You Don't Really Think I'm a Child, Do You?

Just as young Shen He was at his wits' end, Xu Shi had already arranged Xia Ke'an's transfer to another hospital.

Compared with the charity hospital in District 12, Prism's private hospital in District 16 offered vastly superior conditions.

The lobby was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Vast beds of flowers had been planted outside, their fragrance masking the hospital's antiseptic odor just enough.

The patients treated here were all dignitaries and wealthy businessmen, each attended by several pretty nurses in white stockings or handsome young male caregivers.

With such attentive care, their conditions were bound to improve, right?

Xia Ke'an, meanwhile, was admitted to Xu Shi's personal ward.

The spacious room had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire cityscape and was equipped with the finest medical equipment in all of Night City.

"Thank you. Chairman Xu really is such a kind person."

Seeing all this, Xia Ke'an could not help feeling emotional. She had once enjoyed such conditions herself, yet recalling them now felt like a lifetime ago.

"Not at all."

Xu Shi accepted her praise without the slightest hesitation. "It's my honor to be able to help Night City's former greatest beauty."

That was not mere politeness.

Although Xia Ke'an currently looked like a little girl, that was only due to the effects of an Ability Complication.

Back when Refraction had been at its height, she too had been an utterly captivating presence in Night City.

His father still had a photo of himself with her at home... When Xu Shi was little, he had even considered her his childhood goddess for a while.

Of course, she had not gone by this name back then.

The same was true of Xia Wuyou. Having remained in hiding for so many years, the two of them had changed their names and identities countless times.

And honestly, she was quite adorable now as well. Though her appearance and figure had changed drastically, she was still as exquisite as a carefully carved doll.

"Greatest?"

Xia Ke'an giggled at that. "I can't possibly live up to that title... Still, it's been a long time since anyone called me that. How nostalgic."

With that topic as a starting point, the two chatted cheerfully, with none of the awkwardness one might expect from their first meeting.

This left Xia Wuyou somewhat at a loss. How was she supposed to tell her aunt that just a few days ago, he had used her to threaten her...?

"...Then I'll be going?"

Several hours passed amid the idle conversation. Seeing that it was getting late, Xu Shi stood to leave. "Miss Ke'an, please focus on your treatment. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Alright."

The long conversation had visibly tired Xia Ke'an, and even her breathing had become somewhat shallow.

"Though, now that I mention it, I have a presumptuous request."

"Oh?"

"I haven't seen Wuyou in a long time. I'd like to speak with her alone... Chairman Xu, you're not in a hurry to take her away, are you?"

"Of course not."

Xu Shi had no intention of interfering with their private time. "I'll wait outside. I'll take her home later."

"Then we'll be troubling you."

The white-haired loli pressed her palms together, her face full of innocent sweetness.

However.

The instant Xu Shi left, that innocence turned into stern seriousness.

"So, you used Spark as your token of allegiance, didn't you?"

"...Huh?"

Hearing Xia Ke'an's question, Xia Wuyou abruptly looked up.

She had still been bothered by the intimacy between her aunt and Xu Shi... Yet this sentence shocked her even more.

"How... did you know?"

She rarely discussed work with Xia Ke'an. As for her deal with Spark—or rather, with Shen He—she had never mentioned it at all.

"You didn't use your ability, did you?"

Xia Wuyou instinctively thought of that possibility. "Your body can't handle it right now. How could you..."

"...There, there."

The white-haired loli did not know whether to laugh or cry as she rubbed her head. "Do I need to use an ability just to see through those little thoughts of yours?"

"Then..."

"I wasn't completely sure before, but when I saw Xu Shi come in person today, I understood what was going on."

Xia Ke'an sighed. "After all, I know this too well: conglomerates never make unprofitable deals. If he can offer conditions like these, then what you gave up must have been no less substantial."

"As for Spark, I've known about them for quite some time. Their leader is Shen Tianhong's son, right?"

"...Yeah."

Xia Wuyou's mind had completely shut down, and she nodded blankly.

In her memory, her aunt had always been nothing more than a gentle, elegant lady.

When Refraction was destroyed, she had already become the sickly person she was today... Over the years, that had even led Xia Wuyou to unconsciously treat her like a younger sister.

And she had never imagined that—although Xia Ke'an had been bedridden all this time—she seemed to know everything.

"You really take me for a child, don't you?"

Xia Ke'an seemed to see through her thoughts. Smiling, she took Xia Wuyou's hand. "Your aunt is pretty amazing too."

"I looked into Spark about a year or two ago."

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because I didn't want you getting involved."

The white-haired loli's expression turned solemn. "You still had feelings for Shen He... If you had known, there was a chance you might even have agreed willingly."

"Mm..."

Xia Wuyou felt a little embarrassed, because things were indeed more or less as her aunt had said.

Her willingness to make a deal with Shen He had not been entirely based on the price he offered.

"I absolutely didn't want to see that happen. Spark isn't merely a gang; the things tied up behind them are far too complicated... But I never expected Shen He to find you anyway, much less that Xu Shi would discover all this too."

"Mm..."

Xia Wuyou nodded. On this point, aunt and niece were of the same mind.

She had been equally shocked when Xu Shi exposed her back then.

"I hadn't looked into him much before. I instinctively thought he was surely inferior to Xu Cheng, and that it was still uncertain whether he could even hold onto his position... But now, it seems he isn't so simple either."

Xia Ke'an shook her head. "And I never expected he would... Forget it. Tell me properly—what exactly has happened lately?"

"Okay."

Xia Wuyou answered and began recounting what had happened in fits and starts.

But as she spoke, she began to feel increasingly uneasy and asked softly, "Auntie, do you think that what I did, I..."

"No."

The white-haired loli moved closer to her. "Perhaps it was somewhat cruel emotionally, but if you want the truth... I can only say that you made the right choice."

"Spark is indeed no simple organization, but in terms of strength, they still can't compare to Serpent Coil. If it were me, I wouldn't have hesitated at all."

She spoke helplessly. "Xu Shi may not be a good person either, but at least he can keep you from struggling as hard as you did before, can't he?"

There was even a trace of heartache in Xia Ke'an's voice.

Now that they had no one to rely on, all they could do was make the best choices they could in the cracks between competing forces.

"Ultimately, I'm the one holding you back. Otherwise, your life would be much better than it is now."

Though Xia Wuyou had always shared good news and concealed the bad, how could Xia Ke'an not understand? The things her niece did outside were always dangerous; otherwise, how could she possibly afford such exorbitant medical expenses?

Xu Shi had threatened her because of Xia Ke'an as well. Otherwise, how could an A-class Ascendant be so freely manipulated by others?

The white-haired loli lowered her head and gently rubbed her nose.

"...Don't say that, Auntie."

Xia Wuyou said earnestly, "You're my only family. I chose all of this willingly, and I've never blamed you."

"But I don't want you to be bound by me either."

Xia Ke'an leaned into her arms, blinking as she murmured, "But now, it seems staying out of this is no longer possible... Oh, you said Shen He gave you a bottle of inhibitor?"

"Yes." Xia Wuyou had no idea what she was getting at.

"Give it to Xu Shi."

"...Why?"

Xia Wuyou did not understand—or perhaps it was more accurate to say that she had deliberately never intended to do so.

After all, she had never trusted Xu Shi. She had always thought she needed to keep some leverage in reserve.

"Just like the people he had you deal with in Spark, what he values is your attitude."

Xia Ke'an said sternly, "Whether he wants it is his business, but whether you offer it is yours... Even if it's just going through the motions, it's better than hiding it away like this. Understand?"

Just like what she had done earlier.

No matter what one thought inside, one still had to keep up appearances.