Children's fascination with secret bases typically stems from various animated and tokusatsu themes.
Kamen Riders have a café where they work, and underneath it lies their own laboratory; Ultramen have their own operational bases, and teams often have their own as well.
In addition, magical girls may also need to work in and manage their own maid or catgirl cafés.
Even Batman has his own secret cave, where he goes to undergo a splendid transformation and become a great hero to save the world when it's in crisis.
Although Fang You's mental age was incredibly mature and he didn't share the same intense emotions as the other children, he could understand that special yearning.
Now, a new knowledge task was laid out before him.
And with the blessing of the "Child of Luck," this time the reward was double.
Fang You didn't hesitate to accept.
However... the method to acquire knowledge energy was far too simple. At this rate, wouldn't he level up again very soon?
Fang You had to consider whether he should always keep the "Child of Luck" status active.
How could he enjoy the pleasure of slow development this way?
Even trying to be "Deeply Hidden" wouldn't let him keep a low profile!
But on further thought, considering the amount of knowledge energy up for grabs compared to the difficulty of the last consecutive victory task, the secret base renovation task this time was probably not so simple.
Renovating the secret base... to what extent would it be enough?
Apart from that, the knowledge talent reward this time was also very intriguing.
"Domain Expansion" is a knowledge talent that can't be understood just from its name.
It sounds like some kind of... space ability, doesn't it?
After all, this term appeared in an anime from his previous life.
If he could really create his own spatial dimension, it wouldn't be much different from cultivating a private mansion in the world of immortality, and it would be much more convenient to do things that should not be known or disturbed by adults.
And at this very moment, Xia Nuo was still trying to persuade Fang You to join his camp.
"Youyou, Youyou, don't you want a secret base?"
Xia Nuo whispered devilishly into Fang You's ear, "Once we have a secret base, we won't have to go to homes where adults can disturb us. We can do so many exciting, interesting things!"
"..."
Xia Nuo continued to whisper, "Youyou, do you want to guess what we can do in the secret base?"
"Go ahead, keep pets like cats, dogs, geese, or set off fireworks, have picnics, watch the stars."
Fang You listed all the things Xia Nuo wanted to do, even surprising Xia Nuo himself:
"Wow... I hadn't thought we could do so many things!"
"So what did you originally want to do?"
"Um... I was actually thinking that it could become our secret laboratory for building spacecraft. Later, we can develop our own space ship here and go on adventures to various places in the universe while Mom and Dad aren't around!"
Whenever Xia Nuo talked about a topic that excited him, he would get carried away, so much that he couldn't stop coughing from the excitement.
"Okay, that's enough, don't talk anymore. You need to rest more; you're too tired."
"But the secret—"
"When you get better, we can discuss with Ayu about how to renovate the secret base together."
"Alright!"
"Eat your porridge first."
Fang You patiently fed Xia Nuo porridge spoonful by spoonful. Xia Nuo obediently ate, sometimes abruptly looking up at Fang You with a silly smile.
"What are you laughing at?"
"I laugh when I'm happy."
Xia Nuo giggled at Fang You, "You startled me by coming to see me all of a sudden; my heart almost exploded."
"I'm not that scary."
"Really, I'm not lying. My heart is still fluttering! Don't believe me? Feel for yourself..."
Xia Nuo pulled Fang You's hand under the blanket, and although he hesitated, he was eventually persuaded to press down.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Xia Nuo's cheeks were blushingly red, and she kept her watery, large eyes fixed on Fang You.
"Is it... beating really fast?"
"Hmm..."
Fang You quickly withdrew his hand.
Xia Nuo curiously watched Fang You's face, her eyes brimming with clear, childlike innocence.
Seeing the Emotional Energy message he received, Fang You added:
"After all, Nuo Nuo and I are good friends, and good friends should help each other, right."
"That makes my heart feel so much better."
"..."
Why are there so many emotional adults in this world? Each one of them needs me to console them.
The little bits of Emotional Energy from Xia Anyang are nothing to Emperor Youyou now; what he lacks now is knowledge energy.
"Then I'll head back first."
"Uncle will take you home."
"Youyou, Youyou!"
Right at that moment, a shout came from inside the house from Xia Nuo.
"What's up?"
"Come here for a second..."
Fang You was called back into the room by Xia Nuo.
"Are you feeling uncomfortable, or...?"
"No, it's just..."
Xia Nuo, with a blushing face, mumbled, "Can I sleep with you tonight... I haven't slept with you for so long."
"Absolutely not! Definitely not!" Xia Anyang, the father, immediately burst in at the news, "That is absolutely not allowed."
"Why get so angry, dad? You scared me and Youyou..."
Xia Nuo was upset by Xia Anyang's reaction, "Please be quieter."
"I... I shouldn't have yelled, but you're not little kids anymore, you can't sleep together now."
"Is it because the bed is too small?"
Xia Nuo said, "When I have money in the future, I'll buy a bigger bed and we'll sleep together."
"It's not about the size of the bed, you're both so grown up now!"
"We used to sleep together when we were younger, why can't we now that we've grown up?"
"Nuo Nuo, you can't use your illness as an excuse to do whatever you want."
Xia Anyang said seriously, "You're going to be in third grade next semester, don't act ignorant at this time."
"But... I just feel very sad now, I'll only feel relieved if Youyou stays with me."
[Xia Nuo is really sad about you leaving her, Emotional Energy +50]
To his surprise, such a burst of Emotional Energy came from Nuo Nuo; Fang You was taken aback as well.
But at this time, he definitely couldn't partake in such childish actions.
Facing Xia Nuo's pitiful expression, Fang You could only shake his head.
"Nuo Nuo, I can't sleep in the same bed with you anymore."
Fang You said, "We've grown up now, and we can't sleep together like when we were little."
"Right, see how sensible and obedient Youyou is!"
In this critical moment, Fang You unexpectedly did not make a treacherous move, which was so rare for an 8-year-old; do you realize that?
But Xia Anyang knew!
Xia Anyang almost wished to hug Fang You close and give him kisses!
Fang Guanghui, oh Fang Guanghui, what did you do to raise such a well-behaved and sensible treasure!
[Dammit, Youyou, why can't you be my Xia Anyang's good son! Xia Anyang Emotional Energy +100]
"What about later?"
Xia Nuo said, looking a bit aggrieved, "Does that mean we can't ever sleep in the same bed again?"
"Later..."
Fang You wasn't very good at lying, especially not good at lying in front of Nuo Nuo.
Unable to confirm the future, he couldn't give Xia Nuo a definitive answer.
But Fang You's hesitation also made Xia Anyang's newfound good feelings for him instantly evaporate.
[Damn, you little brat, what are you hesitating for! Xia Anyang's Emotional Energy +100]
[Congratulations! The accumulation of Emotional Energy that Xia Anyang has for you has broken through 10,000 points, and the hidden Talent [Light of Anyang] has been unlocked]
[Light of Anyang: The Emotional Energy that Xia Anyang generates for you will automatically convert into knowledge energy, stored in your mind]
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