First Meeting with Bulma

The three of them crossed the plaza and walked straight into the building.

As soon as they stepped inside, a wave of cool air rushed to meet them, sweeping away the sweltering heat from outside.

The lobby was quite spacious with an exceptionally high ceiling, supported by two rows of white pillars.

The floor was made of dark marble, polished so clean it reflected their silhouettes.

Several abstract paintings hung on the walls; the bold use of color gave the space a distinct sense of style.

The receptionist recognized Gohan at a glance and stood up immediately, greeting him respectfully, "Mr. Gohan! You're back!" She paused, her gaze falling on Jiang Che with a hint of curiosity, "And this is..."

"A new friend. I'm bringing him to see Mother Bulma." Gohan wore a gentle smile, showing no intention of offering further explanation, yet his tone remained calm and confident.

The receptionist nodded, asked no more questions, and gave Jiang Che a polite nod.

Gohan led Jiang Che across the lobby and toward a long corridor.

The hallway was quite long, with walls lined with photographs.

There were pictures of a young Bulma, her gaze sharp as she looked into the lens; there were family portraits where everyone was smiling brightly.

Jiang Che's gaze swept over one of them and lingered for a few seconds—it was a group photo of the whole family, featuring a blonde teenager smiling with great spirit; he assumed that must be Trunks.

They soon arrived at a reception room.

Gohan pushed the door open, revealing the entire room at a glance—it was quite large, furnished with several sets of sofas and coffee tables, all made of high-quality materials that looked comfortable to the touch.

One entire wall was a floor-to-ceiling window, looking out onto a dark green garden filled with trees of varying heights and colorful flowers, a vast expanse that instantly brightened one's mood.

Sunlight spilled in through the glass, casting golden, dappled patterns on the floor, giving the room a cozy, lived-in feel.

"Sit down." Gohan gestured toward the sofa, his tone perfectly natural, "I'll go call Mother Bulma."

Jiang Che nodded and sat down casually.

The sofa was just the right firmness; leaning back, he felt his entire body relax.

He adjusted his posture to get comfortable, a faint sense of belonging already stirring in his heart.

Gohan walked out the door, his footsteps fading into the distance, and the soft "click" of the door latch suddenly plunged the room into silence.

Now, only Jiang Che and Vegeta remained.

The air instantly grew tense, as if someone had suddenly pressed pause on time.

Vegeta stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the window, his back to the light, his figure enveloped in shadow.

He stared fixedly at Jiang Che like a beast ready to pounce at any moment—his eyes filled with coldness and a hint of provocation.

His breathing slowed, as if he were brewing something.

Jiang Che, however, acted as if nothing were the matter, leaning back in the sofa with a relaxed air, crossing his legs, and examining the room in a leisurely manner.

His gaze drifted over the ceiling, the walls, and the garden outside, his expression remaining perfectly steady.

He wasn't putting on an act; he had seen this kind of hostility many times on the battlefield. Whether from enemies or comrades, he was accustomed to the vigilance and killing intent in people's eyes.

"Kid," Vegeta spoke suddenly, his voice low and raspy, as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

Jiang Che raised an eyebrow and turned his head to look at him, "Hm?"

"Which universe are you from?" Vegeta spoke bluntly, without a hint of beating around the bush.

Jiang Che chuckled and shifted into a more comfortable position, "Is that question really so important?"

"Don't try to fool me." Vegeta snorted coldly, leaning forward and taking a direct step toward him, his presence surging forward, "Saiyans don't just appear out of nowhere. You have a very strange aura about you, unlike any Saiyan I've ever encountered."

"A strange aura?" The corners of Jiang Che's mouth curled up, actually feeling quite curious.

"That's right." Vegeta's eyes were sharp as blades, staring straight at him, "Your ki is so weak it's almost imperceptible, yet I know you hide immense power within you—like a sleeping monster. This isn't normal; it's highly abnormal."

Jiang Che felt a slight stir in his heart.

It wasn't surprising that Vegeta could detect his anomaly.

After all, Vegeta was the Prince of the Saiyans, having fought countless life-or-death battles, and his perception of ki was naturally keen.

The problem was—Jiang Che wasn't even using his Super Saiyan God power right now.

His power was like fire sealed beneath a glacier; while the surface was cold, a staggering amount of energy lay hidden within.

"Perhaps I'm just too weak, making you feel something is off?" Jiang Che shrugged, adding a touch of humor, "That's normal, isn't it?"

"Don't play dumb!" Vegeta stepped forward again, his footfall causing the floor to emit a dull thud.

His entire aura erupted, the curtains in the room fluttering slightly in the wind, and the papers on the table trembling.

He hunched his shoulders, fists clenched tight, looking as if he were ready to strike at any second.

"When you caught my punch earlier, that power was by no means..."

"Enough!"

A forceful reprimand suddenly came from the doorway.

A woman with short blue hair walked in quickly, her demeanor decisive. With her hands on her hips, she fixed her gaze directly on Vegeta, her tone brooking no argument: "You want to fight again? We haven't even settled the bill for the roof from last time!"

Vegeta's mouth twitched, clearly feeling both helpless and annoyed.

The oppressive aura he had originally exuded dissipated entirely, and his entire posture slumped significantly.

He turned his face away, saying nothing more, and let out a huff through his nose.

This woman—she was Bulma.

Jiang Che stole a glance at her.

Her age was apparent, but her complexion was truly excellent; her skin was firm, and there were few wrinkles.

She wore a casual T-shirt and jeans, looking quite at ease, yet her gaze was incredibly sharp and assertive, carrying a hint of pressure.

Her stride was full of confidence, giving the impression that no one in this house could defy her.

"You must be Jiang Che?" Bulma swept her gaze toward Jiang Che, her tone much softer this time, tinged with curiosity.

She pulled out a sofa and sat down, crossing her legs with ease. "Gohan mentioned you to me. Are you an alien?"

"Strictly speaking, I suppose so." Jiang Che stood up and gave a slight, polite nod. "I come from another universe. My name is Jiang Che."

"Another person from a different universe..." Bulma frowned, resting her chin on her hand as she pondered for a moment. "First there was Beerus, then Whis, and now you've popped up too." She felt a bit of a headache coming on and waved her hand. "Forget it, let's not talk about that for now. Gohan said you don't have a place to stay, right?"

"That is correct."

"Then you can stay here for now." Bulma spoke decisively, standing up and walking toward the door. "There are plenty of rooms in this house; you can stay as long as you like. Come with me, I'll show you your room."

Jiang Che rose and cast a casual glance at Vegeta.

Vegeta was still standing by the window, watching him with that same complex, inscrutable gaze.

Yet in the end, he said nothing, merely turning his head away to fix his eyes on the backyard outside.