Lucian gave a light cough. "Speaking of which, today is the Moon-Chasing Festival. Zhezhi, aren't you going to Taoyuan Vale to celebrate?"
Zhezhi's wandering thoughts were interrupted, and she immediately felt ashamed of the improper ideas that had just crossed her mind.
Lowering her head shyly, Zhezhi replied, "I'm looking for inspiration for my next painting. I was planning to go once the Moon-Chasing Festival officially begins..."
Lucian smiled. "I see. Have you found any inspiration yet?"
Zhezhi shook her head slightly. "Not yet..."
"...Oh, right. Mr. Lucian mentioned earlier that you were looking for someone..."
Lucian nodded faintly, returning to the main topic. "We're searching for a researcher named 'Xiaosheng.' Do you happen to know them, Zhezhi?"
He didn't hold much hope, given Zhezhi's personality—she likely didn't know many people.
Sure enough, after racking her brains, Zhezhi sighed. "I'm sorry, I don't know anyone named 'Xiaosheng.' I wish I could help, but my social circle is quite small—mostly just clients who commission paintings... I'm really sorry..."
"Still... I'll keep an eye out for you..."
It was clear that Zhezhi genuinely wanted to assist Lucian, but when it came to finding people, she truly was powerless.
Lucian smiled reassuringly. "It's alright. In that case, we'll ask around elsewhere."
"O... okay..."
Zhezhi glanced up at Lucian before lowering her head again.
Are they leaving already...?
Lucian and Rover exchanged a look and were about to turn away when—
Suddenly, as if mustering courage from nowhere, Zhezhi called out, "U-um...!"
Lucian paused. "Hmm?"
Rover narrowed her eyes, instantly on guard.
After a moment of hesitation, Zhezhi took a deep breath and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum. "I'd like to invite Mr. Lucian... to be my model..."
Lucian: "I think that's fine."
Rover: "I think that's not fine."
They spoke simultaneously. Lucian glanced at Rover, then chuckled awkwardly, massaging her snowy shoulders placatingly.
"Rover, how about letting Zhezhi paint two portraits? You've seen the one hanging in my room, right? That was done by Zhezhi! Her skills are amazing. We could have her paint another one for your room—what do you think?"
Rover smirked. "Not a bad idea..."
"But who knows what might happen between you two?"
Lucian straightened his expression solemnly. "I swear on Abby's name! If anything happens between me and Zhezhi, may Abby never eat anything delicious again!"
Abby, covered in question marks: "Wait, what?"
Seeing that Rover didn't object further, Lucian grinned. "Zhezhi, are we doing this here?"
Zhezhi frantically waved her hands. "N-no... After the Moon-Chasing Festival begins, in Taoyuan Vale... would that be alright...?"
Lucian nodded. "Sure. Just make sure to capture my heroic charm."
Zhezhi nodded eagerly. "Of course... Last time was too rushed—I only painted from memory. This time, I'll do my best!"
Lucian gave a faint nod. "Then we'll take our leave for now. We still have business to attend to."
After parting ways with Zhezhi, the group arrived at Huaxu Academy. Before Lucian could even push the door open to ask Baizhi if she knew anything about Xiaosheng, they overheard a conversation between two researchers—a man and a woman—standing by the entrance.
The female researcher, named Baizhe, sighed. "I haven't slept properly in a week. Every night, my mind just spirals... I can't take it anymore..."
"Have you checked the forums? Recently, a trending term popped up on Jinya Forum—something called 'Late-Night Emotional Syndrome.'"
Xiang-LEE chimed in: "Query: 'Late-Night Emotional Syndrome.' Slang term referring to the state of modern youths losing passion for life due to excessive work and life pressures."
"Symptoms include social withdrawal, work aversion, nighttime insomnia, depressive moods, etc."
"Additionally, analysis shows an 87% correlation between this term's manifestations and the timing/emotional state of Xiaosheng's wish."
Lucian frowned. "Late-Night Emotional Syndrome? Isn't that just 'emo hour'?"
Rover blinked. "What hour?"
Abby shrugged. "Is the treasure syrup not sweet enough? Are the hero plays not entertaining? How does this syndrome even exist? Truly baffling..."
Researcher Baizhe continued, "Yesterday, colleagues from other departments even used this condition to request leave from the director. They wrote stuff like, 'The world is so beautiful—every day brings new sorrows.'"
"Ugh, I envy them. They can just take leave whenever. Unlike us—if the research project doesn't yield results, who has the mood to sleep?"
The male researcher, Shifan, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Is that so? I don't browse the forums much. This term... might just be because everyone's under too much stress lately."
He smiled reassuringly. "Relax and get some proper rest. Leave the rest to me. Don't overthink it—keep smiling, and good luck will follow."
Baizhe sighed. "Ah... as expected of you, still so energetic at a time like this. Anyway, I'm going to nap. The rest is up to you."
With that, she shuffled away unsteadily.
Rover whispered into Lucian's ear, "Do you think that female researcher could be Xiaosheng?"
Lucian nodded slightly. "Possibly. But we can't rule out the male researcher either."
Rover tilted her head. "Why? He seems so upbeat."
Lucian pondered briefly. "People with depressive emotions are complex."
"Some appear perfectly fine on the surface—always cheerful. But when no one's watching, they break down in private..."
Rover gasped. "It's that complicated? How do you know so much about it?"
Lucian smirked. Well, I am an internet veteran, after all...
Just then, Shifan approached them. "Um... were you listening to our conversation earlier? Is there something you need?"
Lucian nodded. "We have a few questions for you."
Shifan studied them, then suddenly exclaimed, "Wait—aren't you Lucian, the Intelligence Officer? And... the Rover who absorbs Tacet Discords with her body?"
Lucian confirmed, "That's right."
Shifan looked surprised, then puzzled. "To think I'd run into you here... What did you want to ask? About Tacet Discords? Or Echoes...? No, never mind..."
Lucian cut straight to the point. "Do you know Xiaosheng?"
As he spoke, he watched Shifan's expression closely.
Shifan paused for a split second before smiling. "...Xiaosheng? Quite a common name. But I haven't heard of anyone by that name in the Academy."
Lucian noted the hint of guilt in his tone. Shifan continued, "Do you... have any other details? Maybe I can help look."
Xiang-LEE interjected again: *"Retrieving 417 related entries with 'Late-Night Emotional Syndrome' and 'Xiaosheng' as parallel keywords."*
"Content includes forum posts under the username 'Xiaosheng,' such as: 'Today was another shitty day'"
Before Xiang-LEE could finish, Shifan hastily interrupted, "Wait, wait! Randomly analyzing someone's behavior violates the Red Line Clause of the Machine Protocol!"
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "What's the rush?"
Shifan froze. "...Huh?"