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

Listening to Shizuka Nanahoshi's very realistic, even somewhat "selfish," explanation, which was absolutely in line with the thinking logic of a normal sixteen-year-old girl, Chen Ming suddenly understood and nodded in his heart.

Indeed, my previous thoughts were somewhat influenced by the anime plot, and I had a preconceived notion that she would want to save Shinohara Akito.

But in reality, how many couples can truly give up their family, friends, and even their entire familiar world for each other? And even wait alone for 100 years in a completely unfamiliar and dangerous other world!

Let alone transcending time and space, even a simple long-distance relationship is enough to defeat more than 90% of couples.

Moreover, as far as Chen Ming knew, Shizuka Nanahoshi and Akito Shinohara were still in the stage of mutual affection, and had not officially become a couple.

Just moments before they were summoned, they were arguing fiercely on the rainy main road, with a third boy, Seiji Kuroki, trying to mediate.

That scene was remarkably similar to the classic line, "Stop fighting!"

This shows that the relationship between the two was far from being one where they could sacrifice everything for each other.

Therefore, it is unrealistic and unreasonable to expect Shizuka Nanahoshi to give up everything in Japan and endure a century of loneliness to complete a slim chance of rescue for a boy with whom she has just had a fight and whose relationship is ambiguous.

In the original story, she was initially focused on studying summoning and teleportation magic in an attempt to find a way back to Japan.

It wasn't until the cruel premise was established that she had to wait for the future Shinohara Akito to appear so that the two of them could return together; otherwise, she couldn't return to her original world alone. Only then did she completely give up and reluctantly choose the path of sleeping for a hundred years.

Understanding Shizuka Nanahoshi's truest and most urgent thoughts at this moment, Chen Ming's lips curled into a slight smile.

It's good that the girl figured it out herself and chose to give up that mission. It saves him the trouble of playing the villain and forcibly changing her will.

Of course, Chen Ming has never been a philanthropist. He is willing to help, but he will never work for free.

So he suppressed his smile and looked at Shizuka Nanahoshi seriously:

"I can help you return to your original world. But what price are you willing to pay for it?"

When Shizuka Nanahoshi heard the question, she didn't show any surprise on her face. Instead, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, as if she had expected this question.

First of all, since there exists a powerful force in this world that can summon her from Japan, then theoretically, there should also exist someone who can send her back.

The mysterious Chen Mingjun in front of us may very well possess this ability.

Secondly, as the saying goes, "there is no such thing as a free lunch."

You have to pay the fare to take a taxi home!

Moreover, the "fare" required for something as fantastical as traveling through time and space back to another world must be even more expensive.

So now only one last, and most crucial, question remains: what can I offer as compensation?

money?

Shizuka Nanahoshi immediately rejected the idea.

The man in front of me can teleport across dimensions and fly freely, so how could he lack money?

Even if he really needed money, it would definitely be an astronomical figure, far beyond what his meager allowance could afford, and even emptying his parents' savings wouldn't be enough.

Power, treasures, knowledge?

As an ordinary high school girl, I had nothing in this unfamiliar world, let alone these things.

So, after thinking it over, what is the only "value" I might have that the other party could value?

The answer seems self-evident.

Thinking of this, a thin blush slowly crept onto Shizuka Nanahoshi's cheeks.

She lowered her head shyly, avoiding Chen Ming's calm, scrutinizing gaze, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her sailor uniform. After a few seconds of silence, she tentatively asked in a trembling voice:

"Chen Mingjun... Can I... can I just call you by your name? Like 'Mingjun'?"

She seemed to be using the distance in addressing him to set the stage for what she was about to say.

"of course can."

Chen Ming nodded indifferently. Chinese people are generally quite casual about how they address each other, and he didn't care about this.

[Ding! Shizuka Nanahoshi's affection level +10, current affection level 20!]

The system notification rang in his mind again.

Perhaps it was because Chen Ming readily agreed to her request that the girl felt respected and accepted, and her tense mood relaxed a little.

“Mingjun…”

Shizuka Nanahoshi mustered her courage, raised her head again, and solemnly vowed, "If you are willing to help me return to Japan and to my family, I will repay you with my whole life!"

It's no wonder that Shizuka Nanahoshi spoke so solemnly.

Because she couldn't think of anything else that could be her reward—she had nothing but her own life, her body, and future companionship.

In fact, this way of thinking was influenced to some extent by the social environment in which she grew up.

Japan's economic downturn in recent years has led many high school girls to secretly engage in compensated dating, even turning Tokyo's Okubo Park into a popular tourist attraction for Chinese visitors. According to Japanese media reports, the proportion of female high school students involved in compensated dating is shockingly high: 32.3% of second-year high school girls have engaged in such activities, and this figure rises to a staggering 44.7% among third-year girls…

Although Shizuka Nanahoshi had never done it herself, many girls at school did it, so she was inevitably influenced by what she saw and heard and knew that such a "transaction" existed.

When she was desperate and unable to pay regular wages, she naturally thought of this most primitive and direct way of "paying"—by sacrificing herself.

Looking at the embarrassed and uneasy yet forcedly composed girl before him, Chen Ming stopped pretending to be a gentleman and nodded directly:

"Deal! I'll take you back right now!"

He has his own principles and readily accepts deals. Since the other party has offered what he considers a reasonable "compensation," and he genuinely needs it, there is no reason for him to refuse.

After saying that, he had a thought and took out the special item he had redeemed but had not yet used—the [Boundary-Breaking Teleporter]—from his system space.

It is small in size, only about the size of a palm, and has a streamlined oval shape. Its surface is covered with fine and mysterious patterns, and it feels warm to the touch and emits a faint glow.

But its effect is extremely powerful: it can pinpoint the spatial coordinates of any place the teleporter has ever been. It can locate and teleport anyone in the teleportation team who has ever personally visited any location, no matter how far away or whether they are in the same world.

The [Boundary-Breaking Teleporter] can be used infinitely after being redeemed, but each teleportation requires 100 points of Joyful Divine Power, and a single teleportation can carry a maximum of ten people.

At first glance, the effect seems similar to Chen Ming's own teleportation ability.

However, teleportation can only take him to places within his sight or places he has personally visited.

The advantage of the [Boundary-Breaking Teleportation Device] is that it can locate itself by using the memories and spatial imprints of its companions.

In other words, as long as Shizuka Nanahoshi teleports with him, the teleportation device can lock onto the coordinates of Shizuka Nanahoshi's home world.

Therefore, teleportation cannot send Shizuka Nanahoshi home, but the [Boundary-Breaking Teleportation Device] can.

Chen Ming reached out and grasped Shizuka Nanahoshi's wrist, which was a little cold from nervousness.

This action made the girl stiffen slightly, but she didn't dare to break free.

He guided the girl gently, saying, "Calm down, concentrate, and try to recall what your home looks like, especially your bedroom, the clearer the better."

Upon hearing this, Shizuka Nanahoshi immediately closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to clear her mind of all distractions, sketching out her incredibly familiar home in her mind: the two-story house in an ordinary residential area of ​​Tokyo, Japan, her own room—walls covered with anime posters, a desk piled with books and clutter, a soft bed, a small succulent plant on the windowsill, and a view of her neighbor's roof and a small patch of sky from the window…

As her memories focused, the patterns on the surface of the [Boundary-Breaking Teleporter] began to light up one by one, as if a silver liquid was flowing within them, emitting a soft glow that grew brighter and brighter, yet was not dazzling.

Finally, it vibrated slightly, emitting a deep, pleasant hum.

Chen Ming confirmed that the coordinates had been locked, silently recited in his mind, and paid 100 points of Joyful Divine Power.

The next moment, a burst of silvery-white light erupted from the two of them, forming a cocoon of light that completely enveloped them. The cocoon contracted rapidly, and then, along with Chen Ming and Shizuka Nanahoshi within it, vanished without a trace from the desolate and empty center of the Fitoa territory, as if erased from a screen by an eraser.

Meanwhile, on the distant horizon of World 2, on a blue planet also called "Blue Star" by its inhabitants, in a second-floor bedroom of an ordinary house in Tokyo, Japan.

The air distorted slightly, and a flash of silver light disappeared.

Chen Ming and Shizuka Nanahoshi appeared precisely in the center of the girlish bedroom, with a soft, light-colored carpet beneath their feet.

Outside the window, the familiar city night view unfolds, neon lights filtering through the curtains and into the room, while the faint sound of cars can be heard in the distance.

Shizuka Nanahoshi suddenly opened her eyes, and when she saw everything around her that was so familiar to her very bones, she was struck dumb, as if by lightning. Then, an overwhelming joy overwhelmed her like a tsunami, her eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down her face.

She really... went home.

Chapter 343: The Invisible Guardian

Watching the girl tremble with excitement at returning home and touch every familiar item in the room with joy, Chen Ming's expression remained perfectly calm.

Because this was already within his expectations and control.

The reason why Shizuka Nanahoshi cannot return to Japan using teleportation magic is that she is entangled with a special ability from the summoner, the goddess Lilia.

Lilia's forbidden summoning technique, which she performed at the cost of her life, was aimed at "changing the past to save the future." Therefore, she placed a powerful spacetime lock on the summoned creature (Shizuka Nanahoshi) to ensure that she must remain in this world until she completes that slim "mission."

The conventional spatial magic of this world has a very low priority and can hardly break through the special shackles woven by Lilia with her life.

But the [Boundary-Breaking Teleportation Device] is different.

It is not a product of this world; its core driving force comes from the system's divine power of joy, a special energy that transcends the rules of World No. 2 and possesses a higher dimension and priority.

The power of the system was clearly not something that Lilia's special abilities, limited to this world, could hinder.

So for Chen Ming, the result was as expected, and there was nothing to be surprised about.

After Qixing Jingxiang's initial ecstasy subsided and her emotions stabilized somewhat, Chen Ming spoke:

"Alright, the agreement has been fulfilled, and you've confirmed that you've returned to your hometown. Now it's time for you to keep your promise."

As he said this, Chen Ming's gaze calmly fell on Shizuka Nanahoshi. Although he did not make any further moves, his meaning was very clear—he was about to start collecting the previously agreed-upon payment.

Upon hearing this, Shizuka Nanahoshi stiffened slightly, and the joy that had not yet completely faded from her face was instantly replaced by a shy blush.

The girl subconsciously lowered her head, avoiding Chen Ming's gaze, and gripped the hem of her sailor uniform tightly with both hands, her knuckles turning slightly white.

But she neither refused nor tried to delay.

After all, this was a condition she herself proposed, a solemn promise she made in despair to go home.

She is not a person who breaks her word.

Besides, reason clearly tells her that even if she regrets it now and wants to betray those who helped her, she simply doesn't have the ability to do so!

The man before her could precisely send her home from another world, and his power far exceeded her imagination—if he could send her back, he could easily take her away again, or inflict other terrible consequences that she could not bear.

Faced with such a godlike and extraordinary being, the resistance of an ordinary high school girl is meaningless!

Since we are powerless to resist and cannot escape... let's just enjoy it...

"……I see."

Shizuka Nanahoshi took a deep breath and spoke in a barely audible voice.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes still showing shyness and unease, but more so a resigned obedience, and a faint, almost imperceptible, admiration for her powerful protector.

[Ding! Shizuka Nanahoshi's affection level +10, current affection level 30!]

[Ding, Shizuka Nanahoshi's affection level +1 +1 +1...]

……

At first it was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass through. After walking several dozen steps, it suddenly opened up into a bright and spacious place. —Tao Yuanming, "The Peach Blossom Spring"

The next morning.

The warm morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, which were printed with cute cartoon patterns, and gently spilled into this bedroom filled with a girlish atmosphere.

A faint, sweet fragrance, typical of a young girl's boudoir, mingled with the subtle sounds of a modern city morning coming from outside the window.

Chen Ming woke up first and, as usual, opened the system interface to check his gains from last night.

[Ding! You have recharged with the stunningly beautiful girl Shizuka Nanahoshi and gained 2 points of Pleasure Power. First recharge bonus: 1000 points of Pleasure Power!] There are 14 more similar notifications, for a total of 2 + 1000 + 28 = 1030 points of Pleasure Power.

After deducting the 100 points consumed by the [Boundary-Breaking Teleportation Device], and adding the original 3583330 points, Chen Ming's total Joyful Divine Power now reaches 3584260 points.

Chen Ming closed the system interface, a satisfied expression on his face. For him, this was both an accumulation of power and the beginning of establishing a stable connection with this girl.

Moreover, the fact that Shizuka Nanahoshi's hometown, Blue Star, is also a huge gain for Chen Ming.

Because he still has a [Light Attribute Divine Spark] in his system shop that he hasn't purchased yet.

We couldn't find a suitable place to preach before.

The main world can't be messed with; there are censors out there...

World One is a faith base managed by the goddess. He only allowed his father-in-law to set up a small church as a pilot project. Expanding it would trigger a faith war, and even the gods behind the goddess would jump out and fight him to the death...

World 2 also has gods and churches, but Shizuka Nanahoshi's hometown, Earth, has a large population and no supernatural powers, making it very suitable for missionary work.

Just as Chen Ming was pondering the specific plan for missionary work, a slight noise and a soft whimper filled with drowsiness came from beside him.

Shizuka Nanahoshi woke up groggily, her long eyelashes fluttering a few times before she slowly opened her sleepy eyes.

The first thing that caught her eye was the familiar ceiling. Then, she turned her head and saw Chen Ming lying next to her.