A woman who wants to find her child.
This was how Ruan Mei now defined herself. She had personally torn away all her honors and labels, removed the halo of a genius and the laurel of Erudition. If necessary, she was even willing to take off her leg ring.
She had shed everything, leaving only purity. She intended to welcome back that pure him in this state. She believed that as soon as Sāmu saw her, he would understand; as soon as he saw her, he would be moved. He would definitely come back, back to her side.
Ruan Mei believed this so strongly that she had walked out of her laboratory in the Seclusion Zone. All for a mere hypothesis. And to find Sāmu before Himeko did.
Along the way, she had encountered that... mediocre person who had been annoying her recently.
Dr. Ratio.
Why was this man wandering around her laboratory day in and day out like an idle vagrant? What research subject was he even working on?
Ruan Mei ignored him, but he took the initiative to greet her. "Hello, Ms. Ruan Mei."
Out of politeness, Ruan Mei had to respond. "Hello, Dr. Ratio. If there's nothing important..."
"The same matter holds different value and meaning for different people," he interrupted. "But the important thing is, we should not measure what is important in others' eyes with our own values, arbitrarily devaluing them to worthlessness."
Ruan Mei frowned slightly and started walking again, her skirt swaying with her movements. She was not Dr. Ratio's student; she had no need to listen to his impromptu lectures.
Seeing that Ruan Mei paid him no mind, a faint look of helplessness crossed Ratio's face. "Alright, to put it simply, I recently adopted an artificial life form you created."
"It's hiding right now, but I can assure you, its desire to see you has never changed."
"So, could you please stop for a moment? Even just one step?"
"I believe it's not just for it."
"It's for yourself, Ruan Mei."
Unfortunately, the genius scientist's back was already distant. She didn't even have the patience to finish listening to his words.
The snow-white, green-eyed Cat Cake peeked out from behind a plaster statue, looking aggrieved, unable to even let out a dejected "m-nyu."
Ratio's eyes deepened, tinged with a gloomy disappointment. "Ruan Mei, you still haven't changed at all."
"Are you truly confident that you won't disappoint that child?"
Dr. Ratio's admonishment was destined never to reach Ruan Mei's heart. Her self-righteous changes could deceive herself, but they could not deceive someone who truly loved deeply.
However, deceiving two children with "innocent eyes" like March 7th and Stelle wasn't difficult. March 7th was simple-minded and highly empathetic, a common trait among modern university students. The girl was immediately moved by Ruan Mei's story.
"Do you need us to help you contact Miss Asta at the space station?"
"She's the Lead Researcher of the space station. I'm sure she can find your missing child for you."
March 7th had not yet recognized Ruan Mei's true identity. After all, she had never heard that Ms. Ruan Mei had a child. So, even though she felt the woman before her resembled Ms. Ruan Mei, March quickly dismissed the thought.
Stelle wanted to brandish her baseball bat to show that she was also ready to help. After all, she was the Galactic Baseballer! And a so-called "hero," simply put... was someone who meddled in other people's business!
But she suddenly realized that her trash can Cat Cake had disappeared at some point. It seemed that ever since this lady had arrived, the little fellow had secretly hidden itself away. The girl searched for a while but couldn't find a trace of the Cat Cake and had to give up. She had originally planned to bring the Cat Cake onto the Astral Express. Now, it seemed unlikely.
But Stelle wasn't worried about it. The little guy's survival skills were as reliable as hers. Maybe the next time she came back to the space station, it would have become the king of the trash cans.
Facing March 7th's proposal, Ruan Mei just smiled faintly. She then changed the subject. "Thank you for your kindness, miss."
"I hear you are members of the Astral Express?"
"Mhm, yes!" March 7th replied with a little pride.
Ruan Mei nodded, a sharp light flashing in her eyes for a fleeting moment, unnoticed by the girls. "As it happens, I left something important on your Astral Express."
"Could you please show me the way?"
"I would like to meet with Miss Himeko alone and... properly ask for it back."
"Eh! So you were a guest on our Astral Express! My apologies, my apologies!" As a member of the Astral Express, March 7th knew that the train didn't just fulfill the duty of trailblazing and taking the Nameless on travels. It also functioned as an interstellar courier service.
Take this stop at the Herta Space Station, for example. Their real purpose was to deliver an item of interest to "Ms. Herta." As for encountering the Antimatter Legion and being forced into a battle, that was just an unfortunate disaster.
The innocent March 7th didn't suspect a thing and agreed to Ruan Mei's request. But even if she hadn't, the fact that the Astral Express was docked at the platform was common knowledge on the space station. Ruan Mei could have easily found it on her own.
Stelle suddenly sniffed the air. She seemed to smell something strange. Gunpowder? The girl didn't quite understand. All she knew right now was "Sāmu, awesome!" She didn't care about anything else; she had to see Sāmu now!
And so, March 7th and Stelle walked ahead, with Ruan Mei following behind. The three of them headed quickly towards the Astral Express. As the distance shortened, Ruan Mei felt her heart race for the first time in a long while. How strange...
But at the same time, inside the Astral Express, Sāmu felt a sudden, inexplicable palpitation. Despite being on the train with its comfortable temperature and fresh, circulating air, fine beads of sweat slowly formed on his pale forehead. He clenched his jaw, not making a sound, seemingly trying to endure it and bear it alone.
But how could Himeko, who had been constantly paying attention to him and caring for him, not notice?
"Sāmu?" Himeko called out softly, moving to sit beside him, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead and cheeks with a tissue.
"What's wrong, Sāmu? Is the temperature on the train not right?"
"Or are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
The woman's heart tightened for Sāmu. Although there was no doctor on the Astral Express, they were fortunate to be docked at the space station. She could ask Asta to deploy the station's medical resources. If that didn't work, perhaps Himeko would choose another path. Through a warp jump, they would abandon their original destination of Jarilo-VI and head to the Xianzhou Luofu, which was said to have the legendary "Healer Lady," who could cure all illnesses!
I hope things don't get that bad. Himeko's concern for Sāmu was genuine. She truly, from the bottom of her heart, adored this well-behaved and sensible child.
Sāmu's strange palpitation gradually subsided with Himeko's concern, a warm current flowing into him. The boy's face was no longer pale and returned to normal.
An indescribable feeling of gratitude burst forth from the depths of Sāmu's heart. So, when he was in pain, someone would worry and care. So, someone would treasure him. So, his existence was not meaningless.
He looked deeply at Mother Himeko's face, a look that contained all the love a child could convey.
Seeing Sāmu improve, Himeko relaxed and smiled, gently stroking the boy's hair. The woman was about to say something more when she heard Pom-Pom's surprised voice.
"Passenger March 7th is back! With Stelle!"
"Eh? Why is there an extra woman, Pom-Pom?"
Pom-Pom was at the window, its fluffy short tail wagging as it looked out. Seeing a strange woman, the cute conductor became nervous, its little hands clasped together. The memories from just moments ago came rushing back! Although it didn't object to having more passengers on the Astral Express, to relive the glory of when Lord Akivili led countless Nameless across the sea of stars, Pom-Pom didn't want to be isolated! If possible, Pom-Pom wanted to be as popular as passenger Sāmu!
But Pom-Pom's worry was completely unfounded. It had always been the most popular being on the train.
Hearing the news, the crew members stood up from their seats and looked out the window. Himeko was no exception. And when she noticed that the woman following little March and her friend was Ruan Mei, the woman's delicate brows furrowed. "Why is it her?"
"Mother Himeko, who is it?" Sāmu was still pondering the reason for his heart palpitations and hadn't gotten up immediately. He just asked Himeko.
"No one important."
"Sāmu, you stay on the train. I'll go down and meet her."
"...Okay." Sāmu replied obediently. The boy's eyes were completely filled with the image of Mother Himeko. As for other women, what did they have to do with him?
Then, Himeko coolly draped her coat over her shoulders and elegantly strode forward with confident steps. As the train door opened, the woman descended the steps, one by one. The crisp sound of each high heel hitting the ground was like the beat of a war drum in Ruan Mei's heart, making her clench her embroidered fists involuntarily, her fingertips digging into her palms. Plum blossoms bloomed without a wind, tinged with a biting frost.
"Ms. Ruan Mei, it's been a while," Himeko called out her name directly. At that moment, she had no idea what a storm this would stir in Sāmu's heart!
And Ruan Mei was even more direct, having lost her usual subtlety and reserve. "Miss Himeko, let's dispense with the pleasantries."
"What is taken from others must eventually be returned."
"And how much more so when it's a person?"
"So, while I can still communicate with you calmly..."
"Give... me... back... my... child."
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