Traveling through the second dimension, the joy system encourages me to laugh heartily!

He pulled his arms closer, holding the girl more tightly, and with his other hand, gently smoothed her slightly disheveled long hair with a soothing touch. He said earnestly, "Don't worry. I couldn't bear to..."

This promise was like a warm current flowing into her heart. Qing Zijin's tense body slowly relaxed, her furrowed brows unfurrowed, and a relieved and contented smile spread across her lips as she continued her quiet conversation with Chen Ming...

The soft whispers gradually faded into even, long breaths.

Qing Zijin fell into a deep sleep in Chen Ming's arms. Even in her sleep, a serene smile remained on her lips, clearly indicating that she was having a sweet dream...

At this moment, Qing Zijin was so quiet and beautiful that Chen Ming couldn't bear to disturb her sweet dream.

So he quietly got out of bed and began to use his S-rank skill, [Multiple Chanting]. A hundred intricate and exquisite magical runes instantly took shape in the void, falling like transparent ripples layer upon layer, gently covering Qing Zijin's body.

Thus, a hundred layers of magical shields were quietly constructed. Although they were hidden in the air, they could trigger the strongest protection the moment any malicious person approached, and provide Chen Ming with a warning.

Immediately afterwards, he took out two T-102jin combat robots from the system space and arranged for them to silently sneak under the bed. Their scarlet electronic eyes lit up and then went out in the darkness, entering an alert standby state.

Meanwhile, a squadron of A-101 reconnaissance drones silently flew out of the windows, creating a dynamic surveillance network with no blind spots around the cruise ship.

Although Chen Ming does not intend to use [Crimson] and the robot army to rule the main world for certain reasons, he can still use it to protect his woman.

With the double protection of magic and technology, even if the Spectrum of the Ocean were to be attacked by the American Pacific Fleet, it would receive timely warnings and buy him precious time to teleport there.

Having resolved his concerns, Chen Ming vanished from the spot in an instant.

The next moment, he appeared in Shen Qingyao's boudoir at the lakeside villa. Moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains, illuminating the beautiful woman's serene sleeping face. He gently embraced the young woman, conveying the message of his return through his actions.

Next were Chen Suyan, Li Xiangling, Han Xueyi, Liu Rushuang, and Su Mengdie...

Finally, she teleported to the Tulip Villa, where Long Zixuan was gently awakened from her sleep by a familiar embrace and scent. She mumbled something sleepily and then became engrossed in recharging...

Like a diligent gardener, Chen Ming used spatial jumps as a shortcut to inspect the beautiful flowers in his garden under the moonlight, comforting every girl in his vast harem.

Zhang Wan was the only exception—Chen Ming had received a message from her and knew that she had gone back to her hometown to help her parents pay off their debts, so he did not raid her at night for the time being.

As Chen Ming finished his time management and teleported back to the luxury suite, the horizon was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, the first light of day quietly dispelling the darkness of night.

After a night of travel, an ordinary person would be exhausted.

Fortunately, Chen Ming possesses the monstrous skill "Return of the Great Kidney," which he can use when he is in Sage Mode to instantly restore his energy to full, so he doesn't need to sleep.

Moreover, his newly acquired A-level skill, [Fountain of Life], provides a continuous source of vitality, automatically restoring injuries and stamina, allowing him to stay awake for extended periods.

Moreover, he had also cultivated the [Solar Battle Qi], which made his physique even stronger, and sunbathing could replace sleep...

Theoretically speaking, Chen Ming no longer needs to sleep.

However, his long-standing habits were still influencing him, making him feel that he still needed to sleep for a while.

So he waved his hand silently, and the T-102 under the bed turned into a stream of light and returned to the system space, while the swarm of drones outside the window also quietly returned to their nest.

Then he lifted the silky thin blanket, lay down again, and carefully embraced the still sleeping Qing Zijin once more.

The girl's soft body, carrying a reassuring warmth, unconsciously nuzzled against his chest, uttering contented murmurs. Chen Ming felt this tranquil embrace, the corners of his lips slightly upturned. Relaxing his mind, he no longer resisted the familiar call, letting his consciousness sink into a warm darkness.

Outside the window, the first golden rays of the rising sun finally leaped over the horizon, casting their warm light upon the two sleeping in each other's arms, and also reflecting the faint golden glow of the [Solar Battle Qi] flowing silently within his body.

…A FEW MOMENTS LATER…

Chen Ming was immersed in the warm, hazy state of catching up on sleep when he suddenly felt someone gently nudging him. He opened his eyes groggily and was greeted by Qing Zijin's beautiful face, which had become even more exquisite and stunning after a night of transformation.

The girl, now fully dressed, stood by the bed, a gentle smile curving her lips. "Lazybones! Time to get up, the sun's already high in the sky... Don't forget, we're going ashore to explore Kobe today!"

The Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship only stops at each station for one day, so if you want to go ashore for sightseeing, the itinerary is a bit rushed and you need to set off very early in the morning.

Chen Ming was still sleepy, but instinctively he reached out and pulled Qing Zijin, who was sitting by the bed, into his arms, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, and asked with concern, "Why are you up so early? Are you... alright?"

Upon hearing this, Qing Zijin's cheeks instantly flushed red. She struggled slightly in his arms, then raised her chin, revealing a smug and proud expression:

"Hmph, of course I'm fine! You underestimate me too much! Get up, I've prepared all your toiletries and even squeezed out the toothpaste!"

Her tone was light and cheerful, full of energy, showing no trace of the fragility or discomfort one might feel after being exposed to the rain for the first time.

Chen Ming's lips curled into a faint smile, concealing his accomplishment and fame. If it weren't for the fact that he had secretly cast a gentle healing spell on the girl after last night's events, soothing all possible discomfort and minor injuries, Qing Zijin would probably have difficulty even getting out of bed right now, let alone urging him to set off with such energy.

He lowered his head and planted a good morning kiss on the girl's smooth forehead before slowly releasing his embrace, lifting the covers, and getting up to wash up...

After washing up, he led Qing Zijin out of the luxury suite and stood by the railing on the top deck.

After a full day and night of solitary sailing in the boundless blue, they finally saw land again—the bluish-gray coastline stretched steadily across the horizon, with port facilities and the outlines of distant cities appearing and disappearing in the morning mist!

The two took the elevator and soon arrived at the lobby on the first floor of the Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship.

In the bustling crowd, Chen Ming spotted Hua Qianhui, whom he had arranged to visit Kobe with the previous night.

And standing next to her was a young girl who was also dressed up carefully.

When Hua Qianhui saw them, a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face. She quickly stepped forward and said with just the right amount of apology, "Mr. Chen, Ms. Qing, good morning! This is my best friend; she came with me too. Um... could we... bring her along on today's trip to Kobe?"

She clasped her hands together in a cute gesture of pleading, "Otherwise, she'll have to stay on the ship all alone, or disembark by herself. I'm really worried about her safety..." Her words were sincere, and her eyes were full of expectation.

Although Chen Ming was somewhat surprised, he still smiled generously and said, "Alright, since we're already here, it'll be more lively with more people, so let's all come together."

After speaking, he subtly activated the system's identification function, locking onto Hua Qianhui's best friend:

Name: Wang Manman

Age: 21

[Height]: 169cm

[Weight]: 49kg

Overall Appearance: 80

[Power Bank]: 1

[Status]: Good health

[Favorability]: 30

Although Chen Ming was somewhat surprised that Wang Manman's favorability rating was 30, he immediately lost interest in her when he saw that she only had 1 power bank.

He quietly closed the information interface and looked away from Wang Manman.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Mr. Chen!"

Hua Qianhui breathed a sigh of relief, her smile widening, and quickly introduced the two: "Manman, this is Mr. Chen Ming, and this is Miss Qing Zijin. Mr. Chen, Miss Qing, this is my good friend Wang Manman."

Wang Manman's face also lit up with a warm smile. She took a step forward and generously extended her hand to Chen Ming: "Hello, Mr. Chen! I'm so sorry to bother you today, thank you for taking me with you!"

Her attitude was enthusiastic, but with a hint of deliberate flattery.

Chen Ming politely extended his hand to shake hers, then quickly released her hand after a brief touch of his fingertips, his movements swift and decisive.

Wang Manman's smile remained unchanged, and she didn't mind Chen Ming's indifferent attitude in quickly letting go—because Hua Qianhui had told her about Chen Ming's basic information before leaving this morning. The word "rich man" was enough for her to automatically fill in all the reasonable "aloof" behaviors in her mind.

That's why you get 30 points of favorability upon first meeting.

Just as Wang Manman was racking her brains, figuring out how to build a closer relationship during the trip, a pleasant announcement came over the loudspeaker:

"Dear passengers, good morning! Our first stop on this voyage—Kobe—is now in sight! The Spectrum of the Seas is about to dock. This is now free time. Passengers who wish to disembark and explore Kobe, please bring your passports and relevant documents and proceed to the designated area to queue for disembarkation. Please be sure to pay attention to the cruise ship's departure time and return on time. We wish you a pleasant and unforgettable journey in Kobe..."

As soon as the announcement ended, Qing Zijin excitedly grabbed Chen Ming's arm and said with an eager smile, "Let's go! The ship is almost at the shore, let's get off first, we can talk on the way..."

Chen Ming naturally had no objection to the suggestion and nodded with a smile. Hua Qianhui and Wang Manman immediately echoed his agreement.

Soon, the four of them met up with their tour guide, Liu Yuanyuan, who had been waiting for them.

With a professional smile and clear, concise speech, Liu Yuanyuan guided them to the designated area to queue. While waiting to disembark, everyone successfully received a ticket number slip for their immigration visa interview.

Before their number was called, Hua Qianhui, whose foodie instincts were running high, patted her stomach and whispered, "Judging by how fast the queue is, we'll probably have to wait a while. How about... we go to the buffet and quickly grab a breakfast? We need to be full to have the energy to play!"

Her eyes sparkled, still full of enthusiasm for the ship's free buffet breakfast.

The suggestion was immediately accepted, and the five people who hadn't eaten breakfast quickly moved on to the buffet restaurant.

Just as they finished breakfast and returned to the disembarkation line, their numbers were called over the loudspeaker—the timing was perfect.

Under the expert guidance of tour guide Liu Yuanyuan, the visa interview process was exceptionally smooth. The staff checked the passport information and stamped the passport in one swift motion, without asking any further questions.

The five people passed through the checkpoint smoothly and walked towards the corridor bridge connecting the cruise ship and the dock.

In the early morning at Kobe Port, a gentle breeze carries the salty sea air and a faint scent of oysters.

Hua Qianhui looked around excitedly, while Wang Manman secretly adjusted her state, preparing to "perform well" on the journey.

Chen Ming held Qing Zijin's hand, his gaze calmly fixed on the unfamiliar port city, while Qing Zijin nestled beside him, her face filled with anticipation for the journey.

Crossing the covered bridge, Chen Ming's shoes finally touched this land he had never set foot on before.

His gaze swept across the somewhat dilapidated port area, where a striking red banner hanging on the wall read in neat Chinese: "A warm welcome to all visitors!"

However, the banner was not large, and its color appeared somewhat faded under the erosion of the salty sea breeze.

Chen Ming raised an eyebrow, silently thinking: This welcome... doesn't seem very enthusiastic?

Chapter 225: The Little Devil's Jumping Face

The group of five continued on their way and found that the port exit was crowded with people, most of whom were cruise ship passengers queuing up to buy a 600 yen "one-day electric train pass".

With this ticket, you can ride Kobe's trams an unlimited number of times within one day.

It has to be said that there were a lot of people riding the tram. Chen Ming looked into the distance and saw that the tram carriages parked by the platform were already packed like sardine cans.

However, the uniformed staff were still struggling to squeeze the last few passengers through the door cracks, and the door finally closed with a creaking sound as it was overwhelmed.

This crowded scene made Chen Ming instantly understand the physical basis of the special "tram crowd" phenomenon in Japan...

Fortunately, he wasn't short of money, and the tour guide was even handling the taxis—Chen Ming secretly rejoiced, his gaze gently sweeping over Qing Zijin and Hua Qianhui beside him. He couldn't bear to let his women squeeze onto such a suffocating tram.

However, to his utter surprise, instead of his woman encountering a lecherous man, he himself was blackmailed by a sissy...

Led by Liu Yuanyuan, the group quickly boarded a spacious and comfortable minivan.

Our first stop was the Kitano Ijinkan, Kobe's most exotic tourist attraction.

The car drove away from the bustling port area and into the streets built along the mountainside. The winding alleys were paved with bluestone slabs, and taxis could not enter, so the group got out and walked.

The heels of shoes tapped on the stone slabs, producing a crisp echo. On both sides stood rows of old Western buildings of different styles, with pointed roofs, arched windows, and stained glass, as if a fragment of a European town had been transported to the East.

The most eye-catching of these is the Wind-Seeing Chicken House, where a cast iron wind-seeing chicken stands proudly on the red brick wall. When the sea breeze blows, its metal wings stubbornly turn, pointing to the sky, silently telling the story of the years when foreign expatriates persevered here a hundred years ago.

As noon approached, the sun became quite scorching.

Liu Yuanyuan led everyone to Kobe's largest indoor shopping street at the right time. A huge glass roof blocked out the scorching sun, letting in soft light. The street was wide and bright, with a dazzling array of shops on both sides, from exquisite traditional wagashi shops and fragrant cafes to trendy clothing stores and anime figure shops, there was something for everyone.

This familiar scene instantly evoked countless classic scenes from Japanese anime in Chen Ming's mind—scenes of female protagonists working part-time in convenience stores, bakeries, or maid cafes in shopping streets, seemingly about to unfold at any corner.

The occasional Japanese announcements broadcast over the shopping street further enhance the atmosphere of "anime coming to life".

Feeling thirsty from walking around, the group went into a 7-Eleven convenience store to buy water.

Chen Ming walked at the back, his gaze sweeping over the colorful advertising posters pasted on the glass door. One of them, a white notice with red lettering, caught his attention:

アルバイト is recruiting!

Daily: 960 yen per hour~

Night shift: 1200 yen per hour~

Unprecedented food is provided!

Although Chen Ming doesn't understand Japanese, the job posting contained a lot of Chinese, so he could still roughly understand it.

Looking at the hourly wage, which translates to 47-57 RMB, Chen Ming's lips curled into a smirk.

If he had seen this job posting back when he was struggling to make ends meet and working as a security guard, he probably would have rushed in to apply without hesitation. Such a high hourly wage, plus a meal included, was quite tempting at the time.

But it's too late now, because he no longer needs it.

Chen Ming smiled with relief and was about to walk into the convenience store when his sleeve was suddenly grabbed by a girl in a JK uniform.

A slender, fair hand suddenly gripped his sleeve!

Chen Ming turned around in surprise and saw a girl in a Japanese JK uniform staring up at him.

The girl was not tall, only reaching Chen Ming's chest. Underneath her dark blue pleated skirt were knee-high black stockings and shiny leather shoes.

She had a rather delicate baby face, with the corners of her mouth curved, and her thin lips were probably coated with lipstick, looking moist and reflecting a crystal-clear light.

His bright, large eyes were now filled with feigned anger and a hint of sly smile, like a hunter seeing his prey fall into a trap.

She glanced quickly to the left and right, seemingly confirming that no one was paying particular attention to them, then stood on tiptoe, leaned close to Chen Ming's ear, and spoke rapidly in Japanese:

"あの... この成汉さん?" (Hey, is this Mr. Chihan?)