[Typhoon Dragonfly suddenly changes course!]
[This year’s strongest typhoon veers away, passes close to China’s coast, now heading out to sea]
[Latest typhoon track: likely to make landfall on Japan’s Kyushu Island]
[Typhoon wind force strengthens again; Japanese citizens taking urgent action]
The next day, news poured out non-stop. The people of Zhejiang Province, who had spent days preparing for floods and gales, nearly threw their backs out in shock.
“What the hell?”
“How does it just turn like that?”
“I already took my trousers off, and you only flashed me at the door before leaving again?”
“Genius upstairs!”
“Nobody noticed the real point? The typhoon got stronger and is now heading for Japan?”
“That’s hardly the point. People living the good life over there are already used to it.”
“Typhoons and earthquakes are routine for them, no big deal (doghead.jpg).”
“Poor Japanese. Harsh natural environment never broke neither their spirits nor their optimism, so they built a world-shocking entertainment industry and economic miracle.”
“How did a complete idiot sneak into this comment section?”
…
Haicheng, early morning.
A light rain had fallen overnight, but as the typhoon moved farther away, the sky over Haicheng cleared to brilliant blue.
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan strolled hand in hand along streets still damp from the rain, breathing in the fresh post-rain air.
Lin Wan’s cheeks glowed, utterly content. “I suddenly fancy soup dumplings. Let’s go!”
…
A certain conference room.
All relevant personnel sat in grim silence, each holding a thick stack of documents.
“Ship 528 docked at 22:00 last night. The captain has submitted his report; it’s in your hands.”
“Also included: the small cyclone that formed in the typhoon eye core, the path-change diagram, and the timeline of wind-force increase.”
“
“You are all experts in your fields. Any thoughts?”
The experts stared at the materials, speechless.
…
“Soup dumplings plus wonton soup. I’ve been in Haicheng a few years now and I’m actually used to this kind of breakfast,” Lu Zheng laughed.
Lin Wan nodded. “Fresh shrimp filling.”
They left the breakfast shop with no particular destination, just holding hands and wandering until they reached a nearby park.
Morning joggers, people on outdoor gym equipment, tai chi practitioners, dancers; everyone wore relaxed smiles.
…
Japan, Kyushu Island.
The biggest news from the moment people woke up: this year’s strongest typhoon had abruptly turned ninety degrees from targeting Xiang County, China, to Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan.
“What is this nonsense? Typhoons don’t make ninety-degree turns. Do you think I’m illiterate?”
“What? It’ll hit Kyushu in one day? Are you kidding? Yesterday it was almost landing in China!”
“Real-time updates came out in the middle of the night. Lots of people are already preparing.”
“Is China the son of Heaven? Even a typhoon bullies us?”
“Nooo! I refuse to believe it! The divine wind is supposed to protect our Great Cherry Blossom Empire!”
…
“That young man and woman play beautiful tai chi!”
“Definitely trained.”
“Nice rhythm.”
A group of uncles and aunties who had just finished using the outdoor equipment were pointing and commenting on Lu Zheng and Lin Wan.
The two had felt inspired and decided to join the locals with a set of Yang-style tai chi.
Given their cultivation level, every movement was perfectly balanced, soft yet firm, fast yet slow; it looked stunning.
If they had an opponent or props, the onlookers would have learned why tai chi is considered an extremely fierce martial art.
…
A certain conference room.
“It completely defies scientific principles.”
The lead senior expert looked up and removed his glasses.
“I have done research my entire life and have never seen such a phenomenon. Theoretically, it is impossible.”
“From a meteorological standpoint, another typhoon forming inside a typhoon eye is a false proposition,” another scholar said.
“And the monitoring ship’s report; they were on the verge of capsizing, then suddenly surrounded by gentle breeze and drizzle?”
A third expert twisted the report in his hands, brows knotted. “Then escorted out of a level eleven wind zone by level two winds? I suspect you’re pranking us with fantasy literature. What next, a dragon under the sea controlling wind and rain to protect China’s people?”
Everyone looked toward the person at the head of the table.
“Unfortunately,” the leader said patiently, shaking his head, “these are the actual events of yesterday.”
Everyone, “…”
…
After finishing the set, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan clapped the dust from their hands and left amid the admiring gazes of the uncles and aunties.
Back home, into the car, destination: Dream Valley Water World. It’s summer; if you don’t play in the water now, are you going to wait until winter?
Water World, tickets bought.
Lu Zheng wore plain swim trunks, Lin Wan a modest sky-blue floral one-piece.
Everywhere: slides, pools, crowds splashing and laughing.
Giant octopus slide, super trumpet slide, water roller-coaster, deep-sea vortex; long queues at every ride.
“What first?”
“The big trumpet!”
“Let’s go!”
Hand in hand, they jogged toward the Super Trumpet slide.
…
…
“Hurry, hurry, hurry!”
“All vessels into port! Drop anchor!”
“Pull every aircraft into the hangars. Ground all planes in the air!”
“Leave cancelled. Everyone back to base on standby!”
Nagasaki, Lighthouse Country naval base, frantically preparing for the typhoon.
Meanwhile, in a conference room back in the Lighthouse Country mainland, a group stared dumbfounded at satellite images transmitted from the previous day.
“What is that?”
“Looks like a small cyclone.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Probably just cloud masses sucked into the eye.”
“Does this thing have anything to do with the typhoon’s sudden turn?”
“Who the hell knows.”
“Could it be China’s newest tech… or a weather weapon?”
“Redirect a typhoon? You joking? That thing is visible from outer space. If China could do that, I’d rather believe it hit a strong updraft and took a sharp turn.”
“But we can use this to request funding from Congress.”
“You’re a bloody genius! Who’d have thought China already has this technology!”
…
A certain office.
Another document slid into an ordinary-looking cabinet.
《Report on the Anomalous Deviation of Typhoon Dragonfly》
…
Water World, Giant Beast Bowl slide.
“AAAAAHHHH!!!”
Lin Wan sat in the rubber raft, gripping the handles tightly, screaming with delight alongside the girl sharing her raft as they shot down the slide.
Finally, through one last pitch-black tunnel, the raft splashed into the pool below.
“So much fun!” Lin Wan laughed, hopping off the raft and pointing. “Let’s do the water roller-coaster next!”
