Feixiao realized that Tingyun was blessing her and Yukong. The vigilance and hostility in her eyes completely disappeared.
Seeing this, Tingyun breathed a quiet sigh of relief and continued.
"I am one who has already bid farewell. Please, General Feixiao, take good care of Helmsmaster Yukong."
Feixiao nodded without hesitation, a confident smile on her face.
"I will never let Sister Yukong suffer any grievance."
"Thank you, General Feixiao. Then I should depart once more and return to Benefactor Ruan Mei."
Tingyun turned to leave. Yukong called out.
"Wait!!"
"Helmsmaster Yukong? Is there something else?"
Yukong returned all of Tingyun's belongings—including Cloud-Gatherer.
"These are yours."
Tingyun carefully accepted everything. Tears of joy streamed down her face.
"Thank you, Sister Yukong. Truly, thank you so much."
Yukong shook her head.
"Don't thank me, Tingyun. Feixiao found all of this."
Tingyun tried to thank Feixiao, but Feixiao stopped her.
"Tingyun. I didn't find these. Madam Ruan Mei did. She gave them to me personally."
Tingyun was stunned.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei... she truly foresees everything. So thorough. As expected of her."
She bowed slightly to Yukong and Feixiao.
"Farewell, until we meet again."
---
Ruan Mei, half-awake, half-asleep, suddenly sensed Herta's approach.
She straightened her sleeves and hairpin, then sat at her desk and organized experimental data.
Herta looked at the tiny Herta #3 beside her. With proud aloofness, she instructed,
"Go in first. Tell her I made too many pastries. There are leftovers. I'm sending them over so they don't go bad."
"It's absolutely not a pastry made specially for her!! Understand?"
Herta #3 nodded. Wisteria Cake sighed again.
"You read that book, and you're still this tsundere? You're not afraid of ruining everything?!"
Herta crossed her arms casually.
"Because I read it, that's why I came personally."
"If you expect me to abandon a genius's pride and dignity? Impossible!!"
"Besides, there's still no word from Yu Qingtu."
Wisteria Cake stared at her, utterly speechless.
"Only you could be so brazen. Just wait; karma's coming."
Herta half-closed her eyes and flicked her bangs dismissively.
"Karma? If karma really existed in this universe, Yu Qingtu would appear right now."
"Three seconds. And? Not a word from her. Everything is going according to plan. My plan."
Wisteria Cake shot her a cold glance and decided to drop it. She feared being infected by Herta's delusion and losing Ruan Mei Cake forever.
But honestly? Herta's luck was absurd.
Timing: She'd known Ruan Mei for several Amber Eras.
Place: Herta Space Station was hers. The Luofu was friendly. She'd visited Ruan Mei's lab millions of times.
People: Lingsha was out of her league. Asta had money, but nothing else. Yu Qingtu—the one who introduced them—had vanished.
Even Wisteria Cake had to admit:
In the entire cosmos, the only tsundere loser who could run from a confession and still have a chance was probably Madam Herta.
---
Back in the lab, Ruan Mei set down her data and looked at Herta #3—as short as Bailu.
"Herta sent you?"
"Yes. She made too many pastries. Didn't want them to go bad. Sent me to give you some."
"Oh?"
Ruan Mei opened the box. The pastry looked mediocre. The smell was passable. But it was an actual finished product. Not like before—unspeakable ■■.
Herta #3 quickly added.
"This pastry was absolutely not made specially for you. Please don't misunderstand."
Ruan Mei took a small bite. No strange curio aftertaste. It qualified as a pastry.
Herta watched through Herta #3's eyes. Suddenly, #3's system froze.
"What?! Did Ruan Mei do something? Is she upset? Mad at me?!"
Ruan Mei appeared behind her. The cold plum blossoms and all surrounding aura were sealed.
"Wisteria Cake. I'm reconstructing her system. Step aside."
"Madam Herta. I'm over here."
Herta looked down. Wisteria Cake was standing nearby. Then who was behind her?!
She spun around. Ruan Mei.
"You... what are you doing here?!"
Ruan Mei stepped forward. She leaned in slightly and sniffed. Then, with cool detachment, she asked,
"This is my laboratory. Why wouldn't I be here?"
"Hmm. A little burnt. But you've improved since last time at the space station."