Yu Qintu didn't dwell on it for now.
Ruan Mei only stated the facts without going into detail, but it didn't matter; she would just ask Qi Zhimu next time.
For now... "Make this thing go away. Its presence here makes me quite uncomfortable."
Yu Qintu didn't hide her disdainful gaze toward the counterfeit version of Qi Zhimu that Ruan Mei had created.
So what if the appearance was identical? It was a soulless thing.
"It possesses no life; it is an automaton," Ruan Mei said.
"If the Little Fellow himself were here, I wouldn't drive him away. To be blunt, creating this thing is simply an insult to your own student."
Yu Qintu furrowed her slender brows, her expression looking rather displeased.
"Imagine if the Little Fellow made an automaton identical to you, programmed it with his favorite behavioral logic, and kept it by his side all day. How would you feel?"
"That wouldn't be me, so I wouldn't feel anything," Ruan Mei replied calmly.
Despite saying that, after taking the pastries from the automaton's hands, she dismissed it.
Yu Qintu stared at Ruan Mei for a long time, trying to find any trace of duplicity or stubbornness.
—She found none.
It didn't matter.
Not long ago, Qi Zhimu had said he never harbored any romantic feelings for Ruan Mei.
He had answered candidly and without hesitation, showing no signs of lying.
But that didn't stop a genius's sixth sense from telling her: something was wrong.
It was just that, for the moment, she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.
Ruan Mei's current words gave her the exact same feeling Qi Zhimu's had back then.
What a troublesome pair of teacher and student.
In those old-fashioned tragic romance novels, they would at least be a pair of ill-fated lovers.
"Then I'll tell the Little Fellow that you've made a double of him, okay?"
"As you wish." Ruan Mei looked indifferent.
"You're simply impossible to reach."
Yu Qintu rolled her eyes, her chest heaving slightly, as she snatched the entire plate of pastries.
She grabbed one, took a bite, and spat it out after barely two chews.
She didn't explain herself afterward, just stared at Ruan Mei.
Ruan Mei found her gaze baffling; thinking something was wrong with the pastries, she took one and tasted it.
It seemed fine.
Then why did she spit it out?
"If there's something you're dissatisfied with, you can just say it, Qintu."
"Ar-Ruan, you have a serious problem right now. I don't even know what words would be appropriate to describe you, do you know that?" Yu Qintu's expression was complicated.
"Where is the problem?"
"That thing has the Little Fellow's skill, but I didn't expect it to be at a level from who knows how many years ago!"
Yu Qintu lost her usual classical and dignified air, her tone tinged with a rare sense of disbelief.
"Eighty years, ninety, or a hundred years ago? Did you create that counterfeit just a few days after driving him away?"
Yu Qintu remembered visiting Ruan Mei decades ago; the latter had happened to walk out of the laboratory just like today.
The difference was that back then, she had urgent matters to attend to, so she left some rare research materials and departed.
Consequently, she hadn't known Ruan Mei had made a counterfeit of Qi Zhimu.
Who would have thought... Over a hundred years ago, Qi Zhimu was still a shy, sunny young man who would work hard for years just because of a casual remark from an outsider.
He had respectfully held a plate of pastries that looked, smelled, and tasted perfect, with a hint of anticipation and nervousness on his face, asking her to taste and critique them.
To be honest, the pastries he made that year weren't enough to conquer her pickiness.
But the smile on the Little Fellow's face and his sincere heart, unchanging over the years, moved her far more than the pastries themselves.
So, she went against her feelings to show a satisfied expression and promised to unconditionally help the Little Fellow with one thing in the future.
Since that year, Qi Zhimu's skills hadn't regressed; instead, they grew better and better, eventually completely conquering her picky palate.
Whether Long-Lived Species or Short-Lived Species, humans have limits, and no two people are the same.
For many things, no matter how much effort is put in, it is in vain; one might never see the finish line even until death.
But if one doesn't even have the courage to set out on the path, all future possibilities will be completely lost.
To do what one knows is impossible, yet still take action and progress day by day, eventually turning the impossible into the possible.
This was why Qi Zhimu, despite being an ordinary Short-Lived Species with nothing particularly special about him, pleased her so much.
Over these years, the taste of the pastries Qi Zhimu made continued to improve steadily.
Why?
Because the Little Fellow's teacher liked them!!
That's why he never stopped his research.
Even if it was annoying, Yu Qintu had to admit that the flavor suited to her own taste was merely a byproduct.
People change, and so do their tastes.
Having been spoiled by the Little Fellow's cooking for years, the stuff the counterfeit served was simply an insult to her taste buds.
Compared to the pastries the Little Fellow had served her not long ago, the difference was so great that comparing a firefly to the bright moon wouldn't even begin to describe it.
Yet Ruan Mei had been eating this stuff for over a hundred years?
In an instant, Yu Qintu felt both jealous of her friend's place in Qi Zhimu's heart and pity for her friend.
—And also felt that it wasn't worth it for Qi Zhimu.
This is the teacher you respect as your second parent... Little Fellow... Thinking of this, Yu Qintu could only sigh inwardly, helpless.
Every cause has an effect; no matter what Ruan Mei has become now, she remains the person who saved Qi Zhimu.
She had no right or standing to criticize; the current situation was the result of the teacher and student's own choices.
Seeing Ruan Mei lower her gaze in what seemed like silent admission, Yu Qintu lost the mood to stay and relax for the first time.
She took out a small cloth bag and tossed it toward Ruan Mei.
"All the experimental materials you wanted are inside. The ten jars of plum blossom brew Qi Zhimu sends you every year are also in there; I brought them along for him."
"For the time being, I'm going to cause trouble for Club #64. Don't look for me until I'm finished."
"Thank you. I wish you a smooth journey." Ruan Mei nodded slightly, making no polite effort to ask her to stay.
Yu Qintu left the bath, her clothes manifesting automatically to cover her alluring curves.
Reaching the door, she paused and added without looking back.
"Remember to maintain a regular routine and eat on time."
"That's what that silly boy begged me to tell you. There's no harm in telling you now; every time I reminded you before, it was because he asked."
"Ar-Ruan, as a friend, I'll give you an extra piece of advice: don't keep doing things that might make your future self regret."
"That's all I have to say. See you next time."
Ruan Mei remained silent for a long while, staring at the petals floating on the water's surface.
A face as gentle as jade, wearing a soft smile, slowly took shape from the water.
Her consciousness wavered for only an instant before the face vanished in a flash.
"..."
She slowly rose from the water, droplets sliding down her skin and creating faint ripples.
"I have done nothing wrong, so why talk of regret?"
Ruan Mei murmured softly, wrapping herself in a snow-white towel and heading toward the laboratory.
Once she reaped the results of her research, she would consider meeting her student.
As for now, her time would prioritize continued research.
After all, she had told AMu—they would not meet until the research was finished.