Chapter 118: Try to Cultivate Life!

"After that... Gu Tang returned to the space station after completing his training, and the first thing he did was come to settle accounts with me..." Herta's face turned flushed as if she was recalling the wonderful day, rubbing her thighs together. "It was just marvelous. None of my tricks worked, and all the technology I took pride in was crushed by sheer brute force."

Ruan Mei raised an eyebrow. "Am I seeing things, Herta? Are you... getting excited right now?"

"Ruan Mei!" Herta suddenly rushed over and held Ruan Mei's face in her hands.

"——!" Ruan Mei was startled.

Not by Herta's sudden movement, but by the terrifying smile on her face.

"Have you ever envied those who completely fail? To see something you've spent all your time and effort crafting get ruthlessly destroyed!" Herta panted heavily, staring intently into Ruan Mei's eyes. "Isn't it just tragic and painful? Your pride shattered to pieces, and life becomes meaningless!"

A few drops of saliva dripped from the corner of Herta's mouth onto Ruan Mei's smooth, fair thigh.

For the first time, Ruan Mei thought that coming to the space station might have been a mistake.

Even when she was previously knocked away by Gu Tang, she didn't think so.

"But... it's also sweet..." Herta slowly released her hold on Ruan Mei's cheeks and covered her face with her hands, hiding her expression. "That unreasonable, out-of-control feeling, when everything slips away in an instant... it's just wonderful..."

"......" Ruan Mei stared at Herta in silence.

Herta lowered her hands, revealing a blissful expression, tears and saliva flowing together down her face.

"When Gu Tang grabbed me by the throat, I trembled like a helpless little girl, shouting out with excitement..." Her fingers quivered, as if a strong sense of pleasure coursed through her body. "Please... spare me..."

Ruan Mei felt a chill running up her spine.

She admitted she was terrified.

She never expected her old friend, who she hadn't seen in years, to become so...

So... open with her desires.

...

...

A few minutes later—

"Ahem, it seems I got a bit too excited earlier, my apologies..." Herta also seemed to notice something inappropriate, trying hard to calm her expression down.

However, the clothes stained with various fluids couldn't be cleaned, so Herta simply switched to a different puppet body.

"And now, it's back to the current situation, right?" Ruan Mei slowly said.

Herta nodded. "Yes, after Gu Tang finished his training and returned to the space station, he still felt guilty towards Asta. Although Asta likes Gu Tang, she is also angry about his sudden departure from the space station. The two of them have returned to the original awkward atmosphere. As for me... I'm still the same as always, but after Gu Tang discovered that punishing me only excites me more, he rarely takes action anymore, which is a pity."

"Phew... you three really are something else," Ruan Mei closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

"So, what do you think, Ruan Mei? Would you like to try pursuing Gu Tang? Maybe you could also become one of the chains. I'll reward you handsomely." Herta extended an invitation quite directly.

"No need, I don't want to get caught up in your heavy, twisted emotions," Ruan Mei firmly declined.

Herta rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about? I even allow Gu Tang to flirt around and wander all over the universe. How is that heavy?"

"If you say so, then that's what it is," Ruan Mei said as she headed towards the door of Herta's office.

Herta crossed her arms and watched her back. "Are you leaving already?"

Ruan Mei nodded as she walked. "Yes, I'm going to find that man. After hearing your description, I want to see... what will happen if he clashes with my experiments."

The space station's door opened.

Ruan Mei left the office.

Herta looked at the closed door with a smile. "Then good luck to you, Ruan Mei."

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"The problem with you is that you think too much and do too little!" Stelle was scolding Asta.

Asta looked troubled. "I know I'm not very straightforward... but there are a lot of concerns on my side too..."

"Throw all those concerns away!" Stelle suddenly rushed over and held Asta's face in her hands.

She stared directly into Asta's eyes. "Just focus on your goal!"

Asta seemed a bit dazed. "Focus only on my goal... But..."

"No buts!"

"But..."

"No excuses!"

Stelle continued to speak to Asta with words of encouragement, weakening her resolve.

Yes, weakening.

She wanted Asta to submit to her desires, rather than resist and restrain herself with willpower.

"As long as you achieve your goal! Yes, the result! The world only remembers the result! Show your true feelings from the depths of your heart, whatever they may be; listen to the deepest emotions in your soul!" Stelle shouted.

"True feelings... true feelings..." Asta repeated, her eyes somewhat unfocused.

Then, Stelle slowly let go of her. "Alright, go ahead, Asta. Show Gu Tang your true feelings!"

Asta, still in a bit of a daze, left the room.

Stelle remained in place and looked at her hands. "Could it be... I have a talent for hypnosis?"

...

...

--------------------------

Gu Tang's door opened.

Ruan Mei walked in.

"You're here." Gu Tang turned and looked at her with a calm expression.

Ruan Mei bowed her head in apology. "I apologize for my rudeness earlier, Mr. Gu Tang."

Then, she took out a delicate gift box. "This is a plum blossom cake I made myself. I hope you'll accept it."

"Plum blossom cake..." Gu Tang accepted the gift box.

Ruan Mei nodded. "Yes, it's my favorite pastry. Ten grams of sugar cubes, a dried salted plum flower... Just a small piece, and its fragrance will linger between your lips and teeth, with an endless aftertaste. I hope you like it too."

Gu Tang nodded, putting away the gift box. "Not bad. Alright, I accept your apology."

This time, Ruan Mei extended her hand and introduced herself. "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Ruan Mei, mainly focusing on life sciences research."

Gu Tang shook her hand briefly. "I'm Gu Tang, and I research whatever piques my interest."

After some friendly exchanges, Ruan Mei explained her purpose.

"Actually, I came this time mainly because I want you to help with my experiment..." Ruan Mei said slowly.

Gu Tang seemed intrigued. "Go on."

"I borrowed Creation No. 29, the [Phased Spirit Fire] from Silvar of the Herta Collection, to attempt life cultivation on the space station. In my imagination, these would be... new forms of life born as geniuses," Ruan Mei furrowed her brows, appearing troubled. "But something went wrong. They developed consciousness, but it had nothing to do with genius."

"Failed experiments are pretty normal; I fail all the time," Gu Tang said casually.

"My free-range education seems to have backfired. During a leak, a few newly cultivated little lives escaped and are roaming around the space station," Ruan Mei sighed. "I hope you can help me recover these little lives and check if there is any potential in them that I haven't discovered... Don't worry, I'll reward you generously."

"Okay, leave it to me." Gu Tang patted his chest.

Ruan Mei was taken aback.

She hadn't expected Gu Tang to agree so easily. She thought she would have to pay a high price.

In reality, Gu Tang's thoughts were simple.

"I've been tinkering with all kinds of machinery before... but now that I think about it, cultivating life sounds pretty interesting too." Gu Tang looked eager to try.