Young and Not Dating, Old and Stuck Blind Dating!

Everyone knew Xie Ting had lost badly.

Even though this round of the competition had yet to begin.

With the Type 39 Sniper Rifle, at 3,200 meters, Lin Yan pulled the trigger in less than a second and successfully hit the target.

He made it look as easy as hitting something three steps away.

Sigh.

He was the kind of opponent who made people afraid to even feel hostile toward him—an opponent who was absolutely impossible to defeat.

The corner of Xie Ting's eye twitched as he watched Lin Yan set down his rifle and rise to his feet, looking utterly relaxed. How could this guy do something like that?

How could anyone use a Type 39 Sniper Rifle in this weather, without even needing to aim, and so effortlessly hit a target 3,200 meters away?

Lin Yan noticed Xie Ting looking at him and returned it with a smile. They said a smile could ease a tense atmosphere. He hoped it would work for him.

Xie Ting: Fuck, who could withstand that?

Qi Ze said blankly, "Lin Yan, you hit it just like that?"

No matter how he looked at it, it was something that should have been incredibly difficult. How did it look so easy when Lin Yan did it?

It practically gave him the illusion that I could do it too.

Lin Yan smiled. "I'm very strong. You'll have to get used to it."

He saw Wen Zhi'an standing there absentmindedly, so he walked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Meanwhile, Xie Ting lay prone on the ground. Rather than immediately taking aim, he closed his eyes.

Wen Zhi'an came back to herself and explained, "Ah, it's nothing. I just feel like you've changed so much. I never expected you to be this amazing now..."

Hearing her words, Lin Yan turned to look at her. His confident smile seemed almost dazzling in the sunlight. "That's why you should believe in me."

Xie Ting closed his eyes and felt out the wind speed and direction. Four seconds later, he opened them, put his eye to the scope, and silently calculated.

He cast aside the matter of victory and defeat. He no longer cared whether this challenge was merely humiliating himself, and he even forgot to worry about whether he was capable of completing this shot.

Only one thought remained in his mind.

Aim. Fire. Hit the target.

In a sense, he was a very pure person. Whether it was his desire to win or his pride, they were all trivial distractions that vanished the moment he aimed at a target.

Bang!

Xie Ting decisively pulled the trigger.

At the sound of the gunshot, everyone looked toward the red flag in the distance.

It slowly fell!

During the more than half-minute of aiming, Xie Ting had endured pressure unlike anything he had ever experienced. He had attempted extreme long-range sniping before, and he had not hit the mark every time. Whenever he failed, he could still comfort himself.

It wasn't that he lacked the skill.

It was simply that hitting a target from such a distance had always been unlikely.

But he couldn't do that today. He could no longer use the same excuse to convince himself.

No, it was only that he himself wasn't good enough.

He could blame neither heaven nor anyone else.

"I lost. Completely and willingly." Only when Xie Ting stood up and spoke those words did he feel somewhat relieved.

He had not defeated his opponent, but at least he had not lost to himself. That was not too bad.

"Alright, we'll be leaving first."

Lin Yan waved his hand, then turned and strode out of the training ground. The researchers followed him out as well.

This contest had been nothing more than an insignificant interlude to him.

As they walked, Qi Ze still looked fired up. "Lin Yan, you were so damn cool just now."

"If I were a girl, I'd have fallen for you on the spot."

Hearing that, Lin Yan seriously looked him up and down. The scrutiny made Qi Ze's skin crawl, and he cautiously asked, "What is it?"

He isn't going to ask me to fence, is he?

I'm a decent man!

"Nothing." Lin Yan looked away and smiled. "I was just thinking that if you were a girl, I probably wouldn't be interested in you."

Fuck you!

The other researchers rarely saw Qi Ze get shut down like that, and they could not help laughing.

Chu Wei gave Lin Yan a thumbs-up from afar. As he approached, he said, "Brother, that was an insane performance!"

"Basic stuff, basic stuff."

Lin Yan replied with a smile. He was neither arrogant nor particularly mature. He was humble when humility was called for, but there was no need to belittle himself over something like this.

They arrived at the research institute inside the military district.

This institute was naturally worlds apart from the national key laboratory headed by a big shot like Wen Xiuyong. There was also a vast gap between the caliber of its personnel and the team Wen Xiuyong had brought with him.

In fact, while Wen Xiuyong's team was here to provide technical assistance, aside from a handful of people, the institute's original researchers had all been told to take leave. This was partly to prevent the research from leaking and partly to avoid disrupting their work.

When they entered, Wen Xiuyong and Jia Yan had already returned. Wen Xiuyong asked in puzzlement, "Why are you back so late?"

The older researcher answered, "Something minor came up and delayed us."

Lin Yan glanced at his name badge. His surname was Wu, and he held the title of professor.

Wen Xiuyong did not pay it much mind and did not ask further.

They then entered the laboratory to continue their research into Gene Modification monsters, while the Star Team was arranged to wait in the lounge outside.

"Brothers, have you noticed something?" Chu Wei suddenly asked.

Li Tao smiled. "I know what you're going to say."

Liu Mingxuan said nothing, but when his narrow eyes turned toward Lin Yan, they held a teasing glint.

Bu Wenxing was slower to catch on. He took a sip from the teacup in his hands, then looked up blankly. "What thing?"

Chen Lian hesitated, then finally looked at Lin Yan and said, "Impressive."

Bu Wenxing's curiosity was hooked. "What riddle are you guys talking in? Why does it feel like all of you know except me?"

Bu Xiangyang smacked him on the head and said with a smile, "Didn't you notice something off between Lin Yan and that girl among the researchers?"

"Ah!" Bu Wenxing was shocked. "They've only known each other for a little while, and something's already off?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Lin Yan was shocked too. They had only known each other for such a short time, and these guys already dared to say something was going on between them?!

If I let them keep spreading rumors like this...

In a month, we'd be holding hands; in a year, we'd be kissing; in ten years, we'd be getting married!

How could that be allowed!

"How is that nonsense?" Chu Wei asked righteously.

"She and I were high school classmates. We knew each other before. It's not what you think."

"Heh heh." Chu Wei chuckled. "Your female classmate is so beautiful she practically looks like a fairy. If you don't pursue her, are you even a man?"

He looked like he hated to see Lin Yan fail to meet expectations. "This is fate!"

Lin Yan gestured for him to stop. "Professor Wen is her father. Nothing's even begun yet, so don't talk nonsense."

"Holy shit."

"There's actually that connection?"

Once they learned that Wen Xiuyong was her father, they stopped teasing Lin Yan about Wen Zhi'an.

That man was a genuine big shot. If word reached his ears, it would not be a good thing.

Chu Wei said in an old-fashioned tone, "It's enough that you understand, Lin Yan. I've been there before, I get it. You're still young and don't understand how wonderful girls are. Listen to Brother Wei—when it's time to make a move, you have to seize the chance."

Li Tao asked doubtfully, "Since when have you been there before?"

"How have I not been there before?" Chu Wei said indignantly. "Young and not dating, old and stuck blind dating!"

"Lin Yan, don't follow in my footsteps!"