Utterly Ridiculous

Without a doubt, Yang Xiaoyong's desire to visit the amusement park had been Xia Xu's idea.

As for his purpose... well, those who knew, knew.

Being the boss did carry a certain weight. Once Xia Xu spoke up, Yang Bowen's wife could hardly object.

"What about you, Youxin? Is it okay if you get home a little later?"

Xia Xu turned to Tang Youxin.

"All right."

Tang Youxin glanced at Yang Xiaoyong, who was already jumping for joy and cheering, "Yay!" She simply couldn't bring herself to refuse.

So, having more or less finished their meal, the group paid the bill, headed outside, and hailed a cab straight to Star City Amusement Park.

"Here we go, one ticket each."

Although it wasn't a weekend or holiday, Star City Amusement Park was one of the largest and best-known amusement parks in the province. It was fairly famous even nationwide, drawing crowds of visitors during the holidays. Even now, there were quite a few people around.

"Boss, I'm taking my wife and kid over to the carousel. We'll leave you two to it."

Yang Bowen was a sly one. Or perhaps, as a man who'd been there himself, he had easily seen through Xia Xu's intentions. He said this the moment they entered Star City Amusement Park, then hurried off with his wife and son without even waiting for Xia Xu's response.

"Uh..."

The move caught Tang Youxin completely off guard. With Yang Bowen and his family along, she hadn't thought much of it. But now that they'd left, didn't that mean she was alone with Xia Xu?

Two people visiting an amusement park together... did this count as a date?

Silence fell for a moment. In that brief instant, a blush visibly spread across Tang Youxin's cheeks, and she habitually ducked her head toward her chest, playing ostrich.

"That Yang has no loyalty whatsoever. Gets a wife and kid, and suddenly he abandons us. Come on, we'll have fun ourselves."

Xia Xu grinned as he denounced Yang Bowen's behavior.

"You're bad."

Tang Youxin's mutter was barely louder than a mosquito's hum.

Clearly, she had vaguely realized this might have been Xia Xu's scheme.

But as the saying went, sincerity never won hearts quite like a clever scheme did. They were already here; she could hardly turn around and leave now.

"Someone bad? Where? Hurry, stay closer to me. We can't let anyone bad hurt you."

Xia Xu was outrageously thick-skinned. He showed not a trace of embarrassment at being exposed and instead took her hand, drawing her a little closer.

Of course, that was as far as he went. Seeing how Little White Flower looked ready to burrow into the ground, Xia Xu knew he had reached her limit.

After that, they simply enjoyed the park, with Xia Xu behaving himself throughout.

Yes, he swore-cross his heart and hope to fly-that choosing rides like the roller coaster and pirate ship ride had been purely because he wanted to try them. Any physical contact during the rides had been perfectly normal, instinctive reactions.

Unfortunately, despite the park's many attractions, it had no haunted house. What a terrible shame.

They kept playing until nearly seven. At first, Tang Youxin was shy and awkward, unable to relax. But after a few rides, although each one frightened her into repeated shrieks, those uninhibited cries gradually swept away all her embarrassment, worries, and misgivings. Little by little, she immersed herself in the fun.

"Youxin, it's seven. Time to go."

At seven sharp, with the sky already dark, Xia Xu led Tang Youxin toward the park entrance.

After all, the threat of the Hunter plot still hung over him. Although Star City Amusement Park was quite far from Star City No. 3 High School, it was better to be cautious wherever possible. He would avoid wandering around outside at night. That was his responsibility not only to his own safety, but also to Tang Youxin, Yang Bowen, and the others.

"It's... it's already seven?"

Happy times always passed quickly. Tang Youxin hadn't even noticed that an hour had flown by, and a trace of reluctance appeared in her eyes.

"If you want to keep playing, we can come back next time. We could even come every day."

Xia Xu could only offer some comfort, though he felt rather unhappy himself.

It had been the smallest of wishes-nothing more than staying a little longer at an amusement park. Yet even that required caution now, and he couldn't grant it.

Especially when faced with Little White Flower's reluctance and disappointment, he couldn't help feeling guilty.

He made up his mind. Tomorrow, he would find a way to hire a few reliable bodyguards before anything else.

He was a millionaire, after all. Surely hiring a few retired special forces soldiers wouldn't be a problem.

"Hm?"

A middle-aged man near the amusement park entrance suddenly caught Xia Xu's eye.

The man had a square face, with stern, resolute features.

But his build was even more striking. He was muscular-ridiculously muscular.

Though he looked East Asian, his physique was every bit the equal of the burliest Westerners. His muscles stretched his camouflage clothes taut. Even through the fabric, he radiated a powerful sense of strength, along with an indescribably intimidating air. Something like "battle-hardened" or "murderous."

Standing out from the crowd like that, he naturally caught Xia Xu's attention, especially since Xia Xu had just been thinking about finding bodyguards.

"Holy shit!"

He opened the burly man's attribute panel, then promptly swore aloud.

[Name]: Luo Hongyun

[Life tier]: 2

[Fate potential]: [Protagonist: "Night Owl"]

[Talent potential]: Combat (5 stars); armed combat (5 stars); firearms (3 stars)

[Special]: None

[Obsession]: A peaceful life.

[Favorability]: 0

Is this guy fucking cheating?

A hundred thousand cries of holy shit stampeded through Xia Xu's mind, though he wasn't sure whom they should be directed at.

Two five-star talents. This wasn't merely ridiculous-it was ridiculous taken to the ends of the earth.

And his life tier was two. That number probably represented something like a level. This burly man in camouflage was the only person Xia Xu had ever seen reach two. Everyone else, even those hulking men with bulging muscles, had been at one.

But...

Wasn't I just thinking about bodyguards?

Almost instinctively, Xia Xu looked at Little White Flower beside him.

Again? And more ridiculous every time?

Who the fuck am I supposed to call ridiculous here? Luo Hongyun, or Little White Flower with that innocent, puzzled look on her face?

No, Little White Flower's luck boost affects me. Besides, it only offers an opportunity. I'm the only one who can spot it in time and seize it with the attribute panel.

So... I'm the one cheating?

"Wait, a protagonist?"

Only now did Xia Xu, whose attention had initially been entirely captured by those dazzling five-star talents, notice Luo Hongyun's fate potential-[Protagonist: "Night Owl"].

Great. Another character from a new plot, and he'd run straight into its protagonist.

Judging by this protagonist's talents, the plot clearly wouldn't be anything gentle, either. Already caught deep in the Hunter plot, Xia Xu couldn't tell whether this was a blessing or a curse.

Recruiting an actual plot protagonist as a bodyguard probably wouldn't be easy. With luck, he might be able to use the man's strength to deal with the unknown creatures in Hunter. Without it, he might end up dragged into yet another dangerous plot.