"Seriously… Bai Ming, don't just suddenly hug people like that!"
March 7 rubbed her neck, muttering under her breath, "That's really scary…"
"Sorry~" Bai Ming clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, her eyes wide with remorse. "I just got so happy hearing that I don't have to pay for the damage!"
"That doesn't mean you can just pounce on me!" March shot back, puffing her cheeks in frustration.
"Okay, okay! I won't do it next time!"
"You still expect there to be a next time?!"
As Bai Ming offered her mischievous apology and March 7 continued to protest, Dan Heng stood off to the side, silently observing the scene with a thoughtful expression.
Then Dan Heng spoke calmly, his voice steady as ever.
"Seems that even though it's only been a short time, March, you've already formed quite a strong bond with Bai Ming. Just as expected from you."
March 7th hesitated. She wanted to say, "Not really," but quickly realized that probably wasn't the best response.
Turning her head, she met Bai Ming's gaze—only to see the girl arch an eyebrow, wearing a faintly smug expression.
Yeah… definitely not something she could say.
Straightening her posture, March placed her hands on her hips and nodded confidently toward Dan Heng.
"Yes~ She and I are already good friends!"
Bai Ming's eyes immediately lit up.
"Ah, March 7——!"
"Don't stick so close! Or I'll stop talking to you!" March yelped, taking a step back as Bai Ming leaned in with a teasing grin.
Watching the two, it was hard to tell whether they were bickering or flirting.
Dan Heng frowned slightly but chose not to comment. Instead, he continued in his usual composed tone:
"I think I mentioned earlier that I saw you two from the monitoring room. Arlan was there as well. He got a bit injured, but it's nothing life-threatening."
"Eh?!"
Hearing this, March 7th instantly brightened up. "That's great! You found him?!"
"Wait a moment…"
Her excitement faltered as a thought struck her. She turned her gaze toward the faulty control panel behind her, blinking her bright eyes in realization.
"Then… does Arlan know what's wrong with this elevator?"
"Well, if you put it that way…" Dan Heng lowered his head slightly, pressing his chin in thought. "Since he's the head of the Security Division…"
He then looked back up at her. "He should know, right?"
"Then let's go meet up with him!" March 7 said enthusiastically.
"Mm. That would make sense," Dan Heng replied, though his gaze gradually shifted to Bai Ming, who stood quietly beside them.
"Before that," he continued, his tone calm but firm, "could she perhaps explain why she's been staring at me this entire time?"
Indeed—just as he said.
Throughout the whole exchange with March 7th, Bai Ming hadn't taken her eyes off him for even a second.
That gaze—well, it might not have been world-shattering, but it definitely carried the weight of someone questioning the meaning of life.
Could it be that something he said earlier had scared her?
But he'd only been speaking honestly…
Seeing Dan Heng's puzzled look, March 7th also turned toward Bai Ming, concern flickering across her face.
"Bai Ming? If something's wrong, you can tell us! If there's anything we can help with, we'll do our best!"
"Well…"
Bai Ming raised a finger, her expression suddenly brightening.
"I just wanted to ask! March 7th can use a bow and arrow, right? So does that mean you can use weapons too?"
Though the question was a little strange, Dan Heng nodded calmly.
"Of course. I can use—"
"Wait a moment!" Bai Ming interrupted, raising her hand dramatically.
"Let me guess first! Your weapon… it's a spear, isn't it?"
Dan Heng blinked, then furrowed his brow slightly. Without a word, he raised his hand—and just like March 7th earlier, a beam of light materialized out of thin air. The light solidified into a sleek, black long spear that radiated a sharp, disciplined aura.
It was clear at a glance that Dan Heng took meticulous care of it.
"See? I knew it!" Bai Ming exclaimed, clapping her hands with pure delight, a triumphant grin spreading across her face.
March 7th, however, tilted her head, a puzzled look crossing her face.
"I remember Teacher Dan Heng hasn't actually taken out his weapon in front of you… so how did you know?"
"This… um…"
Seeing her so curious, Bai Ming quickly straightened her clothes and adopted an exaggeratedly serious expression.
"March 7th, do you really want to know?"
"Of course!" March replied eagerly, leaning forward.
"Alright then—! Actually…"
"Actually…?" March's curiosity reached its peak, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"I guessed!" Bai Ming declared proudly, puffing out her chest.
March 7th expression instantly deflated into a pout. "Forget it… maybe we shouldn't be such good friends after all…"
"No, wait!" Bai Ming quickly linked arms with her, laughing nervously. "I really did just guess! Isn't it normal to get lucky sometimes?"
March crossed her arms, still unconvinced.
"Then why did you guess that specifically?"
"Because…"
Bai Ming looked at Dan Heng, unable to put her thoughts into words.
The sense of déjà vu was overwhelming!
The calm, serious tone when he spoke, the refined air about him, even the clothing adorned with dragon motifs—right down to the subtle eyeshadow.
It was uncanny.
He looked just like that one duckling she'd seen before…
A parallel-world version of Zhongli!
Could it be that in this world—
"That… Zhong—"
"Zhong?" Dan Heng's brow furrowed slightly.
"I mean—uh, finally! I guessed right for once!" Bai Ming quickly corrected herself, forcing a bright smile. "Spears are great! Super cool, actually!"
"I see…" Dan Heng replied evenly, nodding once. "Thank you for appreciating the weapon of the spear."
"Um, Dan Heng, can I ask you a few more questions?"
"Of course," he said simply. "Ask as you wish."
"Then… can you say, "I will have order"?
Though he looked a little confused, Dan Heng obliged without hesitation.
"I will have order"
He even gave the phrase a measured, deliberate rhythm.
Bai Ming tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm… it doesn't sound quite right. sounds more like… someone else."
"What are you talking about?" Dan Heng asked, puzzled.
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Bai Ming waved her hands quickly, then perked up as an idea struck her.
"Ah, Dan Heng! Say this line—'Surrendering is a choice, and I will treat you, my defeated subordinate, kindly.' Oh, and, um… a bit more sternly!"
Dan Heng hesitated for a beat, then complied in his calm, resonant voice:
"'Surrendering is a choice, and I will treat you, my defeated subordinate, kindly.'"
The moment the words left his mouth, Bai Ming froze.
That was exactly the line Tartaglia—Childe—said in the Golden House! Normally, anyone who heard it would be dodging a Hydro attack right after.
But now, hearing those same words spoken by Green Zhongli's look-alike…made her brain Short circuit
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon. Set up for my web novel will be 2 chapters for every book a day and if you go to my patreon you'll see the set up there.
patreon.com/deadlygoober