Chapter 248 - 248: Impossible, Absolutely Impossible

Bai Heng fell into deep self-doubt. Was it really her problem?

This coffee actually... tasted okay?

She slowly turned her head, looking at the small half-cup remaining on the coffee table, the portion she had not managed to finish earlier. Hesitantly, she reached out her hand. She dipped a finger into the dark liquid and sipped a tiny drop into her mouth.

At a perfect ninety-degree angle, Bai Heng collapsed straight back onto the plush cushions of the sofa.

"...It seems Ms. Bai Heng's Trailblaze hasn't gone far enough yet," Himeko said, shaking her head slightly with a hint of sincere pity coloring her tone.

"Num~ Num—"

The Cat Cake at her feet also shook its head in perfect sync, spreading its short, fluffy paws in a gesture of helplessness. It was practically a carbon copy of Himeko's elegant disappointment.

Aeons Chat Group

HooH: (Swallows the last sip with a frown.)

HooH: What garbage drink.

HooH: Not tasty at all.

Aha: Ahahaha—so the one who secretly swiped the coffee was you, HooH!

Aha: It seems that after the stiff HooH joined the chat group, even they have gained a bit of human touch~ This is just too fun!

Aha was overjoyed. If it were the old, entirely humorless HooH, they would never have done such a ridiculous thing.

HooH:...

Not long after, Bai Heng slowly woke up from her brief unconsciousness.

"Whew..." She let out a long breath, patting her chest to soothe her racing heart. "I just had a nightmare, a very, very scary nightmare."

"I dreamed that soda fermented milk drink was added to the coffee I was drinking!"

She looked at the chatting Leon and Himeko with lingering fear in her eyes. "That taste... it's really not fit for human consumption."

Leon could not help but laugh out loud, his shoulders shaking with amusement.

The gentle smile on Himeko's face stiffened for a fraction of a second.

"Is there a possibility," Leon said in a slow, teasing tone, "that you weren't dreaming?"

"What? Not dreaming? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Bai Heng bounced right off the sofa, her tail bristling. "After all, who would add soda fermented milk drink into coffee!"

Himeko simply looked at her with a serene smile.

Bai Heng fell completely silent. She stiffly turned her head, her gaze locking onto that half-cup of unfinished coffee sitting innocently on the table.

"...I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize."

Himeko's smile remained perfectly gentle. "The coffee I brew does have some 'extra thought' put into it. It is just that most people cannot handle it."

Himeko certainly would not get angry over such a small thing. After all, every single member on the Astral Express knew about her infamous brewing habits. Oh, maybe it was not just them who knew. Himeko had also played Honkai: Star Rail, and there were entire plotlines concerning her coffee in it. Though the screen time was not much, it left a very deep, traumatizing impression on people. There were even netizens with too much time on their hands who wondered if her coffee could poison Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance. When she saw that post, even Himeko herself had to laugh.

Himeko turned around and brewed another fresh cup, handing the steaming mug to Bai Heng. "Try this one, nothing was added to this."

Looking at the dark liquid handed to her, Bai Heng's fox ears twitched backward, her entire face written all over with absolute refusal.

"Don't worry, this cup is really fine," Leon said with a comforting smile to break the ice. "Of course, it is okay if you don't want to drink it."

He paused, a flash of pure mischief dancing in his eyes. "Actually, when you were drinking the first cup, March 7th and the others wanted to stop you, but you were just too fast."

"Is that so?"

Bai Heng took the coffee half-doubtingly, bringing it to her lips for a highly cautious sip.

The next second, her eyes lit up brilliantly.

"Whoa! It's good!"

She gave a thumbs up, her gaze toward Himeko filled with the deep shock of realizing the navigator actually knew how to brew normal coffee.

"So you mean the one I brewed before was terrible?" Himeko looked at her, the smile never leaving her lips.

A literal stare of death seemed to materialize in the air of the Parlor Car.

"No, no! Definitely not!" Bai Heng waved her hands repeatedly, sweating slightly. "It's just... not quite to my taste? Hahaha..."

"Good morning, everyone..."

Serval's figure appeared at the entrance of the Parlor Car, walking over with light, energetic steps.

"Bai Heng, you're up here."

"Serval!" Bai Heng's eyes lit up at the sight of the blonde rocker. "You're awake? You look great... You look radiant today, and your skin is especially hydrated."

Himeko's movements paused slightly. Her gaze lingered on Serval's glowing face for a moment, then she shifted her eyes to glance at Leon thoughtfully.

"D-do I?"

Serval subconsciously touched her own cheek. Is it that obvious?

"Really!" Bai Heng nodded seriously, leaning in closer. "Did you use some high-end skincare product?"

"No... not really." Serval waved her hand with a slightly awkward smile. "Maybe I just got enough sleep, so my complexion is naturally good."

"True, a good sleep does make a difference in one's complexion."

Himeko joined the conversation smoothly, nonchalantly handing over a fresh cup of coffee. "Want a cup? This is the result of my new recipe. Bai Heng just drank three sips in a row."

Himeko smilingly promoted her experimental brew.

Bai Heng froze in place. Those three tiny sips... even count?

"Three sips?!" Serval looked at Bai Heng in absolute shock.

As expected of a member of the High-Cloud Quintet, such terrifying endurance... she genuinely felt inferior.

"Um... I guess, I did technically drink three sips."

Bai Heng sipped her current coffee to hide her face. This cup was the normal coffee Himeko brewed, completely safe for consumption.

"My coffee brewing skills have improved again."

Himeko gave a gentle, welcoming smile. "Serval, would you like a cup too? Leon just had two cups as well."

Serval turned to Leon, her blue eyes highly inquiring. For real? Himeko's coffee is normal now?

Leon nodded without changing his expression, looking completely serious. "It is indeed very distinctive."

"How about this," Serval said, half-believing his calm demeanor. "You tell me 'this coffee is delicious, a Trailblazer doesn't lie to a Trailblazer'—and I will drink it."

"Easy." Leon said with a righteous, unyielding face. "This coffee is delicious, a Trailblazer doesn't lie to a Trailblazer."

As he spoke, he surreptitiously pulled out half a mask from his pocket and quietly pinned it to his chest. Sorry, the one standing before you now is... Masked Fool Leon.

"Alright then."

Serval took the coffee mug and confidently downed a large mouthful.

The exact moment her lips touched the liquid, she knew she had been tricked.

That familiar, indescribable, horrifying taste shot straight to her brain. Soda fermented milk drink. It was definitely soda fermented milk drink mixed into the dark roast.

Serval clamped her mouth shut tightly. She almost spat it out violently, but seeing Pom-Pom's freshly polished floor out of the corner of her eye, she forced herself to hold it in.

Looking at the mischievously grinning Leon, Serval felt a sudden, overwhelming surge of spite.

She grabbed Leon by the collar, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips forcefully against his.

"Whoa—!"

Bai Heng's eyes instantly widened to the size of saucers, her fluffy fox ears standing straight up in shock.

Himeko's movement with the coffee pot completely froze mid-air.

After a long time, Serval finally let go of him, stepping back with her face as red as a boiled shrimp, panting slightly.

"This... this is the punishment for lying to me..."

"Punishment?" Leon raised a hand to casually wipe the corner of his mouth, his smile becoming even more brilliant and thoroughly satisfied. "Then can we have a few more?"

"Cough."

Himeko gave a light, deliberate cough, a gentle yet somewhat dangerous smile hanging on her beautiful face.

"Leon, didn't you just say... 'A Trailblazer doesn't lie to a Trailblazer'?"

"I'm innocent!"

Leon pointed exaggeratedly at the mask pinned to his chest and began a dramatic, impromptu performance. "I was controlled by this mask just now—it must have been Aha's doing!"

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