Chapter 22: Ideal Type

Chapter 22: Ideal Type

"No need," Lu Yi rejected firmly.

The preferences of the Silver Wolves often reflected the deepest recesses of their subconscious. He didn't see himself enjoying relaxation through playing with balls.

At least, not until his death or the severance of his mental link with the Silver Wolf.

Not to mention...

"Frisbee? Towel? Stuffed toy?" Rong Mi continued listing possibilities.

Lu Yi: "..."

Lu Yi: "Ayin is not a dog."

"Then what about chew toys? What about playthings?" Rong Mi looked at him skeptically. "General, how do you usually raise a wolf? Even though Ayin is a war pet, he still has health and entertainment needs in daily life! Interstellar Silver Wolves require a lot of exercise!"

It was fortunate that Ayin had regressed to his juvenile form due to the issue with his spirit domain. If Rong Mi had met the fully grown, handsome Silver Wolf for the first time, there was no way it could have been confined indoors every day.

Lu Yi: "We have training grounds in the forested areas, both on Capital Star and in the war zones. If it wants to exercise, it'll go there by itself."

Rong Mi clicked his tongue, exasperated. "It's fluffy and shares meals and bed with you, yet you don't play with it?"

What a waste!

Rong Mi: Never mind, I'll take care of it!

Lu Yi remained nonchalant and entered the resting room.

During the second treatment, Rong Mi was already familiar with Lu Yi's mental domain.

After the previous treatment, Lu Yi's mental sea had calmed significantly, but now it was churning once more.

This time, however, the waves were less chaotic than when his mental domain was completely disordered. Though they crashed fiercely against the surface, the tides were orderly and under Lu Yi's control.

Rong Mi had never seen a mental sea that was so visibly turbulent yet still maintained a semblance of order.

Lu Yi's mastery over his mental energy was truly remarkable.

Rong Mi had exerted great effort to calm the turbulent waves in Lu Yi's mental sea. When he exited Lu Yi's mental realm, he saw the Admiral leaning back in his chair with half-closed eyes and a slightly furrowed brow, having unknowingly fallen asleep during the healing process.

Both his mental domain and physical body were clearly exhausted.

He had managed to stay awake earlier due to the need to handle some affairs, as well as the pain within his mental domain that kept fatigue at bay.

Now that his mental sea had regained its tranquility, weariness took over.

Rong Mi had something to ask Lu Yi, but seeing him in this state, he decided not to disturb him. Instead, he gently reclined the chair for Lu Yi's comfort and fetched a thin blanket from the sofa to cover him up.

The man's eyelashes fluttered softly as Rong Mi moved about.

For some reason, Rong Mi found himself gazing at Lu Yi's lashes for a while.

Although Lu Yi appeared cold and aloof, when his eyes were closed, the second character in the word "handsome" seemed to weigh much more heavily.

His eyelashes were thick and long, curling up at the ends. They reminded Rong Mi of the term "eyelash fairy."

Rong Mi couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch them.

Yet before her fingertips could graze Lu Yi's eyelashes, her wrist was caught by the general.

Lu Yi's fingers loosely rested on Rong Mi's wrist. He opened his eyes and looked up at her, his voice slightly raspy, "What are you doing?"

Rong Mi, unbothered by being caught in the act, raised an eyebrow and replied, "What does it look like? The esteemed General is pretending to be asleep?"

"No," Lu Yi released her hand.

He had indeed been sleeping, albeit lightly. Sensing that Rong Mi had finished her treatment, he had mustered the strength to open his eyes.

Lu Yi continued, "There's something I need to discuss with you."

He straightened his posture slightly, closed his eyes to gather his thoughts, and when he opened them again, his gaze was entirely focused.

Reaching out, Lu Yi activated a data screen displaying a photo of a handsome young man. "Yu Tiantian," he said, "Is he your friend?"

"When the Ice and Fire Tournament Rescue Team conducted routine inquiries, Yu Tiantian mentioned that he and another mecha pilot called for help near the Cocoon Grounds. He stated that he narrowly escaped falling into the Cocoon Grounds himself, but even while being questioned, he didn't inform the rescue team that you were also trapped there."

The general turned to Rong Mi, his gaze sharp. "According to Yu Tiantian himself, he mentioned that you were his close friend and had urged him repeatedly to escape the Cocoon Grounds promptly without wasting time to save you. Hence, in his panic, he didn't provide any details to the rescue team."

"Later, when the rescue team confirmed that the Ice Butterfly was an interactive holographic projection, he assumed you were safe and didn't add any further information about your situation within the Cocoon Grounds."

Lu Yi responded, "I need to verify if Yu Tiantian's account is accurate."

The general had doubts about Yu Tiantian's narrative.

Even if Yu Tiantian eventually believed it was a holographic projection,

Rong Mi was already fully submerged in the Cocoon Grounds' liquid, struggling for breath and losing strength. Even if it was just a projection, it was still a perilous situation.

It could be lethal.

Rong Mi's personal abilities proved he had the capability to break free from the Cocoon Grounds, and the investigation team had brushed aside this insignificant detail.

Lu Yi needed to uncover the truth and ensure Rong Mi knew it as well.

If Yu Tiantian was lying, Rong Mi, even if he didn't intend to pursue the matter, should know that this friend wasn't someone he could trust deeply anymore.

Rong Mi gazed at Lu Yi and couldn't help but smile.

This seemingly aloof yet attentive and responsible nature... it suited Rong Mi's taste perfectly.

"Telepathy, Admiral," he said with a grin. "I was actually thinking of discussing this with you too."

"I extracted the live footage from the surveillance cameras. But when we approached the Ice Butterfly cocoon, the energy fluctuations caused too much noise on the recording. I wanted to ask if your spaceship has any equipment that can repair it."

"I didn't tell Yu Tiantian that we didn't need rescue," he stated earnestly.

The original host had only played mecha battle games and never experienced actual mecha combat or seen the insectoids. Focused solely on his career as a star network singer, he had no means of escape once he fell into the Ice Butterfly's cocoon.

"He... I knew it was an Ice Butterfly back then."

"Furthermore, it was Yu Tiantian who initially suggested getting closer to that cocoon area. He fell into the trap set by the Ice Butterfly, and when I reached out to pull him out, I ended up being used as a stepping stone for his escape."

The original host had been gripped by immense fear and despair in his final moments.

Lu Yi's expression shifted slightly.

His brows knitted deeply, his gaze icy and filled with profound disdain.

"My mental strength suddenly increased when I was trapped in the Ice Butterfly Cocoon Field, on the verge of suffocating to death. Before that, I was actually unable to break free from its constraints."

"I almost died," Rong Mi paused slightly, speaking on behalf of the original host, "And initially, it was Yu Tiantian who fell into the Ice Butterfly Cocoon Field, not me. I tried to pull him out, but accidentally got dragged down... and then used as a stepping stone for him to climb out."

Rong Mi: "I want to sue Yu Tiantian, at least to ruin his reputation and put him behind bars for a few years."

To give the original host some closure.

"Equipment's ready." Lu Yi stood up, supporting himself on the sofa. "Come with me."

It seemed that the general's subordinates had already left, leaving the starship eerily quiet.

Rong Mi followed Lu Yi to the starship's information room to recover the recordings.

The Silver Wolves prowled through the corridors with great seriousness, inspecting every cabin, patrolling its territory. Its tail hung down quietly, appearing much more relaxed than before. Upon seeing Rong Mi, its pace slowed slightly.

Rong Mi gracefully bent down to stroke the wolf's back, then left it be, allowing it to continue its inspection of the starship.

Outside the starship's airlock, the landscape of the desolate planet had been dramatically altered by Rong Mi and Lu Yi's battle against the High-Level Ice Butterfly.

Cracks crisscrossed the icy plains, with scorch marks from psychic energy visible everywhere. The most striking sight was the deep pit where the Fifth-Level High-Level Ice Butterfly had slumbered.

Around this hazardous pit, several military support teams had established a laser barrier.

Lu Yi's starship was parked at a safe distance from the barrier, neighboring a few survey team vessels and the flagship of First Legion's First Squad. Beyond them, one could see the competition starships for the Ice and Fire Mecha Tournament.

After the high-grade Ice Butterflies slumbered underground, the rescue team that arrived promptly extended assistance to the contestants and also took the competition program staff away for questioning.

Until the investigation concludes, all participating mecha pilots and program crew members are prohibited from leaving the barren planet.

Suspects in the tournament have been removed from the competition cruiser and placed in isolation chambers aboard the investigation team's vessel, while the remaining contestants remain on the tournament ship.

The others on the contest starship weren't under tight scrutiny, but the atmosphere aboard was tense and uneasy.

"Have you heard? The Ice Butterfly act was all the work of the chief director... My word. When I called for help, the rescue team from the show reassured me that it was an advanced holographic interactive projection meant to look realistic... Luckily, I managed to escape quickly!"

"Yes, I heard that a competitor is in critical condition in the medical bay... Their life still hangs in the balance."

"So when can we leave? I'm genuinely terrified and just want to return to the safe zone! I've heard there are still Ice Butterflies alive on this planet!"

"I wish we could leave too. Sigh, but military reinforcements have arrived... It should be safe here now, right?"

"Who knows? I'm still scared with the military around, and I'm not Rong Mi, after all."

The chatter on the starship momentarily subsided.

"Rong Mi really stole the show this time... I wonder how he managed to seem so incompetent at the start of the competition," someone muttered softly. "He must be trending on the Star Network now, right?"

"This is called stealing the show?! He has the actual skills! Rong Mi is a hero for facing the Ice Butterflies!" another mech pilot declared loudly. "Did you see the replay of the live stream? Could any of us perform those maneuvers?! With so many Ice Butterflies swarming, if not for Rong Mi drawing their attention... We might have already been killed!"

"He indeed pulled off moves that aren't within the capabilities of ordinary people," the first person said, gesturing to the side. "Look, isn't his friend showing off again over there?"

"...More like riding on his coattails! There are some Star Network singers I truly can't stand."

"Haven't you disliked all Star Network singers before? Why the change to 'some' now?"

"That guy's Rong Mi, isn't he? A Star Network singer... Rong Mi is my idol now! Anyway, he's nothing like Yu Tiantian... He ran faster than greased lightning, and didn't even bother to call for help when rescuing Rong Mi!"

"So many people are slamming him online! I don't know how he still has the nerve to go live."

Not far away, Yu Tiantian paid no attention to the mecha pilots' conversation.

He sat alone in a corner by the hatch, with two screens open in front of him.

One was a live streaming screen, while the other displayed a communication interface. The characters on the screen flickered as messages came in from Tianchen Entertainment Company, his contracted agency.

"Regain your popularity on the Star Network. Ignore everything else."

"Don't worry, the investigation won't affect the company or you."

Yu Tiantian pressed his lips together.

He closed the communication interface and refocused his attention on the live streaming screen before him.

"Yes... The investigation team still hasn't allowed us to leave the competition starship."

Yu Tiantian, with his delicate features, appeared worn and tearful at this moment, evoking a sentiment of pity in those who saw him. "I've requested several times to leave the ship. Yes, I'm fully aware that the investigation isn't over, and I have no intention of abandoning the desolate planet. I merely wish to see Rong Mi, to ascertain his condition for myself... I am terribly worried about him."

"When we were trapped in the Ice Butterfly Cocoon, Rong Mi kept urging me to leave first, telling me to hurry onto the rescue starship and depart immediately, just in case a large number of adult ice butterflies returned to the vicinity and the rescue vessel wouldn't be able to cope... Yes, he believed they were real ice butterflies back then... I did too, I was also under that impression, that's why I panicked."

"However, when the rescue team later clarified it was a holographic projection, I didn't give it much more thought."

"If only I had been more perceptive back then, called for assistance, Rong Mi wouldn't have had to face so many dangers afterward... Every time I think about it, my heart aches with regret."

In Yu Tiantian's live stream chat, many of his fans were present and immediately rushed to console him upon hearing his words.

Yet, there were also rumors that one could get updates about Rong Mi through Yu Tiantian, which attracted a crowd of spectators who had come for the drama to her live stream.

Upon the investigation team's entry into the desolate planet, apart from announcing the absence of fatalities, no further findings were disclosed to the public. No news regarding Rong Mi surfaced either.

The masses, who had swiftly become enamored with Rong Mi's video combating the Ice Butterfly, were deeply concerned about whether Rong Mi had been injured and what his current condition was. Consequently, they scoured everywhere for relevant information.

"If Rong Mi had called for rescue, we wouldn't be witnessing such an exciting match..." A viewer, who had merely joined the live stream to gather information on Rong Mi, commented, "No, I'm not implying that your action was right. To be honest, as Rong Mi's friend, you didn't inform the rescue team about his situation at all. That's quite a superficial brotherhood, don't you think?"

"Nonsense," a fan of Yu Tiantian promptly countered. "Rong Mi is great friends with our Tiantian! He has expressed his fondness for our Tiantian, even stating that she is his ideal type!"

"Really?!" The audience instantly transformed into curious onlookers, "Rong Mi likes this type?"

Yu Tiantian lowered his gaze and softly replied.

"But don't read too much into it!" He hurriedly whispered, "We're just good friends. He was just joking around..."

"Although I do really want to see him right now."

Live stream chat: "...Wow!! —— ?"

Why did these words imply there's a story behind them?!

What Rong Mi said... Even though he didn't come out directly, wasn't it a blatant "hint"?

Yu Tiantian, engrossed in the live stream and interacting with the comment section, didn't notice that the Starship cabin had somehow fallen silent at some point.

The mecha pilots, who were previously whispering among themselves, now gazed intently at the entrance of the cabin.

In the quiet environment, Yu Tiantian's soft voice became exceptionally clear.

Rong Mi, mid-stride toward the cabin door: "..."

As Yu Tiantian's words echoed in the room.

Rong Mi sensed that the gazes of everyone present had intensified, focusing on him. The two investigators who were about to take Yu Tiantian away for further interrogation and detention also looked at him with curiosity. Even Lu Yi's gaze swept over.

Rong Mi: "...Why is Lu Yi being so nosy too?"

Lost in thought, he quickly combed through the memories of his original body and discovered that, surprisingly, the original Rong Mi had indeed said such words to Yu Tiantian!

In fact, Yu Tiantian was one of the reasons the original Rong Mi agreed to participate in the mecha competition.

Rong Mi: "..."

He sighed inwardly.

He didn't want to ponder the emotions of the original Rong Mi before his death.

Rong Mi cleared his throat, ignoring the gossiping looks from everyone in the room, and stepped forward to reach for the camera hanging beside Yu Tiantian.

Yu Tiantian looked up blankly and caught sight of Rong Mi, his eyes brightening instantly. He started to say, "Rong—"

"Those are all in the past," Rong Mi interrupted, addressing the camera. "What Yu Tiantian mentioned was due to my poor judgment and aesthetic taste back then. It won't happen again."

"I've already recovered and handed over the video footage where he deliberately stepped on me, using me as a stepping stone to escape while ignoring my pleas for help… Did you tell others that I didn't allow you to save me? Do you think I'm an idiot who can't retort or that I'd swallow my pride just because you showed a little ambiguity towards me?"

Even if the original host did have some feelings for Yu Tiantian… it wouldn't be this foolish, right?

Rong Mi spoke casually, not noticing Yu Tiantian's suddenly changed expression. He nodded towards Lu Yi, who was sitting beside him. "Also, let me clarify something else to everyone."

The young man spoke earnestly and factually. "My ideal type… looks like this now."