Let everyone see who the real drama queen was.
Kiana was even more shameless than Russell had imagined.
Russell looked at the girl who had planted her face directly into his upper abdomen. He was quite a bit taller than Megumin, and judging by where her face was, it would have lined up with Megumin's chest.
One glance was enough to nail it—an utterly unadulterated yuri-hungry mutt.
Russell reached that conclusion quickly.
If word got out, the Kaslana family's already meager reputation would probably be wiped out entirely.
Not that it had anything to do with him.
He was just here to deliver something.
Thinking that, Russell calmly pulled a bank card from his pocket and held it out.
"Your living expenses. Mei won't have time to prepare your three meals from now on."
She wouldn't have time to prepare three meals for her anymore?
It was like a bolt of lightning had struck.
Kiana stiffened as though she had truly been electrocuted.
Why wouldn't Mei have time to prepare her meals anymore?
She took an incredulous step back and looked at the apartment that had practically become half her base. In her mind, it was the love nest she shared with Mei.
Would she not be able to come here anymore?
Her brain trembled.
Her heart convulsed.
Kiana looked around, seemingly trying to find the source of this disaster.
Naturally, her gaze settled on the man who had opened the door.
His features were striking, his brows sharp.
Even an unserious act like opening the door with bread in his mouth somehow looked carefree and unrestrained on him.
If one had to ask why he came across as dashing rather than lazy...
It was naturally because he was handsome.
Seeing Xishi clutch her chest inspired pity; seeing Dongshi do the same made one feel their sanity hit zero.
Russell was clearly closer to the former.
Without question, he was an exceedingly handsome guy.
If someone met a guy like him at a street café and he invited them for a drink, ninety-nine percent of women would probably be willing to give him a chance.
And a guy like that had appeared in Mei's home...
"This is... my husband. Kiana, introduce yourself too."
In a daze, Kiana seemed to see the girl in a wedding dress shyly wrapping an arm around the man beside her and saying that to her.
Aaaahhh!!!!
Not that! Anything but that!
Kiana felt as though a thousand Ottos were galloping across her head.
Was this kid stupid or something?
Russell looked puzzled at the girl, who had gone stiff as though she had been stared at by the legendary Medusa.
"Do you still want it?"
"If not, I'm leaving."
Russell said so.
Like a statue in a horror story being smashed open to reveal the human body inside, Kiana finally snapped back to her senses and regained her ability to move.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Kiana felt her whole body heat up.
Desire coursed through her blood.
Well, the desire to attack.
He had stolen Mei away from her, and now he was humiliating her with charity?!!!
Outrageous!!!
Her azure eyes nearly turned crimson, making it seem as though she might start breathing fire like Talulah the next instant and roast Russell alive.
Did this girl think he was some imaginary love rival?
Ah...
It felt like she was about to fight him.
Russell looked troubled as he watched the girl who seemed ready to pull out two pistols and demonstrate Kaslana gun-fu on him at any second.
He did not like fighting very much.
He needed to clear things up quickly, or they really would fight. But explaining his relationship with Mei involved the chat group, and that would be troublesome.
So, he would have to tell a little lie.
"Russell, Mei's distant cousin."
The young man answered simply.
"For various reasons, she was taken away. But she was worried about a friend named Kiana, so she asked me to look after her."
The young man looked at Kiana again, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Like an elder examining a prospective son-in-law.
"Mei said you were a lively, cute, and very polite child... She said I would like you very much. Looking at you now, her judgment may have been a little off."
Ah...
Kiana froze instantly.
He was not an enemy.
Well, he knew her name, clearly really knew Mei, was close to her, and even claimed to be Mei's cousin.
Wait...
Cousin!
Didn't that make him her brother-in-law?!!!
Wait...
That meant she had just looked like she was about to beat up her brother-in-law?
Like a dam gate being thrown open and releasing a flood, Kiana's anger instantly hit zero.
No, it was not merely zero.
It had plunged straight below zero!!!
Thanks for the invitation. Is there still any hope if, upon meeting your brother-in-law for the first time, you looked ready to beat him up?
If her brain could connect to the internet, Kiana would have immediately typed out that question and attached a GIF of herself kowtowing for help.
All for the sake of a sliver of survival.
She believed the omnipotent netizens would surely be able to help. Surely!!!
But—
"Miss Kiana Kaslana, how much longer are you planning to keep that fist clenched?"
In her perception, the enormous, Titan-like young man looked down at her, his tone like the King of Hell declaring that this blind fool would be sent directly beneath the eighteenth level, with a new level made just for her.
Kiana stiffly pulled her lips into a smile.
"Haha... Hello, Brother Russell."
"I'm not well."
"The card's password is Mei's birthday. If you don't even know that, you can get the hell out."
The young man placed the bank card on the table, snorted coldly, then turned away, giving Kiana no chance to latch onto him.
Aaaahhh!!!!
She was really doomed this time!!!
Kiana's brain operated faster than it ever had before.
Before Russell could even react, the girl had pulled out the finest tea in Mei's home, brewed it, and brought it to Russell with an utterly ingratiating expression.
"Hmm?"
Russell made a sound.
"I don't recall asking you to make tea for me."
This guy was actually putting on airs now!!
"Mei mentioned you before. Um, she said Brother Russell looked a little cold, but was actually a very nice person."
In her desperation, Kiana directly employed the art of cold reading to bluff her way through.
Since he claimed to be Mei's cousin, she could use Mei as a bridge to ease the tension.
Russell did not look like a very lively person, so someone had surely called him cold before. Besides, most people thought quite highly of themselves.
Many corrupt tycoons believed they were upright officials who had merely made one or two little mistakes.
That was the problem with self-perception.
Kiana believed Russell would think of himself as a gentle, easygoing person.
Yes, first use Mei to close the distance, then subtly flatter him!
I'm a genius!!
Kiana silently gave herself a thumbs-up.
?!!!
Russell stared at the girl who was lying through her teeth, stunned. For a moment, he almost genuinely believed he had a cousin named Mei.
Well, well...
So she was going to start acting, was she?
"Are you and her that close?"
Russell's expression seemed to ease slightly before he frowned and pressed a hand to his shoulder.
Kiana jolted, then obediently circled behind Russell and began tapping his shoulders with extremely careful force.
"Mm-hm, Mei and I are the best sisters!!"
The white-haired little furball had maxed out her ability to read the room and even tried to make her voice sound sweeter.
"By the way, Brother Russell, is your neck okay? Your work must be exhausting, right?"
Well, well.
She had gone straight into green-tea mode!
Russell gained a new understanding of this seemingly carefree little grasshopper.
This girl had completely maxed out her ability to say whatever suited the person in front of her!
Things seemed to be getting interesting.
Feeling the perfectly measured pressure on his shoulders, Russell's lips curled into an odd smile.
"Your strength's a little weak. Also, my shoulders aren't sore. Instead of pounding them, help me relax my cervical spine."
Before you continue