Inside Herta Space Station.
"Here you go."
Asta bent down and handed the item she and Bai Ming had retrieved from the Analysis Room to the little girl, Wen Shiling.
"This should be the thing you wanted, right?"
"Ehh—!"
Seeing the item, Wen Shiling's eyes lit up.
"Yes! That's it! Thank you, Director Asta!"
"You can't just thank me," Asta said with a gentle smile. "Sister Bai Ming helped too."
"Mm! I know!" Wen Shiling nodded happily, then paused. "But Sister Bai Ming doesn't seem to want to listen to me right now…"
Just as Wen Shiling said—although she really wanted to thank Bai Ming for helping retrieve the item, the latter's current state was…Not exactly wrong, but certainly strange.
Bai Ming was holding her head, despairingly shouting like someone who had just discovered their instant noodles came without a seasoning packet:
"March 7th, March is ignoring me! March, March 7th is ignoring me! March 7th, March is ignoring me! March, March 7th is ignoring me, ah!"
"Ahhhhhhh! What's the point of living in this world anymore!"
"Uh—"
Seeing Bai Ming's state, and wanting to preserve her image in front of Wen Shiling, Asta thought for a moment before replying,
"She's probably just tired… The way from here to the Analysis Room isn't short."
"Ehh…"
Hearing this, Wen Shiling hurriedly apologized.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know it would be so troublesome! If I had known, I wouldn't have wanted it!"
"You can't say that."
Asta looked at Wen Shiling.
"Once you make a choice, you can't deny it afterward. Whether it's good or bad, you have to accept it willingly.
Wen Shiling looked thoughtfully at Asta.
She felt that those words weren't just meant for her.
"Alright, do you have any other requests?"
"Nope!"
"Good. Don't worry, about the problems ahead. No matter who tries to destroy Madam Herta's Space Station, I'll definitely find a way to drive them away!"
"Mm! I believe in you, Station Head!"
Waving goodbye to Wen Shiling, Asta supported Bai Ming as they left.
"Young Lady…"
Arlan's voice came from the side, full of concern.
"It's fine," Asta said with a small smile. "Rest assured, anything that happens in the Space Station can definitely be resolved."
"Arlan, thank you for your hard work. Go back and rest. Let me have a chat with Bai Ming."
"Oh…"
Arlan nodded and turned to leave.
However, before he had taken more than a few steps, he turned back to look at Asta.
"What is it?" Asta asked.
"Well, Young Lady…" Arlan said respectfully. "Please don't become like them. I'm a little scared."
"Ah?"
Before Asta could ask what he meant, Arlan had already left.
"Like them…?"
Asta pondered Arlan's words but couldn't figure out their meaning.
Looking at Bai Ming beside her, she knew now wasn't the time.
"Bai Ming, let's go sit over there."
"March March 7th, my March 7th, March March 7th, my March, March 7th March, my March 7th…"
Ignoring Bai Ming's muttering, Asta supported her and walked to a nearby rest area.
On a long bench, Asta and Bai Ming sat side by side.
Asta held a drink in her hand, while Bai Ming looked utterly dejected.
Seeing Bai Ming in this state, Asta sighed softly, then inserted a straw into the drink she was holding.
Ignoring the nonsense Bai Ming was mumbling, she gently guided the straw between the other girl's lips.
Asta applied a little pressure to the cup, squeezing the contents through the straw, which flowed up into Bai Ming's mouth.
Gulp, gulp—
Bai Ming, who had been utterly despondent moments ago, suddenly perked up.
"What is this? It's so good!"
"Space Station special supply drink," Asta said with a hint of pride. "How is it? Tasty, right?"
"Mhm!"
Bai Ming held the cup and took a few more big gulps.
"Wow—this is amazing!"
Savoring the taste, she couldn't help but ask, "Where can I buy this?"
"You can't buy it," Asta replied promptly.
"Why not?"
"Because I had it specially customized."
Asta glanced at the cup in Bai Ming's hand, now sucked completely dry.
"The one you just drank probably cost around four hundred thousand."
"What?!"
Bai Ming exclaimed, eyes wide.
"This cup is worth half of me?!"
"C-Can I wash the empty cup and return it to you for some credit?!"
Seeing Bai Ming's flustered expression, Asta couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"Don't worry, the drink's on me. Consider it my treat. I wouldn't stoop so low as to scam you."
"Then…"
Bai Ming looked left and right, confirming no one was watching, then leaned close to Asta's ear and whispered:
"Can I have another one?"
"You haven't had enough?" Asta asked, slightly surprised.
"It's not that!" Bai Ming waved her hands, then spoke a bit sheepishly. "I… want to bring one for March to drink…"
"If it tastes this good, she'd definitely be happy after drinking it. Maybe then, she'll, hehehe…"
Bai Ming held her cheeks and wriggled her body.
Bai Ming wasn't bad-looking at all—but the way she wriggled was… devastating to her image. to the point it could make someone cringe to death.
However, hearing her say that made Asta feel a bit guilty inside.
After all, in a way, if she hadn't asked that extra question earlier, things might not have turned out like this.
"That might not be possible," Asta said, placing a hand over her chest.
"After all, these drinks are custom-ordered in advance. Each one drunk is one less."
"Although I'd also like to prepare a cup for March 7th, the one you just had was the last one."
"Ehh—!"
Bai Ming looked at the empty cup in her hand, full of regret.
"Asta, you should've said so earlier! If it was the last one, I wouldn't have drunk it!"
Mid-sentence, Bai Ming lightly smacked her own lips.
"No! How can I push the blame onto you! Sorry, Asta—forget I said that!"
"…"
Asta was silent for a moment, then smiled again.
"It seems I have no choice but to help."
"Help? Help with what?"
"Mhm." Asta nodded. "Help you win March 7th back."
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober