Curve to Save the Nation

Chapter 20: A Circuitous Route to the Goal

"Jiangbin City, Zhonghua Mingcheng Community... damn." Jiang Xiao gazed out the car window at the imposing community gate, clicking his tongue in admiration.

A real rich kid, huh.

This upscale neighborhood perched halfway up a mountainside. After entering the community, the car wound along a tree-lined mountain road. Jiang Xiao spotted rows of residential buildings and blooming flowers lining both sides of the path.

They passed a rockery and fountain in the community park. Just before reaching the peak, Xia Yan finally pulled into a standalone house with its own courtyard.

As the independent garage door beside the small villa slowly opened, Jiang Xiao shook his head helplessly.

There was another car parked here.

If it were Han Jiangxue, she'd probably just think it was some small vehicle.

But for Jiang Xiao, it was a Porsche 911.

Now it seemed the Land Rover Xia Yan had been driving was actually the relatively low-key, modest car.

Jiang Xiao suppressed the awkward smell of spicy hotpot clinging to him, got out of the car, and looked around. "Just how rich are you, you tuhao?"

Xia Yan stepped out of the driver's seat too, saying casually, "You think money brings happiness?"

Jiang Xiao: "Huh?"

Xia Yan walked over, slung an arm around Jiang Xiao's shoulder, and said earnestly, "You're wrong. The happiness of the rich? You can't even imagine it."

Jiang Xiao: "..."

From Xia Yan's residence and vehicles, it was clear her family had deep pockets. Of course, compared to real tycoons, these cars weren't much—their value topped out at a few million, nothing like the tens of millions or even more extravagant "god-tier" rides.

But for a poor guy like Jiang Xiao, who made money treating pregnant women, low-level rich and god-level rich were the same: both were rich.

"And then you took me to eat a seven-yuan bowl of spicy hotpot, and made me pay for it." Jiang Xiao shook his shoulder in disdain, but couldn't shake off Xia Yan's hand.

"Just a change of pace. I'm sick of the stuff at home. I eat whatever I want." Xia Yan twirled her car keys on her slender fingers, humming a tune as she walked out of the garage.

Watching her graceful figure, Jiang Xiao shook his head helplessly. "Sure enough, every gain comes with a loss!"

"Hm?" Xia Yan stopped, turned to look at Jiang Xiao with a less-than-friendly expression. "What?"

Jiang Xiao sighed and shook his head. "You gained money, and lost your worries."

Xia Yan: "..."

Jiang Xiao: "Miss, want to date?"

Xia Yan waved her hand impatiently, signaling Jiang Xiao to hurry up. "Your mouth is way too glib. With your stick-figure build, grow up a few more years. I didn't even dare put any weight on your shoulder just now—afraid I'd smack you to the ground and you wouldn't get up."

Jiang Xiao nodded silently. Fair point. Faking a fall might not be a bad option either.

Jiang Xiao followed Xia Yan into the small villa. As soon as he entered, he saw a middle-aged woman.

"Aunt Zhou, toss a sleeping bag into the basement. His name is Jiang Xiaopi. He'll be living in our basement from now on." Xia Yan dropped her car keys into the tray by the door, speaking casually.

Jiang Xiao sized up the woman. She looked like a housekeeper.

"Understood, Miss." Aunt Zhou acknowledged and turned to leave.

From this brief exchange, Jiang Xiao sensed they had a purely employer-employee relationship, no family ties.

"Didn't you say you lived here alone?" Jiang Xiao asked in surprise.

Xia Yan nodded. "Yeah. Oh, Aunt Zhou lives here too. She's a good cook. Didn't you want goat soup and lamb? Have her make it for you tomorrow."

"You have ten thousand rooms here, and you're making me sleep in the basement?" Jiang Xiao looked at Xia Yan helplessly.

"You're way too sunny. You need the right environment to thrive. In the coming days, you'll be completely cut off from the outside world." Xia Yan was an upbeat person too, trading jokes and banter with Jiang Xiao along the way, but she seemed to have some little plan in mind, and she was executing it.

"This..." Jiang Xiao took in the luxurious decor, but before he could get familiar with the surroundings, Xia Yan covered his eyes with one hand.

As she pushed him forward, she kept her hand over his eyes. "Don't look. These things are all unrealistic fantasies. You'll never own them in this life."

Jiang Xiao: ???

After several twists and turns, Jiang Xiao heard four words: "Watch the steps."

"Aunt Zhou! Why'd you tell him?" Xia Yan stomped her foot in annoyance.

Jiang Xiao carefully descended the stairs, muttering, "Tch, women."

When Xia Yan finally removed her hand from his eyes, they had arrived in the so-called basement.

It wasn't the dark, damp place Jiang Xiao had imagined.

Instead, it looked more like a training room—better equipped than his own home, about a hundred square meters. Training gear lined the left half of the basement, while the right half held an octagon.

This was something Jiang Xiao had only seen on TV in his previous life. Not a square boxing ring, but a cold, steel octagon.

It immediately brought to mind UFC-style mixed martial arts competitions.

The lighting was dim, with only a few bulbs casting a yellowish glow.

In North River dialect: Why not make it bright and clear with more white lights? Why make it so dark? And most importantly, as expected: there were no windows here.

Facing a pile of heavy gym equipment and the cold octagon, paired with the dim lighting, Jiang Xiao felt his whole mood sink.

"You'll be living here for the next few days. Meals will be brought down. There's a small private bathroom too." Xia Yan stood with her hands on her hips, looking quite proud as she surveyed the underground training room. "School starts September 1st. We'll see how you're doing by then. If you're in good shape, I'll help you ask for leave from school. You won't have to go to the opening junxun."

Jiang Xiao's eyes lit up. "I don't have to go to junxun?"

Xia Yan smiled. "That depends on how your training goes here. Call your sister and tell her you're going into seclusion here to cultivate."

"Okay." Jiang Xiao pulled out his phone. Even though it was a basement, the signal was surprisingly good—nice, very nice.

Young people these days, as long as they have a phone and a signal, they're hardly cut off from the world.

He sent a quick message to Han Jiangxue to let her know he was safe, but unfortunately, the aloof Ms. Han didn't utter a second word. She fended off every sentence Jiang Xiao said with just a single "Mm," and finally hung up first.

Mm, pretty heartless.

Jiang Xiao had just set down his phone when Xia Yan snatched it right out of his hands.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Xiao looked at Xia Yan, puzzled.

Xia Yan held the phone, extended her index finger, and swept it across the basement's fitness equipment. "Starting today, these are your toys."

Phone confiscated?

I haven't even started school yet, and I'm already supposed to feel the fear of being bossed around by a teacher?

"Tomorrow morning, a coach will come to train your physical fitness and teach you the basics. Also, clothes, food, and water will be delivered on time. Don't try to run—you won't get far. This door will stay locked, and don't use 'Green Glow' to smash it; you can't afford the damages." Xia Yan turned and walked up the stairs, pausing at the doorway. "That's it. Good luck."

"Oh, right." Xia Yan suddenly remembered something. She dug into her pocket with one hand, pulled out two White Ghost Star Beads, and tossed them to Jiang Xiao.

In the Snowfield, Xia Yan had been allocated four White Ghost Star Beads, two of which she absorbed while killing White Ghosts to replenish her Star Power.

The remaining two she'd never absorbed, and now she was giving them to Jiang Xiao.

"Thank you, you..." Jiang Xiao looked up at Xia Yan standing at the doorway at the top of the stairs. "Why are you so good to me?"

"Her little brother is my little brother too. Besides, these things aren't much help to me." Xia Yan waved her hand dismissively and closed the door directly.

Listening to the sound of the lock clicking, Jiang Xiao let out a deep sigh. Just because I'm Han Jiangxue's little brother? Is it really only that?

Upstairs, at the basement entrance, Xia Yan hadn't left. She leaned against the door, shook her head with a smile, and murmured, "I hope you can help me carry out my plan."

This plan was about the Third Year of High School, about the team, about the school, and about her future.

These matters will be discussed later, so let's set them aside for now.

Xia Yan sighed and refocused her thoughts. She still had a second goal, which was... Xia Yan couldn't wait to pull out Jiang Xiao's phone.

Her slender fingers kept swiping across the screen until she finally found Weibo.

Tap to open!

Sure enough! No need for an account or password—it logged in directly.

Xia Yan revealed a mischievous smile, as if two little devil horns had sprouted from her head.

Jiang Xiaopi Pi Bu Pi, hehe. The days of saving the country through a detour are about to begin.

Xia Yan scrolled through Jiang Xiaopi's Weibo. Sure enough, there was still just that one post.

Xia Yan thought for a moment and started typing.

A few minutes later, in a civilian house in Garden Community, the sound of a cuckoo bird rang out.

Han Jiangxue had just finished her bath, her face flushed pink, her eyes hazy, showing a rarely seen lazy and alluring side. She held a towel in one hand, wiping her wet, pitch-black long hair, while picking up her phone with the other.

Jiang Xiaopi Pi Bu Pi, just now from Huawei Maimang C199: So happy, went home with her today.

PS: Day 1 of liking Sister Xia Yan.

"Jiang! Xiao! Pi!" Han Jiangxue's right hand clenched tightly, nearly crushing her phone. Thanks for the 10,000 reward, Rexxxx.