Chapter 11
He was a short-lived species, unlike her, who resided on some remote planet tucked away in a forgotten corner of the universe that had never known civilization.
The spaceship hatch opened. Yu Qingtu stepped out at a leisurely pace. Her lazy gaze swept across the area before settling on the figure standing at the manor entrance ahead.
"Finally seeing you come out of the lab. Did you sense my visit and specially come out to welcome me?"
"I just came out for some fresh air." Ruan Mei's expression remained indifferent, her voice flat.
"No matter what, I'm still Genius Society Member #55. You're really making me lose face here."
"The micro-expressions on your facial muscles tell me you don't actually care about so-called face. Or perhaps 'not caring about appearances' would describe it better?"
"…"
Yu Qingtu sighed helplessly and got straight to the point.
"Any progress on the research?"
That blasphemous, life-defying forbidden project.
People always had things they revered. Yu Qingtu herself had things she was indifferent to and didn't particularly respect life.
But at least she would never do something like this.
Of course, she also wouldn't interfere with others.
"Not yet." Ruan Mei replied calmly. "I've hit a bottleneck for now."
"I mean, are you really going to make me stand here talking?"
"Follow me."
Ruan Mei turned and walked into the manor, leading Yu Qingtu to the back courtyard.
Before Yu Qingtu could speak, Ruan Mei casually removed her large white coat and quickly shed the rest of her clothes.
"You came at just the right time. The fresh pastries will be ready in ten minutes. Go take a bath first and wash off the dust of travel."
Yu Qingtu shifted her gaze away from the unfamiliar hot spring pool and let it rest on the perfect-curved, completely bare fair back.
"The last time I came, I don't remember there being a bath here."
"I altered the geological structure and hydrological cycle of this continent. Creating a natural hot spring pool wasn't difficult."
With a light tap of her elegant right foot on the water's surface, Ruan Mei stepped into the pool and sat down, submerging her alluring figure in the warm water.
With a casual wave, a large number of plum blossoms floated out from a hidden vent at the edge of the spring and scattered across the water.
The refreshing fragrance of plum blossoms gradually filled the space.
"Like teacher, like student. That little guy you taught is the same—he always has 'welcome' ready on his lips."
"He took you to bathe?" Ruan Mei immediately lifted her eyes, a deep look surging within them.
"What are you thinking? That little guy is so polite and rule-bound it's unbearable. He would never do something like that."
Yu Qingtu laughed and, without any restraint, stepped straight into the pool.
The instant her toes touched the water, her entire outfit dissolved as if deconstructed, vanishing without a trace.
"His personality is stubborn as hell. Because of our relationship, for so many years he has never once called me Sister Qingtu."
"He always calls me 'Senior' this and 'Senior' that, full of distance. Why didn't he learn that part from you?"
"You never treated me as a senior anyway, so there's no issue of a huge seniority gap. Would calling me 'Sister' wrong him?"
The depth in Ruan Mei's eyes faded as she spoke indifferently.
"People may be alive, but some rules must remain dead. Otherwise everything falls into chaos. I taught him that, and I punished him for it, so he won't act out."
"…The real culprit is you."
Yu Qingtu's gaze toward Ruan Mei became complicated.
"A teacher must lead by example. Ruan, why don't you call me 'Senior' and let me hear it?"
"I am not a member of the Genius Society. Why should I?" Ruan Mei replied matter-of-factly.
"So you're saying, if you ever become a member of the Genius Society in the future, you will call me that?"
"Although I have no interest in becoming a Genius Society member, if that day comes, I will call you once."
"Just once?"
"Besides the senior-junior relationship, you are also my friend. Between the two of us, I believe the friend relationship takes priority far above senior and junior."
"I give up on you."
Yu Qingtu chuckled softly. She picked up a petal with her slender fingers and gently brushed it along her jade-like arm with the water droplets.
As if remembering something, she said:
"If you really reach the point where your wisdom can shake the cosmic order, whether you want to become a club member or not will no longer matter, because you won't have a choice."
"The moment the Erudition Venerable casts their gaze upon you, you lose the path back."
"The current last seat in the Genius Society is #77. I have high hopes for you. Here—"
As she spoke, a pink drink suddenly appeared in Yu Qingtu's hand.
"What is this?" Ruan Mei reached out and took it.
The small stemmed glass was filled with pink liquid. Unknown green herbs and insect-like things served as decoration.
A strange, indescribable scent hit her nose.
"I named it Pink Collision. You can drink it, or treat it as a research specimen."
"This insect is alive."
"You have sharp eyes. You're a scientist in the field of life sciences—you're not afraid, are you?"
"…"
Under Yu Qingtu's interested gaze, Ruan Mei calmly took a sip without changing expression.
"Pink Collision… I remember it's one of your favorite ancient Amber Era songs."
"Completely correct, my friend. How does it taste?"
"It's alright. The flavor isn't inferior to that little guy's plum blossom brew." Ruan Mei evaluated.
"I won't deny that…"
Yu Qingtu leaned back, resting her arms on the edge of the pool, and spoke with clear approval:
"It really is strange. That little guy's plum blossom brew—anyone can see how it's made at a glance, yet neither of us can replicate that exact flavor. Has it become some kind of miracle item?"
"Speaking of the little guy, it's been over a hundred years since you last saw him, right? You came out to rest this time, why not go see him?"
"On the surface he always looks calm and smiling, but I think he actually misses you quite a bit."
"No need." Ruan Mei answered without the slightest hesitation.
"He's your only student, and one of the very few people you've lived with day after day for decades. You really plan to never see each other again until one of you dies?"
"The research comes first." Ruan Mei remained unmoved.
"He's a short-lived species, unlike you. If you bury yourself in research for another few dozen or hundred years, he'll already be dead."
"He won't be. I taught him no fewer than ten side-effect-free lifespan-extension methods."
"What if he refuses to use them… Tsk, teacher and student really are both stubborn as mules."
Yu Qingtu had only spoken halfway when she remembered that Kanzaki Tomomu, despite being a short-lived species, had already lived for over a hundred and fifty years. He must have extended his life artificially.
Never mind then.
Still, aside from that little old man Elias Salas, who in their right mind would complain about living longer?
Recalling the punishment Ruan Mei had mentioned before, and the question she had once asked Kanzaki Tomomu…
Curiosity flashed across Yu Qingtu's face. She suddenly leaned forward toward Ruan Mei, sending ripples across the water.
"Ruan, the little guy tried to dissuade you from continuing that research, didn't he?"
"Yes."
Yu Qingtu thought just as I suspected and showed an incredulous look. "You expelled him just because of that?"
Meeting her gaze, Ruan Mei stayed silent for a moment before admitting it.
"More or less."
"Is it really that serious?!"
"It is. Kanzaki Tomomu denied my love for my family."
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Bonus chapters
200 Stones - 1 chapter
400 Stones - 2 chapter
600 Stones - 3 chapters
And so on