Chapter 137

Gently stroking Shen Gonglin's hair, Cecilia leaned close to him and helped him walk towards the Siegfried Shen Gonglin. Although the aftereffects of the Tengu no Haikyuu were terrible, he had only activated it halfway before Shen Gonglin interrupted him, so he wasn't in any life-threatening danger. Cecilia was very concerned about the child named Kiana, and Shen Gonglin had appeared with her. As Cecilia brushed the hair from Shen Gonglin's forehead, she suddenly noticed the red bird mark on Shen Gonglin forehead. This child... seems even cuter now.

"A good relationship? That's not necessarily true. After all, she wouldn't even call me 'Dad' when I asked her. That idiot... that girl is so mischievous. I'm the one who has to take care of her when we're together. It's really a headache."

Shen Gonglin shook her head, feigning helplessness. Although her relationship with Kiana was alright, Kiana still refused to call her "father" properly. She had initially wanted to call her an idiot, but then thought she should save face for Cecilia. At the same time, Shen Gonglin started spouting nonsense, claiming that she was the one taking care of Kiana, and that everyone in St. Freya knew about it.

"Oh? How exactly did you take care of her?"

Automatically filtering out the parts of Shen Gonglin's words that made her eyes twitch, Cecilia became curious about how Shen Gonglin would take care of Kiana. This kid didn't seem like the type to take care of people. He even said that he and Kiana didn't get along well. If they didn't get along well, why would he take care of Shen Gonglin? This kid is a little tsundere, so cute!

"Every time we eat, I worry that she won't eat enough, so I give her my food. Sometimes when I can't sleep at night, I worry that she'll have nightmares, so I wake her up and ask her if she's sleeping well. Also, when we eat ice cream, I'm afraid that eating ice cream will give her a headache, so I force myself to eat her portion too. And when we go to class, in order to make sure she remembers to bring her books, I never bring my own and just read a book with her. In short, I'm taking care of her in many ways."

Shen Gonglin counted on her fingers as she recounted to Cecilia how she usually took care of Kiana. There were many things she did, like how she would beat Kiana in various ways every day to improve her gaming skills, how she would let Kiana lead the way whenever possible to improve her stamina, and how she would occasionally get lost and let Kiana find her way so that she would become more familiar with the roads of St. Freya. There were so many things that Kiana hadn't told Cecilia. Shen Gonglin did all this to save Kiana's face, because she still had to protect Kiana in front of Cecilia's mother.

Shen Gonglin is a good girl. She never explains why she does such things. Justice will prevail.

This is basically him leaving his food for Kiana because he couldn't finish it all, right? And the so-called concern that Kiana would have nightmares is just because he couldn't sleep, so he woke up the sleeping girl to keep him company all night. And what about the claim that he was afraid Kiana would get a headache from eating ice cream, so he secretly ate her share? He was the one who didn't bring his books to class and borrowed books, yet he had the audacity to call it training Kiana to bring her books... Cecilia felt like she had a huge ton of complaints to vent, and she forced a smile.

It seems that the beautiful girl named Kiana doesn't live a very good life. With this guy around, she's probably in deep trouble. He says he takes care of Kiana, but he's clearly torturing her. If anyone is taking care of someone, it's Kiana taking care of him!

Chapter Twenty-Five: Black Abyss White Flower

That Kiana is so pitiful. If I see her, I must comfort her. I wonder what she looks like, and what her voice is like. Will it be like the Kiana I imagine? I must help her. This Shen Gonglin looks cute, but she doesn't seem to like doing things properly. How can she bully a girl like that?

Cecilia began to feel sorry for the girl. At the same time, she realized that Shen Gonglin didn't seem to have any hobbies as a human being. She should discipline him properly. Judging from his appearance, he should listen to her. Just looking at him, Cecilia felt a strong liking for him. She had to make this child a good person.

"Hiss... He's burning badly. He's probably half-cooked. I think he'll need a skin graft. Cecilia, how about we find a hole and bury Siegfried first?"

Reaching Siegfried's side, Shen Gonglin forcefully flipped him over. The handsome uncle looked anything but handsome now; the extensive burns made him resemble a giant barbecue grill. And yet, he had just wanted her to use Tengu no Haikyuu. Burns are the most painful injuries, and just thinking about becoming like that made Shen Gonglin's heart ache. Thinking about it, Shen Gonglin still felt her Angel Mode was much better. However, after this battle with the Herrscher, Shen Gonglin finally realized her shortcomings. She simply didn't have the stamina to support a full-blown Angel Mode burst, not even reaching Apollon's maximum output. If she were to fight an enemy of Herrscher level in the future... she'd have to think of a solution.

"I think my man can still be saved, so there's no need for you Shen Gonglin, to dig a hole for him. I'm very capable, so leave him to me."

Cecilia gently tapped Shen Gonglin's head. Couldn't this child speak properly? He was so well-behaved just now. Siegfried was still breathing. He's really acting recklessly. If he had really used the Tengu no Haikyuu, it would have been dangerous. I'm afraid even if I used the Black Abyss White Flower, I wouldn't have been able to save him. The current situation is much better. It's all thanks to Shen Gonglin stopping him. Otherwise, this guy would definitely have acted recklessly.

Cecilia summoned a black and white knight's lance, which appeared in her hand. Seeing the suddenly appearing lance, Shen Gonglin's eyes flickered. This lance... was it Durandal's weapon? Although Durandal always used a training lance in battle, Shen Gonglin knew she did possess such a weapon; she just hadn't been able to use it in any of her fights so far. That girl's strength was truly formidable. Even if Shen Gonglin used her Angel Mode, without a substitute, she probably wouldn't be a match for her...

But no matter how powerful she is, it's useless. No matter how powerful she is, she'll still be pinned down and rubbed on the bed. Just thinking about her impressive record makes Shen Gonglin happy again. No matter what, she's still the strongest.

But thinking about it this way... Durandal's talent is truly amazing. No wonder she is the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, she is indeed powerful.

"What? You recognize this weapon?"

Noticing Shen Gonglin's gaze, Cecilia waved the knight's lance in front of him. She intended to use this relic to heal Siegfried's injuries. He was currently unconscious, and the injuries caused by the relic could not be healed through normal means, so Cecilia had to do this. Shen Gonglin probably didn't know, since this was considered a secret.

"Hmm, it seems to be called Black Abyss White Flower... Eh, but Siegfried just said that using a relic comes at a great cost. Cecilia, what are you planning to do?"

She vaguely remembered that Durandal had once told her about the origin of this knight's lance. She had heard that it was the symbol of the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, but at the time Shen Gonglin was busy enjoying the softness of the strongest Valkyrie's lap pillow, so she didn't listen at all. But such weapons usually come at a price. The Tengu no Haikyuu was self-destruction, but what about the Black Abyss White Flower?

"You even know that? But it's okay, it's just a little bit of physical exertion. It's no problem to treat burns of this severity. If Siegfried were on the verge of death, it would be much more difficult. So, I still have to thank you for now. I'll say it again, thank you, Shen Gonglin."

Slightly bending down, she pinched Shen Gonglin's cheek. She had absolutely no resistance to this older sister type. Shen Gonglin, unusually shy and fidgety, thought to herself, "Kiana's mother is really going too far! How can she just pinch my cheek like that? If Kiana dared to do that normally, I'd definitely pinch her chest. But with Cecilia ..." Shen Gonglin hesitated. If she really did that, Cecilia would definitely give her a gentle scolding... Oh well, never mind. Damn it, I really want to be Kiana's father.

"The power of the Black Abyss White Flower is of two kinds: creation and decomposition... So cute! Shen Gonglin, if you're this cute, I can't help but want to hug you. Let me calm down for a bit. If I accidentally use the wrong power and decompose Siegfried, Kiana will be fatherless. I must give you a big hug later. Also, would you like to be Kiana's older brother... or maybe her uncle? I think she'll really like you as her uncle when she grows up."

The lance in her hand emitted a faint white light, and Siegfried's burns were slowly fading. Meanwhile, Shen Gonglin's conflicted expression instantly struck Cecilia's heart. She really wanted to capture Shen Gonglin and let her Kiana play with her! She liked Shen Gonglin so much, Kiana must like her too. This kid felt like a giant plush pillow. It must be so cold dressed like this in this freezing weather. Was she dressed like this just for cuteness? She'd definitely have to hug him tightly to warm him up later.

Being Kiana's uncle... Hmm, that doesn't sound so bad. Shen Gonglin's eyes lit up. It was obviously unrealistic to expect her to call him "Dad," but being his uncle seemed much easier to accept. Just imagine, Kiana calling him "Uncle"... Wow, that sounds so cool! Uncle and niece, not bad, not bad at all.

"That's fine, from now on you can have Kiana call me uncle... Hey, I got a call, how do I answer this?"

While he was still imagining what it would be like for Kiana to call him "uncle" in the future, the communicator that had fallen next to Siegfried suddenly rang. It seemed that it might be his lovely niece.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Getting Along with My Mother-in-Law

On the boundless white snowfield, Kiana and Theresa were rushing towards them at all costs. After learning that the Herrscher was at the location of Shen Gonglin and Siegfried, they had been heading this way without stopping. Both Valkyrie looked slightly tired. It wouldn't have mattered if they were just traveling, but the number of Honkai Beast along the way had suddenly increased. Just now, an Emperor-class had blocked their path. After a time-consuming and exhausting battle, the beast had still managed to escape. Normally, they would have given chase, but now they didn't have time to think about such things. These Honkai Beast were preventing them from reuniting with Shen Gonglin.

"Hurry, Kiana, we have to get to Siegfried's location immediately. Even though that guy is a lecher, a playboy, and a complete idiot, he absolutely shouldn't die here!"

After dealing with the Honkai Beast blocking her path, Theresa continued forward without even catching her breath. The little nun was extremely anxious. From the previous communication, she knew that Siegfried was planning to use the Tengu no Haikyuu. Didn't that idiot know that he would die if he used that move? Theresa didn't want to see the person she cared about die before her eyes. If he died, Theresa couldn't even imagine what Cecilia would be like. Why did this have to happen?!

"So Theresa cares about Siegfried that much... Hmm, let's head over there now. It'll be alright, with Shen Gonglin there, everything will be fine. Didn't we all see the explosion in the sky just now? It doesn't seem to be an attack caused by the Tengu no Haikyuu. I understand that move very well; it must be Shen Gonglin Shingu fighting Herrscher. Siegfried will definitely be alright."

Kiana comforted Theresa, appearing more composed than Theresa in her anxiety. Letting Shen Gonglin follow her stinky old man was definitely the right decision. Although that guy was willful and a fool, it didn't stop Kiana from trusting him. With him around, anything was possible. With this pillar of support, Kiana was fearless. The aerial attack was clearly missile fire, and Kiana was familiar with the black arrows streaking across the sky—that was Shen Gonglin's attack method. For him to transform into his Shen Gonglin Angel Mode and participate in battle, it could only be in a fight against Herrscher.

"Shen Gonglin... We need to get there quickly. How can we let him fight Herrscher? What is Siegfried doing? The communicator... finally, there's a signal! Siegfried, what's the situation on your end?"

Kiana's comfort didn't reassure Theresa, but since the intense heat didn't seem to be from the Tengu no Haikyuu, Theresa felt a little calmer. However, she didn't understand why Kiana trusted Shen Gonglin so much. Shen Gonglin didn't seem like a warrior at all, Theresa couldn't place all her hopes on Shen Gonglin. Just then, she finally saw the green light on her communicator turn on. Because of the Honkai energy surrounding them, the communicator was intermittent, which was really troublesome.

Theresa, I didn't realize you cared so much about my husband!

The communication was connected, but it wasn't Shen Gonglin or Siegfried's voice that came through. Instead, a gentle and warm voice, like a spring breeze, came from the communicator. Kiana felt a sense of relief upon hearing this voice. She was slightly taken aback. Could this voice be her mother's?

"That voice... it's Cecilia, Cecilia, have you arrived in Siberia?"

Hearing this voice, Theresa's eyes widened in surprise. Cecilia had finally come. She had originally planned to deal with the Herrscher before Cecilia arrived, but things had turned out this way. It was really unpleasant. Was Cecilia's body alright?

Cecilia, indeed, this is Cecilia's, her mother's voice. It's exactly the same as she imagined. Kiana suppressed her excitement and stayed quietly in front of Theresa. Just hearing this voice made Kiana feel at ease. This is her mother.

"Well, thankfully I arrived in time, otherwise this adorable little thing would probably have been smashed into a cookie. And don't worry about Siegfried, I've already saved him."

On Shen Gonglin's side, Cecilia was hugging him from behind, looking blissfully happy as if she were caressing something cute, while Shen Gonglin tried very hard to struggle. But this "playing hard to get" attitude only made Cecilia more excited. Wake up, ma'am, your man is still unconscious.

"Siegfried, is Siegfried still alive? And Shen Gonglin, how is he now?"

Hearing Cecilia's words, Theresa finally felt relieved. This was truly the best news.

[Yes, he's still alive and well, but he's still unconscious. After all, half of his body was burned. I've already sent a nearby Valkyrie squad to take him back. As for Shen Gonglin... Come on, Shen Gonglin, don't be shy, come and say hello to Theresa?]

Because the Tengu no Haikyuu was only half-activated before being stopped by Shen Gonglin, Siegfried's injuries, though severe, were not life-threatening. After using the Black Abyss White Flower for minimal treatment, Cecilia notified the nearest Valkyrie unit. After all, she needed to conserve her stamina and prepare for the upcoming battle with the Herrscher. The fact that she could save her precious stamina was entirely thanks to Shen Gonglin. This child felt so comfortable to hold; he even smelled so good. Cecilia buried her face in Shen Gonglin and took a deep breath. She really wanted to take him back for Kiana to play with. She wondered if he would agree if she discussed it with him properly.

"Who the hell is shy? And put me down right now, or I'll really get angry. I'm terrifying when I get angry, let me tell you, I'm not kidding you, I really... Why are you still rubbing against me? Let go of me and give me back that noble and elegant older sister demeanor from before!"

Shen Gonglin tried hard to break free from Cecilia's embrace, but each of these Valkyrie was stronger than the last. Even Shen Gonglin couldn't break free normally, let alone now that he was exhausted. Heaven knows why she hugged him like a doll after healing Siegfried. Shen Gonglin felt that he had lost all face and dignity.

Although it seems he's never actually had that thing.

Shen Gonglin... Is he with his mother right now? Damn it, I'm so envious. I haven't even had a chance to talk to my mother yet, and he is... Kiana gritted her teeth. Is this guy taking advantage of my mother? He better find out who he is!

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Which Kiana is the cutest?

"... Judging from the tone of your voices, I can roughly imagine your current situation. Cecilia, I have to remind you that Shen Gonglin is still a minor. And you must remember, although you look very young, you are already a mother. So I'll leave some things unsaid. Do you understand?"

Theresa's expression was strange. What was going on with Shen Gonglin and Cecilia? Where was the mature and reliable Cecilia? Hearing the faint, excited screams coming from the other end of the communication, Theresa felt terrible. Had Cecilia done anything outrageous? Had she been arrested by the Tenmei Enforcement Team?

[Theresa! What do you mean I look young but am already a mother? As a woman myself, Theresa, you surely know what women's taboos are, right? Besides, you're actually older than me. You look like a little girl, but Theresa, you're already an old auntie!]

As if touching Cecilia's sore spot, the originally gentle and warm female voice suddenly turned somewhat exasperated. This stupid little girl actually dared to talk about herself. Doesn't she know that she herself is more in line with the situation she is describing? What an idiot.

"You...we'll talk about this later, Cecilia. You just said you healed Siegfried, did you use the Black Abyss White Flower? But your body..."

The mutual hurt had touched a raw nerve, and Theresa was completely upset. She quickly changed the subject; talking about such things was a double-edged sword. Never mind, let's not talk about it anymore. Getting back on track, Cecilia said she had treated Siegfried, but injuries caused by artifacts could only be healed by artifacts. Although the Black Abyss White Flower had this ability, the use of artifacts always came at a price, and the Black Abyss White Flower consumed Cecilia's life force and stamina.

"It's okay, you can still hear my voice, it's still very energetic, so it's fine, Theresa, you're worrying too much."

Cecilia's voice softened again. Theresa was worried about her, which Cecilia understood, but some things had to be done. However, the impact wasn't too great; Siegfried's injury wasn't fatal, so she still had enough strength.

"But..."

[No buts, it's fine... By the way, because of this little one's efforts just now, the Second Herrscher has temporarily retreated, but I think she'll probably head towards the "Tower," so I'm taking Shen Gonglin with me and heading there first. Theresa, we'll meet up at the Tower.]

Gently stopping Theresa from saying what she was about to say, Cecilia finally released Shen Gonglin. She gazed at the black tower in the distance. She hadn't forgotten her mission here. If she let the Herrscher run rampant again, she wouldn't be a qualified Valkyrie. Besides, if she met Theresa in front of the tower... she could see that girl too. So, Cecilia was quite happy about this mission.

"What? You've decided to go by yourself after all? Or should I take you with me?"

Seeing that Shen Gonglin was keeping her distance, Cecilia looked away and smiled at him. This child was so reliable when he was fighting the Herrscher, but now looking at him, Cecilia wanted to tease him. It was so funny. The more she looked at him, the more she wanted to take him back to Kiana to play with.

"No need, just don't touch me, I can manage on my own."

Shen Gonglin glanced at Cecilia with disdain. Although she had a good feeling about this older sister, Shen Gonglin would hug her and cuddle her whenever she went over, which Shen Gonglin couldn't accept. So it was better for her to act on her own, not for any other reason than to be safer.

"Oh, don't be so formal... By the way, the intelligence report mentioned Kiana... Is she with Theresa right now? What kind of girl is she?"

Cecilia moved a little closer to Shen Gonglin, and seeing that he didn't react, she secretly gave him a peace sign. Cecilia slowly approached Shen Gonglin, imagining herself as a hunter and Shen Gonglin as the little rabbit she was capturing. She said this to distract Shen Gonglin, though she was genuinely interested in the matter. The name was the same as her daughter's; she wondered what her daughter would be like when she grew up. She was truly looking forward to it.

"Why don't you just contact her yourself? If you do, I think she'll be very happy... Damn it, I knew you were up to no good. Let go of me now, or I'll... I'll get angry!"

Caught off guard, he was grabbed by Cecilia. By then, it was too late for Shen Gonglin to struggle. He threatened Cecilia with bluster, but that was all he could do. If it were Kiana, he could have pinched her waist or... her chest to resist, but now it was Cecilia who was controlling him. She was Kiana's mother, and Shen Gonglin really couldn't bring himself to do that to her.

"Then show me how cute you are... Tsk, you're so adorable! Shen Gonglin, come back with me after this mission. I'll make sure you eat and drink well every day, and I'll fatten you up. Plus, you can play with my Kiana. How about it?"

As expected of Kiana's mother, although she seemed very gentle and intellectual just now, you can still see the similarities between her and Kiana in some ways. This woman must have some serious illness. Does she think she is the kind of person without any morals?

"Really? Then tell me about the food first... No! It's not good at all. I'm not that kind of person. Besides, your Kiana is only one year old, right? What's so fun about that? My Kiana is much more fun. She's tall, has long legs, and a big chest. If I punch her, she'll cry out. No, I don't want her."

Shen Gonglin resolutely shook her head and refused. Raising a child would be fun, but this guy had no patience at all. He couldn't be bothered to wait for Kiana to grow up. He already had a beautiful and useful Kiana by his side, so why would he go to such lengths? She was just trying to trick him into taking care of her child. Shen Gonglin was smart enough not to fall for it.

"Hey, now that you mention it, I'm even more interested in Kiana. I have to contact her so I can see which Kiana is cuter."

Something felt off. Cecilia continued forward with Shen Gonglin, and she dialed another channel on another communicator. She needed to get to know this other Kiana properly.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Do You Like Her?

This is Kiana's mother. She looks very energetic. Is she really in poor health, as Theresa said? If this is considered poor, what would she be like in her prime?

Having escaped Cecilia's embrace, Shen Gonglin kept her distance and secretly observed her. Cecilia's beauty was undeniable, and her boundless energy gave off a reliable aura. Unlike Kiana's impulsive nature, Cecilia exuded maturity and dependability from the start. Shen Gonglin felt the same way about Durandal. Was this the Schicksal of the previous generation's strongest Valkyrie? She wondered whether Cecilia or Durandal was more powerful.

However, since Durandal is currently the strongest Valkyrie, it means... Shen Gonglin has also learned something from the snippets of conversation she had with Kiana. She's only ever heard Kiana talk about her stinky old man; she's never mentioned her mother. It must be because of this battle that the girl is behaving this way. Is there any way for Rin to change this...?

But even if I make changes here, in reality... ugh, my head is starting to hurt again. It's as if as soon as I realize this, some force interferes with my brain. I don't want to think about it anymore, I can't think about it.

Shen Gonglin covered her head and shook her head. The current situation was very special. In order to avoid any unexpected events, Shen Gonglin could only temporarily control herself from thinking about this. As soon as she touched the truth, Shen Gonglin's head would ache like it was being pricked with needles. And if she continued to think about it, she might destroy this space. Kiana's current condition clearly showed that she still wanted to stay in this space, so... she had to hold on for a little longer.

"What's wrong? You've been secretly watching me since just now. Do you want me to hug you again? If so, please don't keep it to yourself."

Noticing Shen Gonglin's gaze, Cecilia temporarily put down her communicator. The Valkyrie gave Shen Gonglin impeccable smile and extended her hands towards him. Shen Gonglin, however, quickly distanced herself from him. This guy was great in every way, except he seemed a little too enthusiastic towards her, always wanting to hug her. Shen Gonglin had no interest in that.

"I don't want to... And are you really alright? Although Theresa didn't finish her sentence, using that thing must have affected you, right? Are you confident you can fight Herrscher in this condition?"

Shen Gonglin kept her distance from Cecilia's embrace, feeling as if Cecilia was petting her like a pet. But that shouldn't be her concern right now. Siegfried's use of the Tengu no Haikyuu had those side effects, and the Black Abyss White Flower was probably a similar weapon. Cecilia's actual situation was likely much worse than it appeared.

"So if I can't beat them, I'll have to rely on you and me to fight side by side. Oh, and Theresa too. If the three of us go together, we'll definitely be fine. I'm really strong, even stronger than you."

Cecilia raised her arm towards Shen Gonglin, her smile never faltering. This child seems a bit tsundere. He seemed to enjoy being held just now, but now he's deliberately acting stiff, and then he can't help but care about her... Ah, how can there be such a person? I've decided, after this is over, I'm going to take this child back to play with no matter what... for Kiana to play with. Kiana will definitely love this child when she grows up.

"Yes, yes, you're amazing... But don't try to be a hero then. Just leave everything to me. Kiana will definitely want to see you later, so just have a good talk with her. As for the Herrscher and all that, leave it to me."

Shen Gonglin didn't believe she was stronger than him. Once he was rested, she would be no match for him. As for Cecilia, Kiana finally had this opportunity to meet her, Shen Gonglin felt he should spend time with the two of them rather than fighting. Although he and Kiana didn't get along well and she always bullied him, Shen Gonglin didn't want Kiana to miss this opportunity. Sure enough, he was a real sweetheart, confirmed.

"Wow, you saying that makes me feel so safe, I feel like I might fall in love with you without even realizing it... To be honest, little shrine maiden, have you used that face and those words to deceive a lot of girls? And you said Kiana wants to see me... That's perfect, I also want to meet her properly. She has the same name as my daughter, she must be a real beauty."

Automatically filtering out some of Cecilia's words, Shen Gonglin tilted her head and thought for a moment before describing Kiana to Cecilia: "It's not that she shares the same name as your daughter, but that she is your daughter."

"She's about this tall, with long legs, and she's very slim and beautiful. She has a great figure, and her white hair and blue eyes make her look gorgeous... Don't tell her that later. If she knows I'm praising her like that, she'll definitely get arrogant. So please don't say that I said those things."

Preemptively giving Cecilia a heads-up, because if Kiana knew how highly he regarded her, Shen Gonglin would be embarrassed. He usually acted like he disliked her, but secretly he praised her like this... If Kiana knew, she would definitely think he was a tsundere. How could Rin, the eldest son of Shen Gonglin Shingu family, be misunderstood like this? He is the face of the Shingu family.

"Now that you've described her like that, I'm even more eager to see her! No, I have to hear her voice right now... Also, Little Shrine Maiden, you speak so highly of her, do you like her? Come on, tell me, do you like her?"

This child is indeed a tsundere, the kind that's flawless. Shen Gonglin's behavior convinced Cecilia of this fact. She clearly likes him very much and is willing to do all sorts of things for him, but she just won't admit it. When she meets that girl, she must secretly tell Shen Gonglin what she said. She has already recorded it. She really wants to see Shen Gonglin's reaction then. She'll definitely be so shy.

"I don't like it, I don't like it at all."

Shen Gonglin vehemently denied it, while Cecilia nodded with a smile. Those who know, know; she's just being a tsundere.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Mother's Correspondence

Just a little while longer, and you'll see Mom.

Running across the snowfield, despite having gone through several battles, Kiana still felt full of energy, as if she had inexhaustible strength. The girl's spirits were high, all because of the voice she had just heard from Theresa —her mother. Soon, she would see her mother.

Kiana held back from speaking during their call because she didn't know what tone of voice she would use. Her mother's appearance and voice were all swirling in Kiana's mind. She was about to see her mother, and the girl's heart was soaring like a bird. She was determined to show her mother her best self!

Just then, Kiana's communicator suddenly rang. Looking at the ID on it, Kiana's eyes widened. Cecilia... Why would her mother call her? She shouldn't recognize her at all right now. What's going on...? Kiana answered the call with great trepidation. This was the first time she had ever spoken to her mother.

[Lady Cecilia, why, why did you suddenly contact me?]

Kiana tried her best to control her tone, wanting to sound normal, but a tremor still escaped her lips. What would her mother say to her? Kiana was both excited and scared.

Wow, that voice! It really is Kiana, exactly as I imagined!

Cecilia's gentle yet surprised voice came through the communicator. After hearing Shen Gonglin's description, she couldn't help but call Kiana immediately. The voice was exactly as she had imagined. She couldn't wait to see her.

[Eh...]

Kiana was a little confused. What did her mother mean by saying that her mother thought exactly the same thing as her?

Actually... there's something I need to ask you.

Cecilia's eyes darted around, not satisfied with just hearing Kiana's voice. Cecilia wanted something else, and at that moment, Shen Gonglin unknowingly moved closer to her. Kiana was indeed very happy to hear Cecilia's voice; it was worth it.