The video of the rose offering and scene transition caused a huge sensation on the StarNet, not only because it was an excellent video, but also because it revealed the relationship between two geniuses.
"Why haven't these two gotten married yet and had a bunch of kids?"
"My eyes were born to see this!"
"The most authoritative CP on the Space Station, with plenty of punch! This food is a joy to devour, my friends! If you haven't shipped them, ship them now!" (Aha: did someone call me?)
"These two are dating with the entire universe as their audience."
"Whose feelings do these lyrics describe? Yi Mu's? Or Herta's? Or... both? Oh my, I'm so good at shipping, I'm a shipping genius too."
"I think this video has reached the point where Ms. Herta will rewatch it repeatedly to savor it."
"I think this template can be applied to any ship-able CP. I can already foresee that for a while, my homepage will be dominated by this transition."
To be honest, Bai Luan had already gotten used to causing a sensation on the StarNet every time he posted a video.
So he only intensely self-searched and passionately interacted with fans until the early hours of the morning, not pulling an all-nighter.
The next day, as soon as Bai Luan woke up, Herta told him some news.
She said she had accepted Jimmy's interview invitation and was preparing to personally go and record an episode of "Into the Starry Sky," meaning she would be leaving the Space Station for a while.
Bai Luan was quite surprised by this.
He remembered that in the game, Herta didn't go herself; she only sent three praising puppets to torment Jimmy.
Hmm... this should be a small butterfly effect brought about by him, this little butterfly, right?
However, what Bai Luan was most concerned about at the moment wasn't this. Upon hearing the news, his eyes immediately lit up, and he eagerly pressed on:
"Are you taking me!? Are you taking me!?"
Unfortunately, Herta shook her head decisively, refusing him outright.
"No."
Bai Luan visibly sagged, but he quickly recovered.
Life is long, there will be other opportunities.
After informing Bai Luan, Herta briskly boarded the spaceship heading to the program recording site.
At the same time, for reasons unknown, she also took the Herta Puppet that had recently been following Bai Luan like a little tail.
The Herta Puppet's presence was so strong that as soon as she disappeared, Bai Luan immediately noticed.
How should he put it, he was quite unaccustomed to it.
He didn't expect that Herta Puppet would actually replace one of the three praising puppets; her future was boundless.
It was normal for Herta to bring a Herta Puppet when traveling, but more than that, Bai Luan was more concerned that Herta had specifically told him before she left.
Given Herta's personality, she wouldn't do anything superfluous. Her specifically telling him before this trip must have had her intentions.
Given Herta's nature, what intentions would she be hiding?
Did she want him to stay at the Space Station and watch the show then?
Hmm... whether his guess was right or not, he had to set an alarm to watch this episode of "Into the Starry Sky" on time.
Bai Luan took out his phone, checked the broadcast time for "Into the Starry Sky," and set several alarms for himself.
Since Herta had temporarily left Herta Space Station to record a show, he could finally catch his breath from the environment where he was constantly being Super Broken.
Ever since the mechanism of exchanging leave slips for rewards was introduced, Bai Luan was now basically in a state of fixed Super Break.
It wasn't that his Herta Resistance hadn't grown at all these days, but rather, as their relationship deepened, Herta had too many ways to implement Super Break on him.
It was no longer limited to just a kiss, but rather a dazzling array of tricks, emerging endlessly.
These numerous methods were deployed in rotation according to Herta's mood that day, making it impossible for him to guard against them and form effective immunity.
If Herta in the Little Black Room didn't give him special training like last time, he probably wouldn't be able to adapt to the current Break intensity for a long time.
Unfortunately, Herta in the Little Black Room also seemed to find such frequent Super Break very interesting.
She simply copied Herta's moves from reality, calling it:
"They are both Herta. Her moves are my moves. What's wrong with me using them? It saves me from having to think of my own.
She's been benefiting from me for so long, it's about time I benefited from her."
The two Hertas had now unified their front, which meant Bai Luan would be in this environment for a while.
Now he could only rely on his own natural growth of some Herta Resistance.
As for when this stage would end...
Bai Luan himself didn't know.
Maybe once he naturally adapted, he would enter the next stage?
...No!
I just caught my breath, why am I still thinking about this!
No more thinking, no more thinking.
He shook his head, deciding to find something else to distract himself.
Right, he should first ask how Stelle is doing in Penacony.
He was still waiting for Stelle to return from Penacony to complete the last missing piece of the dance troupe puzzle.
Thinking this, Bai Luan began to compose a message for Stelle.
Bai Luan: Stelle!
Stelle also replied instantly.
Stelle: Uncle!
Bai Luan: How are things in Penacony being handled?
Stelle: We've really had a lot happen on this journey, experienced many twists and turns, and put in a lot of effort.
Stelle: But don't worry, it's almost resolved.
Bai Luan: Oh... do you have time to come to the Space Station recently?
Bai Luan: A brand new simulated universe dlc, waiting for you to test!
Stelle: !
Stelle: I'll test it! I'll test it!
Bai Luan: And while you're at it, I need you to film a few fun videos. We've added a few new members.
Stelle: !
Stelle: I'll film! I'll film!
Bai Luan: Then come when you're free.
Stelle: Yay—!
Stelle: I'll be able to play with Uncle again soon!
But very quickly, Stelle also noticed some new information.
Stelle: New members?
Stelle: Who are they?
Bai Luan: If nothing unexpected happens...
Bai Luan: Herta Puppet, Screwllum, Ruan Mei.
Stelle: ???
Stelle, far away in Penacony, rubbed her eyes and looked again, confirming she hadn't misread.
What kind of all-genius lineup is this?
Would her joining lower the average academic qualification?
Stelle: Uncle...
Stelle: You didn't create a hypnotic curio and hypnotize Mr. Screwllum and Miss Ruan Mei, did you?
Bai Luan: ... Bai Luan: Am I that kind of person, your uncle?
Bai Luan: They volunteered.
Stelle: ???
This is even more terrifying, isn't it!
Stelle: Uncle, this is much more outrageous than what I assumed, isn't it?
Stelle: How did you even do it?
Stelle: How did you convince them?
Stelle: Teach me.
Stelle: Maybe I can use it when I try to persuade Dan Heng to film videos later.
... You're not letting Dan Heng off either.
He thought carefully and realized that it was really difficult to summarize the complex mental journey of the two geniuses "joining the team" in just a few words.
So, Bai Luan gave up, throwing caution to the wind, and just found a random reason to explain.
Bai Luan: Just consider them... infected by me.
Stelle: Oh.
Stelle: Then it's not surprising.
Bai Luan: ...
Bai Luan: No, what kind of existence am I in your eyes exactly?
Bai Luan: A memetic virus?
Stelle: If you say that, I can't agree, Uncle.
Bai Luan looked at Stelle's reply, a relieved smile just appearing on his face, thinking, "This child finally has some conscience."
Stelle: Your 'infectiousness' isn't that low-level.
Bai Luan: ...
Give me back that little bit of naive longing I had for you!
You heartless thing!
Bai Luan: I'm not messing with you anymore.
Bai Luan: You decide the time yourself.
Bai Luan: If you need me to pick you up, just tell Uncle.
Stelle: You don't need to pick me up, Uncle. There are some things here that I'm not sure when they'll be finished.
Stelle: After I'm done, I'll go to the Space Station.
Bai Luan: OK.
It seemed that the matters in Penacony were not yet resolved, and Stelle would still need some time before she was free.
Hmm... while he was at it, he might as well ask about the situation with old man Edward.
Bai Luan chatted with Edward for a couple of sentences.
Edward reported that everything was well, he had successfully met his wife, chatted a lot, and made a new friend.
Confirming his safety, Bai Luan nodded in relief, then put down his phone.
Then he turned his head and saw Lars, who had appeared silently beside him at some unknown time.
No, why did this kid walk so quietly?
After the instant explosion, was this kid practicing silent knife kills now?
"What are you doing standing there?"
"Oh... Station Master, are you done chatting?"
"Were you waiting for me?"
Lars nodded and said:
"I have a question I want to ask you, Station Master."
This was a bit rare. Since he had given him Jarvis, he rarely came to him with questions.
Bai Luan asked with a hint of curiosity:
"Where's Jarvis?"
A hint of helplessness appeared on Lars's face, and he sighed, saying:
"Station Master should know that I often cooperate with Olivia, right?"
"Yes, I know that, but what does that have to do with you coming to ask me questions?"
Lars spread his hands, his expression even more helpless:
"I tried to snatch Jarvis from her, but I couldn't."
Bai Luan couldn't hold back and burst out laughing on the spot.