"Hey, you idiot! What are you thinking?"
"The Genius Society members want to do their own thing. Why would the Astral Express get involved in their mess?"
Before Lumina could even speak, March 7th, overhearing Stelle's words, immediately shot her a look that screamed, "Have you gone mad from rummaging through trash cans?"
"If we run into danger, there'll be no turning back, no escape."
The shadows cast by Phantylia and Sunday had left a deep impression on March 7th.
One sought to destroy the entire Luofu Xianzhou, while the other aimed to build a paradise of eternal peace—both were utterly insane. If there hadn't been absolutely no way out, March 7th would never have dared confront them directly.
Those choices had been forced upon them. Now that they had a choice, March 7th was determined to prevent Stelle from dragging the Astral Express into another colossal disaster.
Whatever the Genius Society members were planning, it was bound to be incredibly deep and treacherous. Why would we stick our noses into it?
Besides, why would we deliberately put ourselves in danger when we're perfectly fine as we are?
If we just continue Trailblazing honestly, we won't encounter any trouble, right?
Hmm... As long as we stick to the Trailblaze, we shouldn't encounter any dangerous choices, right?
That's what March 7th thought, silently adding a final point to her reasoning.
After all, the dangers we encounter on our Trailblaze are rarely ones we can choose to face. Just like Phantylia and Sunday—there's no option but to confront them head-on.
"Stelle, Little March is right," Lumina chimed in. Though she knew the Astral Express would inevitably be drawn into such conflicts, she acknowledged March 7th's point for the time being.
If there's no imminent danger, why invite trouble?
Thus, Lumina sided with March 7th this time, gently scolding Stelle.
"Aha ha ha..." If it were just March 7th, Stelle might have argued. But with Sister Lumina agreeing, Stelle knew better than to object.
She scratched the back of her head, offering an awkward but polite smile.
Click—
Just then, the door swung open.
Ruan Mei and Little Swarm emerged, hand in hand.
"Looks like you've had a good chat."
Lumina studied Ruan Mei's expression. Hmm... Still that eternally unchanging, faintly smiling face that revealed nothing of her true emotions.
Lumina's gaze fell on Little Swarm beside Ruan Mei, studying the happy, contented smile on her face. She could more or less guess what had transpired between them in the room earlier.
Finally, they're starting to resemble a father and daughter, Lumina thought, nodding inwardly with satisfaction.
Hmm?
But satisfaction soon gave way to suspicion.
Why did I say, "Finally, they're starting to resemble a father and daughter"? Lumina muttered to herself, feeling as if she had wandered down the wrong path.
If Little Swarm and Ruan Mei were father and daughter, then Lumina and Little Swarm would be sisters.
Does that mean Ruan Mei is... my father too? Lumina pondered.
As she pondered this, something felt off.
Wait, Little Swarm and I aren't really sisters, are we?
Compared to a sisterly relationship, their bond felt more like mother and daughter.
So... what does that make my relationship with Ruan Mei?
But before Lumina could unravel the tangled web of her thoughts, Ruan Mei, holding Little Swarm's small hand, smiled faintly and said, "Mm, I suppose we've cleared up some misunderstandings."
Though Ruan Mei hadn't particularly cared about the minor misunderstanding between herself and Little Swarm, resolving it smoothly was still a welcome development.
-
"Ruan Mei, you've just arrived on the Luofu. You probably don't have a place to stay yet, do you?"
After leaving Little Swarm and March 7th's quarters, Lumina walked down Luofu Street, gazing at the bustling scene before her. As if struck by a sudden thought, she turned to Ruan Mei and asked.
"Hmm, no," Ruan Mei replied, her expression remaining unchanged as she nodded slightly. Her gaze remained fixed straight ahead, making it impossible to discern what she was truly thinking.
"Then would you like to stay with me? I have plenty of beds—you can sleep in whichever one you like."
In contrast to Ruan Mei's unwavering gaze forward, Lumina's eyes were fixed on Ruan Mei.
"Hmm..." Ruan Mei finally turned her head, meeting Lumina's gaze face-to-face.
She's so beautiful!
Though Lumina maintained her composure outwardly, her heart was already lost in Ruan Mei's beauty.
While Ruan Mei's detached, emotionless demeanor—as if indifferent to everything—might strike some as dull, Lumina found it utterly captivating.
But it also depended on the person, on their face.
This demeanor, when placed on Ruan Mei's face, was simply a match made in heaven!
She's truly beautiful, Lumina thought, once again praising Ruan Mei's beauty in her heart.
After offering her silent compliments twice, Lumina gradually calmed down.
Before Ruan Mei could voice her choice, Lumina spoke first, saying, "Don't worry about disturbing me. My place is quite spacious. March 7th, Little Swarm, and the others often stay overnight there. I wouldn't mind at all."
"Hmm... then I'll take you up on that," Ruan Mei replied. With Lumina's assurance, she had no reason to refuse. Her expression remained its eternally unchanging, indifferent mask as she gave a slight nod and softly agreed to Lumina's suggestion.
"Let's hurry, then. It's crowded here. We should hold hands so we don't get separated."
Having secured Ruan Mei's consent and observing the endless stream of people around them, Lumina casually used this suggestion as an excuse to reach out and firmly grasp Ruan Mei's small hand.
Lumina took a step forward, gently tugging Ruan Mei along as they walked toward her temporary residence on the Luofu.
"Hmm..." Ruan Mei murmured, glancing at Lumina's hand clasping hers.
"Hmm... Ruan Mei, are you bothered by this?" Lumina stopped, turning to look at Ruan Mei, her voice tinged with confusion.
Though she asked, Lumina's small hand remained firmly clasped in Ruan Mei's.
"It's fine. I don't mind," Ruan Mei shook her head, making no attempt to pull away. She stepped closer to Lumina and began walking beside her.
"Let's go."
"Okay." Hearing this, Lumina's heart fluttered with joy, but she maintained a composed expression, nodding and resuming their slow walk toward her residence.
"..."
Holding Lumina's hand and trailing behind her, Ruan Mei lowered her gaze, studying their linked hands. A faint glow flickered in her eyes.
What could she be thinking...?