After hanging up with Lina, Yunyi focused his attention on the terminal screen in front of him. The screen displayed information compiled by Mayumi Saegusa regarding the " Parasite " and " Blanche " sent over the past two days.
It has to be said that with her assistance, Yunyi has indeed saved a lot of trouble. In particular, when Chen Mei was in charge, some timely information that he would often overlook or miss because of experiments would now be relayed to him immediately after being gathered by Mayumi Saegusa.
"Brother, time for some fruit."
Of course, the Kasumi Saegusa and Izumi Saegusa, weren't idle either. Delivering fruit was usually their job. However, this time Kasumi Saegusa didn't leave immediately after putting down the fruit; instead, she carefully sat down.
Yunyi, who had just picked up a piece of fruit to eat, suddenly stopped. He turned to look at Kasumi Saegusa beside him and said, " Xiao Chengzi, have you made your sister angry again?"
Kasumi Saegusa quickly shook her head. "No way!"
"Then why are you here?" Yunyi, puzzled.
"Uh..." Kasumi Saegusa was speechless for a moment. She turned her head to look in the direction of the door, and then whispered, "My sister wants to check my and Izumi's theoretical knowledge."
Upon hearing her words, Yunyi felt a headache coming on. They'd lived together for so long, and this kind of scene had happened more than once or twice. But whenever Mayumi Saegusa performed checkups on the two little ones, the scene was simply...
Thinking of this, Yunyi opened a drawer and took out a pair of earplugs, about to put them in his ears. Seeing this, Kasumi Saegusa grabbed his arm and pleaded, "Brother, you can't just stand by and watch me die!"
"No! Let go! Kasumi, I've always protected you all! You can't hurt me like this!" Yunyi was horrified and hurriedly tried to pull his arm back.
Just then, the door was pushed open. Izumi Saegusa's little head peeked in, and upon seeing Kasumi Saegusa there, she immediately pushed the door open and slipped in as well.
"I knew you'd come here, Kasumi!" Izumi Saegusa turned to Yunyi, her expression changing as she pleaded, "Brother, help me!"
" Izumi, why are you doing this too!? You two can't do this, I'm telling you!" Yunyi felt a surge of anger.
Why do these two little ones always run to him when something like this happens! You know, when Mayumi Saegusa is tutoring them, she has a "ruthless" attitude. Even he wouldn't dare to mess with her at a time like this!
"No! I don't care!" Izumi Saegusa protested, "Brother, you ate the fruit I bought, so you have to help me!"
"Exactly! I washed the fruit, and I served it to them!" Kasumi Saegusa in.
Yunyi was at a loss with these two mischievous kids. But then he thought back, it seemed like only yesterday that Mayumi Saegusa checked their theoretical knowledge, so why did they need to check it again so soon?
Seeing Yunyi hesitate, the twins exchanged a glance before Izumi Saegusa spoke up, "Brother, Father contacted Sister today, saying he hopes she'll keep a close eye on us. But we've already tried so hard!"
Yunyi suddenly realized, and he looked helplessly at the twins. "If it's about practical skills, I can help you. But when it comes to theory, I'm powerless to help."
"Ugh, this is so unfair. Why is it that my brother's theoretical knowledge is so bad, but nobody ever says anything to him?" Kasumi Saegusa complained.
Yunyi tapped her on the head in an annoyed tone. "How do you know no one said anything about me?"
"Huh? Has anyone mentioned you, brother?" Izumi Saegusa asked in surprise.
Yunyi nodded. He still clearly remembered how exasperated Shen Yi was when she tutored him in magic. If he hadn't later mastered the domain, making casting magic incredibly easy, Shen Yi probably wouldn't have just annoyed him, but would have kicked him out of the house.
"So even someone as amazing as my brother gets lectured sometimes?" Izumi Saegusa still looked surprised.
Kasumi Saegusa nodded in agreement. Ever since they met Yunyi, they had been completely impressed by Yunyi magical abilities. Especially his " Ancient Magic," which they had never seen before, made them incredibly envious. Now, hearing Yunyi talk about how he had been lectured in the past, they suddenly felt that there was still a bit of fairness in this world.
"Cough cough~"
Just as the three were chatting, a soft cough came from outside the door.
Kasumi Saegusa and Izumi Saegusa immediately sat up straight. The two little ones stiffly turned their heads to look at the door, and when they saw Mayumi Saegusa leaning against the door, their smiles froze.
" Kasumi, and Izumi, are you here to learn from Yunyi-kun? Do you need some more time?" Mayumi Saegusa a smile.
Although she was smiling, the smile on her face lacked her usual gentleness.
"Um, sister... could... could we skip the check-up today?" Kasumi Saegusa raised her little hand tremblingly to speak.
Seeing her like this, Mayumi Saegusa felt a little helpless. She knew her two younger sisters very well. In terms of practical magical skills, the two little ones, while not as good as her, were no worse than anyone their age. But when it came to theoretical knowledge, they were lacking.
"Alright Mayumi, stop scaring them." Seeing the two little ones like this, Yunyi still spoke up to persuade them.
"I've seen their academic transcripts, and they're not as bad as you say, are they? While they're not as exceptional as someone like Miyuki, they're still quite good among their peers. Don't be so petty; look how scared you've made them."
" Yunyi-kun, really! If you keep spoiling them like this, they're really going to get out of control!" Mayumi Saegusa scolded playfully.
Although it's a good thing that her boyfriend dotes on his younger sister, Mayumi Saegusa still felt a pang of jealousy when Yunyi spoke up for the two kids. But to say she was jealous of her sister, she felt it wasn't really a case of jealousy.
"Saying she's lawless is so mean, sister." Izumi Saegusa protested. She was very law-abiding; when had she ever been lawless?
"That's right, we're perfectly well-behaved," Kasumi Saegusa in.
She was fine if she hadn't spoken, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she immediately drew everyone's attention.
" Xiao Chengzi, I can agree with Izumi saying she's very well-behaved. But you..." Yunyi hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
"Waaah, you're all bullying me!" Kasumi Saegusa complained bitterly. She was a pitiful little thing, the lowest-ranking member of this family.
Seeing her like this, Yunyi was the first to laugh. Mayumi Saegusa tried to hold back, but eventually couldn't help but burst out laughing as well. As for Izumi Saegusa, she had already turned her face to the side, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Kasumi Saegusa's gaze towards these people gradually turned resentful, her large eyes brimming with tears, as if she was about to cry.
"Alright, since you've been pretty well-behaved usually, I won't check your theoretical knowledge today. But Kasumi, if you don't get into the top three in the entrance exam, I won't let you off easily. Izumi, you too." Mayumi Saegusa suppressed a laugh and gave the two little ones a few words of advice.
After the twins left the room, Yunyi looked at Mayumi Saegusa and said, " Mayumi, you deliberately scared them, didn't you?"
"Huh? Yunyi-kun, how did you figure that out?" Mayumi Saegusa asked in surprise, though she was pretending to be very serious.
"You just checked them out a few days ago, you won't be back so soon. You always say I spoil them, but actually you're the one who dotes on them the most." Yunyi raised his hand and tapped Mayumi Saegusa's forehead.
Mayumi Saegusa rubbed her forehead and stuck out her tongue. "It's because they've been too relaxed lately. We can't just let them be like this."
"Let's not talk about that anymore, Yunyi-kun. How's Rin doing? She's alright, right?" Mayumi Saegusa changed the subject.
"Danger? I've already placed the captain of 'STARS' by her side as her personal bodyguard, what else do you have to worry about?" Yunyi said irritably.
"Oh, you're right." Mayumi Saegusa nodded. "In that case, I'm relieved. Yunyi-kun, I bought some new clothes, would you like to take a look at them?"
Relieved, Mayumi Saegusa turned around and started teasing Yunyi.
Yunyi paused in his movements, turned to look at Mayumi Saegusa, and noticed that the fairy's little face was already flushed.
He chuckled softly and closed the terminal in front of him, "Let's see what kind of surprise my Mayumi has prepared for me this time?"
"Hmph~" Mayumi Saegusa snorted lightly, "Then you're not allowed to peek~"
The next day.
Yunyi and Mayumi Saegusa the ringing of the phone.
"That one?"
Yunyi's voice was a little hoarse when he answered the phone, but it had a seductive quality that made the girl on the other end of the line pause in surprise.
"Hello? Who is it?" Yunyi frowned and asked again.
"Ah, um, I'm Miyuki. I'm sorry to bother you so early, Yunyi. I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately. Could we meet?" Miyuki Shiba asked.
" Miyuki?" Yunyi, who had just gotten up, was clearly not in the right state of mind either.
"What do you want from me? And do you want to talk to me alone?"
Are you sure you don't want to tell your brother?
Yunyi asked several questions in a row, leaving Miyuki Shiba on the other end of the line unsure of which to answer.
After a moment, Yunyi finally came to his senses. He recalled the hesitant and resistant look on Miyuki Shiba's face when they were discussing the cooperation earlier, and he immediately had some guesses. Now that Miyuki Shiba wanted to meet with him alone, it also confirmed his thoughts at the time.
"Just send me the location, I'll get ready and come see you," Yunyi said.
"Okay, then let's talk when we meet," Miyuki Shiba hurriedly replied.
As soon as she finished Kanon, Miyuki Shiba hung up the phone. Clearly, she had made the call without Tatsuya Shiba's knowledge.
" Yunyi-kun, who called?" Mayumi Nanagusa asked Mayumi Saegusa, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"It's Miyuki. She wants to meet me alone, probably to discuss our previous collaboration. I'll go see her. You should rest at home." Yunyi lowered his head and kissed Mayumi Saegusa.
"Oh, then remember to bring back some food for Kasumi and Izumi." Mayumi Saegusa responded softly, then released her arms from Yunyi's waist, changed her position, and fell asleep again.
An hour later, Yunyi arrived at the coffee shop where he had arranged to meet Miyuki Shiba. As soon as he entered, he saw the stunningly beautiful girl sitting in the corner.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Yunyi said to Miyuki Shiba, who was sitting opposite him, after taking his seat.
"It's alright, I just arrived not long ago either," said Miyuki Shiba.
"Shall we get straight to the point? You asked me out, it wasn't just for coffee or something, right?" Yunyi asked.
Miyuki Shiba sighed softly, " Yunyi, why do I always feel like you're somewhat averse to me?"
Upon hearing this question, Yunyi, who had just placed her order, paused slightly in surprise.
"Rejection? No, I don't think so?" Yunyi himself was not aware of this. He simply maintained a reasonable social distance, especially with girls like Miyuki Shiba with whom he had a different relationship, he kept it more obvious.
" Yunyi, you really don't know your place in some ways," Miyuki Shiba complained softly.
Yunyi chuckled, "Perhaps? But it's not a bad thing for you. Besides, all you have to do is keep an eye on your brother, right?"
"Alright, what you said makes sense." Miyuki Shiba nodded slightly, clearly not disagreeing with what Yunyi said.
"Let's get down to business. After all, I'm still a little nervous about meeting you without telling my brother," said Miyuki Shiba.
"Okay, let's get down to business. You asked me to come out because you wanted to talk about this collaboration, right?" Yunyi asked directly.
Miyuki Shiba nodded. She wasn't surprised at all that Yunyi had guessed her purpose. After all, this man knew far too much.
" Yunyi, I'd like to ask you, please don't involve my brother in this incident, okay?" Miyuki Shiba asked.
Upon hearing her question, Yunyi frowned slightly.
" Miyuki, it's not that I want to drag Tatsuya into this, but he's already deeply involved. He's an assistant in the Thesis Competition, so he's a target in himself," Yunyi said.
"No, I mean, it's about ' Parasite,' not about the essay competition," said Miyuki Shiba.
"But these two incidents are very likely being orchestrated by the same mastermind. Do you think your brother can escape unscathed?" Yunyi asked.
Yunyi's words plunged Miyuki Shiba into silence.
" Miyuki, I don't really understand why you reacted so strongly this time. You should know your brother's abilities very well, right?" Yunyi pressed.
Miyuki Shiba gently bit her red lips, hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I have a really bad feeling, a feeling that if I don't stop my brother from getting involved in this now, I'll lose him."