"Your thoughts are too easy to read..."
Rita chuckled as she looked at the two Meis who appeared to be "together, but were actually at odds."
I originally thought these two would team up, but now it seems I was overthinking it.
"It's just a simple introduction. It has nothing to do with showing off. Miss Rita, you have a very negative opinion of me."
MEI looked at Rita with a smile on her face. It seemed that MEI was genuinely very happy today.
"Tsk, that smile..."
Rita looked at MEI's smile and inexplicably thought of Otto.
This is not a pleasant association.
"So, it's just a show of strength, isn't it?"
Mei also silently withdrew her hand at that moment.
She was gradually beginning to understand the problem.
Although they look very similar, perhaps it's because of their similar appearance that they can't live in peace.
"Is it because of overlapping personalities?"
Although Mei denied it, she actually subconsciously agreed with Rita's statement.
After all, even without the other party's "show of strength," Mei felt a sense of crisis.
A woman who is more mature, plumper, and more intellectual than her... isn't that bad for Brother Tian, who prefers simple, easy-to-understand things?
No, it's not bad for Brother Tian; it's bad for me!
"No, I think the most irrelevant thing about you two is your personality."
As if thinking about the difference between the two people, Tian Shi's mouth twitched slightly.
"MEI, fifty thousand years have passed. Have you improved your cooking?"
Tian Shi directly killed people and crushed their spirits.
"I sincerely hope that you, Master, do not expose your student's scars."
MEI's mouth twitched.
She thought of the fame she had throughout her life.
Her cooking skills were a stain on her life.
"Besides, although it was a gimmick, the dishes I imitated are at least above average, aren't they?"
"Above average?"
Tian Shi laughed twice.
"Come on, Mei, show me your skills."
"Huh, huh? At this moment, me?"
Mei pointed to herself, a little confused by the situation.
Is this the time to do this?
Although her original plan could no longer be carried out.
But isn't the sudden shift from diving to cooking too big of a leap?
"Didn't I tell you before that I would introduce you to someone whose culinary skills are terrible?"
Although Mei couldn't see, Tian Shi still pointed to her.
"Is this how you introduce me to others?"
MEI put her hand on her forehead and sighed.
"Please stop focusing on your student's shortcomings and look at my strengths."
"Hmm... how should I put it? Perhaps it's because I know that what you've done is extraordinary, so when you talk about those things... it seems you can't count them all, can you?"
Tian Shi told the truth.
"Besides, MEI, your cooking skills are truly bad to a degree that is... um... hard to describe with words?"
"Please give me back the feeling I just had, dear Master."
MEI sighed softly and then turned to look at Mei beside her.
"Since the Master said it, it means that your cooking skills are indeed very good, right?"
"I just have some experience."
Mei looked at the woman in front of her, who looked like a "super-powered" version of herself, and spoke subconsciously with modesty.
MEI nodded and smiled.
"Well, in that case, it's better not to do it. If you make it too delicious, I won't be able to resist eating you."
"Excuse me, is this a joke?"
Although considering the current context and atmosphere, the other party's words were undoubtedly a joke.
But...
Mei's eyes met MEI's, and then she lowered her head guiltily.
There is no smile in this person's eyes.
"If you want breakfast, you'd better ask the hotel to bring it up."
MEI pushed up her glasses. The smile on her face faded, and she seemed to have returned to her usual cold scientist self.
...................
I originally thought that my current self was the same as me, but the result... was just as my master said.
Apart from looking alike, we have nothing in common.
No, if it were just a professional difference like between a scientist and a Valkyrie, it wouldn't be a big problem.
MEI might even be relieved if she feels that she has fulfilled her "wish" from when she was young to some extent.
But the problem is... isn't this "wife power" a little too much?
MEI is a little depressed.
We both have the same face, so can't you respect my setting as your "senior"?
This "junior" of mine knows how to cook and has a good personality.
Compared to me back then... what an irritating comparison!
MEI remembers those years and always feels that she has wasted her best years, even though she's full of complaints.
What Mobius said really came true... younger than me, more energetic than me, even more lovable than me.
Isn't this a "powered-up" version of myself?
(Tsk, I don't want to end up crying in a corner with Mobius.)
MEI feels that the only negative example of love in her life is Mobius, the older woman who was left behind.
If she ends up like her, her life would have no meaning.
"Ah... Dr. MEI, are your culinary skills really that bad?"
After Tian Shi finally finished talking about MEI's culinary skills, Rita asked with a smile, as if she had no intention of letting MEI change the subject.
Yes, if we're just talking about the level, Rita's culinary skills are not inferior to MEI's at all; at most, they have their own strengths and weaknesses.
For example, Mei is better at putting her heart and soul into her dishes, while Rita excels at making them more beautiful and complex.
This is a unique opportunity to exploit the enemy's weaknesses by leveraging her own strengths, and Rita will not give up so easily.
MEI's eyes may be scary, but what do they mean to Rita, who has seen many ups and downs?
"Miss Rita, are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"
"No, I sincerely wish Dr. MEI a good day."
"You two are really scary."
Mei complained.
Is this how adults communicate with each other?
"Mei, you're 20 years old this year, right?"
Tian Shi complained.
"But, Rita, don't just sit there making fun of MEI for no reason."
"I just wanted to see Dr. MEI's angry expression. I didn't mean to hurt her."
"When you say that, you're overflowing with malice, you know?"
"You two are really endless."
Tian Shi sighed with a bit of tiredness.
"And two against one is a foul."
It's not a good idea to let MEI be defeated by the two "Honkai World Cooking Goddesses."
After all, Fu Hua had already taught MEI cooking skills before, and if Rita and Mei were to teach her cooking skills again today.
Well, after receiving one lesson after another from the "Three Honkai Impact Chef Gods," if this were a game, she should have unlocked some achievements.
"Well... okay, okay, let's get back to the topic."
After Tian Shi stepped in, Rita immediately raised her hands in surrender.
Anyway, she couldn't help but want to pull MEI away, and it would be nice to do it while she's ahead.
"Let's go shopping; are you joining?"
"Yes."
MEI answered without thinking.
"I've been cooped up in the lab for the past two days, so it's time to go out and relax. How about you, Mei?"
"I... if your people don't catch me on the street, I'll be happy to go with you."
Naturally, Mei had no reason to refuse.
After all, wouldn't it be a good idea to turn Tian Shi and Rita's double date into a trip for four?
This kind of check and balance...
"I suddenly miss Sister Edison."
Mei said suddenly.
Instead of saying it was Edison, it would be better to say that the elders of Anti-Entropy should be very good at handling this kind of check-and-balance situation, right?
Mei, think about what Sister Edison did back then?
Sister Edison's words...
Yes, first of all, we must not let our other competitors who are in a state of lacking intelligence know about it.
"And the person who is in this state now... is Sister Tesla, right?"
"What happened to Tesla?"
"No, nothing."
Mei quickly shook her head and said.
"Wait a moment, I'll send a message to the base; it will be ready soon."
"Sister Tesla, I found news about Kiana. I might not be able to return at noon or at night, so please prepare lunch and dinner yourself - Raiden Mei."
"Okay, I've sent the message."
Mei put away the communicator as if nothing had happened.
"So, where are we going first?"
"Hmm... when it comes to shopping, the first choice is a big shopping mall, right?"
...................
"Hey... Mei can't come back today?"
Tesla, who was assembling a drone, was stunned.
"Hmm... Seriously, but that girl should be able to take care of herself, right? Hmm... Why is my left eyelid twitching?"
....................
"Hmm... You guys created the Moonlight Throne?"
While walking through the shopping mall, MEI listened to Mei's description of the current situation of Anti-Entropy.
Compared to Grey Serpent, the information that comes from insiders like Mei is more valuable for reference.
"It's amazing that you were able to create the Moonlight Throne using current... no, last century's technology. It's truly extraordinary. However, it probably also has major flaws, right?"
"Well, Sister Edison told me that it's lacking energy. Although there are temporary substitutes, they are still insufficient."
MEI nodded.
"As for that substitute... Brother Tian should know more than I do."
"Replacement... oh, that interferometer?"
In Tian Shi's memory, there is only one thing that can replace the energy of the Moonlight Throne.
"That thing seems to involve something from higher dimensions... Tsk, I really don't understand anything related to higher dimensions."
After the first startup of the Moonlight Throne in the original world line failed, Edison activated the interferometer to push the lightning ball of tens of millions of HW Honkai energy into the open sea.
Again, HW means Houmuwa, a unit exclusive to Honkai.
"According to Edison, that thing seems to be related to the eleventh dimension; it's neither Honkai nor human... Anyway, it's something very confusing."
"It's always a little strange to use it as a power source."
After all, if it transcends Honkai, it is either a misjudgment by Edison or a big pit.
"If I had the chance, I'd really like to see that kind of thing."
MEI nodded.
"Speaking of which... Rita seems to be enjoying herself quite a bit."
"I'm just trying to avoid suspicion... Do these earrings look good?"
Rita walked out of the jewelry store and showed everyone the burgundy earrings she was wearing.
"They fit perfectly, both in appearance and temperament."
Tian Shi praised sincerely.
"Hearing so much praise from Mr. Tian Shi, it seems the money was not wasted."
Rita smiled sweetly.
Mei: "..."
MEI: "..."
"How about we stop talking about Anti-Entropy here, Mei?"
"Just what I want."
Damn it! Why is Rita so absorbed in the date atmosphere? Is she looking down on both of them?
"I want to go to a lingerie store."
"I want to go to the kitchenware store."
Mei and MEI expressed their thoughts at the same time.
Then MEI looked at Mei silently.
"Does your family go on a date in the kitchenware store? Are you here to cause trouble?"
"But I really need to change the kitchen utensils..."
Mei said weakly.
"I really need to change my underwear too; no, not so much the underwear, but the whole set."
MEI felt that she urgently needed to change into fresher clothes.
"After all, this outfit is, in a sense, an antique from 50,000 years ago."
"..."
This reason is very good and powerful.
The reason is simply impeccable.
"That's right. By the way, Mr. Tian Shi, what kind do you like?"
Rita answered both of them and then turned to ask Tian Shi.
"How could I understand something like underwear?"
Tian Shi was very dissatisfied with Rita's question.
Did he look like a pervert who knew everything about underwear?
"But when it comes to the factors that make me like you, the most important one is, of course..."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Mei coughed loudly, interrupting Tian Shi's declaration.
"In that case... well, I don't think I have a winning outfit in my closet yet."
Rita nodded seriously, propping her chin up.
"How about you buy clothes that are easily torn? I think the one-piece black stockings that Raven wears are quite easy to tear."
"No, it's just because you have strong hands, right? The outfit she wears is definitely for combat, right?"
But...
"I accept."
"Shut up, Master, please."
MEI adjusted her glasses tightly.
"I've already decided. Let's go to the kitchenware store."
Black stockings, easy to tear, etc.—it's incredible that this woman can say that!
"I think it's better to listen to Mr. Tian's opinion~"
Rita chuckled while looking at the timid Mei.
"First the kitchenware store, then the lingerie store. Do you agree?"
Tian Shi said he wants everything, the kitchenware and the underwear!
Mei and MEI next to him looked at each other in silence.
In that case... the so-called winning set... should they buy one too?