"It's okay," Xiao Chen replied with a warm smile, exuding an approachable charm.
"Xiao Chen looks so much cooler than the immature boys in my class," Gwen thought to herself, her cheeks tinged with a shy blush. Compared to her peers, who seemed to take pride in teasing girls, Xiao Chen's calm and steady demeanor was unlike anyone she had ever met.
At that moment—
Grandpa Max approached with a tray in his hands, a mysterious expression on his face. "You must be hungry after all that running around. Here, have something to replenish your strength! This is good stuff."
The three of them, indeed feeling famished, instinctively turned their gazes toward the tray.
In an instant, both Gwen and Ben turned pale.
On the tray lay long, thin, protein-packed "delicacies"—worms!
Even the more mature Xiao Chen felt a chill run down his spine. He gulped audibly and stammered, "G-Grandpa, are we really eating this tonight?"
"This is a highly nutritious delicacy," Grandpa Max said with a kind smile. "At your age, it's the perfect time to boost your protein intake."
However, that "kind" smile looked more like the grin of a devil in Xiao Chen's eyes.
"Grandpa, don't we have sandwiches, burgers, or something like that?" Xiao Chen asked nervously.
"Don't be silly. Those things aren't nearly as nutritious as this," Grandpa Max replied with a chuckle. "Oh, by the way, I think there's some beef tongue in the fridge. Let me go grab it for you."
As soon as he left, Ben leaned in and whispered, "What snacks did you guys bring? I've got some leftover chips..."
"I have half a bag of chocolate hazelnuts," Gwen said dejectedly, her hopeful eyes eventually landing on Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen clenched his fists, staring at the plate of worms with great difficulty. "I have a suggestion. The beef tongue is definitely better than these worms. You two eat the beef tongue, and... I'll eat... this!"
"For real?" Ben glanced at the plate of worms and shuddered.
"Here's the beef tongue," Grandpa Max announced as he returned, placing a plate of seasoned, cooked beef tongue on the table. It actually looked quite appetizing.
The next moment.
All eyes—Grandpa Max, Gwen, and Ben—were on Xiao Chen.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Chen reached out, grabbed a handful of the "protein," and, with his eyes tightly shut, tossed it into his mouth.
Crunch.
It was surprisingly crispy!
And it didn't taste bad at all!
What shocked Xiao Chen the most was that after swallowing the protein, he actually felt a slight surge of comfort in his body.
He opened his eyes, staring at Grandpa Max in disbelief.
"Haha, I told you, this is the best thing for you," Grandpa Max said with a knowing smile.
Gwen and Ben were left in awe, especially Ben, who now looked at Xiao Chen with newfound admiration.
Xiao Chen was just like Bear Grylls from those survival shows—eating bugs without hesitation!
"You two should start eating too," Xiao Chen said, his psychological barrier now broken. He continued eating at a leisurely pace, while Gwen and Ben picked up the beef tongue and found it surprisingly delicious.
As they ate, their conversation naturally shifted to the fascinating Omnitrix.
"Earlier, the watch was green. Why is it red now?" Gwen, ever observant, noticed the change.
"Let me see," Xiao Chen said, pretending to be puzzled. After fiddling with it for a moment, he explained, "It seems like the watch can't transform when it's red. Only when it's green can it activate and turn into alien heroes."
Just then—
The Omnitrix emitted its signature activation sound, and its glow suddenly turned green.
"Hey, it's ready to transform again," Xiao Chen said excitedly, rotating the Omnitrix dial as alien images appeared one by one. He resisted the urge to transform into another alien.
"Why don't you try becoming a different alien this time?" Ben suggested eagerly.
"Better not," Xiao Chen replied seriously. "Who knows if those aliens might come back? This watch's transformations are meant for dealing with monsters, not for fun."
This response earned a nod of approval from Grandpa Max, who observed the scene quietly.
Xiao Chen truly was the best candidate for the Omnitrix.
"Xiao Chen's absolutely right. Plus, this watch can do so many meaningful things," Gwen agreed wholeheartedly, nodding along.
As if their conversation had triggered something—
The RV's radio suddenly crackled to life, broadcasting a panicked voice.
"Help! Somebody help us!"
"We're at the campsite in the northwest corner of the forest. There's a giant robot attacking us!"
Bang!!
The transmission was accompanied by deafening crashes and explosions!
"Those must be the robots from earlier—they're back!" Grandpa Max reacted immediately, his gaze shifting to the Omnitrix on Xiao Chen's wrist.
Xiao Chen's eyes were resolute as he declared firmly, "These robots are definitely after me. Grandpa, please drive us there! I'll take care of them myself!"
"Alright, get in the RV!" Grandpa Max didn't hesitate in critical moments. He swiftly climbed into the RV, took the driver's seat, and buckled up.
After Ben, Gwen, and Xiao Chen got in, Xiao Chen made sure to shut the door tightly, his eyes fixed on the forest outside the window.
"Hold on tight, I'm stepping on the gas!" Grandpa Max called out.
With a light press on the pedal, the RV roared to life, speeding through the forest at full throttle toward the distressed campsite!
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