Ye Ming ignored the girls' questions and said excitedly instead:
"There's something wrong with this video—seriously wrong. I need to speak to its creator in person!"
As he shut down the computer, Ye Ming grabbed his coat and fled the company as though his life depended on it.
Before leaving, he made sure to warn everyone:
"Let me make this clear first: none of you are allowed to watch that video. The content is ridiculous."
"..."
Ye Ming's words left the girls utterly confused, but everyone was curious by nature.
The studio employees had not cared much about the video's contents at first, but Ye Ming's warning not to watch it only piqued their interest.
"Should we watch it?"
Kiana suggested.
"Th-that wouldn't be very good, would it?"
Ganyu said timidly:
"If Ye Ming finds out, he'll get angry, right?"
"But the video is right there, and it's so popular. It'd be hard not to see it, wouldn't it?"
Bronya had a point. In an age when everyone scrolled through their phones, anything popular would find countless ways to appear before you even if you did not seek it out.
"Rather than stumbling across it by accident, we might as well watch it properly here."
"As for Ye Ming... let's keep it a secret together~~"
Having reached an agreement, the girls opened the video.
By the time you saw me, you were no longer first.
Hello to all the friends who came back for a second watch.
In celebration of ten million views.
It's only at nine million now. Did the ten-million-view you time travel here?
As the opening comments drifted past, the camera shifted to a corner of St. Freya Academy.
Inside the principal's office, a petite girl—so small that half her face could be hidden behind the desk while seated—asked:
"Himeko? What is it?"
"Theresa, what's the deal with this newly hired employee?"
Himeko braced both hands against the desk and leaned her whole body forward, because otherwise she would not have been able to see Theresa properly.
"His job is to take care of my daily life?"
"Do you have any objections?"
Just like in the game, Theresa wore a standard nun's habit, her white hair spilling from beneath her veil, making her look utterly adorable.
"You didn't discuss this with me, and I don't need it."
"Himeko..."
Theresa sighed and said helplessly:
"Early last weekend, we found you unconscious outside the dormitory."
"The stove was still on at the time. It nearly caused a fire."
"If our people hadn't arrived in time, the entire building would have suffered."
"..."
Himeko, her brows tightly furrowed, could not say a word.
As for the erosion of Honkai energy, Himeko had already grown accustomed to pain severe enough to keep her awake at night.
But suddenly passing out... as Theresa had said, that was indeed dangerous.
"At least let me know what kind of person he is. What if we don't get along?"
Himeko looked troubled. She did not like others meddling with her way of life.
"Don't worry. You'll definitely be satisfied."
Theresa took a sip of hot tea, looking completely unconcerned about the issue.
"Why are you so confident?"
"He'll be waiting in your room tomorrow. You'll know then."
Theresa wore the smile of a child who had successfully pulled off a prank and said meaningfully:
"Give it your best, Himeko! Maybe he can help you solve the trouble that's been bothering you all this time."
The following evening, Himeko had just finished teaching and was about to lie down on her bed when she heard people moving about inside her dorm.
"Right, Theresa said that person would meet me in my room today."
The moment she recalled it, Himeko remembered Theresa's mischievous grin and that strange piece of advice.
"She told me to give it my best, and said he could solve my troubles... I'd like to see what sort of person he really is."
Filled with curiosity and a trace of defiance, Himeko pushed open the door.
But the instant she saw the refined young man in the room, she understood Theresa's intentions.
"The trouble that's been bothering me all this time... she meant being single?!"
As that thought crossed her mind, Himeko's cheeks grew hotter. At the same time, the camera gave the young man's face a close-up:
His short black hair was soft and fluffy, his delicate features strikingly handsome, and a faint glimmer shone in his deep black eyes.
Is this the male lead? Who did they get to play him?
If he's just a pretty face, I'm not that impressed.
He's kind of hitting my preferences. I want to bend the male lead over.
Holy crap! There's a gay guy!
—Click!
The moment the video reached that point, the stunned girls hit the spacebar and froze the frame.
"What's going on? Ye Ming?!"
The young man in the room was none other than Ye Ming, who had just warned them not to watch the video.
"So Ye Ming is the male lead in this video?"
"It's not strange for us to appear in fan content, but why is Ye Ming in it too?"
After all, Ye Ming's image had never appeared in the game from beginning to end.
"There's too little information right now. Let's keep watching."
A-Tzu pressed play again...
"Miss Himeko, right? My name is Ye Ming. Starting today, I'll be moving in and living with you."
Ye Ming pointed at the storage room that had already been cleaned up and said with a smile:
"This will be my room from now on. If you need anything, you can come find me directly."
"Huh? Uh... I understand."
Himeko had been studying Ye Ming the entire time and barely heard a few words he said.
Clearly, this somewhat sweet-looking young man was exactly her type.
"Theresa told me about your physical condition. If possible..."
"Ye Ming!"
Before Ye Ming could finish, Himeko interrupted:
"Put everything else aside for now. If you want to move in here, you'll have to follow my rules."
"Uh... what rules?"
"First, you're coming somewhere with me. I'll see what you're made of there~~"
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Whim
"I thought you meant something else by seeing what I'm made of..."
The scene shifted, and Ye Ming, who had been dragged to a tavern, could not help complaining:
"You wanted to test my alcohol tolerance?"
"If you want to get involved in my life, you can't do without alcohol. If we don't get drunk together a couple of times, how are we supposed to build a bond?"
Surrounded by students every day and forced to maintain the facade of a respectable teacher, she had been unable to find drinking companions and was nearly stifled by it.
"Himeko, do you really like drinking that much?"
"If life has no alcohol, then it's lonely as snow—especially red wine. Red wine is my blood!"
Perhaps she had imagined the exquisite taste of red wine flowing down her throat, because Himeko wore an intoxicated expression as she made her declaration.
"If the alcohol content in your bloodstream gets too high... mmph!"
Before Ye Ming could finish, Himeko covered his mouth with her jade-like fingers.
"You're not... going to try to convince me to quit drinking, are you?"
"Not at all. Giving up one of life's great pleasures just to avoid that little bit of harm really isn't worth it."
Ye Ming knew very well that Himeko's remaining lifespan might not even last until the day alcohol could do real harm to her body.
"Oh~~ You get it!"
Smiling brightly, Himeko said with satisfaction:
"I thought Theresa was going to send another stiff, by-the-book person to interfere with my life. I'm so glad it was you this time."
For a moment, Himeko felt as though she had met Ye Ming far too late.
"But I should make this clear first: I can't drink. I might get drunk very quickly."
"Well..."
Hearing Ye Ming's honest admission, Himeko was not disappointed in the slightest. Instead, she secretly rejoiced.
"Once things reach that point between us, getting drunk quickly will make things easier."
Her good mood led Himeko to drink two more glasses. After several rounds, with a charming hint of intoxication, she asked Ye Ming:
"So, how did Theresa trick you into coming here?"
"Trick me?"
"Of course. Otherwise, who would willingly take on the troublesome job of looking after me?"
"I volunteered."
"Huh?"
Ye Ming's words made Himeko's heart tremble. This young man, who suited her tastes so perfectly, had actually chosen to approach her of his own accord?
"Can I hear why?"
"Mm... it's a somewhat sentimental story."
With a faint trace of drunkenness, Ye Ming began to speak of his thoughts and convictions.
Throughout it all, Himeko's heart kept filling with surprise.
At that moment, she thought, if every word he said was sincere...
Before you continue