"Morning, boss."
No. 444 was tidying up the shelves. When he saw Lu Yao and Lu Budu coming in from the door, he stopped what he was doing and bowed respectfully.
He has been at the Childhood Tuition Center for three or four days and has already mastered the job of a salesperson.
No. 444 is very enthusiastic about this job, perhaps because he had a hard time in the research institute when he was young. Whenever he meets customers coming to the canteen, he immediately becomes a social bull and especially enjoys chatting with customers.
The man, who was almost forty years old, had a somewhat dull face, was tall and thin, worked sincerely and enthusiastically, and was good at listening.
Within a few days, some regular customers would occasionally find time to talk to him.
When there were not many customers, No. 444 would sit on a rattan chair with Erxin in his arms and stare blankly. From a distance, he looked more like the owner of a convenience store than Lu Yao.
One day, Hu Jiao specially took a few photos of No. 444 and Er Xin, edited them and posted them on the official PO account, which actually caused a small wave of popularity.
[Suddenly I realized the charm of the uncle circle!]
[The uncle has a clean temperament, holding the fat cat, it's so real that the years are peaceful and quiet. ]
[I am busy and annoyed at work, but when I look at my uncle and the cat, I feel healed for some reason! ]
…
Hu Jiao showed the online message feedback to No. 444.
No. 444 was so ashamed that he scratched his head and said, "How can someone like me deserve such praise?"
Jiaohu frowned and disagreed, "Uncle, be more confident. Don't always belittle yourself. The customers all recognize you. Even Sister Xiaoxiao said that you are going to take her job away."
Hu Jiao had worked at the Super Energy Research Institute, and he felt very complicated when he looked at these experimental subjects.
They were once like ordinary people, and became experimental subjects for various reasons.
Now, even after leaving the research institute, they are unable to face themselves and cannot establish normal connections with the people around them. I am afraid this is the root of their pain.
However, No. 444 came to Sanhua City, found a job (temporarily), and with the help of Xie Molin and the sanatorium, rented an apartment next to Xie Molin's house.
His life has improved tremendously compared to where it was at the beginning.
The sanatorium called every day to inquire about the situation and confirmed that No. 444's condition had improved significantly, so they decided to send two more test subjects.
The experimental subjects that came this time were a man and a woman. The female experimental subject was numbered 222. Like No. 444, she was a survivor rescued from the previous collective incident.
After No. 444 left, No. 222 remained alone in the sanatorium, in a state of weakness and numbness both physically and mentally, and there was no sign of improvement.
The other male experimental subject was younger, looking less than 30 years old, and his number was 696.
He is as tall and thin as No. 444, but he is taciturn and doesn't talk much.
A doctor from a sanatorium came with the two of them. Since they were collaborating, it would not be good to just dump all the patients at the Childhood Tutorial Center.
In addition to assistance with procedures and funding, the sanatorium center sent people here to both confirm the status of No. 444 and to learn from the Childhood Tutorial Center.
The person who came this time happened to be the conference secretary that Xie Molin met last time he went back.
The secretary of the meeting is named Lin, with a single name "Xue". She is a young woman in her twenties.
Lin Xue was extremely curious about Lu Yao and was very enthusiastic when they met for the first time.
It was only after meeting Lu Yao that her attitude changed a little. She would occasionally secretly observe Lu Yao, as if thinking about something.
After a brief greeting between the two parties, Lin Xue also stayed at the Childhood Tutorial Center temporarily to help out.
No. 444 was very happy to see No. 222 and No. 696. When he was free at work, he would talk to them and share his life after coming to Sanhua City.
Although the two patients were very silent and rarely spoke, No. 444's enthusiasm remained unabated.
Lu Yao observed for a while and found that 222, 696 and 444 had different personalities. They were very introverted when they came to the cram school and had almost no curiosity about their surroundings.
Lu Yao called Lin Xue and Xie Molin to his office and told them his plan.
Lin Xue blinked and suppressed her intense heartbeat: "Are you saying to arrange a time travel for 222 and 696? Can it really be done? And is there any theoretical basis for this treatment plan?"
Recently, many netizens who claim to be tutors have appeared online and anonymously shared their childhood tutoring experiences. The childhood tutoring centers did not require the tutors to keep the tutoring content confidential, and some tutors did not shy away from sharing, so such things would more or less spread the word.
Many people don't believe it, but there are also quite a few people who are quite curious about the so-called time machine.
Lin Xue actually believes in the time machine theory. As researchers and therapists, they have come into contact with many cases and data related to super powers. They are well aware that super powers have appeared for more than 60 years and there are still many mysteries.
But experiencing it in person is another thing. When Lin Xue actually came into contact with the time machine, she still felt it didn't feel real.
She had never met anyone who used superpowers like this.
Lu Yao's idea was simple and crude: "Let them go to another place to relax. I can't guarantee the effect. Anyway, let's try to mobilize their emotions. For this reason, I want to locate the coordinates of this time travel to sixty years ago."
Lin Xue's heart moved: "You mean the era before super powers appeared?"
Lu Yao nodded.
Xie Molin had been sitting quietly by the side, but at this moment he couldn't help but say, "Shopkeeper, I also want to go to the world sixty years ago."
Lin Xue slammed the table and said excitedly: "I want to go too!"
When they were born, superpowers were already an integral part of the world.
But they all want to see how people lived in the distant past, before super powers appeared.
Lu Yao tapped the desk and nodded, "The time is set for two days later. Let's go to work now."
-----
In the afternoon, Xinxin came to the Childhood Tuition Center again and noticed that there were more people. He frowned and said, "Forget about the students. But with so many experimental subjects, is the boss also planning to do research on super powers?"
Lu Yao was sending a student out of school when he heard Xin Xin's complaint. He tapped her on the back of the head and asked, "Why did you come here alone, Miss?"
Xinxin crossed her arms over her chest and said, "Zhou Jing has an important auction event tonight."
After a brief explanation, Xinxin stepped forward and tried to tiptoe to get close to Lu Yao: "Shopkeeper, you are not cooperating with the research institute?"
Lu Yao took a step back, raised his eyebrows slightly, and did not answer. Instead, he said: "From your tone, it seems that you don't like the institute. Why?"
"I want to listen to it, too." Before Xinxin could reply, someone behind him interrupted her.
Lu Yao looked up and saw Xiaomei, No. 52, and a strange man - probably also an experimental subject - standing at the door.
Even if the researchers and experimental subjects were wearing casual clothes, their temperament and certain characteristics were different from those of ordinary people. Lu Yao could almost tell them apart at a glance.
It was Xiaomei who answered the question just now. Xinxin also recognized that this group of people were all from the research institute. He snorted lightly, without any intention of explaining, and walked into the tea room carrying a small box of snacks.
Xiaomei had a very good psychological quality and didn't feel embarrassed. She turned to Lu Yao and spoke naturally: "Auntie."
After saying hello, his eyes began to wander, looking everywhere for the child that Du Huoling had mentioned a few days ago.
Lu Yao pretended not to see it, turned around and led the three people to the cram school room: "Why are you here today?"
Walking into the cram school room, Xiao Mei saw Lu Budu sitting in the corner and murmured, "They really look exactly the same. When Senior Du said that, I thought he was exaggerating."
The man next to No. 52 also saw Lu Budu, and a hint of surprise flashed across his calm eyes.
Lu Yao thought Xiao Mei was saying that Bu Du looked like her, so he smiled and said, "Yes, he does."
Xiaomei couldn't help but look back and stared at Lu Yao in surprise for a while, then silently took out her phone: "Can I take a picture? He's so cute."
Lu Yao didn't care: "Then you have to ask Him."
Xiaomei had completely forgotten about today's business. She quickly walked up to Lu Budu and started chatting with the child.
No. 52 also noticed that the child looked familiar and was a little surprised, but he did not forget the business.
You have to know that they took a huge risk by making this trip.
If they fail, it will be difficult for them to have another chance to contact the store owner through normal means.
Number 52 pointed to the man next to him and introduced him: "Owner, this is number 10, my friend. He wants to learn about the childhood tutoring program."
Lu Yao followed No. 52's line of sight and looked at the man next to him. When their eyes met, his heart paused.
The extremely oppressive look made her feel inexplicably familiar, but after thinking about it, she couldn't remember where she had seen it.
Lu Yao stood up and invited No. 10 to his office for a detailed discussion and to do a childhood test.
In the office, No. 10 casually glanced at the paper handed to him, and when he reached out to take it, he touched the owner's fingers.
Lu Yao didn't care and handed over a pen.
Number 10's lips curled slightly, he took the pen and looked at the owner with a smile: "Is the time machine really a machine made by the owner using his super powers?"
Lu Yao had a strange feeling that this experimental subject was not ordinary and the number was particularly high, but he could not see any bad intentions at the moment. He nodded as an answer to the question.
Number 10 smiled, leaned forward slightly, looked directly into the shop owner's eyes with his light brown eyes, and said in a low voice: "Little-liar."
The guest suddenly said something strange that was distracting. If it weren't for the fact that his expression and tone were serious, which mostly dispelled the strange atmosphere, Lu Yao would probably have laughed out loud.
Even so, Lu Yao lowered his eyes and tried hard to hold back his smile. He took a breath, adjusted his mentality, and then continued, "What did you say?"
Number 10 raised his eyebrows and asked unhappily, "What are you laughing at?"
Lu Yao raised his hand and touched his face, and said innocently: "I smiled?"
Number 10 said with certainty: “He smiled.”
Not only did he laugh, he was also quite arrogant.
Like... treating him like a fool.
Lu Yao lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly: "Sorry, I just thought of something happy."
No. 10: “…”
Lu Yao calmed down and raised his head again, "Let's continue."
About ten minutes later, No. 10 walked out of Lu Yao's office with an unhappy look on his face.
He didn't end up signing up for tutoring and didn't even complete the childhood test form.
Lu Yao followed him out and stood at the door as usual, watching the three people leave.
After Xiaomei, No. 52 and the unhappy No. 10 got on the institute's special car, Lu Yao turned around and went back to the cram school.
"Has the guest left?" Bai Yi couldn't help but ask.
Among the customers personally received by the owner, very few leave immediately, and the one who just left had a very unhappy expression on his face.
Lu Yao shook his head with a look of regret: "Maybe it's my fault. I couldn't help laughing."
Bai Yi's gossip radar was beeping like crazy: "What's going on? What's the story?"
It was just the usual afternoon tea time, and Xie Molin and Jiao Huo came out of their respective offices, and even Bu Du moved over.
Lu Yao suppressed his smile and shook his head, "Nothing."
-----
Late at night, in the underground forbidden room of the Super Power Research Institute.
Number 52 tapped on the glass and stood in the shadows by the door. "How's it going?"
X opened her eyes and sat up slowly. Her eyes were as bright as a well. "She is indeed powerless. The fact that I cannot steal her power is the best proof."
"What's the matter with that time machine?" No. 52 was puzzled.
He took tutoring and was sure that the machine was not a fake.
X: "Maybe it was a device made by another superpowered person, and she just happened to get it. In any case, we need her for our plan."
No. 52: "What should we do next?"
X: "To be on the safe side, find a way to stimulate her. Make sure she never awakens her superpowers, and at the same time push her to our side."
-
In Sanhua City, in the work group of the Super Energy Research Institute, someone posted a photo of a child.
In the silent group late at night, it seemed as if a switch was suddenly turned on.
[Colleague No. 1: Huh? Is this An Yan when he was a child? ]
[Colleague No. 2: So cute, but it’s a pity that she turned into an iceberg when she grew up.]
[Colleague No. 3: Shasha, where did you get this photo? Professor An was so cute when he was a child.]
[Shasha: It’s not me. Xiaomei sent it this afternoon. Do you also think it looks like Professor An?]
[Colleague No. 4: What do you mean? Is he Professor An's relative? Cousin? Nephew?]
[Shasha: Probably not. Xiaomei said she met him at the childhood cram school, and he seemed to be the son of the cram school owner.]
…
When Xiaomei returned to the research institute in the afternoon, she felt groggy and couldn't muster any energy.
I went home after get off work and fell asleep immediately, completely unaware that I had been completely betrayed by my good colleague.
When she woke up in the morning and looked through the messages in the group chat, she found that the issue had already been discussed for hundreds of floors.
An Yan must have seen it too.
But he hasn't responded yet.
Xiaomei lay on the bed, just wanting to buy a standing ticket to leave Sanhua City overnight.
She must have been out of her mind yesterday, otherwise why would she tell that big mouth Jiang Shasha gossip about Professor An and send her Bu Du's photo.
An Yan also saw the messages in the group when he woke up in the morning. He glanced at Bu Du's photo with an indifferent look on his face, and casually scrolled down with his fingers, reading ten lines at a glance, extracting key words.
[Professor An's child?]
[Is Professor An married? Is his partner the boss of a cram school? ]
[Divorced? Professor An hasn't gotten custody yet? ]
[Tsk, how miserable.]
…
An Yan raised his hand and gently pinched his eyebrows.
It's just a prop, but it looks so much like her.