A few elite students from class A had just left when Xu Jie hurried in.
Seeing Gu Ya sitting calmly at his seat, he felt a bit puzzled. Why wasn't Gu Ya nervous at all? It was only natural that the elites from class A would seek him out for a match, and he should be very apprehensive.
"Gu Ya, I heard you didn't agree to a match?" Xu Jie walked over and asked.
Gu Ya grunted, not intending to pay any attention to Xu Jie.
"What are you thinking? Once class A targets you, they'll keep chasing you until you agree to a match."
"Especially Shao Yang, he's a monster. He's very cautious, stubborn, and most importantly, incredibly strong! Even I have to yield to them," Xu Jie said in a lowered voice.
"What does that have to do with me?" Gu Ya smiled.
Xu Jie was taken aback by Gu Ya's forced smile. Gu Ya was clearly mocking him for being a coward.
Fine, Gu Ya, you dare to laugh at me. Just you wait, Xu Jie thought to himself.
Gu Ya got up and left the classroom, not forgetting to say, "Training continues today."
The rest of the day passed without incident.
After school, Xu Jie went directly to class A. As soon as he entered, he was stopped at the door by Fei Ming.
"You've got the wrong classroom, classmate," Fei Ming said, staring at Xu Jie.
Xu Jie smiled kindly and said, "Gu Ya asked me to tell you that he challenges your class A to a match tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yu's interest was immediately piqued. He shouted loudly, "Go back and tell Gu Ya! We'll definitely be there tomorrow. Who's afraid of whom!"
Xu Jie smiled and said nothing, then turned and left.
He didn't leave the school but went directly to the mecha training ground, found the mecha Gu Ya often piloted, and got in.
"Hehehe, Gu Ya, let me help you out," Xu Jie said with a wide, happy smile.
Gu Ya and Liu Feng walked home together, the setting sun casting their shadows long on the ground.
After spending a few days together, Gu Ya truly felt that Liu Feng was a good kid.
Especially his cheerful smile, which was infectious, and he was completely guileless, treating Gu Ya with sincerity.
This felt like how classmates and friends should be.
Liu Feng said, "Gu Ya, you said you'd tell me stronger secret techniques when you got back!"
Gu Ya remembered what Old Man Gan said and replied, "Since I'm not dead yet, I'll try even harder."
"That's it?" Liu Feng felt Gu Ya was tricking him. He had expected Gu Ya to offer specific methods.
"That's it," Gu Ya said as if laying his cards on the table.
Liu Feng nodded and said, "Alright, starting tonight, we'll double our training! Shall we go for a 6-kilometer night run?"
Gu Ya immediately refused, "Uh, I have to tutor my sister tonight. Uh. You go practice on your own first."
Liu Feng then learned that Gu Ya had a sister and said with a smile, "Gu Ya, bring your sister sometime, and I'll treat you to a meal."
Gu Ya nudged him and said, "You can treat, but don't get any ideas about my sister."
"Hehe, I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," Liu Feng scratched his head and smiled apologetically.
The two parted ways at a fork in the road. Gu Ya watched Liu Feng walk away before following.
In the morning, he saw on his communication bracelet that a repair shop was hiring, and the hourly wage was quite decent. He wanted to try.
Walking on the flat, wide street, Gu Ya felt much better.
He looked at the orderly flow of suspended vehicles speeding through the sky, the people on the streets wearing vibrant, colorful clothes, and the holographic neon billboards that were still brilliant under the sunset.
Gu Ya finally realized that in the many days since he had transmigrated, he hadn't truly seen what this city looked like.
In his memory, the air was filled with the stench of sewage, the alleys were dark and narrow, and the neighborhoods were dilapidated.
Gu Ya admired his surroundings as he walked and wasn't in a hurry. After about half an hour, he found the shop that was hiring.
Gu Ya looked around the entrance before walking into the repair shop.
Not far behind him, a young man wearing a baseball cap with his collar turned up to cover half his face slowly turned his head and stared at the repair shop Gu Ya had entered for a long time.
Then, he took off his baseball cap, lowered his collar, and tidied his hair, revealing a pair of clear eyes.
He crossed the street and walked towards the repair shop.
Just as Gu Ya was talking to the owner of the repair shop, the door was pushed open, and Shao Yang walked in.
"What a coincidence," Shao Yang greeted Gu Ya calmly.
Gu Ya was stunned, not expecting to encounter Shao Yang here.
"Are you here to apply?" Shao Yang asked again.
Gu Ya began to suspect he was being followed, so he said faintly, "Yes."
Shao Yang smiled and said to the owner, "Do you still need people? I'd like to apply too."
The owner hadn't expected two applicants in one day. His small shop felt truly honored.
The owner quickly said, "We need people, hehe. You get paid by the piece, and the working hours are flexible. But once you take a job, it must be completed that day."
Gu Ya said, "Alright, boss, I'll come tomorrow."
Shao Yang also indicated that he would come tomorrow.
The two left the repair shop at the same time and parted ways at the entrance.
Gu Ya also felt puzzled. Shao Yang didn't seem like a child from a poor family.
The fact that he wanted to work odd jobs was suspicious in itself.
Could it be that he had his sights set on Gu Ya?
Was it because of Gu Ya's evasive move yesterday?
Gu Ya felt a pang of regret. He had been very careful, yet he still let the other party catch a slight flaw.
Speaking of which, this young man named Shao Yang was incredibly cautious to the point of being speechless.
Even a small movement could make him suspicious, and he actively created opportunities to approach Gu Ya.
No, not just cautious, he also had a strong desire to compete.
He didn't want to be defeated by any potential factor.
"I'll have to be more careful from now on," Gu Ya murmured to himself.
Since returning from the mecha bounty battle, Gu Ya felt overwhelmed with things to do.
One was his studies, and the other was earning money to support his family.
There was also what Ling Ling had said about his and his sister's background.
And now, there was Shao Yang.
In fact, there was one more thing that kept lingering in Gu Ya's mind.
That was the Mecha Guard of Wuhe City.
Ever since Old Man Gan mentioned that name, and the nature and philosophy of this team, it had been like a seed planted in Gu Ya's heart.
A team composed of mecha masters with pure faith, fighting to protect Wuhe City.
This itself was right up Gu Ya's alley.
"I still need to ask Old Man Gan when I have time."
Gu Ya was lost in thought and looked up to find that he had already walked to the dark alley leading to the slums.
"Youyou must be hungry."
For some reason, whenever Gu Ya reached the entrance of this alley, he would unconsciously think of his sister and the comfort she brought him.
Gu Ya quickened his pace and headed in the direction of home.
As soon as Gu Ya entered the alley, Shao Yang appeared at the alley entrance.
He covered his nose, enduring the penetrating stench, and hesitated at the alley entrance for a long time before finally giving up.
"I'll make a conclusion after tomorrow's match."