Better-Looking Than the Stars

Why can't we just be honest with each other?

She thought she liked Master Su.

Back in that ancient eastern town, the version of myself who always loved to sit under the warm orange lamplight, gazing at that bouquet of golden roses in a daze, and secretly writing in my diary, confirmed this fact in my heart.

As I prepared to leave my hometown and go to study in Canghai City, the emptiness and loss of parting only served to further confirm this feeling.

The same thing happened later in Canghai City. When I was near him, my heart would involuntarily race, my breathing would become erratic when his hand was held, and my body temperature would rise when our skin was pressed together.

When I see everyone talking about him, a mixture of joy and unpleasantness fills my chest, leaving me feeling lost and confused.

After flipping through a few pages of Carole's dating guide and watching a few episodes of a relationship talk show with Yuno, Fu Hua finally realized that it was probably just jealousy.

Although it's only a little bit, the existence of this feeling undeniably proves the reality of liking the other person.

Even though she knew in advance about Seele and the others' secret plan, the little girl had to admit that it was indeed very effective.

Even though Lin Xinchán said that she was no worse than anyone else, as she said, there was still an inescapable lack of self-confidence in her subconscious. Because of this, the plan had become a scheme that would have little use even if she had known about it in advance.

But as long as you trust Seele's judgment, she can still escape; the favored party can always choose a calm and composed attitude.

Because they feel they won't lose anything, it's okay to stagnate for the time being.

Perhaps that's why Fu Hua couldn't choose to run away.

She doesn't want to become that kind of person.

Some kinds of liking are like meeting a worthy opponent.

Both sides engaged in a game of strategy and probing, slowly moving closer to a safe distance while calculating their gains and losses. It wasn't that they didn't like each other; it was just that they couldn't feel secure without taking the lead.

But you can't argue with someone like Master Su. The young girl wasn't so stubborn as to remain silent out of spite if he didn't take the initiative.

Fu Hua did not harbor such emotions, so even though she overheard the group's strategic meeting, she did not feel any rebelliousness.

Perhaps for her, liking someone can also mean willingly admitting defeat.

The obstacles between them, as they said, were not so great as to require much effort to overcome. The distance between them was the six months of separation, the emotional knot caused by the father's death, the nerves pressured by the world's shaky state, uncertainty, and unease, but not a lack of affection.

This ball might truly be the only chance.

Once you miss the opportunity to truly relax, saying those things might become inappropriate.

"Did you hear that, Hua?"

The words from behind her reached her ears, bringing the girl back to her senses. She blinked, but couldn't quite grasp what the other person meant.

Shiyu Qiluo smiled, holding a wooden comb as she styled the girl's hair, and said:

"We've been on so many missions together, Carole might not have noticed, but I know very well that it's just a floor up or down, you could hear it. Besides, the way they pushed us upstairs before looked suspicious, it would be strange if you didn't care."

Fu Hua looked out the window and murmured helplessly:

"If that's the case, why didn't you remind them beforehand, Qiluo?"

Shiyu Qiluo responded:

"There's no particular reason. Maybe it's because I feel that this is ultimately Hua's own business. Even the closest friends can't make the choice for you, so it's better to let nature take its course."

Her smile had taken on a sly quality.

"And even if they heard it, nothing would change, right? It might as well be considered a roundabout way of achieving their goal."

Fu Hua remained silent, for some reason her first thought wasn't about herself.

She thought that everyone was actually unhappy, whether it was Carole, Shiyu Qiluo, or even Lin Xinchán and Seele. Each of them carried a purgatory woven from different tragedies.

That weight can sometimes be so heavy it's hard to breathe, and the fog obscuring one's vision can make them lose the courage to look ahead.

Let alone moving forward, even staying put is a rare and precious achievement.

It was very tough.

Because she herself had also suffered greatly, Fu Hua could understand those who were experiencing similar pain.

She understood that the hidden scars in the hearts of these girls, who seemed to have regained their former liveliness, were still vivid.

However, even so, these people sincerely hope that they can obtain their own happiness.

For Fu Hua, it would be difficult to let down these good intentions.

She whispered:

"I can't dance, Qiluo."

Seeing the little girl's lips moving and her expression somewhat conflicted, Shiyu Qiluo smiled and comforted her:

"It's okay, I don't know how either."

"To be more precise, very few Fifth Squad can dance. Besides, judging from the male-to-female ratio of the participants, there are probably no more than ten men."

"Even though it's a dance, I think it can be treated like a regular party."

Shiyu Qiluo Luo pulled Fu Hua, who was sitting in a chair, up and made her look at herself in the full-length mirror.

"Besides, look at you, don't you look great now? Just do what you want then."

Fu Hua stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror, somewhat dazed.

Shiyu Qiluo stood behind her, weaving her smooth gray hair. Her blue-green eyes were slightly narrowed, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

The girl who came into view was so unfamiliar. Her face was already beautiful enough even though she hadn't had time to put on suitable makeup. She seemed to have not had time to put on suitable shoes and socks. Her bare feet were on the soft handmade carpet. Under the sunlight, she looked like a feather that had fallen into a snowdrift, exuding lightness and vitality.

She wore a pure white off-shoulder dress, her collarbones subtly revealed, showcasing clear and straight lines that gave a smooth and pleasing visual effect. The depth of her collarbones was just right, exuding a refined and delicate charm.

The fabric is so white it's almost transparent, with a slight sheen, like swan feathers, understated and elegant. The skirt follows a curve from high to low, revealing long, straight, slender legs through its slight flare, and the hem is adorned with diamonds, sparkling like morning dew.

All of this combined resulted in a review that was so beautiful it felt somewhat unfamiliar to me.

This seems to be the first time I've worn a skirt other than my school uniform.

As the girl thought this, her fingertips unconsciously twirled the hem of her skirt.

This charmingly naive gesture caused Shiyu Qiluo to slow down her hair-braiding slightly. Her smile deepened as she said:

"Yes, it's already very good."

"I'll have Pepper do your makeup and touch up the details later, and then you'll try on a few more outfits and you'll be all done."

Fu Hua did not object; she merely pursed her lips, silently agreeing. After hesitating for a moment, she finally said:

Thank you.

Shi Yu Qi Luo told the little girl to sit back in her original chair obediently, and after thinking for a moment, she replied:

"If Hua wants to thank everyone, she should follow her heart."

"That's all you need to do. Whether you're confessing your feelings or just having a normal conversation, it doesn't matter."

The girl's expression revealed a hint of helplessness and melancholy. She stroked Fu Hua's fine hair and whispered:

"If the world were still the same as before, everyone would probably be happy to see you develop slowly and gradually."

Shiyu Qiluo whispered in her ear:

"But even in this day and age, it doesn't matter. Just go at your own pace. You like Teacher Su, right? Then just be true to yourself and make sure you won't regret it later."

A long time.

The girl's cheeks flushed slightly, and her pink lips parted as she softly said "okay."

Those who participated in the ball included the logistics staff of Moth to Fire Australia. From 7 p. m. until the end of the next day, the staff members took turns attending the ball according to their own wishes.

That night, a portion of Prometheus's calculating power will be devoted to comprehensive oversight to prevent any oversights.

Dr. Mei continued her regular routine, working tirelessly in the laboratory.

Su Qing'an's physical condition and the inevitable birth of a subsequent Herrscher have made the completion of the Fusion Warrior and the Stigmata project extremely urgent.

Shortly after the appearance of the Fifth Herrscher and the Judgment-class Honkai Beast, Mei naturally had no mood or lingering interest in any meaningful entertainment. Her attitude of tacitly cooperating with Himeko's actions was to have Prometheus allocate his excess computing power for supervision.

Kevin did not attend the ball. Given his personality, he would naturally not stray from Mei and go elsewhere unless absolutely necessary. Sticking to his guard duties as always was the normal choice for him.

It's 8:30 PM right now.

The dance party had entered the gradually building up, noisy phase after the initial warm-up.

Su Qing'an had to admit that Himeko had indeed put a lot of thought into organizing the ball, and her attention to detail in many aspects had successfully created a great atmosphere.

In the brightly lit, bustling hall, even the usually stern soldiers became much more approachable in the atmosphere. Alcohol and music seemed to be the best medicine, offering solace for the unknown future and the painful past.

No one understands the pressure everyone is under better than Himeko.

As the captain of the Fifth Squad, she was fully aware of the soldiers' mortality rate and the prospects of the battle.

The ball won't change anything, but it might make them a little happier.

Himeko thought that at least on this night, everyone could briefly forget the pain they had experienced and ignore the hopeless future. They could simply indulge in the present moment of pleasure, revel in the warm lights, and experience the long-lost emptiness and routine. They didn't need to worry about anything else.

Because sooner or later they will don armor and step onto the battlefield.

It is only in comparison that the present moment seems so precious.

After all...

At that time, no one knows who will step into the blazing flames, embodying the spirit of the Moth to Fire, and be reduced to [Ashes].

Su Qing'an's initial motivation for attending the ball was partly to see Fu Hua in formal attire, and partly to gain a deeper understanding of the atmosphere of this era.

The ball held a profound meaning for everyone else, but for the boy, it lacked the element that allowed others to temporarily shed their burdens and become the driving force for their future progress.

Since the Artificial Stigmata was removed from his body, Su Qing'an's physical functions have inevitably begun to decline gradually, which is not only a negative state caused by Honkai Energy erosion.

As an external organ, the Artificial Stigmata has a high rejection rate with the body, but due to the pressure from the external elements, it also achieves a near-perfect synchronization and connection with the body.

It was the appearance of the [Stigmata] at that time that led to this illogical situation.

This also meant that the use of Artificial Stigmata in the early stages did not pose a direct threat to other bodily organs. However, with the current high degree of synchronization and connection, it has indirectly caused serious consequences for the body when the other is missing.

He can barely maintain his original basic strength now, but if he uses [Udu-dust • Critical] a few more times, Su Qing'an will probably completely lose the qualification to appear in such high-level battles.

The ball was a place for those who still had hope to huddle together for warmth, but the boy had no future after that war, which made their thoughts incompatible.

With Mei telling the truth, the progress of the Stigmata Project was almost hopeless.

The only good news from that battle was that the Herrscher of Ice's remains were of the highest quality as experimental material. In fact, it could be said that the preservation of these remains greatly advanced the previously almost stalled Stigmata Project.

This is easy to understand.

Humanity's limits of adaptability to Honkai are hard to match those of the Herrscher, a darling of Honkai Consciousness created to wield power.

The best source material for the Stigmata Project is the masterpiece of Honkai Consciousness — the Herrscher itself.

Unfortunately, the Fourth Herrscher was annihilated by the Honkai Fission Bomb, the Third Herrscher was completely destroyed by Su Qing'an, who personally manipulated the Soul Scale to distort the laws of physics, and the remains of the First and Second Herrscher could not be used as suitable cases in long-term research.

"A year?" The boy's eyelashes drooped as he looked at the flute cup, lost in thought.

--The white bubbles repeat the cycle of birth and death, but in the end, there is only silent stillness...

The Little Feather perched on Su Qing'an's head rolled around happily as Su Qing'an was deep in thought. Since regaining some energy, it had become accustomed to using Su Qing'an's head as a nest. Even though its radiance was dim, it was full of energy all day long.

Since its weight was negligible, the boy remained indifferent to this impolite and slightly willful act.

But what happened next made Su Qing'an start to think about whether she should try to control the other party's words and actions.

The Little Feather was blown off by the wind blowing in from the window as Su Qing'an lowered his gaze and stared blankly.

The ethereal, downy material curled up humidly amidst the endless bubbles of champagne, Little Feather floating and swaying in the liquid.

But its attitude changed almost instantly from initial panic to a relaxed, almost carefree state, as if it were soaking in an open-air hot spring.

In Su Qing'an's eyes, who could sense the other person's emotions, this behavior even vaguely resembled Little Feather giving herself a spa treatment using bubbles.

The boy sighed and murmured helplessly:

"Anyway, you can't drink anymore. If you want, you can stay inside and play."

Even if the other party is weakened to the point of being affected by external things, this strange material will still not be stained by champagne.

The dance had actually been going on for an hour. During this time, Su Qing'an had already rejected eight attempts to flirt with others. After politely responding to a few people's toasts, he silently used [Hidden] to dispel the senses of the crowd.

On the surface, Su Qing'an appeared to have left early, and after a brief, quiet discussion, she quickly faded from public attention.

The boy's real reason for hiding wasn't the people's advances or toasts, but the many people's expressions of gratitude towards him as the party warmed up. The respectful, almost godlike gazes he received made him very uncomfortable.

"You deserve this respect and honor, so there's no need for you to hide."

These were the words Himeko had said to him not long ago, but Su Qing'an clearly didn't think much of them. The heavy crown, fame, and even the expectations of others were all things that made him feel awkward and unnecessary.

I have no right to bear the expectations of others. How can someone who doesn't even have a future of their own protect the future of others?

Su Qing'an's cheeks were flushed with a slight blush from the wine. He held his flute cup and gazed at the starry sky outside the window with Little Feather.

The night sky is beautiful tonight. Above the city's sparse neon lights hangs a crescent moon with silvery light and a beautiful Milky Way. The boy gazes at this scene, feeling the sea breeze on his cheeks, but the magnificent view in his vision becomes somewhat surreal.

Champagne doesn't have a high alcohol content, but the bubbles allow the body to absorb alcohol more quickly, making it easier to get drunk.

Therefore, after unknowingly finishing more than a dozen bottles of Perrier-Jouët and experiencing the aftertaste for an hour, he must have been somewhat drunk.

It's strange. I wonder if it's a chain reaction caused by the loss of the Artificial Stigmata, or if it's just my constitution to begin with.

Before this, Su Qing'an had thought she wouldn't get drunk.

But... this feeling isn't actually that bad.

"Aren't the stars beautiful?" Suddenly, someone who had been standing nearby asked softly.

The Little Feather inside the flute cup shimmered with a faint glow and... a thin, crimson thread.

Su Qing'an looked at the girl in a pure white dress. Her dark eyes curved into a beautiful arc, softening the coldness that should have been there and revealing a gentle meaning.

He parted his lips and said softly:

"It's very beautiful."

More beautiful than the stars.