Firefly Wants to Fit In / Give It Some Thought?

"When I ask her anything, it's always, 'Teacher, do you believe in love?' Believe my ass. Anyone who dates has to be brain-dead."

For a scientist, Mobius's tirade was both filthy and a sweeping generalization.

Natasha could understand. Her Highlord had clearly been traumatized by what happened with Blanca.

Though from an observer's perspective, Natasha still rather envied Blanca for finding where she belonged.

"Um... how about dissecting her and taking a look at her brain?"

Natasha decisively fanned the flames—only for Mobius to glare at her.

"Enough. It looks like Clio's useless to me for the time being. Raven."

"Here."

Natasha's expression turned slightly solemn as she waited for Mobius's orders.

"You and Gray Serpent will get me a recruitment notice. Hand it to me tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?"

Natasha glanced at the time.

It was already five in the afternoon!

"Half a day isn't enough?"

Mobius was very displeased. Natasha fell silent; clearly, her Highlord was just looking for someone to vent on.

"The position is research assistant. Remember, I want it tomorrow morning. Give me several versions."

"..."

Just kill me.

Overslept

Overslept. Four updates in total today.

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Firefly Wants to Fit In

"Natasha isn't coming back today?"

Guinaifen, who was washing the dishes, asked Liu Bai.

She had also started feeling that calling Natasha "sis" was more natural.

"Now that dinner's over, don't ask that question, okay?"

Liu Bai glanced at Guinaifen, then at Firefly, who was watching TV on the sofa.

"She's working overtime at World Serpent today. She said she won't be coming back."

"It was supposed to be a rare little celebration banquet."

Guinaifen looked a little disappointed—she was the sort of person who liked lively occasions.

"But it's not all bad. At least Firefly can come out and get some fresh air."

"Huh? Me?"

The topic suddenly turning to her left Firefly at a loss.

"Actually, it's nice in the Serenitea Pot too..."

Honestly, the air in the Serenitea Pot was fresher than outside...

"But seeing a huge pile of women's clothes suddenly appear in the yard today really gave me a fright."

Firefly shot Liu Bai a sidelong glance.

The last time Liu Bai had used the Serenitea Pot to store clothes, he had only put away two pieces, so Firefly hadn't noticed.

This time, there were more than forty pieces, and Firefly immediately found out.

Fortunately, it also cleared up Firefly's suspicion that Liu Bai was selling his looks—but he was risking his life instead!

Well, although Firefly had no idea how he had risked his life enough to win other people's clothes.

Neither Liu Bai nor Guinaifen particularly wanted to talk about that matter.

"But that energy... no, anyway, Mr. Liu Bai, you really must take care of yourself."

"I know."

Liu Bai, who was reading, nodded.

"Oh, right, Boss, did that gorgeous woman who added you last time contact you?"

"Who?"

"The red-haired beauty named Eden."

Seeing that Liu Bai had not caught on, Guinaifen gave him a direct reminder.

That startled Firefly. "Eh... well, since it's Mr. Liu Bai, I suppose it isn't strange."

For some reason, without even needing Liu Bai to explain, Firefly immediately adjusted her mindset.

"You mean Eden... No, she hasn't contacted me."

Liu Bai checked his contacts. There were only the simple stickers they had exchanged when they first added each other.

But that made sense. No matter how well they had hit it off, they were still strangers who had met by chance.

Being able to exchange contact information was already quite good.

"Boss, you're completely passive."

"You can't force a topic when there isn't one." Liu Bai glanced at Guinaifen.

"You can, actually. An older guy living next door told me that when you see a pretty girl, you should go ask for her contact info, start with 'You there?', and then slowly work your way into topics and affection."

"So? Did he join a circus?"

"Ah, no, he couldn't get anyone's contact info."

"Oh, then it sounds like he should've gone to Gotham."

"What on earth are you even talking about?"

After finishing the dishes, Guinaifen returned to the living room and sat on the sofa to watch TV with Firefly.

"Anyway, Boss, why not give it a try?"

Guinaifen looked like she was bored out of her mind.

Maybe he really should buy her a full streaming setup.

And hearing that, Firefly could no longer focus on the television.

"Um... how gorgeous is this gorgeous woman?"

"She's very, very gorgeous."

"Eh..."

"You two, stop communicating with elementary-school vocabulary." Liu Bai sighed. "I can see it now, Little Gui, you're just messing with me... Fine, I'll give it a try."

Liu Bai pulled up his contacts and opened Eden's profile picture—a selfie.

Liu Bai: You there? (Read)

Eden: I am.

"She read it instantly and replied instantly..." Guinaifen and Firefly were both surprised.

Since Liu Bai had displayed the chat screen, Guinaifen and Firefly could see it too... He had really become the one putting on a show.

Liu Bai sighed.

Eden: Is something wrong?

Liu Bai: Nothing. I just wanted to chat with you. I'm not bothering you, am I?

"Boss, your flirting is so stiff." Guinaifen commented from the side. Liu Bai did not indulge her and directly flicked her on the head.

Eden: It's fine. I just finished practicing and am resting... Speaking of which, are you free tomorrow?

"Eh, eh, eh, eh?" *2

The two girls beside him both cried out in surprise at the sight of that message.

"M-Mr. Liu Bai, um... this... i-is this a date? Even though it's only... our second conversation?"

"Watch out for tea scams, Boss! Some scam rings on the Xianzhou pretend to be little girls selling tea to trick people... Wah, could Miss Eden be that sort of person too?"

"You two, Little Gui, know when to stop." Liu Bai looked at their expressions.

Firefly was genuinely surprised. As for Guinaifen... put nicely, she was playing the straight man; put less nicely, she was just joining in the fun.

With Eden's looks, would she need to sell tea?

Honestly, a couple of ordinary selfies from her would be a dimensionality-reducing strike against the vast majority of female internet celebrities.

Liu Bai: What is it? To be honest, this invitation is a little sudden.

"You really do say exactly what's on your mind." Guinaifen was rather surprised too.

"There's no way she's genuinely asking me out to be lovey-dovey. If she has something to say, why can't she just ask?" Liu Bai had never dated, but he did not need dating experience for this.

The odds that she needed something from him were clearly much higher than any other possibility.

People chatting normally did not send you pictures of boobs or bare thighs. How could the little head control the big head so easily? The little head was not that cheap!

Eden: It's like this. I hope you can bring Miss Gui along. There are some matters regarding vocal style that I would like to ask Miss Gui about.

"Looking for you, huh." Liu Bai looked at Guinaifen with an ambiguous smile, raised a fist as a microphone, and said, "Regarding this, what insights does Master Guinaifen, the one hundred and twenty-eighth-generation heir of Xianzhou folk arts, have to offer?"

"Ahem. Regarding that, Little Gui—cough—this master shall briefly share her thoughts..."

Firefly: "..."

She envied how naturally those two could follow each other's train of thought.

There were three of them, but she somehow seemed completely out of place.

...Maybe I should try harder to fit in too?

Liu Bai: No problem. I'll trouble Miss Eden with deciding the time and place.

Eden: Thank you very much. Let's meet at noon. I'll send you the location shortly.

The two exchanged goodbye stickers again, and the conversation ended there.

A while later, Eden sent an address.

It was the family restaurant near the library that Liu Bai had gone to last time with Natasha and Rita.

"...In short, being able to achieve what I have today is thanks to the Xianzhou, thanks to the Luofu, thanks to the Cloud Knights, thanks to the Ten Kings..."

un

"Alright, the award ceremony is over. Little Gui, you can get down now." Liu Bai poked Guinaifen.

"Um, is Miss Guinaifen really the one hundred and twenty-eighth-generation heir of Xianzhou folk arts?" Firefly tried hard to join Liu Bai and Guinaifen's conversation.

"No, obviously that was a joke."

Firefly: "..."

It seemed the road to fitting in was long and arduous.

Consider It?

The next day.

Creak...

"Welcome back."

Liu Bai was making breakfast when he saw Natasha push the door open, looking half-dead.