“Alright, alright, forget it. Let’s not tease Joseph anymore,” Alice relented, glancing at Mason Alvarez. Though she’d only wanted to have a bit of fun, she now felt a twinge of guilt seeing Joseph so flustered.“Tch. You’re going soft already?” Mason scoffed, casting Alice a look of feigned disdain.“Joseph, just wait for us out here. We won’t take long,” Alice said, grabbing Mason’s hand and winking mischievously at him.“Fine, take your time. I’ll be here,” Joseph let out a breath of relief.It wasn’t that he had a problem entering a lingerie store with Alice—if it were just her, people would probably assume she was his girlfriend. But with Mason Alvarez tagging along, it gave off a very different, very awkward vibe.As the two women disappeared into the store, Joseph found a seat nearby and pulled out his phone, responding to a few messages from classmates and work.Perhaps worried about making him wait too long, Alice and Mason came out again after about ten minutes.Then, the

Who would have thought that Mr. Mason Alvarez harbored such a childlike heart?"What's the matter, Mr. Wilson? Are you into this sort of thing too?" At that moment, Mason Alvarez emerged from the room."Uh... not really. I was just surprised to learn that you enjoy this sort of show," Joseph replied."Why is that so strange?" Mason asked with a grin. "Sure, it might look a bit childish for elementary school kids—but for adults? It's just the right amount of silly fun.""Fair enough," Joseph chuckled helplessly."Mr. Wilson, take a look—what do you think of these pajamas? Aren’t they cute?"Mason had changed into a set of light pink pajamas. But this wasn’t the girlish pastel pink one might expect—there was a mature, elegant undertone to the color. On Mason Alvarez’s figure, it evoked a distinct charm.The pajamas were loose-fitting, yet Mason's figure was so striking that not even such relaxed clothing could conceal her alluring curves. Joseph found himself momentarily dazed."Ahem

"There are two ways this can go. Option one: the two of us travel to Nova City and meet him in person. Option two: you bring Mr. Wilson home to visit. Simple as that," she continued, her tone gentle but firm. "We’re reasonable people, you can choose which option you prefer. How about it?"Mason Alvarez was stunned. "Wait—what?""What’s the matter? Is there a problem?" her mother asked."Of course there’s a problem!" Mason exclaimed. "You’re moving too fast. Can’t you give us a bit more time? We’re still in the early stages... still getting to know each other!""Getting to know each other? What’s there to get to know? I think Mr. Wilson sounds like a fine young man. It’s settled—you’ll bring him home for a visit. We’re not asking you to marry him or have kids tomorrow, just introduce him. What’s the big deal?" Her mother’s tone left little room for argument."Can’t I at least think about it?" Mason sighed. She knew once her mother made up her mind, it was nearly impossible to sway he

Unsurprisingly, his proposal sparked keen interest. None of them had ever experienced such an assessment method before.After finishing the morning session, Joseph took a brief rest. It wasn't until after two o’clock that he set off for Nova University’s West Campus. His appointment with Neil Foster was scheduled around three in the afternoon, so his timing was just right.As expected, he arrived at the campus with about ten minutes to spare. The West Campus sprawled across a vast area—so much so that Joseph felt it might even surpass the main campus in size. Yet, its population was noticeably smaller.Clearly, the spatial demands of this campus differed greatly from the main one. Joseph quickly noticed that many of the training facilities here occupied large plots of land. The overall atmosphere and layout contrasted starkly with the main campus.With some time to kill, Joseph drove leisurely through the areas of the campus open to vehicles. He observed that many key entrances and bu

"I hold all the answers you’re looking for. But if you’re too weak, knowing the truth will only become a torment.""If you uncover everything yet can do nothing, it’s better not to know at all.""In fact, you still have a choice—you could walk away from all of this and live a quiet, peaceful life."Adams flexed his knuckles, his voice as cold as ice."And what about you?" Joseph retorted. "Would you choose ignorance too, to live out your days in comfort?""I'm not like you," Adams replied flatly. "I do what I believe is right. I’ve done so for years. That’s why your master sent you to me."His face remained expressionless as he shook his head."In that case, there's no need for more talk. If strength is what you want, I’ll return with it."Joseph’s tone was steely."I’ll be waiting," Adams said, managing a twisted, mirthless smile."Then, Chief Instructor, I’ll take my leave."Joseph gave a slight bow, his tone equally frigid. He had expected this—extracting information from Brian Ada