In Ruan Mei's laboratory, Ruan Mei was examining the mark of Destruction left by Phantylia on Tingyun.
"It's nothing serious. You can continue using this power safely."
Tingyun nodded, gently touching her Crescent Moon and Cloud-Gatherer fans, covering her smile.
"Then, Benefactor, I'll go check on the cat-cakes."
"Yes."
After Tingyun left, Ruan Mei prepared to rest for a while.
Just as she lowered her head, her phone suddenly rang. Ruan Mei opened her eyes and saw that the sender was someone who had been missing for a long time—Yu Qingtu.
"Ruan Mei, are you alright?"
Ruan Mei froze. A trace of bewilderment flickered in her cool, clear eyes. She slowly typed a reply.
"Yu Qingtu? Where are you right now?"
"Herta City."
In an instant, a flicker of alarm crossed Ruan Mei's usually cold and detached face.
Questions began to race through her mind.
Why is Yu Qingtu in Herta City?!
The first person she contacted was Herta?!
Why wasn't I the first?!
If Yu Qingtu returns, will she take Herta away from me?!
Four questions were weaving together in Ruan Mei's heart. An unprecedented sense of palpitations and suffocation welled up within her.
[Ruan Mei!! Calm down. Stay rational!! This isn't like you at all.] ♪
[Yu Qingtu herself isn't standing in front of you. Ask more questions first. What if it's Herta pretending to be Yu Qingtu?!] ♪
Ruan Mei nodded slightly. Gradually, she composed herself.
But the frost between her brows had already condensed, chilling the entire room.
"Yu Qingtu, do you remember when you last mixed a cocktail for me?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
During this pause, Ruan Mei kept telling herself:
Maybe Herta just hacked Yu Qingtu's account. Maybe she wants me to come to Herta City.
But this plan is so easily seen through. It doesn't seem like Herta's scheming at all.
[Ruan Mei, what if it's Aha behind this? Pretending to be Yu Qingtu? Or working with Herta?]
[Maybe They want you to go to Herta City to see Herta. They love this kind of drama.] ♪
Ruan Mei pressed her forehead, half-closing her eyes. She knew better than anyone: she was a genius only in the field of life.
In matters of social graces, and regarding Aeons—especially Aha and the Path of Elation—she had no expertise.
She typed directly, interrogating 'Yu Qingtu.'
"Are you Aha?"
'Yu Qingtu' blinked. She was just recalling the answer to Ruan Mei's question. How did she become Aha?
"Aha? What Aha? I'm Yu Qingtu. Your and Herta's friend."
"Come on, Ruan Mei. Since when did you start joking like this? Oh, you asked about the last cocktail I made for you."
"It was the Cabernet Dream. Half coffee, half cocktail."
"Location: your laboratory. Time: Stellar Calendar 8031, March 7th, evening."
"You said that Cabernet Dream was a nightmare beyond recall."
Ruan Mei froze again.
[Ruan Mei, is what she said true?] ♪
"Word for word. The time, place, style—all match her habits."
"But something feels off. It's like her, yet not. I need to see her in person."
[So you're going to Herta City?] ♪
Ruan Mei shook her head. She didn't want to spend eternity in that place.
Just as she hesitated, 'Yu Qingtu' messaged again.
"Ruan Mei, are you busy with research? Why aren't you replying?"
Ruan Mei sighed. Herta's situation is still unclear. And now Yu Qingtu returns.
"Yu Qingtu, are you alright in Herta City?"
Several Herta puppets were attending to 'Yu Qingtu'—serving tea, fanning her, and bringing fruit.
'Yu Qingtu' smiled faintly.
"Herta City is wonderful. Herta's personality is better than before. She even has these puppets taking care of me."
Ruan Mei's brow furrowed slightly. She only knows Herta's personality has gotten worse. And she's having puppets care for Yu Qingtu?
And today, she sent Herta #3156 and the others to attend to her daily life.
Something's wrong. Terribly wrong.
'Yu Qingtu' messaged again.
"You're really not coming to Herta City?"
"No."
"Then I'll come with Herta to see you later. I'm going to rest for a while now."
'Yu Qingtu' logged off, leaving Ruan Mei deep in thought.
At least online, this "Yu Qingtu's" habits and speech are identical to the real one.
But in person... it might not be so simple.
[Don't worry. Whoever it is—Aha or anyone else—]
[As soon as you find a flaw proving she's not the real Yu Qingtu, Herta's plan falls apart.] ♪
Ruan Mei nodded slightly. But unease still gnawed at her.
What if... what if it really is Yu Qingtu? What then?!
[You're feeling threatened?] ♪
Ruan Mei closed her eyes and smiled bitterly, shaking her head.
"Perhaps, in the near future, Herta will be the one feeling threatened."
[True. That genius Herta always has the strangest ideas.] ♪
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Power Stone Progress: 268/275 (5 Chapters)
Power Ranking: 47/10 (15 Chapters)