Chapter 62: Mother

Ti Bao Space

Black Curtain Lady stepped into a new Data Space, and the scene that met her eyes made her pause slightly.

It was not the cage or tragedy she had expected, but a room arranged extremely warmly, even luxuriously.

Western classical‑style furniture, soft velvet carpet covering the whole floor, countless assorted cushions and plush toys scattered in the corners, forming a series of comfortable nests.

Warm‑toned lights gently poured down, and the air was filled with a scent like a mix of lavender and desserts.

There were no windows, yet it felt not oppressive at all, but rather like an isolated haven.

(The living conditions… each one better than the last.)

Heimu's mouth twitched silently, and couldn't help recalling Xi Lian suspended in midair by countless cold chains, her tattered clothes a tragic sight; compared with the extreme comfort of the present environment, the gap was more than night and day.

Her gaze swept the room and finally settled on the huge pile of soft cushions in the center—there was a particularly striking, flame‑like red.

She walked slowly closer.

Seemingly sensing a stranger's presence, the red mass moved, rising from the cushion pile.

A mature, beautiful face came into Heimu's view.

Red long hair thick as a waterfall, almost spilling onto the carpet, was adorned with a few delicate white blossoms.

She wore a white dress, elegantly accented with blue patterns, and a golden belt at the waist outlined a graceful curve.

Deep blue eyes, like a tranquil lake, now held the haziness of just waking, and her pointed ears twitched slightly.

(Is this… Ti Bao?)

The moment Heimu saw the other's features clearly, a slight shock rose in her heart.

Is this… a bit too mature?

(Isn't Ti Bao a little thing? This is clearly… a grown‑up Tili Biyosi!)

The red‑haired girl seemed just awakened from a dream, her gaze thick with drowsiness, watery blue eyes blankly fixed on Heimu.

On her sleepy face there was no vigilance or fear; instead, after seeing Heimu, she showed some… dependent expression?

Heimu tentatively spoke, keeping her voice as soft as possible: "You…"

Before she could finish, the red‑haired girl suddenly made a move that caused Heimu's brain to crash—

She, like a fledgling returning to its nest, lunged from the cushion pile, flung open her arms, firmly hugging Heimu's waist, burying her beautiful face deep into Heimu's unremarkable chest, and even nuzzled her head affectionately.

Immediately after, a sentence with a heavy nasal tone, soft enough to melt ice, murmured out:

"Mother…"

Heimu: "!!!"

(Ah????)

That word rang in Heimu's mind like a thunderclap.

She became as if struck by a Petrification Spell, completely frozen in place.

Her violet‑black eyes widened unusually, filled with incredulous emptiness.

(Mother?! Me?! She calls me mother?!)

In the corner of her view, a line of multicolored flashing text popped up in time:

【Hehe, still a rookie! This family drama is far more interesting than a simulated universe! — Aha Liu】

Heimu stiffly lowered her head, looking at the "big daughter" nestled in her arms, exuding a pleasant floral scent.

The other's brilliant red hair was like warm flame, yet it scorched her scalp, making it tingle.

She had lived this long (including past and present lives), experiencing transmigration, a binding system, becoming the vessel of "Emperor III", being pursued by a summons…

Through countless trials, she had never felt as helpless as now, as… wanting to flee immediately.

Time seemed to freeze.

Heimu could clearly hear her own slightly erratic heartbeat, as well as the steady, lingering breath of the girl in her arms.

After a while, Heimu barely recovered from the massive shock, trying to regain her voice and Reason String.

She took a deep breath, tried to move less rigidly, and gently nudged the red‑haired girl in her arms.

"Um… you first let go…" her voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.

Sensing the pushback, the Tili Biyosi in her arms immediately lifted her head.

Those deep blue eyes instantly clouded with a mist of grievance, her tiny nose twitched, her mouth puckered slightly, as if a golden bean were about to fall.

"Mother… don't you like me anymore?"

She said in a sobbing tone, hugging tighter as if fearing abandonment, "I'm good… don't let go…"

That gaze, that tone, were full of the helplessness and accusation of a forsaken little animal.

While speaking, she began to nuzzle around in Heimu's arms, acting coquettishly, showing no intention of letting go.

Heimu only felt a scalp‑tingling sensation, her temples throbbing.

(What… what should I do?)

She felt she faced a situation more troublesome than confronting Na Ke Xia's "Rising Dragon Fist" and "Magic" techniques.

Just as Heimu fell into an unprecedented dilemma, pondering whether to forcibly activate system permissions to temporarily isolate the creature—

【Emergency communication! Madam, monitoring shows Aisida Station Chief has left the Main Control Cabin Section, heading toward the office, expected arrival in two minutes. Based on behavior pattern analysis, there is an 87.3% probability she is coming to report work or request instructions. Please advise. — System】

Heimu: "..."

Her mouth twitched fiercely.

(What on earth is this?!)

She glanced at the still whimpering, clingy red‑haired girl in her arms, sensed the system's urgent message, and made an immediate decision.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the inner frenzy.

The top priority was to deal with Aisida!

Black Tower Space Station

Aisida stood before the familiar office doorway, took a gentle breath, easing the nervousness within.

Unlike when she usually faced Black Tower Dolls, this time she faced the true form of Black Tower Lady!

Though the appearance was almost identical, the intangible pressure stemming from a level of life was incomparable to those dolls.

She carefully checked her attire, confirming there was no disrespect, then raised her hand and lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in." A familiar crisp voice sounded from inside.

Aisida pushed the door open and entered.

She saw Black Tower Lady sitting upright on the broad main control chair, back turned to the doorway.

In her hand she held an optical panel flickering with data streams, seemingly reviewing some important research data.

And the Black Tower Doll stood before the massive Simulated Universe console, fingers swiftly tapping on the Light Screen, apparently adjusting certain parameters.

Everything appeared… perfectly normal.

"Black Tower Lady." Aisida bowed respectfully, her voice unintentionally carrying a hint of caution.

Black Tower seemed to be startled from contemplation, slowly turning the chair, her purple eyes landing on Aisida: "What is it?"