Unlike Fu Hua's usual calm, the Fu Shibao was extremely agitated.
"But you fell asleep."
"I did not." The Fu Shibao objected. Somehow, she and Fu Hua had switched roles.
"You did."
"...If I was asleep, could I still be talking to you like this?"
On the other end of the call, the Fu Shibao clenched her small fists, wishing she could hit this old fossil with a Heaven-Sundering Neck Snap and knock some sense into her.
Though she likely couldn't beat Fu Hua.
"Sounds reasonable." Fu Hua slowly came around.
"So, old fossil, go on." The Fu Shibao urged her.
"But..."
"What now?"
Fu Hua blinked and replied innocently, "I think... I've already said everything I was supposed to."
The Fu Shibao: "..."
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."
"Hey! That's it?! What are you, coaxing a child!?"
Beep—beep—beep~~
The dial tone echoed like the Fu Shibao's freezing heart.
Fu Hua, unaware, put away her phone and returned to her desk.
...
...
Nothing special happened afterward.
Hokuto focused on drafting the upcoming main story script in his office, all the way until nightfall.
Under the night sky of Linjiang, neon lights flickered along both sides of the street.
Having finished dinner outside, Hokuto strolled into the building where he lived, a cool breeze brushing past.
He stood before the elevator, waiting for it to arrive.
Tap—tap—
Someone stepped beside him.
For someone like her, pretending to run into Hokuto wasn't difficult.
"Mister~~" came a soft and helpless voice that could stir one's protective instincts from the depths of their heart.
Instinctively, Hokuto turned toward the voice.
A green-haired woman with a fine figure came into view.
"..."
Mobius? Why was she here?
Hokuto frowned—this was not going to be simple.
"Mister~~ You seem to recognize me~~"
Mobius continued in her deliberately delicate tone: "May I ask~~ Have we met before?"
Without waiting for an answer, she added, "If my memory serves me right, we've never met, have we?"
Mobius scrutinized Hokuto with a sharp gaze.
Hokuto began to understand—Mobius was clearly here for him.
As for the reason... She might have noticed something from Honkai Impact 3rd or elsewhere.
Thinking that far, Hokuto felt unexpectedly calm.
He nodded slightly. "Miss Mobius and I have indeed never met."
"You actually..."
Mobius was mildly surprised that Hokuto directly said her name.
That was basically admitting it outright.
She had even prepared several conversational traps—none of them were needed now.
"I don't think I can fool Miss Mobius, so I figured..."
Hokuto trailed off, but his meaning was clear.
If he couldn't fool her, why bother trying?
Besides, he had never hidden how familiar he was with the Honkai Impact 3rd characters.
It was just that Rita and Ai-chan had tactfully not asked questions, Kiana probably hadn't noticed, and Elysia might simply not have cared.
"You seem to think you know me very well?" Mobius narrowed her eyes.
"No, no, no." Hokuto shook his head firmly. "I've never presumed to be someone who understands you, Miss Mobius."
"Hehe~~"
Mobius let out a "dangerous" laugh. "What an interesting answer."
"I merely stated the truth."
"But I feel you know Mobius very well. Isn't that what it means to be someone who understands her?"
"Miss Mobius... I don't think that's what truly understanding someone means," Hokuto replied after thinking it through.
"Hmm..."
Mobius appeared to be thinking, though it was likely just for show.
She deliberately softened her voice: "In that case... Mister~~ Would you like to understand me better? Become my... understanding companion?"
Her voice was alluring and dangerous.
Hokuto felt as though a snake had slithered across his skin, a numbness creeping from somewhere unknown.
He firmly rejected her. "I'm not interested in getting to know Miss Mobius better."
When it came to Mobius, Hokuto felt it was best to maintain a healthy distance.
Just then, the elevator doors opened. He walked in without hesitation.
Naturally, Mobius followed.
"Fine."
Mobius sighed with apparent disappointment as she entered.
Then, after a pause, she muttered, "Hmm, maybe it's just that you don't like this type? Then how about..."
"B-big brother, would you like to... do something fun with Mobius?" she asked in a deliberately childish tone.
Hokuto: "..."
Mobius really was a troublesome snake.
"Miss Mobius, if you're not willing to have a proper conversation, then I think our talk ends here."
"Tch, annoying."
Mobius dropped the act. "Elysia always succeeds with these tactics, why don't they work for me?"
"...Maybe because Elysia is more sincere than you are." Hokuto gave it some thought.
"Sincere? I'm very sincere too."
Mobius brushed back her green hair. "People always treat me with unnecessary wariness, even though I'm not dangerous at all."
Hokuto looked at Mobius, who was saying this with complete confidence. He didn't agree or disagree.
Though Mobius might be considered a good person, she was still very "dangerous." Getting too close risked being bitten—or even captured.
"Miss Mobius, I don't have what you're looking for. I'm just an ordinary game developer. Pestering me won't get you anything."
"You know what I want?" Mobius asked.
Hokuto glanced at the "Infinity" earrings on her ears.
"Heh~ How interesting." Mobius smiled. "Too bad—you guessed wrong."
"Hm?"
"What I want is actually..."
Mobius suddenly leaned close. The two were now mere inches apart.
Ding—
At that moment, the elevator arrived.
Standing outside were two beautiful girls—one with long pink hair, the other with long wine-red hair.