"The Astral Express... the great legacy left behind by Akivili, the Aeon of the Trailblaze."
"It has traveled the boundless sea of stars and can even cross the barriers between worlds. A miraculous artifact of the Trailblaze..."
Lin Feng murmured a few words to himself, his expression perfectly composed.
"Lin Feng, you sure know a lot!"
"There are still so many worlds waiting for us to explore. Our goal... is all the worlds in existence!"
"So, want to join the super-amazing Astral Express?"
Her eyes curved into crescents, March 7th wore a smug smile on her pretty face as she extended her slender hand toward Lin Feng.
"Well... that's a big decision. Let me think it over for a while..."
"After all, I don't have any compelling reason to board the Astral Express."
As he spoke, Lin Feng looked serious and cautious, as though he were weighing his options.
Of course, he was definitely going to board the Astral Express-just not now.
Besides, with his Love Expert talent and his thorough understanding of how to woo girls, Lin Feng had come to grasp many truths.
Things obtained too easily tended to lose their value.
If he hastily agreed to March 7th's invitation, he would have one less bargaining chip when dealing with the Astral Express crew.
"What the heck! Lin Feng, how can you be like this..."
"What do you mean, you don't have a reason? Riding the Astral Express means seeing all kinds of amazing sights, tasting food you've never had before, and even saving worlds! Doesn't that sound fun..."
March 7th puffed out her cheeks, her face full of complaints. She was indescribably cute.
"That does sound pretty good, but those reasons aren't enough to sway me..."
"Life is short, just a few fleeting decades. Honestly, I think taking it easy sounds pretty good too... like working as a security guard at Herta Space Station..."
Lin Feng smiled nonchalantly, quietly enjoying the pretty girl's endearing antics.
"You... you... can't you have a little ambition?"
"With your skills and strength, staying at Herta Space Station would be a complete waste of your talents!"
The pink-haired girl knitted her delicate brows, looking utterly speechless.
She had never imagined that Lin Feng would be completely indifferent to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like boarding the Astral Express.
Who knew how many people wanted to join the Astral Express, only to be turned down outright by Himeko?
"Lin Feng... pretty please? Say yes, okay?"
"Once you join the Astral Express, we'll be companions fighting side by side..."
Left with no other choice, March 7th could only bring out her trump card. Acting cute wasn't her strong suit, but she was willing to try.
After all, the person before her was Lin Feng. She would never have done this for anyone else.
Before setting out, she had boasted to Himeko and Dan Heng that she would definitely get Lin Feng to join the Astral Express crew.
How awkward would it be if she failed? Just thinking about it was embarrassing.
"Ahem... well, joining you isn't out of the question."
"But I have one condition. It depends on whether the lovely Miss March 7th is willing to agree..."
A faint smile tugged at Lin Feng's lips as he looked at March 7th with interest.
"Just tell me... I'll agree!"
"Ahem... if Miss March 7th were to give herself to me, I'd agree for now..."
Before Lin Feng could finish, a large, snow-white cushion smacked him in the face.
March 7th, who had been sitting primly upright, flushed scarlet, her cheeks puffing out again.
"Hmph... Lin Feng, you jerk! In your dreams!"
"How could I possibly agree to something that weird?"
"I've never met a man as awful as you. That's right, never..."
Folding her arms across her chest and turning her face slightly away, March 7th wore a haughty look on her stunning features.
This girl... looks like I haven't raised her affection high enough.
There are plenty of bumps in the road ahead. I'll have to keep working at it...
After testing the waters, Lin Feng had a rough idea of where things stood.
His relationship with March 7th was probably at the stage of [more than friends, not quite lovers].
Although March 7th had confessed when he pretended to be dead last night, that had only been a moment of impulsiveness.
Once she calmed down, even if she had some feelings for him, she was still hesitant and uncertain.
After all, March 7th had known him for less than a day. Rushing things wasn't advisable.
"Ahem... in that case, let's switch to something simpler."
"One sweet kiss from Miss March 7th, and I'll stop considering a security job at Herta Space Station. Maybe I'll accept your invitation..."
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke with a serious expression.
The experience provided by his Love Expert talent told him that winning a pretty girl over quickly required creating more opportunities for kino-intimate physical contact. With March 7th delivering herself right to his door, he couldn't afford to go easy on her.
After all, in his eyes, March 7th wasn't just cute and full of energy. She was also a walking fortress of points.
"Well... okay, I'll agree just this once. But you'd better keep your word."
"Don't worry. A gentleman's word is his bond!"
Lin Feng spoke with a slight smile. What did a gentleman's promises have to do with him? He was a juggler on the Path of Elation.
"C-could you close your eyes?"
March 7th's shy, soft voice reached his ears, and Lin Feng obediently closed his eyes.
A moment later, following the sound of hesitant footsteps, a cool, silky touch landed on the side of Lin Feng’s cheek.
Soft and sweet, with a faint floral fragrance. Though it was only a fleeting brush, it brimmed with youthful freshness.
"That... that's it?"
Opening his eyes again, Lin Feng looked at the adorable girl with her scarlet face, a trace of regret appearing on his own.
"W-what else? What... what more do you want?"
"L-Lin Feng, don't get the wrong idea! That was just a greeting kiss between friends!"
"That's right, that's all! I only think of you as my closest friend..."
Despite her words, March 7th covered her face with both hands, unwilling to let Lin Feng see how shy she was.
Her cheeks and ears burned red, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened. March 7th was utterly flustered now, and even felt a little regret.
Himeko had told her not to fall into a man's trap so easily, or she would end up an innocent lamb.
March 7th felt she had just fallen into Lin Feng's trap-and walked straight into it herself, at that...
Hmm? I didn't get any Path of Elation points?
Looks like this level of contact isn't nearly enough anymore. What a headache...
At that thought, Lin Feng felt a little dejected. Hadn't he thrown his dignity aside for the points? Yet he had gotten nothing.
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