Self-persuasion

[Stelle: Aha, what should I do? How can I win over a wealthy company executive like Dr. Ratio? He probably doesn't care about anything, right?]

Aha: You've come to the right god! Based on my experience as an Aeon... I don't think you need to pursue Dr. Ratio at all.

Stelle: Huh? Why?

Aha: Because people like that...

You just need to give him the slightest hint, and he'll fill in the rest with his imagination.

In other words, you don't need to pursue him at all; he can pursue himself on your behalf.

That's what they call 'self-persuasion' in the legends.

Stelle listened to Aha with a strange expression.

At first, she thought this conquest would be easy.

But after thinking about it carefully, something didn't feel right.

Isn't this just getting something for nothing?!

She doesn't have to put in any effort, and Dr. Ratio will willingly take the bait.

No way.

The Trailblazer isn't the type to freeload!

But.

Thinking about it even more carefully.

It's not like she put in any effort when she was pursuing Sampo, Gepard, and Jing Yuan.

It seems like she didn't give anything at all either.

"That's not right..."

Stelle frowned, muttering to herself.

What do you mean she didn't give anything? Of course, she gave something!

The Trailblazer gave the most important thing—her sincerity!

That's right, sincerity is priceless.

Although she approached all the eligible men with the goal of completing a quest, in her heart, she had long been eager, scheming, and fantasizing about them!

[Aha: Are you serious about all these words...?]

In a sense, Stelle also persuaded herself, convincing herself.

That's right, she's not freeloading.

Of course, she also likes Dr. Ratio, and every character she pursues.

Otherwise, even if Aha held a knife to her neck, or Nanook was about to crush her into dust, Stelle would never lay a hand on these men.

All acts of conquest come from her heart; the script is just a bonus.

Having figured this out, the Trailblazer felt no guilt.

How could she not know Dr. Ratio's past?

If she could, she believed that as long as she crooked her finger, Dr. Ratio would definitely come wagging his tail, begging for a little bit of her love.

But, the Trailblazer would never do that.

She wants the love she gives to be completely equal to the love she receives from all the characters she pursues.

The air between the two fell into an eerie silence.

Both were brainwashing and persuading themselves.

In the end, they reached a complete consensus.

Stelle/Dr. Ratio: Since the other person likes me so much, I can't let their feelings go to waste. I have to like them even more!

When they understood this, both of them had a flash of inspiration, raised their heads, and met each other's eyes at the same time.

"I have something to tell you!"

Their voices rang out in unison.

Stelle/Dr. Ratio: You go first! No, I'll go first!

Whoa, what's with this 400% synchronization rate?

Dr. Ratio blinked, seeing a bright radiance in the Trailblazer's eyes. Her golden eyes were like Soolada with bubbles rising in a glass, sweet but full of vitality.

"Then you go first, Stelle. What's the matter?"

Actually, a man's sixth sense is sometimes quite accurate.

Dr. Ratio vaguely guessed what the Trailblazer was about to say. He clenched his fists unconsciously, a glimmer of light flickering in his eyes.

"Dr. Ratio, I'll be good to you. Will you give me a chance!"

Thump.

Dr. Ratio knew that the ambiguous atmosphere had been built up to this point, and he could vaguely guess the Trailblazer's intentions.

However, having an idea in his mind was completely different from facing the reality firsthand.

Aha: Oh my, even when not in a state of Elation, the Trailblazer can still make such direct advances so smoothly. Aha is a little impressed by your speed of growth.

Even Aha couldn't help but click its tongue in admiration at the Trailblazer's progress.

From the perspective of an outsider god, it felt that the Trailblazer's words had become an art, so ingenious.

The Trailblazer never said from beginning to end that she wanted to be Dr. Ratio's girlfriend; she only asked if she could be good to Dr. Ratio.

Such a despicable shift in concept.

After all, the Trailblazer was going to give all the mature men and women a home, and not committing to a relationship meant she could be with everyone.

She wouldn't confirm relationships with everyone, because if she had a dozen relationships, wouldn't that be like having too many irons in the fire!

Aha: What's the difference between what you're doing now and having too many irons in the fire...

Stelle: I'm not a scumbag; I just want to give all the mature men and women a home~

"Cough, cough..."

Manually silencing Aha, who was relentlessly complaining in her mind, Stelle carefully observed Dr. Ratio's reaction.

The man was an elite executive of the Interstellar Peace Corporation. The business world was like a battlefield, and he had fought countless battles on it, never showing his emotions.

But now, Stelle saw that the mask of composure that Dr. Ratio usually wore on his face had signs of cracking.

The Nameless who galloped freely through the Star Rail, the Galaxy Bat Hero who fought the world with a bat, Stelle, who could only be admired from afar.

Was she actually making such a promise to him?

The star he wanted, the one that was unattainable, hanging far away in the sky, was now right in front of him, within reach?

Dr. Ratio's gaze followed the Trailblazer's face closely, as if trying to see a joking expression on her face.

But there was none.

Stelle always showed Dr. Ratio a confident smile.

Dr. Ratio moved his lips, wanting to say something, but he couldn't utter a word. The ease with which he usually negotiated contracts and lowered prices had completely collapsed at this moment.

He only saw the Trailblazer open her arms, showing a warm embrace.

Stelle approached step by step, slowly walking over.

Gently hugging Dr. Ratio.

She stared at Dr. Ratio's red earlobes, playfully breathing a puff of hot air on them, feeling the almost imperceptible tremor in the person in her arms, and feeling a sense of triumph after successfully playing a trick.

"Dr. Ratio, do you like me?"

Dr. Ratio slowly wrapped his arms around the Trailblazer's body, gently hugging her.

"I like you, Stelle."

The Trailblazer was completely immersed in the emotions after expressing her feelings.

She didn't feel any sense of triumph after successfully capturing his heart at all.

All she could think about was: I'm so likable, and Dr. Ratio is so likable, we're a perfect match!

Dr. Ratio suddenly let go.

He took out the exquisite jewelry gift box from his pocket, maintaining a forced calmness on his face.

"Actually, I bought all those things. Stelle, I don't know if this necklace suits you. Let me put it on for you."

Stelle nodded with a smile, lifting a head of soft gray shawl hair, revealing a snow-white neck.

She turned around, facing away from Dr. Ratio, making it easier for him to act.

In Penacony, where people come and go, there are many clingy little couples, and Stelle didn't think she and Dr. Ratio were conspicuous.

But for some reason, she suddenly felt that her and Dr. Ratio's every move seemed to be taken into someone's eyes.

A not-so-friendly gaze came over, making Stelle feel very uncomfortable.