Upon hearing this, Rover fell silent: "I misunderstood you. I didn't notice earlier."
"In that case, shall we dismantle this KU-Key?"
Lucian was shocked: "Are you even jealous of a robot?! Rover, you're something else!"
Rover: "?"
Seeing Rover eyeing KU-Key eagerly, Lucian hurriedly stepped in: "Since it's here, there must be a reason. Let's see what it wants to do first."
The fear on KU-Key's face faded: "Phew~ I just wanted to help you open the portal, and you guys wanted to dismantle me!"
With that, KU-Key quickly opened the portal and fled the scene.
Lucian sighed: "Is this Rover's intimidating presence? Even robots can't resist it."
Rover, squinting with crescent-shaped eyes: "What are you trying to say?"
Lucian had a sudden idea: "Hey, I have a great plan! Why not let Rover intimidate the Tethys System? Maybe it'll step down willingly if it knows what's good for it."
Rover raised her long leg and kicked Lucian: "If the Tethys System could be threatened that easily, Black Shores would've reached its end long ago, wouldn't it?"
Abby, standing to the side, speculated: "Since those little robots have their own personalities, maybe the Tethys System has one too? Perhaps it has its own preferences!"
Lucian nodded enthusiastically: "Exactly. I think the Tethys System's hobby is eating!"
Rover asked skeptically: "How did you figure that out?"
Lucian put on a profound expression: "Remember the robot charging stations we saw when we arrived?"
"I looked closely at those stations, and there wasn't a single empty slot. The crooked charging stations were practically screaming 'stocking up energy' in big bold letters."
"I couldn't make sense of it at first, but after staring for a while, I finally saw it in the arrangement of the stations: two words—'eating people'!"
"And it's eating robots, no less!"
Rover: "?"
Abby: "?"
Shorekeeper: "?"
Rover clutched her forehead, looking pained: "I have to say, your imagination is something else."
Shorekeeper pondered for a moment before saying: "Hmm… from another perspective, Mr. Lucian isn't entirely wrong."
"Robots do often complain about there not being enough charging stations."
Lucian puffed up proudly: "See?"
Rover scoffed: "And you're proud of that?"
Following the portal KU-Key opened, they stepped into another space, which turned out to be a tea room with a scenic view in the center.
At some of the tables, there were a few shadowy figures.
Lucian walked toward an empty table: "This tea is still steaming."
Shorekeeper stepped forward: "This kind of hot drink has a rich aroma."
"Would you enjoy drinking something like this?"
Rover nodded slightly: "I don't have any particular preference for taste."
Lucian mused: "I like imported stuff."
Rover: "?"
Having had several deep interactions with Lucian, Rover instantly understood what he meant.
The innocent Shorekeeper, however, looked puzzled: "Imported? You mean beverages brought in from other regions?"
The two fell silent for a moment, unsure how to explain. Lucian coughed lightly: "How about I demonstrate for you?"
Shorekeeper nodded slightly: "I'm very curious."
Rover's eyes narrowed as she watched Lucian pick up the steaming tea and take a sip.
Then, Lucian set down the teacup, still holding the hot tea in his mouth. He pinched Shorekeeper's cheeks, making her lips part slightly, and leaned in slowly.
Shorekeeper: "?"
Rover: "?"
Before Lucian could touch Shorekeeper's lips, he felt a tremendous force yank his head to the side.
Lucian: "…"
The next moment, familiar warm lips pressed against his. Lucian and Rover completed the 'imported' demonstration for Shorekeeper.
Lucian licked the tea stains from Rover's lips, while Rover swallowed the slightly bitter hot drink, her hands gripping Lucian's neck: "Who exactly were you trying to demonstrate with just now?"
Lucian's expression turned serious: "Rover, you've misunderstood."
"I knew you'd stop me, which is why I did it."
"You see, relationships are long and often mundane. Only by proactively doing interesting things along the way can a relationship thrive!"
Rover sneered: "Smooth talker. If I hadn't stopped you, would you have kissed her?"
Lucian declared boldly: "Impossible! Even if you didn't stop me, I'd stop myself! That's the self-control that makes others green with envy!"
Abby: "Is your self-control the reason you've gotten close to so many girls in Jinzhou so quickly?"
Lucian's face turned blank as he swatted Abby away with a slap.
"Abby, hasn't anyone taught you that if you can't speak properly, you don't have to speak at all?"
While the two weren't paying attention, Shorekeeper stared thoughtfully at the teacup Lucian had set down. She then picked it up and took a sip.
Feeling Shorekeeper lightly tap his shoulder, Lucian turned around, puzzled, only to see her cheeks puffed out: "What's wrong?"
Shorekeeper stood on her tiptoes, awkwardly pressed Lucian's head down, and leaned in with puckered lips…
Rover: "???"
Abby glanced at the fuming Rover and quickly said: "This place isn't safe to stay in. Retreat!"
The girl's lips were somewhat cool, but the hot drink in her mouth made up for it.
After a moment, their lips parted. Shorekeeper, with an innocent expression, asked curiously: "I've learned. Imported. Is it good?"
Facing Shorekeeper's pure expression, Lucian couldn't bring himself to say 'no.'
Rover, standing to the side, said darkly: "Lucian, where's that enviable self-control of yours now?"
Before Rover could erupt, a slightly weathered voice came from a shadowy figure at another table: "Oh my! This young man is truly blessed!"
As the group turned to look, the figure seemed to start talking to itself: "The city's nights are always so enchanting, tempting people to stay awake."
"Honestly, the two ladies by your side are such a perfect match for a talented young man like you. You mustn't let them down."
"Times like these are truly romantic…"
With that, the shadowy figure dissipated.
"A perfect match…?" Shorekeeper touched her lips with a jade finger, savoring the sensation from moments ago.
Rover's claws reached for Lucian's neck, but Lucian reacted quickly, shouting: "Hold on!"
Rover sneered: "What else do you have to say? If you can't give me a good reason, I'll show you what real imported tea is tonight!"
Lucian hurriedly explained: "Rover, even Shorekeeper learned from it. Doesn't that prove how successful our demonstration was?"
Shorekeeper asked curiously: "Real imported tea? Can you demonstrate it for me again?"
Rover: "…"