The two continued chatting as they ate lunch, and before long, lunch was over...
"Mmm..."
Seele stretched lazily, casually tossed the can and plastic bag into the nearby trash bin, then smiled at Ling Xi beside her. "I'm going back to rest. Is there anything else you want to say to me?"
"Hmm..."
Ling Xi thought for a moment. It seemed... there was nothing else to say. He had only just met Seele, and even if he wanted to develop their relationship, he couldn't rush things like this.
"Be careful."
In the end, Ling Xi only said those few words...
Seele: "..."
"I live on campus... there's no safety issue."
Seele answered quietly...
"Uh..."
Ling Xi scratched his nose awkwardly, then took out his phone and smiled. "Then, Miss Seele, would it be convenient... to add each other as friends?"
"Hmph, it wouldn't."
A sly smile appeared on Seele's face. Then she turned and left, waving as she said, "If you can still find me tomorrow, then I'll consider what you just said!"
"Don't worry, I'll definitely find you."
Ling Xi answered with great confidence. Before, he hadn't known Seele's whereabouts, but now, how could he not? Anyway...
He just needed to stake out the old spot!
That afternoon, Ling Xi arrived at the elective classroom. Though it was still high school, the education systems in the Far East and at Qianyu Academy were different, after all.
Although Ling Xi really wanted to skip class and go find Mobius, Mobius had said yesterday that he did not need to come every day, much less skip class just to visit the lab. So Ling Xi temporarily shelved the idea, because...
If skipping class made Mobius form a bad impression of him, that would be more trouble than it was worth.
Whatever, it was just class. He could play on his phone for a while and it would be over. So...
Ling Xi decisively chose the last row, the legendary seat reserved for slackers.
"Hello, classmate. Is anyone sitting here?"
Just as the bell was about to ring, a girl suddenly came over from behind Ling Xi, seemingly intending to sit beside him.
"No one. Go ahead."
Ling Xi answered without even turning around.
"Thank you."
The girl sat directly beside Ling Xi, then took out her own phone, along with a notebook and a book.
Ling Xi: "..."
It looked like he had encountered a kindred spirit. Last row, phone out—what else could she be but a slacker?
Out of curiosity, Ling Xi casually turned to glance at her. She was a girl around sixteen or seventeen, with a purple bow tied in her black hair, and glasses that looked ridiculously large.
Ling Xi: "..."
Ling Xi suspected his eyes were playing tricks on him. He quickly rubbed them and looked again. The result... was naturally still the same!
"What is it?"
The girl seemed to have noticed Ling Xi looking at her.
"Are you... Mei?"
Ling Xi called out tentatively.
"Yes, I am."
Mei did not deny it. She nodded generously and smiled. "Do you know me, classmate?"
"Of course I know you, Mei. I'm your fan."
Ling Xi hurriedly said he knew her. Damn... it was far more than that. Your name was absolutely thunderous, great one!
First Conversation with Mei
Ling Xi could not have been more familiar with Mei. Compared to Mobius, information about Mei had appeared much earlier. He had first seen her in the comics.
As for him, he had known there was a big shot named Mei in the Pre-Collapse Civilization ever since he played Honkai. Once the Elysian Realm opened, he realized Mei was far more formidable than he had imagined. And after transmigrating into this world...
He had seen Mei several times as well. Of course, he had only seen her and had never gone over to greet her. As for actually having a conversation with Mei, this was probably the first time!
"A... fan?"
Mei was clearly a little stunned, as though she had never expected Ling Xi to suddenly say something so random.
"That's right!"
Ling Xi nodded and smiled. "I read the paper Mei published not long ago. I think... perhaps no one in this world understands the things discussed in that paper better than you."
"Is that so?"
Mei studied Ling Xi with interest and asked, "Going by what you said, it seems you know quite a lot about this field too?"
"No, I'm just a layman. That's the truth."
Ling Xi did not pretend to know everything. After all, the person before him was Mei. Though she was only a student now, Mobius had also been a student when she became world-famous. What Mei lacked now was merely an opportunity.
Therefore, Ling Xi had no intention of pretending to understand things in front of Mei. He merely smiled and said, "Because my research is in Gene Science, I know very little about the quantum theory you're currently studying."
"Is that so..."
Mei did not seem to doubt Ling Xi's words. Still, since she had rarely met someone who seemed to share some common ground with her, she continued, "Then would it be convenient for you to tell me what topic you're mainly researching now? Also... you're a high school student too, right? Could it be that the school even set up a laboratory for you?"
"Of course not. I'm not that capable."
Ling Xi took his ID card from his pocket and smiled. "I'm Ling Xi, a third-year student in Qianyu Academy's high school division, and also..."
Ling Xi handed the ID card to Mei. "An assistant in Doctor Mobius's laboratory at the First Research Institute of the Flame-Chasing Moths."
"What... Mobius?"
Mei's expression changed slightly. She had never heard Ling Xi's name, but she absolutely knew Mobius. It could even be said that... Mobius was her goal.
Mei had never imagined that this ordinary-looking student before her, her classmate, was actually an assistant in the laboratory of someone like Mobius. This truly... proved that appearances could be deceiving.
After taking a look, Mei returned the ID card to Ling Xi. At the same time, her posture and attitude became noticeably more serious.
"Mei, you don't need to be like this. I'm only an assistant."
Seeing Mei suddenly become serious, Ling Xi did not know whether to laugh or cry. Because... he really was just a fake. The only reason he had revealed his identity was to use it to get acquainted with Mei earlier, making it easier for him to cling to her thigh in the future.
Who would have thought Mei would become so nervous?
"No, Ling Xi!"
Mei shook her head, clearly disagreeing with him. She looked seriously at Ling Xi. "Even if you're only an assistant, how could Doctor Mobius's assistant possibly be an ordinary person?"
"Uh..."
Hearing that, Ling Xi froze for a moment. How could he possibly be ordinary...
There were four assistants in Mobius's laboratory including him. Two were slackers, one was a somewhat useful slacker, and only Klein was actually useful...
In short, Mobius was indeed incredible, but her assistants...
Could only be said to be very distinctive.
"Cough, cough, not bad, I guess..."
Of course, Ling Xi definitely would not say such things out loud. Family shame should not be aired in public.
"Um, Ling Xi, what is your work usually like? How often do you meet Doctor Mobius?"
After learning Ling Xi's identity, Mei entered curious-baby mode and began continuously asking him about Mobius. After all, she was not yet the future Doctor Mei who would lead humanity against Honkai. She was only an ordinary high school student, at most a little more outstanding academically.
Her current status was simply not on the same level as Mobius's.
"My work..."
At the mention of that, Ling Xi's mouth twitched. His work... well, though it might not be good to say this about himself, honestly, compared to being Mobius's assistant, he was more like Mobius's test subject...
"Mm, I mainly help Doctor organize and handle documents. When I have time, I also participate in some unimportant research. Since it's biotechnology, many experiments need time for observation."
Ling Xi did not dare say too much. He could only rephrase and repeat what Klein had said that day.
"Is that so..."
Mei nodded thoughtfully and asked again, "Then... Ling Xi, has Doctor Mobius... read my paper?"
"I don't know about that."
Ling Xi shook his head and smiled. "I only joined Mobius's laboratory recently, so I don't know much about what happened before. But... given the quality of your paper, I'm sure Doctor noticed it. She might have already read it."
"Is that so..."
A trace of excitement appeared on Mei's face. She seemed to want to ask why, but remembering Ling Xi's earlier answer, she held her tongue.
"Mei, just say whatever you want to say."
Ling Xi could tell that Mei seemed to have something she wanted to ask.
"Uh... actually, I was hoping Ling Xi could help me ask Doctor about something. It's just..."
Mei smiled a little awkwardly. "What does Doctor think of the paper I published? And where does she think it is lacking?"
"..."
Ling Xi paused, then said, "I naturally have no problem helping with something this small, but you should know that Mobius is a biotechnology scholar. Are you sure it's okay to ask her about quantum mechanics...?"
"Of course!"
Mei said confidently, "I know about Doctor Mobius's background. Though Doctor specializes in biology, she has also achieved remarkable accomplishments in other fields. So... even if this is not Doctor Mobius's specialty, she can still give me some valuable advice."
"All right, I understand. Once I return to the lab, I'll help you ask."
Since Mei had put it that way, Ling Xi naturally would not refuse. It was only a small favor, something he could help with at any time.
"Then thank you."
Seeing Ling Xi agree, Mei was a little happy. She took out her phone and said, "Then... how about we add each other as friends? After all, we're not in the same class. If it isn't an elective, we won't be able to find each other at all."
"Don't worry, with Mei's fame, you only need to ask anyone and you'll know where to find her..."
Although Ling Xi teased her a little, he still decisively added Mei as a friend. She was a future big shot, after all. Building a good relationship early could never be wrong!
Cangxuan, Financially Free!
Class passed quickly, and Ling Xi's conversation with Mei came to an end. Then he left the classroom together with Mei.
"Mei, what do you want for dinner?"
The moment the two stepped out of the classroom, a white-haired high schooler came up to them.
"Oh..."
And upon seeing that white-haired guy... Ling Xi naturally recognized him. He was his wife Kiana's great-great-great-great... ancestor!
"Mm, and this is..."
Kevin also noticed Ling Xi. After all, Ling Xi had walked out together with Mei, so he immediately asked Mei about him.
"Kevin, this is Ling Xi."
Mei smiled generously. "We chatted a little during class."
"Your boyfriend?"
Ling Xi studied Kevin thoughtfully. Looking at the two of them, he had no idea whether this guy had succeeded or not. Still, the same thing remained true: a guy who was this handsome and this outstanding was truly hateful.
"Ah... n-no, he isn't."
Mei was clearly taken aback, then hurriedly denied it.
"Is that so..."
Before you continue