Star Power Upgrade

Chapter 22: Star Power Upgrade

On Central Avenue in Jiangbin City, two tall, stunningly beautiful girls were leisurely strolling, their feet treading on the uneven cobblestone path. As they walked, they became a striking sight, drawing the eyes of passersby with an astonishing turn-back rate.

One of them, wearing a beige trench coat with slightly tousled short hair, seemed to take the lead. She said nonchalantly, "It's fine, what could happen? He eats well and sleeps well at my place, trains hard, and his performance is decent."

Beside her, a girl in a flowing white dress tidied her long black hair, tousled by the wind, her expression hesitant. "He..."

"Oh, come on, three sentences and you're back to him. Did you even ask me out to shop?" Xia Yan tilted her head, shooting a dissatisfied look at Han Jiangxue.

"Mm." Han Jiangxue let out a soft "mm" and fell silent.

"Here." Xia Yan, one hand in her trench coat pocket, lifted her arm slightly, signaling to Han Jiangxue.

Han Jiangxue rolled her eyes at Xia Yan helplessly, then reached out and linked arms with her.

Beneath Xia Yan's calm exterior, her heart was leaping with joy.

Usually, it was me shamelessly clinging to your arm. Finally, I've turned the tables and come out on top!

A faint smile curled at the corners of Xia Yan's crystal-clear lips, and a song played in her heart: We common folks, oh, we're truly happy.

"I noticed he's been off lately. With that much training intensity, he still finds time to play on his phone." They hadn't walked ten steps in silence before Han Jiangxue spoke again.

Xia Yan's heart skipped a beat. "Oh? Is that so? I'll check on him when I get back and confiscate his phone, so he doesn't waste time on games. That kid clearly isn't tired enough—I need to up his training intensity."

"Mm, that's not a bad idea." Han Jiangxue nodded in agreement.

At the same time, half an hour after Xia Yan had been dragged out shopping, a black sedan slowly pulled up in front of her house.

After the doorbell rang, Zhou Yi came over, peered through the peephole, and hurriedly opened the front door.

"Mr. Xia." Zhou Yi greeted warmly.

"Ah, Xiao Zhou, is Yanyan home?" The middle-aged man with a square face standing outside asked.

Though Zhou Yi was older than Xia Shanhai, that was how they addressed each other.

"Miss just left half an hour ago to go shopping with a friend," Zhou Yi replied.

"Mm, I see. How has she been lately?" Xia Shanhai stepped inside, wearing a concerned expression. "You know, at this age, kids barely communicate with us parents."

"Mr. Xia, Miss has been in a great mood lately, and she trains hard every day. According to her, she's even heading to the Snowfield for training tomorrow," Zhou Yi said, grabbing slippers for Xia Shanhai while praising Xia Yan.

"Mm, that's good. It's nice that she's being sensible." Xia Shanhai walked further into the house. "Any changes around here recently?"

"Well..." Zhou Yi hesitated, then spoke up. "A child moved in seven days ago, brought back by Miss Xia. But she sent him straight to the basement, and he hasn't come out since."

Xia Shanhai's heart jolted. What was this? Xia Yan had thrown Jiang Xiaopi into the basement?

He hadn't come out in seven days?

Was his precious daughter holding someone else's son captive?

He'd thought his daughter was just being playful, planning some "hidden beauty in a golden house," but he never expected Xia Yan to resort to illegal confinement!

Though the Xia couple absolutely disapproved of this match—knowing Jiang Xiaopi wasn't a good kid—he was still the son of a close friend. They couldn't let harm come to him.

"What's going on?" Xia Shanhai asked urgently.

"That child—he's truly a good kid." Zhou Yi, in her fifties, loved to gossip. Thinking of Jiang Xiao, her face lit up with fondness, even a hint of pity. "He trains in the basement every day. A week ago, Miss even hired a private coach for him. The two of them eat and sleep down there together. I bring them water and meals every day. You wouldn't believe it—every time I see him, he's drenched in sweat like he just stepped out of a shower. And often, his face is bruised and swollen. It breaks my heart."

Xia Shanhai was taken aback. Everything here seemed completely different from what he'd imagined. "Jiang Xiaopi is training in the basement?"

"Yes, Mr. Xia. Would you like to take a look?" Zhou Yi suggested. "It's almost dinner time. We could go call them. Sir, you should stay for dinner too. The sun hasn't set yet over there—let the child come out and see some sunlight."

Let the child come out and see some sunlight.

Come out and see some sunlight.

See some sunlight.

Those words struck Xia Shanhai with a dazed feeling.

"Mm." Xia Shanhai nodded, but he was deeply dissatisfied with the lookout. That spy was useless—only saw Jiang Xiaopi and Xia Yan come home, but didn't notice a private coach entering the house?

How was this surveillance being done? As the basement door's lock clicked open, Xia Shanhai stepped inside.

Descending the stairs, beyond the whoosh of the ventilation ducts, he heard the thumping sounds of impact.

In the distance, the burly Lei Jin, wearing hand targets on both arms, moved with measured steps, constantly urging Jiang Xiao on as Jiang Xiao struck the targets with fists and feet.

Occasionally, Lei Jin would counterattack.

Jiang Xiao, clad in protective gear, was drenched in sweat, his eyes fixed on the target before him, filled with determination and fighting spirit.

Such a look on such an inexperienced face was enough to earn silent admiration.

Zhou Yi, eager to let the child see the sun, quickly interrupted their training. In a little while, the sun would truly set.

"Xiaopi, stop for a moment." Zhou Yi called out, gesturing to the man beside her. "This is Mr. Xia, Xia Yan's father."

"Huh?" Jiang Xiao blinked, looking at the tall, stern-faced middle-aged man in the distance. No wonder Xia Yan was so tall—her father must be nearly one meter ninety, right?

Thinking carefully, Jiang Xiao found this face in his hazy memories.

The former Jiang Xiaopi had rarely seen Xia Shanhai. Back in elementary school, during a joint family dinner, and later, when his own parents were about to go on missions, Jiang Xiaopi would occasionally spot Xia Shanhai waiting at the door.

But that was all in elementary school, and not very frequent.

"Uncle Xia?" Jiang Xiao hesitated for a moment, then tested the waters with a tentative call.

For a twenty-five-year-old adult, calling a man in his mid-forties "uncle" wasn't much of a stretch. Besides, this was Xia Yan's father, and Xia Yan had been so good to him—he ought to be polite.

"Heh, Little Pi has grown up. Seeing you work so hard, I'm truly gratified." Xia Shanhai's stern face softened, a relieved smile spreading across it. "Come on, come up and rest. These past few years, I really haven't paid enough attention to you. My fault."

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and glanced over at Lei Jin. To his surprise, Lei Jin had already taken off his foot target and was striding briskly toward the door. That coach must have been stifled too. As Jiang Xiao stepped out of the basement, he caught sight of the open window in the hallway. Outside, Lei Jin stood facing the setting sun, arms spread wide, looking like he was embracing nature.

Sunlight was indeed better than a dim yellow bulb. Jiang Xiao walked to the window and followed Lei Jin's silhouette toward the distant horizon. The last rays of sunset spilled over the clouds in the sky, dyeing their pristine white into a beautiful deep crimson. Breathing in the fresh air from outside, a message imprinted itself into Jiang Xiao's mind.

Star Power upgraded! Star Power: Star Dust Stage Lv.3!