Dou Mei and Fang Fei exchanged smiles. Gu Ya's tone had softened considerably, suddenly bringing a sense of warmth to the small room.
The two women, who had been tense and anxious, could finally relax.
Dou Mei put on her high heels, gave Gu Ya a slight smile, and said, "Let's talk somewhere else."
The three of them left the laboratory one after another.
Gu Ya looked out the window, showing no surprise.
He had felt a slight tremor in the ground moments ago, and the roar of mecha engines had gradually reached his ears.
As he had expected, they were flying in the sky, likely inside a massive transport mecha.
The clear, pale blue sky dotted with large patches of white clouds presented a breathtaking view.
Beneath the blue sky lay vast expanses of dense larch forests.
"This isn't Xian Xia," Gu Ya stated.
Dou Mei stood before Gu Ya, gazing out at the scenery with him, and said, "Yes, we are currently in the neighboring country, Saiuba."
"Why?" Gu Ya asked.
Fang Fei, standing on Gu Ya's other side, replied, "It's a classified mission. The higher-ups made a last-minute decision."
Gu Ya turned to Fang Fei and inquired, "So, the story about me and Wang Shang Meng was also fabricated to deceive me?"
Fang Fei pouted, her expression one of disdain, and said, "It wasn't to deceive you, it was real. I'm not promiscuous like the higher-ups."
"Xiao Fei!" Dou Mei called out sharply in a low voice.
Gu Ya then looked at Dou Mei, and subsequently, his gaze dropped to the curve of her chest hidden beneath her white lab coat and shirt, saying, "You can still restore the color of human skin?"
Noticing Gu Ya's gaze, Dou Mei covered her chest, frowned, and chuckled, "So, you went back to the morgue a second time that day just to look at my chest!?"
Gu Ya's face darkened, and he said coldly, "The person was dead. What does it matter if I looked?"
"Do you want to look again?"
"Get lost..."
The three left the corridor and entered an elegantly decorated room.
This must have been Dou Mei's private lounge. Fang Fei brewed a refreshing cup of white tea for the three of them. They sat around a round table, sipping the tea and chatting.
The white tea had an intoxicatingly sweet aroma.
After drinking, a rich aftertaste emerged, revealing the layered complexity of the tea leaves. A slight bitterness was followed by a sweet fragrance.
Following that, notes of jujube, medicinal herbs, fine down, pear, and bean emerged in succession.
After a few cups, Gu Ya felt a slight numbness on his tongue.
Soon, the effects of the tea made Gu Ya feel warm all over, breaking out in a light sweat.
"A Gong Mei blended with top-grade Peony from twenty years ago. It has a good somatic effect," Gu Ya remarked casually.
Dou Mei transformed into a tea ceremony master once again, sitting elegantly at the table, performing the brewing with graceful, slow movements for the three of them.
"You understand tea?" Dou Mei asked with a smile.
"A little..." Gu Ya recalled how in his previous world, his mother was a white tea enthusiast, and he often drank tea with her, learning from her.
Gu Ya said nonchalantly, "If it were Silver Needle, the flavor would be too bland. Peony is better, and more cost-effective. Of course, old tea drinkers prefer Silver Needle, being able to discern different nuances."
Dou Mei smiled enchantingly, lifting her delicate fingers to refill their cups.
Her every movement, every smile, exuded gentleness and refinement. Any other man would undoubtedly be captivated by her intellectual beauty, unable to look away.
Such a fine woman, yet a treacherous beauty with a thousand faces.
Fortunately, she was from Xian Xia. If she were a Black Star operative, who knew how many men she would have led astray.
Compared to Dou Mei, Fang Fei seemed... well, a bit less refined.
Fang Fei was crossing her legs, looking bored. Noticing Gu Ya looking at her, she winked with a smile.
Neither of these women was to be trifled with; they were constantly looking for an opportunity to prey on Gu Ya.
After five infusions of tea, Gu Ya said, "It's time to discuss the main matter: the purpose and results of the experiment."
Dou Mei took a sip of tea and said, "The first test, sustained for six hours in the consciousness world, but only lasted a little over a minute in the real world."
"Your ability to see through it in such a short time indicates you are extremely intelligent and calm."
"The second test was for dangerous situation response capability. You used your own methods to escape danger, which was quite innovative."
"The third test was for stress response in a desperate environment. I didn't expect you to use an even more drastic method, nor did I expect you to escape the abyss of consciousness in such a short period."
Gu Ya nodded. "Tell me the results."
"You have met the standards of Special Ninth Department," Dou Mei stated.
"What will you do next?" Gu Ya asked calmly.
Dou Mei paused, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
Fang Fei said impatiently, "Superior Officer, what's the harm in telling him?"
Dou Mei looked at the tea and said softly, "If you agree to join Special Ninth Department, I will use my connections to bring Ye Ying to your side."
Gu Ya said, "Let me work for you with peace of mind."
Using Ye Ying as leverage was indeed tempting, but Gu Ya didn't want to be controlled by others. He wanted to do what he loved. He and Ye Ying had their own destiny, and it wasn't for others to interfere.
Gu Ya tapped his index finger on the table and said, "If you knew me, you'd know I wouldn't agree. I will contribute to Xian Xia, but in my own way."
"Anything else? About the consciousness experiment?"
Dou Mei continued, "My people have informed me that the Black Star operative Xing Chen Jun is developing an unknown technology called 'Hei Yang.' They are currently missing the crucial final piece, your original body."
Gu Ya understood. No wonder Hong Lian · Zhi Wu insisted on finding Gu Xing Chi; it was for technological development.
But they didn't know, not even the two women sitting before him, that Gu Xing Chi was Gu Ya.
Dou Mei smiled sweetly and said charmingly, "But they don't know, you are even more captivating~ There are too many unresolved mysteries about you."
"In fact, we have already begun researching 'Void' technology."
Gu Ya had repeatedly displayed his [Void Wrap] in front of outsiders, especially that night when he held Dou Mei and conjured You Yin out of thin air. Any normal person would have noticed this mysterious ability.
"Continue your research diligently," Gu Ya said calmly. "I will not offer any assistance, nor will I join Special Ninth Department."
"However, I will eliminate the Black Star Empire in my own way."
After speaking, Gu Ya stood up and walked to the circular window.
The earth was a lush green, far more pleasing than Xian Xia's boundless Gobi desert.
Dou Mei stood up and smiled at Gu Ya, saying, "Let's be friends. If you need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
Gu Ya turned his head, looking at Dou Mei in confusion, and said, "Aren't we already friends?"
Fang Fei let out a disgusted "Yuck," and fanned her hand in front of her nose, "Gu Ya, can't you smell the flirtatious scent in Superior Officer's words?"
"Xiao Fei!" Dou Mei glared at Fang Fei and sternly said, "You have the dirtiest mind among the three of us! You have the face of a proper girl, but inside you're impossibly wild."
You guys chat, I'm leaving.
Gu Ya walked out of the room steadily. Fang Fei's words had instantly shattered the fragrant tea atmosphere. If he stayed any longer, Gu Ya felt he would surely vomit.
...
The next day, they returned to Xian Xia City.
The first favor Gu Ya asked Dou Mei to help with was refused.
Dou Mei smiled and said, "Bringing Ye Ying back requires conditions~"
Gu Ya thought that it made sense. Since he hadn't agreed to join Special Ninth Department, Dou Mei naturally wouldn't bring Ye Ying back.
Friendship also involved reciprocity.
Favors that are continuously exchanged are what make them true favors.
That night, Gu Ya returned to his single dormitory, stripped off his clothes, and entered the bathroom.
The warm water washed over his body.
The rushing sound of the water was like a comforting balm.
It calmed the tension in Gu Ya's nerves over the past two days.
"The matter with Special Ninth Department is temporarily concluded. Hmm... in two more days, it will be Youyou's enrollment day," Gu Ya murmured to himself.
He hadn't contacted his family for almost three months.
Youyou must be sulking and hadn't contacted Gu Ya.
You Ran, on the other hand, often sent messages, reminding Gu Ya to take care of himself, stay warm, and stay safe. Her tone was unmistakably that of a devoted wife. Gu Ya couldn't help but think that whoever married You Ran in the future would be incredibly happy.
"Well, it's time to go back, see my family, and catch up with some old friends."
"Most importantly, in four months, there will be the mid-term assessment."
"I must improve my mecha piloting skills to a higher level within these four months. Then, I need to pursue further studies at the Mecha Mechanic Academy in Zhuo Yuan City."
There were so many future plans.
He needed to plan them step by step.
Gu Ya looked at his reflection in the mirror and smiled, then his expression tightened again.
"Tomorrow, I'll take a leave of absence to go home."