Two Worlds

Countdown: 42:00:00.

On the fifth day since returning, there is not much time left before the next time travel.

Winter mornings are exceptionally dark; the blackness of the sky is like ink that can never be dissolved.

At 6 o'clock, Bai Zhou and the others had already changed into their sportswear and ran into the morning mist despite the cold wind.

They started from Xingshu Road, crossed the wide Wangcheng Avenue, and entered Luopu Park.

Qing Chen blocked the howling wind at the front, making it a little easier for the people behind him to run.

At one point, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Nan Gengchen, and the others following behind suddenly felt that Qing Chen was like the alpha wolf in the snowstorm, clearing obstacles for the pack behind him with the most resolute attitude.

Qing Chen runs a fixed five kilometers every day for training, without deliberately running more. Even training should be done in moderation, so as not to ruin the three people behind him.

As everyone gradually stopped, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly noticed that Qing Chen was frowning and gently clutching his left side.

"What's wrong?" Hu Xiaoniu asked curiously, "Did you get a stitch?"

Nan Gengchen turned his head to look. How could Brother Chen, with his physical condition, possibly have a side stitch while running?

When he saw where Qing Chen was clutching, he realized something. "Brother Chen, your ribs haven't healed yet?"

"Ribs? What happened to Qing Chen's ribs?" Zhang Tianzhen asked in confusion.

"Brother Chen fractured two ribs during the last time he traveled through time," Nan Gengchen explained. "The doctor told him not to engage in strenuous exercise for 90 days..."

Zhang Tianzhen and Hu Xiaoniu were truly shocked. They hadn't expected that the boy who was leading them was actually injured.

If Nan Gengchen hadn't pointed it out, they wouldn't have noticed at all!

Not only were the two of them shocked, but even Nan Gengchen was shocked.

Because if he hadn't noticed something amiss today, he, as someone in the know, would have almost forgotten that Qing Chen was still injured.

Qing Chen's behavior every day is just too normal!

Hu Xiaoniu carefully examined Qing Chen, unable to understand why the other person could still be so resilient as to get up and run every morning despite being injured.

Moreover, the other party was injured but acted as if nothing had happened, while he, Zhang Tianzhen, and Nan Gengchen were completely unharmed, yet they were in a terrible state.

When Hu Xiaoniu first met Qing Chen, he remembered the boy as someone who was a good student and skilled at fighting.

But now he realizes that his understanding was too shallow. There really is such a person in the world who is smarter than you, more ruthless than you, more patient than you, and more hardworking than you.

Hu Xiaoniu is good for nothing except being richer than Qing Chen, but will someone like Qing Chen really be poor forever?

Won't.

Hu Xiaoniu looked at Qing Chen and said, "I'm really convinced, really."

"It's nothing serious," Qing Chen said calmly. "If the pain were truly unbearable, I wouldn't have come out for a run."

"I'm a little curious," Hu Xiaoniu said, feeling somewhat puzzled. "I don't mean anything by it, I'm just curious why you joined Daylight."

In his view, how could someone like Qing Chen be subservient to others? Moreover, he was completely obedient to the boss.

It wasn't that Hu Xiaoniu had rebellious intentions or wanted to sow discord.

He truly couldn't understand it, couldn't figure it out.

In fact, Hu Xiaoniu's judgment was not wrong; he just didn't know that Qing Chen was the boss.

Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "The boss saved my life."

"I see," Hu Xiaoniu thought to himself, "The life-saving grace should indeed be repaid with a spring of gratitude, and this reason is very valid."

At this moment, the three people who had just finished running five kilometers were sitting on the ground in a disheveled state.

But when they looked at Qing Chen, they suddenly seemed to be holding their breath and none of them complained of being tired anymore.

During the daytime classes, Qing Chen remained slumped over his desk as if asleep.

He didn't finally raise his head until evening, having skipped lunch.

Nan Gengchen and the others found it a bit strange. Even if they slept in class, they shouldn't be able to sleep this much.

Now, Qing Chen's classmates have started secretly giving him nicknames, calling him the "Sleeping God."

However, for Qing Chen, every minute and every second was fulfilling. Every time the target moved a meter further into the distance, he felt a little happier.

When school ended in the evening, Nan Gengchen prepared to leave with Qing Chen.

However, just as he was about to get up, Qing Chen pressed him back down. "Stay at school and don't go anywhere. Focus on your studies."

"Huh?" Nan Gengchen was stunned for a moment. "Brother Chen, you don't usually say that, and I saw you were about to leave."

"I can leave, but you can't," Qing Chen said.

"Why?" Nan Gengchen asked, puzzled.

"I'm a genius, are you?" Qing Chen asked calmly.

Nan Gengchen glanced at the setting sun about to disappear behind the buildings outside the school window and suddenly asked, "Brother Chen, I can sense that you're even more serious today than yesterday, so there must be some danger going to happen, which is why you won't let me leave the school, right?"

"Don't overthink it. Just stay in the classroom and leave as usual," Qing Chen patted his shoulder and turned to walk out of the classroom.

Just as Qing Chen was walking out of the classroom, he was stopped by Xu Zimo, who was also going to Xiancheng to participate in the AMC10 math competition. Xu Ziming was from Class 2 of the second year of high school next door, and he seemed to have just finished class and was waiting there.

As students passed by, they couldn't help but cast surprised glances, seemingly curious about what might happen between the two academic high-achievers.

But then Xu Zimo, holding a test paper, looked at Qing Chen and said, "Qing Chen, there's a trigonometric function problem here. Could you explain it to me?"

The students standing nearby were stunned. Xu Zimo was ranked first in the grade during the last monthly exam. Why would he need Qing Chen to help him with questions he didn't know?

Ke Qing Chen has been busy attending classes and sleeping lately.

Qing Chen casually glanced at the test paper and said, "I don't know how to do this question."

Xu Zimo hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let me explain it to you."

At this moment, all the students who were watching the drama unfold were stunned. It turned out that Xu Zimo hadn't come to ask questions, but rather to make conversation!

Qing Chen looked calmly at Xu Zimo and said earnestly, "I don't have time right now, and I don't need it either. Thank you."

After saying that, Qing Chen went downstairs.

The evening glow shone on the corridor, casting long shadows of people on the walls.

Xu Zimo watched Qing Chen's departing figure and pursed her lips.

Nan Gengchen muttered to himself in the classroom, "Damn, ruthless..."

Hu Xiaoniu glanced at him, but felt that this was something that should be taken for granted.

Nan Gengchen asked, "Why aren't you surprised at all?"

"Don't you think it's just awkward for him to stand next to that female classmate?" Hu Xiaoniu said. "The last time I felt that way was with Yang Yang. Back then, in the sea, someone was chasing Yang Yang, but when we were gossiping, we always felt that no matter who stood next to her, it felt awkward. It's like putting a stone next to a dazzling diamond; everyone would pale in comparison, and the overall style would be different."

"Moreover, they are no longer from the same world. The female classmate's world is still narrow, and she only has the path of further education to take. But Qing Chen is different. He is facing a wider world. Two worlds."

Thank you YueShuXia for becoming a new ally of this book. Thank you, boss!

There is a separate chapter explaining the leave request.