KM Research Center—
The moment Lin Linlin walked out of Zone A, her phone buzzed with a Weibo notification—news that Yun Xubai would be holding a concert next month.
She glanced at it, then calmly swiped it away.
“How many times has this been? Every time they post the same thing. These people will do anything for attention…”
Lin Linlin stopped mid-step, then mechanically picked up her phone and, with trembling hands, opened Weibo to look again.
It was actually an official announcement from Que Xing!
Her vision went dark, and she nearly fainted from excitement. “Oh no, oh no, oh my god, magic has finally worked!”
And it wasn’t just her—everyone at the research center was buzzing with excitement after hearing the news. The cafeteria at noon was a hundred times livelier than usual.
Everyone was talking about Yun Xubai’s concert next month.
From ticket-grabbing strategies to what to wear that day, and even which “boy-killer” shade of lipstick to apply—all of it was up for discussion.
Lin Linlin was so overjoyed that she hugged Meng Qitang and planted several kisses on her, leaving the poor girl completely dazed.
“Human joys and sorrows are never truly shared.”
Meng Qitang blinked, her mind already occupied with the headache of having to travel all the way to Mist City.
“Good Tangtang, don’t worry! The concert is next month, and the week you go to Mist City happens to be my scheduled days off,” Lin Linlin said, piling a big chicken drumstick onto Meng Qitang’s plate. “I heard Mist City is full of beauties—I’ve never been there to see for myself!”
“Okay.”
Meng Qitang was remarkably even-keeled; a few words were all it took to soothe her.
Lin Linlin propped her chin on her hand, already daydreaming about the wonderful month ahead. “Tangtang, if I manage to grab tickets, you have to come with me to the concert!”
The White Peacock’s concert…
Meng Qitang licked her lips and agreed.
“Perfect! I’ll show you my husband—he’s a celestial beauty in the flesh!” Lin Linlin wanted to pull up a photo to show her, but then thought better of it. “Ugh, honestly, I don’t think photos can capture his real face. The aura my husband carries—you have to experience it yourself!”
“00, have you ever considered…” Meng Qitang’s makeup-free face carried a faint smile, her expression serious. “That your husband might not be human?”
Lin Linlin raised a finger and wagged it. “No, no, no. I’ve never once thought my husband was human…”
Meng Qitang froze mid-motion, her expression unusually tense. “You already know?”
“Of course! With a face like that, he’s practically a god descending from heaven! How could he possibly be human?”
Meng Qitang: Alright, alright. Beauty really does cloud people’s judgment, huh?
A week later, He Muchen led a fully prepared research team and set off for Mist City.
For convenience, the research institute sent a tour bus to pick them up.
The mountain roads in Mist City were treacherous, and He Muchen worried Meng Qitang might get carsick, so he took the seat beside her as soon as they boarded.
Meng Qitang wore a black-and-white windbreaker, clutching a bulging backpack in her arms.
Her long hair was tied up in a ponytail, accentuating her delicate, refined features—soft and beautiful. Her gaze was calm, like an April breeze, carrying not a single ripple.
“Tangtang, the mountain roads are rough. I was worried you might get carsick.” He Muchen handed her motion sickness medicine.
Meng Qitang could feel a scorching gaze fixed on her, making her squirm in her seat, utterly uncomfortable.
Help me…
Was Ruan Yi trying to eat her alive?
“Thank you. I heard Ruan Yi gets very severe motion sickness, so you should probably save it for her…” Meng Qitang smiled sweetly, though the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, carrying a hint of cool detachment.
He Muchen’s expression remained unchanged, his tone still gentle. “Tangtang, are you avoiding me?”
No, I’m not.
Can you stop calling me “Tangtang” like that?
Ruan Yi was really going to eat her alive!
It was genuinely frightening.
“Team Leader He, yes, that’s right, I’m avoiding you.” Meng Qitang answered crisply, leaving He Muchen completely stunned.
Before he could react, the woman pulled up the hood of her windbreaker, tilted her head, and leaned against the window, pretending to sleep.
When He Muchen came to his senses and saw Meng Qitang’s “don’t talk to me” demeanor, he averted his gaze, his eyes filled with an obscure, unreadable light.
When they arrived at Mist City, Meng Qitang was the first to rush off the bus, as if some ferocious beast were chasing her.
To get close to the creatures of Mist City, the research team had all prepared for camping.
He Muchen had also chosen the campsite in advance. Mist City was different from the cold Gangzhou.
Even though it was winter, Mist City was still a scene of spring blossoms. The temperature in the mountains was cool during the day, but it got a bit cold at night.
Meng Qitang pulled her tent out of her bag and looked up to see Ruan Yi standing right in front of her.
Yep, the familiar double chin.
“Ruan Yi, stop standing in front of me like that.”
“Meng Qitang, do you know how annoying you are! Why do you keep showing up in front of me and Muchen?” After saying this, Ruan Yi glanced around, relieved that He Muchen wasn’t nearby.
The moment she finished speaking, Meng Qitang couldn’t help but laugh. “Then I won’t bother you two. Can you get He Muchen to agree to let me go home on leave?”
Meng Qitang said it casually, but Ruan Yi actually scurried off to ask He Muchen.
“Team Leader Meng was the one who brought the White Peacock back to the research institute. She can’t leave,” He Muchen tossed the sparks from his hand into the woodpile to start a fire. “As for you, Ruan Yi, if you have nothing else to do, you can go back.”
Ruan Yi’s eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up as she tugged at the man’s sleeve. “I’m not leaving! Wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be!”
He Muchen: …
When night fell, Meng Qitang hid in her tent early to avoid any trouble.
She curled up in her sleeping bag, holding her phone as she played chess.
Human vs. AI mode.
After winning two rounds, she suddenly received a message from Lin Linlin.
[00: Tang~ I got the tickets! Two of them!!]
[00: Oh my god, do you know how I fought through the crowd to snag these two tickets!!]
[00: And they’re floor seats! Front row ahhhh! I think I’m going to pass out!]
[00: Front row, oh my god! I bet I can even smell the divine fragrance of the god himself!!]
Lin Linlin’s thought was a bit creepy, to be honest.
Meng Qitang wanted to reply with a “6.”
But the internet in the mountains was slow, and before she could send it, she was bombarded with more messages.
Meng Qitang tried to type “6” for ages but couldn’t get it through.
It wasn’t until Lin Linlin, unable to wait for Meng Qitang’s reply, called her directly that the two finally connected.
“Tang, I’m too excited to sleep. Why didn’t you reply to my message? Were you asleep?”
Meng Qitang played chess while on the phone with her, her fair, slender fingers tapping lightly on the screen. “Not asleep.”
Then she paused and said half-jokingly, “I’m afraid that if I fall asleep, Ruan Yi will come in and murder me.”
“I could guess what Ruan Yi would say even without you telling me. She’d say something like, ‘Meng Qitang, can you stay away from me and Muchen~'” Lin Linlin mimicked her in a sarcastic, sing-song voice.
She successfully made Meng Qitang laugh. “00, you guessed it exactly right.”
Lin Linlin waved her hand, shifted into a more comfortable position, and continued her phone call. “Once I finish up the few forms I have on hand, I’ll head to Mist City to find you in a couple of days! When I get there, we can—”
“AHHHHHHHHHH—”
Lin Linlin was mid-sentence when she heard a sharp, explosive shriek from Meng Qitang’s end of the line.
“What’s going on?”