Faced with Herta's questioning, Ruan Mei kept her eyes half-closed.
Without Tingyun's help, Herta would never voluntarily bring up what happened on the Luofu a month ago.
And Wisteria Cake has already been teleported away. Now, I just wait. Observe. Let the foxian work her magic.
Seeing Ruan Mei's silence, Herta opened her mouth to retort. But Tingyun—
Tingyun's dark hair was swept back, a foxian hairpin slanting like a crescent moon. A few loose strands framed her face, making her features appear delicate, almost fragile.
Her brows, like distant peaks, held a trace of sorrow. Her eyes, like autumn pools, glistened with unshed tears. They seemed to hold depths of helplessness and grief. Her lashes, too, invited pity.
"I was once an ordinary foxian of the Resonant Noise merchant guild. Phantylia ensnared me. Benefactor Ruan Mei saved me, granting me rebirth."
"I know my life is but a mayfly's, a firefly's flicker. It cannot compare to geniuses like the Arbor, the stars, the moon."
"But my desire to repay her kindness is as vast as the three thousand Ruoshuis. In thought, in measure, I will never forget."
Herta and Ruan Mei—geniuses both—couldn't help but open their eyes and study the foxian before them.
Xianzhou foxians. Truly terrifying.
Herta's internal alarm bells blared.
Seriously?! This foxian is on another level. Every word, every gesture, reeks of "pity." A hundred times worse than Lingsha.
She turned away, ignoring Tingyun, and addressed Ruan Mei with proud aloofness.
"Ruan Mei. I admit I ran away on the Luofu. But your confession caught me off guard. I was at a loss."
"You know me. I like to calculate everything. Everything should go according to my plan."
Ruan Mei sighed. Tsunderes are exhausting.
Before she could respond, Tingyun stepped forward. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes. She put on a brave face and spoke for Ruan Mei.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei is the kindest, most graceful, most elegant person I have ever met in this universe."
"This Madam Herta? I've only met her once. Known her a few minutes. And I already understand her personality defies description."
Herta stared at her, utterly composed.
"Not bad. I do have a terrible personality. And your benefactor Ruan Mei? The rumors about her are just as bad."
Tingyun's tears vanished. She smiled calmly.
"Madam Herta. You just said 'your benefactor Ruan Mei,' didn't you?"
Herta froze.
This foxian... she catches every word. Turns them back on me. Uses them against me.
Difficult? Fine. I'll just skip the difficulty.
She stepped forward and grabbed Ruan Mei's arm.
"Come back to the space station with me. We'll work on the Simulated Universe together. Restore the Starcrusher Swarm King's sanity."
"As for you, Tingyun. Stay here in Ruan Mei's lab. Learn from Peppy. Guard this place."
Her tone brooked no argument. Tingyun smiled serenely and grabbed Ruan Mei's other arm.
"Madam Herta. This 'Peppy' you speak of—what is it?"
Herta smirked dismissively.
"What do you think?"
"I don't know."
Herta snorted and tugged Ruan Mei closer.
"Hmph. You're just like Asta's Peppy. Your voice is ninety percent similar."
Tingyun's smile didn't waver. She tugged Ruan Mei back and positioned herself between them.
"Oh? I don't know who Peppy is. But Asta's name is well-known among the cosmos's merchant guilds. I've heard of her."
"If I am like Asta's Peppy, then I am naturally Ruan Mei's Tingyun."
"You!! You!!"
Herta sputtered, at a loss for words. She stomped her foot in frustration.
Arguing with this foxian without using Path power? Just words? Impossible. I'd run out of words.
Even if I summoned every Genius Society member, the result would be the same.
Calm down. Must stay calm. Can't lose face in front of Ruan Mei.
She flicked her bangs confidently.
"Tingyun. You're a merchant from the Resonant Noise guild, aren't you?"
"Tell you what. Give Ruan Mei to me. I'll give you five curios. No—ten!! Total value over ten thousand credits. I, Herta, guarantee you a life of wealth and luxury."
Tingyun covered her smile with her fan and shook her head.
"Madam Herta. Benefactor Ruan Mei saved my life. Even if you offered me a hundred curios, a billion credits, I would value them as dust."
"Oh, and about your running away last month? Your explanation was a bit weak. Please don't change the subject."
Herta gritted her teeth.
If Nous itself showed up, could it win an argument with this foxian? No. No, it could not.
Headache. Bigger headache than running into that one in the Unknowable Domain.
Of all the times to teleport Wisteria Cake away. I should have kept her. Let her help me in a crisis.
"Madam Herta. Please don't stay silent. Silence will only drive you and Benefactor Ruan Mei further apart."
Herta laughed in exasperation. She waved a hand.
"Fine, fine. Ruan Mei. You really did save quite the eloquent, indescribable Xianzhou foxian."
"Fine. I'm done. I won't force anything. Suit yourself."
She turned and took one difficult step. Then she stopped. Waiting for Ruan Mei to change her mind.
Tingyun spoke again.
"Madam Herta. Stay for a cup of tea. I'll brew some for you."
"I DON'T DRINK TEA!!"
Herta stormed off. Ruan Mei tried to follow. Tingyun held her sleeve and shook her head.
When Herta was completely gone, Tingyun smiled.
"Benefactor Ruan Mei. Madam Herta is too proud, too tsundere. She doesn't listen. She has no empathy. She can't see things from another's perspective."
"If you'd followed her back to the space station today, given her personality, your relationship would have stagnated."
Ruan Mei nodded. Tingyun was right. Herta was the most tsundere, most confident, and most stubborn person in the universe.
If she'd gone back, without Wisteria Cake and Ruan Mei Cake... things would have played out exactly as Tingyun predicted.
"Oh, Benefactor Ruan Mei. How long have you and Madam Herta known each other?"
"Several Amber Eras. I've lost count."
Tingyun's eyes widened in shock. Then she recovered and smiled.
"Well... ahem... only cosmic geniuses like you and Madam Herta."
"But mark my words. She'll be back soon. As long as I'm here, she'll be unsettled. Restless."
Ruan Mei gazed at the stars outside the window. Tingyun continued.
"Don't worry, benefactor. I'll make sure you and Madam Herta get together soon. And I'll fix that terrible personality of hers."
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TL Note
I'm going to die balancing these bonus chapters and my irl work. I'm increasing the milestone to each 50 cumilative powerstones.
Bonus Chapter Progress: 76/125