In the end, they still worked overtime.
It wasn't until night fell outside the window and the stars and moon appeared in the sky that Chu Ze finally let out a long sigh and flopped onto the desk.
"So tired... I'm going to be completely drained by Lady Fu Xuan..."
"Don't use such misleading words!"
Fu Xuan slapped him in annoyance.
But Chu Ze continued to hum:
"If only there was a pink-haired, stunningly beautiful, white-stocking-wearing, Head Diviner of the Luofu little sister who would give me some loving comfort, my life would be complete... (peeks)"
Fu Xuan remained expressionless:
"Please save your sweet dreams for when you're asleep."
"As a secretary, you should have respect for your superior."
Chu Ze nodded:
"Understood. A subordinate cannot kiss the boss on the lips."
Fu Xuan had just shown a satisfied expression.
When she saw Chu Ze suddenly lean over and plant a kiss on her cheek:
"Can't kiss the lips, so I'll kiss the cheek."
Fu Xuan: "(╬ಠ_ಠ)"
Taking a deep breath to calm her fluctuating blood pressure and heartbeat, she didn't reprimand him further.
After all, Chu Ze had put in a lot of effort tonight, and his learning ability perfectly met her expectations.
Therefore, that little peck could be considered a small bonus for working overtime.
Looking at the side profile of Chu Ze resting on the desk, Fu Xuan's expression grew slightly dazed.
Involuntarily, she recalled their experiences over the years.
—She was Chu Ze's guide.
It was she who brought Chu Ze into the territory of the Xianzhou Alliance, unveiling the curtain for the series of adventures that followed.
—At the same time, Chu Ze was her savior.
When she left the Jade Abacus and ventured out alone, her divination skills far from mature, it was Chu Ze who protected her along the way.
In the following decades, the two relied on and supported each other, growing from weak to strong.
After spending so much time together, even enemies would develop feelings, let alone a handsome man and a beautiful woman who admired each other.
So, them ending up in the same bed was just a natural progression.
Of course, Chu Ze had offered to take responsibility.
But she had simply refused.
The main reason was that she wasn't ready for marriage and family, and the current situation on the Xianzhou did not allow her to divert her energy.
As for the secondary reason...
"I, Chu Ze, have a dream, and that is to become the Harem King of the Star Rail!"
"I will build the strongest body to give all the girls who move my heart a big home!"
Recalling his words from back then, Fu Xuan couldn't help but snort coldly.
To so brazenly declare he wanted a harem...
What a philanderer! The number one philanderer in the universe!
Ding~
Just as Chu Ze felt a sudden inexplicable chill, his phone chimed with a notification.
He didn't dwell on it, opened his phone, and was surprised to see a message from Herta, whom he had contacted during the day.
[Herta]: Who are you?
[Herta]: How did you add me as a friend?
[Herta]: Why can't I block you? What did you do?
A trinity of soul-searching questions right off the bat.
Chu Ze's reply was also very decisive.
[Chu Ze]: I've actually seen this question before.
[Chu Ze]: How about this: first, open Steam, find your library, then open Senren * Banka, click on New Game, and choose the following options in order: 'Muddle through,' 'How about it,' 'It's not strange,' 'Go pick wild vegetables,' 'Verbal thanks,' 'A little worried,' and 'Better not say strange things.' Then enter Murasame's route, and you'll find the answer.
[Herta]: ?
[Herta]: What nonsense are you talking about?
[Chu Ze]: You started with the nonsense. The block button is right below the personal page. If you don't want a blind date, just delete me. I don't believe a genius girl like you doesn't even know that.
[Herta]: ???
[Herta]: What the hell, a blind date? Who put me on a dating site?
Chu Ze didn't reply further.
Since the other party was clearly not interested, it was a simple matter of delete and block.
They would not disturb each other in the future; no one would hold the other back.
But when he clicked on her profile, he was slightly taken aback.
Because he really couldn't find the delete friend function.
He couldn't find the relevant button on any of the other pages either.
"Is the chat app bugged?"
So he sent another message.
[Chu Ze]: It seems I can't block you either.
[Herta]: (Auto-reply) Hello, I'm busy right now and won't be contacting you later either.
[Chu Ze]: ...
[Herta]: (Auto-reply) Hello, I'm busy right now and won't be contacting you later either.
[Chu Ze]: ?????????
Alright, alright, quite the personality.
It seems they were of the same type.
Chu Ze put down his phone, just about to complain to Fu Xuan about a woman who was as uniquely individual as he was.
But when he looked up, he saw Fu Xuan's expressionless face: "Chatting quite heatedly, aren't we? Who are you talking to?"
Then, as if to avoid misunderstanding, the pink-haired girl quickly added: "Of course, this seat is not interested in your private life. I'm just curious. You don't have to say if you don't want to."
Chu Ze had no intention of hiding anything:
"It's a blind date my mom set me up with."
"Heh, a blind date?"
Fu Xuan's gaze immediately turned cold:
"To actually set your sights on another young maiden, you really are insatiable."
Chu Ze counted on his fingers:
"Not a young maiden. Her actual age is greater than yours, and she's not from the Xianzhou."
Huh?
Not from the Xianzhou?
And over a hundred years old?
The nameless fire in her heart instantly vanished, replaced by worry and astonishment.
After a moment of contemplation, Fu Xuan took out a voucher from her drawer:
"Chu Ze, human preferences are a matter of freedom, but I still suggest you see a doctor."
"Here's a consultation voucher for the Dragon-Maidens of the Alchemy Commission. If you go now, you can even get a free washbasin. Take it and use it quickly."
"?"
This time it was Chu Ze's turn to be confused.
It seems... he was misunderstood about something?
...
...
Meanwhile, on the Azure Star.
Herta placed her phone on an unknown instrument, her hands constantly manipulating the screen.
Behind her, fellow Genius Society member Ruan Mei was boredly fiddling with the tip of Herta's hat:
"Herta, why is your hat so pointy?"
Herta didn't turn her head:
"Stop playing with my hat and come look."
"A contact named [Cosmic Superman] claims to be my blind date. He added me as a friend without my consent, and I can't even find a way to delete or block him."
"...Oh?"
The sharp Ruan Mei smelled a big scoop.
This was something she had to stand up to see.
"It only took me two minutes to hack into the backend and gain control of the chat software."
"But after two hours, I still couldn't delete that guy."
"Ruan Mei, what do you think?"
Listening to Herta's voice, Ruan Mei leaned over to stare at the screen: "I'm standing up to look."
Herta: "..."
Ignoring Herta's gaze, Ruan Mei put down her pastry and rubbed her chin:
"To be able to stump an Emanator of Erudition means the person on the other side is definitely not simple."
"Coincidentally, during the data exchange just now, I sensed the aura of an [Emanator]."
An Emanator?
That was to be expected.
The only ones who could give her trouble were those at the Emanator level.
Herta glanced at Ruan Mei:
"Whose Emanator? Erudition? Preservation? It can't be The Hunt, can it?"
Ruan Mei shook her head:
"It's Joy."
"...Huh?"
Seeing Herta's o.O? expression, Ruan Mei said slowly:
"I sensed the aura of an [Emanator of Joy] in this data."
"And the other party's energy fluctuations are abnormally strong, which means they are definitely not some cheap knock-off created by the God of Fun, but a genuine... Emanator-level existence..."