(T/N: I was sick for a bit and 'dying' in my bed, but I feel better now, so I'm back now.)
Ruan Mei blinked. Her cool, clear gaze held a trace of helplessness as she regarded Herta.
This woman is always overly confident about her current situation. With Tingyun gone, she has absolutely no sense of impending crisis.
"Wisteria orchid?! Are you sure?"
Herta snapped back to reality. She realized her elementary mistake—on par with that airhead Sushang.
She feigned composure with a cough.
"Ahem. Violet orchid. I meant violet orchid."
Wisteria Cake continued feeding her strategies.
"Bring up a topic she cares about."
Herta hesitated briefly, then asked directly.
"Uh... like what? The Simulated Universe? The Starcrusher Swarm King? Divine ascension? An audience with Nous?!"
Wisteria Cake looked like it wanted to cry.
Seeing even a cat-cake make that face, Herta felt genuinely lost.
Wisteria Cake could only sigh deeply.
"Invite her to the space station to make desserts. And when the moment's right, mention your agreement."
"Oh. You mean my sleeve pendant?"
"Yes."
Seeing Wisteria Cake openly feeding Herta strategies right in front of her, Ruan Mei glanced at Forgotten Cake and nodded slightly.
Forgotten Cake understood. In a voice clearly audible to Wisteria Cake, it whispered to Ruan Mei Cake.
"Ruan Mei Cake, I learned a new way to make blueberry mousse yesterday. Come with me."
Ruan Mei Cake, equally tired of watching these two geniuses duel, nodded and followed Forgotten Cake away.
Wisteria Cake, mid-strategy, froze. Its eyes went wide.
"Madam Herta! Ask her what I told you to! I have something important to do—gotta go!!"
Without waiting for a reply, it scrambled after Forgotten Cake.
Internally, it panicked.
Damn it!! One trip to Ruan Mei's lab and suddenly there's a Forgotten Cake?! Wuwu. I Shouldn't have come. My Ruan Mei Cake!!
Wisteria Cake and Forgotten Cake left together.
The remaining cat-cakes, seeing this, also quietly departed.
Only Ruan Mei and Herta remained in Moon Star Pavilion.
Herta put her magic hat back on.
"Ruan Mei. Come back to my Herta City—I mean, my space station."
Ruan Mei sipped her tea, casting a sidelong glance at Herta.
She almost said "Herta City" just now. Sigh. Not good.
"Why should I return to the space station? If it's about the Starcrusher Swarm King, my current position is to let it live or die on its own."
Herta blinked. Last time, I used the Swarm King as leverage. Turns out she doesn't care that much. Guess I'll stop bullying it.
"I'm planning to place the Starcrusher Swarm King in a separate Simulated Universe. One accessible only to genius developers."
Ruan Mei closed her eyes and gave a soft "Oh," showing zero interest.
Herta strained to keep smiling.
"Sigh. You're right. That Swarm King isn't worth discussing."
"I've been learning to make citrus mousse lately. Come back to the space station and try some with me. How about it?"
This time, Ruan Mei opened her eyes. A flicker of disbelief crossed her gaze.
"I can make desserts here in my lab. No need to travel all the way back."
Herta's smile grew darker.
Anyone else, and I'd have sent them to reincarnation with my magic key by now.
But it's Ruan Mei. I'll give her leeway.
Of course, if she says my sleeve pendant isn't finished... then I'll just have to use the key and take her to Herta City. Keep her by my side until it's done.
"The space station's facilities are clearly superior. And the budget far exceeds this place."
"Oh, my sleeve pendant. Is it finished?"
As she asked this final question, Herta stepped forward, closing the distance until Ruan Mei had nowhere to retreat.
The space around them was already sealed. At any moment, she could teleport Ruan Mei to Herta City.
Ruan Mei smiled faintly and produced the finished Herta sleeve pendant.
Herta's eyes lit up with a strange light.
Joy (She remembered! She must be thinking of me!) mixed with disappointment (Damn. Can't teleport her to Herta City now.)
A hint of anticipation (Will she confess again?) and indispensable tsundere pride (No. I have to confess. Hers doesn't count.)
She half-closed her eyes and, with characteristic pride, extended her hand—waiting for Ruan Mei to place the pendant in her palm.
Ruan Mei stared at her, speechless.
She clearly cares. She's clearly been longing for this. And still she acts so tsundere. Some things never change.
[Sigh. See, Ruan Mei? Her absolute tsundere nature and her absolute self-confidence still needs fixing.] ♪
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TL Note
Power Stone Progress: 182/225 (5 Chapters)
Power Ranking: 18/10 (10 Chapters)
Bonus Chapters Owed: 5
I'll get to it.