The institute had arranged a compact two-room apartment for Su Xun. Though modest in size, it was more than sufficient for his needs. Fang Min even helped him apply for a free parking space for convenience.
Since he had brought no luggage, Fang Min thoughtfully showed him where the nearest supermarket was, so that he could purchase daily necessities in the afternoon after completing his onboarding process. The apartment, after all, contained nothing beyond the most basic furnishings.
Soon after, Fang Min escorted Su Xun to the institute. A row of electric vehicles stood parked outside the entrance. They transferred to one of them and entered the research compound.
Su Xun glanced around at the surrounding laboratory buildings, a surge of excitement stirring within him.
As she drove, Fang Min explained the structure and layout of the institute in detail.
Before long, they arrived at the central building. Fang Min pulled up beside an automated parking slot and said, "Come, let's get your registration done."
"Alright."
They stepped into the building, and after more than an hour of procedures, Su Xun finally completed all the formalities—officially becoming a member of Hualing Research Institute.
Originally, as a transmigrant, Su Xun had no legal identity in this world. Fortunately, the system had generated one for him upon his arrival; otherwise, joining Hualing would have been impossible.
"It's almost noon now, Xiao Su. Let me take you to lunch," Fang Min offered.
At her words, Su Xun paused, then his eyes lit up with delight.
Since arriving in this world, he had been surviving on bread, ham, and water to save time—he hadn't had a proper, hot meal in days.
He swallowed hungrily and said, "Let's go!"
Fang Min glanced at the sparkle in his eyes and couldn't help but be amused. Until now, the young man had carried himself with a calm, composed air—but at the mention of food, he became visibly animated.
Such people, she thought, were called "foodies" online.
The two walked together to the institute's cafeteria. The canteen was massive—spanning nearly a thousand square meters.
There were many food stations, each offering a distinct cuisine: stir-fried dishes from various regions, a variety of noodles, seafood, rice noodles, spicy hot pots, fast food, mala tang, mala ban, traditional hotpot, and more.
As soon as Su Xun stepped inside, the aroma of food overwhelmed his senses, and his stomach let out a loud growl.
"Go ahead and pick what you want," Fang Min said. "Your ID card already has a monthly food allowance loaded onto it. Just don't splurge all at once—once it's gone, you'll have to top it up yourself."
"Got it!"
With that, Su Xun charged ahead, card in hand.
It was mealtime, and people had begun to trickle into the cafeteria. Many noticed the unfamiliar young face and began whispering among themselves:
"So young…"
"Deputy Director Fang brought him personally."
"A prodigy, perhaps?"
"Seems like it. Wonder who he is."
"Just days ago, another new one came in. Now there's another?"
"You mean that little witch?"
"That girl—cute and manipulative—has charmed her way into countless free meals. Many of the male researchers have fallen for her act."
"Even Wang Xin wasn't spared."
"Don't you know who the little witch really is?"
"Of course I do. She's—"
"Shh! Quiet! She's here to eat!"
At that moment, Su Xun stood before the spicy stir-fry station, stomach practically screaming. "I haven't had a proper hotpot stir-fry in ages."
He grabbed a tray and began selecting his favorite ingredients. Once satisfied, he handed the tray to the chef behind the counter and waited for his dish to be prepared.
Fang Min, not fond of spicy food, headed to the rice bowl counter.
"New here?"
A tap on his shoulder made Su Xun turn sharply. Behind him stood a petite, charming girl with a bright, doll-like face. Her large, glistening eyes were fixed on him, awaiting a reply.
Su Xun merely cast a glance at her before turning his attention back to the sizzling stir-fry.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
The girl sounded slightly annoyed. She stepped closer and reached for his arm.
What happened next left everyone utterly stunned—Su Xun swiftly pivoted backward and, in one fluid motion, seized the girl's wrist and pinned her in place.
"Ow, ow, ow! Let go, let go!" she cried, wincing in pain.
The girl felt as though her arm were about to be twisted off.
"Let go of me! Don't you know a man shouldn't touch a woman so casually? Ah! My dignity!"
Seeing she was about to make a scene, Su Xun gave her a gentle shove to the side and warned coldly, "Keep your hands to yourself."
"You—!"
The girl's eyes welled with tears as she pouted, looking utterly aggrieved, as if she had suffered an enormous injustice.
At that moment, a few people walked in through the door—among them was Wang Xin. Seeing the scene unfolding, they rushed over.
"Brother Xin, he bullied me!"
Yan Yan immediately ran to him, eager to complain.
Wang Xin's eyes flickered slightly when he saw Su Xun. He stepped to Yan Yan's side, his voice laced with concern. "Xiao Yan, what did he do to you?"
"He hit me!"
As the words left her lips, the expressions of Wang Xin and his companions instantly darkened.
Wang Xin stormed over to Su Xun, his anger barely contained. "You little punk, did you lay a hand on her? You hit a woman?!"
Su Xun didn't even bother to look up. "More or less." After all, he had indeed pushed her.
Yan Yan's gaze toward him shifted slightly. She had expected him to argue or make excuses, but to her surprise, he admitted it outright—rather boldly, at that.
The surrounding crowd stirred with interest, quickly gathering around. It was no secret that Wang Xin had been courting the notorious little witch, Yan Yan.
"Well, I'll give you this—you've got guts!" Wang Xin sneered. He knew Yan Yan well; things might not be as she claimed, but he hadn't expected Su Xun to confess so bluntly.
Just as he raised a fist to strike—
"Stop!"
Fang Min's voice rang out, halting Wang Xin mid-motion. She strode over briskly.
"Enough of this nonsense! This is a canteen, not a boxing ring. Wang Xin, aren't you a bit old to be so hot-headed?"
Faced with her rebuke, Wang Xin pointed at Su Xun. "It's him! He hit Xiao Yan!"
"You don't know her temper?" Fang Min shot him a glare before turning to Yan Yan. "If she'd really been wronged, do you think she'd be standing here so quietly?"
"Me?"
Wang Xin opened his mouth to speak, but someone behind him tugged him back.
Yan Yan pouted and leaned on Fang Min coquettishly. "Aunt Fang, why are you so fierce? I was just playing around with them."
"Such childish nonsense."
Fang Min rolled her eyes with a smile, then addressed the crowd. "Back to your meals. Don't you have work to do?"
At her words, the crowd dispersed like a receding tide.
Just then, a voice called from the kitchen window. "Comrade, your spicy hot pot is ready."
"Mm!"
Unfazed, Su Xun took his tray, grabbed a pair of chopsticks and a spoon, and sat at the nearest table, digging in with relish.
Wang Xin glared at Su Xun, who was now quietly eating, then snorted coldly. Turning to Yan Yan and Fang Min, he said, "We still have tasks to complete. We're heading back."
"Not eating?" someone beside him asked.
"Eat what?!"
With that, he stormed out of the cafeteria. The others quickly followed.
Fang Min watched him leave and shook her head. Then, tapping Yan Yan lightly on the forehead, she muttered, "No wonder people call you a little witch—you bring trouble wherever you go."
"Aiya, I'm no witch," Yan Yan replied playfully. "I'm a fairy!"
With that, she stuck out her tongue cheekily at Fang Min.