Unexpected Arrival and Special Training Preparations

“Senior, what exactly are we doing?” Zhuang Xun inquired, observing Ning Qi pace restlessly by the edge of the park.

Ning Qi seemed to be anticipating something as she walked back and forth. She raised her arm, glancing at her watch. “Almost,” she replied, “just a moment longer.”

No sooner had she spoken than the rumble of a heavy engine reached Zhuang Xun’s ears. She turned to see a large truck pulling to a stop directly in front of them.

“They’re here,” Ning Qi murmured, passing Zhuang Xun with a brief word.

Though a hint of confusion flickered across Zhuang Xun’s face, she followed Ning Qi to the front of the imposing vehicle. The next second, a figure descended from the cab. It was a foreigner—someone Zhuang Xun had never seen before.

The woman wore denim jeans paired with a vibrant pink camisole. Looking up further, Zhuang Xun noticed a brow piercing glinting above her eye.

A hot girl, indeed.

With her voluminous golden curls and captivating blue eyes, Zhuang Xun found herself momentarily speechless. She wasn’t sure what nationality the woman was, or if it was better to simply stand quietly.

Ning Qi, however, strode directly to the foreign woman’s side. “What took you so long?” she asked.

“Sorry! I just sobered up when you messaged me~” The foreign woman wrapped Ning Qi in a tight hug, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t be mad, darling~”

This intimate gesture caused Zhuang Xun to avert her gaze. Given the woman’s powerful aura upon exiting the truck, she had initially seemed like someone not to be trifled with. Now, it appeared quite the opposite… and Senior Ning seemed remarkably familiar with her.

Ning Qi extended a hand, gently pushing the woman’s face away. “Stop with these pointless antics.”

“How can you call them pointless?~ We haven’t seen each other in ages, and you’re treating me so coldly, darling? How mean!” The foreign woman leaned in again, whispering softly into Ning Qi’s ear. “Tonight, perhaps…?”

The words weren’t loud, but Zhuang Xun caught the gist of them. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop; it just seemed the other party hadn’t tried to hide it from her at all.

However, Ning Qi immediately pulled the woman aside, and the rest of the conversation became inaudible.

Zhuang Xun remained rooted to the spot, her gaze briefly flicking toward Ning Qi and the foreign woman, who were now some distance away from her, before she respectfully withdrew her eyes.

No sooner had she done so than a figure suddenly darted into her personal space. The foreign woman grasped Zhuang Xun’s hands, her blue eyes burning with intensity.

“Are you Ning’s new bedmate? I’m Alice. Just call me Alice. What’s your name? I’m perfectly fine with a threesome, you know.”

Zhuang Xun stared blankly at her hands, ensnared by the other woman’s grip. Before she could utter a single word, Ning Qi yanked the foreign woman away, her tone frosty.

“She’s not. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Alice, her clothes still clutched by Ning Qi, pouted unhappily. “But Ning, we haven’t done it in so long! Can’t we really tonight?”

Zhuang Xun swallowed hard. She felt as though she had stumbled upon a secret she definitely shouldn’t know. Was it too late to flee?

Ning Qi seemed to read Zhuang Xun’s thoughts, immediately turning her head to warn her. “Don’t overthink it. I have absolutely no relationship with her.”

“Ning, how can you say something so cruel?” Alice pursed her lips, looking wronged. “We were clearly so compatible in bed.”

Ning Qi forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Keep talking, and I’ll call Anna over.”

Upon hearing the name ‘Anna,’ Alice’s demeanor shifted a full one-hundred and eighty degrees. She stood still, speaking with extreme earnestness. “Don’t call her. Ning, all your things are in the truck. Do you need help?”

Ning Qi nodded. “Just put everything right here.”

Zhuang Xun maintained a placid expression, yet her mind raced, wondering who this Alice and Anna were, and what their connection to Senior Ning might be. But then she reconsidered. Their encounter was likely a fleeting one, so she shouldn’t dwell on it.

Instead, she turned to Ning Qi, politely asking, “Senior, do you need my assistance?”

Ning Qi shook her head, declining the offer. “No need. Alice alone is enough.”

Seeing Ning Qi’s refusal, Zhuang Xun didn’t press further, though she couldn’t help but wonder if one person truly was enough to unload a massive truck full of items.

Alice smiled broadly. “As expected of Ning, still trusting me so much~”

Ning Qi nodded. “Mm, hurry up. We still have special training to do afterward.”

“Special training?” Alice paused for a moment, her gaze falling back on Zhuang Xun. “So you’re the junior who needs help~ Remember to tell me your name later, okay?” With that, she winked at Zhuang Xun.

Zhuang Xun blinked, remaining silent. She wasn’t particularly adept at handling this type of extroverted senior.

Ning Qi tapped her arm with a finger, her tone tinged with impatience. “Stop chattering and hurry up.”

Alice, as if accustomed to it, showed no sign of irritation. She chuckled, “Alright, alright~”

The next second, Zhuang Xun watched Alice remove an ear cuff from her ear and hold it in her hand. The cuff immediately transformed into an incredibly long staff, which Alice now gripped tightly.

She’s a magical girl too?

Ning Qi offered a kind reminder. “Move aside, Zhuang Xun.”

Zhuang Xun nodded, taking a step back.

Alice pointed her staff at the large truck and, with confident flair, chanted, “Mark and Swap!”

Immediately, the once-empty park echoed with a heavy thud as a massive pile of items hit the ground. Alice’s incantation had taken effect. Simultaneously, the massive truck before Zhuang Xun was instantly vacuum-sealed, emitting a deafening, terrifying roar of crumpling metal.

Coinciding with the truck’s thunderous sound was Ning Qi’s incantation: “Shield! Solidify!”

The moment her spell concluded, the truck’s collapsing fragments compressed into a single, dense, solid sphere that dropped harmlessly into Ning Qi’s hand.

Zhuang Xun took a deep breath, surveying the array of diverse training items now sitting in the park. These weren’t explicitly detailed in the special training schedule she had read, but she recognized most of them and their intended uses.

She shifted her gaze toward Ning Qi.

Ning Qi was currently rubbing her temples, speaking to Alice with an exasperated tone. “Transfer magic, but you completely forgot about the physical protection protocol! If I hadn’t been here, did you want us all to be called into Headquarters for a disciplinary talk?!”

Alice feigned innocence, rubbing the back of her head. “I hadn’t seen Ning in so long, so I just forgot for a moment~”

Ning Qi gritted her teeth, then sighed. “At least no major problems occurred… I’m starting to wonder if you’re intentionally retaliating against me.”

Alice clung tightly to Ning Qi’s arm, planting another kiss on her cheek. “How could I retaliate against my favorite Ning? I love you the most~”

This time, Ning Qi didn’t push Alice away. Instead, she instructed her, “You’re done here. You can leave now.”

Alice protested, “Are you really sending me away so soon? Won’t you stay with me a bit longer?”

Ning Qi playfully tossed the solid, dense sphere of crumpled truck in her hand, smiling dangerously at Alice. “Do you want to participate in the special training too, my dear Alice?”

Alice quickly replied, “Ning, you’re so mean~ I’ll be off now. See you next time, darling.” With that, Alice swiftly walked toward Zhuang Xun. “Oh, by the way, aren’t you going to tell me your name?”

Zhuang Xun looked at Alice, who was observing her closely, and calmly replied, “Hello. My name is Zhuang Xun.”

Alice scrutinized Zhuang Xun from head to toe, then smiled approvingly. “I’m sure we’ll meet again soon. Ciao~”

Without waiting for Zhuang Xun’s reply, she vanished on the spot, leaving no trace behind.