Just as He Kui had requested, the interview wrapped up in exactly one hour.
Instead of heading back to his room to sleep, he quickly moved the Aegis unit back into the cockpit of his Dagger. In terms of security, the cockpit was far safer than his room—after all, even the Dagger followed strict radiation isolation standards suitable for space, though the comfort was far from ideal. But Aegis was a machine; comfort wasn't a priority in He Kui's calculations.
Securing the cockpit with his own encryption program and locking the external emergency override, He Kui finally felt at ease. He powered down the system, removed his helmet, and stood up, gazing out at the distant colonies. Through the thick glass, he could barely make out the soft glow of PLANT, where it was evening, thanks to the time difference.
As he stepped out of his room, He Kui spotted Setona bouncing toward him like a pink, lively rabbit, her energy infectious.
"He Kui, dinner's ready!"
"Thanks," he replied with a tired smile. He had already informed Shi He and Su Lei of his return, so he wasn't surprised to see Setona come to get him. Rubbing his eyes to shake off his fatigue, he managed to rally his energy and walked back to his quarters with her.
"What have you been working on?" she asked curiously, noting the fatigue in his movements.
Knowing that Setona, despite being from Mars, wasn't someone he could openly share the classified nanobot project with, He Kui gave a nonchalant answer. "Just some research."
"Hmm, I see!" She sensed he was being vague but wisely chose not to press further.
"Here, this is for you," He Kui said, handing her a small mechanical sparrow, about the size of his palm—a prototype he'd tinkered with earlier in the radar room. Though simple in design, it was still an A-class model.
"Thank you!" she said, delighted, clutching the tiny sparrow as she hugged his arm, her cheerful fragrance filling the air. She shared a similar look with Lacus, yet her choice of scent was livelier, much like her personality.
He Kui patted her soft, pink hair, his warm smile broadening.
[Affinity Level: 80]
[Experience Bonus: +4]
[Gene Base C-Level (1249/1000) - Eligible for Advancement]
Unbeknownst to him, his genetic foundation had already crossed the 1,000 threshold. Deciding to level up, He Kui placed his finger on the advancement option. Instantly, new knowledge about genetics flooded his mind. Now at B-level, he possessed the skills necessary to craft Coordinators, given the right tools.
While it was easier to create Coordinators now with specialized equipment, it was still a skill only sought after by the best. His B-level expertise wouldn't revolutionize anything just yet, but it was a step closer to integrating genetic tools with nanobot design.
After delivering gifts to Shi He and Su Lei and sharing a meal, He Kui finally sent Setona off and found himself alone in the quiet of his room.
"Still working?" Shi He asked, noticing him hunched over the computer after clearing the table.
"Yeah, just finalizing the nanobot project report," he replied. As one of PLANT's highest-priority projects, he was required to report progress three times a week.
"The etching machine should arrive in two days," Shi He informed him, looking pleased.
"Got it," he nodded.
"Is your work done, He Kui?" she asked, a hint of mystery in her voice.
"Almost. Why?" He Kui looked up, curious.
"I've got a surprise for you!" Shi He replied with a mischievous smile, calling out, "Su Lei?"
"I'm coming!" Su Lei's voice echoed from the washroom, tinged with a hint of shyness as she stepped out.
She was dressed in an elegant red cheongsam, the fabric clinging to her delicate frame and accentuating her curves. The open-back design showed off the graceful line of her shoulders and back, and a high slit revealed glimpses of her porcelain thigh as she moved, hinting at more beneath.
He Kui couldn't help but smile, his fingers itching with anticipation.
Shi He smiled knowingly and said, "Just a chat first, okay? I'll go change." With that, she darted off to grab her own golden cheongsam.
"Pervert," Su Lei muttered, catching He Kui staring, her cheeks tinged with red as she playfully nudged him.
"You're beautiful too, Su Lei," he replied, leaning in close as he brushed his fingers over the delicate silk of her dress, kissing her gently.
"What if I wear it backward?" he mused.
"That's perverted!" she exclaimed, picturing the revealing design in reverse, her face flushing deeper.
"Su Lei, you're like a child sometimes," He Kui teased.
"If I'm a child, then you're committing a crime!" she retorted, playfully nipping at his neck and leaving a mark.
After an evening of laughter and intimacy, a contented Master He finally drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, he woke up beside Shi He and Su Lei, noticing the discarded cheongsams on the floor. Rejuvenated, he felt ready for the day ahead.
"Today, I'll head to Orb, and leave the auto-pilot here in South America," he planned, a mischievous smile on his face as he thought of making more trinkets for them as a surprise.
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