50: On the shuttle

He indicated that for specific intelligence, one would have to ask Baili Ying, who had been staying at the central control console.

So, after he explained the situation, White Shark agreed with him and boarded the Shuttle heading directly to the Bridge with Baili Ying.

The Shuttle moved at high speed through the dedicated conduit.

In the enclosed environment, accompanied by the gentle hum of the Shuttle, Baili Ying was reminded once again of the despair she had felt in the control room—the despair of watching herself drift endlessly toward an unknown direction, completely helpless.

She could laugh and joke after surviving multiple near-death experiences, showing no lingering fear of death, only the nonchalance of a slightly dirty hem; yet, she simply could not bear drifting toward the unknown without hope in such a lonely, enclosed environment.

Countless fears, like the silt and reefs exposed after the tide recedes, instantly occupied Baili Ying's entire mind.

She actually began to tremble slightly.

White Shark, standing behind Baili Ying, watched the pink hair in front of him quietly, his expression complex.

Alone, facing an overwhelming swarm of bugs, drifting desperately along an unknown path for so long.

This girl must have suffered a lot along the way.

Even that cowlick, usually so full of energy, had wilted.

"You've worked hard."

Without realizing it, White Shark raised his hand and rubbed her pink hair.

Just as wave after wave of fear surged, threatening to overwhelm Baili Ying, a warm sensation suddenly touched her head—by the time she realized what was happening, her tear glands had acted faster than her brain.

Large drops of tears splashed onto the floor, giving White Shark a huge fright behind her.

He quickly lifted his hand, "What... what's wrong..."

"Slap!" Before he could finish speaking, White Shark's arm was suddenly grabbed and forcefully pressed back onto her head by Baili Ying.

"Don't... talk..." "Rub... a bit more..."

"???" The last of his reason stopped White Shark, and the words "Who are you! Get off this tsundere!" ultimately remained unsaid.

He followed Baili Ying's wishes and gently rubbed the top of her head a few times, messing up her hair slightly and causing a few strands to stick up.

Damn it... this feels kind of nice... Baili Ying squinted her eyes slightly.

After White Shark's hand was placed there, she felt her negative emotions lessen significantly.

She increased the pressure on her hands, making the contact area between his palm and her head larger.

This guy... is damnably full of a sense of security... maybe...

"Ding!" The Shuttle arrived at the Bridge, the hatch opened, and two Marines stood at the entrance. Suddenly, the four of them stared at each other in shock.

"Should we... let you continue?" one of the Marines asked tentatively. Instantly, the faces of the two people inside the Shuttle turned beet red.

Walking out of the Shuttle, an awkward atmosphere still lingered between the two.

Standing at the entrance to the Bridge command center, White Shark stopped and looked at Baili Ying, who immediately blushed again.

"Just call the new boss Chairman later. Don't worry, he's reasonably easy to talk to." After thinking for a long time, this was all White Shark could come up with.

Baili Ying nodded, glanced at White Shark, and after a while, said, "You... don't misunderstand. I was just... having a headache! Yes! Just a headache! It definitely wasn't because I like having my head rubbed!" After saying this, she looked as if she had let out a sigh of relief.

"Fine, whatever you say."

"..."