In the vast, remote sea of stars, places like Herta Space Station never had anything that could truly be called day or night.
Only the bedside robot's faintly ethereal announcements told people that dawn had arrived.
Although humanity's footsteps had long since reached countless star sectors, the twenty-four-hour system of timekeeping had endured since ancient times.
Lin Feng opened his sleepy eyes slightly. The girl with long pink hair who had lain beside him was already gone.
Not even a strand of the pink hair that should have been scattered across the soft pillow remained.
"That girl Asta... she really is thorough, huh?"
"Then again, that makes sense. How could she manage Herta Space Station without a meticulous mind?"
He sniffed lightly. Only the delicate perfume lingering beside the bed bore witness to the extraordinary visitor who had passed through.
"I don't know why, but the story in this Path Simulation's world seems to have changed..."
"Normally, the Doomsday Beast should have attacked by now..."
After murmuring a few observations, Lin Feng grew thoughtful.
Based on his experiences in previous Path cycles, the Doomsday Beast's attack always took place late on the night of his arrival.
Even now, he had no idea what he had done to alter the originally predetermined course of events.
Had it all begun with his sneak attack on Kafka? He couldn't say.
But the trajectories of fate among the stars were intricate and mysterious things to begin with. Tug one thread, and the whole web moved. Even a tiny change could trigger a butterfly effect that ultimately brewed into a raging storm.
"Forget it. No point dwelling on that now. I'll deal with whatever comes..."
"For now, I need to find a way to keep racking up Path Simulation points and reach S rank as soon as possible!"
With a goal in mind, a faint smile appeared on Lin Feng's lips.
What had happened last night confirmed his theory. Winning over beautiful girls really did earn him plenty of points.
And so Lin Feng, who had already embarked on the Path of Elation, began brewing an even more wicked plan.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Excuse me... is this Lin Feng's room?"
March 7th's slightly anxious voice came through the heavy door.
"Mr. Lin Feng, Miss March 7th would like to see you. Shall I let her in?"
The attending physician, dressed in a white uniform and wearing black-rimmed glasses, came to Lin Feng's bedside and asked respectfully.
"Oh, it's Little March... let her in!"
Lin Feng nodded slightly, and soon that familiar, beautiful face appeared before him.
"Wow... Lin Feng, you're finally awake!"
"Let me see how your injuries are doing... if they haven't healed you properly, I'm going straight back to settle the score with Asta!"
As she spoke, March 7th wore a radiant smile as warm as sunshine and began checking Lin Feng's injuries.
But at the mention of Asta's name, Lin Feng's brow furrowed slightly.
March 7th... I'd advise you not to go causing trouble. Asta probably isn't feeling too great right now.
Remembering last night's fierce battle, Lin Feng shook his head with a wry smile.
Although he hadn't seen when the lovely girl left, he suspected Asta's journey back hadn't been easy.
After all, faced with Asta's temptations last night, he had spent quite a while hard at work.
"Amazing... the wounds have all healed, and they haven't even left any scars!"
"Has medical equipment really gotten this incredible?"
Her rosy lips parted, and March 7th's smile grew even brighter, her beautiful eyes brimming with delighted surprise.
Perhaps seeing Lin Feng return safe and sound was what she had hoped for most.
"Lin Feng... you know, I didn't sleep at all last night!"
She pulled over a chair, rested both hands on its back, and leaned her sweet, pretty face against it, complaining with a slight frown.
"Hm? What's wrong... were Herta Space Station's beds not up to Miss March 7th's standards?"
"I never thought our Little March would start acting like a spoiled princess..."
Lin Feng teased her instinctively, a casual smile on his face.
Seeing March 7th visit lifted his spirits. After all, this pink-haired girl who always rushed headlong into everything was the Astral Express crew's mascot and ray of sunshine.
"That's not it..."
"Oh? Then, Miss March 7th, were you unable to sleep because you were thinking about me?"
Looking at March 7th's stubbornly defensive expression, Lin Feng couldn't help chuckling.
"N-no! Absolutely not!"
"I was just worried... worried something might happen to you. You were hurt so badly, after all."
"Tsk... you were practically dying yesterday, and today you're full of life again. You really are a weirdo!"
Clenching her slender, delicate hands, March 7th turned her gaze toward a potted plant in the room to hide the embarrassment on her face.
"But now that I've seen you're perfectly fine, I can relax!"
"I'd even told Himeko we should build you the most luxurious tomb possible. Now we can save a whole lot of Credits!"
"Haha, just thinking about that makes me feel so much better..."
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, March 7th wore a radiant smile.
"Ah... how disappointing. I risked my life to protect you, and in the end, all you care about is saving a few Credits."
"Oh no, oh no... the anger's gone straight to my heart. I'd better lie down for a bit..."
Lin Feng hurriedly lay down, directing his gaze sideways toward the full, snow-white legs beneath her aqua-blue pleated skirt.
"Hey, hey... you pervert! You're trying to take advantage of me again, aren't you?"
Her fine brows knitted slightly. Following Lin Feng's gaze and realizing where his attention lay, March 7th puffed out her cheeks and complained.
Of course, to block his shameless stare, she lifted and crossed her legs slightly, cutting off every possible viewing angle.
Had this been yesterday, she would definitely have beaten him senseless for being so shameless.
But March 7th had no intention of doing that now. After all, Lin Feng had saved her life.
Besides, he was still a patient. Himeko had told her that she absolutely must not agitate him, so she could only do as she was told.
"Lin Feng... actually, I came today because there's something I want to talk to you about."
"Hm?"
"Well, I wanted to invite you to join us aboard the Astral Express. You won't turn us down, will you?"
"And it's not just me. Himeko, Dan Heng, and Uncle Yang all agree."
The warm smile faded from March 7th's lips as her expression turned earnest, her beautiful pink eyes filled with anticipation.
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