Chapter 2569 / Chapter 2570

"Let's go, don't worry, it'll be fine." Chen Li patted Murata Ryusuke on the shoulder and pointed towards the carriage.

Murata Ryusuke sighed, and finally mustered up his courage, lifted his foot, and stepped onto the almost vertically open car door in a strange posture.

But the instant Murata Ryusuke's shoes touched the edge of the door frame, a slight sense of spatial dizziness rose from his feet and spread throughout his body. The next moment, the direction of gravity shifted with an extremely smooth transition.

Murata Ryusuke actually stood steadily on the vertical floor of the Astral Express carriage.

Chapter 2569

The gravitational field inside the carriage was exactly the same as usual, and the sofas, bookshelves, and coffee tables were all in their proper places.

"The Astral Express actually has an anti-gravity support system?" Murata Ryusuke lowered his head and stomped on the floor, a genuine look of surprise on his face.

"Haven't I said it so many times... You country bumpkin from Duality Paradise, don't question this Noble Alien Lord." Chen Li stood by the car door, glancing at Murata Ryusuke with the look one would give a country bumpkin.

"..." What vicious things haven't Murata Ryusuke heard? But he still felt that what Chen Li said was strangely infuriating.

But when Murata Ryusuke turned his head to glare fiercely at Chen Li, the scene that came into view made his brain dizzy again.

This time it wasn't dizziness in the physical sense, but rather due to Himeko's current movements.

Himeko was standing at the train door. Because the Astral Express was vertically inserted into the ground, even though there was an anti-gravity system inside the carriage, stepping into the carriage from the outside still required crossing a critical point where the direction of gravity suddenly changed.

In other words, from an outside perspective, stepping into the car is equivalent to taking a high step on a nearly vertical plane.

But today, Himeko was wearing a fitted long dress and a pair of stiletto heels, so there was no way she could step onto the vertical car door alone without losing her composure.

Then Himeko raised her hand, gently tucked a strand of red hair that had fallen over her shoulder behind her ear, and then stretched out her hands to Chen Li.

"What? Do you expect me, a girl, to lift my leg high in this situation?" Himeko looked at Chen Li with a slightly amused smile on her lips.

"???" Chen Li blinked.

Looking at Himeko's slightly amused smile, Chen Li felt helpless, like a child.

Isn't this just acting? How could you possibly take it all for real?

Chen Li originally thought that Himeko would at most ask him to lend a hand, but he didn't expect that the other party would directly assume the standard preparation position for Princess Carry.

Despite feeling the Murata Ryusuke was casting from inside the carriage, a gaze that seemed to burn two holes in him, Chen Li still took a step forward without making a sound.

One hand slipped under Himeko's knees, while the other hand steadily supported Himeko back.

Himeko leaned slightly towards Chen Li as she was lifted up, one hand naturally resting on his shoulder. The hem of her navigator uniform swayed gently in the night breeze, and the familiar aroma of coffee became exceptionally clear at such close range.

Chen Li gently lifted Himeko up and held her steadily in his arms. Then he took a few steps and placed the tips of her high heels on the floor of the Astral Express carriage, which was perpendicular to the ground.

After Himeko's body crossed the gravity field inside the carriage and was recalibrated, Chen Li slowly put her down.

Himeko's heels made a crisp sound on the carriage floor, then she calmly straightened her clothes and took a few steps into the carriage.

"Do you need my help?" After regaining her balance, Himeko turned around and extended a hand to Chen Li.

"No need." Chen Li shook his head, stepped onto the carriage door with an extremely relaxed movement.

When Chen Li entered the carriage and looked at Murata Ryusuke, he indeed saw Murata Ryusuke's eyes, which seemed to be spitting fire.

Well, although there were some minor issues during the process, the result was still very pleasing.

Seeing the expression on Murata Ryusuke, as if he had swallowed a fly, made Chen Li very happy.

"Hey, hey, hey, what kind of look is that?" Chen Li crossed his arms and glared at Murata Ryusuke with some displeasure.

"What's wrong?" Upon hearing Chen Li's words, Himeko turned to look at Murata Ryusuke.

"It's nothing." Murata Ryusuke gave a dry laugh, the curve of his lips more painful than a grimace.

"You didn't get too tired just now, did you? You must have worked hard." Himeko nodded and then turned to look at Chen Li.

As Himeko spoke, she reached out and took Chen Li's hand, gently pressing her fingers on Chen Li's forearm with her fingertips, rhythmically kneading through his sleeve, as if she were helping her companion who had just finished moving heavy objects to relax his muscles.

"How could I be tired? Himeko, you're not heavy. Besides, it's my honor to see you to your car." Chen Li said casually, letting Himeko hold his arm.

Listening to Chen Li and Himeko's completely uninhibited conversation, Murata Ryusuke gritted his teeth again.

"Mr. Ryusuke, this is the Astral Express." Himeko withdrew her hand from Chen Li's arm and turned back to introduce Murata Ryusuke.

"As expected... even more amazing than I imagined. No wonder it's where my daughter works. By the way, what's the salary like for the navigator position? Is there insurance and a year-end bonus?" Murata Ryusuke took a deep breath, trying to shift his attention away from Chen Li and looking around the interior of the carriage.

"Isn't this a bit too adult-oriented? Okay, let's go to the Party Car first. This place really isn't suitable for a father-daughter reunion; it seems too business-like." Chen Li interrupted Murata Ryusuke's question.

"Ugh... my benefactor... I'll haunt you even as a ghost..." a weak voice came from the side.

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw Feiying leaning against the sofa in the Parlor Car, looking dizzy.

At this moment, Feiying was slumped in the soft sofa cushions, her head tilted against the backrest, her eyes seemingly rolling around, her fox ears drooping limply, and she exuded an aura of despair.

"Excuse me, I'll be there for a moment." Chen Li nodded to Himeko and Murata Ryusuke.

"Yes, go ahead," Himeko said with a smile.

"Are you alright?" Chen Li walked to Feiying's side, bent down, gently placed one hand on Feiying's forehead, and patted her shoulder with the other, asking with concern.

Chen Li remembered that although he had just thrown the Astral Express directly from New Penacony to Duality Paradise, he had also deliberately adjusted the gravity inside the Astral Express. If it were in a place like the Party Car where you couldn't see the outside scenery, you probably wouldn't even feel any bumps.

Even if Feiying might have been pressed against the window of the Parlor Car the whole time and seen everything clearly, it probably wouldn't have been too thrilling.

Could it be that Feiying gets carsick?

That won't do. How can a Dayun vehicle not even know how to drive?

"It was... it was too exciting... the whole carriage was spinning... my benefactor, don't you really find it scary?" Feiying raised a hand that was still trembling slightly and answered weakly.

"Alright, you can lie here for a while. I'll go to Haiyuan City with you later." Chen Li withdrew his hand and adjusted the angle of the pillow next to him to make Feiying's head more comfortable.

"Oh..." Feiying closed her eyes and gave a weak response.

Murata Ryusuke, who was standing to the side, frowned slightly when he saw Feiying.

But then, seeing the natural and intimate interaction between Chen Li and Feiying, she quickly moved closer to Himeko.

"Hey, Himeko, did you see that? This guy is being ambiguous with other girls right in front of you. He's definitely not someone you can entrust your life to!" Murata Ryusuke pointed at Chen Li and said in a low but urgent voice.

"I really like Chen Li's kind nature towards everyone. He's always taken care of his friends, which is why he's trustworthy," Himeko said gently, her eyes fixed on Chen Li who was looking after Feiying.

Murata Ryusuke looked up at the sky with a sense of utter despair.

However, when Murata Ryusuke looked up, his gaze was drawn to the chandelier hanging above the Parlor Car.

"These chandeliers..." Murata Ryusuke subconsciously touched his chin, his brows furrowing slightly.

"A chandelier modeled after the bones of a void whale. It's said to have been passed down from the time of Dorico. Many people are immediately drawn to it when they get on the bus."

Chapter 2570

Himeko raised her head and followed Murata Ryusuke's gaze to the chandelier, while introducing it.

"But isn't the light a bit dim?" Murata Ryusuke squinted as he examined the structure of the chandelier.

"It has always been like this," Himeko explained.

"Have you tried replacing the polarity conductor? Or cleaning the light-emitting unit with an alkaline solution?" Murata Ryusuke's tone suddenly became serious, offering repair solutions with his extensive experience.

Upon hearing Murata Ryusuke's suggestion, Chen Li straightened up from beside Feiying and glanced at Murata Ryusuke without making a sound.

The other party's overly precise technical advice... seems completely genuine.

"Let's go to the Party Car; it's a better place to talk," Chen Li said as he walked over to the two of them after settling Feiying in.

"Okay." Himeko nodded with a light laugh.

"By the way, let me introduce you to the Train Conductor of the Astral Express," Chen Li said, turning to Murata Ryusuke.

After Chen Li led the two to the Party Car, Pom-Pom walked angrily towards Chen Li.

Upon seeing this, Murata Ryusuke's eyes lit up.

Yes, that's right. And Pom-Pom too!

Finally, it was the invincible Train Conductor's turn to unleash his power.

Chen Li treated the Astral Express so roughly, he's sure Pom-Pom will teach him a lesson, right?

Dear Train Conductor! For the sake of the Astral Express, let's strike him hard!

Quick, kick him off the Astral Express! There's no place for that blondie on the Astral Express!

"Passenger Chen Li, please stop Raiden Ei's behavior immediately! She's not cooking anymore! Her actions are an insult to the Astral Express's kitchen!" Pom-Pom walked up to Chen Li angrily and said quite seriously.

"Pom-Pom, calm down. I know you're anxious, but don't worry. I'll fund a super-deluxe kitchen for the Astral Express." Chen Li squatted down and gently patted Pom-Pom's shoulder.

"You'd better really know how to change." Pom-Pom stared at Chen Li with a serious look.

"I promise." Chen Li raised his hand in a gesture of swearing.

"Alright then." Pom-Pom's anger subsided almost visibly, and her expression returned to its usual amiable state.

When Murata Ryusuke saw Pom-Pom let Chen Li go so easily, his expression froze.

This isn't right. That's not how it's written in the script.

"Oh, a new passenger. Hmm? This gentleman looks familiar..." Pom-Pom only then noticed Murata Ryusuke's presence, looked him up and down a few times, and said with some doubt.

"You must be the famous Train Conductor? I'm Ryusuke, Himeko's father." Murata Ryusuke bowed and introduced himself to Pom-Pom in a very polite tone.

"No wonder I feel a sense of familiarity. Hello, Mr. Ryusuke," Pom-Pom replied warmly.

"Hello, hello. Oh, by the way... Is it really okay for the Astral Express to be stuck in the ground all this time?" Murata Ryusuke smiled and then brought up the matter intentionally or unintentionally.

"Huh? What's planted in the ground?" Pom-Pom was taken aback.

"Train Conductor, don't you know? Right now, the Astral Express's engine is stuck in the ground, and the carriages are standing like a tower at the Huishi Academy," Murata Ryusuke leaned down and reported to Pom-Pom in a low voice.

"What? There's such a thing? Who did it?" Pom-Pom's voice suddenly rose several decibels.

"I did it." Before Murata Ryusuke could even point, Chen Li raised his hand and said quite generously.

"Hmm, I see. Okay then, don't do that again." Pom-Pom stroked her chin and thought for a moment after hearing Chen Li's self-assessment.

"Huh? Train Conductor, aren't you going to do anything about this?" Murata Ryusuke looked at Pom-Pom had let Chen Li off so easily, with some surprise.

"If Chen Li did it, then there must be a deeper meaning behind it." Pom-Pom nodded seriously.

"..." Murata Ryusuke looked at Chen Li with some disbelief.

Why does this sentence sound so familiar?

Himeko just said the same thing.

Murata Ryusuke couldn't understand how Chen Li could even bewitch Pom-Pom like this.

Are you a succubus?

Wait a minute, isn't a succubus supposed to A Kivili?

And it's one thing to seduce Himeko, but how could you also try to abduct Pom-Pom? Look what you've done to this adorable Train Conductor, Pom-Pom!

Pom-Pom is known for being incredibly protective of train covers, getting angry over even the smallest scratch. Now that the entire train is wrecked, she's completely indifferent?

You must have used the Clockwork Trick on Pom-Pom, right?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chen Li asked, feeling the increasingly strange gaze from Murata Ryusuke.

"No, it's nothing." Murata Ryusuke shook his head, his expression unreadable.

"Alright, Himeko, could you show Mr. Ryusuke a seat for a bit, and make him a cup of coffee while you're at it? It'll be a good way to show hospitality," Chen Li said, turning to Himeko.

"Huh? Himeko made the coffee?" Murata Ryusuke's eyes widened slightly, and he said with some surprise.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Himeko, looking at Murata Ryusuke.

"How could that be? Himeko is going to make me coffee herself, is there anything happier than that?" Murata Ryusuke quickly waved his hand, feigning emotion.

"Hmm, drinking a cup of hot coffee before dying, isn't that a way of saying life is too short?" Before Himeko could answer, the bartending robot in the Party Car Shush spoke up quietly.

"Shush," Himeko said without turning her head.

"What does Miss Himeko need me for?" Shush and answered respectfully.

"I told you to Shush," Himeko repeated.

"Yes, Himeko. The Lady."

"You can refuse if you don't want to drink it." Himeko turned to look at Murata Ryusuke.

"Of course I'll drink it. But Chen Li just said you'd make a cup of coffee for me and him, right? Remember to make sure it's for Chen Li too. Make sure it's strong and plentiful!" Murata Ryusuke nodded and emphasized.