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At the space station, from afar, Herta spotted a pink figure blocking the corridor ahead—it was Asta.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, she realized something was amiss. Immediately, Herta turned around, intending to take another route.
[March 7th: Ha ha ha, how decisive!]
But after taking only a few steps, urgent footsteps caught up behind her.
With a sigh, Herta stopped, then faced the approaching figure.
Asta caught up to her, her voice tinged with tears, "Herta?!"
Herta hesitated before responding, "...Go ahead, what's wrong now?"
In truth, previously,
Herta had been akin to a mentor and supervisor for Asta, earning her utmost respect.
However, since Su Qing arrived at the space station and they started having meals together frequently, their relationship became closer.
Now, Herta found herself somewhat regretting it, as their bond seemed to have grown too friendly...
I'm not your babysitter! Why do you always come to me for advice on relationship issues?!
But seeing Asta tearful, Herta could only sigh. "Is it about Su Qing again? Go ahead, tell me what happened this time."
[Stelle: hhh, Herta has gotten used to it and can predict these situations now.]
[Sparkle: Lol, I think Herta is just tsundere! She complains but always ends up helping!]
[Herta: I merely performed a simple calculation—assisting her resolves the issue far more efficiently than letting it distract from her work at the space station.]
[Silver Wolf: As everyone knows, a common trait of tsunderes is using seemingly reasonable excuses to mask their embarrassment.]
[Sushang: Silver Wolf understands so well!]
[Sparkle: Wonder why she's so knowledgeable...]
[Stelle: Silver Wolf: Me, the textbook example of tsunderes!]
Asta recounted her experience, mentioning that she had seen a love letter from Himeko to Su Qing.
"Himeko?"
Herta responded, "You mean Himeko, the navigator of the Astral Express? The one who frequently visits the space station?"
Asta nodded with a hint of disappointment, "Yes, I recognize Himeko's handwriting; it matches the love letter."
This revelation genuinely caught Herta off guard.
Himeko was an exceptionally outstanding individual, someone even Herta held in high regard. Upon returning from her Trailblazing journeys, Himeko often brought back intriguing items unseen by Herta herself.
Though somewhat disrespectful towards Asta, the first thought that popped into Herta's mind upon hearing this was...
Well played, Su Qing!
"Herta, do you remember when Su Qing suddenly came into a large sum of money and cleared his debts for ingredients?" Asta brought up the past event. "Himeko seems quite wealthy. I bet Su Qing is being kept by her and whisked away on the train!"
[Qingque: Don't say that! The logic here—sudden debt repayment → boarding the train → Himeko's love letter—from Asta's perspective, it really sounds plausible!]
[Himeko (smiling): If Su Qing were willing to be taken care of by me, I'd naturally welcome it.]
[Silver Wolf: @Himeko, get in line behind me—I'm next!]
[Kafka: ?]
[Kafka: If there's a queue, I should be first.]
[Sparkle: Ha, Kafka wants to repay her fatherly figure, right? Then she indeed deserves to be first!]
Speaking of which...
Herta cleared her throat. "Su Qing returning the money likely isn't due to being taken care of financially. He must have earned it through other means."
Asta blinked her teary, beautiful eyes. "Really? How do you know, Herta?"
Having already investigated, Herta found that Su Qing's novel about demon hunters had indeed become immensely popular. Moreover, it was she herself who had introduced him to the editor earlier.
"...Well, this is based on some judgments I made," Herta hesitated, "It's quite complex to explain."
From the looks of it, Su Qing's swift repayment and departure from the space station were partly thanks to her involvement. It seemed Herta bore some responsibility after all.
Fine then.
This time, she truly dove into these murky waters.
Thus, Herta shifted her mindset, deciding to seriously assist Asta.
After all, wasn't it just about resolving a romantic issue? For a genius, shouldn't such minor problems be easily within reach?
However, at that moment, Herta hadn't fully realized the extent of difficulties and adversaries she would face if she genuinely wanted to help Asta win this love contest.
Even members of the Genius Society might find some of them incredibly challenging...
[Sparkle: Maybe it's even part of the Genius Society!]
[Ruan Mei: ?]
In Herta's office...
Herta got straight to the point, "What about the love letter? Let me see it first."
"Ah? U-um, isn't that not right?" Asta, feeling slightly embarrassed, whispered her defense, "I-I thought it was a love letter from Su Qing to me, so I read it..."
"Mm-hmm, alright, fine."
Herta didn't concern herself with such details; she simply replied, "Then if you don't want to show it, just give me a general summary. Are there any useful pieces of information inside?"
"For instance, when did Himeko start liking Su Qing? How did it happen? Things like that."
Asta provided a rough overview, and upon hearing it, Herta found the situation even more intriguing.
"You mean this occurred during their university days?" asked Herta.
"Yes." Asta also noticed some puzzling aspects, "But how strange, Himeko is clearly older than Su Qing! How could they be studying at the same university together?"
Following the logical thread, Herta suggested, "Perhaps Himeko was pursuing a higher degree at that time."
Asta nodded, finding this explanation reasonable.
[Himeko (thoughtfully): Indeed, from others' perspectives, it would seem that way...]
Having heard the full story, Herta asked, "So, I understand the situation now. What do you plan to do?"
Asta's lip trembled, feeling close to tears again. "I... I'm going to Luofu right away, to find Su Qing and Himeko."
Herta found this peculiar. "Is there a direct flight route from the space station to Luofu?"
Asta replied honestly, "I just purchased a starship and rerouted its course."
[Stelle: Asta:Asta, what's your superpower??]
[Stelle: Asta:I have super wealth.?]
[Seele: Dying of laughter.]
[Qingque: I want that superpower too; then I wouldn't need to go to work.!]
Even Herta was momentarily speechless.
The truly terrifying aspect wasn't merely having money or being decisive.
It was having both wealth and decisiveness combined.
"Hold on for a moment." Sensing the need to stop her impulsiveness, Herta questioned, "Are you planning to fly a starship to Luofu without any prior notice or preparation?"
She pressed further, "What exactly is your plan? What if there's a confrontation with Xianzhou's forces? What if you can't find Su Qing? What if by the time you arrive, he has already left Luofu?"
Asta lowered her head, "I don't know..."
Clearly, as soon as she saw the love letter, she acted on impulse without considering the practicality or potential consequences.
Herta pondered for a moment. "I'll help you devise a plan. For now, abandon this reckless approach."
"Uh... alright then."
Despite their improved relationship, Asta still regarded Herta as a mentor and even somewhat of an idol, readily taking her advice.
Asta asked, "What about the starship I just bought? It seems there's no return policy after payment."
"Hm... Then we can leave it as a guard ship for the space station to deter any future nuisances," replied Herta.
[Stelle: Wait, where did the space station get its guard ships from? Unknown, probably found them by chance.]
At this point, Herta earnestly began advising Asta on how to proceed.
"You need to clarify what exactly happened," said Herta, "such as whether Su Qing accepted Himeko's confession or if they've become a couple."
Upon hearing that Su Qing might have gotten together with Himeko, Asta's expression turned incredulous: ?????
[Sparkle: At the End of All Things - Transformation.]
[Firefly: ???]
Herta continued, "More importantly, you need to think carefully about your next steps and how to handle the situation.
"My suggestion is to devise a plan that brings Su Qing back to the space station first. Once he returns, we can discuss this face-to-face."
"Unlike Luofu's domain, the space station is my stronghold—and yours as well... If all else fails, the starship you purchased should still prove useful."
[Stelle: Wow! Herta doesn't beat around the bush! She plans to lure Su Qing back and strike decisively!]
[Seele: Herta is truly impressive! Always hitting straight at the core of the issue!]
[March 7th: Absolutely! From start to finish, Herta's thinking has been consistently clear!]
Listening to Herta's advice, Asta nodded frequently, agreeing, "That makes sense!"
Recalling her earlier struggle, she had tearfully let Su Qing leave the space station with great difficulty.
After reading the love letter, Asta's mindset changed significantly.
If even Himeko liked Su Qing, it must be incredibly dangerous out there.
This time, upon his return, she couldn't afford to be separated from him again. She vowed to stay with him for her entire life...
[Silver Wolf: Always jumping straight to 'entire life,' quite intense, isn't it?]
[Sparkle: Intense? More like black-hole level!]
And so, Asta decided to call Su Qing via video chat.
When the call connected,
on the other side of the screen, behind Su Qing, was clearly his small shop at Luofu.
[Firefly: It matches up with earlier!]
After exchanging greetings,
Asta couldn't help but smile, resembling a young girl seeing her beloved.
She hesitantly asked, "Su Qing, w-when will you be back? I miss you."
Surprised, Su Qing replied, "Didn't I just leave?"
At that moment,
Sushang's voice and Guinaifen's could be heard nearby, "Hey Shuangshuang, Su Qing seems to be on a call; let's not disturb him!"
Su Qing turned and spoke briefly to them.
Instantly, Asta's smile vanished as if erased by lightning.
There were unfamiliar girls' voices...
And not just one...
Out there, there must be plenty of deceitful women. Su Qing is such a kind person; what if he gets taken advantage of...?
Indeed!!
I should never have let Su Qing go alone! We should always be together, never parting!!!!!
Asta's eyes dimmed, her expression becoming vacant, as a heavy black aura rose behind her.
After exchanging a few words with Sushang, Su Qing turned back to Asta. "Where were we just now... oh, didn't I mention leaving?"
In an instant, Asta transformed her demeanor, returning to normal. She flashed a sweet smile again. "Because I missed you so much, please come back soon, okay?"
[Sushang: Such a swift change!!]
[Silver Wolf: Face Off indeed.]
[Firefly: ?? Su Qing, don't come back! This isn't home!! It'll be dangerous if you do!]
[Jingliu (confused): Does Asta also possess a Demonic Yin Body?]
[Stelle: Looks like it's pretty similar to one!!]
Asta wanted to inquire about Himeko. "Su Qing, how are things going with your train companions..."
Herta shook her head nearby, signaling not to bring up this topic yet, lest they alert their target prematurely.
So, Asta changed her question. "Are you happy at Luofu?"
Considering Su Qing had opened a shop and was exploring culinary delights, his response was naturally: "Happy."
Unable to resist, Asta pressed further, "And compared to being at the space station?"
Su Qing paused for two seconds before replying, "Pretty happy with both."
Asta's expression turned incredulous.
He hesitated!! (sobbing internally)
Su Qing calculated briefly, "Repairing the star rail will take some time. Afterward, there might be additional matters to handle in Luofu."
Silently, Herta mouthed from the side: In-gre-di-ents—
Understanding her hint, Asta said, "But I've spotted many ingredients that interest me; I want to buy them all, yet nobody can help with cooking."
[Stelle: They have such great rapport, working seamlessly together.]
[Bronya: Herta truly becomes their strategist now.]
[Qingque: What kind of household is this? Members of the Genius Society serving as strategists?!]
Su Qing assured them, "I will return. At the earliest, once my affairs in Luofu are concluded, I'll go back."
He didn't find it unusual. Many belongings were stored at the space station, and since the train frequently interacted with it, returning was inevitable.
Asta wanted to urge him more, but Herta shook her head again, indicating that rushing too much could expose their intentions.
Alright...
Asta quickly changed her tone, "Then I'll wait for you. You must, absolutely must, promise to come back!"
Hearing this, Herta placed his hand on his forehead.
The intensity Asta occasionally displayed was indeed hard to correct.
After exchanging a few more words, Herta also leaned forward and asked, "When will you return to make pudding again?"
[Stelle: Enjoying the conversation.]
[Bronya: Herta's focus is unwavering; he just can't stop thinking about Su Qing's puddings, huh? 😜]
Once the call ended,
without even pausing to think, Herta casually suggested, "Before Su Qing comes back, there are many things you can do."
"For example, conduct some investigations. Himeko is a well-known figure, so finding information should be straightforward. Look into when she attended university—was it the same one as Su Qing? And at what point did she develop feelings for him?
"With your resources and connections, these questions should be easily answerable. Himeko isn't someone simple; knowing both yourself and your opponent ensures victory in all battles."
Asta vigorously nodded, jotting down these points in her phone notes.
[Stelle: More and more, I'm realizing how truly impressive Herta is!]
[Herta: Just basic stuff, no need to overreact.]
[Herta: These minor emotional issues can be effortlessly resolved with just one percent of my intellect.]
[Silver Wolf: Hiss... One is incredibly wealthy, and the other is exceptionally intelligent.]
[Silver Wolf: Uh-oh! Why does it feel like together they could pose quite a challenge?!]
[Qingque: Quite a challenge? More like a formidable threat!]
[March 7th: ...Could Asta be about to turn the tables now?]
[Firefly: Ah?]
[Stelle: ? The substitute meal is turning on its master—this is a full-blown rebellion!]
[Seele: What's this madness?! Is the substitute meal trying to become the main course?!]
[Sparkle: Joyous chaos! No substitute should remain content playing second fiddle forever!]
[Sparkle: Asta: Perhaps I too am a fire element, captivated by celestial bodies!]
[Sparkle: Asta: The throne of Himeko shall be mine!]
[Himeko: (Laughs)]
[Himeko: (Composedly)(Gracefully lifting her coffee) Jokes aside, as everyone knows, a substitute meal cannot replace the main course.]
[Qingque: Ha ha ha, even Himeko has resumed drinking her coffee—it indeed seems highly unlikely!]
[Seele: Honestly, imagining Asta pulling off a counterattack is hard.]
[Stelle: Well, she's naturally built for being second-best...]
[Silver Wolf: Can Asta really win? That seems quite unlikely.]
[Silver Wolf: Despite her numerous appearances and screen time, she still falls short compared to Firefly. At least Firefly has some vague affection going for her; Asta hasn't even entered the race.]
[Firefly: ??? Little Silver Wolf, are you complimenting or insulting me?!]
[Kafka: I think at best, Asta might replicate Himeko's Waterloo defeat.]
[Kafka: After all, failing as a substitute romance also counts as being a placeholder.]
[Himeko: ...(hit hard)(suddenly finding the coffee less appealing)]
[Although Asta combined with Herta indeed possesses significant potential,]
[due to Asta's long-standing reputation as a mere placeholder, the impression left on everyone was deeply ingrained. She had even ascended to the throne of "Placeholder Supreme".]
[Consequently, most viewers still believed that Asta stood little chance of victory.]
[March 7th: @Black Swan, now that Asta's segment is over, will there be another new simulation starting soon?]
[Sparkle: ? Has it become routine already?]
[Black Swan: (laughs) With more simulations coming up, I think we can add another segment.]
[Black Swan: For instance, let's check on those who have already participated in previous simulations and see what they're doing.]
[Black Swan: After all, during this time, they might also experience some events with Su Qing, you know~]
[March 7th: Oh, that makes sense! Otherwise, as simulations increase, everyone's screen time may decrease even further!]
[Sparkle: Joyful, fewer scenes with more simulations—what a paradox!]
[Firefly: @Black Swan! Does that mean I'll get some screen time again?!]
[Black Swan: Uh...]
[Firefly: Why are you hesitating?! I've participated in simulations too, right? Isn't that how it works?!]
[Black Swan: You could indeed have screen time, but...]
[Black Swan: Well, for now, let's first see what the next simulation will be.]
[Firefly: We got sidetracked. ??]
[Black Swan: Cough... Next, let me see...]
[Black Swan: After this, it seems to be Fu Xuan's simulation.]
[Qingque (surprised): Who?!?!]
[Fu Xuan: ...Me?]
[Fu Xuan (instantly anticipating trouble): @Stelle, don't you dare shout!]
[But it was too late.]
[Stelle: Mom!]
[Sparkle: Hahahahahaha! I knew it!!]
[Sushang: Enjoying this.]
[Seele: Indeed.]
[Qingque: Absolutely hilarious!]
[Guinaifen: This has practically become a recurring segment.]
[Sparkle: But @Stelle, come on, calling Kafka "Himeko Jingliu" is one thing, but "Fu Xuan"? Is that even nutritious enough?]
[Fu Xuan: Masked Fool, what do you mean by that?! Explain yourself!]
[Sparkle: Just joking, no deep meaning; just some playful banter.]
[Sushang: Ha ha, didn't Stelle call Silver Wolf something similar before?]
[Sparkle: Silver Wolf was more like a stepmom, and there's also Kafka.]
[Sushang: ???]
[Bronya: You guys have gotten so chaotic, I can barely follow anymore.]
[Kafka: It's not messy at all.]
[Kafka: Su Qing + me + Silver Wolf + Stelle - isn't that a perfect family of four?]
[Silver Wolf: How unusual, willing to coexist with me now?]
[Kafka (smiling): @Silver Wolf, you take care of Stelle while Su Qing and I enjoy our time as a couple. Sounds ideal, doesn't it?]
[Silver Wolf: ??? Get lost, seriously?!]
[Stelle: I'm fine with it! I want to play games with my second mom!]
[Silver Wolf: Who asked you?!]
[Firefly: What about me? We're all Stellaron Hunters; why am I excluded from this fun? 😕]
[Stelle: @Firefly (tentatively)... Mom?]
[Firefly: Hiss!! (experiencing a peculiar sensation)]
[Seele: Hahahaha! These exchanges are killing me with laughter!!]
[Qingque: Indeed, Joy, adding more people just makes it increasingly chaotic.]
[Sparkle: The more, the merrier! I love the fascinating dynamics when everyone gets involved. 😄]
[Fu Xuan: ...Do as you please; it has nothing to do with me.]
[Fu Xuan: Let's set aside these absurdities for now; there's something more concerning.]
[Fu Xuan: @Black Swan, speaking of simulations, what kind could I possibly be part of?]
[Black Swan: (glancing briefly) Seems like... Fu Lilian?]
[Fu Xuan: Ah? What does that mean?!]