"Ah, finally, I can stretch my legs. Sitting on that starskiff was so uncomfortable. I'm already starting to miss the sofas on the Express."
Stretching her sore limbs, March 7th complained.
Fu Xuan had already departed with Kafka. She promised that once all preparations were complete, the interrogation would only begin when the Astral Express crew was present. This was something she had previously agreed upon with Jing Yuan.
When everything was ready, her attendant would be waiting for them in the Changle plaza to guide them to the Divination Commission.
In other words, the Astral Express crew once again had some free time.
"Stelle, this time, don't go around smashing vases or rummaging through people's boxes. If you cause trouble here, the Sky-Faring Commission won't cover the damages, you know," Tingyun earnestly reminded Stelle.
"Don't worry, Miss Tingyun. I'll keep a close eye on Stelle," Wende said, lightly patting Stelle's shoulder as he made his promise to Tingyun.
"Mm, with Benefactor Wende here, this little lady feels much more at ease," Tingyun said with a gentle, smiling nod. Her smile widened as she looked at Stelle, who was completely subdued under Wende's watch, not daring to make a peep.
"Stelle, you really need to work on your bad habits. Seriously, don't you have any normal hobbies?"
Hearing March 7th's question, everyone present fell into thought simultaneously...
Then, they all turned to look at Wende, who was still pondering the question.
"Hm? Why are you all looking at me?"
Wende, who had been trying to think of any hobbies Stelle might have, suddenly felt the group's collective gaze. He looked up to find everyone staring at him with a peculiar expression.
"Does... that count as a hobby?" March asked Welt, looking a bit lost.
"Err... does it or doesn't it..."
Welt couldn't quite tell either. It didn't seem serious enough to be called love, but calling it a hobby... didn't feel quite accurate either.
"So... what exactly are you all thinking..." Wende's mouth twitched. He felt a wave of helplessness as he saw even Tingyun, standing beside him, looking at him thoughtfully.
"No, it's just... besides you, we really can't think of anything else," Welt said, stroking the cane in his hand and pushing up his glasses with a very serious look.
"True. After all, rummaging through trash cans, smashing vases and boxes, yanking on utility poles and streetlights, digging through mailboxes, picking up junk, opening other people's packages, and casually swiping letters and books... none of those count as proper hobbies, right?"
March 7th counted on her fingers, listing out Stelle's numerous sins. And that was only what she had displayed so far. Who knew what else she was capable of... Oh, right, she also recently became obsessed with Soda Bean Juice, almost forgot that one!
"Waaah... Wende, they're picking on me~"
Stelle, looking like she was about to burst into tears, threw herself into Wende's arms, her hands and face restlessly rubbing all over him.
"..."
Seeing the "I knew it" expression on everyone's faces, Wende's own face darkened. He then lifted Stelle by her collar like a kitten.
"Ding..."
"Ahehehe..."
"Zzzzzzz..."
"Ababababa..."
"Err... is this really okay? Was that a bit too much?"
March, who had just turned her head away, turned it back again. She looked at Stelle, who was lying on the ground emitting white smoke, and asked weakly.
That flash of electricity was a little too bright; it nearly blinded her!
"What do you think..." Wende said, exasperated, as he took out a tissue to wipe a damp spot on his chest.
This girl... actually used her mouth this time!
"Err... never mind then..."
Seeing the wet patch on Wende's chest, the sympathy in March's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by sheer disgust as she looked at the prone form on the ground...
"Eww... Are we really going to keep sharing a room in the future... What if she does that to me too..."
At that thought, March couldn't help but blush, subconsciously covering her chest.
Nearby, Welt had turned his back at some point.
"Mm, the architectural style of the Xianzhou is truly one of a kind..."
Just let him escape for a little while. Kids, your Uncle Yang is really getting too old for this sort of thing...
"Um... Benefactor Wende... this..."
Tingyun gave an awkward laugh. Looking at Stelle on the ground, a blissful expression on her face as if her life was now complete, she suddenly had a thought: Are the people on the Astral Express... all a little unhinged?
"Don't worry, Miss Tingyun. I'll cure her," Wende said reassuringly, hoping that this little "Astral Express shock" wouldn't affect the friendship between the Express and the Sky-Faring Commission.
"Ahaha... In that case, this little lady will take her leave to stroll around Changle. It has been over twenty years since I last saw this place."
"If any of our benefactors need a guide or help with anything at all, please feel free to send this little lady a message~"
Tingyun smiled awkwardly, then bid a rather abrupt farewell to the group.
"Mm, goodbye, Miss Tingyun."
After saying her goodbyes to the Astral Express crew, Tingyun's figure gradually disappeared into the streetscape of Changle.
"..."
"So, is Miss Tingyun still coming for dinner tonight?" March asked, hands clasped behind her back as she looked at Wende curiously.
"Why are you still thinking about that..." Wende muttered under his breath.
"Uncle Yang, time to go!"
Wende pulled the still-giggling Stelle up from the ground and called out to Welt, who was in the distance watching two Xianzhou locals play cards.
"Oh, I'm coming."
Casting one last regretful glance at the unfinished card game, Welt turned and walked back towards them.
"Hmm... let's go explore inside. Let's see if there's anything good to eat. There are so many people up ahead, that must be the plaza, right?"
Standing on her tiptoes, March shielded her eyes with her hand and peered into the distance, where she could faintly make out a large crowd gathering.
"If that's the case, let's go have a look," Wende nodded.
"March... I feel so numb..." Stelle pouted, speaking to March pitifully.
"Eww!! Don't you come near me!"
Seeing Stelle, who still had arcs of electricity crackling across her body, reaching out her sinful little hand towards her, March recoiled and took several steps back.
In the end, Wende's heart softened. He deactivated the "lightning needle" on Stelle and even used a towel to help tidy her up.
"Sniff, sniff... Why does this towel smell a bit weird?" Stelle wrinkled her nose and asked in confusion.
"Don't worry, it was just washed," Wende said, gently dabbing at Stelle's grey hair.
"That's..."
March looked at the towel with a hint of embarrassment. Wasn't that the same towel Wende had used for her back on Jarilo-VI?