Collapse Iron: I just transmigrated! You want me to save the Black Tower?!

"That's all," he reminded her.

It was just hacked.

"..." Black Tower took a deep breath. "What if... someone comes?"

"No," Jiang Jiu said firmly. "I locked the door."

"..."

Whether he was referring to locking the door in a physical sense or using the Star God's power to lock down the entire space, Black Tower didn't want to delve into it.

All she knew was that, apart from her and Jiang Jiu, no one else would enter this room.

“So…” Jiang Jiu leaned down slightly, his nose almost touching hers, his warm breath brushing against her lips, “Is there any other question?”

Hei Ta looked into Jiang Jiu's eyes, which were so close to his own, and saw her face clearly reflected in them.

Only her.

Her ear tips were still red, but her gaze was beginning to waver.

"...You did this on purpose."

"Yes, I did it on purpose." He admitted it without batting an eye.

"When did it start?"

"It all started when that brat disturbed our time together," Jiang Jiu chuckled, "It was too noisy. I originally wanted to come out, but you wouldn't let me, so I had no choice but to..."

"...Think of something else to distract yourself."

The Black Tower remained silent for two seconds.

"...So after thinking about it for so long, this is the only thing you came up with?"

Jiang Jiu looked at her intently, then shook his head.

"I don't need to think about you for a long time to miss you."

Black Tower: "..."

"You won't reject me, will you...?"

Hearing these words, Black Tower decided to give up resistance.

It's not that I can't win the argument, but rather because...

She didn't want to look for a reason anymore.

All those so-called reasons, excuses, and rationality became irrelevant the moment Jiang Jiu uttered the words "I miss you"...

She reached out and grabbed his collar, closing the distance between them.

Jiang Jiu was pulled so hard that he swayed, braced himself against the control panel behind her with one hand, and leaned closer, almost half-hugging her into his arms.

"Black Tower?" His voice carried a hint of surprise and anticipation.

The Black Tower did not answer.

She just grabbed his collar, buried her face in his chest, and refused to look up.

Her ear tips were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

Jiang Jiu paused for a moment, then smiled.

He gently kissed Black Tower's forehead, then lowered his head.

The two called each other's names over and over again, their voices growing increasingly tender.

"Black Tower".

"Um......"

"I like you so much."

"Hmm..."

The control room was extremely quiet.

There were only the overlapping, chaotic breathing of two people and the increasingly rapid beating of a heart.

...I don't know whose it is.

Side Story (7) - A Date

The next morning.

Black Tower opened his eyes in a daze.

The moment consciousness returned, the first thing I felt was a temperature on my body that didn't belong to me.

A pair of arms were tightly wrapped around her waist, as if afraid she would run away, the strength just right, holding her in a warm embrace.

She opened her eyes and saw a section of fair collarbone and a slightly open neckline.

...Move up a little, and you'll see Jiang Jiu's peaceful sleeping face.

Do even the Star God need to sleep?

She hadn't really thought about this problem before, but now wasn't the time to think about it. Heita tried to move the arms off her waist without waking him, but as soon as she moved, those arms tightened reflexively.

"...Don't move." Jiang Jiu's voice was lazy as he pulled Hei Ta closer to his chest. "It's still early, sleep a little longer."

Hei Ta glanced at the clock in the room; it was 7:43 a.m., which was indeed still early, but she seemed to have some plans for today.

"Let go." She tried to make her voice sound calm and normal, but her throat, which had just woken up, was obviously not cooperating, and the end of her voice rose slightly, making it sound more like... she was being coquettish.

Upon realizing this, Black Tower was stunned for a moment, and then his ears began to burn.

Jiang Jiu did not let go.

He slightly opened his eyes, looking down at the person in his arms. His eyes were still sleepy, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved up.

"Good morning," he said.

Black Tower felt uncomfortable under his gaze and turned her face away. Her gaze fell on the bedside table, where her change of clothes were neatly folded and a glass of water at the perfect temperature was placed next to it.

When did you start preparing?

"Is your back uncomfortable?" Jiang Jiu suddenly asked.

The Black Tower remained silent for two seconds.

"What do you say?"

"Was I too heavy last night?" Jiang Jiu blinked, looking innocent. "I'm sorry, I'll be lighter next time."

“There won’t be a next time.” Black Tower said expressionlessly, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, his ears so red they were almost bleeding.

Jiang Jiu did not refute, but simply tightened his arms around her waist slightly, rested his chin on the top of her head, and chuckled softly.

Who would believe that?

"What are your plans for today?" Jiang Jiu asked.

"Process the experimental data from the past two days, and work on the new lesson plan that's halfway done. This afternoon..."

"What about the afternoon?" Jiang Jiu interrupted her, his tone carrying a hint of expectation. "Could you give me the afternoon?"

Heita paused for a moment.

"......what are you up to?"

"A date," Jiang Jiu said matter-of-factly. "We haven't gone out alone in a long time."

"We went there just three days ago..."

“That’s a long time ago.” Jiang Jiu’s tone was a little aggrieved. “From my perspective, three days is no different from three Amber Ages.”

Black Tower opened its mouth, wanting to say, "What kind of concept of time scale do you, a Star God, have? There's clearly no difference between three Amber Ages and three seconds..."

But he swallowed the words back down his throat.

"...Whatever." Black Tower conceded defeat.

Jiang Jiu smiled slightly; his goal was achieved.

......

An hour later, Black Tower sat in a restaurant in the Two-Phase Paradise, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him, gazing at the scenery outside the window, his expression slightly dazed...

She doesn't remember how she was persuaded.

She just wanted to find an outfit to wear out, but Jiang Jiu had already prepared it for her. She just wanted to grab a quick bite and head out, but Jiang Jiu had already reserved the best table at a famous restaurant in Erxiang Paradise. She just wanted to...

...Okay, she admits that when Jiang Jiu looked at her with those beautiful eyes and said, "I've arranged everything," her mind went blank for a moment.

There was simply no way to refuse.

Beauty can truly bewitch a ruler; a handsome man is a curse!

"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Jiu walked over from the service counter, carrying two plates of exquisite-looking pastries, and sat down opposite her.

"I was wondering when you became so skilled." Hei Ta took a sip of his coffee, his tone calm, but his eyes held a hint of scrutiny. "Were you always this knowledgeable? Tell me, did you secretly do something behind my back?"

Jiang Jiu smiled and pushed the dessert plate in front of her.

"Because the past is the past, and the present is the present. Now I want to make you happy, so of course I have to put in the effort."

Black Tower curled his lips into a smirk: "Who's your strategist? Who taught you this stuff?"

"Can't I be self-taught?"

"you?"

Hei Ta glanced at Jiang Jiu from head to toe, pondered for a moment while rubbing his chin, and finally shook his head.

"Not like."

Jiang Jiu was very disappointed.

So he sold everyone together without any psychological burden.

Black Tower initially thought there were only one or two people, but...

"Actually, there aren't many. Just Xing, March 7th, Silver Wolf, Fei Ying, Yao Guang, Fei Xiao, and Gui Nai Fen."