Chapter 202: We are all stunned.

When they reached the basement corridor, the streetlights inside were not very dense. Each door stood around, and in the dim light, it was a bit eerie.

"When we bought the house, we were required to purchase a corresponding storage room. There was no way to opt out."

"Is that so?"

"When I was little, I got scared once when I came here to get something.

Now, every time I come here, I feel anxious, but with you here today, I don't feel that way at all."

"Hmm."

They walked a few meters, turned inside, and arrived at the corresponding number to the house.

Su Qingwan went over to open the door. A faint damp smell came from inside. It was pitch black, and nothing could be seen.

"I'll turn on my phone's flashlight."

"Hmm."

Xu Lin started his breathing exercise. After a few breaths, even before Su Qingwan could turn on her phone light, the surroundings were already a bit brighter.

Although it wasn't clear enough to see everything, it was enough to notice the outlines of large objects and avoid bumping into them.

Xu Lin increasingly felt that the things the system gave him were too fantastical. Whether it was the light footwork, the breathing exercises, or the newly acquired alchemy skills, they all felt very martial arts-like.

At this moment, Su Qingwan also turned on the light, discovering that Xu Lin had already walked inside on his own. She quickly followed after him.

"Don't trip."

"No worries. This room must be nearly 3 meters high, right?"

"About that."

Xu Lin glanced at the ceiling, noticing there were no ladders, chairs, or tables around.

"Damn, I forgot. Uncle Zuo next door borrowed the ladder."

"It's okay, I can use this packing box."

"Don't step through it and fall."

"Relax, would a running champion trip?"

"You're just bragging."

"Alright, let me try. If it doesn't work, I'll get a stool."

"Be careful."

Xu Lin moved the box over and jumped onto it. He reached up, just able to touch the ceiling.

"Here's the bulb. Be careful, the power isn't off."

"Okay."

Xu Lin took the bulb, unscrewed the old one, and screwed in the new one. Instantly, the storage room lit up brightly.

Xu Lin momentarily forgot, and the sudden brightness dazzled him. He slipped and fell backward.

As his blurred vision cleared, he realized he was about to crash into Su Qingwan. He quickly adjusted his falling direction and hit the ground beside her with a thud.

"Xu Lin!"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Xu Lin immediately sat up, enduring the pain as his vision returned to normal.

"I told you to be careful."

Su Qingwan frowned, gently feeling his back with both hands.

"It's nothing."

"You should have let me catch you."

"Then we'd both be hurt. I can't let you get hurt."

"What a little show-off, trying to act cool in front of your teacher~"

Su Qingwan pouted again. Xu Lin noticed she liked to do this, looking very cute.

"Teacher, do you know you look adorable today?"

"I just let myself go a bit today, showing my true but somewhat immature self."

"Maturity has nothing to do with being adorable."

"But being adorable all the time doesn't help with managing the mischievous troublemakers in the class."

"Then just be adorable to me."

"Are you trying to say something cheesy?"

"Haha, no no, it's sincere."

Afterward, the two of them cleaned up the storage room, which had become so messy there was barely any space to stand.

"It's almost 10 o'clock now. Why don't you stay over at my place tonight?"

"No, that wouldn't be appropriate. It's my first time coming to my girlfriend's place, I shouldn't stay over."

Xu Lin had discussed this before his rebirth with a college classmate. Even if you're living together with your girlfriend, you should never stay over the first time you visit her parents' home, unless you're from out of town and it's offered by them.

"It's about respect, for your girlfriend and her parents. It's actually very important."

"Then let me at least drive you back."

"I'll just take a cab. It's safer for you, especially as a girl driving at night."

"It's okay."

They opened the door and walked out, and a man emerged from the storage room opposite.

He smiled at them and walked towards the outside. Su Qingwan glanced for a moment, then suddenly widened her eyes.

"Wait, that storage room belongs to Uncle Zhou's. He doesn't have children, just him and Aunt Zhou. That person is definitely..."

But before she could finish, the man suddenly lifted his leg and ran outside!

"It's a thief!"

Su Qingwan shouted, and Xu Lin immediately dashed out!

"I'm the top student, where do you think you're going!"

Xu Lin closed in on the man quickly, but the man was smart, knocking over several electric bikes and bicycles in the hallway, slowing down Xu Lin. Xu Lin then activated his light footwork technique, swiftly gliding along the side wall.

The man was startled and fell in front of the unit's exit. Xu Lin quickly pinned him down with a knee on his back and restrained his arms.

"Let me go!"

"Who are you? Stealing?"

"I didn't steal anything!"

"Then why run? We'll talk when the police arrive!"

"Let me go, Lao Liang!"

At his words, Xu Lin paused, feeling a sharp sensation behind him!

He swiftly dodged as a cold glint slashed through the air!

But due to his earlier fall, his movement wasn't as agile, and Xu Lin felt a sharp pain in his side!

"Ah!"

He gritted his teeth and retaliated with a punch directly on the man's wrist, causing the knife to slip from his grasp!

Filled with anger, Xu Lin forcefully kicked the man's shin!

With a crack, the man collapsed, screaming in pain!

The man who had been pinned down initially now tried to run. Xu Lin turned around and kicked him in the stomach.

"Ah!!"

Xu Lin also rushed forward and stomped fiercely on the man's foot, followed by a fierce roar, completely eliminating any chance of escape.

The two men howled in pain as they lay on the ground. Xu Lin walked over, stepped on the knife, breaking it directly, and kicked the blade aside.

Su Qingwan also rushed out and, seeing the bloody knife and two men on the ground, was momentarily stunned.

"Xu Lin, are you alright..."

"I'm fine, call the police."

"I've already called Sister Qin!"

"Good."

Xu Lin took a deep breath, leaned against the wall, hurriedly took off his overcoat, and discovered that the right side of his blue shirt underneath was stained red.

"Xu Lin! You're injured... I'll call emergency services immediately!"

Su Qingwan looked at Xu Lin's shirt, immediately crouched down nervously, trembling as she picked up her phone and started dialing.

"Don't, it's okay. It's not serious."

"Is this not serious?!" She growled softly, tears streaming down her face.

"It's fine, really, look."

Xu Lin lifted his shirt and glanced at it, realizing it was just a flesh wound, a bit long but nothing serious, just needed some clinic treatment.

"It's just a scratch."

"Don't show me, it's scary." Su Qingwan's eyes turned red, but seeing Xu Lin's reassurance, she put down her phone.

"Alright, alright, I might have been a bit heavy-handed, might have broken their legs, let's wait for Qin Yunhe."

"Mm."

"Sorry, I got the clothes you bought me dirty." Xu Lin glanced at the coat on the ground.

"Silly, I'll buy you more next time."

After waiting just a few minutes, Qin Yunhe rushed in, followed closely by a young man.

Seeing the two men lying on the ground and Xu Lin sitting against the wall, she was momentarily stunned. Weren't they supposed to be thieves?

Qin Yunhe took a few steps forward. When she noticed the bloodstains on Xu Lin's clothes, instantly forgot everything, and ran straight over.

She pulled open Xu Lin's shirt, took a glance and then breathed a sigh of relief. After that she opened her arms, and hugged Xu Lin tightly!

"Thank goodness you're okay, thank goodness... You scared me, you rascal."

Accompanied by Qin Yunhe's slightly teary voice, Xu Lin in her arms and her best friend Su Qingwan beside them, both were left dumbfounded.