Chapter 4: The Most Common Protagonist Privileges
āHa ha, I didnāt expect that Adrien was young and would lose his manners when he saw a beautiful woman.ā The director saw that Ade was stuck in the same place and didnāt move, so he quickly made a joke. āThe charm of Lady C.C. is really great, and only the beauty of Queen Diana can match that of you. Is it, Adrien?ā He patted Ade on the shoulder, trying to wake him up.
āAh, yes, youāre so beautiful. Iām so stunned by you. Donāt laugh at me.ā Ade gives the director a grateful look and tries to restrain himself. Fortunately, C.C. is really beautiful and can use this excuse to deal with it. Now is not the time to worry about why C.C. is here. What he should do now is to try his best to be an ordinary scientific researcher and make C.C. lose interest in himself quickly.
āThank you.ā C. C. smiles faintly and looks at Ade with a playful look in her eyes. āThis is Dr. Lingus, the father of Gundam? Iāve heard so much about you that youāre really talented. ā
āIām just an ordinary researcher.ā Ade responded modestly while trying to recall information about C.C. Since the court shooting was a few years ago, the current C.C. should be the holder of code instead of Geass, so itās safe to make eye contact with her. āI just did a little bit of work.ā
Ade tries to get back to the normal rhythm.
āSit down and talk, Ms. C.C., please.ā When the director saw that Ade was back to normal, he was relieved. Although he doesnāt know what the situation is, he has decided to teach him a lesson later. When he was interviewed to see Queen Diana, he didnāt show his shyness. Why did he make a fool of himself today?
āDr. Lingus is too modest. You have brought great benefits to the company. As a shareholder, I know it best.ā C. C. returned to the top of the table, still staring at Ade, āDr. Lingus, have we met before? I always feel very kind. I seldom come to the moon. Does Dr. Lingus travel a lot?ā
āHow can it be? Today is my first time to see Ms. C.C. Iāve been living on the moon all the time, and Iāve never been to the earthā¦ā No good! Ade suddenly realized that C.C. had never said that she came from the earth! The first reaction of a normal person should be to mistakenly recognize her as a coordinator! Ade mobilized all his brain cells, thinking about all possible remedies in a few seconds.
ā- and never been to plant. Otherwise, if I have seen such a beauty as Ms. C.C., I will never forget it. ā This should be no problem, right? Ade smiles embarrassed and looks at C.C. as if nothing had happened. This kind of time, eyes must not be erratic.
āThe doctor must have the best memory. If you say that, I should have misunderstood you.ā C. C. looking at the director with a smile. Her expression suddenly became rich. āSir, is Dr. Lingus busy today? If conditions permit, Iād like to invite the doctor to lunch.ā
Sure enough, did you still notice me? Ade felt more tired than working all night. This woman directly asks the director, he doesnāt even have the right to refuse.
āOf course, no problem. Adrienās work is coming to an end, he has sufficient free time!ā Of course, the director can see that C.C. is very interested in Ade for some reason. After Ade enters the house, her performance is completely different from before. The director doesnāt matter what the reason is. Heās going to retire. Itās good to make a good relationship with shareholders at this time. Besides, itās just an opportunity for young people like Adrien to meet big people, right? āAdrien. Why donāt you go to dinner with Ms. C.C. now? Itās going to take some time. Ms. C. C. what do you like? I know the restaurants around here like the back of my hand!ā
āThank you, director. Iāve just picked up a restaurant Iāve always wanted to go to.ā C. C. looking at Ade, the corner of her mouth slightly tilted up, āDr. Lingus, please.ā
Along the way, Ade didnāt take the initiative to talk to C.C. . He insisted on the creed of saying more and making more mistakes. He just waited for C.C. to ask and answer whatever she asked. Coincidentally, C.C. seems to have lost interest in Ade and didnāt take the initiative to chat with him. Just like lovers giving each other the silent treatment, they come all the way to a high-end restaurant that Ade has never been to. To Adeās surprise, the restaurant staff knew him, which made him aware that he was a public figure on the moon.
Luxury decoration and playing Chopinās ballads show the style of the restaurant. There are not many guests at noon on weekdays, and the sparse seat distribution makes the atmosphere very cold. How expensive can the dish be? Ade thought, but fortunately, the company paid for it.
The two seem to be sitting in one of the best seats in the restaurant, with the floor to ceiling windows showing most of the city. The nearest other guests are also far away from them, even the normal chat will not disturb others. Until the waiter finished serving, no one spoke first.
Until C.C. broke the silence, āThen Iāll call you Adrien.ā
āI donāt mind if you insist, Ms. C.C., although we are not so familiar.ā Ade decisively changed into just a harmless defensive smile, āBut Ms. C.C., Iām a little embarrassed.ā
āJust call me C.C. and thereās no need for honorifics.ā C. C. still keeps the expression of finding prey, āThen Iāll go straight in, Adrien, you know me.ā
āYouāre joking. Didnāt I say that today is the first time Iāve meet you āā
āYou are indeed the first to see me today. You did not lie, but what I said is, YOU, RECOGNIZE, ME.ā
āHa ha, how could itā¦ā Some things are beyond his expectation. Shouldnāt we try each other out first? Ade uses his brain very quickly, trying to find a way to break the deadlock. This kind of thing is really not what he is good at. Itās not only exhausting but also meaningless.
āAfter living for so many years, although I donāt have any other talents, Iāve only met more people.ā C. C. doesnāt plan to give Ade time to think, āItās the look in the eyes of people who suddenly see someone he knows in an unexpected place. Am I right, Adrien? Can you tell me why you donāt want to see me so much?ā
āI really didnāt āā
āDonāt you think itās a waste of time and meaningless behavior for scientific researchers like you to explore each other, find loopholes in each otherās words, and attack each other a little bit? You know that Iām C.C., that Iām from the earth, and we all know that. I think we can go straight to the next step. So back to the question, why donāt you want to see me so much?ā C. C. staring at Adeās eyes, pressing step by step, āDoes your resistance attitude mean that you know more?ā
Itās meaningless to pretend to be a clown in front of people who understand you. Looking back at C.C., it seems that people will become foxy after living for a long time. It is impossible for them to be pure girls forever. āI just want to stay out of trouble.ā Ade simply admitted it.
āOh ~ā C.C. showed a sly smile, like saying āI caught youā. An ordinary person may mistake her for just a naughty teenager, but Ade is not in the mood to appreciate it now. āYou know Iām a trouble. In this case, Iām surprised that you donāt know Iām Anaheimās shareholder?ā
āNever thought about it, otherwise there would be no flaws in the beginning.ā Telling the truth makes Ade feel free from suffocation. Itās much more relaxed. This is his normal appearance. āBut I figured it out soon. Itās normal to be a shareholder after living for so many years. ā
āYouāre better now. That fake smile was disgusting.ā
āIām sorry I canāt do the acting.ā
āThe acting is really bad, but the ability of random response is commendable. Anyway, how do you know that? You wonāt tell me, right? Well, I wonāt ask. But this trip to the moon is worth it.ā After a taste of the dish that was almost cooled down, C.C. put down her knife and fork and said, āItās not so delicious, why is it so expensive? By the way, I thought that the father of Gundam was just another boring scientist like the father of Minovsky Particles and the father of Coordinator. But I didnāt expect to encounter such an interesting thing. Tell me, do you want to make a deal with me?ā
āWith all due respect. I donāt want to live forever, I donāt want to kill anyone. ā When he heard the word ādealā, Ade immediately thought of something and refused it reflexively. But is that a little too much?
C.C.ās eyes suddenly became sharp, and the way she had just been at ease disappeared. Her eyes ploughed across Adeās face, āIf it wasnāt for my ability, I would almost think you had mind reading skills. Although I donāt know where you get the information, it feels so bad to hear these words from others. Even for me, itās a rare experience. ā
āBut there seems to be something you donāt know. For the sake of giving me so many surprises, Iāll let you know for free. ā The tense just now appearance disappeared like a bubble. Without any sign, C.C. changed back to the relaxed and freehand style before. āWhether it is the holder or the object of Geass, it must be human, which is determined by the essence of Geass. Oh, it seems that you understand it immediately. Itās easy to understand that coordinator, New Type and moon people can neither be the holder of Geass nor the object of Geass. You know so many things, and you donāt know this? I see. Is this the reason why you donāt want to see me?ā
āIn other words, coordinator, New Type and moon people are not considered human?ā The sudden addition of settings is all good news, which lets Ade feel suddenly relaxed. So, I have nothing to be afraid of?
āTo be considered⦠How much do you know⦠Itās getting more and more interesting. You said before that youāve never left the moon, and thatās for sure the truth.ā
āCoordinator is not human in physiology, no problem, New Type is not human in spirit, it makes sense.ā The fearless Ade doesnāt care about the slight slip of words. The intelligence just given by C.C. is too valuable, so he canāt help thinking deeply, āWhat about the moon people? Why arenāt the moon people humans? Self awareness? Because we donāt think that we are humans?ā
āā¦ā¦ All right. ā C. C. canāt Ahelp leaning out and looking at Ade, her eyes are full of disbelief.
Why is it womenās suit? Itās different from animation. Even if you make this posture, I canāt see anything! Ade doesnāt know why he thinks these things inexplicably. Maybe peopleās thinking will become particularly divergent after suddenly relaxing?
āWait, somethingās wrong.ā Suddenly, C.C.ās eyes became sharp again, staring at Ade with burning eyes, āCan you do an experiment with me?ā
āWhat for?ā Ade doesnāt remember how many times this woman has changed her face today.
āI feel you are not quite right, but I canāt say what is wrong. I hope you can cooperate with me to verify it.ā C. C. has a serious expression. āThis is the first time Iāve met this feeling. I canāt tell you why. What I can guarantee is that whatever you just refused will not happen. I hope you can cooperate.ā
The woman turned her face faster than she turned a book. Ade was speechless and agreed. After all, C.C.ās words accurately poked his weakness. Itās about code. If he let it go, he would not sleep well in the future.
āThen look me in the eye.ā Ade followed C.C.ās instructions and looked her in the eye. C. C.ās eyes are beautiful, the golden pupil shows dreamy brilliance under the reflection of ambient light, is deep and bottomless, as if there is another world at the other end of the pupil, giving Ade the illusion of being sucked in. He doesnāt know how long has passed, he heard C.C. again, āThere is such a thing⦠In my long life, itās the first time Iāve seen it. ā
āWhatās the matter?ā Ade wakes up a little reluctantly from looking at each other.
āIn conclusion, you can hold Geass, but you canāt be the target of Geass.ā C. C. looks a little distressed and frowns, āItās like cheating, but I donāt know why. Iāve never seen this before.ā
āIsnāt the reason very simple?ā At the moment of hearing the conclusion, Ade understood, and the little strange emotion just now was also scattered without a trace. Ade thinks of the time when he just transmigrated. He thinks of his study in the university. He thinks of the first Gundam built last year. He thinks of being silly and funny in the morning. All the things after his transmigration are passing in front of him like lanterns. The answer in front of him is too funny, too obvious and too interesting. He couldnāt help laughing, āBecause Iām neither human nor non-human.ā
āHa?ā Since they met in the morning, C.C., who has always been very calm, showed a blank expression for the first time. Because the appearance is too cute, Ade laughs more happily.
Really, there is nothing more ironic, more reasonable, and more in line with the double standards of the identity of the time traveller, right? Ade suddenly thought of his last life, which he thought was about to forget and was not very happy ā ah, was I so persistent?
Just like a part breaks down suddenly, Ade forgets C.C. in front of him, forgets eating in the restaurant, forgets himself as a public figure, and just laughs so hard that tears come out.
The well-trained restaurant waiters turned a blind eye to what happened on this side. A couple sitting in the corner of the restaurant were watching and whispering. C.C. quietly watched the young man in front of her, venting a strange emotion that even she could not understand. Somehow, she resonated with it and felt inexplicable sadness.