Just as Ruan Mei and Herta were discussing the Genius Society, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
"Madam Herta, Madam Ruan Mei?! What are you doing here? You should have let me know!"
Ruan Mei turned toward the voice. A small, innocent-looking foxian girl stood outside the door, holding a tea tray, her face beaming with delight at the sight of them.
Herta glanced at the girl with a flicker of confusion in her eyes. She thought to herself, Strange. This foxian girl looks familiar, but I can't quite place her. Never mind. Probably just an ordinary passerby.
Ruan Mei stood up and took the tea tray. "Herta, this is Meng Ming, the owner of The Sleepless Earl. Last time on the Xianzhou, because of March 7th, we met her briefly."
Herta nodded, recalling something. "Yes, I think that was it."
Hearing this, Meng Ming smiled helplessly and said softly, "Madam Ruan Mei, Madam Herta, you both showed me kindness. Today, all the desserts and tea at The Sleepless Earl are on me."
Herta gave a casual "Oh" and waved her hand dismissively. "Fine, got it. You can go now."
Having heard from March 7th about the formidable reputations of Herta and Ruan Mei, Meng Ming said nothing more. She smiled politely, left, and closed the door behind her.
Ruan Mei poured herself a cup of the fine tea Meng Ming had brought. "Rich, fragrant, with a lingering aftertaste. This is indeed excellent tea."
Herta unhurriedly took a sip as well. After so many years—countless Amber Eras—she still didn't know how to appreciate Xianzhou teas. Still, she played along, offering a few words of agreement. After all, last time at the Alchemy Commission, Lingsha had used spices and tea tasting as excuses to get close to Ruan Mei.
"I agree with you."
On stage, the storyteller finished recounting the legends of the High-Cloud Quintet and the Genius Society, then quickly stepped down. A lone wolf in a clown costume immediately took the stage for a comic performance.
Herta gave him a brief glance, then turned her gaze back to Ruan Mei. "Ruan Mei, this is our second time visiting the Luofu, isn't it?"
Ruan Mei continued to sip her tea with calm elegance. "Yes. Why?"
"I want to buy a house here on the Luofu."
Ruan Mei paused. A flicker of surprise crossed her usually serene and detached eyes, but it vanished quickly. She picked up a plum blossom cake and handed it to Herta.
Herta brightened and took it.
Ruan Mei pressed further. "Why do you want to buy a house on the Luofu? Is it going to be our new home?"
Herta, mid-bite into the plum cake, looked at Ruan Mei in confusion. "New home? What's a new home?"
Ruan Mei sighed softly. "Never mind. Forget I asked."
Herta looked genuinely puzzled. "On these two visits to the Luofu, the atmosphere here—the liveliness, the worldly charm—is something that the blue planet and the space station can't match. After we're together, we could come here occasionally to travel and spend a few months."
Ruan Mei hadn't expected Herta to say such things. A trace of surprise crossed her usually distant face. "But the new house must be far from the Alchemy Commission. That's my only condition."
Ruan Mei only smiled behind her hand and said nothing. Herta still instinctively wants to keep her distance from Lingsha, even though the woman has lost all memory of her.