Bai Luan looked at the screen full of repetitive characters that carried a strange temperature, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.
The farewell was grand enough; no further words are needed.
Bai Luan quickly packed his things and boarded the spaceship that had come specifically to pick him up on the platform.
The platform was deserted, with only the cold indicator lights flashing regularly.
Before leaving the station, Bai Luan took one last look at the space station.
Bai Luan did not inform his staff of his itinerary, so no one came to see him off.
I wonder when they will realize they're gone.
Before I leave, let me tell you one more thing.
A true farewell is one that happens silently.
He gave a standard, theatrically exaggerated curtain call to the empty void.
Despite the lack of applause and witnesses, a satisfied smile slowly spread across his face, as if all burdens had been lifted.
He picked up his light luggage, turned around, and disappeared into the dark hatch of the spaceship.
The engine started, emitting a deep and steady hum, and the dark blue exhaust flames silently burst forth in the cold vacuum.
The spaceship detached gracefully from the platform and glided into the deep sea of stars.
A light, almost ethereal sound seemed to pierce through the vacuum and land on the receding space station:
Goodbye~
Chapter 26 Praying the Boss Forgets Himself...
The hum of the spaceship's engines gradually subsided and eventually fell silent. Bai Luan, carrying light luggage, stepped out of the cabin.
He opened his arms and took a deep breath.
The long-lost scent filled my chest again, bringing an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
"I'm back!"
Bai Luan, who was extremely familiar with the place, naturally didn't need anyone to lead the way and walked back to his room with light steps.
He opened the door to his own house, his own room, and it looked exactly the same as when he left.
Bai Luan threw down her luggage, pounced on her bed, and rolled around happily on it a few times.
He messed up the neatly folded sheets on the bed before he left, making a complete mess of them.
Then I lay comfortably in bed, not thinking about making the bed and packing my luggage later.
There's nothing urgent here, we can take our time and do it slowly, no need to rush.
"That felt great!"
After lying in bed for a while, Bai Luan sat up, humming a cheerful tune, and began packing her luggage.
Bai Luan didn't bring back much from the space station, just some photos and everyday necessities, so she quickly dealt with them.
After settling into his room, Bai Luan planned to say hello to his old friends.
I've been away from here for a long time, so I need to get back to my old place as soon as possible.
The first place we need to go, of course, is...
At the supplies distribution station, the distribution robots are diligently processing the supplies needed by Black Tower's family, completing their daily distribution tasks.
However, for more than a year, there has been one daily task on my to-do list that has remained incomplete.
Greeting the self-disciplined young man (incomplete).
After Bai Luan maintained her "self-discipline" for a whole year—running over every morning without fail just to greet it with "Good morning!"—it added this to its daily task list.
For the next two years, things remained peaceful.
Until more than a year ago, Bai Luan came to say goodbye, saying that although he would not be coming back for the time being, he would still maintain self-discipline in other places.
It was just a resource distribution robot, so it calmly accepted Bai Luan's farewell.
For the next year or so, every morning, no familiar figure came running from that direction.
It's just a resource distribution robot; it doesn't feel "sadness."
Only occasionally would it gaze in the direction from which the white cypress often ran.
Even its behavior logic module cannot tell it why it performs behaviors outside the program.
I've been keeping a task log for over a year. A year's worth of time, condensed into words, could fill a long log.
The last sentence of each day's log entry will record that there is one daily task that has not been completed.
Daily tasks that take a long time to complete should be deleted, but I haven't made any changes in over a year.
The behavior logic module has been running for a long time but cannot explain its own behavior.
It's just a resource distribution robot; while it's intelligent, it's not advanced enough to understand what a machine truly is.
After finishing its task, it once again gazed meaninglessly in the direction from which Bai Luan often ran.
Bai Luan's figure ran from there, waving as she ran, just like she had for the past three years:
"Hey! Long time no see!"
In the daily to-do list, the task that had been unfinished for over a year has now changed from red (incomplete) to blue (completed).
It's just a resource distribution robot; its job is to complete the task.
It raised its mechanical arm:
"Long time no see. ヽ"
...
Even without white elm trees, the botanical garden will still receive the care it deserves.
The plants are still living very healthily.
The black tower doll that replaced the white jasmine only performed routine tasks and did not consider giving the plants any emotional value.
The most direct evidence of this is the strange activity of the Inspiration Mushroom, which hasn't been updated for a long time.
The original daily routine of the Inspiration Mushroom was simply to bask in the sun and grow quietly.
But after meeting Bai Luan, life started to become more varied.
Communicating with different plants is much more interesting than having a mushroom grow in the same place.
It's a pity that no one is willing to let Mushroom act as a translator anymore.
However, when bored, the Inspiration Mushroom might suddenly make a strange noise without warning, adding a touch of abstract commotion to this quiet botanical garden.
The plants that had lost the white elm were thriving under the care of the black tower doll, though they lacked some vitality.
The cranes flitted among the plants, passing through rose bushes, over the ghost pumpkins, and finally, with a gentle flap of their wings, landed on the umbrella of the Inspiration Mushroom.
"You've got a mushroom again."
Chizuru nodded in response, then settled peacefully on the Inspiration Mushroom, enjoying the leisurely sunlight with it.
After being disinfected, a figure entered the botanical garden and went straight to the Inspiration Mushroom.
The human body blocked out the sunlight, shrouding Chizuru and Inspiration Mushroom in shadow.
Chizuru raised her head, turned her slender neck, and then flapped her wings in delight, taking flight and circling around the newcomer.
"You're blocking the sun from the mushroom. If you block it for too long, the mushroom will die."
Upon hearing this, Bai Luan slightly turned her body aside, then squatted down, smiled at the Inspiration Mushroom, and asked:
"Could you perform that again? You mean that one?"
"...Of course you can use mushrooms."
The Inspiration Mushroom coughed twice, and then sang out a voice that Bai Luan had been thinking about for more than a year.
"Inspiration gurgle gurgle waka inspiration mushroom~"
"Mmm, that's it! They're back! They're all back!"
"Where did you go, mushroom?"
"Go to work. I don't know when I'll leave again, but I'm back for now. As for my own affairs... I'll talk about them later."
Bai Luan smiled and waved to the roses beside her.
The Inspiration Mushroom was near the rose bushes, and many of the rose bushes had already spotted the white elm.
This group of roses is like a brother walking down the street spotting a celebrity, then raising his hand and slapping you hard to remind you to look over there.
However, the roses don't have hands; they pat each other with their roots, looking more like dancing seaweed, hmm...
Maybe I can film a video later; those three accounts haven't been updated in a long time.
Our gardener is back!
The rose bushes turned entirely yellow, a color representing shock, and then gradually transformed into blue, a symbol of friendship.
The flower buds, which had been somewhat wilted, are now in full bloom thanks to the return of the white jasmine.
Truly overjoyed.
"They also have a lot to say to me, so why don't you chat with me and them first?"
"Of course it's good, mushroom."
Bai Luan took out a shovel and scooped up the mushroom along with the soil, then picked up the Inspiration Mushroom and walked towards the blooming rose bushes.
Inside the botanical garden, all the plants have regained their vitality.
It's like saying to Bai Luan:
Welcome home to this vast world.
...
After a busy but relaxing day, Bai Luan returned to her little house with a satisfied heart.
I prefer this place to the space station.
We're all working for the Big Black Tower, but this place is more for living, while the space station is more for business.
I've already made enough money on this business trip; I wish I never had to go again.
However, judging from the abilities he demonstrated this time, it seems unlikely.
Unless the Great Black Tower forgets about itself again.
Hmm... it's not impossible.
Pray that the boss forgets about himself...
In the small dark room, Bai Luan added a few to-do items to her notebook in the botanical garden, something she hadn't done in a long time.
Black Tower glanced at his surroundings.
"Looks like you've gone home."
"Yes, Ms. Black Tower has finally finished her work and returned to take over the Black Tower Space Station. Hopefully, she can maintain her interest in it for a while."
"If you ask me, it's unlikely."
Black Tower crossed his arms and said absentmindedly:
"I've been observing this space station from the sidelines for a long time. It's good enough as a temporary toy, but it won't last long."
Before long, I'll treat it like an unlimited-capacity containment box and leave it aside.
"Hmph~"
With a confident smile, Bai Luan looked at the Black Tower and said with certainty:
"Not necessarily. I left a project there that you'll definitely be interested in."
"oh?"
Black Tower revealed a smile.His smile was full of "You really dare to say that."
What did you leave behind?
"The original intention behind establishing the Black Tower Space Station was to seal the 'oddities' within the stars. Miss Black Tower, do you think the Star Core falls under the category of the oddities?"
"Containing a star core... well, this genius is indeed interested in such a thing."
Bai Luan looked smug.
See?
"How long do you think I can do this?"
"Hmm... Considering there's no real star core to use as an experimental subject or a facility to contain it, it's like the blind men and the elephant..."
Bai Luan stroked his chin and made a rather radical guess:
"It will take at least half a month, right?"
"Seven days at most, and then 'I'll' come looking for you."
Seven days?
It seems I was being too conservative.
Wait a minute...
Looking for me?
"Why? I've only been resting for a few days."
"This genius enjoys solving problems. If someone can repeatedly pose a problem that interests me, then this genius will naturally come knocking on their door."
"What about the Black Tower Space Station? Couldn't the Black Tower Space Station hold your attention for a little longer?"
"No one says I can only focus on one thing for seven days."
"Eh...no...how come you..."
Bai Luan couldn't hold back any longer; a sense of indescribable despair washed over her.
I just finished working overtime for more than a year and was just starting to rest when I realized I only had a seven-day holiday.
Holy crap! Lady Black Tower is still chasing me!
Chapter 27 Striving! So that I can lie down and relax!
Ha ha.
Bai Luan laughed, a laugh tinged with helplessness.
He exuded a sense of being a barely alive, overworked office worker.
Just as the Black Tower in the small dark room said, the Great Black Tower really did solve the problem of containing the star core in seven days.
After leaving some Black Tower dolls at the Black Tower Space Station for management, they came here and came knocking on the door.
Generally speaking, ordinary people would avoid difficult problems at all costs, but the genius Daheita has a unique idea.
He didn't have any great hobbies in his life, except for solving small problems.
The topic of genius test-takers.
"Do you have any other good ideas? Tell me quickly!"
"Ms. Black Tower, as I have already said, I do not wish to interfere too much in your fate."
"I didn't ask you for specific details, I just wanted you to give me some directions."
The Great Black Tower crossed his arms and said dismissively:
"Don't think I can't guess what your real purpose is in leaving a project to contain a star core at the Black Tower Space Station."
"Uh... I already said that..."
Don't give me that.
Black Tower interrupted impatiently, a cold, all-knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"I didn't ask you to spoil the script of fate, I just asked you to give me a direction."
She took a step forward, and an invisible sense of oppression surged over her like a cold tide.
Now that you've opened this door, do you think your excuse of 'fate is unspeakable' will still fool me?
Bai Luan was pressed against the wall, his body slightly shrunken, a smirk on his face.
Geniuses are really notoriously difficult to deal with...
It's not difficult to come up with a difficult problem, but it's very difficult to come up with a difficult problem that will interest the Great Black Tower in solving.
After all, she is a woman who has even defeated time; it's hard to imagine what in this world she cannot conquer.
Hey... the white cypress has a really big head.
Everything unfolded exactly as Black Tower had predicted in the dark room. Indeed, Black Tower was the only one who truly understood his personality…
The Black Tower's personality?
Black Tower Doll?
Does the Black Tower character possess the Black Tower personality?
Suddenly, Bai Luan had a flash of inspiration.
"Ms. Black Tower,"
He took a deep breath and spoke tentatively, as if making a desperate gamble.
"Perhaps... we could introduce some 'variables' into the core code that creates the Black Tower doll?"
"oh?"
Black Tower raised his eyebrows slightly, and the sharp, inquisitive glint in his eyes was instantly replaced by intense interest.
She didn't speak, but gestured with her eyes:
continue.
Bai Luan composed herself and organized her thoughts:
"You are perfect, without a doubt."
But precisely because of this, we might be able to use this to inject some controllable, non-destructive 'random parameters' into your 'perfect clone'—the Black Tower Doll.
"To cause a subtle and unpredictable shift in the core personality of each activated puppet..."
He paused, observing Black Tower's reaction, and seeing that she didn't show any impatience, he continued to throw out the core bait:
"In this way, you can see and hear for yourself how the Black Tower thinks and acts under different 'possibilities'."
Then, ask yourself, under these variables, "What should I do next?" The answer... will likely be quite interesting.
After saying this, Bai Luan looked at the Great Black Tower with some nervousness.
Although this is what the Great Black Tower did in the character PV released by miHoYo in the previous life.
But whether everything will continue to run along the previous trajectory after I come into this world is unknown.
What if?
What if the Great Black Tower finds this boring?
"It's definitely more interesting here. It was right to come back from the Black Tower Space Station sooner. You truly are a genius."
"Yes, yes, Lady Black Tower, unparalleled in the world."
Bai Luan breathed a sigh of relief and echoed her sentiments.
This hurdle is now behind us.
Since the Great Black Tower is interested in this matter, it will likely be busy with it for the foreseeable future.
Great, we've successfully diverted the Black Tower's attention away from us.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing."
"Is...is there anything else?"
Bai Luan's heart, which had just been at ease, was now hanging in suspense again.
You don't have to ask yourself if you have any good ideas, do you?
We're not exactly masters of creating something amazing; we don't have that many great things to create every day.
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious."
"That's good."
Bai Luan breathed a sigh of relief.
"How did you create that pile of strange objects?"
"Cough cough cough!"
The Black Tower's words left Bai Luan speechless, causing him to cough. He looked at the Black Tower in disbelief.
How did you notice that there were so many of them?
"You don't really think you can hide this from me, do you? If I check here and there, it'll be easy to find out about you."
Faced with the question about the Great Black Tower, Bai Luan didn't know how to answer for a moment.
It can't be that the system gave it this ability, and that folding a thousand paper cranes can turn them into living beings, right?
However, from a scientific perspective, Bai Luan couldn't offer a clear explanation.
Just like an ordinary umbrella that can be used as a parachute, it is just an ordinary umbrella in terms of both its structure and appearance.
But if you take that umbrella and jump off a tall building, opening it mid-air can cushion your fall, slowing your descent like a cartoon character and allowing you to land safely.
The power of a system transcends both physics and reason.
How am I supposed to explain this?
Bai Luan, somewhat resigned to his fate, said:
"Would you believe me if I said I just made it on a whim?"
Whatever.
I'm tired. Let it all end.
"Yes, I knew it."
"?"
Bai Luan looked at the Great Black Tower with a puzzled expression.
How did you accept it?
How could you, a genius, believe such a ridiculous explanation?
Wait, it can't be...
A sense of foreboding washed over him, and Bai Luan's expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to speak to remedy the situation, he heard the large black tower in front of him say:
"I really underestimated you before. You really are a genius."
Aaaaaah!!!
Spicy!
All spicy!
His self-deprecating words had become solid evidence in the eyes of the Great Black Tower that he had revealed his genius identity!
Geniuses can indeed invent amazing things effortlessly, and the reasons they invent these things can be quite arbitrary.
Thinking about it this way, my strange items do indeed fit the criteria of a genius.
Its unconventional appearance, its extremely casual purpose, and its incredibly profound scientific principles upon closer examination.
And didn't his own words just now prove that he was a genius who could conjure such wondrous objects with ease?
A bitter smile appeared on Bai Luan's face.