After solving the director problem for the Studio's "Clockie" commemorative work, Bai Luan returned to the Dreamscape Hotel with Herta and Herta Puppet, then used the Anywhere Door to go back to Herta Space Station.
As soon as Herta arrived at the Space Station, she quickly pulled the Herta Puppet away, intending to program some fun and interesting limitations for this overly active puppet.
As for Bai Luan, he fully immersed himself in advancing the Wall-E film project.
Although he handed this project over to Clock Studio, he didn't intend to completely let go.
After all, Wall-E is a 3D animation, and it's a completely new attempt for Clockwork Studio.
If he didn't personally oversee it, problems could easily arise.
Moreover, as Bai Luan's favorite film, he also hoped this work could debut in the Honkai: Star Rail universe in its most perfect form.
This way, he could also drop by Stelle's film set to help out.
The distance between the Space Station and Penacony was no problem for Bai Luan—remote work was no different from working at home, just an extra step of opening the Anywhere Door.
Under Bai Luan's full efforts, Wall-E progressed rapidly.
What surprised him was that Stelle's "Clockie" commemorative work was only slightly behind his.
Bai Luan wasn't surprised by this, at most he just mused:
"Stelle really is an active conceptual god; she can do anything."
But in the eyes of Studio's Animators, it was a completely different scene:
"Holy cow, what kind of dazzling twin stars are these?
Are you saying we have two once-in-a-hundred-years film geniuses here at once?"
Although at first, due to Bai Luan's authority, no one questioned his choice.
When Piers announced that this parachuted director was designated by Bai Luan, everyone immediately accepted the fact without any objection.
Even if Bai Luan really stuffed a "crown prince" into Studio, they wouldn't complain.
After all, when a Living Legend joins the team and, right in front of you, effortlessly solves problems you thought were impossible, and even points out a clear path to success, what's a "burden"?
Can that even be called a burden?
That's a good partner I need to carefully nurture and accompany as they grow!
What's more, Stelle is not a burden at all.
The powerful abilities she has shown during this time have proven—she is also at the level of a Living Legend.
Uh... perhaps "Living Mother"?
Never mind, it's not important.
In short, with Bai Luan and Stelle at the helm, Clock Studio is now at the point where they wake up laughing from their dreams.
They wake up laughing, realize it's not a dream, and then laugh even harder.
Although everyone was incredibly busy to keep up with these two, seeing the increasingly perfect work, everyone felt that all their efforts were worthwhile.
Bai Luan also found this job quite easy; his only worry was having to be careful of Screwllum.
He knew clearly that Screwllum would see this movie sooner or later; it was foreseeable.
But before the movie was released, he didn't want Screwllum to hear any related news.
Because it was no different from blowing himself up with a grenade; the only difference was that this time he was blowing himself up.
Bai Luan accepted the fact that he would eventually be blown up, but accepting being blown up didn't mean he wanted it to happen now.
He had compromised to this extent, so at least let this grenade explode later, right?
Hey, from another perspective, he wasn't making an Instant-Detonation Grenade for himself, but for Screwllum.
The moment this thought appeared, Bai Luan immediately felt his mind broaden considerably.
Indeed, with this thought, the world felt vast.
After thinking this, Bai Luan's steps even became lighter.
『At least he convinced himself...』
Bai Luan walked with light steps to the platform. First Truth University sent a message, specifically dispatching a spaceship to bring Lars and the others back.
By his calculations, they should have arrived by now.
Sure enough, shortly after he arrived at the platform, a spaceship slowly docked.
Interestingly, this spaceship was the same one that had taken Bai Luan to First Truth University initially.
Seeing this spaceship, Bai Luan couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic.
Although his time at First Truth University was short, he indeed learned a lot there.
Thanks to Professor Ratio's teaching, his knowledge base expanded.
He wondered if the pilot was still the same student as before.
Bai Luan stroked his chin, pondering for a moment—ah, he remembered, it was Mu Zi.
While Bai Luan was lost in thought, the spaceship had already docked steadily at the platform.
The hatch opened, and Jarvis flew out first, followed by Olivia, carrying a suitcase.
She saw Bai Luan waiting on the platform, was first surprised, then smiled and waved in greeting.
Bai Luan also smiled and nodded in response.
Olivia slowly walked down the spaceship.
After her was Lars, but his situation wasn't as smooth.
"I told you, you don't need to help me with my luggage."
"No, no, I must help you, otherwise what if they deduct my credits when I go back? Mr. Lars, please don't make things difficult for me."
"Alright, alright, just help me carry it off the ship."
"Got it."
Mu Zi helped Lars carry his luggage off the spaceship, with Lars following behind empty-handed, looking a bit reserved.
Then he saw Bai Luan, and his reaction was identical to Olivia's—first surprise, then a greeting.
However, unlike Olivia, he also scratched his head awkwardly, after all, the Station Master had seen him ordering someone around.
In this regard, it had to be Olivia; she had been guarding her suitcase as soon as the spaceship was about to arrive, while he was still chatting with Jarvis.
A miscalculation, truly a miscalculation.
Mu Zi helped Lars carry the luggage to Bai Luan's side:
"I'll help you this far."
Mu Zi nodded and put down the luggage:
"Then I'll leave it here. Phew, safely home, credits earned~"
Bai Luan looked at him and asked with a smile:
"Long time no see, Mu Zi."
Mu Zi was a little overwhelmed:
"I didn't expect you to still remember me."
"Of course, I remember a lot. Like that bubble tea filled with toppings, and..."
Bai Luan's gaze turned to the spaceship.
"This spaceship's life support system is a bit poor; it smells a bit."
Lars was startled, then asked confusedly:
"Is it? I don't feel anything?"
"Of course you wouldn't feel it."
A trace of nostalgia flashed across Mu Zi's face.
"Because after picking up Mr. Bai Luan, the spaceship's life support system was optimized."
He spoke with a hint of emotion.
"Back then, Mr. Bai Luan wasn't even a member of the Genius Society... Everything has really changed so much.
No more talking, I have a few experiments to do this afternoon. Without that experimental data, my graduation thesis will be difficult, so I'll take my leave first."
"Alright, goodbye."
Mu Zi boarded the spaceship and flew away from the Space Station.
Lars watched the departing spaceship and let out a long sigh—his adventure had come to a successful end.
Lars withdrew his gaze and saw Bai Luan smiling at him, subconsciously waving his hand and saying:
"Station Master! Station Master! Hold on, I don't want to participate in new assessments for now..."
Bai Luan was startled at first, then chuckled:
"I'm not here to give you an assessment."
"Then what is the Station Master here for?"
"I'm here to ask you, do you have any desired rewards?"
Lars was stunned:
"Giving lectures at First Truth University isn't considered a reward?"
"Isn't that work?"
Lars, Bai Luan: Huh?
It seems our perceptions have diverged somewhat.
Bai Luan lightly coughed:
"I think that's work. Who has an objection?"
His gaze swept over Lars, Olivia, and Jarvis in turn, and seeing no one (or no machine) voice an opinion, he nodded in satisfaction:
"Then it seems no one or no machine has an objection. Let's return to the original topic."
He looked at them:
"Is there anything you want?"
Lars thought for a moment, then shook his head:
"I don't have anything I want at the moment. However... I have a question I'd like to ask you, Station Master."
"What question?"
"In your opinion, can I be considered an... Old Novices?"
Bai Luan was initially struggling to suppress a laugh, but seeing Lars' serious expression, he restrained his smile.
The casual term he had coined back then had now become a title someone aspired to.
"Such an idiot."
A smile of emotion tugged at Bai Luan's lips.
"The so-called Old Novices refers to people like you."
...