In the end, Ai-chan stormed off, thoroughly angered by Himeko, declaring that the next time Himeko made her drive, she would definitely blow up along with her.
"Alright, let's ignore her for now," Himeko said, leading Jun An out of the car. Their destination was a park. Since it wasn't a holiday, there weren't many people around, but it was clear that couples were everywhere.
Himeko held Jun An's hand and brazenly blended in among them.
Seeing so many couples, Jun An couldn't help but think of something. "Say, won't people mistake us for mother and son like this?"
Just yesterday, he and Theresa were mistaken for innocent childhood sweethearts by onlookers. Now, not only did Jun An resemble Himeko in appearance, but even their height difference made them look exactly like a mother and son—a young mother and her child.
As for where the father was? Take a guess?
"If the Captain likes playing that way, I don't have a problem with it."
Anyway, they'd end up playing this kind of game sooner or later. She had already discovered that the Captain indeed had many childlike aspects, such as occasionally reverting to the simple act of kneading.
The Captain's current body was very small; even two hands couldn't get a full grasp, so he mostly pinched.
Of course, although Himeko's figure was quite ample among women, she was different from the Captain. The Captain could produce milk even without being pregnant; she couldn't.
"Let's just forget it."
Jun An thought about it and decided it was better to honestly play the role of a pretty boy deceived by a rich woman. "This way, if we get photographed and our real identities are discovered later, it won't be too awkward."
Jun An was now a great hero who had saved the world; he still needed a little bit of face.
"Oh, come on, you still care about face?"
Himeko looked at Jun An with utter disbelief. "Do you still remember who was waving Mei's panties on the rooftop of Senba Academy, saying they were going to auction them off?"
"Those were the Third Herrscher's worn, unwashed, still-smelling panties!"
Jun An emphasized again, "Absolutely unique in the world, only this one pair! The only thing comparable is the pair she was wearing, and I ended up stripping those off her too."
"Just based on rarity, the pair she was wearing could be a family heirloom, and the other pair should at least be a historical artifact. Selling them for a few million isn't too much, right?"
Of course, this wasn't Jun An being a pervert, just eccentric. Transmigrators tend to be a bit eccentric; it's a common affliction.
[Don't slander transmigrators.]
——Alright, fine, just I'm eccentric, okay?
At the time, Mei had realized her existence might put Jun An and Kiana in danger, so she deliberately hid, thinking that if she disappeared, Jun An and Kiana would be safe.
But the truth was, World Serpent's experiment at the time was precisely to create an Artificial Herrscher. They released a massive amount of Honkai energy in Nagazora City to trigger a Honkai outbreak, aiming for Mei to absorb it and become a Herrscher. So, it didn't matter where Mei hid.
Jun An hadn't had time to explain this point back then, and Mei didn't know either. Senba Academy, where she was hiding, became the epicenter of the Honkai outbreak. To find her, Jun An had no choice but to resort to some unconventional tactics.
In the end, their experiment was very successful, but the Herrscher wasn't theirs.
"Should I say you're incredibly clever, Captain, or should I scold you for being crass?"
Himeko sighed helplessly,吐槽ing the Captain. But undoubtedly, Jun An's attitude remained one of humbly listening to advice while refusing to repent even in death.
The two strolled leisurely through the park like this. Although their height difference made them stand out among the various couples, it didn't hinder their relaxed and elegant mood.
They chatted and wandered aimlessly, sometimes talking about things before the Honkai war ended, other times discussing what happened during the period Jun An was absent.
The two found a bench and sat down. Midway through their conversation, Himeko took out the marriage certificate again, looking at it repeatedly.
"Captain, do you remember when you used to joke about marrying me?"
Jun An nodded. "I vividly remember how you looked back then, like you'd definitely spread your legs if I just pushed you over. I think I still have photos in my cloud storage."
"Can't you remember something nice?!"
Himeko blushed instantly. "Wasn't it because I felt there was no hope of saving myself back then, so I just wanted to find a good man to lose my virginity to? I couldn't possibly die a virgin, right?"
That was actually quite possible, or rather, it's often the case in gacha games.
Ever since miHoYo started the trend, many games don't feel like they have a good plot unless someone dies. It's a pity so many 'white moonlights' disappeared just like that.
Thus, the following formula emerged: Although the plot in the game is fictional, scriptwriter, you are real! One day I will find you! XXXXXXXX...
Jun An didn't remember the rest, but basically, it involved wanting to hack a bunch of unscrupulous scriptwriters to death.
And for Jun An, this world was real, so it was even more imperative to hack those unscrupulous scriptwriters to death.
"Back then, I didn't have a hobby of going for someone who had given up on themselves and was on the verge of death."
Jun An shrugged. He followed the path of saving the person and saving their heart. Although it was often crass, as long as it saved them, it was fine.
Because he wanted to save her heart, Jun An didn't make a move on Himeko back then, even though she would surely have spread her legs for him with just a push. Instead, he made a bet with her.
"I remember the Captain told me this,"
Himeko said, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Captain, you said you had a way to save my life, and if you really succeeded, I would marry you."
Jun An nodded and added, "Yes, I remember I said marry me and become my thirty-second concubine."
Honestly, that last sentence was definitely superfluous.
At the time, Himeko didn't know what 'concubine' meant, thinking it was a word with the same weight as 'wife'. After all, Chinese culture is vast and profound.
It wasn't until she looked it up on Baidu that Himeko instantly wore a look of utter disbelief, like the "subway old man phone" meme face. In ancient China, a concubine's status was about the same as a Fleshlight, sometimes even used to entertain guests...
Himeko refused point-blank that very day. She found Jun An and gave him a sound beating, forcing him to change the terms of the bet.
Jun An, on the other hand, felt relieved after being beaten. It showed Himeko still had the spirit to fight for her dignity, rather than having an attitude of "I'm about to die, do whatever you want with me."
Himeko couldn't help but ask, "I didn't get a chance to ask back then, why the thirty-second? Captain, were you already harboring designs on that many girls even then?"
"No, I just thought it sounded fun to say."
If he had to give a reason, it was probably because the number of usable Valkyries in the game was around thirty or forty; Jun An hadn't counted.
"...I've realized, Captain, you really treat others so casually."
Himeko chatted idly with Jun An like this. Although occasional strange glances were cast their way, the two didn't mind at all.
"But knowing the Captain doesn't have anyone he likes, I feel relieved."
"Hm? Someone I like? I do."
"Who?"
Himeko's gaze turned to Jun An, meeting his eyes, a hint of expectation revealed within.
"The person I like is, of course..."
"Of course, it's me, your formally and properly married wife, right?"
"Er..."
Jun An was interrupted by Himeko. He noticed the threat lurking in her eyes, seemingly reminding him that this was their date.
"...."
"So, is it me, Captain?" Himeko pressed again.
"..."
"Don't look away. Look straight at me."
"...."
"Try staying silent one more time, damn you!"
"Eh..."
Jun An sighed helplessly, thinking that since it was a date with Himeko, he might as well go along with her wishes for a bit.
"—I will always love Elysia!"