A moment later, Ruan Mei and Herta arrived together at Moon Star Pavilion.
Above them, the stars in the galaxy formed a natural celestial river, as if a stream of condensed starlight flowed with radiant brilliance.
Around the pavilion, one side was a plum orchard—cold plum elegance, sparse shadows swaying in the breeze.
The other side was a sea of violet orchids, spreading like purple clouds and rosy mist to the horizon's edge.
A gentle breeze carried a sudden, dreamlike fragrance.
Wisteria Cake, Ruan Mei Cake, and the other cat-cakes were once again dumbfounded. A place like this—so ethereal—they couldn't have dreamed it possible.
Remembering their difficult days back at the space station, the cat-cakes instinctively glanced at Herta.
Herta feigned composure with a cough.
"Ahem. It wasn't me who kept you all at the space station."
The cat-cakes turned to Ruan Mei, hoping for the answer they wanted.
Ruan Mei replied calmly.
"The last time we came here for afternoon tea was three Amber Eras ago. Yu Qingtu was with us."
"As for you cat-cakes... you hadn't been created yet."
At the name "Yu Qingtu," Herta's brow furrowed. A flicker of unease crossed her face—gone in an instant. She said nothing.
Herta and Ruan Mei sat across from each other in the pavilion. Navigator Cake served Herta freshly brewed coffee.
Herta took a sip. Her mind went blank.
What the—what IS this?! Worse than my own coffee.
Though inwardly stunned, her expression remained unchanged. She even managed a compliment.
"Not bad, Ruan Mei. You should try some."
Ruan Mei glanced at the coffee. Nothing seemed amiss.
But with her heightened perception, she caught a hint of something off in Herta's tone.
"Madam Herta, do you remember this sea of violet orchids?"
Herta forced a smile, inwardly fuming.
What's going on?! Does Ruan Mei know how terrible this coffee is?! Damn it. I drank it, and she won't?! Unacceptable!!
"This sea of violet orchids... I had thirty thousand puppets plant it not long after we first met."
"That plum orchard over there was your project. The starry sky was Yu Qingtu's design. Right?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly.
"You actually remember."
Herta waved a hand dismissively.
"My memory's quite good. Come on, try the coffee. Honestly, it's really not bad."
Ruan Mei gazed at her calmly.
"Madam Herta, there are... certain rumors throughout the cosmos about the coffee brewed by Navigator Himeko of the Astral Express."
Herta gritted her teeth, her smile barely holding.
"Oh? First I've heard of it. But there's no Navigator Himeko here. The coffee will get cold."
Ruan Mei glanced at Forgotten Cake. It quickly brought her tea.
"Madam Herta, I've grown accustomed to tea lately. If you prefer coffee, you can have mine."
She slid the cup forward.
Herta's expression darkened. She was about to flip the table.
Seeing this, Ruan Mei downed the coffee in one gulp.
Herta's mood instantly lifted. If I suffer, so does she. She smirked.
"Well, Ruan Mei? How was Navigator Cake's coffee?"
Ruan Mei remained perfectly composed.
"I used a tasteless agent."
Herta's smile froze. Her anger neared its limit.
Wisteria Cake quickly whispered.
"Don't get mad! Stay rational! All these cat-cakes, one hundred thousand puppets, and Ruan Mei are watching! Don't lose face!!"
Herta snorted heavily. Internally, she relegated Himeko and Navigator Cake's coffee to the same tier as her own baking.
She forced a smile and murmured,
"Ruan Mei. Come back to the space station with me. I'll set you up with a lab a thousand times better than this."
"Curios, researchers, experimental budget—name your price."
Ruan Mei closed her eyes and shook her head calmly.
"I've grown accustomed to being alone here."
Herta's expression cooled.
"Alone? Oh? You mean besides that fox, Tingyun?"
Ruan Mei sipped her tea in silence. Wisteria Cake quickly whispered again.
"Madam Herta! That infuriating fox is already gone!! Stop mentioning her. Focus on getting Ruan Mei to agree!"
Herta set down her magic hat. With the calmest tsundere tone she could muster, she asked,
"Ruan Mei. You really won't come back with me? Do you want me to actually walk my Path and—ah?!"
Wisteria Cake, Ruan Mei Cake, and Forgotten Cake together stopped her.
Herta Ninety-Nine sent a message from the Luofu.
"Madam Herta, don't panic. Put that violet orchid in her hair."
"What? Put it in her hair? She doesn't have a magic hat like me."
Herta Ninety-Nine and Tingyun—standing nearby—were equally speechless. Ninety-Nine typed back,
"Her hair, understand?"
"Oh."
Herta snatched the violet orchid. Ruan Mei blinked, caught off guard.
Herta stepped forward and tucked it into her hair.
"A violet orchid in your hair. It suits you perfectly."
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TL Note:
Power Stone Progress: 161/175 (5 Chapters)
Power Stone Ranking: 16/10 (10 Chapters)