Neighbor

Before he knew it, Wang Yi had spent the entire night devouring papers with relish, yet still felt unsatisfied.

One new Spell Model prototype and optimization plan after another surfaced in his mind.

"Although mages also pursued truth, they suppressed it far too fiercely for the sake of maintaining their own rule. In the end, mages were only a minority..."

Looking at the vast sea of papers and the references cited within them, Wang Yi's eyes were filled with emotion. Even with overclocking, one night was no more than a drop in the ocean.

Even in a low-magic world, any group that held power would naturally suppress anything that threatened them. Human civilization in that low-magic world had existed longer than civilization in this one, yet it had remained firmly stuck in place without the slightest movement.

Just like Giordano Bruno, who had always advocated heliocentrism and was burned to death in Campo de' Fiori—if the Church had remained at the height of its power and continued to grow stronger, this world's technological explosion might well have been delayed by many years.

In truth, humanity's technological explosion had only begun a little over a century ago.

Once the seal began to lift, systematic research and accumulation began, and ideas collided, the gates to a dazzling New World opened.

Otherwise, Wang Yi could never have become a legend in just three years in another world by relying on the knowledge accumulated here. Without the previous eighteen years of groundwork, even cheats would have been useless.

However, because that world had mana and mages, the small group of mages conducted some advanced research of their own. Though it all revolved around mana, they had still accumulated plenty of knowledge from other angles...

Early the next morning, Wang Yi heard Liu Xiaoke leaving.

He could sense the earnestness and diligence of that kind-hearted girl. Unfortunately, although she was beautiful, had a great figure, and possessed that same hardworking spirit—

This path was truly difficult. There were inspirational stories of male actors rising from bit parts to prominence, but female extras—especially pretty female extras—had it truly hard if they did not want to be dyed the color of that massive cesspool...

Still, Liu Xiaoke's natural assets were simply too good. There would be no problem with her becoming a Guest Actor and living comfortably, since not everyone sought fame and fortune.

Liu Xiaoke leaving also meant the arrival of a new day. After staying up all night yet still feeling energetic, Wang Yi stretched his body and opened the door.

Morning light shone in from the corridor, bathing the stairs in its glow.

The city began to awaken, and people rushing about to make a living gradually headed out.

Humming a cheerful Elf Race melody from another world, Wang Yi went downstairs and bought a basket of baozi. That baozi shop had already been open before he went to another world. It was an old establishment with excellent craftsmanship: plenty of filling, thin wrappers, and fatty, juicy meat.

The hand-rolled dough was soft and delicious; he just had to be careful not to let the juice and grease burst onto his hands.

With his Great Knight Physique, Wang Yi could go weeks without food or water, or eat an entire cow in one sitting.

He ate each baozi in two bites, and by the time he returned to the stairwell, he had nearly finished them.

While buying baozi, he received a call from the telecom company. He only needed to test it after they made a few adjustments to see whether the connection worked. The previous tenant had also had an internet line installed, so it would be quickly sorted out without anyone needing to come over.

However, just as Wang Yi reached the third floor, a tall, burly figure emerged from Room 303.

He was over six feet three, heavily built, with bulging muscles visible beneath his athletic tank top. His face also leaned toward the fierce side. In a place like this, he should have had an easy time becoming a specialty actor.

"You the new neighbor in 301?"

The burly man looked down at Wang Yi.

Wang Yi stuffed the last half of a baozi into his mouth with one finger, then sized the man up from head to toe.

He had heard breathing by the door earlier. That meant this guy had probably seen him coming upstairs through the peephole and deliberately come out.

Chewing slowly with puffed cheeks, Wang Yi wiped his hand on the back of his pants, swallowed his breakfast, and asked in confusion.

"Something wrong?"

"You added Liu Xiaoke on Shake Message last night?"

The burly man's expression remained blank, but his naturally fierce features, combined with his height and build, gave him an intimidating air of pressure.

Upon hearing that, Wang Yi was instantly speechless. The soundproofing here was not great, but this guy must have deliberately eavesdropped, right?

Thinking back, he had indeed heard breathing nearby last night. But there were many residents in this building and it was full of the sounds of daily life. He could not possibly pay attention to every little thing. So this guy had been listening in...

"Yeah. Problem?"

Wang Yi raised an eyebrow and answered readily.

Well, Liu Xiaoke really was stunning. In a chaotic place like Shudian, it was perfectly normal for her to get harassed. Since he had taken the man's money, he might as well lend a hand...

But just as Wang Yi glanced around, preparing to find something to help the man calm down, the imposing fellow suddenly displayed an extremely fawning smile.

"Bro, could you send her contact over to me? I've asked her several times, but she won't add me."

The way he suddenly rubbed his hands together like a fly, coupled with the ingratiating expression on his face, left Wang Yi utterly speechless.

Still, Wang Yi closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, silently criticizing himself. Right, this was modern society. He could not keep having that knee-jerk habit of assuming people wanted to harm him just because of what he had experienced at the start of his life in another world. He needed to change that bad habit.

"Ask her yourself. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to send it without her permission. Besides, even if I did, she probably wouldn't add you."

"Don't be so heartless, man. You drifting around Shudian too? I can introduce you to some connections. I know plenty of group leaders."

The man's entire tough-guy image had collapsed. He was completely acting like an old friend.

"Thanks, but I'm not working around here."

Wang Yi rolled his eyes, took out his key, and opened the door. Perfect timing to test the internet.

"We're neighbors. Don't be so cold. I'm Ma Dong. I've been getting by here for over ten years."

Ma Dong's words made Wang Yi pause. It was not as though he was so cold-hearted that he could not normally get to know a neighbor. As he opened the door, he turned back and said, "Wang Yi. I used to live here too, in Room 302. Never saw you before."

"Oh, no wonder we got acquainted so quickly. I was wondering—you're not even that handsome. Hmm, your body's pretty good, though. You work out?"

Ma Dong worked out regularly himself, so even though Wang Yi was wearing a T-shirt, he could make a rough judgment. Wang Yi did not look especially muscular, but his body fat percentage was probably close to perfect, and his physique looked incredible. He really wanted to see what Wang Yi looked like while working out.

He then briefly explained why he lived here, so Wang Yi would not think he was some pervert who had moved here on purpose.

"The place I used to live got demolished. My landlord was really something—after I rented from him for ten years, he didn't even give me a cut."

He said it jokingly, offering an explanation.

"Oh, haha."

Wang Yi nodded to show he understood, then began closing the door as he said goodbye.

"See you."

Click. The door shut, leaving Ma Dong outside alone, pondering something.

"With a body that good, he still eats meat baozi like that. How does he train...?"

Mulling it over idly, he headed downstairs as well.

They were both Shudian drifters. Though he had made a bit of a name for himself, that was all it amounted to.

In truth, after ten years in Shudian, he had seen plenty of beauties. There had even been quite a few who liked his type.

But Liu Xiaoke was different. She held a unique attraction for him. It was not that he necessarily wanted to pursue her; he simply saw in her the shadow of himself when he had first arrived in Shudian, and it made him nostalgic for the youth that had passed.

"Either blend in with the light and dust, or leave the stage in gloom. I hope you'll be the latter."

With his hands clasped behind his head, Ma Dong hummed a tune as he arrived before his Pink Scooter. The contrast was immense as he climbed onto it, put on a helmet that was clearly one size too small, and hummed his way toward the set at high speed...

The two updates are done~ Please keep reading, especially tomorrow's reading—it's crucial!

Some people may ask why I chose this title. It's because it's straightforward enough to help with early reader retention...