Chapter 172 Big Duck: Holy Crap, There's a "Cow" (NTR), There's a "Cow"!!
In a sealed small room, beneath the dim yellow light, Elysia sat with her hands interlaced in front of her face, mimicking a classic "Commander Gendo" pose. A mysterious light reflected off her non-existent glasses.
She said solemnly, "Comrades, the plan has been compromised. We have a mole among us."
Having spoken, Elysia turned her gaze toward Pardo Felis. The questioning intent in her eyes was unmistakable.
Pardo froze for a moment. "Sister Ellie, you know me! How could I possibly betray the organization?"
Elysia nodded, then shifted her gaze to Carole. The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.
Carole spread her hands. "Elysia, you know me too! I'm a war correspondent, always charging at the front lines to report the latest developments!"
Elysia nodded again. Her gaze then landed on a certain "new member."
The corner of Mobius's mouth twitched. Dressed in her white lab coat, she rolled her eyes at Elysia.
"What... are you all mental? It's late at night, and instead of going home to sleep, you're all crowded into my lab. Are you planning to be my test subjects? Besides, I'm not interested in your petty company drama..."
Elysia withdrew her gaze and sighed.
"Comrades, I believe in everyone. I don't think anyone would betray the organization... but can someone tell me why the long-awaited TV broadcast ended so mysteriously?"
"Do you know how early I was waiting in the livestream just to see what would happen between Su Mu and Bianca? Rita's intel was completely inaccurate! Why was it Kiana who went on stage in the end? Give me back all those days of anticipation!!"
She aggressively downed a can of cola. Truly, "bitter wine hits the throat and pains the heart"—this carbon dioxide was a real choker!
"Uh..." Mobius watched the pained Elysia, holding her forehead as if looking at an idiot. "If you want to have a fit, please leave my lab. I feel like the air in here is getting stupider."
"Mobius, you say that, but you're actually quite curious too, aren't you? I know, your condition is called being a 'dead duck with a hard beak' (stubborn)!"
"Who's stubborn? If you have nothing else to do, get out! Stop acting like we're close. Don't just hang out in my lab whenever you feel like it. This isn't a gathering spot for gossip-mongers!"
Mobius was truly speechless. For some reason, Elysia had been bringing all sorts of people into her lab recently. What did she think this place was? A playground?
Every time they came, they just talked about boring company gossip... although she was somewhat interested in that gossip... but this was her lab! Not a tourist attraction!
"Hehe, it's because Mobius's lab is so peaceful. I really love it here," Elysia said bluntly.
Looking at that smiling face, Mobius paused and looked away. "Hmph, what's so good about this place? I don't get you..."
Though her mouth was harder than a cosmic pancake, anyone who knew "Snake" knew she was actually quite happy. Being stubborn was her traditional art form; after all, she had the hardest mouth in the Realm.
"Because Mobius's lab has a high safety factor and great soundproofing! Even if we have a party here, no one will hear us! That way, we can discuss our battle plans without being discovered!"
Elysia's next sentence made Mobius stagger. She just knew it...
Mobius huffed. "If you ask me, your so-called 'Romance Group' is beyond stupid. None of you have ever been in a relationship, yet you act like experts giving advice. You should really consider your own standing."
Elysia blinked. "A maiden's heart is a shining treasure, Mobius. Didn't you ever read romance manga in school and fantasize about the plots?"
Mobius rolled her eyes. "Sorry, not at all. I was only interested in my experiments. And unlike someone, I was an overachiever who skipped grades. Everyone around me was much older; I had no interest in their lives or hobbies."
Carole's eyes widened in surprise. "WOW! That's amazing! Miss Mobius, you're a total genius! You must be great at math! I always had a headache with math in school. Seeing all those letters and symbols combined into something I couldn't understand made my head spin!"
The admiration seemed to improve Mobius's mood. "Hmph, it's alright. Math isn't difficult for me... In my view, solving math problems is quite relaxing. As long as you find the right method, even the most obscure equations can be solved easily. Unlike the mess of life, where there's no correct formula for any problem."
Elysia suddenly stood up and raised her hand. "Hey, Mobius, why don't you find someone to date too?"
"...What does that have to do with what we were just discussing?"
Mobius was done. Elysia's train of thought was too erratic; she just said whatever came to mind!
"It has everything to do with it!" Elysia said solemnly. "Mobius hasn't had many friends since she was little, right?"
Mobius clenched her fists, a vein popping on her forehead. "I'm so sorry for not having friends. Are you just here to mock me?"
"Of course not! I mean Mobius's school life was incomplete. Why not try a sweet romance? Maybe it'll make you feel like you're back in those youthful school days!"
How does dating relate to returning to school days? What logic is this, 'Elysia Logic'? Mobius felt that in just a few days, Elysia had transformed into a marriage counselor, pushing everyone to date at every turn. Does she get a commission for this? Has she changed careers to a professional matchmaker?
Mobius rolled her eyes. Forget it, she couldn't understand Elysia; she'd be infected by the "Elysia Virus" sooner or later.
"Compared to me, isn't your friend Bronya's situation more important? According to you, there was a chance for her and Su Mu to make a major breakthrough, but the plan failed for unknown reasons..."
"Mobius says she's not interested, but she remembers the details quite clearly."
"Shut up. You buzz in my ear like a fly; I can't ignore it even if I want to!"
"Sigh, the biggest problem now isn't Bronya... I didn't expect Schicksal to try and move on Su Mu too."
"Isn't that obvious? He's an excellent person. It's normal for him to be sought after."
"Eh? Mobius, you have such a high opinion of Su Mu? This is the first time I've heard you praise someone like that..." Elysia's eyes widened, and then they darted like a little fox as she giggled and leaned closer to Mobius.
"What?" Mobius felt uneasy at the sudden proximity.
"Mobius, what do you think of Su Mu?"
"What do I think... I'm not that familiar with him."
"Eh? Really? Your tone says otherwise."
"He just happened to be a test subject for me, Herta, and Ruan Mei... We've only done a few experiments together."
"Is that so? But I saw something of yours on Su Mu."
Elysia had noticed that Su Mu always carried a pendant—a pendant she had seen on Mobius. Oh, so they're intimate enough to exchange gifts? It seems Mobius pulled a fast one while no one was looking!
Mobius froze. She had almost forgotten about that. When she first met Su Mu, she was worried Griseo would be sad if something happened to him, so she gave him the pendant containing a signal transmitter. It was a safeguard against him being ambushed on the street and locked in some dark basement...
"Is it a token of love? Is it? Is it? Is it?"
Looking at the increasingly excited Elysia, Mobius retorted huffily.
"Do you have any interest other than romance? Why don't you go date someone yourself instead of just talking about it?"
"How could you say that!" Elysia's eyes widened innocently, looking quite pitiful. "I only want Mobius to be happy. Does Ellie look like such an inconsiderate beauty in your eyes?"
"Who praises themselves as a beauty like that! Get away from me, I don't want to catch your 'stupid'!!" Mobius pushed Elysia's face away with a look of disgust.
"But is it really okay?" "?" "Is it okay if Su Mu is snatched away by the Schicksal women?" "Huh?" "Griseo will be sad, you know." "What does that have to do with Griseo?" "She said she wants to be Brother Su Mu's bride when she grows up." "???"
Mobius paused, then realized this was likely Elysia's handiwork as well.
"If you like Su Mu so much, why don't you date him yourself?"
"My apologies, but while Su Mu is very handsome, Ellie is only interested in beautiful girls. If he were a girl, I would have made my move already."
"...Get away from me. I don't want people to think I have issues with my sexual orientation."
"Wha—what! That's so rude to a beauty!"
While the two interacted, Carole looked at Pardo curiously. "Speaking of which, based on what we've seen, there are already three groups within the company keeping an eye on Director Su, including us..."
Pardo nodded. "Yeah. That person named Rita Rossweisse is clearly from Schicksal. And Seele's goal is the same as ours—to set up Sister Bronya and Brother Su Mu..."
"Mhm... but Pardo, have you considered something?" "Mhm?" "Our original goal was to help Sister Bronya find love. But somehow, it feels like the nature of the situation has changed..." "Uh, well..."
Pardo Felis's gaze flickered. She couldn't very well say this was all for Elysia's twisted amusement, could she? Or that Elysia wasn't satisfied with the status quo and actually wanted to see more people join the fray.
"—Whatever! If you don't believe me, just call him and ask!" "Then call him! Unless you prove it to me, Ellie won't believe you two are just acquaintances!"
The two nearby seemed to have reached a conclusion. Mobius finally decided to call Su Mu to have him explain why she gave him the pendant, just so Elysia would stop bringing it up. It was annoying.
"...Mhm?" Mobius dialed the number, only to find Su Mu's phone was turned off.
"Eh? Turned off? No way? Director Su's phone is usually on twenty-four hours a day..."
Carole also sensed something was wrong; her expression turned to shock. Mobius thought for a moment and dialed Ruan Mei, but there was no answer. While Ruan Mei often missed calls due to being in the lab, combined with Su Mu's phone being off, it led Mobius to a certain possibility.
"I'm going out for a bit."
Mobius's expression became grave. Without explaining to Elysia and the others, she rushed out of the lab, not even having time to take off her white coat. The three left behind looked at each other in confusion. What happened to Mobius?
Going back about an hour...
"P-Pardon the intrusion..."
As the door closed, Seele stood in the entryway clutching her small bag, her body tense with nerves. She looked around Su Mu's apartment... It wasn't large, a standard one-bedroom. The decor was simple, almost devoid of unnecessary ornamentation.
"You're here?"
Su Mu naturally reached out to take her bag, hanging it on the rack in the living room. Seele continued to observe the place. It was her first time in a boy's room... Su Mu's home was just like him: organized, efficient, and simple. She sat on the sofa, her legs pressed together beneath her knit skirt, hands interlaced nervously.
"What's wrong?" Su Mu noticed her tension and handed her a glass of water.
"It's Seele's first time... in a boy's room..." Seele held the glass, her face slightly flushed. She looked adorable.
"Is that so? Is it different from what you imagined?"
Seele nodded. "Mhm... Brother Su Mu's room is too simple. There are no decorations. It's very clean, but Seele feels like it lacks the 'scent of life'..."
Su Mu was stunned for a moment, then gave a knowing smile.
The scent of life? Yeah... He had never been someone who particularly loved life. In his previous life, his existence was a mess. He lived not because he loved life, but because he was afraid to die. He had tried to find a partner, but it always ended in regret. After his parents passed away, his last connection to the world was severed, leaving him alone. His only hobby was games, and until the day of his accident, the "evil" Gabe Newell still hadn't released Left 4 Dead 3. He truly felt he would die with regrets.
Upon gaining a second life, he hadn't experienced much parental affection before his only relative, his grandfather, passed away. Though there were relatives back home, Su Mu rarely contacted them. He was used to solitude. This had made him independent early on; he had earned his own college tuition. He was far more mature than his peers. This was why he was so good at housework—he only had himself to rely on.
Without an umbrella, you have to run.
After awakening his past memories, his experience of living two lives alone made him clear about what he wanted to pursue; everything else was secondary. He always maintained a subtle distance from people—being kind, grateful, and taking care of everyone—yet he never bared his soul. After two lifetimes, he had mastered human nature. Being tactful and getting along with everyone was a basic skill for an "old office worker."
He was addicted to game development, yes. But it was mostly because he didn't have high expectations for life. He never expected to walk hand-in-hand through the streets, watching the city lights and the nightlife.
That's how it was supposed to be.
Seele turned to look at Su Mu. She saw something flickering in his eyes. She took his hand in hers. Feeling the warmth, Su Mu looked down at the girl beside him.
The girl summoned all her courage, her face red as she said, "Brother Su Mu's room is just too plain... After marrying Brother Su Mu, Seele will definitely decorate our home properly..."
Su Mu: "..."
He looked at her. Facing his gaze, Seele didn't look away this time. She responded with a sweet smile. Her smile was like clear snow in winter, melting the ice. Su Mu felt a strange flutter in his chest. He knew what it was...
Feeling the girl's temperature through his hand, Su Mu felt clearly, for the first time, that he was truly "alive."
"Home, huh..." He chuckled. How long had it been since he heard that word? The place he had lived in was nothing more than steel and concrete. It wasn't a home. A home is where there are people you want to see, and people waiting for you to return.
The girl's voice brought him back from his thoughts. "Brother Su Mu... Sister Bronya went to Arc City on business, so..." Seele's face was so red it could practically drip, but she gathered her resolve and continued. "Tonight... can I stay here?"
Su Mu wasn't an idiot. He understood what a girl staying over at a man's house represented.
"Okay." Su Mu didn't refuse. He knew how much courage it took for her to say those words. ...But his little girlfriend didn't seem to lack courage when it came to romance. She appeared fragile, yet she was surprisingly firm. Even though she was worried, nervous, and afraid, she could overcome herself time and time again...
If love were a hundred-meter dash, Seele had already used every ounce of strength to run ninety meters. Just reaching this point had exhausted her. Only the final ten meters remained before Su Mu. She had worked so hard to get here; what reason did he have to refuse?
He reached out his hand and touched her face. Seele's eyes seemed to cloud with a misty haze, like the misty rain of Jiangnan or the morning fog on West Lake. She placed her hand over his large hand. Feeling the heat from his palm, her tension and anxiety seemed to vanish.
"Brother Su Mu's hand is so warm..."
She closed her eyes, her face flushing like the crimson clouds of twilight. Her breathing suddenly grew heavy. She opened her eyes again; within those misty pupils was a trace of heat and desire. She felt her body temperature rising. Despite it being winter, she felt an unbearable heat. Seele held Su Mu's hand, guiding it downward over her chin, her neck, her collarbone, her shoulder...
"Ah..."
As Su Mu's hand moved lower, Seele let out a soft gasp. Even through the fabric, she could feel the incredible heat from his hand. This heat seemed to seep into every part of her body, and her blue eyes became increasingly mesmerizing. The temperature in the room seemed to rise in sync. Seele pulled at the hem of her beige sweater, slowly lifting the garment. Her smooth, flat midriff and milk-white skin glowed under the light.
Following Seele's actions, Su Mu felt as if he were in a breakfast shop. The Seele before him had transformed into a dedicated pastry chef, presenting two large white buns from their packaging. The wheat flour had fermented after high-temperature steaming; the delicate skin was incredibly soft yet possessed excellent elasticity. Perhaps because they were fresh from the steamer, they carried a trace of warmth. As everyone knows, to distinguish between different buns, a chef will place a small dot of sauce in the center—red bean, vegetable, or meat.
The white buns Su Mu held were no exception, though the filling was special. It wasn't custard. It was a "milky white" filling. As a Shenzhou native, no one could resist pastries; no one could resist white buns. It was a genetic code written into the soul. No one could refuse.
Su Mu leaned down to taste the pastry. Clearly, Seele the chef was very skilled. Through the white skin, the rich milky aroma was mouth-watering. Su Mu felt the friction between his tongue and the dough, and a rich fragrance instantly exploded in his mouth. The sensation was intoxicating.
The vibration of a phone brought Su Mu back to reality. He checked it; it was a message from Bronya.
[Bronya: I'm on a business trip for a few days. Please take care of Seele for me.]
By the time Su Mu reluctantly pulled away, the chef was already sweating profusely. Making pastries was truly a physical labor, not easy at all.
[Bronya: I'll be in Arc City for a few days. Is there any local specialty you want?]
Su Mu was about to type a reply, but Seele took the phone from his hand. She turned it off and set it aside. "Right now, it's just time for me and Brother Su Mu. No one else can interrupt."
Seele lay on the sofa, her top completely removed, her pale skin flushed pink. "Please... turn Seele... into an adult."
Seele wrapped her arms around Su Mu's neck. The string of logic snapped completely. Su Mu could no longer suppress his inner emotions. He kissed her lips, claiming her territory somewhat roughly.
For some, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. After showering, Bronya sat in her hotel room looking at the message she sent to Su Mu, only to find there was still no reply. She dried her hair with a towel and dialed Su Mu's number, only to find it was turned off.
This surprised her. Su Mu's phone was usually on twenty-four hours a day, given how much he loved work. Bronya thought for a moment and called Seele, but heard a notification that the phone was on silent; no one picked up after a long time.
Is Seele asleep?
Bronya felt strange. She opened WeChat and sent several messages to Seele.
[Bronya: Seele, are you there?]
[Bronya: I can't reach Su Mu. Did something happen?]
[Bronya: That guy's phone is usually always on. It's strange.]
[Bronya: Seele, are you asleep?]
[Bronya: Seele?]
[Bronya: ???]
END OF CHAPTER
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