### Chapter 43: Getting Closer
“Can I invite you out to play?”
Hearing these words, the administrator raised her eyes, her purple irises locking onto Night Star’s slightly tense face.
Several seconds passed.
Just as Night Star was about to retract her invitation, the administrator spoke up, “Sure, I accept your invitation.”
“Really?”
Night Star beamed with delight.
“Mmm.” The administrator nodded gently.
A happy smile spread across Night Star’s face.
“That’s fantastic!”
However, right as she shouted excitedly, Night Star clamped her hands over her mouth, looking like she’d just done something wrong.
Shouting inside the library was forbidden, even if they were alone.
Then, as if struck by an idea, Night Star asked, “But aren’t you the library’s administrator? If you’re gone who will watch over this place?”
“Don’t worry, that’s an easily solvable problem.”
“Hm, good, so we’re on for tomorrow then? Let’s meet at nine in the morning; I’ll come look for you at the library.”
“Okay.”
With the administrator’s approval, Night Star left the library, her mood light and carefree.
Watching her adorable figure depart, the administrator nodded slightly.
“Are we getting closer?”
She seemed to have been out with others in quite some time.
Every time Ice Lixie invited her out, she always refused outright.
Going out held little meaning—she had lost all interest long ago.
In essence, she’d had quite enough.
The only thing preventing her from reading all the endless books wasn’t lack of time but sheer numbers. Even with an eternal life span, she lacked faith in finishing them all.
Thinking this, she pulled out her phone to contact her sole friend.
Within seconds, the call connected.
“Hello, what’s up? It’s rare for you to call me.”
Ice Lixie’s voice rang in her ears.
The administrator murmured, “Tomorrow I need to go out. If you could, please look after the library for a day.”
“Eh? You’re going out now?” Ice Lixie sounded surprised.
“Yes.” The administrator replied flatly.
“I’m shocked! I didn’t think you, this big homebody, would ever want to leave the house, despite my multiple invitations.”
Hearing the confirmation, Ice Lixie realized she hadn’t misunderstood.
After all, it was tough to get the library lady to step outside.
Ice Lixie suddenly had an epiphany, speculating, “Someone invited you out, then?”
“Yes, the audience performer invited me shopping.”
“So that’s it.”
A half-smile curved Ice Lixie’s lips at the Night Watcher Base.
Looks like the cute audience performer had started moving.
Just… This library lady also seemed eager to boost their rapport for some unknown ulterior motive.
Each had their own agenda.
But who was pushing to achieve it?
That remained unclear.
From a friend’s perspective, Ice Lixie hoped the audience performer would succeed first.
“In that case, I’ll spare a day to watch over the library. Given, it’ll be guarded by one of the city’s top-notch Night Watchers. Have fun without a worry.”
“Thanks.”
“There’s no need to thank me; after all, you’re one of my few friends.”
The call ended.
Ice Lixie tucked away her phone and let out a sigh.
“Hope that audience performer makes it smoothly; joining the troupe would be a perfect ending too.”
—
The next day.
Morning nine o’clock approached.
Night Star spruced herself up at the theater and put on new clothes bought by the Singer. She looked completely refreshed.
“Hum, everything set!”
Turning to the Singer and Puppet Master, Night Star announced, “Um, I’m heading out today with the library’s administrator. Have any plans?”
Kong Yu Bai tilted her head slightly, asking “Is this a date?”
“Why do you always assume it’s a date? We’re both girls,” Night Star shot back.
“Sorry, I’ve been reading some weird stuff lately.” Kong Yu Bai gave a sheepish grin, “If it is a date, sure, two people are best. Me and Puppet Master will wait here at the theater, or else we’ll just end up as nuisances.”
“That’s definitely not a date. What strange books have you been devouring, Singer?”
Night Star was exasperated.
She felt Singer must’ve opened some bizarre portal.
“Anyway…”
Shaking off irrelevant thoughts, Night Star bid farewell and exited the Rising Sun Theater.
At the library entrance, she saw the administrator already waiting, her everyday outfit unchanged.
Seeing this, Night Star approached.
“Administrator, are you ready?”
“Hmm, ready anytime.”
“Let’s go then.”
“Okay.”
Thus, Night Star and the administrator left the library, making their way further away.
Inside, a tall figure stepped out—those golden eyes watching the pair, a smirk appearing.
“Wishing you both a delightful time ~”
—
Outside the Calligraphy and Painting Entertainment District.
Night Star and the administrator walked together in silence.
Night Star pondered, unsure where to head.
Having no plan made her feel like a silly loli indeed.
“Hum, should’ve mapped it out in the theater first…” Night Star mumbled under her breath.
Just then, the administrator’s calm voice interrupted.
“Audience performer, what’s on your mind?”
“Not much, just debating where to go. Sorry.”
“No rush. Anywhere will do; I haven’t ventured out for ages. Just follow your lead.”
“What about trying all the entertainment districts?”
“Sounds good.” The administrator nodded.
“Great!”
Yet thinking about which out of five entertainment districts to visit presented another challenge.
Meanwhile, unseen shadows trailed behind, part of the Sunset Research Institute’s surveillance team usually stationed around the Calligraphy and Entertainment Districts.
Just now, they’d spotted a suspicious individual.
Female, early twenties, striking aura, tall, nearly 1.7 meters, and remarkably exquisite.
Though similar to ordinary folks with slight differences, her purple hair stood out.
This woman was the prime target of their observation!
Night Star and the purple-haired administrator were now marked.
The Sunset Research Institute operatives silently followed, blending seamlessly among the crowd undetected.
A signal had been sent to the institute already:
“We have a sighting. Subject matches provided description at 60%+. Surveillance continue?”
“Continue, and intervene if necessary. Notify once confirmed.”
“Understood.”
