Genshin Impact: Joining the Genius Society-Chapter 224: Herta: “I Don’t Want to Become Madam Niu!”

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Herta: “I Don’t Want to Become Madam Niu!”

"How is this possible...?"

After sensing Su Ran’s existence, Ruan Mei felt like she was on the verge of losing her mind.

She had lived for a long time.

She had studied all kinds of bizarre lifeforms—no matter how absurd, no matter how complex, they always displayed some biological characteristics.

Even mechanical beings or phase-spirit flames were acceptable to her.

But Su Ran’s form of existence was far too strange.

It completely overturned everything she had ever understood about life.

Seeing Ruan Mei looking like she was about to break down, Herta felt an indescribable emotion well up inside her.

"Is it really necessary to react like this? You joined the Genius Society earlier than I did—is your mental resilience this bad?"

Seeing this usually aloof and independent woman show such a state right in front of her felt oddly surreal to Herta.

If Su Ran was that special, shouldn’t she be thinking about how to study him?

Why did it look like the sky had fallen instead?

Was it really that exaggerated?

"It is..."

Ruan Mei took a long time before she finally calmed down.

She had always believed herself to be standing at the forefront of life sciences.

But Su Ran’s existence had splashed her with a bucket of cold water.

She had only just begun.

Everything she understood about life was merely the starting line.

There was still a very long road ahead.

"Herta... can you help me obtain some samples from Su Ran?"

"...You’re dreaming."

Herta rejected her without hesitation.

This was absolutely not something she could casually agree to.

She had no intention of sacrificing herself for Ruan Mei.

If Su Ran found out—

What if she couldn’t even remain friends with him afterward?

"He’s extremely petty. If he finds out you tried to research his body without permission, he might just blacklist you on the spot! Don’t forget—you’re the one asking him for help right now!"

Ruan Mei had already dared to secretly cultivate a Swarm Emanator inside her space station.

What wouldn’t she dare to do?

Herta had never considered Ruan Mei to be a well-behaved person.

Giving her this warning already counted as benevolence.

They were all geniuses—no one was inferior to anyone else.

And Su Ran’s abilities were clearly above everyone else’s.

Why would anyone indulge her?

Aside from Su Ran himself—whom Herta tolerated to an absurd degree— she had no intention of indulging anyone else.

Ruan Mei included.

"Su Ran may not be a biological entity as we understand it." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"..."

"On him, I can’t perceive the traits that ordinary lifeforms possess. I even feel that phase-spirit flames are closer to humans than he is."

Ruan Mei explained Su Ran’s uniqueness to Herta, hoping she could understand her current state of mind.

If the situation weren’t special, she wouldn’t want to do this either.

But unfortunately, Herta wasn’t buying it.

"Even if he is an Aeon, he’s still my collaborator right now. If you want to seek death, do it yourself—don’t drag me into it."

Herta’s ruthless refusal left Ruan Mei feeling stifled.

But it also served as a wake-up call.

That man who had almost severed her arm the moment they first met—

He wouldn’t indulge her either.

And unlike Herta, he wouldn’t just refuse politely.

He would actually act.

Her curiosity toward the unknown had made her reckless.

That wasn’t right.

After calming herself down, Ruan Mei decided she needed to see Su Ran again.

And properly explain her request.

Repeated setbacks with Su Ran made her realize something important:

Some things couldn’t be carried out purely based on one’s own assumptions.

Offending someone stronger than herself—someone who had gone even further in her own field of expertise—was not a wise decision.

Because the price she’d have to pay might be one she simply couldn’t afford.

"...You’re right. I should make some changes. This world isn’t full of people who will bend to my will and do things for me."

At this moment, Ruan Mei had truly grown.

Herta, watching this, felt oddly gratified.

Ruan Mei had joined the Genius Society earlier than her—

Yet she’d taken longer to understand such a simple truth.

"You should soften up a bit. Be like a cat—let him tame you. That way, you’ll get more out of it."

Herta began transmitting her personal philosophy to Ruan Mei.

Lower your head a little.

Act cute.

Build some rapport.

Once you’re familiar, things become easy, don’t they?

Just like her.

Whenever Su Ran started a new project, she’d just say, "Count me in," and he’d bring her along.

It didn’t matter if she couldn’t understand or learn everything.

Participation alone was valuable.

And the gains were real.

Sure, Herta gave Su Ran a lot of things—

But she was spending Asta’s money. She herself paid nothing.

And look at the results?

She gained plenty.

She even obtained permission to use that teleportation device.

Wasn’t this the perfect example of empty-handed profit?

It was only because Ruan Mei was too closed off.

She didn’t know how to leverage her knowledge to broaden her path.

What was the use of being some aloof, otherworldly fairy?

Could that bring more resources to her research?

"...Do you think he’d like it if I wore cat ears?"

Having accepted reality, Ruan Mei decided to change.

And the first step of that change—

Was exactly what Herta suggested: becoming a cat and letting Su Ran tame her.

"...How would I know? Maybe I’ll wear cat ears too later and test it out?"

Herta looked calm on the surface.

But internally, she was shocked by how fast Ruan Mei was changing.

She’d only just mentioned it—

And Ruan Mei was already considering cat ears?

If this went on, wouldn’t she be wearing black stockings next?

Ruan Mei stared straight into Herta’s eyes, as if trying to see through her entirely.

"You wouldn’t happen to—"

"What? My relationship with him is great! No need for your suspicions!"

Herta’s righteous, confident response made Ruan Mei believe her.

"Then no need for you to test it. I’ll do it myself."

She was afraid Herta would whisper things into Su Ran’s ear.

Earlier, it was because of Herta that she’d almost lost the chance to cooperate with Su Ran.

She couldn’t let Herta go first again.

"Too late. The space station is full of my puppets."

Herta immediately logged off.

She had no intention of giving Ruan Mei a head start.

After all—

She absolutely did not want to go from being today’s darling to tomorrow’s Madam Niu.

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