Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

Yu Qingtu is not going to dwell on it for now.

Ruan Mei only stated the facts without going into details, that's alright, we can ask Qi Zhimu next time.

Now...

"Get this thing away from me; it makes me quite uncomfortable standing here."

Yu Qingtu showed no reservations about the fake Qi Zhimu created by Ruan Mei.

So what if they look exactly the same? They're soulless.

"It has no life; it's a doll," Ruan Mei said.

"If the little guy himself were here, I wouldn't kick him out. I'd just say it outright: you making this thing is an insult to your own student."

Yu Qingtu frowned, her complexion not looking good.

"Imagine if your little one created a doll exactly like you, programmed with your favorite behavioral logic, to stay by your side all day long, how would you feel?"

"That's not me, so I won't feel anything," Ruan Mei said calmly.

That's what she said, but after taking the pastries from the doll, she told it to leave.

Yu Qingtu stared at Ruan Mei for a long time, trying to find traces of what was called being hypocritical or stubborn.

— Not found.

It's okay.

Qi Zhimu recently stated that he has never had any romantic feelings for Ruan Mei.

He answered frankly and without hesitation, without any sign of lying.

But that doesn't stop a genius's sixth sense from telling him: something's not right.

It's just that I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong with it right now.

The feeling Ruan Mei is giving her now is exactly the same as the feeling Qi Zhimu gave her back then.

A teacher and student who are a real pain in the ass.

In the popular old-fashioned tragic novels, they were at least a pair of star-crossed lovers.

"Then I can tell the little guy that you've created a stand-in for him, okay?"

"Whatever you want," Ruan Mei said indifferently.

"You're completely impervious to reason."

Yu Qingtu rolled her eyes, her chest heaving slightly, and snatched the entire plate of pastries.

He grabbed a piece, took a bite, and spat it out to the side after only a couple of chews.

He offered no further explanation, and simply stared at Ruan Mei.

Ruan Mei was a little confused by her gaze and thought there was something wrong with the pastry, so she picked up a piece and tasted it.

It seems fine.

What did she vomit?

"If you have any complaints, you can speak up, Qingtu."

"Ah Ruan, you're in serious trouble right now. I don't even know what words to use to describe you, you know?" Yu Qingtu's expression was indescribable.

"What's the problem?"

"That thing possesses the skill of a little guy, but I never expected it to be at the level of who-knows-how-many years ago!"

Yu Qingtu no longer possessed her usual classical and dignified demeanor; her tone was unusually incredulous.

"Eighty years, ninety, or a hundred years ago? Did you get rid of him a few days ago and then create the fake?"

Yu Qingtu recalled that when he visited Ruan Mei decades ago, she happened to be walking out of the laboratory, just like today.

The difference was that she had important business to attend to that time, so she left some rare research materials behind and departed.

Therefore, no one knew that Ruan Mei had made a fake of Qi Zhimu.

I never expected this...

Over a hundred years ago, Qi Zhimu was a shy but sunny young man who would work hard for several years for a casual remark from a stranger.

He respectfully presented her with a plate of pastries that looked and smelled delicious, his face showing a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, inviting her to taste and comment.

To be honest, the pastries he made that year weren't enough to win over her picky palate.

But the smile on the little guy's face, and his unwavering sincerity over the years, touched her far more than the pastry.

So, against her will, she put on a satisfied expression and promised to unconditionally help the little guy with something in the future.

Since then, Qi Zhimu's culinary skills have not declined, but have instead improved, completely winning over her discerning palate.

Whether long-lived or short-lived, humans have limits, and people are all different from one another.

Many things are futile no matter how much effort you put in; you may never see the end before you die.

But if you don't even have the courage to embark on the journey, you will completely lose all possibilities for the future.

Knowing it's impossible, yet still taking action, making progress day by day, and ultimately turning the impossible into possible.

Why is it that Qi Zhimu, despite being an ordinary short-lived species with nothing particularly special about him, is quite pleasing to her? This is the reason.

Over the years, Qi Zhimu has made pastries, and the taste has continued to improve steadily.

Why?

Because the little guy's teacher likes him!

Therefore, he never stopped studying.

Even if it's unpleasant, Yu Qingtu has to admit that the taste that suits him is just a side effect.

People change, and so do their tastes.

Over the years, the little one has spoiled her palate, and serving her counterfeit food is simply an insult to her taste buds.

Compared to the pastries the little guy had treated me to not long ago, the difference was far beyond what could be described as fireflies versus the moon.

Ruan Mei has been eating this stuff for over a hundred years?

In an instant, Yu Qingtu felt both jealous of her friend's position in Qi Zhimu's heart and pitied her friend.

—I also feel sorry for Qi Zhimu.

This is the teacher you respect as if he were your second parent... little one...

Thinking of this, Yu Qingtu could only sigh inwardly, but there was nothing he could do.

Every cause has its effect. No matter what Ruan Mei has become now, she is still the one who saved Qi Zhimu.

She has neither the right nor the qualification to criticize; the current situation is entirely the result of the choices made by the teacher and student themselves.

Seeing Ruan Mei lower her gaze, seemingly in agreement, Yu Qingtu lost the desire to relax and stay there for the first time.

He took out a small cloth bag and casually tossed it to Ruan Mei.

"All the experimental materials you needed are in there, as are the ten jars of plum blossom wine that Qi Zhimu sends you every year. I brought them along for him."

"I'm going to cause trouble for Club #64 for a while now, but don't bother me until that's over."

"Thank you, and have a safe journey." Ruan Mei nodded slightly, without offering any polite attempts to persuade her to stay.

As Yu Qingtu left the bath, her clothes automatically surfaced, concealing her alluring curves.

As she reached the door, she paused, adding without turning her head.

"Remember to maintain a regular schedule and eat on time."

"This is what that silly boy begged me to tell you. It's fine to tell you now. I reminded you before only because he asked me to."

"Ah Ruan, as a friend, let me give you an extra reminder: don't continue to do things that you might regret in the future."

That's all for now, see you next time.

Ruan Mei remained silent for a long time, staring at the petals floating on the water.

A face, as smooth and gentle as jade, with a soft smile, slowly took shape with the help of water.

My consciousness was only momentarily fading when that face vanished without a trace.

"..."

She slowly rose from the water, the water droplets running down her skin, constantly creating tiny ripples.

"I did nothing wrong, so why should I regret it?"

Ruan Mei murmured softly, draped a clean white bath towel over herself, and walked toward the laboratory.

When she has achieved the results of her research, she will consider meeting her students.

For now, time is prioritized for research.

After all, I had told Amu that we wouldn't meet until the research was finished.