Chapter 66

Black Curtain Lady walked gracefully down the space station's mirror‑clean corridor, her dark‑purple skirt swaying gently with her steps like a dark‑night flower quietly blooming in the star sea.

She appeared to glance left and right casually, but her senses were fully open, wary of colliding head‑on with the unexpected visitor.

However, just as she stepped around a corner, a strikingly beautiful figure appeared in her dark‑purple vision—Ruan Mei.

The genius, dressed in simple robes and bearing an air like a secluded valley orchid, stood quietly by the corridor window, gazing at the river of stars outside, holding a small porcelain plate with several delicate pastries.

Heimu's heart skipped a beat; almost instinctively she pulled back her foot, her slender back lightly pressing against the cold metal wall.

(What a coincidence? Running into her so fast?)

She thought to herself, her mind racing, considering whether to approach openly as Black Tower or to avoid her for now.

As she weighed her options, three messages in quick succession struck her mind like stones dropped into a still lake, sending ripples through her thoughts.

First came the system's calm electronic voice:

【Ma'am, the core data download and analysis of the simulated universe is complete at 100%. All target data has been safely transferred to System Space.】

Immediately after, came the pleasant prompt:

【Core Repair Rate has increased, current progress: 35%.】

Almost simultaneously, a joyful thought‑message from Bai Hang arrived:

【Master! Xi Lian says she's willing to try trusting us! She says she's willing!】

The good news came one after another, especially the significant rise in Repair Degree and Xi Lian's initial consent, shaking Heimu to the core; the sheer volume of information even left her momentarily dazed.

(So fast…… such a coincidence…… everything's come together?)

Before she could even savor this joy, a steady footstep echoed from the other end of the corner, approaching her hiding place at an even pace!

(Oh no!)

Heimu startled.

The perspective shifts to Ruan Mei.

She was savoring the sweet osmanthus cake on her fingertip, feeling the tiny pleasure as the sugar melted on her tongue—one of her few private pleasures unrelated to research.

Suddenly, a flash of familiar fabric caught the corner of her eye—it seemed to be Black Tower.

Ruan Mei said nothing, simply swallowing the last bite of pastry, then gently wiping her fingertip with a silk handkerchief embroidered with dark patterns.

She stepped forward toward the corner, a hint of inquiry in her blue eyes.

Turning the corner, there stood Black Tower.

The space station's master leaned against the cold bulkhead, arms crossed over her chest, head slightly tilted back, the brim of her hat casting a shadow over part of her face, her violet eyes shut, thick lashes throwing a small fan‑shaped shadow beneath them.

She seemed lost in deep thought, not even noticing someone approaching.

Only when Ruan Mei stood before her did Black Tower seem to stir, slowly opening her eyes.

Those violet‑crystal eyes fixed on Ruan Mei, first flashing a hint of surprise, then returning to her usual slightly languid expression.

"Ruan Mei?"

Heimu spoke, her voice the clear, slightly offhand tone of Black Tower: "When did you arrive? You didn't even give a heads‑up."

Her tone was flat, not showing much enthusiasm, yet that matched Black Tower's usual style.

"Just arrived a moment ago."

Ruan Mei's reply was equally brief, her voice calm and steady: "Just taking a look around. Your space station still runs at high efficiency."

Her gaze swept over Black Tower's face, spotting nothing unusual at first.

"Hmm, Aisida's doing a fine job."

Heimu gave a slight nod, crediting the capable station chief.

She struggled to keep her composure, her mind racing to figure out how to deal with this perceptive colleague.

Ruan Mei seemed uninterested in small talk, getting straight to the point as she usually did, efficient and direct: "I'm here to borrow the lower‑level quarantine section of the space station. It's relatively sealed and the security level is sufficient, suitable for some… biological cultivation experiments."

She did not elaborate on the experiment's details.

Heimu understood at once.

(Sure enough, it's for that…… experiment to create a short‑lived Breeding emissary.)

This "plot" is recorded in the information she possesses.

She kept her expression neutral, even feigning a hint of "oh no, not this trouble again," waving a hand casually: "Do as you like. Just don't tear up the compartment or leave a mess I'll have to clean up."

Having received permission, Ruan Mei nodded lightly in thanks.

The atmosphere seemed to end there.

However, Heimu's gaze fell on the porcelain plate still holding a few pastries in Ruan Mei's hand.

A mischievous thought, along with an urge to probe this emotionally restrained genius, rose in her mind.

She suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance until she could almost smell Ruan Mei's cool, plum‑blossom‑like scent.

Under Ruan Mei's slightly surprised gaze, Heimu naturally reached out, picking a delicately shaped lotus pastry from her plate.

"Hmm… the taste is good."

Heimu placed the snack between her lips, savored it slowly, her violet eyes narrowing slightly, showing genuine appreciation.

This wasn't an act; the snack truly suited her palate.

However, the moment the flavor fully blossomed on her taste buds, an inexplicable emotion struck her without warning—a faint sadness that seemed to traverse time and space, originating from the hidden Memory fragments deep within the Black Tower image she bore.

Her movement halted, a trace of softness she herself had not anticipated flashing in her purple‑black eyes.

She lifted her head, looked at the cool‑tempered Ruan Mei before her, and an indescribable impulse drove her to make a move that even surprised herself—

She stepped forward and gently embraced Ruan Mei.

Ruan Mei's body stiffened for an instant, but she did not push away; instead, a clear hint of puzzlement finally flickered in her always Calm eyes.

In Heimu's impression, the Black Tower, while not entirely unfeeling, rarely makes such… slightly affectionate gestures.

"What's wrong?"

Ruan Mei's voice remained steady.

Heimu gently rested his chin on Ruan Mei's shoulder, inhaling the unique scent on her that blended faint herbs with a cool fragrance, and the ripples in his heart gradually calmed.

She released her embrace, stepped back half a step, shook her head, and her tone carried a hint of a feeling she herself had not fully understood: "It's fine. It's just… I suddenly feel a bit regretful."

Heimu's gaze shifted, landing on the edge of Ruan Mei's cherry‑blossom‑soft lips—where a speck of barely perceptible pastry crumbs clung.

She curved a playful smile at the corner of her mouth, reached out again, and brushed Ruan Mei's lip corner with her fingertips in an exceedingly gentle manner; the motion was so natural it seemed inevitable, yet the faintly cool touch of her fingertips caused Ruan Mei's body to stiffen for an instant.

"You got something on you."

Heimu's voice was very soft, carrying a hint of lazy amusement, and his gaze locked tightly onto Ruan Mei's always Calm azure eyes.

Ruan Mei slightly furrowed her brows.

It wasn't disgust, but rather a sense of unease.

In her interactions with Black Tower, the other party had never been so proactive.

She stepped back half a step, creating a bit of distance, her clear gaze fixed on Black Tower, her tone still flat yet tinged with curiosity: "You today… seem a bit different."

Choosing her words carefully, she added, "You appear quite proactive."

Heimu chuckled inwardly; his goal was half achieved.

She merely shrugged indifferently, letting the hand that had just brushed the other's lip corner fall naturally, and said with Black Tower's characteristic inevitability: "Just changing my mood now and then. So, you aren't accustomed?"

Ruan Mei gave no reply, merely watching her quietly, her gaze seeming able to pierce all pretenses and reach the essence.

After a moment, she finally averted her eyes, looked again toward the star‑river beyond the window, and softly said, "The experiment requires preparation; I'll take my leave now."

Finishing, she gave a slight nod, lifted the blue‑glazed porcelain plate, turned and left, her silhouette still cool, as if the earlier interaction tinged with a hint of ambiguity had never occurred.

Watching Ruan Mei disappear at the end of the corridor, Heimu slowly withdrew his pretended expression, a flash of slyness and playfulness flickering in his violet‑black eyes.

(Teasing an emotionally indifferent genius, seeing her show a hint of bewilderment is rather amusing.)

She gently rubbed her fingertip, as if she could still feel the subtle sensation from that fleeting contact.