Chapter 125: Entering the Park

"That is all you need to be aware of. Have you got it all down?" The young woman opposite him flashed Zhang Wei a smile.

"Yes, I have." Zhang Wei stood at rigid attention.

"No need to be so serious," the woman said with a laugh. "Good luck."

"Uh, thank you," Zhang Wei replied, nodding with a hint of awkwardness.

Seeing him clutch the pile of items in his arms and turn to leave, the woman hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Hey, wait a second."

"Ah, is there something else?" Zhang Wei turned back.

In truth, he didn't really want to face this woman. She was stunning—fair-skinned, tall, and dressed in elegant clothes. She looked like a celestial being descended to earth, more beautiful than any celebrity. When he had first come to meet her, several high-ranking officers had warned him to be courteous, hinting that she had deep connections within the Park. At first, he hadn't understood, but after she provided several tips—advising him that to gain anything from the X-Academy, he needed to "empathize" with the experiences of the mutants—he guessed her identity.

She was likely one of the volunteers at the Park, and in all probability, she was close to one of the permanent staff members. That realization only deepened his sense of inferiority.

"Do you have WeChat?" The woman tapped her chin, looking like a proud peacock.

Zhang Wei blushed. "Yes, I do."

"Scan me." She pulled up her WeChat QR code.

Zhang Wei hurriedly took out his phone, his mind full of doubts. Could it be that a woman as beautiful as a fairy had taken a fancy to him? But upon closer reflection, he felt that was impossible. Growing up, aside from a few young female teachers who had shown him concern, he had never received any interest from the opposite sex. Back in college, when he was out for a meal with his roommates, a stranger had confessed her feelings, but before he could even turn red and respond, she had apologized and said they were playing a game of "truth or dare." He had even been fantasizing about the daughter of his old commander's comrade whom the commander had mentioned.

After adding her as a contact, he couldn't help but ask, "Is there something you need?"

"My name is Wang Yiyi," the woman said, ignoring his question. "You can take me out to dinner tonight."

Zhang Wei was bewildered. "I have to go back and report tonight."

"Then tomorrow?" Wang Yiyi glanced elsewhere. "I'm free after six every day."

"Tomorrow I have to go home to see my grandfather," Zhang Wei said honestly.

Wang Yiyi, who had been somewhat shy, suddenly turned her head and stared directly at him. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Seeing that she seemed a bit upset, he shook his head quickly. "No."

"Then do you think I'm ugly?" Wang Yiyi frowned.

"Of course not," Zhang Wei said, embarrassed. "You're very beautiful."

"Then why don't you want to take me to dinner?" Wang Yiyi’s troubled mood eased slightly.

Zhang Wei realized what was happening and stammered, "B-but I promised my grandfather... I really have something to do tomorrow."

His flustered appearance made Wang Yiyi find him amusing.

"You've never had a girlfriend, have you?" Wang Yiyi asked.

Zhang Wei blushed and said, "No. Our commander wanted to introduce me to his comrade's daughter."

"Have you met her?" Wang Yiyi frowned.

"No," Zhang Wei shook his head.

"Then tell your commander that it's no longer necessary," Wang Yiyi said breezily.

"Oh," Zhang Wei murmured.

"Are you not willing?" Wang Yiyi asked.

"No, I am!" Zhang Wei said quickly. He was self-deprecating, but he wasn't stupid. Although he didn't know how a woman as divine as the one before him could be so blind, he had no intention of refusing.

...

Watching Zhang Wei walk out of the room, Wang Yiyi reached up and rubbed her face hard. *Wang Yiyi, oh Wang Yiyi, how could you be so unreserved!*

But this young man was so dull and naive that he looked very easy to bully; it would be quite fun to have him as a boyfriend. It had always been her ideal to have a soldier as a partner. Besides, he wasn't ugly. Thinking of the determined expression on Zhang Wei's face when he blushed and told her he was "willing," Wang Yiyi found it hilarious. Seeing that no one was around, she couldn't help but giggle. It wasn't until a second person entered that she hurriedly wiped the smile from her face.

As a member of the Fantastic Park's administrative center, she was also a civil servant of the Rabbit Kingdom. She had come out today to share insider information with the officials preparing to enter, so they might gain something.

...

Zhang Wei had already reached the inside of the Park. He wore a clean white t-shirt and black sweatpants, and he walked with a slight limp. However, no one dared to underestimate him. No one who could enter the Park was mediocre. Several media personnel snapped photos of him, clearly curious about his identity. However, his cold demeanor caused those who tried to strike up a conversation to retreat in awkwardness. Of course, it wasn't that he was truly heartless; he had simply been accustomed to loneliness since childhood, which made him inept at social interaction. Compared to the others who moved in groups, he stood alone, and far from feeling uncomfortable, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.

After curiously glancing at the giant King Kong sleeping with its head on the ticket hall, Zhang Wei turned his gaze toward the volunteers in the vicinity, trying to find a glimpse of Wang Yiyi. The experience from just a while ago still felt surreal. If they weren't still chatting warmly on WeChat, he would have thought he was dreaming.

Unable to find a familiar figure among the volunteers, he withdrew his gaze in disappointment, suppressed the strange feelings in his heart, and prepared for the miraculous experience ahead. Before coming in, his superiors had given him several suggested routes. He decided to follow the second one and head to the Dinosaur Park and the Python Pavilion first.

The journey went smoothly, and it was a real eye-opener. Afterward, he reached the side of the Fitness Plaza. To his left not far away was the Scripture Library, and to his right was the Haunted House. He abandoned the idea of the Scripture Library first. He had been recuperating from his injuries recently, and even though he knew that martial arts had appeared, he had no time to practice—going there would be a waste of time.

As for the Haunted House... Zhang Wei smiled bitterly and shook his head. Others thought he was brave and fearless, always the first to charge in battle, and someone who had volunteered to be the first to jump during parachute training—a tough guy who feared neither gods nor ghosts. However, few knew that he was afraid of ghosts.

Not only was he afraid of ghosts, but he was also terrified of being left alone in a quiet environment. His parents hadn't been around since he was a child, and his grandfather would sometimes lock him in the house before dawn to go to work. Every time he woke up early, he would huddle in the corner of the kang, clutching his straw mat and crying. He was terrified; it felt as if ghosts full of malice were hiding everywhere in that cold, dark house.

After staring at the Haunted House for a long time, he chose to give up. He didn't want to waste the one-million-dollar admission fee. After asking a few volunteers nearby for directions, he slowly walked toward the X-Academy. Along the way, a Transformer stopped to ask if he wanted a ride, but he shook his head and declined. The environment here was very special, and he liked it very much. Furthermore, he was still hoping for a chance to see Wang Yiyi. Unfortunately, he reached the entrance of the X-Academy without seeing her.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Wei walked to the gate. A young man wearing unique sunglasses sat by the entrance, along with four others. Among these four, two were Westerners—a man and a woman—with fanatical expressions. Zhang Wei knew that many Westerners had chosen to come straight here upon entering. They were attempting to use this place as an opportunity to reverse the balance of supernatural power between the East and the West.