What did she think of Asta?
Ruan Mei closed her eyes and pressed her forehead.
[Oh dear, the pink-haired girl—will you meet her expectations?] ♪
Ruan Mei ignored the voice in her head. Even though she had never replied to Asta, the young woman had kept messaging her without fail. So she opened her eyes and quietly sent her honest impression.
Asta had been bored with her work, idly scrolling through her phone, when she saw that Ruan Mei was actually online. Her eyes went wide with disbelief—after all these days, this was the first time she'd seen Ruan Mei's account active. Wait. Madam Herta isn't secretly watching, is she?
The shock on her face vanished as she scanned her surroundings. The nearest Herta puppet was in remote standby mode. That meant Madam Herta was probably still resting. Her brow relaxed, and she allowed herself a small, relieved smile. It's just a chat with Ruan Mei, she told herself, so why do I feel so guilty? But why should I feel guilty? Am I betraying Madam Herta just by talking to her?
She admired both geniuses. She looked back at her phone. The words "The other person is typing" appeared on the screen, and she held her breath, her eyes fixed on the moment.
Ruan Mei's message arrived.
"Asta, you are kind and generous. Your words and actions are always graceful, your bearing refined. Your eyes are bright and clear, and when your gaze turns, it holds the same brilliance as stars."
Asta's lips curved into a smile. Ruan Mei compares her to the stars? How wonderful. No one has ever described her like that before. Others only praised her wealth and cared only about her allowance. But Ruan Mei was different. She saw her as something radiant, something beautiful.
Of course—a genius like Ruan Mei saw people clearly.
Peppy sat beside her, watching her with bewilderment. In all the years she'd followed Asta, she had never seen her smile so naturally, so brightly.
"Woof." (Asta, did something wonderful happen? You're even happier than the day Madam Herta took you away from home!)
Asta didn't hear her. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, on Ruan Mei's words.
Another notification chimed.
"Asta. You are a good girl."
The smile on her face froze. She looked as if she had been struck by lightning—her joy shattering into something hollow and bleak.
A good girl.
She felt as though she had lost everything. Her expression went blank, her eyes dimming as she stared at the phone.
Her colleagues rushed to her side, concerned.
"Station Master Asta, are you alright?"
"Should we call a medic?"
Asta forced herself to hold onto her last shred of composure, squeezing out a faint, fractured smile. "I... I'm fine. Thank you all for your concern. I just have a headache. I'll rest for a while. Deputy Chief Herta Ninety-Nine will take over my duties."
She turned and walked away, as unmoored as a kite cut loose from its string. Peppy followed, worry etched on her face.
Minutes later, Asta shut herself in her room, leaving Peppy outside. She leaned against the window, her figure alone in the fading light, staring at her phone and the starry sleeve pendant at her sleeve. "Asta, you are a good girl." Those nine words weighed so heavily. She had read enough novels and watched enough shows to know exactly what they meant.
Peppy's frantic voice came from outside.
"Woof! Woof!" (Asta?! What's wrong?! Did your family cut off your allowance?!)
"Woof?!" (Is it Madam Herta? Did she bully you?!)
No response.
Peppy's mind raced. This morning, Asta was wearing Ruan Mei's starry sleeve pendant, beaming like the moon. What happened this afternoon to change her so completely?
Elsewhere, Herta Ninety-Nine, temporarily serving as station master, was equally bewildered. One moment she had been on leave, casually dealing with a few researchers who had spoken ill of Herta. The next, she was Acting Station Master Herta Ninety-Nine. Not a bad position, honestly.
She stood where Asta usually stood, looking up at the main monitor. Her progress had been so fast. Acting or not, there were few in the history of this station—few among billions—who had stood where she stood now.
Was Asta really alright?
Hard to say. Maybe Madam Herta did something.
Are you crazy? Want to get sent to a frontier planet? Those researchers are already on their way.
Herta Ninety-Nine shot a cold glance at a slacking researcher. They immediately straightened up, properly focused on their work. She nodded with satisfaction. Once, she had been among those slackers. Now? Things had changed. Herta #99 no more—Station Master Herta Ninety-Nine.
Though, she thought with a hint of cynicism, hadn't Madam Herta mentioned something about her becoming governor of the blue planet? Empty promises.
But she couldn't help imagining it: Madam Herta on her throne in Herta City, millions of puppets singing her praises. Ruan Mei beside her, pouring tea and serving plum cakes. Tingyun fanning them with her Crescent Moon and Cloud-Gatherer fans. Asta reading reports. Yu Qingtu pouring wine.
That was the life. And perhaps, one day, she could take her place?
Across the universe, the real Herta jolted awake in her bed, her heart racing. Frost had spread across her room, ice crystallizing on the walls.
"Who's thinking about me?" she muttered. "No—not that one. Someone else."
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Power Stone Progress: 311/325 (5 Chapters)
Review Progress: 3/5 (5 Chapters)