VAP - Chapter 11
Chapter 11: The Sleeping Beauty Whose Words Are Law (10)
In Qi Jiu’s mental space.
In truth, most people’s mental spaces change, even if only in the most subtle ways. The position and color of flowers, the layout and decoration of a house, or even just a single missing blade of grass… they always change, more or less.
As for the interval between changes, it might be a few days, a few months, or a few years.
But Qi Jiu’s mental space was different. Yue Du had been inside for several months, and it was still a place of lake water, grassy fields, and a temple, bathed in warm sunlight.
It was exactly the same as when she first saw it, not even the patterns on the temple had changed in the slightest—she could guarantee it with her super-strong system memory!
In short, it was still beautiful and comfortable, extremely suitable as a retirement resort.
Right now, Yue Du and Qi Jiu were both sitting by the lake.
The expanse of sky was reflected on the mirror-like, calm, and clear lake. The light of the sky and the shadows of clouds lingered there, also reflecting Yue Du’s serious expression and Qi Jiu’s beautiful, bored face.
“You could take a look at these,” Yue Du said earnestly.
Before her floated a huge, translucent panel displaying physics knowledge that the people of this world could hardly imagine. It came from a small world with the same framework as this one, but far more advanced.
Faced with these fruits of human (and some non-human) wisdom, Qi Jiu’s magnificent and moving face was written all over with an expression of being utterly devoid of the will to live.
“Why do I have to look at this stuff…”
She raised a slender white hand and covered her eyes tightly, as if she couldn’t bear to look at the screen for another moment. “I don’t think this will help the mission. If I really understood all this, I’d be a rising star in the world of physics. Then who would be asking whom to be their teacher?”
Yue Du said faintly, “Stop changing the subject. Just tell me, is it because you’re lazy that you don’t want to learn?”
Qi Jiu lifted her chin slightly, brazen despite being in the wrong. “Yes.”
The answer was refreshingly frank, with no intention of hiding her true thoughts.
Yue Du: “…Sigh.”
She felt her temples throbbing. Her head ached, even if it was a data-based brain.
That was the problem.
In fact, the most effective method would be to get Qi Jiu busy, have her master the existing body of physics knowledge, then participate in a recent physics competition or something, and build up the persona of a genius girl of physics to attract Xing Qingcang’s attention.
People dedicated to academia mostly cherished talent, and a young and vigorous person like Professor Xing was no exception.
Then, by saying a few soft words and demonstrating her talent, there would be no doubt he’d agree to take her on as a student.
However, Qi Jiu’s temperament was plain to see. She was lazy to the bone. Who could expect her to put any effort into studying physics?
In any case, Yue Du didn’t expect it.
Picking out some physics hypotheses that wouldn’t have much impact on the future, like she was doing now, and having Qi Jiu present them to Xing Qingcang was the simplest and fastest way to get his attention.
Of course, this was only to complete the mission.
After all, after the great outbreak of Esper Abilities, the entire framework of the world would change to a certain extent. The power of the mystical side would cause earth-shattering changes in science as well. By then, these hypotheses would be useless.
Qi Jiu still didn’t want to look.
“This won’t stand up to scrutiny. I’m an ordinary high school girl. The most profound physics I’ve ever encountered is my high school physics textbook. How am I supposed to convince someone I could come up with this stuff?” she argued reasonably.
Yue Du said, “Of course you couldn’t come up with it. But you can say some old man taught it to you. An old man who only loves research and doesn’t care for fame or fortune, who gave this to you simply hoping it could be known to the world… Anyway, just do whatever it takes to get Professor Xing’s attention.”
Qi Jiu was expressionless. “That sounds even more troublesome.”
After speaking, she flopped over toward Yue Du, landing right on her lap, and even adjusted herself into the most comfortable position.
Her soft, long hair brushed past the hem of Yue Du’s skirt, pillowed on her smooth, pale legs, then cascaded down the beautiful, clean lines of her legs to the grass.
Yue Du straightened her hair for her, fell silent for a moment, and asked, “You really don’t want to look?”
Qi Jiu had her eyes lazily closed. Hearing the question, she answered decisively, “I don’t.”
Then there was nothing to be done. Yue Du sighed and closed the screen.
The host was unwilling, and as it happened, she herself had some doubts. It seemed this method wouldn’t work.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept by, sending clear ripples across the lake’s surface and wrinkling Yue Du’s reflection on the water.
“I’m out of ideas.” Yue Du looked down at her host, adopting a rare tone of vulnerability. Paired with the face and temperament of a seventeen-year-old girl, it was particularly effective at stirring one’s protective instincts.
“I’ve tried every plan I could think of. Changing your files didn’t work, he’s not interested in bribes, and you can’t manage to wake up early for his lectures… Stop hiding it. If you have an idea, just say it.”
Qi Jiu half-opened her eyes to look at her.
Yue Du had a beautiful face. Even when she kept a straight, serious expression, it was soft and gentle, making people feel a natural affinity for her.
What’s more, now that she was deliberately revealing a soft, sweet, and yielding expression, she was even more pitiable.
After a long moment, Qi Jiu raised an eyebrow and said lazily, “What’s the rush? We only just got to S-City.”
Yue Du frowned. “Allow me to remind you, the mission deadline is only one month.”
“Well, there are still twenty-nine days left.”
Yue Du: “…”
Great. This young lady’s procrastination was also in its final stages.
Yue Du simply leaned back as well, lying on the warm grass and letting Qi Jiu continue to use her legs as a pillow.
She was also pondering what Qi Jiu had meant earlier by “a few hours of physical labor.”
Since it was physical labor, a system like her who couldn’t leave the mental space most likely wouldn’t be of any help. At most, she could exchange for things like Strength Talismans or Light Body Arts in the system store to reduce the host’s burden.
Other than that, she could probably only cheer her on from inside her head.
Just as her thoughts were wandering, the weight on her legs suddenly lightened.
Qi Jiu left the comfortable leg-pillow, shifted over, and slowly lay down on her side.
Yue Du: ?
She subconsciously turned her head as well, coming face-to-face with her host. They were quite close; if they both had physical bodies, they would have been close enough to hear each other breathe.
“Do you trust me?” Qi Jiu said softly.
Yue Du thought for a moment, then the corners of her mouth lifted. “I do. You look completely self-assured. Of course I trust you.”
Qi Jiu: “Mm…” With her eyes closed, she pulled Yue Du’s arm over to pillow her head, nuzzling it contentedly as she said leisurely, “Then that’s settled. Don’t worry, it’ll only take an afternoon.”
And that was indeed the case.
With only one day left before the one-month deadline, Qi Jiu stepped out of the hotel.
—And walked straight into a shopping mall.
Under Yue Du’s baffled gaze, she turned into a small, inconspicuous shop.
This shop sold martial arts uniforms. Yes, the kind for practicing martial arts.
Yue Du: “…”
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