Not long ago, Herta from the Little Black Room pulled Bai Luan into a special training to improve his Herta Resistance.
The reason was simple—when facing Herta in reality, Bai Luan was completely defenseless against her occasional, sudden teasing.
He was often struck with a 'Super Break' effect by a single light remark or a glance, falling into an awkward state of blushing and brain freeze.
And Herta's method of improvement in the Little Black Room was equally simple and crude.
She would strike before Herta in reality, using higher intensity and higher frequency attacks to desensitize Bai Luan with saturation therapy until he became accustomed to it.
This was the so-called Herta Resistance—essentially, it was purely about getting Bai Luan used to it.
Honestly, Bai Luan's most direct feeling during this period was:
It was as if a great succubus lived in the Little Black Room, constantly plotting how to develop his shame threshold and coping abilities.
Bai Luan sometimes even suspected if Herta was just finding an excuse to develop himself.
Ahem, no matter what, the effect was quite significant; at least now, Bai Luan's resistance to physical contact and Herta's teasing had completely improved.
When he emerged from the Little Black Room and returned to the normal Space Station environment, it felt like instantly switching from a restricted scene to an all-ages family theater; the entire atmosphere became relaxed and carefree.
Now, looking back at Herta's familiar teasing, it felt like a middle-aged person recalling their first hand-holding with their first love—still bringing a smile, but it was a light, nostalgic smile, not the blushing shyness of back then.
However, Bai Luan still didn't understand why he needed to improve his Herta Resistance, or what good it did.
Logically, such an elaborate effort should have a clear purpose.
But after he completed the special training, Herta in the Little Black Room only told him lightly:
"You don't have to do anything."
This left him a bit baffled.
Adhering to the good habit of asking when he didn't understand, he naturally asked Herta in the Little Black Room again: Why do this?
Herta quickly gave an answer:
"The way you are now is a Herta-specific attack form."
The so-called Herta-specific attack form actually meant that if he threw himself into any corner of the Space Station, a Herta would 'grow' beside him before long.
So, there was no need to worry about his attractiveness to Herta, and improving Herta Resistance was just to make everything move to the next step faster.
"So, do whatever you want, just be yourself. Being a good Bai Luan is the first step to conquering Herta."
After hearing this, Bai Luan had a rather subtle feeling.
It felt like this romantic mind game was being played between Herta in reality and Herta in the Little Black Room.
It was truly a love strategist playing against the target of conquest, and his own role wasn't very significant.
Being a good Bai Luan... wasn't that just doing nothing?
He felt that in the end,
He was going to be a 'lying-down winner'.
Forget it, he wouldn't bother.
He trusted Herta in the Little Black Room; she had never been wrong when it came to guessing his thoughts.
In a situation with such overwhelming authority, could he still question her?
And so, Bai Luan followed Herta's arrangements in the Little Black Room.
One of her important sources of fun had suddenly drastically reduced, how could she not notice?
Bai Luan's sudden surge in resistance aroused Herta's deep suspicion.
She didn't deny that over time, Bai Luan would develop tolerance to her various methods; that was normal.
But the previous curve of resistance improvement was smooth and gradual, absolutely not like this time, which had abruptly soared a great deal, like a 'deus ex machina'!
Her previously unfailing tricks now had greatly diminished effects.
She even, disbelievingly and quite aggressively, increased the intensity, but the result was like a stone sinking into the sea, failing to elicit any expected interesting reaction.
This intensity would have been unbearable for the old Bai Luan.
Herta didn't actually care about Bai Luan's increased resistance to her; after all, it was bound to happen eventually.
However, she couldn't ignore such a clear, abnormal increase.
People don't change drastically without reason.
If a person rapidly desensitizes to something, it must be because they have experienced high-intensity, repetitive stimulation in a short period.
So, the question arose... who desensitized him!?
My intensity as this genius could not possibly have desensitized him so quickly, so it wasn't me who desensitized him.
Then who was it?
Who did it!
Someone dared to poach this genius's corner?
Wait until I catch you, I'll...
With such thoughts, Herta's level of attention towards Bai Luan increased significantly, trying to find out who had desensitized him.
She began to closely observe his every move, trying to find the fellow hiding behind the scenes, giving Bai Luan special training.
However, no matter how she observed, even staying inseparable from Bai Luan for most of the day, she still found nothing unusual.
Bai Luan was still diligently performing his assistant duties, just as before.
Only this time, he would get leave slips from other geniuses.
And then... Bai Luan would hoard the leave slips.
Yes, Bai Luan was a hoarder.
He found that using the leave slips didn't bring him as much emotional value as hoarding them.
So, although Bai Luan would use a few leave slips when he wanted to be lazy, most of his leave slips were hoarded.
It was like hoarding pulls in honkai: star rail in his previous life.
As the number of leave slips grew, Screwllum and Ruan Mei began to worry whether Bai Luan planned to save decades worth of leave slips and use them all at once.
The two geniuses began to discuss privately how to make Bai Luan use his leave slips.
Bai Luan showed no abnormalities, and after observing for several days, She really didn't find anyone trying to poach her corner.
No one was poaching my corner... and a person couldn't suddenly become desensitized... so what exactly was going on?
She found that no matter which logical chain she used to deduce, there seemed to be unreasonable links that could be easily overturned.
Had her charm decreased?
No, that was absolutely impossible.
Had Bai Luan changed his mind?
That wasn't right either; the feeling of being with him hadn't changed.
Herta, somewhat perplexed, once again turned her gaze to Bai Luan, who was quietly working not far away.
What... exactly happened to you?
It seemed that at this point, only by asking Bai Luan himself could she figure out what was going on.
Bai Luan noticed Herta's gaze and returned a questioning look.
"Ms. Herta, why are you staring at me like that? Is something wrong with me?"
"No, nothing."
Herta quickly brushed it off.
Due to her genius pride and a certain subtle matter of face, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to ask directly.
However, once a genius's curiosity is ignited, it burns like a Stelle, difficult to extinguish. Especially when this curiosity is combined with the people and things she is most interested in.
Herta suppressed this growing curiosity and held out for a few more days. But eventually, the desire to uncover the mystery outweighed everything else.
She found Bai Luan and decided to get straight to the point, asking:
"What exactly is going on with you?"
"Uh..."
Bai Luan wasn't confused; he instantly realized what Herta wanted to ask.
At this moment, what should he say?
Bai Luan entered the Little Black Room, preparing to ask Herta. After listening, Herta showed a smile that indicated everything was under control.
"Very good, for the rest, just follow your own style."
"Follow my style?"
"Yes, remember?"
Herta smiled, looking at Bai Luan.
"Being a good Bai Luan is the first step to conquering Herta."
Bai Luan returned from the Little Black Room to reality, looking at Herta, who had come to ask him.
It seemed that this most crucial step, in the end, needed him to take it himself.
If he followed his own style, what would he say when faced with such a direct question?
He took a deep breath, his gaze no longer dodging, but meeting Herta's probing eyes frankly, a clear and sincere smile slowly blooming on his face.
"That's because..."
His voice was steady, carrying a hint of imperceptible tenderness and determination.
"I want to take things further with you."