Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm working on. I upload at least 2 times daily for most novels.
Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff
******
Facing Asta's question, Su Qing maintained his earlier pace, responding, "Both of you are quite beautiful."
Asta pressed further, "But surely one must be more beautiful than the other, right?"
Su Qing replied, "Your personalities are different."
Asta continued questioning, "So what kind of personalities do we have?"
Su Qing spoke confidently, "I believe when it comes to beauty, the most important aspect lies within a person's character."
[Sparkle: ???]
[Bronya: ? That answer...]
[Himeko: I suspect Su Qing thinks I'm more beautiful, which makes it difficult for him to respond.]
[Silver Wolf: ? Excessive confidence equals narcissism!]
[March 7th: Seems like Su Qing just doesn't want to rank us. After all, one is his childhood friend, and the other is his girlfriend~]
[Himeko: That's also possible.]
[Himeko: If avoiding comparison, even slightly following Asta's line of questioning could potentially lead to conflicts.]
[Sushang: For the last aspect, 'substance,' couldn't we say: "Asta is cute, Himeko is beautiful"?]
[Himeko (laughs): Let me simulate his response then: "Are you implying that Himeko is more beautiful than me, Asta?"]
[Sushang: Ah, that...]
[Sushang: This... I really don't know how to handle it!]
[Himeko (laughs): Alright, time's up.]
[Himeko: Asta would say: "You hesitated for so long! It must mean you think Himeko is prettier than me!"]
[Sparkle: Quite entertaining.]
[Sushang: Oh no, oh no! Th-this-this, I genuinely wouldn't know how to respond!]
[Guinaifen: It's too challenging for Shangshang, isn't it?!]
[Stelle: Ha ha, but if this were the old Su Qing, he wouldn't have cared about potential pitfalls at all.]
[Stelle: He would've straightforwardly given his honest answer without batting an eye.]
[Qingque: So now... is it the effect of Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune?]
[March 7th: Maybe, but more likely, he's genuinely improved after experiencing that ordeal once!]
[Sparkle: It's about time for some roasting, indeed!]
[Sparkle: Can't wait to see his progress after the next round of torment. Hoping it'll be even more entertaining!]
Observing Asta pout with a look suggesting she had more to say, Su Qing took charge by posing a question instead: "Oh right, that jacket you bought last time looked really nice. Why haven't I seen you wear it?"
"Huh? Really?!" Asta flashed her adorable smile. "I put it away earlier. Next time we chat, I'll show it off to you, okay?"
On the side, Herta was taken aback:
"...Herta is speechless."
Herta wondered,
Is this still the wooden Su Qing I know?!
When did you become so adept at handling girls?
The only significant change in Su Qing's life recently could be attributed to boarding the train...
Could the Trailblazing journey foster growth in such unexpected aspects as well?!
[March 7th: Trailblazing unfairly maligned (not)]
As Asta's expression brightened, she engaged Su Qing in conversation again.
"...Once you're done here, give me a call."
With that, the Herta doll simply closed its eyes, logging off instantly.
[Sparkle: Oh, Herta: I can't handle this anymore, maybe logging off is best.]
[Stelle: No! Herta, don't log off!!]
[Herta: ...@Stelle, how many times do you plan to use the same joke?]
[Stelle: I'll equally tell everyone not to log off!]
[March 7th: ? Ha ha, Stelle, since when did you acquire the Abundance fate path?!]
Seeing that Herta had logged off nearby, Asta felt even more at ease.
She rested her cheeks on her hands, gazing at Su Qing's image on her phone. Occasionally, with delight, she swayed gently from side to side. Her pink hair softly fluttered as she playfully whined, "Su Qing—when exactly are you coming back?"
[Seele: Aiyo—]
[Seele: Can't take it! That sounded so sweet, unbearable! Me too, want to log off now!]
[March 7th: Suddenly so sugary sweet! Even sweeter than before!!]
[Fu Xuan: ...]
Su Qing replied that it would likely be some time yet.
"I see." Asta suddenly remembered something, her face blushing slightly. "Su Qing, I miss you just a little bit. Could you please give me a head pat?"
Before leaving the space station, Su Qing had indeed patted her head. At the moment, Asta was consumed by tears, but upon reflection later, she found the feeling incredibly comforting.
Objectively speaking, Su Qing hadn't been away from the space station for long.
However, subjectively, Asta felt it had been quite long; she needed to replenish some energy to continue.
In response, Su Qing expressed her confusion, "Uh, how can I give you a head pat over a video call? At the moment, I don't have any holographic projection equipment here."
Asta also realized her request sounded silly, "Well, just pretend to touch my head through the screen, and-I-I'll imagine feeling it too. That's enough."
[Herta: Love diminishes intelligence, and Asta is the perfect example.]
[March 7th: Ha ha, no way! What an adorable request though~]
[Firefly: If only Asta were watching this live stream, it would surely become another embarrassing chapter in her black history...]
[Silver Wolf: ?? Her black history already fills volumes! Just the series of assumptions during the meal replacement phase was enough for a full-fledged drama!!]
Su Qing fell silent for a moment.
But as she observed Asta's cheeks growing increasingly flushed, along with her movements becoming more hesitant—a clear sign of rising embarrassment—
Su Qing finally spoke up, "No problem. If you think this will help, we can give it a try."
"Phew..." Asta finally let out a relieved sigh.
She rested her hands on her legs, slightly lowering her head and looking up towards the phone screen. "O-okay then, please proceed."
Seeing Asta's nervous demeanor, Su Qing smiled. "Don't be so formal; it makes me feel awkward too."
"All right..."
Asta pursed her lips, visibly relaxing a bit. In response, Su Qing reached out virtually to give her an air pat on the head.
It was quite a novel experience—like performing without any props.
As he watched Asta through the video call, she seemed content with this gesture, her expression softening further, almost descending into a blush.
Even mimicking physical contact, she gently leaned into his virtual touch.
Su Qing still found it somewhat peculiar, but at the same time, he experienced a sense of déjà vu.
Pink hair.
Sweet voice.
Extremely clingy.
Fond of acting cute.
[Qingque: Wow! Isn't that just like Grand Diviner?]
[Fu Xuan: Was I equally clingy when I acted cute back then?]
[Qingque: You were even more clingy.]
[Qingque: Ah no! I meant, she isn't as clingy as you!]
[Fu Xuan: ...Qingque, perhaps you should stop talking for now.]
In any case.
After subtly imagining himself in Asta's place, Su Qing found his virtual head-pats for her becoming even more natural.
[Stelle: Here it comes!!!]
[Stelle: The Goddess of Substitutes reveals yet another glimpse of her divine power!]
[Seele: ?? Has she already evolved into the Goddess of Substitutes!?]
[Silver Wolf: Pink-haired, loves to act cute, voice as sweet as honey, and exceptionally clingy.]
[Silver Wolf: It feels like ages since we've seen Asta substitute so formally.]
[Stelle: The humble Goddess of Substitutes occasionally showcases her divine might, just to remind the main courses that her authority remains unchallenged.]
[March 7th: ??? This is getting more absurd by the minute, seriously!!]
[Silver Wolf: Enjoying this immensely.]
[Silver Wolf: I have this condition where seeing Asta makes me want to laugh. ? Ha ha, oh no! Will I be struck by divine retribution from the Goddess of Substitutes?!]
[Stelle: ? Gods are forgiving; they will pardon your disrespect.]
[Qingque: Impressive!]
[Qingque: If Asta is this remarkable, why is she still a substitute? Can't she become the main course directly?]
[Stelle: ? Gods are compassionate; they won't usurp the space meant for the main course.]
[Qingque: Hahahaha!!]
[March 7th (roasting): You sure know how to justify everything, don't you?!]
[Seele: Stelle, please stop using this style of speaking, I'm going to die from laughter!?!]
[Stelle: ???]
[Silver Wolf: Can't hold it together anymore, huh!?]
[Sparkle: Amused.]
[Himeko: It seems Asta's strength as a substitute mainly stems from her status as childhood friend.]
[Himeko: Su Qing is very familiar with her and has absolutely no romantic feelings towards her, allowing him to be unreserved and naturally assume her role.]
[Seele: The "absolutely no romantic feelings" part, right?]
[Qingque: Sneaking in personal biases there! Just casually writing Asta out, huh?!]
[Kafka: Did she ever stand a chance? She wasn't even in the game to begin with.]
[Silver Wolf: With a childhood friend like that, can anyone win? Not a chance.]
***
Responding to Asta's call, the Herta doll reactivated.
Herta: "What's up? Finished chatting?"
"Mm-hmm."
Asta pondered for a moment before cautiously asking, "Herta, you really went offline just now... You didn't see anything, did you?"
As if struck by a sudden thought, Herta's expression became quite subtle. "Just what exactly were you saying or doing with Su Qing in front of me earlier?"
"No way!" Asta blushed, unsure if her thoughts aligned with Herta's. "I just whispered some ordinary things to Su Qing; what are you imagining?!?"
[Sparkle: So, Herta dolls can enter sleep mode, right?]
[Sparkle: I suddenly have a daring and thrilling idea.]
[Stelle: Me too.]
[March 7th: Don't say it!]
[Sparkle: ?? Seems like you thought of the same thing.]
[Stelle: Naughty little March.]
[March 7th (blushing slightly): Ah! You guys are so mean!!!]
"Well."
Herta continued, "Now, let's get back on track. Call Himeko."
"Okay," Asta agreed, adding hastily, "But really, nothing happened between me and Su Qing just now."
Herta nodded, "Alright, alright, I understand."
Moments later, after composing herself, Asta initiated a video call to Himeko.
[Seele: You actually called?!]
[Qingque: Looks like we're truly going head-to-head now.]
[Qingque: Is this substitute meal plan genuinely starting its counteroffensive?]
[Sushang: If launching a counterattack on the main course sequentially, shouldn't you start with Firefly first?]
[Bronya: But Firefly is still at Penacony, and nobody knows about her connection to Su Qing.]
[Bronya: Even Su Qing herself believes Firefly is just a fictional character.]
[Firefly: Waaaaah...]
[Stelle: Mystery solved! Turns out Firefly is a 2D anime character!]
[Stelle: No wonder she doesn't have any presence in reality; we can only find her online!]
[Seele: Nice! Suddenly it all makes sense.]
[Firefly: No, I'm real, I swear!!! It's just that my role hasn't had much screen time yet!!]
[Qingque: "Just" temporarily...]
The call connected.
From the background, Himeko appeared to be aboard the Astral Express.
Her expression showed slight surprise but quickly composed itself. Without revealing her reaction verbally, she greeted Asta warmly and effortlessly began their conversation.
Himeko: "I heard there's been new research developments at the space station recently..."
Asta: "Yes, we've made breakthroughs in our previous project, and some visiting scholars will be arriving soon..."
Himeko shared some experiences from her journey during the Trailblazing expedition.
Asta reminisced about their past encounters.
[Stelle: @Himeko, you and Asta seem quite familiar with each other?]
[Himeko: Yes, before joining the Astral Express, I had visited the Herta space station several times.]
As they continued chatting,
Asta casually asked, "Himeko, how has Su Qing been doing on the train recently?"
Although she had just spoken with Su Qing, Asta used this conversational approach to segue into the main topic.
Himeko replied, "He's been doing great. He gets along well with the train crew, and we've also enjoyed our interactions."
Asta nodded, "Oh, that's good. While I feel he might be happier at the space station, knowing he's doing well on the train puts my mind at ease."
Himeko assured her generously, "Rest assured, as his navigator, I'll take care of him."
Asta pondered for a moment before saying, "However, recently, Su Qing seems to have been staying mostly at Luofu and not returning to the train much, right?"
Himeko smiled, "Didn't you just ask me about Su Qing's recent well-being? I assumed he hadn't kept much contact with you after leaving the space station."
"I overheard him mention it occasionally," Asta replied, looking at her phone screen and blinking innocently. "Oh dear, don't misunderstand, Himeko. Our communication isn't actually that frequent."
"I see."
Himeko chuckled, "Indeed, Su Qing has been spending most of his time at Luofu lately, but I think it's quite alright."
She paused briefly, then continued, "After all, Su Qing is someone who values freedom; he doesn't like being confined to one place. That's why he embarked on the train journey, wouldn't you agree?"
[Silver Wolf: ???]
[Silver Wolf: What exactly are these two talking about, going round and round?!]
[Kafka: (laughs) Already losing patience, Silver Wolf?]
[March 7th: Silver Wolf, can't you sense the growing tension, like gunpowder thickening in the air??]
[Silver Wolf: I detect some, but arghh, this is so frustrating—get to the point already!!]
[Stelle: Look at you, always in such a rush.]
[Sparkle: Even Estelle seems more composed than Silver Wolf, it appears.]
[Firefly: Silver Wolf only knows games; what does she understand about love?!]
[Silver Wolf: Rude much? Is that how Little Firefly talks to the first-season champion?]
[Firefly: You're going to milk that one win for your whole life, huh?!]
[Herta: Who asked you? ?]
The initial pleasantries unfolded.
As familiar friends, Asta and Himeko exchanged ideas on science and shared experiences, creating a warm atmosphere.
However, once their probing began, the surface cordiality masked underlying currents of tension.
Herta watched from the side, chin resting in her hand, observing the drama unfold.
She found both women quite intriguing. They seemed aware of each other's intentions yet continued to play along with the charade.
Let's see how long they can maintain the act.
Asta gazed at the elegant and beautiful Himeko sitting across from her. From her friend's demeanor, she grew increasingly certain that Himeko was indeed the author of the love letter.
Continuing the conversation tactfully, Asta asked, "Himeko, as his navigator, what do you think of Su Qing?"
At this point, Asta continued questioning Himeko from her perspective as a navigator, maintaining plausible deniability without tearing through the thin veneer.
Himeko responded similarly, focusing on the aspect of Trailblazing: "Hmm... Su Qing is ambitious, courageous, and possesses both bravery and responsibility. He always considers others—a truly remarkable Trailblazer."
"Right, right?"
A genuine smile appeared on Asta's face, fully engaged in the topic. "Su Qing has always been like that. Do you remember when we were kids and got lost in the forest once?" She recounted animatedly, "I was so scared back then, but thanks to him, he comforted and protected me. Indeed, he's very brave and dependable; it makes him quite impressive... Ah!"
The last exclamation came as Herta kicked Asta again beneath the table.
Asta subtly glanced sideways, receiving Herta's silent reminder:
Do you think this is some fan exchange meet?
Praising Su Qing together with Himeko now?
Stay on track!
Get back to the point!
[Seele: hhh, a fan exchange meet.]
[Sparkle: Fun indeed, they're true kindred spirits.]
[Sparkle: Actually, they could have asked directly: 'You like Su Qing, I like Su Qing too—doesn't that make us allies?']
[Stelle: hahahahahaha!! That's exactly right! Sharing the same interests!]
[Qingque: ? Ha ha, surprisingly, amidst the absurdity, there's a hint of truth!]
[Himeko: ...I must say, it makes no sense at all.]
[Himeko: This is a zero-sum game. In the end, there can be only one winner. As long as that premise holds true, we're not allies but rivals.]
[Jingliu: What if there isn't just one winner?]
[Jingliu: Can Bai Heng and I still be considered allies then?]
[Himeko: ...So Jingliu, you're here to stir up trouble, aren't you?]
[Silver Wolf: The fundamental rules cannot be broken!]
Initially, Asta's tangent seemed likely to make Himeko even more composed.
However, contrary to expectations, after hearing Asta's story, Himeko's expression became somewhat uneasy.
[Black Swan: ? Because Himeko had a similar experience herself.]
[Black Swan: Their first encounter with Su Qing was at a suburban summer tech fair. At the time, Su Qing carried her, injured and lost, out from the mountains.]
[Seele: Ah! Now I remember, it all makes sense!]
[Qingque: Oh no, is this substitute really about to turn the tables??]
The revelation that Su Qing and Asta shared such a past...
Was it like a childhood sweetheart bond...?
Himeko's mood instantly soured.
Herta subtly grasped this situation.
Although she didn't know the reason behind Himeko's sudden despondency, it presented a good opportunity.
However, just as Herta was about to remind Asta, her eyebrows furrowed abruptly. "...Here it comes again."
"What is it?" Asta looked up.
"Nothing important, just a minor nuisance I need to handle." Herta stood up, nodded in passing towards Himeko as a greeting, and then left the lounge.
Recently, a persistent annoyance had been frequently launching cyber attacks against her. Initially, she had ignored them, but now seemed like the right time to teach the culprit a proper lesson.
[Stelle: Could it be...?]
After Herta departed,
Originally,
if not for this off-topic interruption,
Himeko could have continued playing along with Asta for much longer.
But things were different now.
Himeko's mood shifted, and she found herself losing composure. From her perspective, the relationship between Asta and Su Qing appeared quite abrupt.
Su Qing had always been on Water Blue Star, attending university with me, right?
How did he come to know Asta, a wealthy heiress from their company, someone they supposedly grew up with together?
Himeko was equally puzzled. Could it be that Asta met Su Qing when seeking company assistance to dismantle Water Blue Star's monopolistic enterprises?
But the timeline didn't match; childhood friends should have known each other from much earlier...
In any case,
after Herta left the room,
both women, harboring their own uncertainties, gradually grew restless.
It is often said that whoever loses patience first tends to be at a disadvantage. However, Asta, with less experience under her belt, couldn't hold back for long.
Without Herta beside her, after exchanging a few more words, she succumbed to her curiosity and openly voiced her question without much reservation.
"Asta," she asked, "How exactly do you get along with Su Qing? It seems like your fondness for him is quite high. Do you not have any other thoughts about him?"
Upon hearing this question,
there was a brief silence of a few seconds.
Himeko gently twirled a strand of her beautiful red hair, as if deep in thought.
Then, having reached a decision, she spoke:
"Asta, there's something I've never told you before. Actually, I am Su Qing's girlfriend."
[This revelation stunned the world!]
However,
before Asta and the viewers could react,
From the video call on the other side, a shocked exclamation suddenly rang out: "Sister Himeko, what did you just say?!?!?"
[Bronya: Huh? That voice, is it March 7th?]
[Stelle: Where'd this little March come from?!]
[Silver Wolf: @March 7th, were you listening in all along?!]
[Qingque: Never would have expected that!]
[March 7th seemed quite delighted.]
[March 7th: Yay, I'm at the scene! To think I'd be present during such a pivotal moment—this is amazing! 😄]
[Seele: Well then, does this mean March 7th's journey of shipping couples finally becomes reality?]
[Stelle: Quite the opposite, actually.]
[Stelle: At this point in the stream, things are just getting started. The March 7th watching the live broadcast realizes her instincts anew, staying true to her original passion.]
[Silver Wolf: So even with memories sealed, she ultimately rediscovers her innate tendencies and embarks on her fate path of shipping couples, right?]
[March 7th: As expected of me! 🤩]
[Silver Wolf: ...Were we complimenting you?]
[The viewers of the livestream, already aware that Himeko was Su Qing's girlfriend, focused more on March 7th's sudden appearance.]
[However, one particular young heiress had a different reaction.]
Asta remained completely unfazed by March 7th's outburst on the other side.
For several seconds, she stood stunned. The smile lingered on Asta's face but appeared strained and forced. She tried her best to mimic the expression one would have upon hearing a humorous joke. "Himeko, you...you're joking, right?"