomorrow, it's a super long-haul flight."

Xiaoman immediately replied, "If we go from here, it will take a little over a day and involve two transfers. From S City, it only requires one transfer and takes about 23 hours. I think going to S City is more convenient. But it doesn't matter, I can go there myself, and then you can be teleported directly to the United Kingdom. Haha, that way we can save on airfare. But since you didn't go through customs, isn't there a problem with your passport...?"

As she spoke, she noticed Kang De looking at her with a smile.

Xiaoman's heart skipped a beat, then she said, embarrassed and annoyed, "What are you laughing at!"

--Was I being too eager? Ugh, I should have pretended to do some research beforehand; wouldn't that have made me seem really excited? I even stayed up all night making plans...

Just then, she saw Kang De smile arrogantly, "What transfer? It's just clothes! Buying tickets—we'll just fly there directly in our private jet! Freebies! Let me show you what real power is!"

"..."

I knew it.

Sigh, I've been too close to him since we were kids, so much so that he has absolutely no female friends, making him act like an idiot now... completely lacking in social skills.

Xiaoman sighed inwardly, then rallied her spirits and forced a smile, "Awesome! I need a big hug!"

Kang De hummed in agreement, "I'll take you to the Buckingham Palace then!"

Xiaoman exclaimed in surprise, "There's such power?"

Kang De said smugly, "Arranged! Everything can be arranged!"

After finishing breakfast and clearing away the dishes, Kang De said goodbye to Xiaoman.

Carrying the food cart back to Capital, he opened the heavy door and pushed the cart through. A waitress waiting in the corridor rushed over. "Mr. Kang, we're here!"

Kang De politely thanked her, and at the same time, the door to the room on the other side of the corridor opened. In the large room reserved for bodyguards, Qin Mengjin peeked out and smiled gracefully, "Good morning!"

"Good morning."

Kang De greeted him, "I just happened to need to speak with you."

"Ah?" Little Qin's expression turned serious. "Is it important? Are you going out? I'll change into formal attire."

She only peeked out, her body hidden behind.

"It shouldn't be," Kang De scratched his head. "It's more of a private matter."

"Oh oh."

Upon hearing this, Qin Mengjin breathed a sigh of relief. She hesitated for a moment, then hopped into the corridor and approached with her hands behind her back. "What is it?"

For a moment, Kang De's eyes widened.

Compared to her unchanging black stockings and formal office attire as an escort these past few days, Miss Qin now wore a light-colored knitted sweater, a flowing gray skirt, and walked lightly in slippers.

Her skirt fluttered, revealing two long, straight legs encased in pure white stockings. The slender, elegant shape of her legs was just right, and the white stockings made them look hazy, pure, and holy. A bright red scarf was tied around her neck, and her hair, which was usually styled in a bun, was loose and draped over her shoulders. Qin Mengjin was usually intellectual and capable, had changed her appearance, and her temperament was completely different. Her smile was bright and lively.

... Grass.

I'm better now.

The slightly oversized knitted sweater almost completely covered the skirt, leaving only a small section of the hem visible. Below that were her perfectly proportioned long legs, neither too thin nor too plump, encased in white stockings, giving her a hazy and pure look. Her long, black hair was loose, and she wore light makeup, seemingly without any makeup. Most importantly, she was beautiful. With a snap of the camera, her sexuality was immediately apparent.

This is what is called a contrast. Having grown accustomed to her communicating with people from all walks of life with precise words and capable speech, Kang De was momentarily amazed by this scene before him.

"What's wrong?"

Qin Mengjin looked down at herself, swaying slightly from side to side. "Is it strange?"

"No, it's very beautiful."

Kang De, after all, had seen a lot in the world.

He first used time acceleration to take a good look, then calmed himself down and stopped glancing around randomly.

"I was just a little surprised to see you suddenly changed your look."

Qin Mengjin smiled and said, "Besides being a civil servant, I also have my own life."

Kang De sincerely replied, "Then you truly have excellent taste."

This outfit looks absolutely gorgeous, I love it!

He may not have known that since the Patriots' Covenant was concluded and the state was shown the possibilities of the future and an unforeseen path, Kang De's strategic importance has risen sharply, reflected in all aspects of state behavior, both important and less important.

Less important is that the relevant departments even assembled a relatively knowledgeable clothing design team. National-level designers had to scrutinize the pandering anime/manga styling, constantly questioning their own existence, exclaiming, "How the hell would this look good on a real person? How could it have this effect? Who in real life has a body like that?"

But there's nothing I can do... because Kang De liked it.

Fortunately, by analyzing Kang De's browsing, clicking, and commenting history on social media platforms like Weibo, it's relatively easy to establish a model of this person's sexual preferences.

The results were quickly reported back to Miss Qin Mengjin.

While the state may not directly order a civil servant or citizen with independent personality and dignity to offer love or even their body to another individual, using the other person's preferred, normal style of dress to gain favor and enhance the united front effect is a harmless little thing.

Although the effect may be minimal, there's always a saying that the more the merrier.

The moment Qin Mengjin stepped out, she noticed the change in Kang De's expression. With a woman's keen intuition, she immediately sensed the surprise and joy in Kang De's heart, and it worked.

But Kang De only glanced at her twice before seemingly controlling his gaze, keeping it fixed straight ahead. Throughout the ensuing conversation, he maintained eye contact with her, never once looking at those legs that were clearly extremely attractive to him. This surprised Qin Mengjin, but also filled her with admiration—such strong self-control was truly remarkable.

She was not offended by Kang De's gaze.

This outfit is perfectly normal and can be worn on the street. As a pretty girl, she has been aware of her physical advantages since childhood, so she readily accepts the department's dress code suggestions. Her only concern is that this style is a bit too cute, and she's unsure if it suits her.

As for the stares of others... it's nothing. In this world, people are meant to be seen. Wearing beautiful clothes can please oneself, and walking down the street, one can appropriately enjoy the admiring glances of others. She can simply smile and let go of those open and generous admiration and stares, but she will feel disgusted by those lewd glances and whispered snickers. Of course, the most important thing is indeed one's face.

Even if you stare at a handsome guy for a long time, it's still an open and honest appreciation without any ulterior motives.

Even a fleeting glance at an ugly person is a disgusting and lewd fantasy.

Miss Qin Mengjin was extremely satisfied with Kang De's initial reaction and subsequent reactions. Her slight shyness dissipated, and she felt a mischievous sense of pride. She gently circled halfway in front of Kang De, her pure white silk shimmering softly under the bright corridor lights.

"So, is there something you need?"

She laughed and said, "Are you tired of all the meetings and lectures these past few days? Want to go out for a walk and relax, or do some sightseeing?"

"... almost."

Kang De said, "In fact, I plan to go to the United Kingdom the day after tomorrow... it would be best to leave tomorrow."

Qin Mengjin's smile froze.

The surprise lasted only a moment; she quickly composed herself, but Kang De keenly noticed it and asked, Fire Thief, "Is there a problem?"

Qin Mengjin's forehead was beaded with sweat. She said softly, "First of all, the country respects your personal privacy and freedom to the greatest extent possible. In theory, you can travel like any other citizen, and going abroad is no problem either. This is your legal right. But we all know that there are practical considerations beyond theory."

The slight allure of seeing Kang De in casual clothes had vanished, and the highly competent and well-trained Miss Qin quickly got into position. "Actually speaking, the aftermath of the stolen thermonuclear warhead has not yet subsided, and the nuclear alert levels of various countries have not been lowered. Also... may I ask why you want to go to the United Kingdom?"

She asked cautiously, "Can you tell me? Or is there some reason that's inconvenient to disclose?"

... Are they afraid I'll cause trouble?

Kang De was somewhat amused and exasperated. "Don't be nervous, I'm just going on vacation."

"Tourism?" Qin Mengjin asked, puzzled. "You like England?"

"No, not at all. I don't like Anglo-Saxons," Kang De explained. "A friend of Xiaoman's is traveling abroad and invited her to come to London with me. Xiaoman rarely asks me to do anything, and I don't want to spoil her fun. It will be a normal trip, and the country can also England an appropriate heads-up."

He grinned, revealing gleaming teeth, and said, "It's good to scare these pirate descendants a bit. They should serve us carefully the whole way. It's quite enjoyable to eat and drink for free and take advantage of their privileges."

It was supposed to be a joke, but Qin Mengjin was clearly not amused.

She didn't speak for a moment, her brows furrowed slightly, clearly deep in thought.

Seeing this, Kang De raised an eyebrow and said, "What are you worried about? Wow, at least have some faith in me. If I really wanted to do something, I wouldn't tell you. I'd go secretly, and you wouldn't know."

"Furthermore, if I really want to do something, I don't need to go to the United Kingdom at all. I just need to go to Gambia, sit there, and say a few words to the British garrison there. Their prime minister would be eager to swim across the Atlantic Ocean to Zhuerban to see me."

Qin Mengjin then came to her senses, smiled apologetically, and hurriedly said, "Please don't misunderstand, we all know that you have no reason for us to worry... In fact, what I'm worried about isn't you."

"What?"

Qin Mengjin hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "This is not something I can decide... I need to report it. Of course, we don't mean to interfere with your personal freedom. What we need to discuss is not restricting your movements, but expressing our concern and worries—please wait a moment, in any case."

Kang De frowned, then slowly nodded.

Qin Mengjin bowed slightly to him, then quickly returned to her room. Kang De didn't listen, but instead paced slowly down the corridor— Xiaoman was indeed looking forward to it, and he didn't want to spoil Xiaoman mood.

A few minutes later, Qin Mengjin opened the door and came out.

My colleagues share the same opinion as me.

She approached Kang De and said softly, "Wang Xiaoman, we know her. She's your best friend, your childhood friend... This trip was arranged because of her invitation."

Kang De nodded.

"We want to reiterate our stance: we have no intention of restricting your personal freedom, nor do we doubt your love and loyalty to the Chinese nation. However, our dissuasion of your actions is not out of defensiveness, but out of concern... We are not worried about you."

Qin Mengjin said sincerely, "Perhaps you don't know, the theft of the nuclear warhead caused a great stir. Since the sea monster disappeared along with the nuclear warhead, much like teleportation, several countries immediately suspected you and put pressure on you through diplomatic channels, intending to subject you to a joint investigation by various countries."

Kang De snorted.

"We know you're not afraid, but while it's true that it's better to avoid trouble than to create it, the country has already firmly rejected the demands of those countries..."

"But the repercussions of this incident have not yet subsided. The international attention you have attracted is several times stronger than during the Moyani insect plague. Even if you didn't do this, it at least proves that you have the means to do the same thing... Do you understand what I mean?"

Kang De's eyes flickered, and he slowly nodded.

"We are not worried about your personal safety. If this is just a private trip, we will not stop you. But if you are traveling with Wang Xiaoman..."

Qin Mengjin asked sincerely, "Are you sure you want to appear on the territory of a country with a long history of hostility towards China, and even be exposed to the whole world, at this time, with your childhood sweetheart who has no ability to defend herself?"

"Do you want the whole world to know that your private relationship with her is beyond imagination?"

"If you are attacked by hostile forces of unknown origin during your trip, can you completely guarantee Wang Xiaoman's safety?"

Miss Qin said, "If I remember correctly, your spatial abilities cannot teleport living beings, right?"

Kang De sighed deeply.

Seeing this, Qin Mengjin felt relieved and said softly, "We don't want to spoil your mood or cause you any dissatisfaction at this time, but this concern is very real... At least for now, traveling abroad is not a good option. If you want to relax, we will arrange all the health resorts, vacation areas, and attractions in China for you. The country's beautiful landscapes and cultural attractions can be explored for quite some time..."

Kang De shook his head. "We'll see... Thank you for your concern and advice."

Miss Qin nodded.

He hesitated for a moment, and Miss Qin said considerately, "If you don't know how to explain, we can help, for example, by arranging for Comrade Wang Yongzhi to have something urgent to attend to..."

"... Never mind, I don't want to lie to her. I'll go back and tell her now."

Kang De opened the Phase Gate and returned to Xiaoman's house. Xiaoman was playing on her phone on the sofa. She looked up in surprise and said, "You agreed? What happened over there...?"

Seeing Kang De's apologetic expression, she realized the outcome. "Is that not acceptable?"

Kang De sat beside her and told her about the country's concerns, "... In short, the imperialist reactionary forces, who have never given up their desire to destroy us, see us as a thorn in their side. They can't stand that the strongest superpowered person is China. Going out now might be unnecessarily dangerous. I'm not afraid, but I'm mainly worried about you."

Xiaoman looked a little disappointed, but still smiled and said, "Then let's forget about it for now! Safety first!"

The more understanding she was, the more guilty Kang De felt. Xiaoman rarely asked him to do anything, and out of a sense of guilt, he wanted to do more for her. It was clear that she seemed to be looking forward to this trip... But as Qin Mengjin said, Kang De would not tolerate any risks.

He said softly, "Going abroad is out of the question, but you can go anywhere in the country you want. The government will arrange it for you. Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you."

Xiaoman's eyes lit up again. "Anywhere is fine?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Let's go target practice!" Xiaoman shouted. "Can the tank be driven?"

"Definitely no problem," Kang De laughed. "I'll ask if you can fire the Dongfeng."

"--Yay!"

Xiaoman excitedly began listing her options, but Kang De, looking at her, said softly, "I'm sorry, you can't go to London either."

The girl smiled and said, "It's okay."

London has never been the point, you idiot.

"But I have to tell Xiao An." Xiaoman glanced at her phone; it was almost eight o'clock. "It should be before two in Paris now; Xiao An should be sleeping..."

"Then I'll talk to her this afternoon."

"Um."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in the capital of Fr*nce.

The famous Crazy Horse Nightclub in Europe had just finished its final topless performance. An Youyi glanced at her phone; staff from the Four Seasons Hotel George V had already come to pick her up, and the license plate number and photos of the staff members' identification had been sent to her phone.

She walked into the quiet Paris nightscape, where a female staff member who was already waiting greeted her and opened the car door for her—although Paris has a bad reputation for security, it can be solved with money.

She settled into the comfortable car and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Madam, how was the performance?"

"Very good."

After a brief conversation, An Youyi gazed at the Paris night view and gave a small yawn.

But the next moment, she suddenly felt a chilling aura rise from the bottom of her heart, as if there was something terrifying nearby. An Youyi instantly woke up and turned to look around.

"Madam, is there a problem?"

The well-trained driver turned around. "Is there a problem?"

In an instant, the world fell silent, and the uncomfortable feeling vanished abruptly, as if it were a hallucination. An Youyi was stunned for a moment, then said, "No... please take me back to the hotel."

"Yes."

The car continued driving, An Youyi frowned slightly.

This feeling is somewhat familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on why...

It was as if something passed by her and glanced at her.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Update... As expected, they still want to cause trouble for England. (Nods)