Mei: A Strange New Rival in Love

After leaving Mobius's laboratory, Zhu Yufeng headed straight for the training ground and ran into Elysia.

"How did things go on your end?" Zhu Yufeng asked first.

"We're expected to leave tomorrow morning, so we might not see each other for a while," Elysia said with a smile. "What about you? When are you and Mobius leaving?"

Zhu Yufeng was taken aback at first, then realized that it was probably Vill-V who told Elysia, and then said, "We'll probably set off tonight. After all, the Third Research Institute is in Europe, and it will take quite a while to get there."

"So, what are you planning to do next?" Elysia asked expectantly, her hands behind her back.

"Of course, it's the training ground!" Zhu Yufeng originally wanted to say. He had heard that during the mission, a new batch of virtual enemies had been added, and the highest level of the virtual enemies had been raised to Emperor-class the Present. He wanted to try to see if he could deal with Emperor- Emperor-class Honkai Beast alone, or how long he could last in front of them.

Currently, the only one on record who can single-handedly defeat Emperor-class Honkai Beast the Present Qianjie, who plays Survival in the Amazon rainforest. Elysia could definitely do it too, but she doesn't seem very interested in this ranking at the moment.

Qianjie the Present is also a very busy person among the Fire Moth. The Honkai is occurring more and more frequently. As a combat force of the same level as Elysia, Qianjie has recently needed to be stationed near the Amazon River Basin, where the Honkai has occurred most frequently in the recent period.

The Fire Moth is highly vigilant about this, because before the appearance of the Third Herrscher, there were signs of a gradual increase in Honkai Energy in Changkong City. Therefore, this is very likely a sign before the birth of the Fourth Herrscher. However, unlike the increase in Honkai Energy before the birth of the Third Herrscher, the increase in Honkai Energy in the Amazon rainforest is not obvious. On the contrary, Honkai occur more frequently in the surrounding areas, and there are records showing that Honkai Beast of the Honkai Emperor level have appeared.

Everyone who was reborn from within the Fire Moth knew that this was a harbinger of the birth of the Fourth Herrscher. There is a saying that the accidental flapping of a butterfly's wings in the Amazon rainforest can cause a great storm on a neighboring continent.

When the Fourth Herrscher was born, a storm swept up all the Honkai Energy from the area near the Amazon rainforest and gathered it in one place. A Scholar studied the rainforest thus became the Fourth Herrscher, and his pet, having absorbed a huge amount of Honkai Energy, transformed into the Fourth Herrscher's Companion Honkai Beast, the Judgment-class Honkai Beast Vayu.

The topic seems to have drifted a bit.

Looking at Elysia's expectant eyes, Zhu Yufeng swallowed the words he was about to say and said, "I don't have any plans for the time being. Since we won't see each other for a while, then... how about we take a trip together with the Fire Moth?"

"I thought you'd be honest and say you needed to train," Elysia said, taking Zhu Yufeng's arm. "Come on, come on, this is some time just for the two of us~"

During the few days that followed the mission, Phyllis stayed by Feng's side all the time, and he didn't have a good excuse to get rid of her. After all, if Phyllis didn't stay with Feng, should she stay with Kosma and Disaster? Hua and Kevin were also kept there to learn some things because they were valued by Hen.

If it were just that, it wouldn't be so bad. Elysia felt like she was almost traumatized by Lilith. She thought she was already very enthusiastic and open-minded, but Lilith went even further, constantly challenging her mental limits.

And although neither Feng nor she spoke of it anymore, she still harbored resentment about the incident in Feng's hometown until she returned to the Fire Moth.

Feng and Mobius's investigation of Admiralty shouldn't last long, but he and Vill-V won't be back for at least ten days to two weeks.

It could even take a month.

It might be a whole month before I see Maple!

"Before you leave, stay with me and make sure you stay with me," Elysia said.

"No problem," Zhu Yufeng said with a smile. "I will take this period of time seriously."

Is this considered withdrawal symptoms? After her rebirth Elysia has been almost always by his side. She has confessed her feelings to him without reservation, and he has also gradually told her about his life. This time, they will be separated for the longest time ever, and it seems that he can't bear the days without Elysia.

Logically speaking, if Lilith, as his deputy, were to leave, he would feel uneasy. However, it's highly likely that Lilith only superficially "died" in the Tragedy of Binding, and in reality, she never left at all, so he didn't even have a chance to feel uneasy...

No, I was still a little unaccustomed to it during the period immediately after my rebirth.

Forget it, why am I thinking about all this? I should spend this time with Elysia before we part ways.

Mei's laboratory.

Under Kevin Mei's direction, he helped her organize the experimental data. Watching his girlfriend directing him while analyzing a new set of experimental data, Kevin couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself.

He knew that May must have received a detailed report on the mission. The appearance of Xila as the most dangerous enemy in the mission, and the fact that she caused the greatest casualties among the Fire Moth in this mission, probably made May worry about him.

In his previous life, when he fought and was injured while protecting Mei and fighting against Sakura who came to assassinate Mei, he rarely saw the panic in Mei's eyes. After that, Mei turned down some experiments just to take the time to personally monitor his physical data.

So Kevin also thought, the Present Sakura has already betrayed the assassin organization she previously trusted and run away with her bucket, maybe she should find a way to get injured again so that Mei will care about her again? And this injury can't be faked...

Hmm... my brain is a bit overloaded. I'll ask Feng and Su later to see if they have any ideas.

As Kevin put down the organized experimental data, he thought to himself.

"Kevin." Mei suddenly spoke.

"What's wrong, Mei?" Kevin out of her daze. "Did I forget to organize some experimental data?"

Mei paused for a moment, then shook her head. "No... From your mission report, I saw that the assassin who was enhanced with a special drug. Although you weren't the one who fought her, did you ask Feng, one of her opponents, about the situation at the time?"

Kevin. Feng had mentioned this when he played basketball with Feng and Kosma, so he relayed it to Mei: "That assassin... she seemed completely oblivious to the harm she suffered. She killed for the sake of killing, and there was no emotion in her. She would stop at nothing to kill, even at the cost of injury. But this is just Feng's account; I didn't experience it firsthand, so I might not fully understand their situation."

"As if she has no sense of pain..." Mei looked thoughtful. "Kevin, I am not a combatant, so I cannot guarantee that my advice is correct, but... personally speaking, if you encounter her next time, I hope you will prioritize protecting yourself."

"I will." Kevin nodded with a smile. Mei was finally showing concern for her openly! Yay!

"Don't always look so relaxed." Mei pushed up her glasses. She suspected that Kevin hadn't listened to her. After all, this was Kevin. As he himself said, he hadn't experienced it firsthand and might not be able to understand the danger that Feng and the others faced.

"A few days later, when Feng and Mobius return, you must carefully inquire about the details of what happened. Don't be careless." Mei paused after saying that, and then continued as if she was still worried, "No, you must bring me a detailed report later. I need a detailed report."

"Of course I know. When have I ever failed to do what you asked me to do?" Kevin shrugged. As for writing the report, why not just give it to Feng? As someone who experienced it firsthand, Feng's report would definitely be more detailed than his own, the one relaying the information.

Wait, what did Mei just say? "Maple and Mobius will be back in a few days"? Where are Maple and Mobius going?

As soon as Kevin showed a puzzled expression, Mei knew what Kevin wanted to say. She explained, "It's about the review of Admiralty, the deputy director of the Third Research Institute. During your mission, Admiralty attempted to create controllable Artificial Herrscher by planting Herrscher Core, but ultimately none of the test subjects survived. His actions shocked the entire Fire Moth, and the researchers at headquarters are discussing it extensively. Mobius is one of the top researchers in Honkai research, so she will also participate in this review. Feng... was the person Mobius requested to accompany her when she received the order to go for the review. However, Mobius is in charge of the final review; the initial review will be handled by your friend, Su."

"Oh, is Su in charge?" Kevin nodded thoughtfully. "I haven't seen Su in a long time either. He's been too busy to contact me lately. Since Feng will be going too, why don't you ask Feng to pass on a message for me?"

Seeing that Kevin didn't seem to care at all about what she had said about Admiralty, but was instead interested in Sue's participation in the review, Mei couldn't help but facepalm inwardly.

She felt incredibly lucky to have a boyfriend who always thought of her and went along with everything she said, but there was one thing she just couldn't understand.

So, are Kevin, Su, and Feng getting too close? Is this how relationships between men and women are? I don't know much about this... I don't want to ask Kevin, what if it's a misunderstanding?

So she chose to ask Elysia. Wasn't Elysia close to Kaede? Asking her shouldn't be a problem, right?

Elysia's reply was, "While it's true that boys sometimes do that, I think you should look at Kevin more carefully."

Elysia's intention was for Mei to keep an eye on Kevin and stop encouraging Feng to flirt with Lilith all the time, but Mei, unaware of the situation, misunderstood this.

"Does Elysia mean that she shares the same concerns as me?" Mei wondered to herself.

Indeed, sometimes when you want to find Kevin, if you can't get through to Kevin on the phone, you'll probably be able to reach Kevin by calling Feng. After training every day, if Elysia has something to do, Feng and Kevin will go out to eat noodles together...

It seems I need to cancel the dinner experiment. At least Kevin can't go out to eat noodles with Feng every day, right?

That said, she also tested Kevin, and his orientation should be normal...

So, logically speaking, am I jealous? Is this what jealousy feels like?

This is also a topic worth studying...

But Kevin's thinking was actually very simple. He had been told about Admiralty's matter once in his previous life by Mei, so wasn't it the same this time? What was there to care about? He wasn't responsible for thinking about these scientific matters anyway, and he wouldn't understand them anyway. He only needed to focus on fighting the Honkai. Besides, Feng and Su had already passed away, so what kind of trouble could possibly arise?

Speaking of this...

Kevin looked at Mei and asked, "When is Feng about to leave? I asked him to pass on a message to Su for me."

Plum. "..."

I have a feeling that if Feng were a girl, she wouldn't stand a chance, right? I already said Feng and Mobius set off together, but you didn't even mention Mobius to Kevin. Speaking of which, how long have Feng and Kevin known each other? Only during the Third Herrscher incident, right? Did they become so close so quickly? She's already caught up with Su, who studied with Kevin for a few years, and even seems to be surpassing her...

It was like this when she and Kevin started dating... Kevin fell in love with her at first sight when she first transferred to her school...

Mei suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

There are quite a few girls who like Kevin, after all, Kevin is the prince of the Senba Academy, but Kevin has always only been special to her, so Mei didn't pay much attention to him, but as for Feng...

"I must tell Elysia to look after Feng, at least to shorten the time he spends with Kevin..." Mei thought to herself. "Wait a minute, I remember that Vill-V from the Spiral Workshop applied for a reinvestigation of Feng's identity. Elysia needs to go too, right? I wonder how long that will take. I'll ask her later. Feng should be leaving tonight. Kevin can just meet with him before he leaves, since Kevin only asked Feng to pass on a message for him..."

Thinking of this, Kevin, "He and Mobius should be leaving tonight. I still have some experimental data to organize..."

"It's alright, I just asked Feng to pass on a message for me, it won't take long." Kevin waved his hand, "It's just experimental data, no matter how much more comes, as long as you're here, I guarantee I'll organize it perfectly."

Mei nodded. Hearing Kevin's answer, she felt somewhat relieved.

On the other side.

Elysia and Zhu Yufeng were walking down the street, each holding an ice cream cone, talking about Kevin and Mei.

"I don't know why, but I feel like Mei's gaze towards me has been strange lately..." Zhu Yufeng said, puzzled.

"Don't you think it's because you and Kevin are getting too close, making her jealous?" Elysia said with a smile. "You know, since Fire Moth, you've been spending more time with Kevin with Mei! I remember Mei asked me about this not long ago."

"What do you want to ask you?" Zhu Yufeng tilted her head.

"This is just a little secret between girls~" Elysia smiled slyly. "Maple, you can't be that clueless about romance, can you?"

"Then I won't ask anymore." Zhu Yufeng nodded. "Where do we go next?"

"Hmm... I remember there's a garden over there with a swing. Shall we swing together?"