Actually, Leo was very similar to MEI in one aspect: efficiency was paramount.
Long before communicating with MEI, he had prepared two plans. If he couldn't find someone "tall" to hold up the sky, he would have to become that "tall" person himself.
According to MEI herself, her meeting with Mobius was three months ago. If nothing unexpected happened, he still had three months of preparation time.
—MEI's meeting with Mobius was half a year before the outbreak of the Third Eruption!
If the timeline hadn't changed, he could fully utilize this time to make himself stronger.
To be honest, rather than praying for salvation from others, he had always preferred to rely on himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of testing the waters of the dungeon last night.
And now that there was an opportunity, he naturally wouldn't let it slip—
[Congratulations, player, on establishing a bond with MEI!]
[Current Favorability: 48 (Disdain)]
[Current Bond: 5%]
[Attributes gained are as follows—]
[Strength: 6+1]
[Constitution: 6+1]
[Energy: 8+1]
[Agility: 7+1]
[Honkai energy: 0]
[Honkai Resistance: 5%]
[—Barely enough to encounter the Honkai without dying.]
Looking at this series of data, Leo suddenly understood a truth.
—Hate lasts longer than love!
Although he successfully angered MEI, wasn't that also a form of bond?
Who cared about the details? At the very least, didn't he get the Honkai Resistance he needed?
Admittedly, relying on these meager attributes to defeat the great Lord Guard Zombie was definitely far from enough, but at least he had the foundation to investigate the entire school building.
As for those [+1] attributes, according to Tongzi, they were the minimum bonuses... It didn't even round up? Tongzi, you're so gentle!
It was a bit little, but something is better than nothing.
—Thank you, Dr. MEI!
"You seem... different?"
With MEI's rational personality, she quickly suppressed the anger in her heart and keenly perceived the change in Leo.
"So, were you joking just now?"
After saying that, she narrowed her eyes slightly, looking displeased.
"It wasn't a joke."
Shaking his head, Leo stood up and smiled, "This question is very important, but I can't tell you the reason right now. Anyway, thanks~"
After saying that, he didn't spare another glance at MEI and walked straight out.
Of course, he left money on the table, only—
"Going Dutch?"
Watching Leo's refreshing retreating figure, MEI couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
She didn't have any opinion on going Dutch; even if Leo wanted to treat her, she wouldn't have been happy about it!
What she really couldn't figure out was this guy Leo's objective.
If he said he wanted to talk business, he inexplicably started talking about a date. But if he wanted to court her, the guy suddenly left... This maneuver was truly incomprehensible!
—He couldn't have just wanted to prank me, right?
Standing up from her chair, her crimson-purple eyes flashed with the light of wisdom. She was going to investigate Leo thoroughly.
And at the same time—
[Current Bond: 10%]
"Heh~"
Looking at the increased bond on the system interface, the corners of Leo's mouth couldn't help but curl into a pleased smile.
"Young girl, curiosity is the beginning of falling in love~"
In his view, for a girl like MEI who liked researching the unknown, creating a sense of mystery was the most useful way to obtain a bond.
And through this experiment, he completely confirmed Tongzi's definition of a bond—the degree of connection between the girl and him!
Just like before, until he mentioned the date, MEI didn't think in that direction at all; typically focusing on the matter, not the person.
But when he pointed out the current state between him and MEI, MEI immediately changed her perception of the situation.
Even if MEI herself didn't consider this a date, and even felt disgust towards him because of it, her mindset had shifted to focusing on the person rather than the matter.
At this moment, a connection naturally formed between her and Leo—that is, a bond.
And on this basis, the more she wanted to understand Leo, the deeper her bond with Leo would become.
However, apart from the Honkai Resistance which followed the bond, Leo's other attribute bonuses didn't change at all... It seemed MEI's base attributes were too low, so even if the bond deepened, it didn't provide him with any improvements.
—What kind of abysmal base stats are these?
It seems in the future... I'll have to train you properly!
Thinking of the quiet MEI exercising under his help, he couldn't help but want to hum.
However, to be fair, MEI's premature death was largely due to her selfless experiments, which led to neglecting her own health.
Of course, under the circumstances of that time, there was no other choice.
But now with Leo providing research directions, it could save her a lot of unnecessary trial-and-error time, and this time could all be invested in her physical training.
—MEI, I'm doing this for your own good!
While Leo was thinking, he returned to his home.
Although he was somewhat impatient to enter the dungeon and verify the changes after gaining Honkai Resistance, he was still a mortal after all. Having missed lunch, he was now starving.
Thinking about it carefully, aside from the latte he drank in the cafe, he hadn't eaten anything today.
So he quickly got busy in the kitchen. Before long, waves of aroma wafted out, even spreading to the kitchen across the window next door.
Living alone since childhood, there was no takeout to order when he was young, so he could only do it himself.
Therefore, even though he later got used to ordering takeout, he would still cook for himself from time to time as a treat, so he hadn't lost his touch.
It's just that he didn't expect to run into the person across the window while cooking.
And... Tongzi, you're too good at arranging things, aren't you?
"Student MEI?"
Looking at the purple, sticky, unidentified liquid MEI was holding, he felt uncomfortable both psychologically and physiologically.
"This... wouldn't happen to be your dinner, right?"
"Uh..."
Completely unexpected that she would meet Leo in her own kitchen, MEI, holding the plate, was also stunned.
Undoubtedly, this was the moment she looked most like a young girl since meeting Leo.
And because of this, she stubbornly said for once, "Yes... is there a problem?"
She even retorted to Leo with great unconvinced defiance!
—Then your constitution is truly tough!
________________________________________
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