Chapter 70: Allowed

Little Sun was the first to rely on his extraordinary physical strength to climb up from the basement stairs. Not long after, the others arrived as well. It was clear that being trapped in the elevator car had been an uncomfortable experience; most of those colleagues had beads of sweat on their foreheads, their faces flushed—not merely from the effort of climbing the stairs.

Learning that the situation upstairs was already under Huo Yan's control, and that Ning Shuyi had arranged everything that followed, everyone was both surprised and relieved of their earlier anxieties. After all, the plan had been perfectly set—who could have predicted an abrupt elevator malfunction, let alone being trapped for so long? If the entire operation had been derailed because of that, it would have been maddening.

On this floor was a psychotherapy studio called "Utopia." Previously, the music from "Truth or Dare in Love" had been a great help, masking the sounds of Huo Yan fighting five opponents alone. Now, with more people present and the ambulance still on its way, it was best to keep a low profile and not linger in the public corridor.

Ning Shuyi led everyone down the hallway. When they saw the aftermath of Huo Yan's "battle," they were astonished. If it weren't for this new colleague's usual aloofness and unfamiliarity with the group, they would have crowded around him with questions.

Among them, the older ones were more composed and reserved; their curiosity and surprise were kept hidden. Only Little Sun, fearless and unconcerned about how others responded, trailed after Huo Yan.

Huo Yan was clearly uncomfortable, burying himself in work and answering Little Sun's persistent questions with the briefest replies—using a single word where possible, or simply grunting assent.

Anyone else would have lost interest and wandered off, but Little Sun was unfazed, leaving Huo Yan the one struggling to escape his attention.

"What are you two talking about?" Ning Shuyi decided to rescue Huo Yan, walking over and patting Little Sun on the shoulder.

"We're talking about apprenticeship!" Little Sun's eyes shone with excitement. "I just told Master, from now on, I'll learn more from him and hone my skills. Then no vicious criminal will scare me!"

Huo Yan frowned, subtly shifting his body away from Little Sun and turning his face aside. "Don't call me Master. I never agreed to take you on."

"Master—no, Brother Huo!" Little Sun grew anxious at the rebuff, worried about displeasing Huo Yan. He quickly corrected himself, "Look, you don't talk much, and I do. We're complementary, isn't that great?"

"No," Huo Yan remained unmoved, glancing at Ning Shuyi. "I'm still under her guidance. I can't take on anyone else."

"Sister Ning!" Little Sun perked up immediately. "How about you take me on too? Or maybe I can transfer to your team?"

"No way!" Ning Shuyi pushed him aside with a joking tone. "I'll pretend I never heard your shameless words! If your Master Lao Lü finds out, he'll be heartbroken!"

"True, Lao Lü's been really good to me! One shouldn't be fickle. You're right, Sister Ning! Brother Huo, please accept my admiration from afar! I'll go help out over there!" Cheerful as ever, Little Sun was easily steered away by Ning Shuyi and dashed off with a joke and a laugh.

Ning Shuyi glanced at Huo Yan and noticed a wound on the rim of his right ear—shallow, but still seeping blood. It must have been inflicted during the earlier scuffle. Since the cut was small and hidden behind the ear, it had gone unnoticed in the rush.

"What happened to your ear?" she asked, pulling a bandage from her pocket and motioning for Huo Yan to crouch down. "To get your right ear, and from behind—that was a sneak attack, wasn't it? How shameless!"

"It's just a scratch. Don't worry about it," Huo Yan replied dismissively, but when Ning Shuyi tugged his arm, he crouched down anyway. "I was too focused on dodging the knife in front and left myself open elsewhere."

"People who dare smuggle contraband are indeed the most reckless and desperate!" Ning Shuyi pressed the bandage over the wound. Luckily, it wasn't deep and hadn't damaged the cartilage. "This will do for now. When we're back at the station, I’ll clean it with iodine. Your ear's all red!"

Huo Yan’s lips parted, as if to refuse, but the words stuck. He merely grunted in response.

Once she’d finished, Ning Shuyi straightened up. Huo Yan finally spoke: "That blond guy earlier—he threatened to stab you. Why didn’t you dodge?"

"What nonsense!" Ning Shuyi couldn’t help but laugh. "If I’d dodged and let him run off, the whole thing would have escalated! I meant to hold him off with this, but you were so quick!" She pulled out a pepper spray, showing him her secret weapon.

Huo Yan glanced at the canister, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips, though he suppressed it. "Small as you are, you’ve got quite the nerve."

Ning Shuyi sighed. "Today taught me a lesson. If not for your skills, we’d have been in real trouble. In emergencies, knowledge alone doesn’t cut it—you need real physical ability. Once things calm down, would you keep training me?"

Huo Yan didn’t reply, his silence answer enough. Someone called for help from the other end, and he strode off to assist.

Ning Shuyi wasn’t surprised by his reaction. After all, she’d just seen Little Sun turned down; she didn’t quite know why she’d blurted out her own request. Perhaps, after these days working together, she’d grown used to Huo Yan’s distant manner and felt less hesitant around him.

At least he hadn’t brushed her off as briskly as the others, whose requests he dismissed with effortless, irrefutable excuses.

About twenty minutes later, Ning Shuyi received a call from the ambulance company—they had arrived downstairs, and the elevator was nearly repaired. She hurried to the elevator to greet them.

First, she found Huo Yan to confirm whether the five suspects’ dislocations truly didn’t require hospital treatment. Receiving his firm assurance, she headed for the elevator.

"Wait a moment," Huo Yan called after her. "Alright." With those words, he turned and strode away, as though afraid he might change his mind.