How should one define "unexpected"?
For instance, an author notorious for going on hiatus suddenly earns a perfect attendance award—that would be unexpected.
An author who typically releases two chapters a day suddenly bursts forth with over ten thousand words—that too would be unexpected.
A bank robber goes to rob a bank, only to push open the door and find it's payday for the police…
When Chen Nuo walked into the bank, it was half-past two in the afternoon.
He had followed Bei Tiaojie into the bank.
Although he knew the robbery was supposed to occur on July 16th, he wasn't sure if it would be in the morning or afternoon. So, Chen Nuo opted for a method that was a bit foolish but reliable.
He had been secretly watching Bei Tiaojie since morning, tailing him closely.
In the afternoon, after waiting for half a day outside the laboratory at the University of Tokyo, Chen Nuo finally saw Bei Tiaojie emerge.
Bei Tiaojie, who had not yet evolved into an academic titan, was currently just a rising star in scientific research. Although highly regarded by the University of Tokyo and provided with research funds by investors, he had not yet been assigned a car.
He had to handle some personal matters himself.
It was quite easy for Chen Nuo to keep an eye on him.
Banks in Japan are different from those in China.
They lack the uniform, large counters and enclosed bulletproof glass common in Chinese banks.
Instead, small writing desks were arranged in the bank's lobby, without glass partitions. Staff members sat behind these desks, serving customers who had appointments or were waiting in line for walk-in services. Customers took turns sitting at the desks to conduct their business.
The rigidity and sense of order seemingly ingrained in the very bones of the Japanese people were palpable. Despite a fair number of people, the bank was quiet in the afternoon.
Chen Nuo followed Bei Tiaojie into the bank. Bei Tiaojie sat in the waiting area, quietly reading a newspaper, while Chen Nuo chose a seat not far from him.
Less than three meters away from Bei Tiaojie, Chen Nuo felt very confident.
With his protection, Chen Nuo was very certain. Never mind one or two robbers; even if a squad of SEALs appeared, Chen Yanluo was confident he wouldn't let a single hair on Bei Tiaojie's head be harmed.
About a dozen customers were waiting for service in the bank's lobby.
The first thing Chen Nuo did after sitting down was to carefully observe everyone present.
Most of them seemed ordinary, until…
Chen Yanluo's eyes lit up.
Sitting in a corner of the waiting area, a short, slim young girl caught Chen Nuo's attention, making him look twice.
Her looks could only be described as average, her face appearing slightly mature for her age, but one could tell she was still quite young. And… she was rather flat-chested.
Short, skinny, flat-chested.
A smile touched Chen Nuo's lips…
Didn't expect to encounter her here.
After a wait of about fifteen minutes, it was Bei Tiaojie's turn to go to the counter.
This very short and thin man wore thick glasses and had a very conventional appearance. His voice was also very soft and gentle.
Chen Nuo put away the phone he had been fiddling with, lifted his head, and watched Bei Tiaojie's back.
Then, he heard the bank's main door open. Someone entered, drawing Chen Nuo's attention.
It was a middle-aged man. Despite the hot weather, he wore a hat and walked with his head noticeably lowered, his eyes darting around furtively.
He wore an old, unzipped jacket, with one hand tucked inside.
Chen Nuo immediately noticed the object hidden in the man's jacket—he raised an eyebrow.
Bei Tiaojie was still at the counter, and no one else in the lobby had noticed the middle-aged man.
Only the young girl who had been sitting in the corner had gotten up and was heading towards a desk to conduct her business…
Then, the middle-aged man suddenly rushed forward a few steps, cutting in front of her with an almost "queue-jumping" maneuver, reaching a desk first.
Queue-jumping is a rare sight in Japanese society, especially in places like banks.
The young, flat-chested girl seemed somewhat surprised and clearly hesitated for a moment, but she didn't immediately cry out in anger. Instead, she stood rooted to the spot, looking conflicted, as if unsure what to do.
The middle-aged man was already standing before a bank employee's desk.
"Sir… please follow the queue… Ah!" The bank employee didn't finish speaking before letting out a cry of alarm.
The middle-aged man had pulled a handgun from his jacket!
"Money! I need money! Give me the money!" The middle-aged man's face was fierce, but it was more a mask for his anxiety and terror.
The employee's shout alerted the others in the lobby, quickly turning into an uproar.
The middle-aged man roared, then openly brandished the gun, shouting something at the top of his lungs.
The staff of the Japanese bank were obviously trained for such robberies. Their immediate reaction was one of compliance; the first principle of their training was not to enrage the robber.
Soon, the employees did their best to contain their panic. They began to take out money under the robber's commands and stuffed it into a small cloth bag the robber had brought.
Some staff members even started to calm other customers, telling everyone not to panic. They even took the lead in teaching everyone to cover their heads and crouch down.
It had to be said, the Japanese were indeed very adept at maintaining order.
Then, an accident occurred!
A customer's phone suddenly rang, startling the robber, who was already on edge and seemingly about to snap.
Enraged, the robber rushed over and kicked the person whose phone had rung to the ground.
"Nobody move! No one is allowed to move! Whoever moves, I'll kill them!"
Bei Tiaojie had been obediently lying on the desk, hands over his head. At this moment, the robber picked up the bag full of money and was about to leave when, perhaps by sheer accident, the cloth bag in his hand suddenly tore open!
This could only be described as an accident.
A large amount of money scattered onto the floor, some bills flying everywhere.
The robber froze for a second, then cursed loudly. His eyes scanned the surroundings and quickly fell upon the young, flat-chested girl closest to him.
The girl was wearing a backpack.
"The bag! Give me your bag!" the robber shouted, waving the handgun.
The girl seemed paralyzed by fear and didn't react immediately. The robber had already charged at her and started to aggressively pull the backpack off her…
This action terrified the girl!
She didn't realize the robber just wanted her bag. Seeing his hands tearing at her, she thought she was about to be assaulted and let out a piercing scream.
She instinctively flailed her arms in resistance…
At that moment, a third accident happened.
Perhaps he was simply unprofessional, or perhaps he was too agitated, but the robber somehow lost his grip. The handgun in his hand slipped and fell to the ground!
When the gun hit the floor, it seemed to draw everyone's undivided attention.
For a second, the entire lobby fell silent, all eyes fixed on the gun on the floor.
To Chen Nuo's surprise, the first person to dive for the gun on the floor was Bei Tiaojie!
Bei Tiaojie lunged forward, sprawling on the ground, and grabbed the gun with both hands.
The robber, after a moment's hesitation, immediately let go of the flat-chested girl!
His next action completely stunned Bei Tiaojie!
The man didn't try to wrestle the gun from Bei Tiaojie. Instead, he pulled a knife from his clothes and swung it, slashing towards Bei Tiaojie!
Startled, Bei Tiaojie scrambled backward, clutching the gun and pointing it at the robber.
But after pulling the trigger, Bei Tiaojie's heart sank.
The blade of the robber's knife was already slashing down towards Bei Tiaojie's hand!
In that instant, some people in the lobby gasped, some screamed, some were frozen in terror, and others shouted…
Bei Tiaojie felt as if his entire world had paused. In his vision, the robber's blade was hacking down towards his wrist, getting closer and closer…
Suddenly, the robber, knife and all, was sent flying!
His entire body slammed into the wall.
Chen Nuo deliberately held his flying kick posture for a second. Then, he stepped forward, grabbed Bei Tiaojie's collar, and yanked him back. Bei Tiaojie slid three to five meters across the floor.
Then Chen Nuo, pretending to roar, pounced on the robber who was trying to get up, delivering another punch straight to his nose.
That punch made the robber's nose burst. He cried out in pain as blood sprayed out, some of it splattering onto Chen Nuo's clothes.
Chen Nuo landed two more punches, then stood up and kicked the robber, who was now cowering with his head in his hands, a couple more times.
"What are you staring at? Grab something and tie him up! And call the police!" Chen Nuo shouted, looking up.
From start to finish, he had perfectly portrayed the image of an "ordinary person" acting as a "good Samaritan."
Bank staff had already pressed the alarm at the first sign of the robbery.
Shortly after, the police arrived, apprehended the robber, and began to secure the scene.
Staff members loudly complained to the police. Some comforted customers. Other customers, coming to their senses, began to cry out in fear, while still others loudly reprimanded the police about security issues.
Amidst the crowd, Chen Nuo inconspicuously retreated, deliberately moving away from Bei Tiaojie and instead backing up towards the girl.
"Ah?" The girl paused, then replied in a soft, sweet, and clear voice, "Thank you for your concern. I-I'm fine."
Taking a deep breath, the girl, though flustered, still said, "Just now, thank you so much."
"Ah, that, don't mention it," Chen Nuo smiled, but his gaze on this flat-chested girl carried a peculiar expression.
Yes, in 2001, she wouldn't have been famous yet. Yes, none of her iconic roles had come out yet, right?
"So, just a 'thank you'?"
"Huh?" The girl was taken aback, timidly glancing at Chen Nuo. "Is there… something I can do for you?"
"…Hmm…" Chen Nuo looked at the girl's frightened face and suddenly said with a smile, "Could you curse at me a little?"
"Yes, just curse at me a little. If it's too difficult, you don't have to say much; two sentences will do. Just call me… a bastard, a pervert, and then scold me a few times, saying, 'You're annoying!' Please!"
Chen Yanluo clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture.
The girl gawked at the young man before her. He was handsome, but… his expression right now was indeed a bit perverted!
She watched the girl clamp her mouth shut, staring at him in panic.
Chen Nuo sighed and said, "Sorry about this," first.
Then, with a mischievous grin, he reached out and gently pinched the girl's cheek…
The girl screamed in alarm, retreating in fear, and blurted out, "AH!! Pervert!! Stay away from me!! Pervert, pervert! PERVERT!!!"
She covered her face with her hands, not daring to look at him again.
A few seconds later, she looked up. But where was that pervert?
Scanning the entire lobby, the young man was nowhere to be seen.
"Did you—did you see that pervert just now? That young guy!!"
"…What young guy? He must have left already…"
Chen Nuo walked out of the bank, strolling down the street with his hands in his pockets and a satisfied smile on his face.
He let out a long breath…
So satisfying! So gratifying!
Being berated 1v1 by the master herself… Too satisfying! Utter contentment!
Bei Tiaojie's fate had been changed. Chen Nuo didn't plan to interfere much more in his life.
Without this incident, he should be able to continue his research smoothly, and the subsequent series of accidents wouldn't occur.
Perhaps his research projects would even yield some results.
Consider that insurance bought.
On his way back to the hotel, Chen Nuo began to reflect on his trip to Japan.
Xicheng Xun's fate was altered, and Bei Tiaojie was saved as well.
Most importantly, it was achieved without too much effort or causing a major disturbance—unlike the previous rescues of Firefly and Hummingbird.
Those involved crossing borders, clashing with the Descendants of the Sun, killing, and arson.
Or else it was scaling snowy mountains.
Such troublesome and costly endeavors!
This time was much better. Smooth and effortless, I managed to settle matters without even breaking a sweat!
I can't take it, I'm getting a bit too pleased with myself. Time to stand with hands on hips for a moment!
Whistling as he walked towards the hotel, his mind was filled with wild fantasies.
Since I'm in Japan, should I go visit my two future beloved wives? Ishihara Satomi and Aragaki Yui must be quite young at this point. To visit or not to visit… Ah, forget it. Isn't it chaotic enough at home? Just fantasizing about it in my head is good enough. Time to go back, pack up, and bring home bags full of toys and figurines.
Suddenly, the phone in his pocket vibrated.
Chen Nuo took out his phone, glanced at it, and answered.
"Sir, I apologize for disturbing you. I'm the attendant Chairman Dongtian arranged for you at the hotel…"
The caller's tone was anxious and also carried a hint of panic.
Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat. He frowned and asked, "What's the matter?"
"There is—there's someone at the hotel looking for you."
"It's—it's a man named Longben. It seems—it seems he's a police officer. He's very anxious, extremely so. He said there's an urgent matter he needs your help with, something about saving someone…"
Chen Nuo fell silent for a second. "…Did he say anything else?"
"Er… he's passed out… and he's badly injured!"
Chen Nuo forcefully suppressed the turmoil within him and said in a deep voice, "I'll be back at the hotel immediately! Before I return, find a way to wake him up!!"