Chapter 100: He Kui is a Pervert

"Finally ready to start again?" Suli plopped down next to He Kui as if she were at home.

"It's been on hold long enough."

"What brought you over here?"

"I was out on the balcony when I saw you waddling out like a fat man."

"Dangerous."

"You say it's dangerous, but you still came out. Didn't Miss Lacus say she understood your situation recently?"

"It's still not ideal."

As He Kui spoke, he started up the small MS in the testing area.

The impact resistance test was simple, involving ordinary stones being shot at the machine to check feedback.

As a low-performance mining machine, it didn't need overly strong defense capabilities.

According to the contract, the goal was to meet certain strength standards without compromising performance while minimizing costs.

Machines working inside the colony didn't require reinforced cockpit glass.

However, those operating in outer space environments would be equipped with reinforced glass.

Modular design for the cockpit further reduced costs.

"Aren't you here to help?"

He Kui glanced at Suli, who was just watching him without any intention of assisting.

"Mm."

Suli nodded, her unfocused gaze fixed on He Kui as he adjusted parameters.

Sometimes she felt like He Kui was drifting further away from her.

He had three medals now and was a hotshot in the design bureau.

It seemed like just yesterday when he worked under her.

Her heart filled with uncertainty.

If she liked him, why not fight for it?

Lacus' words from last night echoed in her mind.

Those words kept her awake, making her feel like she could hear unmentionable sounds through the thick walls that she shouldn't have been able to hear.

Though she knew Lacus was partly exploiting their friendship, she couldn't stop herself from thinking this way.

Once certain thoughts take root in your mind, they're hard to erase.

Did he like her?

She wanted to know but couldn't bring herself to ask.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing no response, He Kui started to turn his head, and Suli felt a sudden impulse. In that fleeting moment, her body leaned forward.

In the next instant, their lips met in a kiss orchestrated by Suli.

She felt a jolt of electricity at the point of contact, coursing through her body.

He Kui was stunned, but seeing no resistance in Suli's eyes, only a hint of intoxication, he instinctively wanted to deepen the kiss.

But this intimate gesture shattered the harmony between them.

Suppressing her rising breath, Suli, snapping back to reality, pushed He Kui away.

"Idiot! Pervert!"

Suli's outburst rained down on He Kui.

Yet her playful reproach was almost harmless, her soft, proud words and shy demeanor, combined with her fidgeting fingers, evoked more affection than anything else.

"Accident."

"That was my first kiss! And who even—"

Who accidentally sticks their tongue out during a kiss?

He Kui really was a pervert!

But too embarrassed to continue, Suli fell silent.

"Sorry."

He had noticed Suli leaning forward deliberately.

But saying it out loud would complicate matters.

And it was true that he had initiated with his tongue.

"No next time!"

Flustered, Suli let the matter drop.

But there was a change.

A virtual frame appeared before He Kui:

**[Suli Favorability: 130]**

**[Unlocked Academic: Monophasic Wave Shield Decision Support AI (0/10000)]**

Though it was unlocked, it gave him some relief. At least his hypothesis was correct; otherwise, slowly developing a system would have been a nightmare.

The armor impact test required two more days and the scrapping of two small MS units.

But with investors backing him, he didn't mind.

Soon, the recruitment day at the Hailan Design Bureau arrived. As a director and a graduate of December City Military Academy, He Kui attended the recruitment fair at the bureau's plaza.

This was the same recruitment fair he had joined the previous year. Time flew, and now he stood here a year later.

The HR manager from before was gone, reportedly reassigned to Clarke Design Bureau after the Zala faction uncovered their unsavory dealings.

He Kui didn't care much. Seeing him or not made little difference; revenge wasn't on his agenda.

"Why are you always here at every recruitment fair?"

He Kui asked, exasperated, looking at Suli beside him.

"Because I'm good-looking~"

"True enough."

Today, Suli was meticulously dressed, shedding some of her youthful innocence for added allure.

"…It's your turn to speak."

Seeing the staff signal him, Suli nudged He Kui's side with her elbow, ignoring his teasing remarks.

Responding, He Kui and Suli stepped up to the bureau's entrance.

"Hello everyone, I'm He Kui from the Beam Group. First, on behalf of the Hailan Design Bureau Examination Committee, I extend a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all applicants."

A pause in his speech was met with applause from the audience.

"In this rapidly changing new era, our Hailan Design Bureau faces greater challenges. But I hope you all understand that we are a crucial force driving PLANT's technological industry and development."

He Kui's speech wasn't long—mostly formalities—and he soon stepped down.

"This year, there are twelve A-rated potentials and over forty B-rated ones. There are truly more geniuses this year than in previous years."

Suli compared today's candidate information with the workshop assessment below.

"Indeed."

"It's a pity Zala's son and his friends enlisted. Otherwise, with Zala's talent and connections, he could've become a director."

"As a pro-war faction, the Zala faction wouldn't keep him in the rear."

The more achievements Athrun amassed at the front, the more the Zala faction's popularity soared.

They were determined to push Athrun forward to counter Lacus' popularity.

"True, but I didn't expect even our mayor to let his son enlist."

Whether this indicated that Armory was leaning towards the Zala faction was anyone's guess.

But these matters were for the bigwigs of the factions to worry about. He Kui was indifferent.

However, Athrun and others joining the military reminded He Kui that he was far from safe. He couldn't let down his guard on money or power.

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