Tian An, leading FrostNova, hurried all the way to the hotel the vendor had mentioned. She checked it against her memory – yes, this was the right one.
The same one the Express crew was staying at.
"Are we sleeping in here?" FrostNova asked.
"Yes, is something wrong?" Tian An replied.
"Nothing."
FrostNova looked at the lavishly decorated building, a strange feeling rising in her heart.
It felt like a wanderer arriving in a place that didn't belong to her, a place meant for those who already had a home.
Tian An looked at FrostNova's expression, unsure what to say. She was just an outsider, after all. Only those who had truly experienced such feelings could empathize.
"Let's go in," Tian An patted FrostNova's shoulder. FrostNova flinched slightly but didn't resist much.
"Good evening, are you checking in?" Passing through the ornate corridor and up the stairs, the two arrived at the front desk, still staffed.
"I'd like to ask, did some people wearing distinctive clothes check in today?" Tian An inquired of the receptionist.
"Apologies, due to guest privacy, we cannot disclose information to you," the receptionist replied patiently with a standard professional smile.
"Who are you looking for?" FrostNova said, her eyes fixed on the receptionist, her body leaning back slightly.
"Wait, don't be like that," Tian An held FrostNova back.
"Then we'll check in. Two rooms, please," Tian An turned back and continued.
"Uh... apologies, madam, only one room is left," the receptionist said, looking troubled.
"I'll stand guard outside," FrostNova said, turning to leave, but was pulled back again.
"One room is fine too, we don't mind," Tian An said with a smile.
"Very well then. Please present your identification so I can check you in."
"Uh... cough cough..." Tian An awkwardly turned around to face FrostNova.
"Don't look at me, I can't help either," FrostNova spread her hands and whispered. She didn't seem very receptive to this pushy behavior, hence her slight annoyance.
Tian An quietly apologized to her, then turned back again.
She felt like she was becoming a spinning top.
"Sorry, we forgot to bring it today. Is there another way?"
"Another way.... Are you two.... adults?"
"Definitely adults," Tian An nodded vigorously.
"Unless you can provide an equivalent proof item, I'm afraid I can't help you."
"Will this do?" Tian An took out the gold nugget from earlier and broke off another piece.
"Cough cough.... cough, but then again, you two certainly don't look like bad people, right?" The receptionist smiled, smoothly retrieving the key from the counter and handing it to Tian An.
"Also, about those people you mentioned, they're staying in..."
Indeed, money makes the world go round.... Different people certainly react differently to such things.
Tian An found the corresponding bedroom according to the room number on the key.
"You can go in and sleep now," Tian An said with a smile, as if inviting a friend to play an exciting game together.
"What about you?" FrostNova asked, looking at her.
"Me? We'll sleep together, of course," Tian An stated with a smile, upholding Teacher Te's values of universal love.
I even slept together with Little March, surely I can sleep together with you, a cute white rabbit?
It's not like we're actually going to play some weird game. Tian An held these people in reverence.
"You go into the room first, I'll check the surroundings," Tian An pushed FrostNova into the room and gently closed the door.
Following the room number the receptionist had mentioned, Tian An began her search. She first walked to the room described as belonging to the "sour-faced little bro," preparing to verify if they were really here.
"What are you doing?" Before Tian An could even get close to the door, an extremely calm voice came from behind her.
"Teacher Dan Heng?" Tian An turned around awkwardly. After all, her actions really did resemble those of a peeping tom about to make a move.
"March 7th and Star were very anxious, so they rushed to come down and find you. However, it's good that you're alright." Dan Heng didn't comment on her behavior.
"Also.. this is the figure Tian Ning left behind. I brought it down as well." Dan Heng produced the Patriot figure from behind him and handed it to Tian An.
Big Daddy figure... if this became real, that'd be game over, no one could play anymore.
Tian An accepted the figure reverently.
"Ah, right, how is Tian Ning?"
"Her? Ever since you suddenly disappeared, she's been crying and fussing, wanting to come down with us to find you, but Himeko stopped her."
"After you disappeared, a flash of light appeared on the surface of Jarilo-VI. We naturally knew where you went," Dan Heng anticipated Tian An's question and answered it preemptively.
"Go find them tomorrow. At this hour, they're already asleep," Dan Heng advised.
"What about you?"
"I can't sleep."
"....."
"Do you have a room? If not, I'll...."
"Yes, I do, absolutely! Dan Heng, see you tomorrow." Tian An helped Dan Heng open his door, then pushed him inside too.
"You..." Before Dan Heng could say more than a couple of words, the door was closed.
Teacher Dan Heng can sometimes turn into a nagging parent too.
Tian An opened her own room door and went inside.
"Was that your companion just now?" FrostNova, seeing Tian An had returned, stopped hiding herself and sat properly on the chair.
"Yes, his name is Dan Heng. He's a very good person," Tian An introduced him to FrostNova.
"Why are you still sitting there? It's time to sleep."
FrostNova remained unmoved.
"My Originium Arts cause my body temperature to be too low. Anyone who touches me will be injured by the biting cold," FrostNova shook her head. It wasn't that she didn't want contact, but it would only bring disaster to others.
"And what does your Originium Arts have to do with my Originium Arts?" In the blink of an eye, Tian An had enveloped the entire bed with woven threads. Given her current power level, suppressing an unawakened white rabbit... ah no... a white rabbit that had already died once, wouldn't that be easy as pie?
"Or perhaps you'd prefer to sleep趴ing on the table for a night?"
"This kind of resting environment is already sufficient for me." FrostNova seemed not to have understood the implied meaning.
(ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)
"No."
———————————————————
"Doctor, Doctor, how exactly do you normally relieve yourself, eat, and sleep?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You wear such airtight clothes all day, isn't it very inconvenient?"
"This 'beep beep' hood-head is an **, who cares how he eats? Eating someone else's feet would be a blessing for him."
"Hey! You're right!"
"....."