After eating dinner, Fu Hua began cleaning up the aftermath, while Van took the initiative to ask to help out behind her.
The two were busy in the kitchen, while the living room was still filled with a gunpowder-like tension.
Mobius leaned elegantly on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in her hand, her gaze occasionally sweeping toward the kitchen direction.
Himeko sat opposite her, arms crossed, with a half-smiling, half-not expression on her face. After a while, Himeko took the lead to speak, saying gently, "Dr. Mobius, it's getting late. Do you need me to call you a ride-hailing car? After all, you are a world-renowned scientist. If anything happened, we couldn't afford to take responsibility."
Mobius lightly took a sip of tea and calmly replied, "Teacher Himeko is really considerate. However, there is an ancient saying in Shenzhou called 'guests follow the host's convenience.' Since Van didn't ask me to leave, how could I disappoint his goodwill?"
As soon as her words fell, Himeko's smile instantly stiffened but quickly returned to normal.
"Didn't expect Dr. Mobius to have some knowledge of Shenzhou culture. Then may I ask if you've heard of 'guests leaving gives the host peace'? If you're tired, going back to the hotel to rest early is also good."
Mobius put down her teacup and looked directly at Himeko, "Teacher Himeko, no need to worry about me. On the contrary, you, who have been busy teaching and nurturing all day, should go home and rest."
The conversation between the two seemed polite but was actually full of hidden barbs.
Van, hearing the sounds from the kitchen, subconsciously shrank his neck, cold sweat pouring out.
Beside him, Fu Hua was washing dishes while suddenly saying, "Still remember the Inazuma manga I mentioned before? That boy, because…"
Van quickly interrupted, "Thank you very much for the reminder, Hua."
Fu Hua glanced at him, a flash of unknown emotion passing through her eyes, but she said nothing more.
After finishing the kitchen cleanup, Van bit the bullet and returned to the living room.
The war of words between Mobius and Himeko was still ongoing, and the atmosphere remained tense.
Even more despairing, just as he stepped into the living room, both Mobius and Himeko turned to look at him at the same time,
And asked in unison, "Van, you tell us, who should leave?"
Van instantly felt his scalp go numb, inwardly wailing, 'It should be me who leaves...'
Van was truly speechless. He originally thought that after saving the world, he could finally enjoy a peaceful and ordinary life. But who knew a sudden exposure would push him into the spotlight.
This damn Ai-chan not only publicly executed him but even made the former 'them' recall their memories.
It's like they're afraid his life is too good.
Forget becoming like Makoto (from School Days), he might actually become an upgraded version of Van in the future.
So, no matter whose fault it is, it's all Ai-chan's fault.
Just as Van didn't know how to answer the two, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
It was Fu Hua Lifesaver Fu Hua was here.
As long as she sat between them again like before, everything would…
'Eh?!'
Just as Van turned excitedly to call Fu Hua to sit on the sofa, who would have thought, as Fu Hua came out of the kitchen, she was even carrying a chair in her hand.
She walked straight to the corner of the living room, sat down, and lightly said, "Van, what's wrong?"
Van's eyes widened, full of disbelief. That expression seemed to accuse Fu Hua of betraying him.
On the other side, seeing Fu Hua had no intention of intervening, the two women on the sofa looked at Van even more unscrupulously, eyes full of "you must give an explanation today" kind of look.
Just as Van didn't know what to do, a system notification suddenly sounded from his pocket.
It was like he received a pardon. He quickly took out his phone, and on the screen appeared a few big words.
[Your special-followed UP host @MiHoYo's No.1 Idol Ai-chan has updated! Come and watch now!]
Van's eyes lit up, and he quickly cast the video onto the living room's big screen, and invited everyone to watch.
"Ai-chan has uploaded a new video again, why don't we watch it together?"
Mobius and Himeko exchanged glances. Though unwilling, they didn't continue to question.
The atmosphere in the living room finally relaxed a bit.
Van let out a long breath, secretly thankful, 'This damn cabbage-head, finally did something human for once.'
———
The video continued from the previous episode. Thanks to Seele's efforts, she successfully brought Bronya out of the Sea of Quanta.
On the other side, Anti-Entropy Alliance's Walter was also rescued by Einstein.
At the same time, with the combined efforts of Theresa and the Anti-Entropy members, they successfully repelled the Schicksal forces.
The crisis was temporarily over, and everything seemed to be heading in a good direction.
A few days later, Bronya received a communication from Einstein.
Unlike before, Einstein's tone this time was a bit serious.
Einstein told Bronya that Walter Yang was waiting for her at the seaside, with something to say.
When Bronya arrived, she was shocked by what Walter Yang said next.
"Mr. Walter, your words… Bronya doesn't understand."
Although Bronya still had no expression, her contracted pupils revealed her inner unrest.
"What I mean is, in your hands, it can exert greater power."
As he spoke, Walter Yang opened his palm, and the Herrscher of Reason core floated quietly there.
"The Herrscher core is not a necessity for the alliance leader. Power should be given to those with potential."
Hearing this, a trace of clarity flashed in Bronya's eyes, because she saw the medical bandages under the man's collar.
Thinking back to when she saw Einstein and him in the infirmary with solemn expressions, Bronya realized what had happened.
"Why Bronya? Maybe there are more suitable people. Clearly back in the Sea of Quanta, facing the serpent's escape, Bronya couldn't do anything…"
Facing Bronya's self-doubt, Walter Yang patiently consoled her.
"Bronya, for a person, there is no fixed standard for success or failure. In my view, as long as you kept your true self, you didn't lose."
Bronya, "..."
Seeing Bronya deep in thought, Walter Yang decided to give this Yang girl more time.
"You don't need to answer me now. Think it over. The most important thing is your own thoughts."
"Of course, if you're willing to accept, I'll personally train you to use the power of this core."
Bronya, "I understand. Thank you, Mr. Walter."
Then the scene shifted to a dim laboratory.
When Otto's punch-worthy face appeared, the screen was instantly filled with dense bullet comments condemning him.
He was still in that elegant posture, holding a wine glass, sipping expensive red wine.
The camera slowly moved to the incubator behind him.
Inside lay a girl.
The girl's silver-gray long hair hung down to her waist, the tips glowing with a faint red light.
Perhaps from being in the incubator too long, her skin had an unconscious cold bluish hue, and Honkai markings of dark purple appeared on her neck and collarbones.
However, when the camera focused on the girl's face, people in the real world all exclaimed.
Because this girl looked 70–80% like Van, who had fallen into the Sea of Quanta.
Looking at the data on the incubator's instruments, Otto's smile deepened.
"Old friend, just as you said, the serpent has left the Sea of Quanta… then it's time we begin the next phase…"
"Our very own God Creation Plan…"
———
[In the Real World.]
[WTF, how does this incubator girl look so much like my husband Van!]
[Aside from gender, their appearances are exactly the same. At least they're identical!]
[My husband died and they still won't let him go? Now they even made a clone of him, and it's a girl!]
[Daily question, when will Otto die?]
[Some people died, but we wish they were alive; some people live, but we wish they were dead! Isn't that right, Otto?]
———
When netizens in the real world were cursing Otto because of the girl in the incubator who resembled Van's clone, Mobius and Himeko no longer had the mood to pay attention to this.
Because, besides seeing the girl resembling Van, they also saw another person's shadow.
Thinking of this, the two turned their heads in sync, looking at Fu Hua sitting not far away on the chair…
After repeatedly confirming, an identical thought suddenly formed in Mobius and Himeko's minds.
'Could it be that woman is the real rival?'
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