[After Mobius's 9th birthday, you left home with her and moved into the research institute left behind by your late mother.]
[Using the inheritance and connections your mother left you, you had no need to worry about survival and devoted yourselves entirely to your studies.]
[Over the long years you spent together, you came to realize your own talents were no match for Mobius's. You voluntarily stepped back from the spotlight, becoming her assistant and taking care of her daily life.]
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the talent 'Culinary Master'.]
[Finally, at a young age, you and Mobius became two of the world's most preeminent scholars and received an invitation from The MOTHs Who Chase the Flame...]
---o---
"The MOTHs Who Chase the Flame... huh?"
Fu Li placed a box in the corner, wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked around his future workplace.
It was a laboratory brimming with a high-tech feel. All sorts of equipment were readily available, and a single glance was enough to tell they were astronomically expensive.
As Fu Li stared at the pile of daily necessities, wondering how to organize them, a pair of damp hands suddenly touched the back of his neck.
"Little brother, I'm hungry. Go make dinner."
The voice was light, imbued with a serpentine charm.
But upon hearing that seductive tone, Fu Li jumped back several steps like a startled cat.
Seeing his reaction, Mobius let out a soft chuckle, flicked her hands dry, and began to survey the laboratory with a critical eye.
"Mm~ This lab isn't bad. Just what you'd expect from the MOTHs. Although there are quite a few restrictions, the experimental equipment is plentiful."
The Mobius of today was not the one Fu Li was familiar with.
Compared to the 1.4-meter-tall, yandere loli who was always trying to trick Mei into being an experiment subject, her current self was a completely different person.
A long, snow-white neck, a mature and beautiful face, and a perfectly curvaceous figure—she was every bit the mature older sister, possessing a commanding presence mixed with a seductive aura.
But Fu Li wasn't a lecher, so he probably, maybe, possibly wasn't deceived by her appearance, right?
Fu Li sighed. "By the way, isn't there a welcome banquet tonight? Why do I still have to cook?"
Even as he said this, his body was already moving proficiently toward the kitchen.
Normally, a place like this wouldn't have a kitchen, but Mobius had specifically requested one as a condition for joining the MOTHs.
Looking at it now, this woman just wanted to freeload off his cooking!
"I'm telling you~ Banquets like that are no fun at all. The way they look at me is like they're looking at a demon."
Mobius organized the books she had brought over. "Those stares really hurt my feelings~ Besides, all the investors are older sisters. It's more convenient for you to go."
"You're blatantly selling out your own brother. And isn't that a mess of your own making?" Fu Li's mouth twitched.
"Ehehe~ It's called putting resources to good use. It's all for the sake of research~ Now be a good boy and go~ My dear little brother~" Mobius winked, her smile growing even more mischievous.
"You, of all people, can surely understand me, can't you~"
Ever since Fu Li had acquired that 'Pitiable Charm' talent, any older sister he met would take extra special care of him.
Even when he was the exclusive assistant to the 'Demon' at university, he was never short of older sisters around him, though he had rejected them all.
Only when Mobius botched an experiment and was short on funds would he go and put in a good word with a beautiful professor to ask for a bit of funding.
And the results, naturally, were successful every time.
"Sigh, you..." Fu Li sighed again. He quickly fried a pork cutlet and placed it on the table with a huff.
"Don't drink alcohol with your meal. I've warmed up some milk for you. I don't want to come back and have to play drinking games with you."
"Alright, alright, I know. Now hurry up and go. Remember to buy me some bubble wrap tomorrow."
"Yes, yes, I will."
[You attended the welcome banquet for The MOTHs Who Chase the Flame. The beautiful, black-stockinged investor was disappointed to see Mobius absent, but was secretly relieved.]
[You quickly hit it off with the older sisters, and with a single word, convinced them to double the initial budget for Mobius's laboratory.]
[After the banquet, you met another assistant assigned to your team by the MOTHs, Blanca.]
Blanca? Isn't that Griseo's mother?
And that radiant girl... that must be Elysia.
Returning to the lab, Fu Li sat on the sofa and rubbed his head.
"Hm? Drank too much?"
A cup of half-sugar milk tea was placed in front of him at just the right moment. Mobius, having paused her research, asked with concern, "How did it feel being surrounded by women? Was it great?"
"Not great at all..." Fu Li took a sip of the milk tea and changed the subject.
"Thanks to your little brother's handsome face, the budget has been doubled. Quick, praise me~"
Mobius replied perfunctorily, "Ah, yes, yes. As expected of my little brother. But you can't rest yet. I have another job for you..."
A familiar card was handed to Fu Li.
He called it familiar not just because of the person on it, but because of its familiar format.
A Senba Academy student ID. Did this school also exist in the Previous Era?
And the person in the photo... it had to be Dr. MEI in her student days.
"This person published a thesis on quantum mechanics last month. In my eyes, and in the eyes of the MOTHs, she is a once-in-a-century genius. So..."
"At the academic seminar a month from now, she will be invited to attend. Could I trouble you to go and make contact with her for me?"
When she mentioned Dr. MEI, a playful glint flashed in Mobius's eyes.
It was the look of a snake that had spotted its prey. Fu Li knew that Dr. MEI was an indispensable part of her grand plan.
It's just...
Fu Li propped his head up with his hand, feeling a bit helpless. "So, you really don't plan on going out at all? It's so unhealthy to be cooped up in the lab all day."
"Mm~ I don't care. I'm leaving Dr. MEI to you."
With those words, Mobius got up and left, giving Fu Li no chance to nag any further.
And so, Fu Li had no choice but to agree.
[Over the next month, you witnessed Mobius's increasingly outrageous experiments and ambitions, but you were already accustomed to them and gave your silent consent.]
[Because you knew that the current era had no room for pity. Besides, under your supervision, all the test subjects were volunteers.]
[One day, Mobius suddenly found you, informing you that the academic seminar was about to begin and urging you to set off.]
[It was clear that she cherished Dr. MEI's talent.]
[As promised, you arrived at the academic seminar and met Dr. MEI.]
"Beautiful lady, I'm sure many people have praised your intellect, so I'll get straight to the point."
Fu Li approached MEI with a harmless smile on his face.
The name tag on his chest read: Li.
"Um, hello, Doctor. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The Devil's Advocate... in the academic world, this title was practically synonymous with that other pinnacle of genetic science—Mobius.
"Heh, don't be nervous. No matter what the outside world says, Dr. Mobius is actually a good person."
It's just that very few people can understand her.
Fu Li added that quip internally before relaying the question Mobius had given him.
"I've read your thesis. It has great research value. So, would you mind if I asked a few questions?"
"Of course." Dr. MEI's face flushed slightly. As a mere high school student, she didn't quite know how to 'refuse'.
[You asked Dr. MEI the pre-prepared questions and received answers that satisfied Mobius.]
[And you, in turn, extended an olive branch to her.]
"Miss MEI, do you want to understand the meaning of life? Do you want to... truly live?"
A silver-rimmed business card was placed in MEI's hand as Fu Li raised his coffee cup.
"There's no need to give me an answer right away. That's Mobius's number. I believe the two of you will have a very pleasant chat."
"Also, Miss MEI, this might sound a bit sudden, but if you have someone you love in your life, you should seize the opportunity bravely."
Otherwise, by the time regret sets in, Kevin will no longer be able to reach out and embrace you.
With a wave, Fu Li turned and walked away, leaving without a trace, like a fleeting cloud.