Dr. Tesla Doesn't Want Liu Bai to See Her Room

Tesla looked at the students dressed in luxurious attire and nodded in agreement.

But looking at the ugly discoloration on Queen's Tower, revealed beneath layers of dust and rain streaks, the word "aristocrat" carried an inexplicable irony.

Even aristocrats... were merely outdated aristocrats.

"Still, the environment here is rather calming," Einstein said fairly. "There's a vast, lush woodland north of the institute. That's the famous Hyde Park and Kensington Park. Let's go. Come to think of it, I've never been there either."

Hyde Park and Kensington Park were both royal gardens open to the public.

"Huh? Einstein has never been there? What about Tesla?"

"I haven't either," Tesla replied after thinking about it. Most of the time, she stayed holed up in her room.

Of course, the more important reason was that Tesla found gardens and parks utterly boring from the bottom of her heart—Einstein probably felt the same way.

For most researchers, all they could do was sit on a bench in the garden and rest with their eyes closed—perhaps that was a scene that could stir one's imagination for an onlooker.

But for the two of them, it was simply a waste of time.

For Tesla, going to those places was worse than lying at home and sleeping, while Einstein would rather borrow books from a library or enjoy a meal at a restaurant—though certainly not British food.

But... today, she seemed to be looking forward to going there?

Tesla realized that she was not merely going through the motions as much as she had imagined.

She could even say... she was looking forward to it?

No, no, no! What was she looking forward to?!

Tesla seemed to think of something and glanced at Einstein, whose pace was unhurried and whose lips held a faint smile.

...Maybe both of them were thinking the same thing?

What interested Liu Bai most about Hyde Park was probably the traces of the Crystal Palace.

"The Crystal Palace used to be here, right?"

Liu Bai looked at the lush woodland before him and asked with interest.

Crystal Palace—while the name invited all kinds of fanciful thoughts, it had in fact been a proper building.

It had been the site of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations—the world's first World Expo. The name Crystal Palace came from a magazine's mockery of the completely transparent structure.

"That's right. The Crystal Palace was built here a hundred years ago, but it was later moved to southern London and burned to the ground in a fire twenty years ago."

Einstein nodded, and her answer made Tesla and Liu Bai glance at her.

Had this girl... really never been here?

"Liesel, you really know this place well."

"It's only knowledge I read about in books." Einstein smiled.

At first glance, Einstein gave people the impression of being an emotionless, taciturn girl, but anyone who got to know her better would realize that she had nothing to do with that type.

Einstein only looked like that sort of girl because of her gentle and calm personality, but after spending enough time with her, one would discover that besides being gentle and calm, she was also somewhat scatterbrained and fond of jokes. If one had to put it that way, Einstein was actually a bit of a little devil.

More importantly, Einstein's deadpan expression made it impossible to tell whether she was joking, giving her jokes a success rate close to one hundred percent.

"Dr. Einstein specifically looked through all kinds of magazines to ensure today's date went smoothly." Einstein straightened her collar. "After all, if we relied on Dr. Tesla, we would probably get lost in London."

"No matter what, I wouldn't get lost in London!"

Tesla retorted in embarrassment. Though she stayed at home whenever she could, she had traveled plenty of times. If anyone was a true shut-in, it was Einstein.

"And Liesel, aren't you looking forward to this date a little too much?"

"After all, this is Dr. Einstein's first date in her life." Einstein was unconcerned by Tesla's reaction. "What's wrong with taking it seriously?"

"Uh..."

Tesla suddenly fell silent.

This seemed to be her first date too.

But what had she done last night?

Oh, she had rolled around in bed for a while, then fallen asleep.

"Why does this feel like the frustration of failing at life...?"

Tesla muttered gloomily.

"It's fine. Everyone already knows that although you look clever, you're actually rather airheaded, Tesla."

Liu Bai comforted her very thoughtfully.

"You're the airheaded one!"

"Dr. Tesla, don't lose your composure and shout at thin air," Einstein said seriously. "Otherwise, Dr. Tesla might be sent to the hospital."

"Uh..."

Only then did Tesla realize that she had drawn the attention of the people around her, and her face instantly turned red.

"L-Let's go!"

"Where should our next destination be... Great Russell Street or Trafalgar Square? Or perhaps Leicester Square?"

Einstein appeared to be asking Tesla, but she was actually asking Liu Bai.

"Great Russell Street has the British Museum, Trafalgar Square has the National Gallery, and near Leicester Square there are theaters, casinos, and Chinatown."

"Where does Ein want to go?" Liu Bai asked back.

"I want pasta."

"..."

All right, that was a very Einstein-like answer.

"What about Tesla?"

"Me? I'd say... Leicester Square. At least it sounds more interesting than the first two."

After a brief moment of thought, Tesla gave her answer.

"You don't have to consider me so much."

Seeing Tesla's thoughtful expression, Liu Bai realized that she had actually been considering him.

"Who... Ahem." Tesla swept her gaze around, and once she was sure no one was nearby, her tone immediately became forceful. "Who was considering you? I mean it. Chinatown and theaters are obviously more interesting than those works of art, right?"

"I really can't do anything with you. Then Leicester Square is our next stop," Liu Bai said with feigned helplessness.

"What kind of tone is that? Do you think I was doing it for... Ahem, f-forget it. I won't lower myself to your level."

Einstein Compatibility +10%, Tesla Compatibility +10%

Dr. Tesla Doesn't Want Liu Bai to See Her Room

That night, Lab 42.

"Ha... I'm exhausted."

Tesla tossed the large and small bags in her hands onto the floor and flopped onto the sofa like a salted fish.

Although Einstein looked far more elegant than Tesla, she had still sunk entirely into the sofa, unable to hide the weariness on her face.

It seemed that today's intense shopping trip had pushed the stamina of these two beautiful scientist girls past its limit.

"This feels completely different from the dates in books."

"After all, I'm a ghost."

Liu Bai smiled bitterly as he looked at the two lying on the sofa. Thinking carefully, he had done nothing at all during today's date. "I really put you two through a lot."

"I had a lot of fun too..." Tesla turned her head to the side.

"Dr. Einstein also believes this date was a great success." Einstein said, "If possible, next time Dr. Tesla should take us out to have fun."

"Why do I have to lead the way?" Tesla muttered. "Still, the places I've been to—Trieste and North America—the duty-free shops are cheaper than London's, and they have plenty of things too. I'll definitely take you there during our next vacation. Next time, Liu Bai can carry the bags."

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm a ghost. I don't mind, as long as you aren't afraid of haunting incidents."

"Don't worry. Before then, I'll definitely create a body you can use."

Still in her salted-fish state, Tesla confidently waved her hand from the sofa.

"When the time comes, you only need to follow behind me and carry the bags—this is what a lab assistant should do."

"Is that really what an assistant should do?" Liu Bai quipped. "Dr. Einstein, let's report Tesla to headquarters together for using public resources for personal gain."

"Sorry, Dr. Einstein cannot do that." Einstein took out a bottle of cola from a bag by her feet. "Mr. Liu Bai's name is not on the laboratory assistant roster, and more importantly—Dr. Einstein also needs someone to carry her bags."

After saying that, Einstein stuck out her tongue at Liu Bai with an innocent expression.

"..."

Einstein was so honest that Liu Bai had no response.

"Oh, right." Einstein seemed to remember something. "Teacher and the others will arrive in London tomorrow. Would Mr. Liu Bai like to come pick them up?"

"Of course. Tesla will be going too, right?" Liu Bai looked at salted-fish Tesla.

"Me? If possible, I want to sleep at home."

"So that means you're willing to go."

Tesla nodded without denying it. No matter what, they were her teachers. Though she often called them "old hags," she was still deeply grateful to them in her heart.

"Come to think of it, Liu Bai, do you mind revealing yourself in front of other people?"

Though Tesla's body was tired, her mind remained clear.

Liu Bai was also taken aback upon hearing that question.

That was right. If they were going to conduct the second stage of the experiment, they would inevitably need to reveal his existence to them.

"Don't worry. Dr. Einstein invited Teacher and the others under the pretext of researching mechs."

Einstein seemed to have prepared for this question long ago.

"Dr. Einstein thinks Liu Bai should meet Teacher and the others first before deciding. If he does not wish to reveal himself, then we will terminate the experiment and optimize the mech instead. If he does not mind... I will have Teacher and the others swear to keep Liu Bai's secret."

"Tch, Liesel, you really thought everything through."

Tesla was left speechless by Einstein's thorough preparations.

Even Liu Bai could find nothing to criticize.

"Since they are Ein's teachers, I naturally trust them."

Einstein Compatibility +5%

"Mm. In that case, I'll tell Teacher and the others at an appropriate time."

Einstein stretched lazily. "By the way, does Dr. Tesla not plan to tidy up her room?"

"My room... uh."

Tesla's eye twitched as she remembered the complete mess of her room.

It seemed... she really should clean her room?

"...Tomorrow."

Tesla lay on the sofa, utterly unwilling to move.

She had toured all of London today! Where would she find the energy to clean her room?

It was only natural for her to rest a little, wasn't it?

"Dr. Einstein believes Dr. Tesla will say the same thing tomorrow." Einstein immediately exposed Tesla's excuse.

"Hey! Liesel!"

"Then I'll do it." Liu Bai sighed. On the one hand, he wanted to repay Tesla, but on the other, he truly could not bear looking at her room anymore.

It was not that Liu Bai was a clean freak.

"No!" Salted-fish Tesla sprang to her feet. "I'll clean it myself!"

For some reason, Tesla was suddenly full of motivation.