Chapter 10: You Can't Hide the Intent to Kill
Once the matter was settled, Esther first greeted Ruan Mei and then took the initiative to greet White Heng:
"Hello, I'm the station manager of this space station. You can call me Esther."
"Hello, White Heng," Esther said with a smile.
White Heng shook her hand briefly. However, Esther, who came from a privileged background and had been exposed to various collections of books since childhood, felt a sense of familiarity with the name White Heng.
White Heng... White Heng... Why does this name seem so familiar? But she couldn't recall where she had seen this name, so she put the thought aside for the moment.
"You seem to be having a good chat," Black Tower, who had just returned after the bill was settled, naturally came back to Esther's side.
Perhaps she had been too focused on the tea and attending to Ruan Mei's other matters during the meeting, so she had not had the chance to properly observe White Heng.
Returning to him, Black Tower placed her slender fingers on her chin and examined White Heng from top to bottom with her deep violet eyes. She then spoke in a nonchalant tone:
"You do seem like a good experimental subject."
"I'll take that as a compliment," White Heng replied gracefully.
Black Tower turned to Ruan Mei and teasingly asked, "Ruan Mei, is this guy now your subordinate?"
"I advise you not to set your sights on him, Black Tower," Ruan Mei's tone was gentle, yet it carried an underlying firmness.
"Don't be so tense. Even outside the simulated universe, I wouldn't cause trouble," Black Tower tossed her silver-brown hair with a confident air. "Oh, you gave him that sword, didn't you?"
As she spoke, Black Tower noticed the silver cube in White Heng's hand. Though it appeared to be just an old, weathered sword modified by Ruan Mei, Black Tower had previously sought Ruan Mei's permission to study it. During her research, she discovered that the sword seemed to have been blessed with 'preservation' and contained traces of 'destruction' related to star cores.
Such an artifact, even in the treasure-laden Black Tower space station, was a rare find.
"I previously proposed exchanging it for other curiosities in the space station, even offering a loss-making deal, but you wouldn't part with it. Now, you just give it away to someone else?" Black Tower's tone carried a hint of reproach.
Ruan Mei replied indifferently, "This was originally his sword. I was merely returning it to its rightful owner."
"Oh?" Black Tower squinted her violet eyes and looked back at White Heng. "Hey, I want to make a deal with you. If you give me the sword, I'll let you choose three weapons from the space station's curiosities. How about it? It's not a losing deal for you."
The silver cube floated in White Heng's palm. He looked at Black Tower with a smirk and said, "You should beg me."
"I'm begging you, let's make the exchange," Black Tower said without hesitation.
"No deal," White Heng said, refusing outright.
"You..." Black Tower didn't mind begging but was taken aback by White Heng's shamelessness. The intent to kill could not be hidden, and Black Tower's gaze towards White Heng took on this meaning.
Of course, Black Tower's expression was more like someone who desperately wanted the sword but couldn't get it, showing frustration and despair.
White Heng understood the need for moderation, so he spoke up again, "If Ms. Black Tower is willing to cooperate with the Astronomical Society, I can lend you the sword for research."
Hearing this, Black Tower paused, her anger fading as she tapped her fingers. "If it's research with both the person and the sword, I could accept that."
"Deal..."
Just as he was about to finish his agreement, White Heng felt a foot stepping on his own.
He looked down slowly and saw a delicate foot in high-heeled shoes resting on his foot. The shoe's front had a flower carving, and the bare, white ankle was visible from the heel.
"What's wrong, my dear assistant?" Ruan Mei tilted her head slightly, her brows arched, with an innocent expression.
"Uh..." White Heng felt speechless. After a moment of silence, he said, "Ms. Ruan Mei, I need to tell you that your action could be seen as a form of persuasion for those with special preferences. Unfortunately, I am one of them."
Ruan Mei's expression froze slightly. She bit her lip, withdrew her foot, and looked at White Heng with a strange expression.
With that sorted, White Heng turned back to Black Tower and said, "Ms. Black Tower, I am now Ms. Ruan Mei's experimental assistant. If you can persuade Ms. Ruan Mei, I can agree to your request."
White Heng decided to pass the buck on this issue.
After receiving this response, Black Tower's violet eyes blinked as she seemed to understand something. She then agreed with a smile: "Alright, I, Black Tower, as one of the creators of the simulated universe, agree to establish a cooperative relationship with the Astronomical Society."
...
The visit to the Black Tower space station was quite rewarding for the Astronomical Society and the company. Charles, who had been researching curiosities in the collection room, changed his opinion about White Heng, whom he had previously considered too young, upon learning that both Ruan Mei and Black Tower had decided to cooperate with the Astronomical Society.
On the way back to the starship, as they prepared to part ways after a brief reunion, Ruan Mei accompanied White Heng.
Standing outside the starship, Ruan Mei handed White Heng a package of salted plum cakes she had prepared in advance and said, "I won't be in the space station for a while. If you want to contact me, log into the 'Super Frequency Remote Sensing' chat channel. Here's my account. Make sure to note it down."
"Hmm, so..."
"Of course, I will also return to the space station or visit the Astronomical Society regularly. At those times, you can always come to me for a physical check-up, my dear assistant."
"I understand. So, can you raise your..."
"I can tell from your expression that you must have stayed up late last night. Make sure to rest well and don't overwork yourself."
"Thank you for your concern. So, A-Ruan, your..."
Ruan Mei lowered her gaze slightly, pointed her toes, and said, "Didn't you say this is also a form of persuasion?"
"Less talk of sentiment, more of physical discomfort," White Heng said seriously. "Also, I suggest you avoid wearing shoes next time."