Herta's gaze never strayed from Ruan Mei.
Her mind was racing, reflecting on this trip to the Xianzhou. Wasn't this supposed to be a date?
How did it feel more like running errands for the Xianzhou?! And dealing with that headache-inducing Lingsha.
And what about her sleeve pendant? How much had Ruan Mei completed? What did it even look like? How did it compare to Asta's starry sleeve pendant?
Noticing Herta's lingering stare, Ruan Mei furrowed her brow.
"Herta. Look at Bailu over there."
Herta blinked and turned to look at Bailu. The girl had abandoned all pretense of etiquette.
One by one, the banquet delicacies vanished before Bailu's gluttony. In no time, an entire table's worth of food had disappeared.
Yukong, Lingsha, Feixiao, and the other guests could only smile awkwardly, occasionally sliding more food toward Bailu.
"Sigh. This one's hopeless. She could qualify as an Emanator of Voracity."
"Though, considering how she was cooped up in the Alchemy Commission, starving half the time... I suppose it's understandable."
Even Ruan Mei, for all her cool elegance, couldn't help but hide a smile behind her hand.
"This is the true essence of a banquet. Look at Bailu—genuinely happy. And you?"
Herta bristled.
"What about me?! You expect the great Madam Herta to act like Bailu?! Preposterous. Absolutely impossible."
Ruan Mei offered Herta a mille-feuille cake. Herta turned away, feigning reluctance, but accepted it with barely concealed delight.
She added, with her usual proud aloofness.
"If I get fat, you're taking responsibility."
Ruan Mei smiled faintly.
"Responsibility?"
"Exactly. It's your fault for feeding me so many pastries."
"Back on the blue planet, I never touched this stuff. I never gained weight."
Ruan Mei studied Herta calmly. She could see right through her.
"Then I'll stop giving you preserved pastries from now on."
Herta spun around, flustered.
"I meant—you need to stay by my side. Arrange some suitable exercise for me."
"It's not that I don't want the pastries!!"
Ruan Mei blinked. Herta fell silent. Both geniuses found themselves at a loss for words.
Just then, Yukong approached with clear wine. Seeing them both looking away in silence, she sensed something amiss. Still, she had to ask.
"Madam Ruan Mei, Madam Herta? Is this a bad time for a toast?"
"I need some air."
Herta rose and strode out of the banquet. Ruan Mei accepted the cup from Yukong and drained it.
"Madam Ruan Mei. What is your relationship with Herta?"
Ruan Mei paused for barely three seconds.
"Fellow geniuses of the Genius Society. Colleagues."
Yukong smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Then let me ask you this, Madam Ruan Mei. How long have you known Herta?"
"A few Amber Eras."
Yukong refilled her cup, a bitter smile on her face.
"We foxians live only a few hundred years. Do you know what I regret most in my life?"
Ruan Mei accepted the cup but shook her head.
"Not saving Caiyi?"
At the name, Yukong froze. Then she sighed helplessly.
"When I was young, I yearned for the blue sky and stars. Caiyi and I would pilot starskiffs together, hunting down Abundance remnants. We promised to roam the stars together, free and unbound."
"I thought we'd be like that forever. But before I knew it, Caiyi was already drifting away from me. Until death parted us."
Ruan Mei's voice was soft.
"Can you tell me about your past with Caiyi?"
Yukong nodded and closed her eyes. Her thoughts drifted back a hundred years. This time, she held nothing back—revealing even the parts she had omitted when telling Stelle and March 7th.
---
[After Caiyi and Yukong finished repairing their starskiff.]
[Caiyi looked at Yukong expectantly, her eyes shining.]
(If I tell her someone confessed to me, she'll feel threatened. She'll finally confess. She might even—)
Caiyi announced brightly.
"Yukong! Someone confessed to me!"
Yukong froze. Caiyi pressed on.
"Should I accept?"
Yukong, flustered and dazed, replied automatically.
"Up to you. If it makes you happy... I'll support your decision, whatever it is."
The light in Caiyi's eyes dimmed. That wasn't the answer she wanted. Just empty well-wishes.
As Yukong turned away in confusion, Caiyi grabbed her hand, tears streaming.
"Yukong... is there anything you want to say to me?"
"Be happy."
Yukong pulled free and walked away.
---
[The next time they met, Yukong piloted her starskiff, watching from afar as Caiyi, adorned in a phoenix crown and bridal sash, was married.]
[Her heart ached, but she was powerless. She threw herself into hunting Abundance remnants, trying to forget.]
[Another meeting. Jingni was born. Yukong attended the child's full-moon celebration. Caiyi watched her from afar in silence.]
[Yukong stole a glance, then quickly left her gift with the registrar and departed.]
[Their final meeting was on a battlefield, life and death intertwined.]
[The Divine Arrow of the Reignbow Arbiter streaked across the sky. Ruins and wreckage. Scorched earth and lingering smoke. The Xianzhou had won—at a terrible cost.]
[Caiyi lay in Yukong's arms.]
"I'll find a healer, Caiyi. Just hold on."
Caiyi grabbed Yukong's sleeve with her last strength.
"No healer can save anyone struck by the Reignbow Arbiter's arrow. Stay with me. Hold me. Just this once. Please?"
Tears fell from Yukong's eyes, landing on Caiyi's cheek.
Caiyi reached up and wiped them away.
"Yukong... if I had confessed back then... would you have accepted?"
Yukong was silent. Caiyi smiled bitterly.
"The world's prejudice would never have accepted us. And I was afraid of rejection. Afraid of losing even our friendship."
"Sigh. A foxian's life is only a few hundred years. I cared too much about what others thought. I regret it now."
"If I could go back... I'd have the courage to confess. Even if you rejected me. Even if the world cursed me. I wouldn't back down."
Yukong was frantic.
"Caiyi, stop talking. The healer's coming. Just hold on."
Caiyi shook her head.
"Yukong. Live on. Promise me. Find a better foxian than me. Take her to roam the stars."
"I'm sorr—"
Her hand fell. The light in her eyes faded, leaving only Yukong's reflection.
(A/N: This is entirely fictional. Don't take it too seriously.)
---
Yukong's memories and words ceased. Ruan Mei listened quietly to it all.
"So, Yukong. Do you regret it?"
Yukong nodded, a bitter smile on her face.
"If I hadn't been so proud that day... if I had stayed... maybe everything would be different. But there are no ifs in this world."
(A/N: Yukong has a certain quality, how should I put it... reminiscent of a certain Chancellor.)
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TL Note
Bonus Chapter Progress: 37/50