Chapter 272: Kiana: Su Mu, You Must Work for Me for the Rest of Your Life!!
Kallen cleared her throat again, instantly regaining her serious demeanor.
"Ahem... anyway, Su Mu, I'm a straightforward person, so I'll get straight to the point. Are you and Kiana in a relationship?"
Su Mu shook his head. "No."
Kallen was taken back for a moment. "I thought you would..."
Su Mu smiled. "Bronya and Seele often say I'm a dense person, but even so, I know very well that a girl's feelings are not a game. I can't play the role of Kiana's boyfriend; I'm sorry, I can't do it."
"...Is that so."
"I've heard about the situation from Kiana. It seems some people in the Kaslana family have a few things to say about her?"
"Yes, exactly as you thought. Despite the efforts Otto and I have made, as you well know, gossip isn't so easily silenced. Furthermore, we can't completely ignore the voices within the family, which is why this inspection is happening."
"Of course... even I can see that, ultimately, they are simply jealous of Kiana."
"Siegfried and Cecilia now hold absolute control within the family, and their eldest daughter, Bianka, holds a high position in Schicksal... but as you know, family politics are far more troublesome than one might imagine."
Kallen Kaslana let out a sigh.
"Simply put, Kiana was originally seen as the most unreliable member of the family. Now, she's the president of a company that created an incredible financial miracle in just two years. Certain people are very unhappy about this. Their jealousy makes it impossible for them to tolerate the success of someone they once looked down upon."
Su Mu nodded. He had heard about this part of the situation from Theresa.
Originally, Kiana's situation wasn't exactly good. When she was with the Kaslana family, she was constantly subjected to criticism. While she appeared not to care on the surface, was that really the case? Su Mu suspected she did care. But she had no choice, and there was nothing she could do or change.
Su Mu once asked Kiana what kind of life she wanted. He had even mentioned this conversation to Theresa back in Chapter 197.
["I don't know what kind of life I want."]
["So... in that sense, I'm a bit jealous of the version of myself you write."]
["She has clear goals and things she feels she must do."]
["As for me... there's nothing I feel I must do, no ideals, and I don't know what the future holds."]
["My sister Bianka is an exceptional person. Everyone has high expectations for her and believes she represents the future of the Kaslana family."]
["But I'm different. Since the day I was born, no one has ever expected anything of me."]
["After all, Eldest Sister Bianka has always been so outstanding—enough to overshadow me completely and draw everyone's gaze."]
["No matter what I do, I can only ever be the 'second Bianka'."]
["So, what's the point of trying?"]
["I am a Kaslana, but in the end, I am just a Kaslana, and I can only ever be a Kaslana..."]
["Actually, I know I'm a nobody. I'm unproductive, I'm a handful, I lack ambition..."]
["...But perhaps that is my proof of being 'Kiana.' At least when people mention me, no one thinks I'm just the 'second Bianka'."]
That innocent idiot had always been like this, hiding her true feelings and doing her best to show a smile to everyone around her. If Su Mu hadn't known that this was simply Kiana Kaslana's personality, he might have been deceived by that smile as well.
In the plot of the original Honkai Impact 3rd, Kiana was the same, always smiling in front of her companions and choosing to suffer in silence no matter how much pain she was in.
Whatever the reason Kiana came to Arc City and became the president of MiHoYo, Su Mu didn't care. To him, Kiana had long since become like family. After all, MiHoYo was built step by step by him, Kiana, and Bronya. That was why he felt Kiana was such a fool; she didn't need to tell such a lie, as he would always support her staying as the president.
Not far away, Theresa was silently watching the conversation between the two. Since it wasn't mealtime yet, the canteen was empty aside from them. Looking at Su Mu sitting across from Kallen, Theresa recalled the words Su Mu had once said to her.
["I want to give her the power to choose, the strength to support her choices... MiHoYo is her capital. In the future, when she finally understands that the world isn't as beautiful as she imagined, it will be the support that allows her to live with integrity, without compromising herself!"]
["Her life should be in her own hands, and she should make her own choices."]
["She should become 'Kiana Kaslana,' not a replacement for anyone else."]
["If everyone expects her to be the 'second Bianka'..."]
["I will do my best to give her the choice to be 'Kiana Kaslana'!"]
Wanting to be someone's strength... When Su Mu said those words, Theresa couldn't help but fall for him. Thinking about it now, it was a bit... strange. He wanted to be Kiana's strength, yet she was the one who became infatuated with him?
"I guess compared to Kiana, I'm the real big idiot, aren't I?" Theresa shook her head with a bitter smile.
"If I may ask, what would happen if Kiana and I weren't in that kind of relationship?"
"I would report Kiana's situation truthfully at the family meeting. I'm sorry, I cannot show favoritism."
"I see... In other words, I carry some weight in their eyes."
"Indeed. Although Kiana is the president in name, in reality, almost everyone believes you are the true leader of this company."
"That's why I hate the complications of big families..." Su Mu sighed and looked at Kallen.
"Then report truthfully. However, I hope you can relay a message during the meeting: if Kiana is no longer the president of MiHoYo, then please excuse me from my position as Game Director."
Su Mu's voice was quiet, but it sounded like a thunderclap to anyone listening. Everyone knew that MiHoYo had become a famous enterprise in the industry, with countless job seekers desperate to join. As Game Director and Vice President, Su Mu had reached the pinnacle of power in the company.
Yet he was willing to bet his reputation, wealth, and everything else... just to support Kiana Kaslana.
"...Do you really not care about your reputation and status at all?"
"Kallen, I think you've misunderstood something. My everything wasn't given to me by my status as MiHoYo's Game Director—it was I who gave everything to that status." Su Mu smiled at Kallen and stood up.
"Besides, to me, reputation, status, and wealth are not my everything. Those things are trivial... What I care about more is the smile of that idiot, Kiana Kaslana."
There was nothing left to say. Su Mu had come to Kallen for two things: to clarify his relationship with Kiana and to tell Kallen that as long as he was there, no one could touch Kiana's position.
After Su Mu left, Kallen remained lost in thought.
"What did I tell you? I told you Su Mu doesn't care about status or reputation." Otto and Yae Sakura sat down beside Kallen. Otto shook his head helplessly.
"Both Kevin and Welt have offered him olive branches multiple times, and I've even tried... but he rejected them all. For a guy like Su Mu, those things simply can't move him."
Kallen looked at Otto. "Then what can move him?"
Otto thought for a moment. "I think it's probably seeing the players driven crazy by his games..."
Thinking about it made Otto recall terrible memories... Dammit, Su Mu, you brat! You'd be better off caring about reputation! Who else finds joy in playing with the players' emotions every day? Are you even human?
"I was a bit worried before... but now, I'm completely at ease." A smile appeared on Kallen's face.
"Caring more about Kiana's smile than all of that... honestly, I doubt any girl could reject such a statement." Kallen closed her eyes and shook her head gently.
"In that case, I have nothing more to say. When I return, I will report the situation here truthfully—Kiana Kaslana is an excellent president admired by the entire company. She has a keen eye for talent, trusts her employees implicitly, possesses extraordinary courage, and always seizes market opportunities..."
Hearing Kallen's words, Otto couldn't help but laugh. "It really does seem to be the case, doesn't it?"
Admired by the entire company—that was true. At MiHoYo, every employee would shout "Long live President Kiana." Where else could you find a president who provides great food, housing, and top-tier industry salaries? People didn't realize how much Kiana had spent on employee benefits just to try and lose money!
Keen eye for talent—exactly! Su Mu, who was originally just a regular graduate, was discovered by Kiana and became an industry giant. Doesn't that prove her vision?
Trusts her employees, extraordinary courage—she gave full control of the company to a new hire like Su Mu without worrying about him draining the company. That is the definition of trust and boldness!
Seizes market opportunities—do you even understand the weight of every game Kiana predicts will fail becoming a massive hit?
In summary, Kiana Kaslana was an exceptionally outstanding president!
Yae Sakura smiled. "Kallen, I didn't expect you to be so mischievous sometimes."
"Sakura, what are you saying? Everything I said is a fact. How those dishonest people interpret it isn't my concern." Kallen shrugged.
"Su Mu and Kiana will likely face many setbacks and trials in the future, and those in the family won't give up so easily... but after seeing Su Mu in person, I completely understand." Kallen watched the direction Su Mu had left, her eyes filled with recognition and appreciation.
"As long as he is there, no matter what difficulties Kiana encounters, she will surely overcome them."
When Su Mu returned to the apartment, he found Kiana waiting for him.
"Yo, why haven't you gone up?" He greeted her.
Kiana was holding two bottles of cold cola. She tossed one to him. The two of them opened their cans and drank in silence.
After a while, Kiana spoke. "Thanks." She drank her cola, her gaze wandering.
"I heard from Auntie... you said you'd support me as president even if you had to resign?"
"Uh-huh."
"And you explained everything to Aunt Kallen, my dad, and my mom, right? Even though I got scolded in the end..." Kiana made a grumpy face, clearly having been lectured.
Su Mu remembered explaining to Siegfried that he and Kiana weren't in that kind of relationship. Siegfried's expression looked as if the sky was falling.
"No! Why? Why is it like this! My son-in-law, my son-in-law, ahhhh!!" Seeing Siegfried clutching his chest as if he were about to faint, Su Mu quickly made an excuse and fled. He feared that if he stayed a second longer, Siegfried would pass out on the spot. It seemed Su Mu had ruthlessly crushed Siegfried's dream.
Su Mu laughed. "Don't tell those kinds of lies next time... A girl's reputation is precious; it's not something to be played with."
"I... I know..." Kiana buried her head in her drink, and the silence returned.
Su Mu looked at Kiana's profile. It was getting late, and he could vaguely see her face turning red. After finishing her cola, Kiana gripped the can so tightly it began to deform.
"It's not exactly a payback..." she suddenly took a deep breath. "But if one day—I mean if!—if one day you get fired for entering the office with your left foot first... I'll leave with you!!"
Kiana's sudden declaration stunned Su Mu. Before he could react, Kiana vanished like a fleeing rabbit. She ran back to her apartment and buried her face in her blanket, the heat on her face refusing to fade.
"Wh-what am I saying! ...Right, it's just gratitude! I'm not the type of person who doesn't repay a favor! Even if this hateful Su Mu is the reason I'm getting further from being the world's richest person, still..."
"Waaaaah! Anyway, this guy has to work for me for the rest of his life! That's right, I'm going to be his boss forever!! Yes!!"
Standing downstairs, Su Mu held the empty can. Because of the heat, condensation was sliding down the side of the metal.
"That's such a Kiana-like thing to say..." Su Mu muttered. He took a sip of the sweet, cold drink and felt a bit of sweetness in his heart.
I should work harder after I get back... The guest for the 'Wings of Reawakening' plot, Carole, has been finalized, right? And there's the release of 'Cat Mario' on the interstellar platform, plus the development of the new holographic game 'Resident Evil' at Herta Studio...
The June heat was rising. Su Mu had a strong feeling that this was going to be another eventful summer.
END OF CHAPTER
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