"Xing, when you came, no one followed you, right?"
Tendo pulled two bottles of 'Blues Mountain City,' a specialty soda from Deep Blue Metropolis, from the refrigerator beside the living room.
He casually tossed one to Chen Xing, who was sitting on the sofa nearby.
Chen Xing caught the soda, twisted open the cap with a "pop," and took two big gulps before wiping his mouth. "Tendo, don't treat me like an idiot. You know, back at the base, my theoretical scores were second only to yours and Caroline's, and a dozen ranks higher than that idiot Liuli."
"Right, you're right."
Tendo walked behind the sofa, rested his hands on the backrest, and gently tapped the fabric with his fingertips.
"Even if you caught me, it wouldn't affect me much, given it's just you."
"In fact, with you, some things that would originally require some effort have become simpler."
With that, Tendo took a sip of the Blues Mountain City in his hand and chuckled, "You already know your brother Chen Kong is here, don't you?"
Chen Xing nodded.
"Yeah, I found out a few years ago. I noticed his quantum leap had problems and deviated from the original trajectory a long time ago."
"But for the past few years, we Children of the Stars had to hide and couldn't easily show ourselves in the Federation. That's why I never looked for him."
"It wasn't until four years ago, when President Einit announced the destruction of the Embers Base and the death of Dr. Dragon, that those guys lifted our wanted warrants."
Chen Xing paused, frowning slightly. "There's just one thing I'm very curious about..."
Before Chen Xing could finish, Tendo chuckled and interjected, "...Curious why Einit specifically stood up for us Children of the Stars, warning those guys not to randomly use us for human experiments."
"And... why they specifically didn't lift my wanted warrant, right?"
"Yeah."
Tendo walked to the sofa and plopped down.
He gazed at the Blues Mountain City in his hand, which was constantly bubbling blue.
His pale blue eyes inexplicably deepened.
"Xing, have you heard of the Twelve Miracle Stones?"
"Of course. After all, the foundation of the Blazing Sun family comes from one of the Miracle Stones."
"In that case, you should also know that throughout the history of the New Federation, only five Miracle Stones have appeared so far."
Hearing Tendo's words, Chen Xing thought for a moment and then grasped the core of the issue.
He suddenly realized, "You mean, the core reason for the base's destruction six years ago was that those iron lumps from the Iron Dome family wanted to find the Miracle Stone in the Doctor's possession?"
"Also, the reason the Iron Dome family hasn't agreed to lift your wanted warrant is probably because they're worried you might be sheltered by some family and then leak the news that the Doctor had a Miracle Stone, right?"
"Clever, Xing. Your intuition is as sharp as ever, and just as... unreasonable."
After confirming these things, Chen Xing frowned and said, "If what you say is true, then I think I know why you're disguised and part of your plan."
"Oh? Tell me."
Tendo looked at Chen Xing with curiosity, eager to know what she had guessed.
This wasn't an act from Tendo; he genuinely wanted to know just how exaggerated Chen Xing's 'Demonic Star Intuition' could be.
"Tendo, if I'm not mistaken, the reason those guys from the Iron Dome family are relentlessly pursuing you is, first, because they've definitively received information that you know the whereabouts of the Miracle Stone."
"Second, they suspect that the Miracle Stone in the Doctor's possession might very well be in your hands."
"So they must both fully pursue you and, at the same time, try their best not to arouse suspicion from others."
"Maintaining your wanted warrant is undoubtedly the best cover and explanation for their actions."
"Right, what else?"
Tendo nodded, then gestured for Chen Xing to continue.
What she said truly was the reason Tendo had to remain disguised in the second season.
After all, though he wasn't afraid of those iron lumps from the Iron Dome family, if they appeared too early, it would undoubtedly greatly disrupt the current storyline.
This would affect Tendo's control over the subsequent plot.
"And also, knowing the threat from the Iron Dome family, if you want to escape this situation, you either seek the protection of one of the four major families or the protection of an old geezer."
"If it were just the former, I don't think you would have kept yourself hidden until now. After all, based on what I know about you, you're not the kind of person who likes to put their fate in someone else's hands."
"Therefore, I guess you want to show your value, then let President Einit see your potential, and thus select you as his successor, thereby getting rid of those troublesome guys, or even competing with them directly, right?"
Tendo chuckled, "So confident?"
Looking at Tendo's half-smile, Chen Xing's lips curved into an arc. She vigorously tossed her high ponytail, her tone tinged with a hint of pride.
"Tendo, you seem to underestimate me, who has always been chasing your shadow."
"In this world, it's not just Caroline who understands you; I do too."
"I know your ambition very well, and I understand how terrifying the thinking hidden beneath your exaggerated talent truly is."
"You never compromise, nor can you learn to compromise. You only accept things developing according to your own ideas, and you stubbornly and arrogantly believe that things must develop that way, accepting no other changes."
Tendo interrupted, "But haven't you brought an unexpected change to me? After all, I didn't expect your intuition to be this exaggerated."
Chen Xing dropped her smile and said seriously, "A perfect plan isn't about absolute control over everything, but about being able to control every possible unexpected event."
"And ensuring you have enough corrective capabilities for the plan to proceed smoothly under any circumstances."
"There has never been an omniscient and omnipotent being in this world. If there were... it could only be 'God.'"
"Tendo, I bet you must have prepared contingencies long ago, and seriously thought about what to do if your identity were discovered prematurely, right?"
"So, what you call an 'unexpected' event is nothing more than a slightly troublesome interlude for you; it won't truly affect what you want to do."
Hearing this, Tendo couldn't help but sigh, "Xing, your intuition truly is enviable. It's like you don't need to think to pick the single correct answer from a myriad of options."
Chen Xing shook her head and looked at Tendo again, meeting his pale blue eyes. She said seriously, "You're wrong, Tendo. I don't pick the single answer; I only choose the answers that I won't regret."
"Because only then, no matter if I come back a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand times, will I make the same decision."
"Even if this choice is destined to lead to an abyss, I will still walk into it without hesitation."
"Because this is the only, unregrettable decision in my heart."
"An intuition that only follows the heart's choice..."
Tendo sighed.
Because at this point, he finally understood what Chen Xing's 'Demonic Star Intuition' truly was.
Simply put, Chen Xing's so-called 'intuition' was, in essence, that no matter what the future 'outcome' was, she would only make choices she wouldn't 'regret.'
As for whether that choice was correct, or where the future would lead, it no longer mattered to her.
Because compared to the result of the choice, being able to make that choice itself was the most 'correct' decision for her.
This was what Chen Xing pursued.
As for why Chen Xing at the base didn't exhibit this terrifying intuition, Tendo speculated that perhaps she hadn't yet truly understood her own heart back then.
In other words, Chen Xing only finally understood what she wanted and awakened this terrifying 'Demonic Star Intuition' after experiencing a certain crucial turning point.
While somewhat curious about what this turning point was, Tendo ultimately chose not to delve deeper.
It wasn't that he hadn't guessed what this turning point might be; he just didn't want to truly know.
After all, if some things were genuinely brought into the open, it would become quite troublesome.
So Tendo pretended not to understand and changed the subject. "Xing, since you've already guessed my plan, then I'll have to trouble you to resolve some issues that are inconvenient for me to handle."
"After all, if my predictions are correct, your brother and the girl by his side, who was unexpectedly caught in the vortex of power, will soon stir up a terrifying storm in this seemingly progressive, yet stubbornly decadent, Steam City."
"Because some people, to cling to power, are willing to offer the key to miracles as a bargaining chip."
"But if they do that, Kong might be in a bit of danger."
Hearing these words, Chen Xing calmly said, "It doesn't matter. If Kong can't even withstand such a storm, it means he hasn't grown up yet."
"And I can't protect him forever; he must find a way to protect himself."
Tendo looked at her, a half-smile on his face. "Is that so? But I feel like I heard similar words from someone six years ago, though the outcome..."
"Tendo!"
Before Tendo could finish, Chen Xing interrupted him, somewhat exasperated.
Then, without giving Tendo a chance to tease her further, Chen Xing stood up, ready to leave.
But when she reached the door, Chen Xing stopped and looked at Tendo seriously. "Tendo, I will help you remove those obstacles, and I will continue until the day I completely earn your approval."
With that, Chen Xing pushed open the door and left.
Watching Chen Xing's retreating back, the smile on Tendo's face gradually vanished, and his expression became complicated.
He understood some hidden meanings in Chen Xing's words.
What she wanted was not just simple approval.
If he truly let her do too much, the debt he'd owe her wouldn't be so easy to repay.
After all, debts of gratitude were far more troublesome than popularity debts in the popularity system.
Tendo let out a soft sigh, then picked up the soda in his hand and took a large gulp.
The cool liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't quell the inexplicable irritation in Tendo's heart.
Tendo, who liked to control everything, felt a sense of difficulty and pressure for the first time.
And precisely, this difficulty and pressure weren't something that could be simply resolved with strength.
Troublesome, indeed...