America: I came here to study, not to show mercy.

Chapter 274 India, Departure

Friday evening at 7 pm.

Li Xiaoen returned to her dormitory from the company early, quickly washed up, packed a change of clothes and some unimportant items into her backpack, slung it over her shoulder, and headed towards the school gate.

The backpack is very light, so it doesn't matter if you lose it.

Whenever he travels like this, his "containment space" always provides him with the greatest protection and convenience. This was the case when he went to England last time, and it was the same when he went to India this time.

Why do I feel like I'm busy traveling all over the world right now?
Li Xiaoen couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he met Professor Phyllis and Amelia, who had arrived earlier, at the door.

Good evening, Professor Phyllis.

With light steps, Li Xiaoen approached under their gazes, smiling and raising his hand in greeting, "Oh, and Amelia too..."

"Sean, you look really handsome today."

Perhaps because he was on a business trip abroad today, and it was for a collaboration on a recently completed project, Professor Phyllis was in a good mood. He responded with a smile, and when he saw the young man push up the black sunglasses he was wearing on his forehead, he couldn't help but joke, "I have to say, sunglasses are really suitable for going out."

Judging from the young man's outfit and demeanor, he seemed to be the same as usual. Today, he was only wearing sunglasses, which gave him a relaxed and carefree look, making his already handsome face even more eye-catching—even for someone like him who was not heterosexual.

"Of course, this is essential equipment for home, travel, and even for underworld agents."

Li Xiaoen smiled and raised an eyebrow, tilting his head down to lower the sunglasses from his forehead to his eyes. He raised his hand to straighten them, and when he removed his hand again, he was holding a new pair of sunglasses, which he handed to Professor Phyllis.

"Professor Phyllis, thanks to the extra pair of sunglasses I brought, consider this a return gift for what you did for me on this trip."

"Was this prepared for me in advance?"

Professor Phyllis exclaimed in surprise, then smiled and took the item, putting it on his eyes. He looked around curiously before waving his hand dismissively, "No need to be so polite, Sean."

"The expenses for this trip can actually be reimbursed by the school."

Li Xiaoen simply smiled and nodded, without replying.

That being said, the money could be reimbursed, but according to the arrangements he was told, the three of them would be received and guided by Professor Phyllis's friends in India afterwards, and the favors involved were not easily quantifiable.

Moreover, there was only a pair of sunglasses on either side.

Unbeknownst to him, this was yet another instance of him receiving a favor from his professors. During his studies in America, he had received considerable help from teachers and professors, whether intentionally or unintentionally. While his own excellence certainly played a part, this did not prevent him from feeling grateful.

"Um……"

After getting a little familiar with the scene before him, Professor Phyllis noticed that Amelia beside him had her eyes downcast and was not saying a word, as if she was lost in thought. She turned her head and gestured for Li Xiaon to look back at her.

The young man casually put his hands in his pockets, his head wandering around, whether intentionally or not, he didn't glance in Amelia's direction, and her expression gradually became strange.

If she still couldn't see the awkwardness between the two young people, she would have lived in vain all these years.

"You two should have a chat..."

Professor Phyllis glanced at the two of them with amusement, then turned around, took out her phone, and walked towards the door. "I'm going to check if Uber has arrived yet."

It was already late April, and everything in West Jersey was coming back to life. The refreshing evening breeze felt invigorating.

The deep night sky was dotted with a few bright stars. The cool evening breeze and the relaxed atmosphere, along with his backpack and preparation for the trip, suddenly gave him a sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of his high school days when his school organized a camping trip.

Seeing the young man with his hands on his hips, leisurely turning around to look at the scenery on campus, Amelia frowned slightly, rolled her eyes, and turned away, unwilling to look at him again.

She had intended to grab her suitcase and follow Professor Phyllis, but considering the professor's possible suspicions that she might be trying to cover up, she pursed her lips and suppressed the urge.

"what happened?"

Suddenly, a voice called out in her ear, startling Amelia so much that she shrank back. She quickly took two steps back and glared at the young man who had appeared behind her at some point.

"What are you doing? You scumbag!"

"I'm wondering if there's something on my face?"

Li Xiaoen smiled and shrugged, "Why don't you want to look at me?"

"Oh, it's not because I didn't prepare sunglasses for you, is it?"

"unnecessary!"

Amelia gritted her teeth, slowly exhaled, and flatly denied it, "I don't care what you give me, you scumbag!"

After saying that, she rolled her eyes again, pulled her suitcase, and turned in another direction.

Okay, this brings up his reputation as a scumbag again.

Li Xiaoen shrugged helplessly, but still took out a pair of sunglasses that he had prepared in his storage space earlier, unzipped them and put them on Amelia's forehead from behind.

"Okay, no more playing."

Li Xiaoen said calmly, "Giving a gift to only one of the two girls, leaving the other feeling disappointed, is not my style."

After saying that, before Amelia could awkwardly take off her sunglasses, Li Xiaoen walked towards the school gate.

"You can throw it away if you want, it's not important anyway."

Li Xiaoen waved his hand and said to Amelia behind him, "I've already given them to you, so you naturally have the right to dispose of these sunglasses."

Actually, there was also a pair of sunglasses in the [Containment Space]. Sunglasses can be extremely useful at times, and he had always considered them as strategic resources, so he had stored several pairs in advance for unforeseen circumstances.

"..."

Watching the young man's retreating figure, Amelia narrowed her eyes, glanced down at the sunglasses in her hand, and took a deep breath.

If Li Xiaoen were watching, she would have thrown it away no matter what. But now that the young man was letting her do whatever she wanted without even glancing at it, she hesitated.

After much hesitation, Amelia finally put away her sunglasses and placed them in her backpack before pulling her suitcase and following Qing Li Xiaoen.

The two walked out of the school gate one after the other. Professor Phyllis looked up from his phone, glanced at the two of them from left to right, and then looked at Amelia’s face and forehead. He turned back silently and gave Sean Lee a meaningful look.

"Sean, as a boy, you should be more generous and proactive in situations like this, and stop being so playful..."

Professor Phyllis couldn't help but offer a word of warning. Turning his head away, his gaze shifting from Amelia's small face and forehead, Lee Shawn shrugged, neither paying attention nor offering any explanation.

Seeing this, Professor Phyllis sighed helplessly, then glanced at Amelia, who turned her head away in a huff. He shook his head and sighed, no longer bothering with the emotional entanglement between the two young people.

It seems that Sean has some ambiguous relationships with other girls at school.

Suddenly recalling what she had heard at the beginning of the semester, Professor Phyllis subconsciously observed the two of them again, and finally understood their awkwardness.

Why did Professor Phyllis turn around and glare at him for no apparent reason?
Li Xiaoen raised his eyebrows.

The trip was arranged by Professor Phyllis and took about sixteen hours. By the time they arrived at Delhi Airport, it was already around 10 p.m. the next day.

Despite being tired from their journey, the three of them took a deep breath and stretched as soon as they got off the plane, picked up their luggage, and stepped out of the station.

The first thing people noticed was the large crowd walking inside the airport. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the three figures attracted the attention of many.

Having been to India before, Professor Phyllis was already familiar with the scene here. He turned around and looked at Amelia with concern, noticing that a pair of sunglasses covered most of her small face, and couldn't help but pause for a moment.

Professor Phyllis removed the sunglasses from his forehead, checked them to make sure they were the same style, and then nodded with a smile.

"Sean..."

Recalling his own advice to young people when he was still in school, Professor Phyllis pondered for a moment, then nodded affirmingly to Li Xiaoen, "You did a good job."

"..."

What is this professor thinking about?

Li Xiaoen frowned slightly and gave a strange smile after being praised again for no apparent reason.

Stepping past the wall of air blasting downwards from the air conditioner at the entrance, upon exiting the airport, they were greeted by an indescribable stench, causing all three to frown uncomfortably.

Professor Phyllis was alright, but Sean Lee and Amelia frowned. Amelia even coughed uncomfortably twice and quickly covered her mouth and nose with her hand.

"This is the kind of environment we have here. When we go to the wealthy area, the air will be better there."

Professor Phyllis looked at the two of them with concern and took out a box of wet wipes from her backpack. "Now, let's use these wipes to clean up and protect ourselves."

Amelia reached out and took a bag, but then saw another mask being handed to her beside her. She looked up in surprise and saw Sean Lee.

"Sean, you even prepared masks?"

Raising an eyebrow, Professor Phyllis took a mask from Li Xiaon's hand, smiling and nodding repeatedly, "Looks like you did your research, huh? Very thoughtful and reliable, no wonder so many girls like you..."

"I'm preparing face masks, not to make girls like me."

Shrugging, before Amelia could reach out and take it, Li Xiaon grabbed the girl's hand and shoved one into her hand. Then, while unfastening one and putting it in front of his face, he raised his chin and said, "I'm always prepared for a zombie apocalypse, being stranded on a deserted island, or even the end of the world."

"okay."

The young man spoke with increasing enthusiasm and exaggeration, but Professor Phyllis neither called him out nor questioned him. Instead, she smiled and nodded in agreement, "Then when that day really comes, Sean, you must remember to help me..."

This is something I don't believe at all.

Understanding the meaning on Professor Phyllis's face, Li Xiaoen shrugged and said nothing more.

Empty talk is certainly not very credible. But if he produces a large amount of compressed biscuits, drinking water, an emergency rescue kit, a convenient fire starter for keeping warm, or even custom-made anti-radiation clothing, then perhaps he can be considered somewhat credible.

"Hello, where are you going?"

Standing by the roadside waiting, a man with slightly dark skin, wearing a drab gray polo shirt that looked like it might be covered in mud, quickly approached and struck up a conversation in heavily accented English, "Where are you going? I can give you a ride, it'll only cost thirty dollars..."

"Come to me, come to me..."

Before the man could finish speaking, another man, dressed similarly and with a similar complexion, quickly stepped forward, rubbing his hands together in front of him, and held up his phone. "Look," he said, "this is my Uber account. Where do you want to go? I agree to let you pay only 80% of the fare via Uber..."

"Here, and here..."

Within a few breaths, several men surrounded the three of them. The odor emanating from them was even stronger, and the encirclement caused the three of them to frown again, their brows which had relaxed after putting on their masks.

Having heard about India's reputation online, Amelia couldn't help but feel nervous being surrounded by several men, even right at the airport entrance. She subconsciously moved to stand behind Lee Shawn and tightly gripped the hem of the young man's shirt.

Having already activated his [Eye of Insight], Li Xiaoen scanned everyone in front of him and even those watching from afar, confirming that they carried no dangerous equipment. Relieved, he lowered one hand and placed it on Amelia's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

Then, she stepped forward and stood in front of the men.

Standing at just over 1.9 meters tall, he was exceptionally tall and strong. With just this simple action, the men, who had been talking non-stop and even had many glances secretly at Amelia behind them, suddenly stopped talking and reluctantly offered him a ride.

"I'm sorry, we had arranged for a friend to pick us up."

Professor Phyllis looked up and glanced at Li Xiaoen with surprise, then smiled and nodded to the men around him.

After saying that, seeing that there was no chance, the men who had surrounded them scattered, and the congested air in front of the three of them finally began to dissipate.

"Yeah, so having a reliable guy accompany you when you come to India is a wise choice."

Turning around, Professor Phyllis looked at Li Xiaon with amusement and nodded repeatedly, "It seems that it was the right thing to do to bring you to India no matter what."

After saying that, she turned to the side with a childlike air, looked at Amelia who was hiding behind Li Xiaoen, and gave a mischievous smile.

"Amelia, tell me, am I right?"

"..."

Startled for a moment, Amelia quickly released her grip on Lee Shawn's clothes and stood there blankly and obediently.

Somewhat annoyed by Professor Phyllis's words and amused gaze, she couldn't help but raise her eyes and give her tutor a reproachful look.

"Ha ha……"

Professor Phyllis laughed heartily, seeing this shy side of his nerd student for the first time.

(End of this chapter)