"Mars? What's there?"
Jun An couldn't help but be curious, but he also remained wary. "You're not thinking of returning to your old profession, are you?"
From what Jun An knew of Vita, anything she found interesting likely involved an opportunity to bully someone. But Mars didn't even have a chicken feather, let alone people for her to bully.
"It's still just the exploration phase. You'll find out later."
Vita, however, had no intention of telling the Captain about her discovery.
A quantum computer on Mars! Such a fun toy, of course, she had to get her hands on it first.
"Fine, don't tell me then."
Jun An didn't press her. He figured whatever was on Mars was probably just traces left by a Previous Civilization or a civilization even before that. Jun An had no interest in archaeology.
Besides, the precepts on her were still active, so Jun An didn't mind letting her fool around a little.
"Alright, you've said your piece. You can go now."
Hearing the Captain tell her to leave, Mei immediately smiled. "The Captain and I still have things to talk about. I won't see you out."
"Eh, so eager to chase me away?"
Vita looked at the two, who clearly had some private matters, and immediately got off the Captain's bed. "Suddenly, I don't want to leave anymore. I've decided, I'm staying~!"
Jun An's mouth twitched. He immediately used the Herrscher of Sentience's ability for a mental conversation.
Jun An: I've already given you the green light, what are you still staying for? Afraid I'll throw a party and not invite you?
Vita: I just want to see the Captain's daily life. You wouldn't refuse me, would you? Captain~
Jun An: Regrettably, I refuse.
Although Vita was very tempting, Jun An could still distinguish the importance between his legal wife and a wild fox kept on the side.
Vita sat down next to Jun An, still wearing a beaming smile. "How about you let me stay tonight, and I'll warm your bed for you? No time limit~"
Anyway, she had already been "white-prostituted" so many times; Vita didn't mind one more.
On the contrary, being able to mess with the Captain and vent her anger properly made her feel much happier.
"Warm the bed?!"
Sure enough, Mei bristled. But even when the young lady lost her temper, it was merely a suppressed, simmering anger.
"Oh my, it seems a lot has happened in the year the Captain left me. No wonder you didn't send Mei a single message for a whole year. Looks like you've been having quite a good time."
This simmering anger was much more severe than when she and Kiana were caught sneaking food in the kitchen.
Fuck... I should have just thrown her into outer space earlier!
Jun An looked at Mei's forced smile, her expression like she was ready to run back to her parents' home at any moment. "Mei, calm down, she's just..."
Before Jun An could finish, a soft sensation pressed against his lips. Normally, this level of close-range sneak attack shouldn't have worked on Jun An, but unfortunately, Vita had angered Mei beforehand, distracting the Captain for a moment, which allowed this vixen to succeed.
Vita pressed Jun An's head, not wanting him to break free. Just as she was about to stick out her tongue for the next step, a French kiss, she found she couldn't pry his mouth open and was violently pushed away by Jun An. She could only give up.
Maintaining an elegant smile, she looked at Mei. "Miss Mei, did you see? The Captain indeed has a very good time when you're not around."
Vita felt she was telling the truth. After all, the Captain had shot his load in her so many times it had filled her up repeatedly. He even went after her younger sisters – septuplets, no less! How could he not be having a good time?
"So, Miss Mei, just leave the Captain's happiness to me. You're not needed here."
Vita continued to move forward, embracing the resisting Jun An. But just to make this move, she had to use her authority, making Jun An, who hadn't used his Honkai energy in time, look like an elementary school student playing hard to get.
Although it would definitely result in the Captain's retaliation later, opportunities to retaliate against the Captain were too rare. Even if it meant suffering a thousand losses to inflict a thousand on the enemy, it was worth it.
Sure enough, seeing her causing trouble, Jun An unhesitatingly punched her in the stomach. The pain made Vita instantly recoil, her face pale.
Indeed, one shouldn't show mercy to this wicked woman.
Jun An clapped his hands and explained with a sigh, "Mei, listen to me, this woman's personality is just this rotten."
He glanced at Vita again, only to find her drenched in sweat, yet a smile of a successful scheme hung on her lips!
She wasn't giving up yet!
To think I would give up just like that, you'd be gravely mistaken!
I, Vita, am someone who dares to defy even gods!
"How can you be so cruel? I'm carrying your child!"
Vita suddenly looked on the verge of tears. "For this vixen you keep outside, you'd even abandon your own child~ Woo woo woo~ I'm so pitiful~"
"You!"
Jun An's face instantly darkened further. When Jun An and Vita had separated, he had used the Herrscher of Death and Rebirth's power to examine her body. There was no pregnancy whatsoever.
She got pregnant in less than half a month since they separated? Not even a dog would believe that.
However, whether anyone believed it or not was irrelevant. Vita said this for Mei to hear.
Even if their feelings were deep, as long as she projected the image of "the Captain is a heartless man" and "the Captain is keeping a woman outside," it would be enough.
Just as Vita was feeling smug, she suddenly felt a murderous intent.
The source wasn't Jun An, but Mei.
"Child? There's a child too?"
Mei walked over with a smile, as warm as a spring breeze, yet the micro-expressions on her face revealed her current turmoil and anger.
"This is truly a rare joyous occasion."
Mei stood up, walking step by step, her expression growing increasingly gloomy. "Let me hold the Captain's child too, if there really is one."
Vita's expression instantly changed. "Wait, the child is still in my belly! How exactly do you plan to hold it?!"
"What do you think?"
Mei raised her hand, her authority condensing a tachi in her palm. "Although I can't be the Captain's wife, I'd be very happy to be a midwife."
"That won't be necessary, thank you."
Vita felt a little scared deep down. This woman isn't really planning to cut me open, is she?
So this is what they meant by "those who like the Captain are somewhat messed up"! Why are these people on Earth such sore losers?
She immediately looked at Jun An, hoping he would step in and block the blade, only to find Jun An silently trying to escape!
This man had truly perfected the art of heartlessness!
"Hey, hey, hey! Captain, what are you running for! Isn't this your wonderful reunion!"
Vita grabbed Jun An's hand. Even if she had to die, they had to die together.
"I told you to leave just now, and you didn't!"
Jun An couldn't be bothered with this troublemaking wicked woman. "Explain the joke you started yourself!"
"Don't, Captain!"
Vita immediately clung to Jun An. "No matter what, we have a transactional relationship. If I die, who will you collect your debt from?"
"Your seven younger sisters!"
"You... you really are... so calculating~"
Vita forcefully swallowed back the words "inhuman bastard." Now was not the time for bickering. Mei, already holding the sword, had grabbed her shoulder.
"Ahem, ahem! M-Miss Mei, I was just making a little joke earlier."
Vita relented. She said, "I was just trying to liven up the atmosphere. As someone as gentle and virtuous as you, you wouldn't mind this little joke, would you?"
"A joke, huh."
Mei's expression softened considerably.
Jun An also breathed a sigh of relief seeing the atmosphere ease. It was a good opportunity to teach Vita a lesson; making such malicious jokes would get her beaten.
"But it's also a fact that you two kissed, isn't it? I heard that kissing can also lead to pregnancy. Just in case, let's check."
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Vita's brow again, and she immediately looked towards Jun An.
She knew that nothing she said would work anymore. After all, Mei had even brought out such a reason. Next time, it might be because she entered the door left foot first and should be killed for her lack of etiquette.
"Who told you to always make such malicious jokes."
Jun An was helpless. He couldn't really let these two fight here.
"Mei, alright, stop scaring her. I assure you, my relationship with her is purely transactional."
Vita, however, suddenly let out an exasperated laugh. "That's right, being white-prostituted is also a type of transaction."
"If you interrupt again, I'll throw you into the sun." Jun An shot her a fierce glare. She clearly hadn't suffered enough.
Jun An had his own experience dealing with Shuraba (love triangles/chaotic romantic situations): first divide, then conquer one by one.
But now it was different. Vita was causing trouble on her own, so Jun An didn't need to care about her feelings. Anyway, when he was "嫖 (piáo - whoring/fucking)," he didn't necessarily have to care about her emotions.
Did she think she wouldn't get fucked just because she was unwilling?
[You really don't see her as a person, do you.]
The System silently complained.
"..."
Seeing Jun An speak up, Mei also put away her sword. Anyway, she was just scaring her.
The Captain had taught her that the best way to deal with provocation was to draw a weapon. If the other party still didn't listen, give them two big slaps.
This was a technique the Captain had taught her when he protected her from bullying.
"But the score isn't settled yet."
Mei said faintly, instantly making the hair on both their necks stand on end again.
Just as Vita was contemplating escape, Mei knelt down and kissed the Captain's lips. Vita had kissed him earlier; Mei had to kiss him back, using her own kiss to cover up the Captain's bad memories.
But this time, unlike with Vita, the Captain didn't resist.
Mei used the French kissing techniques she had learned from reading novels, practicing them bit by bit on the Captain until she was satisfied. Only then did she smile at the Captain. "Now we're even."
As Mei spoke, she even spared a glance at Vita, casting a provocative look.
"Hmph~"
Vita merely glanced, then suddenly let out an exasperated laugh. "Do I look like some little girl who would fall for this person?"
Mei lifted her snow-white neck, lowered her head to the Captain in her arms, and said, "Captain, don't you think she looks like a sore loser?"
A glint of battle intent instantly appeared in Vita's eyes. "Little girl, just one kiss makes you so smug. It seems you really should see how hard he works on me~"
"....."
Mei immediately looked at Jun An again. "Captain, this is also a joke, right?"