Imagination

A short while later.

Lin Xinyi followed Miyano Shiho into a Western restaurant that seemed quite upscale.

Inside, at a window seat that had been reserved, Miyano Shiho's elder sister had been waiting for some time.

Miyano Shiho's sister was also a beauty, but her style differed from her icy sister; she appeared gentler, warmer, more cheerful, and approachable.

Upon seeing her tardy sister, the elder sister immediately went to greet her with a hint of concern, giving her a tight hug.

Amidst the care and greetings, even Miyano Shiho's usual icy expression would unconsciously melt in her sister's warm embrace.

Of course, upon remembering that Lin Xinyi was right there beside them—

Miyano Shiho immediately lifted her head from the embrace, deliberately turning away to prevent Lin Xinyi from seeing the warm smile on her face that would "ruin her image."

At the same time, Lin Xinyi also came face-to-face with Miyano Shiho's sister.

Seeing him, the "bodyguard" who seemed like mere background scenery, this gentle Miss Miyano also offered a pleasant smile, acknowledging him with a polite nod.

Through the sisters' conversation, Lin Xinyi gathered that this Miss Miyano's name was "Akemi," Miyano Akemi.

But his knowledge of Miss Miyano Akemi ended there.

Because the Miyano sisters wanted to talk privately, and as their accompanying bodyguard, he naturally wouldn't sit at the same table as them.

"You two talk, I'll sit over there."

Lin Xinyi thoughtfully put several tables' distance between them, giving the Miyano sisters ample private space.

He sat down alone, while on the other side, Miyano Shiho began chatting with her sister as usual.

Lin Xinyi couldn't quite hear their conversation.

However, his gaze involuntarily lingered on the Miyano sisters, especially Miyano Akemi.

Something seems off...

Is this Miss Miyano Akemi a bank employee?

Although the name tag had been removed from the clothes Miyano Akemi was wearing, it was clearly identifiable as a bank employee's uniform.

She probably rushed over to see her sister right after getting off work, without time to change.

And this contradicted Lin Xinyi's previous speculation:

Earlier, based on limited clues and his identity as a "bodyguard," he had inferred that Miyano Shiho was a young lady from a powerful background.

But now it seemed, if Miyano Shiho were a rich young lady, why would her sister be wearing the uniform of a grassroots bank employee?

Could it be a rich young lady going to work at a lower level to gain experience?

Lin Xinyi had just formed this guess, but then he felt it was wrong:

No, her bag also seems to be ordinary, not something a rich person would own.

He gazed distantly at the leather bag Miyano Akemi carried with her.

Yes, as an iron-willed straight man who had no time for romance, he nonetheless possessed some expertise in women's fashion, high-end shoes, and bags.

This was mainly because...

Sometimes, when encountering an unidentified female corpse, the Forensic Officer often had to deduce the deceased's dressing habits, economic status, and consumption level from the clothes, shoes, and bags left at the scene, helping the police further narrow down their investigation.

If the deceased wore clothes from niche brands or limited edition shoes and bags, it would be even more convenient for the police's identity investigation.

And now, based on his experience, Lin Xinyi roughly analyzed that Miss Miyano Akemi's financial ability seemed to be at an ordinary civilian level.

How could this be?

How could Miyano's sister be an ordinary bank employee with limited financial means?

Could it be that their family's parenting philosophy is to "raise rich daughters poorly," letting them experience civilian life?

No, that's not right...

Lin Xinyi suddenly realized.

He suddenly discovered a problem:

His imagination had previously been limited by the common sense of the real world.

This is an alternate world with supernatural powers!

Many things that are impossible in reality can happen here. This place can't be explained by science, common sense, or logic at all.

In a supernatural world, anything is possible...

I should let my imagination run wild and dare to dream!

At this moment, Lin Xinyi suddenly opened the door to a "new world":

Armed security, a cold and aloof leader, a heavily guarded laboratory, an excessively young female scientist, his mission to protect Miyano Shiho, and the supernatural forces that had surfaced...

All the clues he could gather converged in his mind.

Lin Xinyi couldn't help but let his imagination soar—

[Speculation 1]:

This might be a world where martial artists, magic, and superpowers exist.

The company Lin Xinyi works for appears to be an ordinary biotech firm on the surface, but it's actually an illegal experimental base secretly set up by an underground syndicate. They're trying to find a way to break through human limitations.

Miyano Shiho might very well be a genius female scientist who, after human modification, possesses extraordinary intelligence and top-tier martial arts talent.

The original Lin Xinyi was just an ordinary enforcer sent by the organization to monitor this female scientist. He was untalented, shallow in skill, and low in status, constantly looked down upon by his colleagues in the organization.

But the current Lin Xinyi is a transmigrator protagonist, having crossed over with profound martial arts from Earth.

The rest of the plot goes without saying:

Lin Xinyi's martial arts realm ascends rapidly thanks to his ancestral secret manual. Then, he meets Miyano Shiho, they get to know each other, fight side-by-side, level up by defeating monsters, and eventually overthrow the underground syndicate behind the company.

But to his surprise, this syndicate is just a minion of a certain tech conglomerate. In the eyes of that conglomerate, the syndicate's leader is nothing more than an ant.

He continues to defeat monsters, level up, and defeats the tech conglomerate.

But to his surprise, this tech conglomerate is just a minion of a certain reclusive sect. In the eyes of that reclusive sect, the tech conglomerate's boss is less than a fly.

He defeats monsters, levels up...

But to his surprise, this reclusive sect is just a minion of a certain alien force. In the eyes of that alien force, the reclusive sect's leader...

"Uh... something seems off here."

"This version's setting is too 'Heavenly Dynasty' (Chinese-centric)."

"Since it's in an alternate Japan, it might not follow the Heavenly Dynasty's tropes."

Anyway, there aren't enough clues; it's all guesswork.

And once Lin Xinyi's imagination started running wild, there was no stopping it:

[Speculation 2]:

The biotech company he works for is just an ordinary biotech company with a high level of confidentiality.

Miyano Shiho is a chaebol heiress and a genius young scientist, characterized as emotionless, icy, and aloof.

Miyano Akemi, on the other hand, is a rich girl who enjoys a commoner's life, characterized as cheerful, gentle, and enthusiastic.

And Lin Xinyi is just a Japanese shut-in, whose parents are deceased and who lacks any ambition. Although he possesses extraordinary skills, he's just been coasting along as a private bodyguard, waiting to die.

The story that follows naturally involves various coincidences leading to all sorts of benefits, self-sacrificing acts, fan service, and Asura-like love triangles between him and the Miyano sisters.

During this time, essential elements like a visiting cousin, a beautiful girl who falls from the sky, a reunited childhood friend, and an enthusiastic blond male friend will also appear.

Oh, almost forgot, there are also supernatural powers.

No problem, just add martial arts and magic to the above setting; it won't affect the plot at all.

"Uh..."

"This seems a bit too idealistic."

Lin Xinyi soberly stopped his imagination and continued to think:

"And this version doesn't highlight the biotech company setting."

"Speaking of biotech companies, armed, protected labs are usually more common in American stories."

[Speculation 3]:

The company Lin Xinyi works for appears to be an ordinary biotech firm on the surface, but it's actually a virus research base set up by a certain multinational corporation.

Miyano Shiho is a genius scientist who knows the truth about the virus and is a key researcher in its development.

And Lin Xinyi is the captain of the combat squad responsible for monitoring and protecting her.

The subsequent plot is easy to imagine: the virus accidentally leaks, and everyone in the city turns into zombies.

Miyano Shiho injects herself and Lin Xinyi with the only two remaining antiviral serums. They struggle to survive the apocalypse while fighting against the multinational corporation that is the mastermind behind it all.

During their struggle, they meet a busty, brainless blonde beauty, a loyal and reliable Black soldier, a scruffy-looking Asian computer expert, and a devoted gay couple...

The group forms a team and together they overthrow the evil conspiracy of the multinational corporation. Finally, they discover that the ultimate culprit behind everything is none other than the U.S. government and the U.S. President, hidden behind the scenes.

After enduring hardships and defeating the U.S. President, who is the final boss, on the ruins of the battlefield, Lin Xinyi confesses his feelings to Miyano Shiho, the female lead.

Just as the two are about to share a passionate kiss to the sound of music...

Suddenly, a transsexual person appears out of nowhere and beats Lin Xinyi to death with a golf club.

It turns out Lin Xinyi killed their father, who had turned into a zombie, and they came for revenge.

At the end of the story, Miyano Shiho laments, "Even zombies' lives matter," and magnanimously forgives the killer who murdered Lin Xinyi.

"..."

"..."

"What am I even thinking?"

Lin Xinyi covered his face helplessly after letting his imagination run wild:

"Underground organizations, chaebol heiresses, multinational corporations, human experimentation, mutated viruses, genius young scientists, imprisoned female researchers..."

"There's no way something this absurd is actually happening in my life, right?"

After his thoughts returned to normal, he himself felt a bit like a lunatic just now.

It's better not to think about such exaggerated things.

My initial guess might not have been wrong after all.

Perhaps Miyano Akemi just genuinely enjoys experiencing life, which is why she became a bank teller?

And I'm just a regular private bodyguard.

Lin Xinyi comforted himself this way.

He, who only wanted a peaceful life, absolutely didn't want his previous imaginings to become reality.

As he was quietly contemplating, a restaurant server suddenly approached with a smile. "Sir, could you please settle the bill?"

"Settle the bill?" Lin Xinyi was slightly taken aback.

"Yes," the server explained. "Our restaurant requires payment at the time of ordering."

"But..." Lin Xinyi frowned slightly. "I haven't even ordered yet. Why are you asking me to pay?"

"It's not your bill."

The server gestured towards the Miyano sisters sitting in the distance.

"It's those two ladies' bill."

"They said you'd be paying for this meal."

Lin Xinyi: "..."

You want me to pay?

And use my money again?!

Lin Xinyi realized that his previous guesses were indeed problematic:

The Miyano sisters were definitely not rich young ladies.

They were just two freeloading paupers!

Thanks to Alliance Leader [Renmin Ribao] for the generous support!

Thanks to Shipmaster [Nevrous] and [fisher Slow Fisherman] for the generous support!

Thank you (°▽°) =3