Ai lian sank lazily into the leather sofa.
She sat with her legs crossed, her slender ankles overlapping naturally.
Her black stockings traced the lines of her calves, creating an aesthetic of cold, sharp beauty.
She idly toyed with a thin wine glass, but her purple eyes remained firmly locked on the boy on the screen.
Observing Gu Yebai had become an indispensable part of Ai lian’s life.
Just as those obsessed with studying Dream of the Red Chamber were called Redologists, and those devoted to White Album were called White-ologists, Ai lian felt that she was now fully qualified to be called a Gu-ologist.
On the screen, nothing about Gu Yebai could be hidden.
She knew him too well.
For instance, his habit of leaning toward the left when he slept.
Or the way the furrow between his brows deepened whenever he was lost in thought.
Or how he would have an extremely brief, almost imperceptible pause whenever he encountered a question he did not want to answer.
Of course, this also included certain health details regarding his body when he showered in the bathroom.
It was true that he was an Earthling, but there were many details that belonged only to him as a unique individual.
It was precisely these differences that made it impossible for Ai lian to look away, leaving her completely enthralled.
Beyond these minor details, Ai lian was also well aware of the fact that Gu Yebai was currently standing at a crossroads in his life.
After all, she was a Gu-ologist.
For example, recently, Gu Yebai’s life was facing a cataclysmic upheaval.
One of the readers in his fan group was actually his biological parents.
In fact, Ai lian had known this even before Gu Yebai did.
Gu Yebai had no idea that the seemingly obscure, quiet member in the group chat was actually Ai lian, the classmate he spent every day with.
On the day she joined the group, she had casually investigated the background of every single member.
Therefore, she knew that Gu Yebai was about to reunite with his biological parents and be taken back to one of the wealthiest cities in the country, and perhaps even the world.
From then on, he would have a life of luxury and a bright future.
It was truly something to be celebrated.
“You’ll be leaving Linchuan soon,” Ai lian murmured softly.
“Thinking about it that way, it really is a bit lonely…”
However, it did not matter.
She planned to leave with Gu Yebai.
She would also transfer to the East Sea.
Although the housing prices there were among the highest in the country, money was the last thing Ai lian needed to worry about.
Whatever amount she needed, she just had to input a string of code.
She could wash the source of the funds completely clean, too.
As a visitor from the Atlantean civilization, she held what was essentially an all-powerful Earth Online cheat engine.
F1 was infinite money.
F2 was infinite health.
F3 was infinite mana.
F4 was infinite stamina.
F5 was for changing appearance.
When the time came, her identity would change as well.
Her original hair color was pale gold.
Her facial features leaned toward the people of the Balkan region on Earth.
According to DNA testing and various data points, the genes of Atlanteans were closest to those of Athenians.
However, none of that was important.
A mimicry skin could easily solve any concerns.
If she wanted to be a Huaxia girl, she became a Huaxia girl.
If she wanted to be from Sakura Country, she became a Sakura girl.
If she wanted to be from the Lighthouse Country, she became a Lighthouse girl.
Even becoming a dark-skinned “gyaru” was just a matter of entering a string of code.
‘Should I pose as a wealthy young lady?’
‘Or should I continue being an inconspicuous wallflower?’
‘Or… being an exchange student from a neighboring country might be interesting.’
No matter which identity she chose, she would stay by Gu Yebai’s side.
She would observe him, understand him, and analyze him in the name of friendship.
It was absolutely not like what the Chief Inspector said.
She was not in love.
Absolutely not.
This was merely to better study Earth’s civilization.
She was simply attracted to Gu Yebai’s kindness.
She felt he was a pitiful and lovely child.
She simply hoped he could live a better life.
If Earth could not give him tenderness in the end, she would take him away.
She would take him to another planet and keep him by her side forever, giving him unprecedented happiness.
This really was not love.
Tonight, Gu Yebai would reunite with his true parents.
Aside from his parents, there was also a girl who was born on the same year, month, and day as him—a girl who harbored intense feelings for him.
How wonderful.
Ai lian snapped her fingers lightly.
The surveillance feed switched.
Inside a suite at the Ibis Hotel, Gao Hongzhi was putting on a tie.
This man, who had once been a formidable figure in the business world, appeared somewhat nervous and even a bit shy at this moment.
“Dear, do you think I’m dressing too formally? Will Little Gu feel like there’s a distance between us?”
“Just be your usual self,” Ya Xinyao said, covering her mouth as she laughed softly.
Gao Hongyi was even more overwhelmed.
She took out a small mirror.
Because she had cried twice today, her exquisite makeup looked a bit haggard.
She had to touch it up.
She had to be flawless.
She had to make Uncle Bai completely fall for her.
“Mom, which lipstick shade should I use? The 434 Dried Rose or the 416 Rose Brown? Did you see my foundation? Is my eye makeup too heavy? I’m so nervous, Mom… I shouldn’t have cried earlier. Do I look ugly now? Will he think I’m hideous?”
Despite Ya Xinyao’s repeated reassurances, Gao Hongyi refused to stop.
She tried on outfit after outfit.
She changed her stockings over and over.
She spent thirty minutes agonizing between high heels and boots.
Arranged neatly on the bed were an Armani haute couture dress, a Dior coat, a Max Mara knit sweater and skirt, and a Chanel dress.
She took them off, put them on, and took them off again.
“The two of you are surprisingly alike in this regard,” Ya Xinyao said with a smile.
“Little Gu is a good child; he is our future family member. We’ll have a long time together in the future. It will be very tiring if you’re this formal every single day.”
She took out the gifts she had prepared long ago from a suitcase: a Switch game console, a Gundam model, and the latest sneakers.
“What are you standing around for? There are so many things here; one person can’t carry them all.”
“Coming, Mom.”
“I’ll carry more, dear.”
It was a scene of perfect harmony.
Ai lian should have felt at ease leaving Gu Yebai with such a family.
Yet, a sharp pang of dull pain radiated from her chest, impossible to ignore. She bit her lip.
Perhaps with their company, Gu Yebai would step out of his loneliness and become cheerful.
He might even start dating Gao Hongyi.
Logic told her this was the inevitable conclusion.
But… if Earth was not kind to him… if he was disappointed… if he fell into despair…
Then she would have a legitimate reason to take him away.
What a perfect story progression.
But Ai lian stopped herself from thinking further.
She was just a visitor from the stars.
Just an observer.
Nothing more.
“I wish you happiness, Student Gu… I really wish you happiness. Really, really, I wish you happiness! So hurry up and run toward happiness with that red-haired bit—red-haired little beauty! I’m a lone wolf. I’m satisfied as long as I have wine…”
Beep!
[Warning! Hostile forces detected approaching observation subject Gu Yebai!]
The voice of the AI auxiliary system suddenly rang out..
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