Chapter 179 Big Duck: In My Dictionary, There is No Divorce, Only Widowhood! (1W)
Before the end of December, MiHoYo finally moved into its new office building just before the arrival of the New Year. Along with the main company, Firefly's Glamoth Studio and Boothill's Ranger Studio also relocated. Furthermore, the recently established MiHoYo Animation Studio was set up within the new building. During this period, the entire company was bustling with activity, and the employees' enthusiasm for working in a new environment was soaring.
The office building gifted to Su Mu and Kiana by Theresa was located in Arc City's most prosperous business district, not far from the original Arc Commercial Building. However, owning a building dedicated solely to MiHoYo in this district carried immense prestige.
This brand-new MiHoYo office building had six floors. The first floor was primarily for the reception desk, the customer service department, and the staff canteen. The head chef of the canteen was, without surprise, Kalpas. His culinary skills were beyond reproach. Over the past year, the staff had initially been terrified of this stoic, intensely intimidating chef. But over time, they realized Kalpas was essentially a "male mother"—he appeared cold on the surface but possessed a classic tsundere streak. Combined with his superb cooking, he had conquered every employee at MiHoYo. Back at the Arc Commercial Building, employees from neighboring companies would often try to sneak in for a meal, which spoke volumes about his talent.
Thanks to Kalpas's high-standard meals, MiHoYo employees rarely ordered takeout. They became a company that baffled delivery drivers—with hundreds of people in the building, they hardly saw any orders. This was one of the "perks" MiHoYo employees loved to brag about. Where else could you get staff meals of such high quality? Moreover, the canteen was subsidized; the standard was fifty credits a day, but the prices were so low they rarely spent that much. Most incredibly, if the daily subsidy wasn't used up, it was automatically added to the employee's paycheck at the end of the month. Many veterans who had worked at other firms had never seen such a thing. They were ready to kneel and hold President Kiana's hand, tearfully vowing to work for her for life.
The second floor housed the Honkai Impact 3rd project team—Shadow Iron Studio. This was the backbone of MiHoYo. The computers used by the staff were a recruitment perk; any components under thirty thousand credits were reimbursable and became the personal property of the employee, even if they left the firm. For tech-savvy gamers intending to save the world with technology, this was a dream come true. What man doesn't love computers and high-end GPUs? While others were bragging about their partners buying them cards, MiHoYo employees were posting on social media: "Just a company perk, life is truly as lonely as snow." This subtle flexing was incredibly effective.
When discussing employee benefits early on, Kiana had asked for Su Mu's advice. Basic insurance and housing funds were a given. Su Mu argued that benefits had to be tangible. Just drawing "pies in the sky" might work once or twice, but eventually, people see through it and stop biting. Things like food, work computers, and even desks and chairs were things employees touched every day.
Ultimately, the quality of benefits wasn't just about the salary. Some jobs paid well but involved daily verbal abuse from bosses and constant overtime. Employees viewed such salaries not as a reward, but as "blood money" earned through suffering. This is why pay cuts are such a flashpoint; after sacrificing youth and sweat, being told the company is "struggling" and needs to cut pay is the final straw. If the pay was decent, they might endure, but once it drops, why bother?
Having experienced such corporate toxicity in his past life, Su Mu knew exactly how disgusting the workplace could be. Fortunately, while he couldn't change that environment in his previous life, he could at least "hold an umbrella" for others in this one. Bosses always talked about the company being a "family," but how could a place filled with gloom, mutual suspicion, and rigid hierarchies be a home? Was it a job or a royal court? Was this modern society or feudalism?
Thus, when discussing benefits, Su Mu prioritized making employees feel a sense of happiness akin to being at home. Kiana fully implemented this, despite Siegfried initially thinking she was being reckless. But when the statistics came out, he was stunned. Among the employees hired over the past year, the number of those who left—whether for health or other reasons—could be counted on one hand. Such a low turnover rate spoke for itself. A shocked Siegfried asked Kiana whose idea it was, and she pointed to Su Mu. Siegfried asked Su Mu the secret to creating such a sense of belonging.
Su Mu replied without hesitation: "Treating employees like human beings."
There really wasn't much more to the secret. Everyone is an adult living in society; no one is truly a fool. If you are 100% good to them, they will support you 100%. If you are 200% good, they start reflecting on what more they can do for the company. If you are 300% good, they will work themselves to the bone out of fear that the company might actually go bankrupt!
Su Mu even encountered a scenario straight out of a meme. A cleaning lady at MiHoYo, fearing the company was too good and might fail, secretly pulled Su Mu aside. she said she had discussed it with her son and was prepared to invest a billion credits into MiHoYo. When asked about her identity, it turned out her husband was a retired provincial official and her son was one of Arc City's top entrepreneurs. she was just bored at home and wanted something to do. she felt the atmosphere at MiHoYo was so warm it felt like home, and the employees' drive reminded her of her youth working alongside her husband. she was even tearful as she patted Su Mu's shoulder, telling him that while she didn't understand games, she liked the company and told him to come to her if they had trouble. When Su Mu told Bronya, she was speechless. Talk about hidden dragons; a billion-credit investment just like that? Too ridiculous!
Back to the third floor: this was the Titanfall project team and Glamoth Studio. Titanfall was 80% complete and expected to finish by the Spring Festival. However, finishing a large game didn't mean immediate release; it required extensive testing. Thus, Firefly planned to release the launch PV before the year-end and set the release for June. The PV was a collaboration with Herta's studio, featuring a standard version and an immersive VR version using Herta's latest holographic tech. Herta's team worked fast; as Asta said, their studio usually had nothing to do anyway... it was founded for Herta's research and didn't take external contracts.
Su Mu, however, proposed combining holographic tech with gaming. He had many ideas suited for this, such as the Resident Evil series—especially RE7. Thinking of players as the "Hand Sanitizer God" visiting the hospitable "Baker family" made Su Mu show a demonic smile.
What? RE7 isn't scary enough? Too much firepower with the guns? Su Mu had other recommendations: Five Nights at Freddy's, Phasmophobia, Silent Hill... Still not intense enough? He had the famous Outlast series ready to go... The combination of Outlast and holographic tech was guaranteed to give players an unforgettable, heart-pounding journey. The thought alone made Su Mu salivate. He could hardly contain his excitement! Hehe! No, hold it in. As a dedicated producer, how could I find joy in seeing players scream in agony? Forgive me, forgive me!
Su Mu planned to give the holographic gaming projects to Boothill's studio. Titanfall was in its final stages, and Ranger Studio needed its own signature title. Su Mu intended to start with the classic Resident Evil series. Of course, the games would have two versions to ensure players without holographic equipment could still enjoy them.
The fourth and fifth floors of the MiHoYo building were currently vacant and used as staff rest areas. Since the building was spacious, they only occupied a small portion. The top floor, of course, was the President's office. However, "Customer Service Xiao Qi" was rarely in her office, having become the star representative of the customer service department.
Su Mu's office arrangement was special. As the Game Director, he had an office next to the President's, as well as one on the second floor with Shadow Iron Studio. Though the Chief Game Director, he was the direct head of the Honkai 3rd team, so being close to the studio made issues easier to handle.
However, the Honkai 3rd team was now very stable, and the script was essentially written up to the finale of Part 1. This meant Su Mu would have more time for other matters. He was already considering a successor for the Honkai 3rd lead role so he could dive into the next game's development. Su Mu realized that one person's strength wasn't enough; even with the system, recreating Blue Star's gaming glory alone was too difficult. He had been scouting and mentoring hardworking, capable employees.
Currently, the strongest candidates for the Honkai 3rd lead role were the "Post-Honkai Odyssey" trio. Carole was proactive and positive—a bright, healthy girl who, though needing some seasoning, could eventually lead. But since she could be a bit impulsive, Su Mu figured: One lead is good, two are fine, but three 'clumsy shoemakers' make a Zhuge Liang. Carole and the others were capable and complemented each other's temperaments. They were essentially his chosen successors. He had discussed this with Bronya, who approved of their abilities and agreed that after a year of operation, Honkai 3rd was stable enough for Su Mu to focus on new projects. The plan would be proposed at the next company meeting.
But for now? It was time to celebrate the successful relocation.
On the last day of December, Su Mu attended a New Year's Eve gathering organized by Bronya at a beef hotpot restaurant in Arc City. From the Golden Courtyard, Eden had to attend a charity gala, so Elysia, Pardo Felis, and little Griseo attended. Bronya had considered inviting Dr. Mobius, but she had opted for a "drinking frenzy" with Himeko. Senti wanted to come, but the Taixu Sect had its own party, so she had to pass. Theresa had returned to Europe at Otto's request and was likely feeling restless at a formal dinner. Aside from those exceptions, everyone close to Su Mu was present.
Since the group consisted of peers who mostly didn't drink, the cups were filled with soft drinks or barley tea. As the atmosphere warmed up with laughter, everyone turned their gaze to Su Mu. Conventionally, someone had to say a few words. Clearly, they were all gathered here today because of him. He was the focus.
Before Su Mu could speak, Kiana blurted out, "Hey, hey, Su Mu! No work summaries or 'sharing experiences' today! This is just a friends' gathering, okay? If you talk about work today, I'll be the first one to give you a piece of my mind!"
"Pfft!" Kiana's words amused everyone, and Su Mu's prepared speech crumbled instantly.
"Kiana, now that you've said that, I really don't know what to say." He chuckled, his thoughts completely derailed.
"So you were actually planning a work summary? Are you a workaholic or what?" Kiana rolled her eyes.
Bronya nodded. "Su Mu is like that." Seele echoed: "Brother Su Mu is like that." Pardo agreed: "Brother Su is like that." Elysia sang: "Su Mu is like that~ ♪"
The others nodded in unison, agreeing with Kiana. That Su Mu was an absolute workaholic was a consensus among all MiHoYo staff.
"Am I?" Su Mu rubbed his nose, appearing indifferent. "I think I'm okay?" His complete lack of self-awareness made everyone burst into laughter.
"I used to think Lady Bianca was a rare workaholic, but it seems Mr. Su Mu is her equal," Rita said with a giggle.
"Isn't being serious and responsible the basic attitude toward work? I think Kiana should learn from Su Mu," Bianca said bluntly.
"Sis! Do you have to humiliate your cute sister in front of everyone!" "Is it humiliation if I'm just stating facts?" "Uuu! I'm ignoring you!!"
The banter between the sisters made everyone laugh. It was a clear case of "one thing conquering another"—Kiana had no counter against her older sister. After the laughter subsided:
"Since the President has spoken, I, the lowly employee, naturally must obey. We'll skip the formalities. I'm grateful for everyone's support over the past year, and I hope we can all gather like this again next year!" Su Mu raised his glass. "To everyone, and to our bright tomorrow." "Cheers!"
After the party, Su Mu and Bronya walked along the river. Kiana had taken a taxi home, and Seele had claimed she was worried about her, joining her for the ride. Bianca and Sirin had gone home, and the others had departed one by one.
Before Elysia left, she had given Su Mu a series of meaningful looks and winks, seemingly hinting at something. But Su Mu couldn't figure her out; Miss Pink Elf was a good woman, but she was full of tricks. In the end, only Su Mu and Bronya remained.
Su Mu had intended to take Bronya home first, but she suggested they walk together for a bit. The December night wasn't comfortable; the wind felt like a blade against the face. But Su Mu felt warm inside, perhaps because the Big Duck was beside him.
By the time Su Mu realized it, they had reached a commercial plaza. Streetlights cast a glow over hand-holding couples. An intimate pair passed them, sharing a scarf and huddling close—a heartwarming sight. For some reason, Bronya's profile seemed slightly flushed under the neon lights. Sensing his gaze, she looked at him: "Cold?"
Su Mu replied, "I'm okay. Touch my hand if you don't believe me." He waved his hand in front of her. Bronya took his hand and found it was indeed warm.
"See? I told you." "Mhm."
The warmth of his large hand made Bronya's face redden. she moved to withdraw her hand, but found Su Mu had already interlaced his fingers with hers.
"Bronya, there's a stall selling roasted sweet potatoes over there. Want to try some?" "Roasted sweet potatoes?" "Yeah. I loved them in winter when I was a kid. Not only do they taste great, but holding them keeps your hands warm. Put them inside your jacket and it's like a portable heater." "Okay."
So, Su Mu led Bronya—her hand somewhat cold yet soft—toward the stall. she didn't pull away, tacitly allowing him to hold her hand, feeling a sweetness in her heart.
The stall owner was a friendly middle-aged woman in a worn down jacket, her face red from the cold. she maintained a kind smile and worked quickly, soon wrapping two hot sweet potatoes for Su Mu.
"Here you go, two hot ones! Eat them while they're hot, or they lose the flavor!" The woman smiled at Su Mu and then at Bronya. "Young man, this is your girlfriend? A foreigner? she's so pretty! You're a lucky one to find such a beautiful girl! It's New Year's Eve, right? Have you prepared a surprise for her?"
The woman's directness was a bit much for Bronya; her face grew redder, and she wanted to pull her hand away again. But Su Mu smiled and replied, "Of course I did. I have to give her a surprise. Ma'am, these potatoes look amazing—even a five-star chef couldn't do better!"
The compliment made the woman beam. "Haha! You've got a silver tongue, kid! My sweet potatoes are backed by twenty years of experience! I'm not bragging—ask anyone around here, they'll tell you my potatoes are top-tier!"
After some friendly banter, the woman handed Su Mu a bag of dried sweet potatoes she made herself. she said she usually kept them for her daughter and didn't sell them, but since Su Mu was such a nice and handsome young man, she insisted on giving them to him. When Su Mu tried to pay, she feigned anger, claiming it would be an insult.
"Young lady, you're very lucky! You found a good man. There aren't many left in this world; you better hold on tight!" Before they left, the woman showered Su Mu with praise in front of Bronya. Bronya was embarrassed beyond words—she had never experienced such a situation before.
Only after they had walked a distance did Bronya adjust her mindset and speak to Su Mu: "That lady was very... enthusiastic."
Su Mu smiled. "That is the spirit of a simple, hardworking person. Anyone who faces life with such optimism deserves our praise."
Bronya nodded, then looked down at her hand, still tightly held by Su Mu. "Um... my hand..." Thinking back to how the woman had treated them as a couple, she wanted to vanish into the ground from shame.
"What is it?" Su Mu looked at her curiously. Bronya was conflicted; she wanted to let go, but her heart wanted to keep holding on.
"I..." The words died in her throat, her gaze flickering. "You said you prepared a surprise... is it real?" she found another topic, avoiding the hand-holding.
"Real. Do I look like someone who jokes about that?" "But... you said it was for your girlfriend. I'm... not your girlfriend." Bronya's voice was as quiet as a mosquito. In the noisy crowd, Su Mu didn't hear her.
"What was that, Bronya?" "N-nothing. I was just wondering what the surprise is." "Follow me."
Su Mu led her through the streets. Bronya began to recognize the surroundings; she felt they had been here before. Soon, Su Mu led her to the motorcycle dealership they had visited once.
Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE+. The latest, highest-spec version of the supercharged sport-tourer. 197 horsepower, new Akrapovič exhaust. The H2 SX was Kawasaki's pinnacle of sport-touring—a perfect blend of technology, performance, and comfort. With its unique ARAS system, it featured adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. It was a legend in the motorcycle world.
And this... was the bike Bronya had been eyeing during the "date" Seele had arranged. It had been hard to get as a limited edition, and since Bronya was serving a license suspension at the time, she couldn't buy it and had left with regret. Su Mu had kept this in mind and asked a friend in the industry to order one ahead of time as a surprise. He had checked with Kevin; Bronya's suspension would end next month, meaning she could retake her test and ride again.
Looking at the H2 SX, Bronya's eyes sparkled. she practically threw herself at the bike. "Is this really for me? For real? Am I dreaming?"
Watching Bronya act like a child, petting and hugging the machine, Su Mu couldn't help but smile. It was the first time he had seen her show such a childish side.
"Whoa, the Akrapovič exhaust! The engine!" "Su Mu, Su Mu, do you know? This bike is incredible! The new Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension with Skyhook technology, parking assist, automatic high beams, emergency stop signals, tire pressure monitoring!" "The best part is the full Kawasaki electronic suite—KCMF (Cornering Management), KTRC (Traction Control), KLCM (Launch Control), KIBS (Intelligent Braking), KQS (Quick Shifter), and KEBC (Engine Brake Control)!" "And it has the heated grips I wanted! My hands won't be cold in winter!!"
Like a child with a new toy, Bronya excitedly explained everything to Su Mu. Her eagerness to share made Su Mu feel she was incredibly cute.
"How did you know I wanted this? I... I don't think I ever said it?" Faced with her question, Su Mu smiled. "When we were out last time, I saw how interested you were. So I bought it as a surprise." Bronya stroked the paintwork. "But it must have been expensive? And it's a limited edition... you must have gone through so much trouble to get it?" Su Mu smiled. "Not much trouble. I happen to have a friend in the business, so he helped me secure one."
After the initial excitement, Bronya reluctantly moved her hands away. she made a difficult decision and looked at Su Mu: "This gift is too valuable. I can't accept it..." Su Mu shrugged. "I don't take back gifts. Besides, don't you want to feel its speed right now?" Bronya paused. "But I don't have my license right now." Su Mu smiled. "It's fine. I have mine."
Half an hour later, with the help of the shop owner, they reached a mountain road on the outskirts. Su Mu had used his connections to ensure the road was closed for the night, with no pedestrians or vehicles. Fully geared up with safety measures, Su Mu put on his helmet and patted the pillion seat. Though Bronya was still conflicted, she couldn't resist the urge to experience the bike and climbed on. Her hands felt out of place.
"Hold me tight, or you'll be thrown off." Su Mu's reminder made her freeze. she grit her teeth and, figuring she was already here... she wrapped her arms around his waist. Even through the riding gear, Su Mu could feel her soft presence. The pressure was immense, and Su Mu was shaken, wanting to give a mental thumbs-up.
As the engine roared across the mountain, Su Mu opened the throttle. The H2 SX shot forward like an arrow. Bronya gripped his waist tightly, cheering as the streetlights blurred past. she was shocked to find Su Mu's riding skills were incredible—comparable to a professional racer. He seemed to know the bike perfectly, hitting every timing and limit, even while holding back slightly because he was carrying her. If I wasn't on the back... Bronya's blood boiled at the thought of him pushing the limits alone!
After a lap, they stopped halfway up the mountain. "How was it?" Su Mu asked after taking off his helmet. "Incredible!" Bronya shouted, still exhilarated. "This is my first time on a motorcycle after getting my license. I'm a bit rusty. I bet you'd ride it much better."
Bronya was stunned. First time? You call this your first time on the road? Your starting point is professional racer level? Too exaggerated! Of course, she didn't think he was lying. He had no reason to deceive her about it.
"Next time, I'll show you what the speed of the wind feels like." Bronya held her helmet. Su Mu was good, but she felt she was no less capable. "I look forward to it then." Su Mu complimented her, and they smiled at each other.
The night grew deep. Under the lights, the two leaned against the bike, eating the still-warm sweet potatoes. "Good?" "Mhm. Let's bring some for Seele next time." Seeing a bit of potato on the corner of her mouth, Su Mu reached out to wipe it away. The intimacy made Bronya flush.
"It's so quiet here. Pity there are no stars." she looked at the sky. Su Mu looked up too. "I heard the Tibetan Plateau is closer to the sky; you can see many stars there." Bronya's gaze turned longing. "If I get the chance, I want to ride there and see... want to join?" Su Mu nodded. "Sure."
They wrapped the leftover skins in paper to dispose of later. "Su Mu." As he started the bike, Bronya stood beside him, her figure appearing slender in the riding suit. "I had a great time today. Thank you."
Su Mu gripped the handlebars and smiled. "Just a verbal 'thank you'? That's not enough." "...." Bronya put her hands behind her back, staring at him. Thinking for only a few seconds, her body moved on its own. she leaned in and gave him a quick, light kiss on the lips.
Su Mu touched his lips, smiling at the blushing girl. "I assume that's not a standard Russian 'thank you'?" "Russia has no such thing." Bronya glared at him, then sat on the back and wrapped her arms around his waist before he could speak.
"Bronya? Ms. Bronya?" Su Mu called her several times, but she didn't answer, only tightened her grip. she pressed her body against his without hesitation, letting him feel her curves. Su Mu teased: "So, what's our relationship now?"
The Big Duck felt her face get hot enough to fry an egg. After a long pause: "It is whatever you think it is." "So we're just friends?" "You!" Bronya irritably bit his shoulder. "Ow, ow! Bronya, why are you biting me?" "Hmph. It's your fault for being cheeky." "Then what relationship do you want us to have?" "....You know the answer." she buried her face in his back, inhaling his scent, which made her feel safe. "Then, looking forward to our future, dear Bronya." "Just call me Bronya. Don't use those weird prefixes." "As you wish, Wife!" "Who—who is your wife! Don't be so familiar..." "It's just a matter of time, isn't it? Unless you're already considering a breakup? That would break my heart."
Bronya let out a soft huff. "Mother Cocolia once told us: in a Siberian woman's dictionary, there is no divorce. Only widowhood."
Su Mu: "..."
Holy crap, that's intense. Mother-in-law, you are way too fierce! By that logic, does the Big Duck have 'yandere' potential too? Can I really tell her about me and Seele...?
END OF CHAPTER
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium