"It's rare to see you in such a refined mood. You're not planning to use people from the Astral Society as test subjects this time, are you? If you need my help, just say so," Herta asked.
Ruan Mei shook her head, her gaze still resting on the file. "I'm not like you. I don't mess around outside the Simulated Universe."
"Then what's the reason?" Herta spread her hands.
Ruan Mei lowered her eyes. "I just... seem to have seen an old acquaintance from a long time ago... But I can't be sure whether it's really him."
"Just an old acquaintance?" Looking bored, Herta stepped gracefully toward the hatch.
But when she reached it, she turned back.
"If he's just an old acquaintance, then why are you crying?"
Ruan Mei suddenly looked up. Her peerlessly beautiful face, fairer than snow and frost, was reflected in the cold viewport.
Yet ripples had appeared in those autumn eyes that had once been still as water.
Perhaps she had not noticed that sorrow had already gently wrapped itself around her.
She did not understand. If it was really him this time, shouldn't she have been happy?
Then why... was she crying instead?
She raised a hand to wipe away her tears, only to touch the cold viewport, as though she were wiping the reflection of herself within it.
She had spent six hundred years trying to understand so-called emotions, yet whenever she thought she had come close to the answer—
She discovered that the answers she used to define emotions were nothing more than wishful thinking.
"This old acquaintance you speak of... wouldn't he be the fiancé you once mentioned?" Seeing Ruan Mei in such a disheveled state for the first time, even Herta could not help feeling pity.
Ruan Mei did not answer, but that sorrowful glance over her shoulder had already given Herta the answer.
Herta sighed and said,
"Perhaps they were right. Not everyone who joins the Genius Society is a genius. Some might be lunatics."
"I've heard about what you've done—creating life, cultivating planets, even shaking the laws governing life across worlds. But your original purpose was all for that so-called old acquaintance, wasn't it? Still, I have a question. With your abilities, you should have been able to accomplish it. Why did you give up later?"
Ruan Mei closed her eyes and softly said,
"Because He once gave me an answer. Perhaps, on some day several centuries from now, we would meet again."
He... Erudition?
Herta rested her chin on one hand, looking thoughtful.
"But you can't be certain that the answer He calculated—that him several centuries later—would still be the original one, can you?"
"So I need to confirm it myself." Ruan Mei opened her eyes again and turned her head... toward the vast star sea beyond the viewport.
Blergh~
Blergh~
The moment Bai Heng stepped off the starship and onto Herta's Space Station, he vomited until he was completely disoriented.
Topaz, standing beside him, was also leaning against the wall, looking none too well.
"I suggest that when you return, you immediately demote this starship pilot." Charles leaned on his ceremonial cane, several dark lines crossing his stern and dignified face.
Bai Heng waved a hand and said,
"Mr. Charles, where there's demand, there's a market. This pilot may be a little aggressive, but he's fast. A journey that originally took five interstellar hours was cut in half. Besides, maintaining that speed without making a single mistake is no easy feat. With proper training, he might prove useful someday."
Charles frowned slightly upon hearing that, somewhat displeased by Bai Heng contradicting his superior.
But it was the Astral Society's business after all, and Bai Heng's words were not without reason, so he answered mildly,
"My opinion is only for reference. Your Astral Society can handle it according to your own regulations."
Since Charles had put it that way, Bai Heng turned to the starship pilot and said,
"Xiao Si, your performance bonus for this month is gone."
The pilot named Xiao Si pushed his goggles up onto his head, scratched his short red hair sheepishly, and grinned.
"Sorry, Brother Bai, and sorry to the two leaders. I'll be more careful next time. Next time."
Losing one month's performance bonus was nothing to him, because his performance bonuses were basically deducted by default every month anyway.
Bai Heng shot him a sidelong glance, thinking that he really did want to train this young man and give him a hand.
After all, Bai Heng had rescued him from a space wreckage site. He had only turned nineteen this year, was guileless, hardworking, and was one of the people Bai Heng trusted most.
But there was no helping it—this guy received complaints every time he piloted a starship.
If not for his record of 307 flawless departures and top marks in his pilot examinations, the Astral Society would have kicked him into some forgotten corner long ago.
"Let's go, then. Ms. Herta and Ms. Ruan Mei of the Genius Society will both be attending this time. We can't keep them waiting too long." Having finally caught her breath, Topaz picked up Numby, who was still reeling.
Just then, the Space Station staff member responsible for receiving them arrived beside the group.
He bowed respectfully and said,
"Everyone from the Company, this way please. Ms. Herta and Ms. Ruan Mei are already waiting for you in the conference room."
Hearing this, Topaz looked puzzled and turned to Bai Heng.
"As I recall, given those two's personalities, they shouldn't be waiting specifically for us. Could they be interested in your Astral Society's research too?"
"I don't think that's likely." Bai Heng did not believe the Astral Society carried that much weight. "Although the Simulated Universe and the Astral Society both study Aeons, we're not even on the same level. To put it bluntly, the things the Astral Society tinkers with are basically what they've already grown tired of playing with."
"Mm... In any case, their doing this at least means we have something that interests them. That isn't a bad thing for us. Let's go. We'll find out when we get there." Topaz rested a hand against her elegantly curved waist.
The group followed the staff member toward the Space Station's conference room.
Along the way, the staff member introduced several Curio collection rooms they passed.
The Curios inside had been collected from across the universe by Ms. Herta herself, or by her fervent fans and haters, and stored within the Space Station.
After about twenty minutes, the staff member led them outside the conference room.
"Guests from the Company, this is the place."
Topaz held the highest rank among the three. After thanking the staff member, she was the first to walk toward the conference room hatch.
The hatch opened automatically.
Before them stood a massive computing device assembled from countless terminals, suspended high above the conference room.
At the center of the room was a round conference table with four seats.
What was unusual was that a pot of fragrant tea and a plate of crisp, assorted pastries had been placed on the table.
A graceful woman with a delicate figure stood elegantly brewing tea for the guests. She wore a simple, elegant cheongsam, her long black hair pinned up with a hairpin, and possessed a gentle, refined air.
Beside her sat a silver-brown-haired girl in an exquisite Lolita dress, listlessly enjoying tea and pastries.
When the hatch opened and Topaz, Bai Heng, and the others entered the conference room, Ruan Mei stopped pouring tea. Her gaze shifted to the visitors and settled on Bai Heng.
At that exact moment, Bai Heng looked at her as well.
Compared to the hazy image of a young girl in the simulation, she seemed even more ethereal and captivating.
Topaz had only met Herta, who had dealings with the Company, a few times before. This was also her first time meeting Ruan Mei in person, so she bowed slightly and was just about to introduce herself.
"Pleased to meet you. We..."
The words had barely reached her lips when she suddenly saw Ruan Mei walk straight forward, passing Topaz and Charles and heading directly toward Bai Heng.
Under the astonished gazes of the two, Ruan Mei extended her slender, fair hand and touched Bai Heng's right cheek with her jade-like fingertip.
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