"Wow, look at Stelle—she's so tall!"
"Yeah, why does Stelle seem kinda cute?"
"Come on, who wouldn't be confused?"
"Tch, sounds like you're the one thinking with your lower body."
"It's all Su Chen's fault—he's too good at casting! Every role fits perfectly, no awkwardness at all!"
"So is Su Chen really not playing the Trailblazer anymore? I still think he's pretty handsome."
"But Stelle's not bad either. I think I can accept both!"
Stelle's appearance sparked fresh discussions,
but soon,
everyone refocused on To: The Faint Star's plot.
——
"Lesley... rejected me?"
Rocky fell into deep thought.
"But I tried my best... I answered every question she asked, laughed at every joke...
And you read those messages too, right? She cared about me, comforted me... Was that just friendship?"
Stelle looked at him seriously. "There are better people out there. Why cling to one flower?"
"I don't care about others—only Lesley! I never expected to wait this long for such an answer!" Rocky laughed bitterly. "Hah! Shouldn't have let you fix the relay. Now you get to laugh at me.
Truth is, I was overconfident. A lowly clerk in the Geological Survey Section—bottom of Herta's hierarchy—how could I deserve a star scholar from the Occultation Section?
The people around her? Galaxy's finest minds. Me? I'm not even an afterthought!
Hah... My mentor will scold me for this self-pity.
The Astrosign Spud's been sent out too. I'll apologize to him later. There's another one at the space station anyway—not exactly rare.
Gotta focus on research. After all..."
His voice thickened. "An individual's recognition means nothing. Colleagues' approval matters."
Rocky kept consoling himself with self-deprecation.
——
The audience watched with aching hearts.
Knowing the red ending's truth—
that Lesley and Rocky were running toward each other, only to lose to time—
made every self-deprecating word feel like needles to their chests.
Both online and offline viewers empathized deeply.
"You can't pick blue!"
"They could've been together. Look how 'optimistic' Rocky acts—but he's shattered."
"Every line drips with tears. Rocky's actor is phenomenal—this feels too real."
"Thank god I chose red. The blue lie is too cruel!"
"True. I just hope Rocky recovers... but the red ending's still better. At least he chased!"
——
In the video, Rocky decided his love poems were ridiculous.
So,
he tore them all up, preparing to leave.
"Ugh... must've gotten talcum powder in my eyes. Didn't expect that. I'll go wash up."
His retreating figure looked achingly lonely—
as if you could see him wiping tears offscreen.
Watching Rocky walk away, Stelle brought the red backup to Bernard.
Bernard knew the truth now.
"That fool Rocky... so sensitive, so emotional. Being rejected by his crush must've crushed him. Though maybe it'll temper him—I've been there.
Pity he tore up the poems. Luckily, I kept a copy of his last work."
He handed it to Stelle. A close-up revealed it was still Goodbye, Herta.
"I told him a story once—about lovers separated by spacetime. This was his response."
The screen faded, text appearing: "Several days later..."
Stelle returned to Bernard. After a brief talk, she learned
Rocky had left the space station—current whereabouts unknown.
At least his vitals still registered.
Curious, Stelle checked Rocky's desk—
and found a note.
She picked it up, read it...
then burst into wild laughter,
tossing it over her shoulder.
The camera caught the words:
"I'm still going to find Lesley.
I need to hear it from her.
I will catch up with time!"
"To: The Faint Star—End."
——
The venue fell eerily silent.
Those final words—"I will catch up with time"—seared into every heart.
Awe spread through the crowd.
"So Rocky went after all!"
"HAHA! I dared doubt him?!"
"Su Chen played us! No matter the ending, Rocky chases Lesley!"
"This is PURE LOVE! Long live Rocky!"
"You don't have to like him—but you will respect him."
"Can he actually catch time?"
"If he can't, I'm taking Su Chen down with me!"
"First season gave us knives—what's next?"
"Su Chen! Get out here! Explain this ending NOW!"
Across the internet, demands to "hold Su Chen accountable" surged.
Then—
The screen glitched violently, as if hacked.
Herta's face appeared.
"Testing, testing—can you hear me?
Whatever. Doesn't matter.
Ahem!
Anyone wanting Su Chen can find him anytime.
Simulated Universe is open—limited slots!
I'm in Herta's Office, Master Control Zone.
See you there!"