American comic: From Beijing with Love, starting with a mutant.

One day later, at the arrival hall of Haneda Airport.

Dressed casually, Stephen Chow dragged his suitcase out of the gate, with the modified dimensional box in his pocket.

After being tested by Saber-toothed Tiger three times, this thing no longer shoots stones at its owner's face.

The price is that you have to shake it nine times and shout "Open Sesame" before you open it each time.

Old Zhou was fully equipped for this operation; he even brought the quirky gun that Moon Boy had prepared for him.

Of course, this is only what you see on the surface.

In fact, Lao Zhou was worried that Anton might sneak into the dormitory to inspect the supplies one day, so he simply took everything he could.

Stephen Chow quickly identified the person who was picking him up at the airport.

The man was tall and wore a dark, thick wool coat with his coat open.

His black hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, and he had a neatly trimmed stubble on his upper lip. Sunglasses covered most of his face.

He held up a piece of cardboard that read: "Warmly welcome Zhou Xingxing, a child who has dropped out of school, back to campus."

Furious, Stephen Chow rushed over, snatched the cardboard, tore it into four pieces, and stuffed it into the trash can.

"Are you afraid the Japanese police won't know who I am?"

The contact pulled down his sunglasses halfway and bowed slightly: "This thing is just for you to see, who do you think you are, some big star!"

Stephen Chow pulled his suitcase to his side and tilted his head to look at him.

"I'm not talking about you, Comrade Liu Jianyi! How did you even pass the political vetting with your harsh words?"

"I'm really sorry, but we don't assess people's affability when working with overseas collaborators."

The two met for the first time and didn't even shake hands.

One complained that the airport pickup wasn't confidential enough, while the other thought the official was too arrogant. They grumbled at each other as they left the airport and got into a small truck with a "Seafood Guy" sticker on it.

Stephen Chow held back for half a minute before pinching his nose and speaking:

"If I remember correctly, the bureau approved my transportation allowance? You use this kind of car to pick up a section-level cadre? Which cadre wouldn't withstand this kind of test?"

Liu Jianyi, who was driving, casually pointed to the car in front of him: "That one costs 400 yen per kilometer, this one is free. Which one do you choose?"

"Also, there are ice packs in the back. If you think the smell is too strong, just scoop out a lump and stuff it into your nostrils."

The van eventually stopped on a narrow street outside Kabukicho.

The area was crowded with bars and nightclubs on both sides. A few young men soliciting customers were about to surround him, but they retreated after recognizing Liu Jianyi.

Zhou Xingxing looked around, speechless. "Are you kidding me? I'm a high school student! Is it appropriate for you to bring me to a place like this?"

Liu Jianyi leaned against the vending machine, took out a cigarette, and handed it over.

"My public identity is right here on this street. If I don't bring you here, am I supposed to open a contact point in a children's playground?"

"You're handing cigarettes to high school students?"

"Come on, you're thirty, I'm thirty-six, let's not tarnish that word."

Liu Jianyi chuckled twice and offered the cigarette forward: "Relax, have some fun tonight, I'll take you to school tomorrow."

Zhou Xingxing took the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear, intending to use it as evidence in the future of foreign collaborators leading minors astray.

"Let me make this clear beforehand: I don't have any money on me! I can't afford to spend money in a place like this!"

"Don't worry, leave everything here to me. You just enjoy yourself."

"Oh? Is that really true?"

The two men furtively pushed open a wooden door on the street corner.

There were six empty tables inside, the liquor cabinet behind the bar was mostly empty, and the most expensive decoration was probably the half-dead potted green ivy by the door.

Stephen Chow, holding onto the doorframe, didn't go inside: "You call this 'enjoying life'? Do you expect me to wipe the table for you once we're inside?"

Noticing his expression, Liu Jianyi didn't say anything. He raised his hand and gently tapped the side of the bar counter, causing the half-empty liquor cabinet to slide open and reveal a hidden door.

"Wow! You have a secondary business hidden here?" Zhou Xingxing was greatly shocked. He followed him through the hidden door and lifted the curtain to find that it was a KTV.

The long table was laden with fruit platters and wine, and four women of very different styles sat side by side on the sofa.

As soon as Liu Jianyi and Zhou Xingxing entered, they stood up to greet them.

"Kongbangwa, Jianyisan, oh soo yi yo."

"Hajimemashite, Hoshino-san."

"Go more, yoroshiku."

Stephen Chow's week-long study of Japanese finally came in handy, as he was able to understand at least "Good evening" and "Nice to meet you."

"Kongbangwa, oh Negai Ishimas."

The short-haired woman on the right covered her mouth and chuckled twice, then turned to her companion and said, "Kawaii."

Stephen Chow turned to look at Liu Jianyi, "She said I'm cute, right?"

"You recognized it?"

"Also, how did they know my name?"

"What do you think? Of course I said it! Otherwise, what would I offer you?"

Liu Jianyi patted Zhou Xingxing on the shoulder, pushed him onto the sofa, and then turned to wave at two of them:

"Mai-chan, Nana-chan, spend some quality time with him tonight and teach him some Japanese."

Mai, with long hair, picked up a bottle of liquor and sat to the left of Stephen Chow, while Nana, holding a karaoke device, moved to the right.

The two people stood on either side of him, leaving just enough space in the middle of the sofa for him to sit down.

The soft contours of her left arm were pressed against her right shoulder, while a smooth piece of silk fabric clung to her right shoulder.

Stephen Chow sat on the sofa, looking embarrassed, and tried to shrink deeper into the backrest.

Mai tilted the bottle, and the liquor slid down the ice into the glass. It was about to overflow the rim, but she showed no sign of stopping.

"Does Hoshino-kun like things a bit fuller?"

The warm air rushed into his ears, causing the downy hairs behind his ears to stand up.

Seeing him dodge, Mai laughed twice and simply leaned her entire weight against him.

"Hoshino-kun looks really tense... If you keep holding it in, it'll get suffocating inside~"

Nana on the right wasn't to be outdone, saying, "This piece is too slow. Hoshino-kun, why don't you try a slightly faster or more intense tune?"

Nana looked up at him, her collar revealing a dangerous expanse of white skin due to the angle.

Mai giggled and picked up a peeled grape from the fruit plate, offering it to Stephen Chow's lips.

Her fingertips inevitably brushed against his tightly closed lips. "Open your mouth~ The fruit inside is very juicy..."

Nana, who was next to him, simply put down her karaoke machine, moved closer, and wrapped her arms around his, further reducing the distance between them.

Seeing this, Mai was not to be outdone, and slid one hand up his thigh.

Stephen Chow solemnly grabbed Mai's wrist, placing two fingers precisely on her pulse point.

"Your pulse sounds weak and floating. Do you often experience cold hands and feet or night sweats?"

Mai was taken aback by his unexpected action. "Hoshino-kun can treat illnesses?"

"I know a little bit about it; it's a family heirloom craft."

Zhou Xingxing opened his eyes and pressed an acupoint on the inside of her wrist with his fingertip.

Mai's body went limp on one side, and she let out a gasp.

"Ouch, where are you pressing? It feels so sore and numb..."

"This is called 'where there is pain, there is blockage.' You have too much cold in your body. You need to find an experienced traditional Chinese medicine doctor to give you acupuncture to clear the blockage."

"Come on, I'll treat you tonight."