Teaching Mei to Throw Hands, For Real (Continued)

"The nanny is someone my parents know, and I also talk to my parents regularly every day."

Mei answered without looking up.

If it weren't for Liu Bai's special status as her teacher, Mei would never have answered such a seemingly casual question.

There's no other reason than that this will distract you and reduce your learning efficiency.

"That arrangement makes more sense."

Liu Bai nodded. After all, Mei was very self-disciplined and would definitely make the call on time unless something unexpected happened.

"However, there is still a tiny bit of danger..."

Liu Bai stroked his chin and suddenly had an idea.

"Mei, would you like to learn some boxing techniques?"

"...?"

I don't know if it was the word "study" that piqued Mei's interest, or if the suggestion was so absurd that Mei was speechless, but in any case, Mei unusually looked up while reading.

"... What's the point?"

Since they didn't directly reject me, it means there's still a chance!

"For self-defense against bad guys in the future?"

"Then it's pointless."

Mei turned her gaze back to the book.

"Professional matters should be left to professionals. I see myself as a researcher, not a warrior. Moreover, even if I learned so-called 'boxing techniques,' I would be powerless to resist dangers such as armed robbery."

Although Mei's statement is reasonable and well-founded, the problem lies in...

This is no ordinary boxing technique!

An ordinary robber, let alone a knife, even if he had a chainsaw, wouldn't be able to beat Hua back in high school.

The human body is amazing, isn't it?

"While I agree with your self-positioning, my suggestion is that you give it a try?"

Although Liu Bai really wanted to prove that Fu Hua's boxing style was not an ordinary boxing style, he felt that refuting Mei's argument would be quite a troublesome thing.

"And then again, even if you don't use it as a soldier, it has the effect of strengthening your body—a researcher can't do without a strong body."

Although young people have plenty of energy and can stay up all night working themselves to the bone, it still puts their bodies under strain.

There are three reasons why Mei, as the researcher who was safest in the rear, passed away after the battle.

Years of hard work, the inevitable erosion during Honkai Energy research, and the overuse of the Key of Emptiness.

Liu Bai has no solution for the latter two, but he can always come up with a solution for the former.

Even overusing the Key of Emptiness can actually damage one's physical constitution.

"... If this is what you mean, Doctor."

Mei can't look to the future like Liu Bai does, but at least Liu Bai's reasons are reasonable and well-founded at this moment.

Moreover, having come this far, Mei was also a little curious about what kind of boxing style Liu Bai recommended so highly.

"However, please wait until after your training session to discuss matters concerning boxing techniques."

"..."

Seeing Mei's mind refocused on her book, Liu Bai felt a sense of powerlessness.

Young lady! You're far too disciplined these days!

... Okay, Mei is still a loli right now, but even so, she should have some childlike liveliness!

She's really not cute at all...

Liu Bai could only sigh slightly at this.

After that, Liu Bai witnessed a dull and tasteless evening.

"... So I said, Mei, besides the necessities of life like eating, drinking, defecating, and studying, do you have any hobbies?" Liu Bai couldn't help but ask after watching Mei finish her meal.

"For me right now, that kind of thing would only be a waste of time and energy," Mei replied without changing her expression.

"... I knew it would be this reason. Couldn't you have come up with a cuter one?"

Liu Bai thought for a moment, then gave an example in a high-pitched voice, "For example, 'This hobby is not elegant at all, I don't like it~'"

"..."

Ah, Mei is starting to look at her seat with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot.

It's like stepping back in time to the days of Mobius.

"No, just pretend I never said anything."

Liu Bai ultimately succumbed to Mei's gaze.

"So what are your plans next?"

"Take a shower, then go to sleep."

"Then let's not take a shower yet."

Liu Bai made the decision.

"You'll be covered in sweat after you finish your boxing practice, then you can take a shower."

"Are you covered in sweat...?" Mei hesitated slightly.

Even if a little girl who hasn't exercised much is very rational, she still has her own likes and dislikes.

For example, Liu Bai's current phrase "covered in sweat" – just hearing this phrase reminds me of the sticky, uncomfortable feeling during PE class in the summer.

Fortunately, this is my own home, so I can take a shower anytime.

"You can still make cute expressions, right? But don't worry, it's a gradual process. At first, it's just a few basic movements—though basic doesn't mean easy."

For example, practicing the horse stance.

Or rather, this thing is not simple in any real sense.

Practicing martial arts is inherently a way to temper one's willpower.

... Although when Fu Hua taught me back then, she skipped basic training like horse stance because of my ghostly nature.

When Mei heard the words "basically doesn't mean easy," she had a vague feeling that she had been tricked...

"Don't sink into the bathtub!"

Liu Bai called out through the bathroom door.

Although Mei was allowed to rest for a while before taking a shower, it was Mei's first time engaging in relatively intense exercise—at least for a third-grade girl—so Liu Bai was still quite worried about whether something might happen.

"..."

Don't you have any nice things to say?

Mei sighed, feeling somewhat weary.

Her legs are a little sore now, but thankfully it won't affect her exercise—after all, Liu Bai isn't some kind of demon, he's not trying to make Mei unable to get out of bed for training the next day, he's just letting Mei gradually adapt to the intensity.

And making a third-grade little girl unable to get out of bed... that sounds just too sinful.

"Is practicing martial arts always this tiring?"

"Pretty much—just like studying."

"Studying isn't this tiring," Mei retorted from inside the bathroom, through the door.

I don't know why, but after normal training, while others should be exhausted and have no energy to talk, Mei seems to talk more—probably because she doesn't have the energy to continue thinking so rationally.

"It depends on the person."

How dare you say that when your research abilities are definitely on par with Mobius's?

Liu Bai couldn't help but complain in his heart.

"But in the end, even studying isn't entirely easy, is it?"

Although Liu Bai was cheating, he was still considered to have the same talent as Mei and Mobius.

They naturally knew that some thresholds were not easily crossed even by people with their talent.

"... It cannot be denied."

Mei, who was behind the door, thought about it and agreed with Liu Bai's statement.

"But I still feel like I can't adapt to this kind of training."

"Are you going to give up?" Liu Bai countered.

"..."

Give up?

Although her emotions told her that today's workout had brought her nothing but fatigue and soreness, her reason told her that, as Liu Bai said, appropriate exercise was necessary—although she couldn't be sure whether her current workout was appropriate or not.

"No, continue."

Mei seemed to have returned to her usual rational self.

"Tsk, I thought you were going to give up. How unlovable."

Liu Bai's voice sounded quite disappointed.

"But it saves me the time of trying to fool you."

... to fool.

Is it really okay to say this outright?

Mei feels like she's developed a thing called "complaint urge".

But then again...

"Doctor, do you think 'cute' is an important compliment?"

Mei sounded a little confused. "My mom always talks to me about 'cuteness'."

Thankfully, it seems they're not all bookworms.

"Well... I guess it's not that important?"

Ah, this is a topic that Liu Bai finds difficult to answer.

After all, it seems like none of the people he knows are related to cuteness... but that's not entirely true.

Mobius and Bianka were actually quite cute when they were little.

But in terms of personality...

Liu Bai seemed to understand a little.

"Mei, guys who say you're 'not cute at all' usually think you're cute."

Although I used to say every day that Mobius, that sharp-tongued little girl, wasn't cute at all, to be honest, how could she not be cute!

Although at this point in time, that sharp-tongued loli has already become a sadistic mature woman.

Well, it might change back in the future anyway.

And then there's Bianka. Although her personality is a bit unlikable in some ways, is she really not cute?

Clearly, the simple-minded and easily fooled little knight princess is still very cute.

... Of course, the key point is that he's single-minded; please don't mind that he's easy to fool.

Mei is the same now. She's a serious, bookish little girl, which is cute in itself. Adding a touch of unexpected cuteness makes her even more adorable.

"They just wish you could be cuter."

"... completely incomprehensible."

This is the first time in my life that I have encountered a situation where "I can understand each word of a sentence individually, but I can't understand it at all when they are put together".

"Yes, this kind of absent-mindedness outside of studying is a kind of cute contrast."