"She was nowhere to be seen before the Stellaron was dealt with, but as soon as it was, she reached out her big hand. Unbelievable." Stelle couldn't stop complaining about such behavior.
Qi Zhimu, however, was lost in thought.
For certain reasons, he was familiar with the Corporation's ways.
If Jarilo-VI could bring enough profit to the Corporation, the people there would likely have to make a choice.
As long as the methods of the people sent by the Corporation weren't as despicable as the guy who occupied Boothill's hometown, a Galaxy Ranger wouldn't need to meddle in others' business.
Not waiting for a response from Qi Zhimu, Stelle didn't mind; she was simply sharing her thoughts.
She switched to her gossip face.
"Hey, hey, Zhimu, can I ask you something personal?"
"Something personal about me?"
"It's just... how did you end up falling for Herta? Let me state first that I mean no harm, but Herta's do-as-she-pleases personality is really... hard to describe. Isn't it stressful being with her?"
Qi Zhimu was startled for a moment. Thinking of their "fights" at night, he answered subconsciously.
"There is pressure... cough, that's not the point. Strictly speaking, we are mutually in love. We've gone through hardships and redeemed each other. Her feelings for me outweigh her personality; she doesn't treat me the way she treats outsiders."
"I see," Stelle realized.
Her biggest doubt was resolved, but she didn't pry into what hardships they shared or how they redeemed each other.
One must know when to stop and not overstep others' boundaries.
"Thanks for helping with the injury check. Since everything's fine, I'll go help her test the simulated universe. Bye-bye."
"See you later."
Not long after Stelle left, it was time for Qi Zhimu to get off work.
After clocking out, he took off his white lab coat and prepared to return to Azure Star first. Unexpectedly, he bumped into a visitor who was both a surprise and yet not entirely unexpected.
"Yelena..."
No, you actually came to the Space Station?
Qi Zhimu was stunned.
Yelena wasn't doing much better. She didn't expect Qi Zhimu to still be on the Space Station; she thought he had run off with the Astral Express.
Qi Zhimu did this kind of thing often. Many times, after completing a commission, he would disappear before the next day. She had long since grown used to it.
On this visit to Herta Space Station, she hadn't considered for a second that Qi Zhimu would still be here.
Even more so, she hadn't expected him to be wearing the medical staff member uniform of Herta Space Station.
"You... when did you become a doctor? Do you have a medical license?" Topaz's eyes widened.
"Listen to yourself."
Qi Zhimu calmly avoided a truck-like charge from a Warp Trotter and said solemnly:
"A mercenary who doesn't know medicine isn't a good Galaxy Ranger."
"...I say, you wouldn't happen to have taken a dangerous job to be an undercover agent at the Space Station, scouting for secret intelligence about the Geniuses, would you?"
Yelena tucked away her shocked expression and replaced it with one of concern.
Qi Zhimu saw through her performance at a glance.
"Has no one ever told you that you're not good at acting? I never take jobs as paparazzi."
"You really do know me well. I knew we had good chemistry. Little brother, do you want to live off a woman?" Yelena changed her expression again and raised an eyebrow at Qi Zhimu.
"Even if I wanted to eat it, you'd have to get in line... wait, no! I, Qi Zhimu, would rather die, die out there, jump off the Space Station platform, than eat a single bite of 'soft rice'!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, listen to you being all righteous."
Yelena rolled her eyes at Qi Zhimu, stopped bickering, and hugged the Warp Trotter that had returned to her head looking aggrieved after missing its charge.
"You're the only person besides me that Numby is willing to get close to. I trust its judgment, you know. Don't go back on your word later."
"I definitely won't."
"Is that so? Then when will you finally retire and buy a new planet to call home?"
"No need to buy one anymore."
It was no longer necessary. Not to mention the future, right now, he had a home.
A cozy little... well, a cozy big villa with Ms. Herta.
Aside from the villa in Fog City, there was a tower at the edge of the galaxy no smaller than a planet that belonged to Ms. Herta alone.
How could being mutually in love be called 'eating soft rice'? He had to sternly denounce such nonsense born of envy and jealousy.
Yelena shot him a suspicious look.
"No need to buy one anymore?"
Those simple words could be interpreted in many ways.
First, giving up. But becoming a Ranger and picking up his old trade for side jobs didn't seem like giving up. He wasn't the type to just slack off.
Second, his goal had changed; he felt there was no need for one person to live on such a large planet.
Third... he was already being provided for. But this seemed the most unlikely.
If he wanted to live off someone, why would he ignore her, the best option?
She was now at the P45 rank in the Interstellar Peace Corporation. In the entire universe, not many could reach this position.
If Qi Zhimu wanted it, let alone one habitable planet, even if it were a hundred times that, she wouldn't feel the slightest bit of regret giving it to him.
So, it wasn't very likely.
The guy in front of her who loved to play dumb had a stomach of iron; he liked to chew on the hard stuff, diving into wherever was dangerous and taking on the toughest jobs, saying the bigger the wind, the more expensive the fish.
Though it was undeniable that Qi Zhimu indeed had the capability.
"Alright, small talk aside. Since you're now a Space Station staff member, you're half a host. Shouldn't you invite me for a cup of tea according to your hometown's customs?"
Hearing this, Qi Zhimu thought back to Stelle, who was about to help Ms. Herta test the simulated universe.
Thinking that Ms. Herta wouldn't be home for dinner so soon, he agreed and led Topaz to the Space Station's VIP reception area.
As one of the Ten Stonehearts under the Emanator of Preservation, she counted as a VIP.
Tea was served, and Qi Zhimu casually started a topic.
"Last time you said you were coming to the Space Station to collect a debt, you weren't serious, were you?"
"Of course I was serious. And the debt is owed by Ms. Herta herself."
"Huh?"
"Are you surprised? Scientific research is very expensive. Ms. Herta purchased a large amount of top-tier hardware a while ago, and her accounts were maxed out."
Topaz shook her head and sighed, spreading her hands.
"Her accounts have been frozen for some time now. So, wasn't I, the non-performing asset liquidation expert, sent over?"
"There's more to it, isn't there?"
Others might not know Yelena, but how could he not?
This child lost her family at the age of ten, and from the time she was rescued until she became an adult, he was the one who raised her.
In a sense, he was a man who could be Yelena's father. It would be strange if he didn't understand his 'daughter.'
"I know the value of a Genius. Even if the debt Herta owes isn't repaid, the Corporation would never say anything. Your true purpose in coming to the Space Station involves Corporation secrets that are inconvenient to tell me?"
Yelena gave a helpless smile: "As expected, I can't hide anything from you. It's not exactly inconvenient. My visit to the Space Station, aside from collecting the debt along the way, has two main reasons."
"The secondary reason is to head to a certain planet to clear bad debts, and I just happen to pass through here."
"The primary reason is to negotiate with Ms. Herta to facilitate a collaborative alliance between the Geniuses and the Corporation."
"Since #22 Lirta and #56 Elias Salas, there hasn't been a Genius willing to work hand-in-hand with the Corporation."
Qi Zhimu raised an eyebrow: "So the Corporation set its sights on Ms. Herta."
Yelena nodded: "Yes. Mr. Screwllum is the ruler of Planet Screwllum, so his status makes it inconvenient."
"The Corporation thought it over and realized there weren't many choices left. After some consideration, the relatively easiest one to talk to is Ms. Herta. Besides, she is an Emanator of Erudition, which carries more weight."
"If she sees the two of us sitting here, there's a chance your primary mission might fall through..."
Qi Zhimu's expression was strange.
Yelena tilted her head in confusion. Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice came from behind.
"You two seem to be having a very pleasant conversation..."
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