A Special Person

"Why did you even agree to something like this?"

As they strolled through a Chinatown street, Meg glanced at Simon with mild curiosity.

Ahead of them, Chuck and Morgan were playfully bickering, while Sarah watched in amusement.

Simon chuckled. "Sometimes, it's fun to mix things up. A different kind of date, don't you think?"

Meg shrugged. "As long as you're happy."

"Oh, by the way," Simon suddenly added. "Make sure to eat a lot tonight."

Meg frowned. "Why?"

"Because pretty soon, you're going to have to say goodbye to all that greasy food." Simon smirked mysteriously.

Meg immediately narrowed her eyes. "What are you up to?"

"Since you want to be a cop, you need the right skills. And I don't just mean book knowledge—I mean physical ability."

"Combat training?" Meg asked hesitantly.

Simon nodded. "Exactly. Arresting criminals isn't just about paperwork—you might have to fight, or even be in a gunfight. So I'm going to personally train you."

Meg pretended to shiver. "Sounds terrifying."

Simon's expression turned serious. "Don't take this lightly. I support your choice, but I won't let you walk into danger unprepared. I'm going to be strict, Meg. If you can't meet my standards, I hope you reconsider your path."

Seeing Simon so firm, Meg nodded solemnly. "I'll stick with it—I promise."

"Good."

---

Morgan's Secret Chinatown Spot

Arriving at Morgan's chosen restaurant, the group found the front door locked.

"Morgan, are you sure you made a reservation?" Simon asked.

"Of course!"

"So… what now? Should we just eat somewhere else?" Chuck suggested.

Morgan grinned smugly. "You guys are in luck—I have connections. Follow me."

The group followed Morgan to the back of the restaurant, entering through a small staff-only entrance into the busy kitchen.

"Wait here—I'll be right back," Morgan said before hurrying over to speak with a chef.

While waiting, Simon and Chuck both happened to notice something on a waitress's wrist—a distinctive tattoo.

Then, suddenly, Simon's mind triggered a flash—a flood of classified files appeared in his memory.

Chen Meiling. Chinese intelligence operative.

At the same time, Chuck froze, as he too had flashed.

"Oh my God! That waitress—she's—" Chuck cut himself off mid-sentence, realizing he had just spoken out loud.

Sarah immediately noticed his reaction.

"Chuck," she said calmly. "Walk with me to the bathroom."

"Uh—yeah! Sure! We'll, um… be right back."

Chuck and Sarah quickly slipped away.

Meg frowned in confusion. "What's up with those two?"

Simon smirked. "You know how it is—new couples can be pretty impulsive."

Meg's eyes widened in realization. "Ohhh! I get it!"

Simon suppressed a chuckle, letting her misinterpret the situation.

---

Training Begins

The next morning, at 5 AM, Simon parked outside Meg's house.

He called her phone. "Wake up. Get dressed."

Thirty minutes later, a grumpy Meg in workout clothes stomped over to him.

"Why does this have to be so early?" she complained.

"Because it does."

Simon led her through a half-hour warm-up, then they ran laps through a nearby park.

Luckily, as a cheerleading captain, Meg's stamina wasn't bad—though by the end of the hour, she was slightly out of breath.

"Not bad," Simon said approvingly. "Your endurance is solid."

Meg smirked. "Of course! Our cheer team's training is just as tough as the football team's. As captain, I have to push myself even harder."

"You work hard, I'll give you that. But if you really want to be strong, you'll need more than just stamina."

Simon stood up and offered his hand. "Come on, we're starting today's lesson."

---

The Right Martial Art

At an open training space in the park, Simon faced Meg.

"Most martial arts emphasize strength and power, which puts women at a natural disadvantage."

Meg raised an eyebrow. "So… what do I do?"

"There are exceptions," Simon continued. "Some fighting styles prioritize technique over brute force. Those will be your focus."

He held up one finger.

"First—Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This is all about leverage and control, perfect for overcoming bigger opponents."

A second finger.

"Second—Judo. It uses an enemy's momentum against them. Efficient, fast, and effective."

A third.

"Third—Karate. Specifically, the Shorin-Ryu style, which is more fluid and better suited for smaller fighters."

And finally, a fourth.

"Lastly—Chinese martial arts." Simon smiled. "Ba Gua Zhang and Wing Chun. One is about fluid counterattacks, the other was literally created by a woman to counter stronger foes."

Meg's eyes sparkled with interest.

"Which one do I learn?" she asked eagerly.

"I'll focus on Wing Chun and Ba Gua—they'll be your core. Judo and Karate, I'll teach you the basics, just in case."

Simon then demonstrated a full Wing Chun routine, followed by a flowing Ba Gua sequence.

Meg watched in awe.

"That's so cool!" she gasped.

After a moment of thought, she said, "I think I want to learn Wing Chun. It looks more defensive and less… aggressive."

"Alright," Simon nodded, pleased with her decision. "We'll start with the foundation—the Siu Nim Tao form."

---

A New Routine

For the next hour, Simon carefully guided Meg through the fundamentals.

The advantage of Wing Chun was that it didn't require years of tedious stance training—each motion was practical from day one.

With Simon's patient teaching and Meg's eagerness, time flew by.

Finally, Simon called it. "Alright, that's enough for today."

Meg collapsed onto the grass, exhausted.

"Starting tomorrow," Simon continued, "you'll wake up at 5 AM for warm-up runs, then Wing Chun practice. During your free time, review everything I teach you."

Meg groaned. "I'm starting to think I don't have enough hours in the day."

Simon smirked devilishly.

"Time," he said, "is like the space between your cleavage—you can always squeeze some more out."