As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
"So, what's your answer?"
Seeing Ji Yuan awaken, Ruan Mei asked him.
Although there had been a few twists just now, Ruan Mei believed Ji Yuan would give the answer he ought to give.
Yet this time, Ji Yuan gave her the opposite answer.
"I'm staying here."
"Hmm?"
Ruan Mei raised an eyebrow slightly, looking puzzled. At the side, Phantyl's lips curled upward upon hearing Ji Yuan's words. Still, she felt somewhat frustrated. This time, it had taken her joining forces with Sushang, Huohuo, and Yanqing to barely overpower Ruan Mei. If she wanted to completely destroy Ji Yuan's will, she still had work to do.
Sushang burst into arrogant laughter. "Hahaha! I told you, bro definitely wouldn't become some nerd who only knows research."
As she spoke, Ji Yuan gave her a hard knock on the head.
"While I won't be leaving with Ms. Ruan Mei, my biological research will continue. And I'll be keeping a close eye on your studies too."
The moment Sushang heard that Ji Yuan intended to supervise her studies, fear immediately appeared on her face.
Ji Yuan looked at the confused Ruan Mei and continued, "I plan to stay here for now because I want to try something else. I want to integrate the Luofu's arts and techniques into biological research. Teacher Ruan Mei, aside from having some talent in biological science, I'm not bad at the arts either."
This was the excuse Simulated Ruan Mei had come up with for Ji Yuan based on her personality.
"Yes, yes. Since you can create techniques to command Suiyang, Teacher must be a genius in that field too. I believe that if Teacher researches the arts, your achievements definitely won't be any less than what you'd accomplish researching life sciences with her."
Huohuo hurriedly nodded in agreement with Ji Yuan.
By the end, she even forced herself to raise her gaze and meet Ruan Mei's eyes.
Though her legs were trembling nonstop with fear, Huohuo's gaze did not retreat in the slightest.
Ji Yuan patted Huohuo's little head, then looked toward Ruan Mei.
"Teacher Ruan Mei, I already have a concept in mind. Please guide me from the side."
"Alright. Then let's return to the ship."
Ruan Mei did not say much else. She grabbed Ji Yuan's hand and headed back toward her vessel.
Ji Yuan looked at Phantyl and the others.
"You should go back first. I'll return tonight."
"You won't secretly leave, will you?"
Phantyl asked Ji Yuan.
"How could we? Ms. Ruan Mei's ship hasn't even been repaired yet. We're nowhere near ready to leave." Ji Yuan shook his head.
He glanced at Phantyl, his gaze somewhat fervent.
Just thinking about how he could not only farm achievements from her, but also steal her power when she was on the verge of success... how thrilling would that be?
Excitement rose within him.
Ji Yuan and Ruan Mei boarded the ship. Ruan Mei quickly took out all the materials aboard and looked at Ji Yuan.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"This is enough already."
Ji Yuan looked over the experimental materials and felt they should be sufficient. Without saying anything further, he began the work directly.
He was going to start making an information marker, so that even with Phantyl outside, they could transmit the situation here.
Information that only he and Ruan Mei could understand.
"Since I'm already sending messages here, it's only natural for me to communicate with other people too, right?"
Ji Yuan thought to himself.
As he waited for the test tube to react, he took out the phone that only Tingyun and he could see.
He wanted to ask about her situation and tell her that she could ask Herta for help if necessary.
As for whether Ruan Mei or Phantyl, who might be spying on them, would discover it, Ji Yuan was not afraid at all.
We're conducting scientific work here. Isn't it normal to have a few odd habits during the process?
Ji Yuan: Tingyun, how are things on your end?
After quite a while, Tingyun's reply finally appeared.
Tingyun: Mm, I successfully infiltrated Herta Space Station. I casually found myself an identity and applied for a cleaning job here. This little woman is exhausted.
She then sent a pitiful emoji.
Ji Yuan felt a little sorry for her when he saw it.
Just as he was about to comfort her, another message from Tingyun appeared.
Tingyun: There are several cleaning robots, and I have to give them orders every day. It's such a hassle.
Ji Yuan: ...
Tingyun: Alright, no more joking. This little woman will hide properly at Herta Space Station. You're the one who needs to keep yourself safe over there.
Remembering his purpose, Ji Yuan immediately typed:
Ji Yuan: My safety is well assured. I'm messaging you to tell you that I've already established connections at Herta Space Station. If you need help, you can ask for it.
Tingyun: How did you establish connections with Herta Space Station while you're over there? This little woman would like to know who it is.
Ji Yuan: Ms. Herta.
After hearing Ji Yuan's answer, Tingyun seemed stunned and did not reply for several seconds.
Only after a while did she respond:
Tingyun: You're not joking with your girlfriend, are you?
Ji Yuan: Tingyun, I'm not lying.
Tingyun: How did you do it?
Ji Yuan: Me? I just found a teacher named Ruan Mei.
Tingyun: Is there really anything you can't do?
Ji Yuan: Just a bit of coincidence and a tiny bit of talent.
His expression was incredibly "modest," leaving even Ruan Mei, who stood beside him, slightly puzzled.
Hadn't the process not even started yet?
Why was he so happy already?
After chatting for a few moments, Tingyun put her phone into her pocket and continued managing the cleaning robots as she prepared to clean.
But just then, a short, dark-skinned boy appeared before her.
"What is your purpose in forging an identity and infiltrating the space station?"
He questioned Tingyun.
Seeing that the boy had a weapon in his hand, Tingyun immediately raised both hands.
She said weakly, "Um, I came to the space station to find someone."
"Who?"
The dark-skinned boy asked with a frown.
"Herta."
Now, she could only hope Ji Yuan had not lied to her.
You better not screw over your girlfriend, Ji Yuan.
Tingyun thought to herself.
Hearing Tingyun say that, the boy frowned tightly. Just as he was about to say something, a violent explosion suddenly erupted within the space station, and several monsters appeared nearby.
"Anti-Matter Legion!? How did they get here?"
Hearing the dark-skinned boy's words, Tingyun's eyes widened as well.
The Anti-Matter Legion?
Could it be that Phantyl discovered I had left and chased me all the way here?
Silver Wolf: It's Over, Our Plan Is Completely in Disarray!
Several Voidrangers appeared, surrounding the boy and Tingyun.
Tingyun wondered whether Phantyl had discovered her and pursued her here.
As she was still thinking, the Voidrangers suddenly stopped moving. Their bodies gradually froze, then a series of cracking sounds rang out as all the Voidrangers shattered into powder.
The sound of little leather boots approached. Tingyun saw a doll-like little girl in a Western dress walking over.
Who was this?
She wondered inwardly.
The boy at the side revealed her identity.
"Ms. Herta, you've returned to the space station?"
"So it's Arlan." Herta nodded slightly. "Mm. I originally had some matters to attend to and wasn't supposed to return to the space station today. But one of my friends found someone talented enough to stand on equal footing with us, and she plans to bring him here. So I specifically returned early to make some preparations. Yet I happened to encounter some unexpected guests."
Ruan Mei's arrival alone would not have made Herta return early. However, Ruan Mei had said she would bring Ji Yuan here. Since Herta considered this "genius" talented enough to stand on equal footing with her, she naturally wanted to prepare some things to help him improve and grow.
Yet the moment she returned, she saw the Anti-Matter Legion. With a casual wave of her hand, she eliminated those Voidrangers.
Her strength was enough to fight a Lord of Destruction. To her, Voidrangers were worlds apart in strength.
These Anti-Matter Legion grunts are getting bolder and bolder.
Herta thought to herself.
Herta walked over to Arlan and instructed, "Arlan, go check the other areas of the space station. And you are..."
Her final words were directed at Tingyun.
She looked at Tingyun, wanting to know who she was.
Arlan looked at Tingyun suspiciously.
Facing their gazes, Tingyun secretly steeled herself.
Ji Yuan, Ji Yuan, you better not screw over your girlfriend!
"Um, Ji Yuan asked me to come find you..."
She said to Herta.
Upon hearing Ji Yuan's name, Herta raised an eyebrow slightly. Then she could not help but laugh.
"So he already expected he'd come trouble me. Fine. Before he grows up, I still have a responsibility as a senior to look after him. But I'll keep this debt on the books for now and collect it once he has the ability to repay it."
"Ji... Ji Yuan already planned this in advance?"
Tingyun had already been confused when she saw that Herta knew Ji Yuan. Now Herta was saying Ji Yuan had prepared for this beforehand, leaving her even more bewildered.
"He's a genius. What's strange about him thinking of this?"
Herta instead looked at Tingyun with confusion.
Tingyun was full of question marks.
Ji Yuan really did have quite a few miraculous gadgets on him, but how had he become so familiar with Ms. Herta?
As she continued thinking, Herta walked ahead and said to Tingyun, "Voidrangers have appeared at Herta Space Station. Stay behind me for now, so you don't wander around and put yourself in danger."
Meanwhile, Ji Yuan, who was conducting biological development aboard the Luofu Starfaring Vessel fleet, received an achievement notification in his mind.
You facilitated a meeting between the Helmsman of the Luofu Starfaring Vessel's Ten Lords Commission and Ms. Herta, a member of the Genius Society, allowing the two sides to reach an initial agreement. As a reward for your contribution to interstellar cooperation, you have received Environmental Adaptability +5.
Before you continue