Chapter 33 – The Manager Steps in to Negotiate Termination
Lin Han explained the situation to Si Xu.
Everyone here started from RT0. They were selected from various fields and joined this research project voluntarily. Before entering this room, they had to sign a life-and-death agreement because no one could guarantee they would survive. The people chosen simply had a higher chance of survival than others, but they were still betting on those slim odds.
As long as someone could last for three minutes in this room—without dying, exploding, losing self-awareness, or showing signs of mutation—it meant their genes could handle the energy enhancement. Such people would be kept on as “reserves” for enhanced humans.
Reserves had to train in the room every day. Once their RT value exceeded 10 minutes, they would become a “potential enhanced human.” Potential enhanced humans would continue training, and once their RT value surpassed 20 minutes, they would become fully-fledged “enhanced humans.”
After becoming an enhanced human, they would gain a special ability, but each person’s genetic potential was different, so the abilities varied.
Only real enhanced humans possessed superhuman abilities.
All the enhanced humans, potential enhanced humans, and reserves combined numbered only a few dozen. They trained together every day and knew each other well. Never had anyone become an enhanced human without undergoing energy radiation.
Lin Han sighed deeply, “In the beginning, all of us had very low gene thresholds. To store more energy, we had to train daily, constantly pushing our limits to build up energy. Let me tell you, it’s no picnic.”
Lin Han chuckled, already sweating.
Si Xu frowned. This training method seemed cruel. He thought about the young man with cracked skin he’d seen earlier. What kind of pain must that be? If he’d stayed in there any longer, he might have literally exploded.
Lin Han tried to distract himself by talking. “Most of us here were recruited by this department, but a few of us came across it through other means. I’m one of the latter.”
Si Xu, being more familiar with this department’s secrecy, knew that for a few to find out, they either had enough connections to hear whispers or the department leaked the information intentionally.
“I came here to gamble with my life. I was in the late stages of bone cancer, practically waiting to die. My family tried everything, but nothing worked. Then somehow, they heard about this department. My mom told me the truth and let me decide for myself.
“I only had one thought: if there was even a sliver of hope, I couldn’t give up. I didn’t want to die, and I couldn’t bear to imagine how my mom would collapse if she lost me. My dad disagreed, afraid I’d never come out. But I insisted on trying. I figured I was already dying—whether from the disease or from radiation, it didn’t matter. But if I was one of the rare lucky ones, maybe the radiation would activate my healthy cells and destroy the cancer. Then, I’d survive, right?”
Lin Han grinned. “Turns out, I bet correctly. Otherwise, grass would already be growing over my grave…”
Lin Han’s limit soon approached, and his RT value froze at 00:13:06.
The same tall, thin man from before stood up and dragged Lin Han out, handing him over to the people outside before returning.
The tall, thin man was named Chen Xian, a veteran-enhanced human.
He asked, “Have you thought about joining us?”
Si Xu replied, “I’m considering it.”
The man paused for a moment. “You’ve seen the people outside. They’re potentially enhanced humans and reserves selected from across the country. They entered this room without dying or going berserk. Each one of them is a valuable asset.”
“True enhanced humans are even rarer—fewer than ten exist. Our research on enhanced humans started too late, and we’re already far behind others. If we don’t want to be suppressed in certain fields, we have to push ourselves to catch up. I hope you’ll join us.”
Si Xu said, “I’ll seriously consider it.”
Si Xu wasn’t opposed to joining a special force. His family had been in politics since his grandfather’s generation, and his father followed the same path. If not for his family’s indulgence, Si Xu would have entered politics instead of entertainment.
Chen Xian didn’t push further, knowing it was a personal decision that couldn’t be forced.
Chen Xian’s RT value was 00:37:59—just one second shy of 38 minutes. But that single second of threshold wasn’t easy to break. Forcing it could result in disastrous consequences, like exploding.
Chen Xian was helped out by another potentially enhanced human, leaving Si Xu sitting quietly in the room. As people were gradually taken out, Si Xu noticed that Chen Xian had the highest RT value.
When the room emptied, Si Xu still sat there.
He didn’t know how much time had passed. He was piecing together the entire situation. If he could display an RT value, did that mean the energy inside him was the same as the radiation here?
But he and Jiang Ge hadn’t undergone painful radiation training. If the energy was the same, where did the unknown energy in their bodies come from?
Si Xu didn’t need to think long to find the answer—the ingredients from the Demon Fish Restaurant.
The energy he felt after drinking the green plum wine was real.
Clearly, the ingredients Lin Jiu had access to were likely exposed to unknown energy radiation, absorbing it. When people consumed the ingredients, the unknown energy was absorbed by the body, making them feel extremely comfortable, with even some miraculous healing effects…
It seemed that the unknown energy in the ingredients wasn’t the same as the energy here.
At least Lin Jiu’s ingredients didn’t kill people; they provided excellent nutrition. The unknown energy here, however, could easily take lives…
Si Xu was momentarily confused, but he was certain that the ingredients Lin Jiu had access to were completely different from those outside.
His head throbbed faintly. Si Xu frowned—his body felt fine, only his head hurt.
He touched the small flask in his pocket, feeling as if it could help ease the headache.
Outside, everyone stared intently at the screen, unable to look away. They felt as though a long time had passed, but Si Xu had not yet reached his limit.
Their shock was mixed with fear—the unknown was the most terrifying. Two people who had never undergone radiation training had suddenly become enhanced humans, and they were so powerful. Were there others out there who had also mysteriously become enhanced humans?
If ordinary people could become enhanced humans on their own, then why had they endured the pain of radiation training?
Lu Yu was growing restless. Si Xu had been in there for too long, and he was worried something might go wrong. He wanted to call him out but also wanted to see just how high Si Xu’s RT value was. Anxious and expectant, Lu Yu paced back and forth.
“It’s here! He’s reached his limit!” someone suddenly shouted.
“How much? What’s the RT value?” Those at the back, unable to see the screen, were desperate.
“Holy—!”
“No way!”
“Is this a mistake? That RT value is impossible!”
“What is it? The suspense is killing me!”
Lu Yu froze when he saw the RT value, grabbing Shi Shuqing beside him.
“Take a look—am I seeing this wrong?”
Shi Shuqing looked again and again, finally confirming, “01:07:11.”
Lu Yu repeated in a daze, “One hour, seven minutes, and eleven seconds…”
Suddenly, Lu Yu became excited. “Isn’t that the RT value for a Phase Two enhanced human?”
Shi Shuqing nodded. “Yes, it’s for Phase Two.”
“Phase Two… Phase Two…” Lu Yu muttered twice before bursting into laughter. “This is amazing! We finally have a Phase Two enhanced human! What did that guy say last time?”
Shi Shuqing responded, “He said it would take at least three more years for us to develop a Phase Two enhanced human. By then, they would have more Phase Three superhumans than we had Phase Two enhanced humans.”
“See! That’s what happens when you jinx it—whoever says it, it backfires…”
Overjoyed, Lu Yu suddenly remembered, “Has anyone gone in to help him out yet?”
Everyone: “…”
They were so shocked that they had completely forgotten.
A group of people rushed toward the black room. Before they could get inside, Si Xu opened the door and walked out by himself.
Everyone: “…”
He was so independent—after achieving such an impressive result, he still managed to walk out on his own, unlike the others, who were always dragged out like lifeless bodies after reaching their limit.
Look at him—he’s a true star. Other than being a little pale, he didn’t seem the least bit disheveled.
Someone reached out to support him, but Si Xu declined.
His body was fine, just his head hurt and he felt dizzy. Walking out on his own was already his limit.
“Where’s the restroom?” he asked.
“This way, I’ll take you,” Jiang Ge squeezed through and helped the unsteady Si Xu.
As soon as Si Xu reached the restroom, he threw up.
“Ah Xu, are you okay? Is it really bad? Are you alright?” Jiang Ge, locked outside the door, was anxiously pacing in circles.
The others who had followed were also puzzled—Si Xu’s reaction was completely different from theirs.
When they reached their limit, they experienced excruciating pain, like their bodies were being torn apart.
Si Xu rinsed his mouth and face repeatedly, the cold water slightly easing the pressure in his throbbing head.
When he opened the door, he was met with a variety of concerned faces.
Lu Yu personally brought over a cup of a greenish, unknown liquid. “Use your ability, release some energy, and then drink this energy water to replenish what you’ve lost. You’ll feel better.”
Si Xu glanced around, unsure how to release his “telekinesis” ability. Should he grab someone?
His gaze landed on the scattered chairs, medical bed, and equipment. He used his ability to pull, push, and slide them—he slid the equipment to the wall, straightened the bed, and neatly moved the chairs back into place.
Everyone: “…”
Their Phase Two enhanced human, with the highest RT value so far, had this ability?
“This ability… doesn’t seem very strong?”
“With an RT value this high, and his ability is this?”
“He’s just releasing energy—it’s not his full strength, right?”
“But this kind of ability… looks like a support type. For such a high RT value, it’s kind of a waste…”
Si Xu’s hearing was sharp, and even though they were speaking quietly, he heard them clearly.
Lu Yu interjected, “This ability, when fully used, could be a powerful weapon. Imagine if, instead of chairs or a medical bed, he was controlling weapons—knives, attacking from all directions. What are the chances the target would survive?”
Everyone: “…”
Lethal.
“Your ability likely falls under the category of mental powers. These are the most complex and unpredictable and can easily cause issues. You need to be mindful of your emotional state.”
Lu Yu handed him the cup. Eyeing the murky, intimidating liquid, Si Xu hesitated. “What is this?”
Could this really be drinkable?
Lu Yu replied, “Juice made from spinach, celery, broccoli, and lettuce—all vegetables grown in an environment with unknown energy radiation. They contain unknown energy. Drinking it will replenish your depleted energy and nourish your body.”
“This is good stuff. Drink up.”
Si Xu: “…”
Si Xu: “Why not cook them? Why drink it like this?”
It was all food—Si Xu felt these vegetables deserved a more dignified fate, like being stir-fried.
Lu Yu: “We can’t cook them; the energy would be lost. Juicing them preserves the maximum amount of energy. After training, everyone only gets one cup.”
Si Xu: “…”
Si Xu: “No need, thank you.”
He absolutely would not drink something so terrifying!
Everyone: “…”
Someone eagerly raised their hand. “Captain, I can drink it for him!”
“I can too, I haven’t had my energy water today!”
“Me, me, me!”
“I want to drink it!”
Si Xu: “…”
Jiang Ge leaned over and whispered, “You’re wise not to drink it. The taste is… indescribable, and the texture… let’s not even go there.”
Lu Yu, with sharp ears and eyes, chimed in, “You’re complaining when you actually have some to drink? Do you know how hard it is to cultivate these energy vegetables? The researchers poured their heart and soul into repeatedly improving the seeds before they succeeded. I must remind you, if your body’s energy is too depleted and you don’t replenish it in time, you could die from energy exhaustion. This has happened many times, both domestically and internationally.”
Lu Yu spoke solemnly, “As enhanced humans when we use our abilities, we consume the unknown energy stored in our bodies. Only this unknown energy can replenish what we’ve used up. So, you need to get used to drinking this energy water. Drink!”
Si Xu: “…”
He was a bit curious. How did this energy water compare to Lin Jiu’s ingredients in terms of energy?
Si Xu took the cup and tried a sip.
Maybe to avoid wasting the energy-rich ingredients, the juice hadn’t been filtered, so bits of unbroken vegetable residue were mixed into the green liquid, making the texture unpleasant.
After one sip, Si Xu didn’t feel any energy at all. He decided to just gulp it all down. The mixture of various vegetables left an awful taste in his mouth, and his stomach felt heavy, like he might throw up at any moment.
He took out the small flask from his pocket, unscrewed the cap, and took a small sip, calming the discomfort in his stomach.
A cup of energy vegetable juice didn’t even compare to a single piece of Silver carp from Lin Jiu’s magical fish shop, and the energy in that small sip of fruit wine was leagues beyond the juice.
Lu Yu looked at him, puzzled. “You can drink alcohol?”
Si Xu glanced at the small flask. “Yes.”
Lu Yu: “It hasn’t changed flavor?”
Si Xu wasn’t sure. Would ordinary alcohol taste different after exposure to unknown energy radiation? If it did, then the fact that his drink hadn’t changed might make it quite special. If Zhou Mu noticed that Lin Jiu had given him this flask, it could easily expose Lin Jiu.
From the rules at the magical fish shop, it was clear Lin Jiu was trying to hide the truth about the ingredients, though not very successfully. Outsiders might not notice anything unusual about the food, but anyone here who ate there would immediately know it was different. So, it seemed unlikely Lin Jiu could completely conceal the nature of the ingredients.
Seeing Si Xu’s silence, Lu Yu’s gaze fell on the small flask. “Can I have a taste?”
“No,” Si Xu refused.
He knew the secret of the ingredients couldn’t be kept forever, but he would delay it as long as possible. Unless Lin Jiu chose to reveal it himself, Si Xu wouldn’t let Lin Jiu’s generosity become a burden for him.
Lu Yu stared at the flask for a moment. “That precious, huh? A gift from your girlfriend?”
From the crowd, Zhou Mu raised his hand. “I can vouch—it’s not from a girlfriend. It’s a gift from the owner of the magical fish shop.”
“Red Plum Wine?” Jiang Ge perked up in excitement. “Come on, give me a sip.”
Lin Jiu had said the Green Plum Wine wasn’t ready, so he had taken it away without letting them drink it. Therefore, the only wine Jiang Ge could think of was Red Plum Wine.
Si Xu clutched the flask in his hand, clearly refusing.
Lu Yu stared at Si Xu for a long time before saying, “You’ve seen how Zhou Mu has been watching the magical fish shop, right? He’s left no trace. He disappeared for an entire year, and he’s not a counter-surveillance expert, nor is he someone with that kind of specialized training. He’s just an ordinary singer who didn’t even finish college. So how did he manage to pull this off?”
Si Xu tightened his grip on the flask. “What are you trying to say?”
Lu Yu continued, “We suspect he’s not an ordinary person—either a genius with latent talents or, like you, already an enhanced human. Zhou Mu is watching the magical fish shop to find evidence. If we can see him use his abilities firsthand, we can confirm he’s an enhanced human. If not, he likely has a high potential to become one.”
Si Xu understood. “So this is how you choose your candidates?”
Lu Yu nodded. “Yes, we find people who already stand out in their daily lives, tell them about the existence of enhanced humans, and if they want to try, we welcome them. If they don’t, we don’t force them. They just sign a confidentiality agreement. After all, it’s a life-or-death decision only they can make.”
“Have you asked him yet?” Si Xu figured if they did ask, they might get an answer like, “I just want to run my shop” from Lin Jiu.
“Not yet. There are so many rumors about the magical fish shop—people say it can cure anything from menstrual cramps to blocked milk ducts to beauty issues. We’re curious if the food is really as miraculous as they say. We’ve tried to send people there, but we couldn’t even get a spot.” Lu Yu shrugged helplessly.
“I hear you go there often. What’s your take on it?”
Si Xu’s expression didn’t change. “Do you think I can experience things like menstrual cramps, blocked milk ducts, or beauty treatments?”
Lu Yu: “…”
Stifled laughter echoed around them.
Lu Yu coughed, trying to recover. “Other than that, do you notice anything?”
Si Xu pretended to think. “I’ve gotten hungrier. Does that count?”
“Exactly! Lin Jiu’s food is so good. I always try to tag along with Ah Xu.” Jiang Ge chimed in.
Si Xu shot him a cold look. “You can stop talking now.”
Jiang Ge: “…”
Jiang Ge muttered, “But it’s really delicious.”
Lu Yu looked between Si Xu and Jiang Ge. “So you guys go there often?”
Jiang Ge was about to answer, but noticing Si Xu’s gaze, he quickly shut his mouth.
Si Xu responded, “Not very often. Just occasionally.”
Lu Yu smiled at Si Xu. “No need to be so cautious. We’re a legitimate organization; we don’t do anything illegal.”
Si Xu: “There are plenty of things that aren’t illegal but still leave a lot of room to maneuver.”
Lu Yu could tell that Si Xu was protective of Lin Jiu and didn’t press further. Even if he asked, he wouldn’t get an answer, and even if he did, it might not be the truth. Whatever they wanted to know, they would investigate on their own.
Enhanced individuals were part of the Special Powers Security Management Department, and once someone joined, they became a full-time member.
Si Xu could join them, but he had one condition—he wouldn’t stay there for training. He was busy and didn’t have time to waste.
Lu Yu hesitated. “Training is essential to become stronger, to survive missions. I really suggest you participate.”
Si Xu: “Forget it. I don’t have much time left, so I can’t waste it here.”
Lu Yu: “…”
Lu Yu: “What do you mean, not much time?”
Si Xu pointed to his head. “There’s a tumor. Inoperable. I’m living day by day.”
Lu Yu: “…”
Immediately, Lu Yu took Si Xu for an examination.
The base had doctors, researchers, and advanced equipment, so diagnosing a condition was simple. After hearing the results, Lu Yu felt conflicted.
They had finally found a second-stage enhanced human, but he was sick. Lu Yu didn’t push Si Xu any further. He could come to the base anytime he wanted, and if he didn’t, it was fine. If they needed him, they would reach out.
Jiang Ge, seeing Si Xu join the department, felt a bit tempted himself. He had grown up in wealth, never lacking anything, and never thought he would become someone useful. But…
He had been ordinary for so long, suddenly becoming a superhero seemed impossible. He could only run fast, maybe had an RT (reaction time) value, but that was it. He couldn’t even beat the reservists here.
His abilities and potential RT value didn’t match up, so to protect his own life, Jiang Ge decided to remain an ordinary person.
He had learned how to control his abilities, and now it was just about mastering them. He and Si Xu left together.
Zhou Mu drove Si Xu and Jiang Ge back. The sun was already up—they had been at it all night.
Si Xu needed sleep, and Jiang Ge collapsed on the couch at Si Xu’s place and fell asleep.
—
That day, Lin Jiu headed to his shop as usual. As he passed by Chen’s Noodle Shop, he noticed a large truck parked outside, and people were unloading tables from it.
Lin Jiu found it strange and took a second glance.
Boss Sun, who was drumming up business for his hotel, noticed Lin Jiu’s curiosity and quietly explained:
“A while back when you went out to restock, a lot of people were gathering outside your shop every day. Chen’s Noodle Shop took advantage of the situation and launched a seafood noodle dish, priced pretty high. They claimed it was local seafood from Old Street, sourced from the same supplier as the others, guaranteeing freshness.”
Lin Jiu frowned. The only seafood shop on the whole street was his own Magical Fish Shop. Was Chen’s Noodle Shop implying they were using the same seafood?
That could only fool customers who hadn’t eaten at the Magical Fish Shop before. Anyone who had tried it would immediately know the difference.
“After that news got out, a lot of people waiting for your shop to open went over to try the seafood noodles. Some said the seafood wasn’t fresh, had sand in it, and wasn’t worth the price.”
“Chen Dong and his wife didn’t care at first. But later, someone who ate their seafood noodles went home and started vomiting and having diarrhea. They got a high fever and went to the hospital. The doctor said it was a bacterial infection. The family came back to the shop, demanding compensation, but Chen Dong’s wife, who’s pretty tough, refused to admit it was their seafood that caused the problem. They got into a fight, and during the scuffle, she accidentally knocked over an elderly woman eating noodles. The woman hit her head and started bleeding, losing consciousness on the spot.”
“Now it’s a big mess. Two people are in the hospital, and neither family is easy to deal with. The one who got sick reported Chen’s Noodle Shop to the health department. You know how it is—once they start inspecting a place like that, they’re bound to find problems. They’ve been ordered to close for renovations and pay fines.”
“The shop can’t stay open, and the Chen family has to cover both families’ medical expenses. If they don’t, they’ll face lawsuits. The elderly woman had a serious fall—she suffered a brain hemorrhage. She used to be healthy enough to come to Old Street on her own to enjoy the food. But after the fall, half of her body is paralyzed, and she can’t even speak properly. She’s still in the hospital.”
“As long as she isn’t fully recovered, that family won’t leave. Every day she’s in the hospital, Chen Dong and his wife have to pay. Even if they reopen the shop, no one wants to eat there anymore. They’re hemorrhaging money and are planning to sell the shop.”
Lin Jiu wasn’t concerned about Chen’s Noodle Shop, but he was intrigued by Boss Sun’s mention of “coming to Old Street for the food.”
Lin Jiu frowned. “What food did she come for?”
Boss Sun gave him an odd look. “Besides your Magical Fish Shop, what other place on Old Street could be considered a food destination?”
The Magical Fish Shop had already become synonymous with “Old Street cuisine.” Lin Jiu had his suspicions but didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
“The elderly woman’s family said she had long wanted to come and eat at your shop. Her driver brought her over, but when they found out the shop was closed, she was hungry. She heard that Chen’s Noodle Shop used the same seafood supplier, so she decided to try it. Who could’ve guessed something like this would happen…”
Boss Sun sighed, feeling sorry for the elderly woman.
Lin Jiu’s suspicions were confirmed, and he felt a mix of emotions. He thought of Old Man Lin, who had adopted him despite his children’s objections. This made him especially soft-hearted toward the elderly. The woman had been drawn to his shop but ended up suffering an undeserved misfortune. If she could still come back, Lin Jiu was willing to offer her special privileges.
After saying goodbye to Boss Sun, Lin Jiu went to his shop to prepare lunch.
Since implementing the new system, the customers had gotten used to Lin Jiu’s rules. When he said there were only five tables, he meant it. Even if they waited all day, no one could convince him to change his policy. Because of this, fewer people crowded outside. Once the five tables were filled, no one bothered waiting, knowing they wouldn’t get a meal no matter how long they stayed.
The five tables were already filled with customers, and Lin Jiu was waiting for them to finish.
The door opened again, and Lin Jiu thought it was Si Xu arriving. But instead, it was a tall woman wearing sunglasses. She was dressed in a professional outfit, her long curly hair flowing down her back. After surveying the shop, her gaze finally landed on Lin Jiu in the kitchen.
The woman walked up to the counter, took off her sunglasses, and stared directly at Lin Jiu. “Do you have time to talk?”
Lin Jiu: “…”
He hadn’t yet figured out how to refuse Jiang Xiwen, but here she was, coming to the store herself.
Lin Jiu invited her to a private room and brought over a glass of water.
Jiang Xiwen glanced around the room. “The decor is nice. It’s very cozy.”
Lin Jiu placed the water on the long wooden table. “Have you eaten?”
Jiang Xiwen set down her handbag and sat on the wooden chair. “Are you offering me a meal?”
Lin Jiu: “What would you like? I’ll prepare it.”
Jiang Xiwen teased him, “They say it’s nearly impossible to get a seat at Demon Fish Restaurant, and that the owner, Lin, is as unyielding as stone. He never breaks his rules. Are you going to make an exception for me?”
Lin Jiu: “The rules can’t be broken, but even the owner has personal biases.”
For the first time, Jiang Xiwen smiled. “I already ate, knowing how hard it is to find a spot here.”
“Sit down, let’s talk. You can share any thoughts you have with me.”
Lin Jiu sat across from her and, after a moment of silence, said, “I want to leave the industry.”
Jiang Xiwen had clearly anticipated this, so she wasn’t surprised to hear it.
“Is it because you’re unhappy with me as your new manager, or do you just want to leave the entertainment industry?”
“I’d already planned on leaving before I knew you were my new manager.” The company probably realized this, which is why they assigned Jiang Xiwen to manage him.
“You still have 11 years left on your contract. Have you thought about how much you’ll need to pay in breach of contract fees?” Jiang Xiwen took out a lady’s cigarette, held it between her lips, but remembering the “No Smoking” sign at the store entrance, she put it away.
“I’ve thought about it. Whatever the amount is, I’ll accept it.” Lin Jiu had mentally prepared for this.
“Any problem that can be solved with money is a small problem. The real issue is if the company doesn’t want to let you go and sets up impossible conditions.”
If Lin Jiu were still an unknown, the company might be eager for him to break the contract so they could pocket the penalty fees. But now, with his Black Star Pearls and Moyu Restaurant, both of which have gained significant fame, along with his rising popularity, the company is unlikely to give up on such a valuable asset.
“If they won’t let me go, then I’ll just wait it out. I’m not going to sing anymore.”
