Fortunately, Longing is Silent; Unfortunately, Longing is Silent

"Rare to see you so refined. You're not planning on using the Astral Society people for experiments this time, are you? Just tell me if you need help," Herta asked.

Ruan Mei shook her head, her gaze still fixed on the document. "I'm not like you, messing around outside the Simulated Universe."

"Then what's the reason?" Herta spread her hands.

Ruan Mei lowered her eyes slightly. "I just… seemed to see an old friend from a long time ago… but I can't be sure if it's really him."

"Just an old friend?" Herta put on a bored expression, walking towards the door of the cabin with an elegant gait.

But as she reached the door, she turned back.

"If it's just an old friend, why are you crying?"

Ruan Mei suddenly looked up, the icy porthole reflecting her exquisitely beautiful face, as fair as snow.

But those autumn eyes, once as calm as water, were now rippling.

Perhaps she hadn't even noticed that she was already gently enveloped in sorrow.

She didn't understand. If this time was real, shouldn't she be happy?

But why… was she crying?

She reached out to wipe away the tears, but touched the cold porthole, as if wiping them away for the reflection in the mirror.

She had spent 600 years trying to understand so-called emotions, but every time she thought she was close to an answer, she found that those answers used to define emotions were just wishful thinking.

"This old friend you speak of, wouldn't happen to be that fiancé you once mentioned?" Seeing Ruan Mei in such a disheveled state for the first time, Herta couldn't help but feel a touch of compassion.

Ruan Mei didn't answer, but that pitiful, tearful glance gave the answer.

Herta sighed and said, "Perhaps it's true what they say, that those who join the Genius Society aren't necessarily geniuses, but could also be madmen."

"I've heard about your affairs – creating life, cultivating planets, even shaking the laws of life in the universe. But the initial purpose was for that so-called old friend, wasn't it? But I do have a question. With your abilities, you should have been able to do it, right? Why did you give up later?"

Ruan Mei closed her eyes and said softly, "Because he once told me the answer: perhaps one day, hundreds of years later, we will meet again."

He… Erudition?

Herta rested her chin on one hand, looking thoughtful.

"But you can't be sure that the answer he calculated, that the him hundreds of years later, will be the same as the original, right?"

"So, I need to confirm it myself." Ruan Mei opened her eyes again, turning her head… to look at the vast sea of stars outside the porthole.

"Blegh~"

"Blegh~"

As soon as Bai Heng stepped off the starship and onto the Herta Space Station, he immediately threw up.

Topaz, standing next to him, was also leaning against the wall, looking unwell.

"I suggest you demote this starship pilot immediately upon your return." Charles leaned on his ceremonial cane, his dignified and solemn face creased with displeasure.

Bai Heng waved his hand and said, "Mr. Charles, where there's demand, there's a market. This pilot may be a bit aggressive, but he's fast. The original five-stellar-hour journey was shortened by half. Moreover, he can maintain this speed without any mishaps. With proper training, he might have a place to use his talents in the future."

Hearing this, Charles frowned slightly, somewhat displeased with Bai Heng's rebuttal of a superior.

But after all, it was the Astral Society's business, and what he said wasn't without reason, so he replied indifferently, "My opinion is just for reference. Your Astral Society people can follow your own regulations."

Since he had already said that, Bai Heng turned to the starship pilot and said, "Xiao Si, you're losing your performance bonus for this month."

The starship pilot named Xiao Si pushed his goggles up to the top of his head, scratched his short red hair apologetically, and grinned.

"Sorry, Bai-ge, and the two leaders. I'll be more careful next time, I'll be more careful."

For him, losing a month's performance bonus wasn't a big deal, because his monthly performance bonus was basically always deducted by default.

Bai Heng glanced at the guy out of the corner of his eye, thinking that he really wanted to train and promote this young man.

After all, this guy was the one he had rescued from a space ruin. He was only 19 years old this year, simple-minded, and willing to work hard. He was one of the most trusted people around Bai Heng.

But unfortunately, this guy's starship piloting always received complaints.

If he hadn't achieved zero errors in 307 voyages and achieved excellent results in the pilot exam, the Astral Society would have kicked him to the curb long ago.

"Let's go then. Ms. Herta and Ms. Ruan Mei from the Genius Society will both be attending this time. We can't keep them waiting." Topaz caught her breath and picked up Numby, who was still dizzy.

Just then, the staff member in charge of welcoming guests at the Herta Space Station arrived next to them.

He bowed respectfully and said, "Esteemed representatives of the Interastral Peace Corporation, this way, please. Ms. Herta and Ms. Ruan Mei are already waiting for you in the conference room."

Upon hearing this, Topaz looked at Bai Heng, a hint of puzzlement in her eyes.

"I wouldn't have thought those two would wait for us, given their personalities. Could it be they're interested in the Astral Society's research as well?"

"I doubt it," Bai Heng replied, not believing the Astral Society had that much clout. "Although both the Simulated Universe and the Astral Society study the Aeons, the two aren't even in the same league. To put it bluntly, what we tinker with at the Astral Society is basically what they've already played with and discarded."

"Hmm... In any case, the fact that they're doing this at least suggests they're interested in something about us, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Let's go, and we'll find out soon enough." Topaz adjusted her shapely waist.

The group followed the staff member towards the space station's conference room.

Along the way, the staff member introduced them to several of the Curios storage rooms they passed.

These Curios were all collected from across the universe by Ms. Herta herself, or by her fervent fans and even her detractors, and stored within the space station.

After about twenty minutes, the staff member led the group to the outside of a conference room.

"Esteemed guests from the Corporation, this is it."

Topaz, being the highest-ranking of the three, thanked the staff member and took the lead, heading towards the conference room's hatch.

The hatch opened automatically.

The first thing that caught their eyes was a massive computational device constructed from countless terminals, suspended high above the conference room.

In the center of the conference room was a round conference table with four seats.

What was particularly noteworthy was that the table was set with a pot of fragrant tea and a plate of various pastries with crispy exteriors.

A graceful woman with a curvaceous figure, wearing an elegant qipao and with her long black hair pinned up with a hairpin, was elegantly pouring tea for the guests.

Beside her, a silver-brown-haired girl in a delicate Lolita dress was idly enjoying the refreshments.

As the hatch opened and Topaz, Bai Heng, and the others entered the conference room, Ruan Mei stopped pouring tea, her gaze shifting to the visitors and settling on Bai Heng.

At that very moment, Bai Heng also looked at her.

Compared to her hazy, girlish image in the Simulated Universe, she seemed even more refined and captivating.

Topaz, who had only met Herta a few times in connection with the Corporation, was seeing Ruan Mei in person for the first time. She gave a slight bow, just about to introduce herself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. We are..."

But before she could finish, she suddenly saw Ruan Mei walk straight past her and Charles, heading directly towards Bai Heng.

Under their astonished gazes, Ruan Mei extended her slender hand and gently touched Bai Heng's right cheek with her delicate fingertips.