"Why not?"
Herta elegantly stood in front, her seemingly casual position precisely blocking all of Bai Luan's possible escape routes.
Like an experienced hunter, she had long anticipated all of her prey's movements.
She looked at Bai Luan, whom she had trapped, and said with a smile,
"With Screwllum, with Ruan Mei, or even with an an automaton of this genius."
"..."
A hint of understanding flashed in Bai Luan's eyes. He now knew what he should do and say.
He looked at Herta and tentatively asked,
"Then, Ms. Herta, would you like to film a video with me?"
"Alright."
Herta agreed exceptionally readily, then added, her tone carrying an undeniable sense of control:
"However, the type and content of the video will be decided by me."
"No problem! (˵ • ̀ ᴗ - ˵ )✧"
Bai Luan agreed without hesitation. As long as he could safely get through this crisis, he would cooperate unconditionally.
"This genius's request is very simple."
Herta looked at Bai Luan and stated her request with a smile.
"You just need to declare this genius's sovereignty in the video."
"Declare... sovereignty?"
This request was truly...
Herta narrowed her eyes slightly, a dangerous glint flashing within them, and leaned closer to Bai Luan:
"What, is there a problem?"
"Sh-shouldn't be a problem..."
Bai Luan swallowed, feeling immense pressure.
"That's good."
Herta straightened up, returning to her lazy and composed posture.
"When you need me to appear, just come find me. As for the final product..."
She revealed a smile that was a mix of beauty and danger, like a rose blooming in a thorny bush.
"It had better satisfy me."
With that, Herta elegantly turned and left, leaving Bai Luan, who still had no clear ideas, alone.
But it didn't matter; he had the Little Black Room, so he could take his time thinking, no rush.
Bai Luan thought this as he entered the Little Black Room, beginning to ponder: what kind of video could perfectly showcase him and Herta together, and precisely meet her strict requirement of declaring sovereignty?
Declaring sovereignty, huh... He hadn't expected to ever have to consider such a thing.
Bai Luan first sighed with emotion, then began to seriously consider his strategy.
Soon, a preliminary concept for filming a video formed in Bai Luan's mind.
Shoot a slightly romantic scene... like a rose presentation transition, accompanied by a background music with a strong atmosphere.
For example, the song "I Want to Possess You"... He wondered if such a combination could satisfy Herta's demands?
Bai Luan felt a bit anxious. Then, his gaze fell upon Herta inside the Little Black Room.
It's better to discuss it with Herta.
After Herta listened to Bai Luan's idea, she silently looked at him for a few seconds.
No, how are you so good at this?
For a moment, Herta wondered if Bai Luan was deliberately tempting her real self to make a move on him.
But Bai Luan's expression was genuinely anxious—he truly didn't know if Herta would be satisfied with this video.
No!
I'm almost jealous.
Herta looked at Bai Luan and said,
"Since you're not confident, how about we practice together first?"
"Practice?"
"Exactly, with me."
Herta nodded.
"If you can perform to my satisfaction, then the real me will definitely be satisfied too."
Bai Luan thought for a while, then nodded in agreement.
Subsequently, the scene within the Little Black Room began to change at Bai Luan's will, gradually transforming to prepare for the video shoot.
Under the rehearsal of Herta in the Little Black Room, Bai Luan began to learn how to be cool in a way that would deeply impress Herta.
"Raise your arm a little higher, yes, that's the angle. You need to show a casual elegance."
"Your gaze! Your gaze must be focused, with a smile, but not too frivolous. You need to make me feel like I am your entire world."
"The movement of presenting the rose must be fluid, with a touch of irresistible tenderness..."
After countless cycles of NG, adjustments, and more NGs, Herta in the Little Black Room finally nodded slightly, giving the heavenly appraisal:
"That's good."
Bai Luan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that.
Finally, it passed.
Hmm... not bad, not as tiring as the simulated universe dlc.
He looked down at the virtual rose in his hand, which he had presented repeatedly, as if it bore the marks of countless practices.
Bai Luan's lips unconsciously curved into a smile of relief mixed with a sense of accomplishment.
Then, with the most perfect movement, honed through countless rehearsals, he once again solemnly and gently presented the rose in his hand to Herta before him.
Herta looked at his impeccable posture and the sincere light in his eyes, paused for a moment, and then a genuine and joyful smile bloomed on her face.
She reached out her hand and elegantly accepted the significant rose, bringing a perfect end to this long and meticulous rehearsal.
Bai Luan exited the Little Black Room, found a random laboratory, and then began to set up the scene needed for filming the video inside the lab.
The rose presentation transition he envisioned required numerous elements:
A modern city rooftop background.
Distant, faintly visible skyscraper silhouettes outlining the skyline.
Rose petals slowly drifting down from the sky, like a shower of flowers.
And, most importantly, a magnificent urban sunset that would cast their figures into beautiful silhouettes.
Of course, none of these were problems. Current technology was mature enough to transform a laboratory into any required background.
The difficulty of shooting this transition video lay in the fact that if it wasn't perfect on the first try, it would lose its stunning effect.
Hope it goes well.
Once everything was ready, Bai Luan invited Herta.
Herta didn't know exactly what Bai Luan was going to film; she simply came to the prepared laboratory as instructed.
"So, what do I need to do for my appearance?"
"Ms. Herta, you just need to stand in the designated spot, and then..."
Bai Luan paused, his tone serious.
"Just look at me intently."
"That simple?"
"Yes, that simple."
Herta raised an eyebrow, walked to the spot Bai Luan indicated as instructed, crossed her arms, and watched him silently with a playful gaze that said, "I'd like to see what tricks you'll pull."
Before starting, Bai Luan took a deep breath and glanced at the top hat in his hand, hoping the filming wouldn't go wrong... But then, a surge of confidence, accumulated from countless practices, welled up in his heart.
A confident and composed smile played on his lips.
After the special training in the Little Black Room, how could I make a mistake here?
When all the equipment was debugged, the pre-selected background music began to play in the laboratory, the prelude flowing out:
[Should I, should I, stop these thoughts?]
As the music began.
Bai Luan elegantly put on his top hat, then turned to face her, revealing a slight smile, and brought his hand from behind his back.
The daytime scene on the rooftop suddenly transformed into a beautiful dusk the moment Bai Luan looked at Herta.
The setting sun melted the sky into a scorching orange-red, the city's silhouette was steeped in a golden-red mist, and the outlines of the buildings were tinged with the warmth of the sunset.
The evening breeze carried fragments of roses, drifting down from the sky, swirling by the rooftop railing.
The young man in the hat leaned against the wind, his coat's folds filled with the light of dusk. He raised his arm to offer a vibrant red rose, the tips of his fingers adorned with the shattered gold of the setting sun.
Herta stood sideways, her hair swaying gently in the evening breeze, her fingertips resting on her lips. As her eyelashes lowered, the shadow of the rose fell precisely on their tips.
[I want to possess you, possess your beauty, possess everything about you, and it's perfectly justifiable]
The song began at just the right moment.
Accompanying this direct and fervent lyric, the golden, rain-like rays of the setting sun poured down along with countless scattered rose petals.
Amidst this romantic shower, Bai Luan steadily raised his arm, firmly and gently presenting the rose, a symbol of sovereignty, to Herta.
At that moment, Herta's eyes clearly reflected the image of the young man offering her a rose amidst the sunset and flower rain, with no room for anything else.
Her lips uncontrollably curved upwards, forming a joyful arc.
She reached out her hand and accepted the rose Bai Luan offered, her fingertips lightly touching his.
"You..."
She murmured in her heart.
"You'll never disappoint this genius, will you?"
All the necessary footage was acquired, and the recording went smoothly, so Bai Luan breathed a sigh of relief.
Now, he just needed to do a little editing and artistic processing, and it would be perfect.
"Are you satisfied, Ms. Herta?"
"Not bad."
Herta gently sniffed the rose in her hand, then looked at Bai Luan.
She admitted that for a moment,
She was very tempted.
"The lyrics are quite fitting, though."
Soon, Bai Luan finished editing the video and uploaded it to the StarNet.
『Alright. Now, not only me, but the entire StarNet is part of your play』
...