A pendant from Madam Ruan Mei—not Madam Herta?!
The moment those words left Asta's mouth, the researchers who had been eagerly awaiting gossip scattered like startled birds. They scrambled back to their stations, desperately trying to look busy.
They knew better than to dig deeper. The more you knew, the higher your chances of ending up on Madam Herta's bad side.
Everyone stationed at Herta Space Station was the cream of the crop from their homeworlds. The absolute best.
NPCs? Not even close. Becoming a researcher here was the kind of achievement that earned you your own page in the family genealogy.
And researchers here valued their lives. Only a complete fool would provoke Station Master Asta—or, by extension, Madam Herta herself.
With everyone safely back at their posts, Asta turned and looked up at the main monitor.
Herta's brow furrowed. Does she know I'm watching? No. Impossible. She doesn't have that kind of ability.
Asta smiled softly. She raised her right hand, positioning the starry sleeve pendant where the light caught it best.
Where Herta could see it clearly. Where its significance was undeniable.
Bam.
Herta smashed the Fourth Mirror with her magic hammer.
"Ow?! Madam Herta! What did I do to deserve that?!"
Herta shot it a cold glance. The Fourth Mirror fled before she could completely destroy it.
Herta took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Ruan Mei gave Asta that pendant. Did it embolden her? Was that a challenge? To me—a genius among geniuses?! Does Asta understand the consequences?
She sifted through her memories, searching for every detail about Asta.
From the day she'd brought her to the space station. To her first meeting with Ruan Mei.
Asta admired her. Looked up to her. And she felt the same about Ruan Mei.
Kind. Humble. Generous. Understanding. A genuinely good person.
So of course she'd treasure a gift from Ruan Mei. Anyone would.
Herta worked hard to rationalize. To convince herself that Asta couldn't possibly have feelings for Ruan Mei.
If I gave her a gift, she'd probably react the same way.
Bottom line: Asta's just a fan. Fans treasure everything from their idols. Nothing to worry about.
Only small-minded people create problems where none exist.
In an instant, it all made sense. The internal conflict evaporated.
No point inventing rivals. Asta's Asta. A fan of geniuses. Her admiration is perfectly natural. Nothing to see here.
---
Ruan Mei's Laboratory.
Tingyun gently fanned Ruan Mei with her Crescent Moon and Cloud-Gatherer fans.
"Benefactor, you finished Madam Herta's sleeve pendant long ago, didn't you? And even upgraded it?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly. She produced the Herta puppet sleeve pendant.
Tingyun accepted it carefully, examining every detail.
Every stitch deliberate, infused with ancient elegance. The material itself carries that cool plum fragrance—so calming.
It's clear how much this pendant means to Benefactor Ruan Mei. Words can't express it.
Tingyun's eyes curved like crescent moons. She hid her smile behind her fan.
"In all my travels with the Resonant Noise merchant guild, I've never seen such exquisite craftsmanship. Truly a sight to behold."
Ruan Mei sipped her tea and sighed.
"This pendant has been ready for over a month. But every time, the timing isn't right."
"And Herta's personality remains unchanged. Still impossibly tsundere. How do you even begin to fix that?"
Tingyun smiled awkwardly. They called her eloquent and adaptable. But even she struggled with Herta's irrational pride. That woman might flip the table at any moment.
"Benefactor, Madam Herta's personality might stem from her childhood."
Ruan Mei closed her eyes and pressed her forehead.
"Herta's childhood? Several Amber Eras ago. Anyone who knew her then is probably dust and history by now."
Tingyun paused, then spoke softly.
"Let me go to the blue planet, Benefactor. Gather stories about Madam Herta's early years. Piece them together."
"Find the root cause and treat it accordingly. It might work wonders."
Ruan Mei gazed at the stars outside the window. Finally, she nodded.
"Go. If you find nothing, come back quickly."
"Of course. But Benefactor, I'd like to take Wisteria Cake with me."
"Oh? Go ask. Though with her personality—much like Herta's—Ruan Mei Cake will be the deciding factor."
Tingyun bowed slightly.
"Understood. I'll go find Wisteria Cake now, Benefactor."
"Yes."
She found Wisteria Cake and explained the plan.
Wisteria Cake stared up at her, cold and hostile.
"Go to the blue planet with you? Collect stories about Madam Herta's childhood?!"
Tingyun nodded.
"Yes. For Benefactor Ruan Mei and Madam Herta. To help them get together sooner."
Wisteria Cake glanced at Forgotten Cake, who was laughing and chatting with Ruan Mei Cake.
For a moment, Tingyun saw something flicker in the cat-cake's expression. Darkness. Jealousy.
Then Wisteria Cake turned back, glared at her, and snorted.
"No. I won't go. I won't help."
Tingyun smiled politely, unfazed.
"Then I have no choice. I'll just have to take Ruan Mei Cake instead."
Wisteria Cake froze. That insufferable fox! Using Ruan Mei Cake to manipulate her?!
Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Tingyun pressed on.
"And Forgotten Cake, too. Might as well make it a trip. If we can't find anything about Madam Herta's past, at least we'll have a vacation."
Wisteria Cake took a deep breath. She glared at Tingyun.
"Fine!! I'll go! You foxians are absolutely insufferable!"
---
At the same time, the Xianzhou Luofu.
Qingque had met with both fathers.
At the dinner table, Qingque's father raised his glass to Fu Qing.
"Ah, my fellow in-law. I always thought our Qingque would end up alone. Growing old in some parlor, lonely to the end."
"But to think she'd marry Fu Xuan—such a wonderful girl. It must be the Reignbow Arbiter's will. A toast."
Fu Qing smiled awkwardly.
Old fox. We both know your daughter's been playing the fool to hide her strength all along.
"You flatter her, brother. For our Fu Xuan to marry Qingque is the greater blessing by far."
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Power Stone Progress: 284/325 (5 Chapters)
Power Ranking: 46/10 (15 Chapters)