Before dawn, Mona finally drifted into a deep sleep.
Kael stroked her long hair with a faint smile.
He checked the time. It was almost morning.
His body had been strengthened; even after everything they'd done, he still felt wide awake.
He slipped out first and made a quick trip to Wangshu Inn.
When he'd taken Little Gold out of the Serenitea Pot earlier, a thought struck him — he hadn't used that pot properly in a long time.
These days, aside from looking after Little Gold and giving people a ride through teleportation, it barely did anything at all.
It felt like he'd let it become useless.
And unlike the version in the game, his Serenitea Pot didn't have a teapot spirit living inside.
If he wanted to stay in it, he'd have to build actual structures with his own hands.
Maybe once he left the Alcor, he could think about how to get that pot up and running again.
---
By the time Kael returned to the Alcor, the sun was already high.
On the deck, he spotted Kazuha leaning against the railing, staring out at the sea with a distant, melancholy look.
Kael walked over and greeted him.
Kazuha's expression loosened a little the moment he saw Kael.
"Morning," Kael said.
Kazuha shook his head at Kael's relaxed appearance. "I didn't expect someone trapped on the Alcor to look so unworried."
Kael chuckled. "Nothing to worry about. Captain Beidou isn't unreasonable. I'm sure she'll let us off the ship soon."
At those words, worry flickered across Kazuha's face.
He'd gone to Beidou last night to speak on Kael's behalf, but her reaction had been strange.
The moment he mentioned Kael's name, she'd chased him out — eyes red, voice sharp.
She'd looked… sad in a way he couldn't quite explain.
It was the first time in all the years he'd known her that he'd ever seen Beidou look fragile.
He studied Kael carefully.
He was certain the two of them had met for the first time only yesterday.
So why had Kael affected Beidou so deeply? Enough to shake her composure? Enough to make her look like that?
Just then, one of the Alcor's crew ran up to them.
"Kael, there you are. Perfect timing. Captain wants to see you, come with me."
"Alright."
Kael assumed Beidou wanted to talk about Mona.
He followed the crew member across the ship.
At first, he thought they were heading toward the reception room.
But halfway there, he frowned. This wasn't the right path.
This was the route Beidou had taken when she'd carried him princess-style during the life simulation.
This path led to her room.
When the crew member finally stopped, Kael's suspicion was confirmed.
It really was Beidou's room.
Kael hesitated, confusion flickering across his face.
"Are you sure Captain Beidou told you to bring me here?"
If they were discussing something serious, she should've asked him to the reception room.
The crew member also seemed puzzled, but nodded firmly.
"Yes. Captain said to bring you here. Go on in."
Kael lifted his hand and knocked.
A raspy voice came from inside.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open.
The room was exactly as he remembered it.
Messy, rugged, utterly lacking in feminine touches.. pure Beidou.
It was daytime, but for some reason, all the curtains were drawn.
The heavy drapes blocked out every trace of sunlight, plunging the room into darkness.
Only a nearly-burnt-out oil lamp flickered weakly on the table, casting ghostly light and shadow across Beidou's face, making it impossible to read her expression.
The air felt heavy and suffocating.
Kael stepped closer and spoke cautiously. "Captain Beidou, may I ask why you called for me?"
"Beidou."
Kael blinked. "What?"
Beidou finally looked up at him.
Her eyes were bloodshot, dark circles smudged beneath them — she hadn't slept at all.
Her voice was rough with exhaustion. "I said… call me Beidou."
That expression…
Kael froze for a moment, and then it clicked.
The emotions from the life simulation had been projected onto her.
That was why she'd brought him to her room. Why she looked like this.
Before those feelings had bled over into reality, Kael could still treat her like a stranger. He could keep his distance.
But now, knowing for certain that the simulation's emotions were affecting her, he could no longer stay detached.
Her forced smiles, her stubborn bravery from the simulation—they all resurfaced in his mind.
Kael let out a quiet sigh. "Alright, Beidou."
The moment he said her name, her composure broke.
Something in her seemed to unravel.
Ever since last night, her mind had been full of him.
The way he stood up for another woman… the way he kept calling her "Captain Beidou" with that distant tone—every bit of it felt like a knife to the heart.
She didn't even know where these feelings came from, but they tormented her all the same.
She choked out, "You're not allowed to call me Captain anymore."
"Okay."
"Or Captain Beidou."
"Okay."
"I don't like you acting distant from me. From now on… you can only call me Beidou."
Whatever she said, Kael agreed to it without hesitation.
"Alright."
He knew exactly where these emotions came from.
In the simulation, after he and Yanfei got together, he'd deliberately pulled away from Beidou.
She'd always acted bold and carefree, but she was actually sensitive... tender-hearted beneath the bravado.
He must've hurt her deeply back then.
Even without remembering the simulation, her heart still carried that pain.
And now, it was demanding answers.