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The staff members in the reception hall were practically trembling. In their minds, Hiroshi wasn't just a Deputy Section Chief; he was a direct line to Herta's wrath. If he reported their gossip about "illegitimate sons" and "lab-grown heirs," their careers would be vaporized.
"Section Chief Hiroshi! Please, we were just being foul-mouthed!" one researcher pleaded, looking ready to drop to his knees. "I have a family to support! I can't be exiled from the station! Please, show mercy!"
Hiroshi's brow twitched. Is a management title really this terrifying? he wondered. He hadn't expected his mere presence to turn a room of arrogant scientists into a choir of beggars.
"Alright, alright," Hiroshi sighed, waving them off. "I'll act like I didn't hear a word. Just get back to work. I want to see your department's efficiency triple by the end of the shift—no, let's make it quintuple."
"Quintuple? Yes, Section Chief! Absolutely!" They scrambled back to their terminals, putting 120% of their energy into every keystroke.
Watching from the side, Wen Mingde looked bewildered. He actually came to work? the Chief thought. I assumed he was just a name on the payroll to satisfy Madam Herta. "Mr. Hiroshi," Wen Mingde said cautiously. "Since you're... actually here, perhaps you could inspect the budget usage across the various sectors? It's a quiet job, mostly just walking and observing."
"Sounds perfect, Chief Wen," Hiroshi replied. He needed a reason to wander the station and test his new ability anyway.
The Predator in the Corner
Later, in a secluded maintenance corridor, Hiroshi stood leaning against a wall. He pulled up a photo of the Base Module on his phone. Focus...
The world twisted. The familiar dizziness and high-pitched ringing in his ears hit him like a physical blow, and a second later, he was standing in a completely different sector. He stumbled, rubbing his temples.
The range is incredible, but this nausea is no joke, he thought.
"Are you feeling unwell? If you'd like, I could offer a diagnosis. I have a certain... expertise in biological stabilization."
Hiroshi nearly jumped out of his skin. Standing just a few feet away was Ruan Mei. She was leaning against a railing, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on her lips.
A bad premonition rose in Hiroshi's chest. What is she doing here? Herta told me to stay away from her! Under Hiroshi's wary gaze, Ruan Mei strolled forward. Her movements were fluid and predatory. She raised two slender fingers and gently slid them across the skin of his neck.
"Don't be alarmed," she murmured, her voice sweet and clinical. "It is a habit of mine. Touch allows the data of life to flood my perception. It helps me understand... your unique structure."
She withdrew her hand and held out a delicate, pink pastry. "A small apology for my abruptness. It's a blend of sugar cubes, salted plum blossoms, and premium glutinous rice. I believe you'll find the taste quite exquisite."
Hiroshi stared at the treat. You've got to be kidding. He knew Ruan Mei's reputation. One bite of her "special" snacks usually ended with a loss of memory or a sudden urge to join her experiments.
"Thank you, Madam Ruan Mei," Hiroshi said, his voice firm. "It looks perfect, but... I don't really like sweets."
Ruan Mei tilted her head, an interested glint flashing in her jade-like eyes. She wasn't offended; if anything, his resistance seemed to make him more appealing. "Unexpected. But that's fine. We have plenty of time to deepen our understanding, dear."
To anyone else, being called "dear" by a woman as beautiful as Ruan Mei would be a dream. To Hiroshi, it sounded like a label on a specimen jar.
"Madam Ruan Mei, aren't you supposed to be working with Madam Herta?" Hiroshi asked, trying to find an exit strategy. "Why waste time on someone like me?"
"Even a genius needs a break," she purred, stepping closer until she was well within his personal space. "And I find myself very interested in certain... special aspects of Section Chief Hiroshi."
Before he could react, Ruan Mei leaned in, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him into a soft, yet suffocating embrace. Her lips brushed against his ear, and her voice dropped to a seductive, dangerous whisper.
"I specialize in the field of life research, Hiroshi. I can offer you sensations and experiences that Herta's cold machines could never replicate. You could lose yourself in it."
She pulled back just enough to look him in the eye, a hint of cunning in her gaze. "Besides... public opinion on this station is quite volatile. If the details of your 'special' relationship with Herta were to leak... it might be quite damaging to your new career, don't you think?"
Hiroshi's heart skipped a beat. His face went pale. She wasn't just flirting; she was blackmailing him.
"Madam Ruan Mei... I have no idea what you're talking about," he stammered, his mind racing for a way to escape this biological trap.
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