If anyone else had spoken to her in such a manner, Huan Qianying would have only felt that the person was humiliating her.
But when those words came from Tendo, the result was entirely different.
After all, when the disparity in strength between two sides is so vast that one cannot see the end, the issue of whether or not it's an offense simply doesn't matter anymore.
"Tendo, I can only tell you what I'm allowed to. As for other matters, I won't speak even if you kill me."
Tendo waved his hand. "I understand. The rules of the Moon Shadow family, I get it."
With that, Tendo pointed to the Tiramisu in front of her and smiled. "Alright, don't put on that heroic face of going to your death. I'm not as bad as you think."
"Try this. This dessert shop is quite good."
Huan Qianying hesitated, then forked a piece of Tiramisu into her mouth.
As the sweet, rich cocoa flavor melted on her tongue, the laughter of pedestrians outside the window mixed with the jazz music in the cafe, entering Huan Qianying's ears and giving her a strange sense of stability.
Consequently, Huan Qianying's previously tense emotions completely relaxed.
Perhaps this conversation wasn't as awful as she had initially feared.
After confirming that Tendo truly held no malicious intent, Huan Qianying finished her dessert, put down her fork, and began to share the information she was permitted to discuss with Tendo.
Although Tendo had long been aware of much of what she said through the original theater version of the novel in the Popularity System, that version was the one without Tendo's involvement. Therefore, Tendo still needed concrete intelligence to confirm his own hypotheses.
Just as the dimensional viewers were eagerly listening for Huan Qianying to reveal the purpose of her trip to the Crimson Mist Capital, the Children of the Stars Production Team malevolently switched the camera, preventing the viewers from learning the content of the conversation.
'??? Production Team, you're looking for trouble, aren't you! You switch the camera just as we get to the main point!'
'Teasing us at the crucial moment, the Production Team knows how to hold the tension.'
'Fine, fine, you like playing games, right? Production Team, just wait, I'm heading back to the kitchen to get something for you guys.'
Amidst the viewers' disgruntled complaints, the theater version's screen switched to the First Floating City—the Star Rail Corridor, which was thousands of miles away.
[First Floating City · Star Rail Corridor, First Machinery Research Institute]
In Caroline's private room, a holographic projection still displayed quantum data for the Spirit Realm Project. Next to it sat a neatly packed light-blue suitcase, and a few unopened packages of mechanical tools were stacked in the corner.
These were the 'toys' she planned to use to pass the time on the journey.
"Professor Caroline, are you taking a long trip?"
A female assistant walked in holding a data pad and couldn't help but ask, looking at the packed luggage Caroline had placed nearby.
Caroline saw no reason to hide it.
"Yes, a friend invited me to her concert. Coincidentally, the project recently reached the debugging phase and doesn't require my constant supervision, so I accepted her invitation."
"Is it Jing Liuli?!"
Since only Chen Xing and Jing Liuli proactively visited Caroline at the institute over the past few years, the female assistant immediately knew who had invited Caroline.
"It is."
Caroline nodded, giving a helpless smile.
"Professor Caroline, could you possibly help me get some signed albums from Jing Liuli? My cousins and siblings all really like her."
"That shouldn't be a problem."
"Thank you so much!"
"It's nothing."
After receiving Caroline's affirmative reply, the female assistant tactfully placed the data pad down and left Caroline's private room.
After she left, Caroline felt an inexplicable urge to pick up her data terminal and look down at her chat history with Jing Liuli.
[Jing Liuli: Lo-Lo-Caroline! Are you free next month, free, free?]
[Caroline: What is it?]
[Caroline: ? (Dolphin tilt-head.jpg)]
[Jing Liuli: Of course, I have a very, very important thing I need you for! The kind you'll regret for a lifetime if you miss it! (Panda fist-clench.jpg)]
[Caroline: What important thing?]
[Jing Liuli: Aiya, I can't explain it clearly right now. Just come to my concert next month, okay? Remember, you absolutely have to come!]
[Jing Liuli: If you dare not show up, I'll bring Dream Butterfly to your institute and refuse to leave! (Panda threat.jpg)]
[Caroline: Understood. (Dolphin sigh.jpg)]
[Jing Liuli: So, it's settled then~]
Watching Jing Liuli and Caroline's chat history on the theatrical version screen, the dimensional viewers immediately became excited.
'Well done, Liuli baby! You truly are the best wingwoman!'
'Fake Bestie: Xing Xing; Real Bestie: Liuli!'
'Score! Score! The Tendo-Caroline party has been suppressed for a major version update, but they're finally about to start scoring points again!'
However, where there's joy, there's also sorrow.
After confirming that Caroline would soon be attending Jing Liuli's New Year's Eve concert, Chen Xing's fans were completely frantic.
'No! The Spirit Realm Project is so critical! How can Meow Meow just leave! Stop her!'
'Exactly, exactly! Concerts happen every year; there's really no need to rush for this one. (Serious)'
'Bad, bad, bad! Xing Xing is running out of time.'
'I'm worried, I'm so worried! Will Xing Xing work so hard only to be defeated by the new arrival (Tendo)? Nooooo!'
Amidst the chaos of the bullet comments, Caroline had finished packing everything.
Before leaving, however, Caroline thought of something and looked down at the 'Deep Blue Sound' necklace hanging around her neck.
As an augmented Star Envoy who valued rationality above all else, she never trusted vague 'premonitions' in her work.
But this time was different. Jing Liuli's phrase, 'You'll regret it for a lifetime if you miss it,' had been constantly looping in her mind, making it difficult for her to concentrate even during experiments.
Caroline wasn't sure why this was happening, but this time, she decided to trust her 'feeling'.
Thinking this, Caroline tightened her grip on the Deep Blue Sound around her neck and whispered, "So... can you let me hear the sound I want to hear?"
With that, Caroline picked up the suitcase by her bed and walked towards the door.
The suitcase wheels lightly rolled across the floor, making a subtle sound.
Just as she was about to step out, a new message arrived on her data terminal.
[Jing Liuli: Caroline, Caroline, have you left yet? (Panda supervision.jpg)]
Looking at Jing Liuli's adorable tone on the data terminal, Caroline instantly pictured the girl lying on her sofa, constantly tapping the screen of her data terminal, and couldn't help but smile.
A moment later, Caroline replied.
[Caroline: I've already set off. I'm expected to arrive three days before your concert. (Dolphin wave.jpg)]
[Caroline: Ticket Screenshot]
After sending these messages, Caroline put away her data terminal and walked out of the institute.
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