Chapter 138

[Please give me your orders. Whatever Lady Cecilia asks of me, I will do it, even if it costs me my life!]

Kiana nodded emphatically when her mother asked her to do something. She would do whatever her mother asked, no matter what. This opportunity was too rare. If she could do it, her mother would be happy. For this reason, Kiana was determined to do whatever the request was.

It's not that serious, I just want you to call me... um, "Mom".

After hesitating for a while, Cecilia finally said those words. Kiana didn't see it, but Shen Gonglin saw it clearly. Cecilia's face involuntarily turned red as she spoke. Was her request a bit too much? But this opportunity was too rare. If she could hear "Mom" that time, she would definitely be able to unleash twelve times her power in the battle that followed. That was the only way.

[Huh? What? Lady Cecilia, what did you say?]

Kiana wondered if she hadn't heard clearly. How could her mother make such a request? This was something she had always dreamed of. Could this even be called a request? It was the best reward in the world for her.

Please, please, I know this request might be hard for you to accept, but please do agree no matter what. Your voice sounds so much like the voice I imagine my daughter will have when she grows up, so I really... can you please say yes?

Cecilia asked somewhat timidly. This was her lifelong request. If Kiana was really putting her in such a difficult position... she would have Shen Gonglin talk to her. Although it was a bit willful, she just wanted to hear it.

[...Mother]

How could she possibly refuse such a request? Or rather, this was something she had always dreamed of. Kiana had been thinking about how to get closer to her mother at this time, but she didn't expect her mother to do it herself. She was truly her mother; this was what they called telepathy!

[Wow! This is amazing! I can't wait, I need to record this right away so I can listen to it on repeat. Today is such a wonderful day, Kiana, thank you so much!]

Cecilia became as happy as a child, her fingers flying across the communicator as she recorded Kiana's voice. This was truly the best thing she had received from this mission; to Cecilia, it was simply the greatest gift in the world.

"By the way, I also have a favor to ask of Lady Cecilia... Please, please be sure to abandon this mission."

Hearing the cheers of the woman opposite her, Kiana's face also showed a touching smile. However, when she thought of something, she couldn't help but say these words. She wanted to keep this warm feeling forever, so Cecilia could not be allowed to carry out the next mission.

Hmm? Can you tell me why?

Instead of directly rejecting Kiana, Cecilia asked this question: why doesn't Kiana want her to continue the mission? There must be a reason.

Theresa said you weren't feeling well, and you also used up a lot of energy saving Siegfried, so...

Kiana hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself. Everyone understood the Herrscher's combat power, and if Cecilia were to face Herrscher in her current state... the result would be unbearable for Kiana, especially since she already knew the outcome. She simply could not accept such a thing.

[That's right, I haven't been feeling well lately and I've exhausted my energy. Besides, judging from the recorded data, the Second Herrscher is extremely powerful. To be conservative, I only have an 80% chance of winning.]

[Eighty percent? But Theresa and the others were clearly so worried...]

Kiana's eyes widened. How could the odds of winning be so high? If the odds were that high, it shouldn't be like this.

[I have to thank your boyfriend for this! If he hadn't stopped Siegfried from using Tengu no Haikyuu in time, I wouldn't have been able to heal him with so little effort. And because of his previous battle with the Herrscher, he'd have a good chance of winning even if he faced Herrscher now. Kiana, you have a very reliable boyfriend, and he's also... super cute!]

Glancing at Shen Gonglin was getting closer and closer, Cecilia suddenly hugged Shen Gonglin while speaking. He's finally here. Let's see how I can give him a good rub!

Chapter Thirty: Bronya is willing

What's going on? What happened on the other side? Why do I feel like my head is glowing green again? No way, that's Cecilia, that's my mother... What is Shen Gonglin doing?!

Even though she's Kiana, Kiana is still a girl, and she still has a woman's intuition. Hearing the voice on the other end of the communicator, she had a bad feeling. What were Shen Gonglin and her mother doing? She didn't understand at all, but why did she feel so strange? Kiana was very familiar with this feeling; Kiana always felt this way when she was with the Class President and Mei, but now...

What's with the "little boyfriend" thing? Does this refer to Shen Gonglin? Why didn't I know he was my boyfriend? When did he become my boyfriend?

[Hey! Shen Gonglin, let me tell you, don't bully my mom... and don't you dare bully Lady Cecilia! If you dare to misbehave, I'll strangle you!]

Kiana screamed into the communicator, wishing she could get to them in time. If she were there, she could stop them. The fact that she could only hear their voices but not see anything gave Kiana a very strange feeling. She could even hear Shen Gonglin's slightly shy and slightly screaming voice through the communicator. What were they doing? Why did she feel like her head was turning green?

[She bullied me, not me! Kiana, why aren't you doing anything about her... Let go! Let go of her! Stand right there and don't move, or I'll... I'll get angry!]

Shen Gonglin struggled desperately to break free from Cecilia's grip. Pointing at Cecilia, he warned her breathlessly, "You can't let your guard down for a second. No wonder she's Kiana's mother. She looks intellectual and gentle, but she actually has the potential to Kiana. You can easily get caught by her, just like Kiana."

[Shen Gonglin, you're not allowed to be so rude to Lady Cecilia! Cecilia 'd better show her the proper respect, and take good care of Cecilia until I get there. If anything happens to her, I'll be angry, and you can forget about ever getting any cake from me again.]

What on earth are they doing over there? Although she didn't understand the situation, it didn't stop Kiana from protecting Cecilia. In any case, it must be Shen Gonglin's fault. Even if Cecilia bullied him, it must be because he looked too easy to bully. It wasn't Cecilia's fault at all. Kiana warned Shen Gonglin through the communicator. She knew Shen Gonglin's nature. It was one thing for him to act recklessly around her, but he absolutely couldn't lose face in front of Cecilia. He should at least save face for her. But in the end, with Shen Gonglin around, Kiana did feel more at ease with Cecilia. She didn't know why that unreliable guy gave her this sense of security. It was really strange.

"It's not like you ever left anything for me. Every time, it was me who snatched it... I earned it through my own efforts. Honestly, you've forgotten your good brother now that you have a mother... Kiana, you can take care of Cecilia, but you have to promise me one thing."

Shen Gonglin pursed her lips. She was still hoping to take care of Cecilia. This woman was incredibly strong, and in her current state, it was already quite good that she could take care of herself. But Kiana had said so... so it wasn't impossible for her to force herself to do it. However, even if she forced herself to do it, Kiana had to pay the price. Shen Gonglin had been thinking about this for a long time.

[Tell me what it is, and I'll agree to anything you ask!]

Kiana patted her chest and assured him that Shen Gonglin only ever made a few requests, as Kiana knew. He always asked the Class President for a lap pillow and such, which Kiana had quite a few complaints about. Now it was finally her turn. Kiana sighed inwardly, but there was nothing she could do about it. After all, she had asked him to take care of Lady Cecilia. Sigh, what a naughty boy.

"Just call me 'Dad.' I've been thinking about this for a long time. You just called Cecilia' Mom,' so calling me 'Dad' now isn't too much to ask."

The girl was still preparing to be shy when Shen Gonglin said something like that. Not only Kiana, but even Cecilia was stunned. Neither of them expected Shen Gonglin to make such a request. What... how should they put it? They would have thought it was normal for him to ask something a little excessive in the atmosphere just now, but this was too much... This child, maybe there's something wrong with his head.

Cecilia's eyes suddenly filled with pity. She quietly approached Shen Gonglin and reached out to stroke his soft, golden hair. Looking at Shen Gonglin, who seemed perfectly normal, she wondered how he could be such an idiot. But he made Kiana call him "Dad"... What a naughty boy! He's trying to take advantage of her in a roundabout way. What if she takes him back and corrupts Kiana? She needs to calm down.

[What are you comparing yourself to Lady Cecilia for! You know perfectly well... Waaaaah, Shen Gonglin, I promise, if you were in front of me, I would absolutely bite you to death. Who would agree to such a request? It's one thing for you to act crazy all the time, but be serious for once!]

Kiana was on the verge of a breakdown. Why did she have to be given a character like Shen Gonglin? Other girls get to pamper and spoil their girlfriends, but she not only has to pamper and spoil him, but she also has to put up with his temper. The worst part is that she can't do anything about it. What can she do but endure it? Even if Shen Gonglin were left on the street, no one would pick him up... Tsk, it seems that there are indeed people who would pick him up, and quite a few at that. It's so annoying. It's only natural for her to call Cecilia" Mom," but what about him? Who does he think he is?!

[Who said that? If it were Bronya, I'd probably ask her seriously and she'd agree. Kiana, you're completely hopeless. I think you should learn from Bronya in this regard; she's so incredibly obedient.]

Shen Gonglin confidently held up a chestnut. Just because Kiana couldn't do it doesn't mean others can't. Although she hadn't tried it, Shen Gonglin felt that Bronya would listen to her. She would try it when she got back.

[... Shen Gonglin, you really are a jerk! Don't you dare bully Bronya! When we get back, you better stay away from her!]

Chapter Thirty-One: Scumbag Men and Scumbag Women

This guy, he really isn't suited to be human. He must have been born into the wrong body. Kiana never imagined he'd secretly built up such a high level of favorability with Bronya, making her completely unafraid to believe the truth in Shen Gonglin's words. Kiana knew Shen Gonglin very close to others, but she never imagined it had reached this point. Would Bronya really listen to Shen Gonglin ...? Kiana hung up the call, her mind racing. What should she do now? What if Bronya really agreed to Shen Gonglin ...?

Then her importance in Shen Gonglin's heart will definitely be even higher.

"Kiana? What's wrong? Why do you look like that? Is something wrong with Cecilia and Shen Gonglin?"

Noticing Kiana's expression, Theresa asked with concern. They were heading towards the tower where they would meet Cecilia and the others, but why did Kiana look like that? It was as if something terrible was about to happen.

"It's alright, Mom... Lady Cecilia is also heading towards the tower, Shen Gonglin is just a little exhausted... Oh, Theresa, I have a question for you, just a question. It doesn't mean I'll actually do it, it's just a simple question..."

Kiana shook her head, then looked at Theresa with great hesitation. She really couldn't figure out the problem herself. Since she couldn't figure it out, she might as well ask Theresa. Although Theresa wasn't very smart either, she had lived longer than her, and maybe she could actually give some answers to some questions.

"Hmm? What's the problem? Go ahead and ask, I'll definitely help you answer it."

Theresa looked at Kiana with great curiosity. This hesitation was unlike her niece. Kiana was usually a very energetic and single-minded type. Now that she seemed so conflicted, she must really be facing a problem. As an elder, she should definitely help her answer the questions. Whatever the problem was, bring it on!

"I... I have a friend who has a very, very close male friend. My friend has always considered him a very good, trustworthy friend... calling him a friend doesn't even begin to describe their relationship; they're closer than that, they've even... kissed each other. But it seems like... it seems like he wants to be her father, and he keeps urging her to call him that. So... should she call him that or not?"

Kiana spent ages organizing her thoughts before finally managing to say what she needed to say. Kiana felt she'd be mortified if Theresa knew this had happened to her, so she decided to use "friend" instead. Heaven knows why Shen Gonglin was so fixated on this; it wasn't the first time. Why was he so insistent on calling her "Dad"? She considered him a friend, but he wanted to be her father. Could it be that he had a crush on Cecilia? Thinking about it, her mother's various features seemed to fit Shen Gonglin's tastes... Kiana felt her head was spinning. What the hell was this little rascal trying to do? Was he really an idiot?

"... Oh, Kiana, although I shouldn't say anything about your friendships, you have to remember to be careful when making friends. The situation you described... well, I haven't experienced it myself, but I feel I can understand... roughly speaking. So what exactly is their relationship? They've already kissed... so it can't be just ordinary friends, right? It's more like a romantic relationship?"

This question is way beyond my level! Theresa felt her head spinning. This kind of question was too difficult for an innocent and beautiful girl like her. Theresa, whose mind was still very simple, had no idea that the friend Kiana mentioned was Kiana herself. Although it was difficult, it was a question asked by her niece, so she had to find a way to answer it for her.

But does kissing mean they're a couple? Theresa blushed slightly. She suddenly remembered the CPR she'd done not long ago... No, no, CPR is CPR, and kissing is kissing. They can't be confused!

"Well... no, right? He didn't tell me... no, no, they're friends, very good friends, and my good friend has another very, very good female friend, and her very good male friend is also very close to her female friend... In short, that male friend has many, many good female friends, and it seems that some of his female friends are willing to call him 'Dad' or something... Theresa, do you understand?"

Well, even Kiana herself didn't know what she was saying. Seeing Theresa's eyes clearly starting to dart around, Kiana quickly steadied her shoulders. She felt that her mind was quite clear, but for some reason, what she said sounded so strange. It was really too chaotic, so it was normal that Theresa couldn't understand her.

"Let me sort this out, I'll understand... Kiana, your social circle is a mess. So, your good friend actually has a special relationship with a female friend? And that male friend is also very close to that female friend? What kind of mess is this? Are scumbags and scumbags all together? My God, what kind of environment does my lovely niece live in? I can't understand this at all. Kiana, don't even think about figuring this out. I think you should cut ties with those friends as soon as possible, or you'll go astray."

Theresa was completely bewildered. Who were these people? She couldn't believe the messy relationships they had formed. Did her adorable niece usually hang out with these kinds of people? It was all Siegfried's fault. If he hadn't abandoned his wife and daughter, Kiana wouldn't have gotten involved with so many shady characters. Theresa almost cried. What had her lovely niece gone through? Thank goodness it was her friends, not her, or it would have been terrible.

...What is all this nonsense? I shouldn't have asked Theresa for answers. She's such an idiot. What a bunch of scumbags and jerks she's throwing around! Kiana wouldn't disagree if Shen Gonglin was a scumbag, but how did I become a scumbag? Theresa, you big idiot!

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Final Encounter

"Alright, alright, stop cursing... I mean, stop talking. Just pretend I was talking nonsense, Theresa. Let's not dwell on this anymore. Let's go to the tower now. I can't wait to meet up with Lady Cecilia. Also, I'm a little worried about Shen Gonglin after being separated from him for so long."

Kiana had given up on seeking any help from Theresa. This silly little girl simply didn't understand. Kiana felt she would only get angrier with her. The girl quickly changed the subject. If she let her continue, even Kiana herself would start to doubt whether she was some kind of messed-up woman... no, a girl.

"Oh... Kiana, look how good this is. You can just have fun with Shen Gonglin. Although that kid might be a little lecherous, I feel he's a good kid overall, much better than your other messy friends. Kiana, play with good kids."

Theresa nodded. She knew it wasn't good to talk about Kiana's friends like that, but as Kiana's aunt, she felt she had to say it. Fortunately, Kiana wasn't surrounded by bad kids. Shen Gonglin was a very nice person, and she felt at ease knowing that Shen Gonglin.

"Okay, okay."

Kiana could only roll her eyes and agree. Is it okay to play with Shen Gonglin? But Shen Gonglin is one of those scumbags you just mentioned, or rather, he is the center of it all. If it weren't for Shen Gonglin... No, that's not an option. Kiana didn't even want to think about a situation without Shen Gonglin.

"Kiana, get serious! I'm not kidding you. You need to listen to me. I'm doing this for your own good... Hey! It's this guy again. Don't interfere when he's disciplining his niece!"

Theresa continued to persuade Kiana with earnest words, and just then, the Honkai Beast that they had fought before appeared before them again. It seemed to be trying to stop them from getting close to the tower. It was really annoying. Kiana and she were strong enough to defeat this Honkai Beast, but it always delayed and then retreated. It was incredibly annoying!

"It came at the perfect time! If it weren't for it, Theresa would probably have launched into another long-winded speech." Theresa was quite dissatisfied, but Kiana secretly gave the Honkai Beast a thumbs up in her heart. It came at just the right time. Theresa's brain couldn't handle two things at the same time. After dealing with this Honkai Beast, she would definitely forget what she was talking about earlier. How could she not play with her friends? Those friends were referring to Mei, after all.

The two were ready for battle, but before they could even begin, a dazzling streak of light pierced through from afar. The Honkai Beast blocking their path vanished into specks of light before it could even launch its attack, leaving only a white figure behind. Cecilia spotted Kiana and Theresa from a distance and, unable to wait any longer, rushed to their side. Beside Theresa ... This was Kiana, the one she had spoken to earlier? Indeed, not only her voice, but even her appearance was exactly like the daughter she had imagined.

"So powerful... It defeated the Honkai Beast in a single blow..."

Kiana stared blankly at the woman before her. She had prepared herself mentally, but when she saw Cecilia with her own eyes, Kiana felt her heart pounding uncontrollably. Powerful, beautiful, reliable—was this Cecilia? This was... her mother.

"Hmph, that is Schicksal's strongest relic, the Black Abyss White Flower, which has the power to disintegrate everything... As expected of you, you are still as powerful as ever, Cecilia."

Theresa felt relieved when she saw the attack. Looking at the figure in front of her, she felt a surge of pride. This was her best friend, Schicksal's trump card, the strongest Valkyrie, a person with all sorts of halos and titles. With her by her side, even Herrscher could be a match for her.

"Hehe, Theresa, don't praise me like that, it'll make me shy... You're Kiana, just as Shen Gonglin said, so cute and pretty!"

Cecilia gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and revealed a perfect smile. After greeting Theresa, she turned her gaze to Kiana. Seeing the girl's extremely nervous expression, she gently winked at her. Looking at the girl in front of her, she couldn't help but want to get close to her. This girl really looked exactly like the Kiana she had imagined.

"Cute and pretty... Did Shen Gonglin say that? Oh right! Where is Shen Gonglin, Lady Cecilia? Isn't Shen Gonglin with you? Where is he?"

Kiana was so nervous she could barely speak. She just stared blankly at Cecilia. It wasn't until she heard Shen Gonglin's name from her that she realized what was going on. Would this guy really say that about her? With his arrogant personality, how could he say something so honest? Thinking of him, Kiana couldn't help but start looking for him. She was just too excited to see her mother alone. If Shen Gonglin had been with her, she definitely wouldn't have felt this way.

"He's already waiting at the bottom of the tower. He's probably exhausted, so he's not in good spirits. Plus, it's hot, so I told him to wait for us there. I'll come and get you first. Don't worry, it's safe enough there, everything will be fine."

This explains Shen Gonglin's current situation. Wearing pajamas and slippers makes it very inconvenient for him to move around and fight, so Cecilia stayed behind with him Cecilia they arrived first. Wearing pajamas and slippers in this icy environment is really too difficult. It should be much better once they go inside the tower. If Cecilia wasn't so eager to see Kiana, she would have stayed with him the whole time.

"By the way, that guy is afraid of both heat and cold, and this environment is really too difficult for him... Lady Cecilia, I'm so sorry to have troubled him. Let's go and meet up with him now."

Kiana was more excited than ever before. Now she could finally fight alongside her mother, and with Shen Gonglin... oh, right, there was Theresa too. No matter what the mission was, Miss Kiana wouldn't take it seriously!

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Girl Sighs

In a dimly lit room at Schicksal Headquarters, a man with long blond hair stared thoughtfully at a screen displaying images of Kiana and her group. A glass of red wine swayed slightly as the bishop stared at the screen, which was divided into several sections. Most of the screen showed events happening on Kiana's side, while one section showed Shen Gonglin. Shen Gonglin was curled up on the ground with her eyes closed, perhaps resting. It made sense; it must have been incredibly difficult for her to control her highly developed brain to believe that this was a real scene. It was truly unexpected that Shen Gonglin's brain was so powerful. If it weren't for her desire to fulfill K423's wish, she could probably easily break through this level of illusion.

Even if it's an illusion created by the Herrscher.

"Phew, although the situation is a bit different from what I expected, he also entered the illusion in addition to the test subject. But this may be a good thing, at least for us. This should stimulate the test subject to a greater extent. In addition to family affection, the hazy love and friendship are also a powerful help. How interesting. You two should keep a close eye on them."

Back at Schicksal Headquarters, Otto rested his chin on his hand with an amused smile. It was time to use his hidden trump card. Originally, he only needed to use Fu Hua, but since Shen Gonglin was involved in the experiment, he couldn't place all his hopes on her. After all, people's hearts are the most reliable and the most unreliable thing. If his old friend made a different choice under the influence of certain emotions, it would be beyond his expectations. So, it was necessary to add another layer of insurance, although this layer of insurance was not so reliable either.

[Understood, Your Excellency. Rest assured, leave it to me.]

[Yes, sir.]

Two female voices rang out from the communicator. If Shen Gonglin were here, he definitely could... no, if it were him, he might not even recognize them. After all, that guy has no conscience. Anyone from St. Freya would recognize whose voices these are: Durandal and Fu Hua. Fu Hua's mission at St. Freya was exactly like this, and Durandal was an additional layer of protection to prevent problems with Fu Hua. This layer of protection wasn't originally needed, but since Shen Gonglin was involved, it became necessary.

Outside the underground chapel at the St. Freya Academy, Fu Hua and Durandal, both clad in black armor, were waiting for the right moment to take the experimental subject away. This was part of the planned mission, and although Fu Hua wasn't sure if what she was doing was right, it didn't affect the success of her mission. However, this involved another person... Fu Hua felt unusually annoyed. Why couldn't he just sleep peacefully in his dorm? She had already given him her room; why did he have to come out at night instead of sleeping properly?

If I did this in front of him, would it affect our relationship? It would definitely have an impact... But if he finds out everything, would he forgive me? This is so annoying. Why did Shen Gonglin get involved? What if he tries to stop me?

"According to the information from His Excellency the Bishop, Shen Gonglin needs to control his mind to accept the illusion created by the Herrscher. This is a huge burden for him. According to calculations, Shen Gonglin will temporarily lose his combat ability due to the mental burden for a period of time. Therefore, he will not be a burden on the mission. The only one who needs to be dealt with is Theresa. Do you need help? Also, where did you go just now? It's past the assembly time."

Not far from Fu Hua, Durandal, who should have already returned to headquarters, leaned against a tree and quietly looked at the night sky. In fact, she had not lied to Shen Gonglin. She was temporarily assigned this mission on her way back to headquarters and returned to the St. Freya Academy. She would not take action as long as Fu Hua would not affect the mission. However, if Fu Hua was really unable to carry out the mission smoothly due to some matter, then it would be time for her to step in.

"I only went to the medical department. Don't worry, I will follow orders regarding mission matters. Even Shen Gonglin can't stop me."

Fu Hua's voice was very calm. Since she had promised, she would definitely keep her word. Fu Hua valued promises extremely. In order to fight against the Honkai, sacrifice was unavoidable. Inappropriate pity would only lead to more terrible consequences. Actually, she was a very indecisive person. Sigh... Inevitably, Fu Hua thought about Shen Gonglin's attitude after this incident once again. Perhaps to him, she was like a traitor. If she wanted him to forgive her... was that even possible?

If there were such a thing, Fu Hua would be willing to give up everything, whether it's a white-haired, red-eyed immortal or something else... Tsk, how could she think of something like this? Has she lost her mind, or is it a side effect of spending too much time with Shen Gonglin?

As for why she went to the medical department... perhaps it was to make herself feel better. Helping Bronya would probably make Shen Gonglin happy, and that would probably lessen his anger towards her? Knowing that doing this would upset him, yet she had no choice but to do it, this conflicting feeling made Fu Hua very uncomfortable. Even so, Fu Hua had to carry out the mission. She hoped Shen Gonglin could forgive her; whether it was showing her belly or some other apology, Fu Hua was willing to accept it...

I'm willing to do anything as long as he's willing to set conditions. The only problem is that he might not even be willing to set conditions. But we're pretty close, so he should be able to... Just because we're close, does that mean I can deceive him? How could I have such thoughts? It's so unlike me. My mind is in turmoil.

If he really stood in her way to stop her, let alone Fu Hua, even she herself... didn't know what she would choose. Durandal glanced at Fu Hua without saying a word. Durandal could imagine the conflict in her heart. She knew part of the bishop's plan. Durandal wouldn't comment on the correctness or success of the plan, but it was indeed a way to defeat the Honkai. So if she explained it properly to Shen Gonglin... he should be able to listen, right?

Not only Fu Hua, but even Durandal is caught in a dilemma. This is such a difficult situation.

"Well."

In the quiet of the night, two sighs were heard. Fu Hua and Durandal exchanged a glance and then turned their heads away. What was she sighing about?

Chapter Thirty-Four

"Hey, Shen Gonglin, how can you be sleeping here? Can't you be serious for once? This is a battlefield!"

The three of them headed towards the tower. As soon as they arrived, Kiana saw Shen Gonglin curled up asleep by the fire. Needless to say, Cecilia had helped start the fire. Shen Gonglin's slippers were hanging nearby, being dried. As she got closer, she saw his two feet pressed tightly together. Even though Kiana wasn't a foot fetishist, her heart skipped a beat. Before Cecilia and Theresa could get close, Kiana quickly ran to Shen Gonglin and shook his shoulders to wake him up. At the same time, she secretly moved to block the view of the two people behind her. Even if it was her mother and Theresa... she still had to avoid suspicion.

My Class President told me that there was a custom in ancient Shenzhou that said you had to marry anyone who saw a member of the opposite sex with bare feet. I can't let my mother and Theresa encounter such a thing.

"Hmm... Cecilia ... You're back, Kiana. It's been a long time."

Because he hadn't slept for long, Shen Gonglin was only in a light sleep this time, so he didn't have any morning grumpiness or low blood pressure symptoms when he was woken up. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. After sleeping for a while, his head felt much more comfortable. Although there was still a slight ache, it didn't affect his movement now. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw three white-haired creatures, all with azure blue pupils. It seemed that he was the only one who hadn't lined up properly.

"What do you mean 'long time no see'? We just met an hour ago... Shen Gonglin, you did a great job this time, I'll reward you."