Staring at the information transmitted back from the detector, Huaiyan's pupils slightly dilated as he awaited the star chariot's encounter with the other party.
In truth, when making the decision, he could have simply ordered the star chariot to slightly alter its course and avoid that life signal.
But after a brief moment of consideration, he ultimately chose not to.
What must come will come; what cannot be avoided cannot be avoided.
From that brief clash just now, he could clearly sense that the other's strength was immense—basically on par with an Emissary.
If the other harbored malice and was targeting Zhu Ming, then a battle between them was inevitable. Changing course wouldn't solve anything.
It was better to meet the challenge head-on and see just who this person clashing with him truly was.
"Is that a Xianzhou star chariot?!"
Some time later, Welt looked at the spacecraft before him in pleasant surprise, a hint of joy in his eyes.
He had only been trying his luck, hoping to find a civilized planet in this unknown star region.
If he found nothing, he had planned to activate a simulated black hole for another spatial jump and keep gambling on his fortune.
But he never expected the heavens to favor him—'Yang Sit-Ups'—so much. Just a few system hours after leaving that wasteland planet, he had encountered a Xianzhou star chariot.
"That emblem… it should be from Zhu Ming Xianzhou."
Welt pushed up his glasses and began reflecting on that earlier gaze.
"If it's a star chariot from Zhu Ming Xianzhou, then the one who clashed with me just now must be General Huaiyan of Zhu Ming Xianzhou, right?"
Thinking of this, Welt flashed forward in an instant, arriving in front of the star chariot. Then he waved toward it.
"It seems the other party bears no malice. And this person's appearance… I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
Looking at the image on the display, Huaiyan stroked his chin and muttered to himself.
"Invite him in. Let us meet this guest."
———————————
"By the way, Himeko, why are you the only one here? Where are Stelle and little March?"
After Robin and Himeko had introduced themselves and gotten acquainted, just as the waiter brought coffee and desserts for everyone, Yun Fan turned to ask Himeko.
"Little March is waiting for Stelle. That little one entered the dream world a bit later, so she's waiting for Stelle over by the Clock Boy statue."
Himeko smiled faintly and answered truthfully. Then she looked down at the coffee in her hand, a curious expression appearing on her face.
Clearly, this "Astral Express's Number One Coffee Master" was very interested in Penacony's coffee.
"I see."
Yun Fan didn't ask further. He simply pushed the dessert in front of him toward Robin beside him and spoke gently.
"This is the dream world, so no matter how much you eat, you won't gain weight. Since you have to watch your figure in the real world, eat more here."
"Mm-hmm, thank you."
Hearing Yun Fan's words and looking at the creamy mousse cake on her table, under the influence of her excitement signals, the feathers on Robin's ears began to flutter up and down uncontrollably.
This scene caught Yun Fan's eye and made the boy's heart itch. So, while the girl happily savored the mousse cake in her hand, disregarding the others present, the boy reached out with his "sinful hands" toward those wings.
"Eek~!"
Miss Robin, who was enjoying her cake, suddenly felt her wing being touched. Reflexively, she let out an adorable sound.
When she realized it was Yun Fan touching her wing, the girl couldn't help but puff out her cheeks in anger.
In response, Yun Fan merely smiled faintly, casually withdrawing his hand. And even before fully pulling back, he secretly let his slightly rough palm gently stroke the soft, silky feathers once more.
And with just that motion, this little bird—puffed up like a pufferfish—deflated with a poof.
She then lowered her head and silently continued eating her little cake.
"You two really get along well. I really am getting old—I can't keep up with you young people anymore."
Himeko tilted her head, smiled, and said in a teasing tone.
Facing Himeko's teasing, Yun Fan didn't say anything. He simply returned a smile.
For the next stretch of time, everyone enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea. And just as the afternoon tea was nearing its end, Stelle and March 7th—the two late-arriving Nameless—finally appeared in the café.
"Himeko, Yun Fan, we're here."
The one who spoke was Stelle, not little March. Normally at times like this, the energetic March 7th would be the first to greet everyone.
But this time, our little March was unusually quiet. She hid behind Stelle, her eyes evasive, seemingly unwilling to look toward Yun Fan and Robin.
Taking in the entire scene, Yun Fan naturally understood why March 7th was acting this way, but the boy didn't expose it.
He simply called over a waiter, ordered a few more afternoon tea sets, then stood up from his seat. Under the shocked gazes of March 7th and Stelle, he boldly grabbed little March's arm and pulled her to sit on his other side.
"Y-y-you…!"
Yun Fan's action was completely unexpected by everyone present. This move directly caused little March's brain to short-circuit, and her face flushed red.
She stammered, pointing at Yun Fan, then nervously glanced at Robin beside him—who was now watching thoughtfully.
"Alright, alright, no more stuttering. How long has it been since we last met? Little March is actually getting shy now?"
Yun Fan laughed and ruffled the girl's head until her hair was a complete mess before reluctantly withdrawing his hand.
From the side, having witnessed Yun Fan's actions, Himeko seemed to understand something—understood what Yun Fan was about to do next.
'I never expected Yun Fan to be so much of a playboy. Looks like he doesn't intend to let go of either little March or Miss Robin.'
Thinking this, Himeko directly stood up from her seat, grabbed Stelle—who was eating melon and watching the show beside her—and, ignoring her struggles, forcefully dragged her out of the café.
"I have something to discuss with Stelle alone. March, Yun Fan—we'll step away for a bit."