Ruan Mei: I'm Merely Exercising Rational Restraint
"Uh... a bit high?" Silver Wolf's eyes began to dart around.
"You know that's not what I'm asking." Bai rolled his eyes at Silver Wolf. "Alright, if you get this done, I'll approve your funding request."
"Is it a deal?"
It's a deal.
"Don't worry! Tonight I'll punch him through the internet cable!"
Silver Wolf seems to be burning with fighting spirit.
Hmm... that's good.
Liu Bai was initially worried about how to command the Silver Wolf.
After all, Kafka isn't here now, Silver Wolf... Liu Bai thinks Silver Wolf's personality has quite a few issues.
In some ways, Silver Wolf is even more unrestrained than Kafka —but that's just how gamers are, after all.
"Go and call Ruan Mei after you go out."
"...ah?"
Silver Wolf was taken aback.
She... didn't really want to see Ruan Mei.
She had met Ruan Mei once before, and she felt that Ruan Mei's gaze was a little frightening.
"Uh... okay."
But calling it once shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Stellaron Hunters?" Ruan Mei looked at the Silver Wolf who had come to call her, feigning ignorance.
"Yes, so?" Silver Wolf resumed his indifferent demeanor. "I'm just here to deliver a message. Is there anything else?"
"...fine."
Ruan Mei really wanted to settle the score with Silver Wolf over Kafka.
What?
Why should Kafka's score be settled with Silver Wolf?
Nonsense, they're all Stellaron Hunters, why can't they be counted?
Even if the Stellaron Hunters are lax, are they as lax as these geniuses?
However, Silver Wolf clearly didn't give her a chance to retaliate.
"... Did Liu Bai say what it was about?"
Ruan Mei put aside her hostility and asked.
"How would I know? But when he contacted me before, he was asking about serious matters."
"I see." Ruan Mei nodded slightly.
It seems Liu Bai saw the research conclusions she submitted yesterday.
Thinking of this, Ruan Mei said to the others in the laboratory, "I'll go for a while, remember to record the data."
"Clear."
"I'm going too!" Mobius clearly couldn't stand seeing Ruan Mei so obviously going on a "date" with Liu Bai.
"It seems you really like Liu Bai."
Ruan Mei made a subtle mockery of Mobius, as if stating a fact.
"After all, some people don't like Liu Bai, but they like procreation."
Mobius responded with a smile.
Chapter 313 Ruan Mei: It's just rational forbearance.
Silver Wolf left after relaying the message.
But things in the laboratory were clearly not going to stay peaceful forever.
"...?"
Mobius's threat silenced Ruan Mei for a moment.
She... wasn't quite sure if Mobius's words meant he knew something, or if he was simply jealous.
(... not many people should know about my affair with Liu Bai.)
Ruan Mei's hesitation gave Mobius a slightly uneasy feeling.
"What... are you thinking about?"
"I'm wondering just how boring you are."
Ruan Mei remained expressionless—no matter the circumstances, she would never admit to it.
"At least it's better than some guy whose mind is only on reproduction." Mobius crossed his arms and held onto this point.
"..."
That made her sound like a lovesick woman.
If someone outside the circle said that, Ruan Mei probably wouldn't take it seriously.
But Mobius said that on purpose to annoy her—after all, Mobius is increasingly able to understand what she's saying.
Mobius's words made the other the Doctor involved in the research look at him strangely.
"Eh~ Dr. Ruan Mei actually has this kind of interest?" Einstein casually chimed in, stirring things up.
Ruan Mei left without saying a word.
Seeing this, Mobius gritted his teeth and followed.
"Nobody's paying attention to you, you messy hair," Tesla mocked from the side.
"Hmm~ So, Dr. Tesla, how's your love life going?" Einstein countered, pointing out Tesla's weakness. "Dr. Tesla, weren't you dressed particularly fashionably before?"
"Well..."
"Oh?"
Einstein's statement immediately drew the attention of other scientists in the Anti-Entropy group.
"She's probably already been dumped, right?" Edison mocked mercilessly. "After all, who would like an old lady with such a bad temper?"
"Edison—!"
"Feeling guilty?"
Mobius and Ruan Mei walked side by side—although Ruan Mei didn't want to talk to Mobius.
"I just don't want to talk to someone who's obsessed with romance."
"I still prefer your hypocritical side—you know, you're acting really nervous right now." A dangerous smile crept across Mobius's face.
Putting everything else aside, Ruan Mei is quite skilled at being "hypocritical".
She appears warm on the outside but is cold on the inside. Regardless of what she thinks inside, she is always seen as a well-educated, understanding, gentle, and considerate woman who is almost impeccable.
However, Ruan Mei would suddenly become indifferent only when it came to Liu Bai.
Mobius only recently discovered the problem—when Mobius talked to others about Liu Bai, Ruan Mei would often silently distance herself.
After this happened several times, Mobius began to ponder the reason behind Ruan Mei's reaction.
What's this?
Disgust?
Don't be ridiculous. These the Doctor aren't ordinary people who can only passively accept their fate. They're not restricted in their freedom right now, so it wouldn't be difficult for them to rebel or run away to other places.
People like them will just whine and complain if anyone suffers a loss; Mobius will laugh at them for the rest of his life.
Not to mention dangerous figures like Ruan Mei.
So, since it's not necessarily a negative feeling like disgust.
Could Mobius interpret Ruan Mei's current coldness as a form of "hypocrisy"?
Just like Ruan Mei's usual gentle and considerate demeanor, which she pretends to conceal the coldness and danger in her heart.
Is Ruan Mei now using indifference and disgust to mask her attitude towards Liu Bai, which is completely opposite to her outward appearance?
For Mobius, this kind of thing... isn't impossible.
Well, although Mobius is very possessive, Mobius feels he can tolerate it if the other party is Ruan Mei.
After all, a married scientist is better than a mad scientist.
However, while Mobius is very possessive, he doesn't really interfere in Liu Bai's private affairs.
—It feels a bit like the type who doesn't allow other women to sleep with him when he's in bed.
Mobius's direct and to-the-point remarks silenced Ruan Mei.
Am I... nervous about this?
Ruan Mei instinctively wanted to raise her hand to rub her face, but then she remembered that Mobius was still next to her.
By doing so, he only confirmed that Mobius was right.
"Do you think you know me well?" Ruan Mei retorted coldly.
Mobius rolled his eyes. Ruan Mei had already said that, what else could he say?
"Alright, whatever makes you happy—getting back to the point, what do you think is Liu Bai's purpose in calling you over this time?"
"... It should be the document I submitted yesterday."
But... if you want me to let him bite you...
Ruan Mei's face tightened even more.
What if it isn't?
"Well... it could be something else entirely— Mobius, what are you trying to say?"
Ruan Mei's tone was icy.
"Of course, I also think it might be something like inquiring about the progress of the experiment— Ruan Mei, what do you think I'm trying to say?"
Mobius wore a slightly irritatingly inquisitive expression.
(The situation is in complete disarray, Ruan Mei.)
"... It seems we've come up with the same idea."
Ruan Mei was the first to back down, and there was no need to continue questioning this disadvantage.
The two remained silent for the rest of the journey.
Knock knock
"Please come in."
"Excuse me." Ruan Mei pushed open the door and entered, looking at Liu Bai working in the study with a cold expression. "Good morning, Liu Bai."
"This morning... uh, Ruan Mei, what's going on here...?"
Liu Bai looked up and was stunned by Ruan Mei's appearance.
Why is that look so lethal?
Have I not provoked Ruan Mei these past few days?
He had kept his promise to Ruan Mei, and now Ruan Mei was legitimately conducting experiments in the laboratory.
"Time is of the essence, please explain what you need as soon as possible."
Ruan Mei spoke in a stiff tone.