Three days later.
After sending off Kevin—that guy who always kept a straight face yet was unexpectedly warm-hearted—only Su Yu and Kiana were left in the living room.
The air still retained that subtle oppressiveness Kevin brought with him, as if the air conditioning had been lowered by two degrees.
On the coffee table sat the black velvet box that had just been delivered.
Printed on it was the LOGO of Mei's research institute—a strange pattern that looked like a DNA double helix but also resembled a middle finger.
Su Yu opened the box. Inside lay an exquisite silver metal collar.
It didn't look like a dangerous torture device; instead, it resembled a piece of avant-garde jewelry.
That was good. Otherwise, taking her out wearing it might make people misunderstand that they were engaging in some strange "collar play."
The streamlined metal surface glinted with a cold light, and several tiny electrode contact points were embedded on the inner side.
That was the minimally invasive technology Dr. Mei was so proud of.
"This is the Anti-Cat Scratch Artifact that Dr. Mei rushed out overnight."
Su Yu picked up the collar and weighed it in his hand; it had a moderate heft.
"According to that tech maniac, this thing has a built-in biological monitoring chip. If it detects that your emotional fluctuations breach a certain dangerous threshold, it will instantly release a strong electric current."
"Of course, it also comes with a remote control."
He pointed to another device, similar to an electronic watch, which was paired with the collar.
"Although it won't kill anyone, the sensation... is said to be ten times more sour and refreshing than sticking your finger into a socket. It's definitely enough for you to suffer a potful."
He turned his head to look at Kiana, who was standing to the side, staring fixably at the collar.
"Are you sure you want to wear it? It's not too late to back out now."
Kiana didn't speak.
She simply walked forward silently, turned around with her back to Su Yu, and lifted the long white hair at the back of her head, revealing her slender, fair nape.
This action itself was a silent yet most resolute answer.
Su Yu looked at the defenseless neck before him. The skin there appeared somewhat pale due to her wandering life, and the blood vessels were faintly visible under the thin skin, appearing exceptionally fragile.
He took a deep breath, held the collar with both hands, and gently looped it around her neck.
The moment the metal touched her skin, Su Yu could feel Kiana's body tremble slightly.
"It's a bit cold," she muttered in a small voice, her tone wavering slightly.
"Bear with it. Dr. Mei probably didn't add a constant temperature system to this thing."
Click.
A crisp sound of mechanical engagement rang out.
The collar locked together seamlessly. The indicator light on it flashed twice before turning into a stable, ghostly blue.
Su Yu's fingers didn't leave immediately.
He subconsciously used the pads of his fingers to gently rub the skin at the edge of the collar, checking to ensure no hair was caught. That sensation of warmth and coldness interweaving traveled up his fingertips.
"How does it feel?" he asked softly. "Is it tight? Does it feel suffocating?"
That heavy sense of restraint was like an invisible hand, choking her vital point at all times, reminding her that she was a monster who could lose control at any moment.
But strangely, she didn't feel even a millimeter of fear or humiliation.
On the contrary, an unprecedented sense of stability, like standing on solid ground, welled up in her heart.
"...It feels very reassuring."
She lowered her hands and turned to look at Su Yu. In those heterochromatic eyes that always carried anxiety and vigilance, the haze had lessened for the first time, replaced by a bit more clarity.
"Reassuring?"
"Yeah."
Kiana nodded, her gaze drifting slightly, as if seeing a distant past through Su Yu.
"Before, I didn't understand... why the Mei of that world, knowing clearly that a bomb which could explode at any time was implanted in her heart, could still smile so gently and cook for everyone as if nothing was wrong."
"Now, I think I understand."
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile mixed with bitterness and relief.
"Because with this, I won't hurt the people important to me anymore."
"It's like a final insurance, a wall. As long as it's there, I can... I dare to get a little closer to you guys. I don't have to worry about that demon waking up and ruining everything."
Su Yu looked at her, feeling as if something had gently struck his heart.
This idiot.
To protect others, she actually felt fortunate about handing over her lifetime of freedom to a collar that could claim half her life at any moment.
"Aren't you going to wear it?"
Kiana looked at the wristband on the table.
"Is it really okay?"
Su Yu looked at Kiana.
"Didn't you say it?"
"Say what?"
"On the rooftop, you said that I am your female lead, and you have to be responsible for me to the end or something."
Repeating the words Su Yu had said back then, a blush appeared on Kiana's face as well.
"Uh, cough cough cough!"
Su Yu coughed awkwardly. When the hot blood had rushed to his head back then, he hadn't felt anything, but recalling it afterwards, those words were truly chuunibyou enough.
However, even if he had to do it all over again, he would still say those words. Even if recalling it later meant being publicly executed a hundred times, it didn't matter. As long as he could bring this kitten home safely, it was worth it!
"You talk too much nonsense."
Kiana rolled her eyes at him, picked up the wristband, and put it on Su Yu's wrist without allowing any explanation.
"Done."
After doing all this, Kiana let out a long breath, as if a heavy stone in her heart had fallen to the ground.
"Now this lady's life is truly in your hands. Hmph, this is just as you wished, right?"
She turned her head away, but Su Yu noticed the corners of her mouth remained lifted.
Looking at the wristband on his hand, Su Yu felt a heavy weight of trust.
"Thank you," he said to Kiana.
"Are you an idiot?"
Kiana rolled her eyes and turned around.
"...That line, I should be the one saying it to you."
Looking at Kiana before him, Su Yu reached out, wanting to rub her head.
But his hand paused in mid-air, and in the end, he just gently patted her shoulder.
"Since you've put it on, you have to thank the creator properly."
Su Yu smiled and changed the subject, deliberately speaking in a relaxed, teasing tone.
"Dr. Mei and Kevin pulled three all-nighters. It's said even that Mobius was conscripted to rush this out. Shouldn't you show some appreciation? Like writing a thank-you letter or something?"
"...What should I do?" Kiana was a bit lost.
"Send a text message."
Su Yu pointed to the phone on the table.
"For something like this, it's better if you say it personally. Even if it's just a 'thank you,' those stiff guys will be happy enough to eat two extra bowls of rice."
Kiana hesitated for a moment, then picked up the phone.
Her finger hovered over the screen for a long time, deleting and editing, her brows furrowed tight as if she were fighting a difficult battle.
Several minutes passed before she took a deep breath and pressed the send button.
Ding-dong.
Almost the very next second, a reply came.
Kiana jumped in fright and hurriedly tapped open the screen.
"Dr. Mei said... 'I am very glad to be of help. If there is any discomfort, tell me at any time; the parameters can be adjusted remotely.'"
She read the text, her voice carrying an unconcealable joy, like an elementary school student who had scored a hundred points.
"And Kevin... he said, 'Rest well. Come eat noodles next time, I'll add extra meat for you, a super large portion.'"
Looking at the long-lost bright smile on the girl's face, Su Yu smiled along with her.
That feeling of being accepted by the world and wrapped in kindness was more effective than any miracle drug for the current Kiana.
She was finally no longer that ghost wandering alone.
Buzz— Buzz— Buzz—
Just then, the phone in Su Yu's pocket began to vibrate furiously.
That rapid frequency felt like it was going to numb his thigh.
He pulled it out to take a look. A pink avatar was jumping on the screen, along with a string of exclamation marks that looked like they were about to burst through the glass.
[Elysia: What is this! If I hadn't questioned that guy Kevin, I wouldn't have known you were injured!]
[Elysia: Su Yu-chan, how could you not tell me about such a big thing? And you got hurt at good Eden's concert too! I was right nearby at the time! I even ate two pieces of cake backstage!]
[Elysia: Too much, too much, too much! Are we just those kinds of friends in Su Yu-chan's heart who can't share joys and sorrows? ( >﹏
Looking at this string of messages, the corner of Su Yu's eye couldn't help but twitch.
Even across the screen, he could mentally picture Elysia's cute appearance, puffing out her cheeks and pretending to be angry.
That Miss Pink Elf was forever filled with an enthusiasm that was hard to fend off.
"What's wrong?" Kiana leaned over curiously, looking at Su Yu's constipated expression.
"Nothing, just a pink... trouble came knocking."
Su Yu shook his head helplessly, his fingers replying rapidly, his survival instinct maxed out.
[Su Yu: Wasn't I afraid of disturbing the mood of your celebration party? Besides, it's just a small injury, it's pretty much healed already, really.]
[Su Yu: You're actually just worried that if something happens to me, no one will be able to carry you in games, right? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking.]
A second after the message was sent, a reply popped up from the other side, the speed astonishingly fast.
[Elysia: I've been found out Ehe But the worry is real too! After all, Su Yu-chan is my important gaming partner~]
[Elysia: You wait there, I'm heading to your house right now! I have to confirm the injury personally! And bring some comfort gifts while I'm at it!]
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Su Yu was startled and hurriedly typed to stop her.
The current Kiana was like a stray cat that had just recovered from a state of stress.
If a Pink Piggy-Cat with Elysia's level of enthusiasm charged in, it would definitely scare her into bristling again, possibly even causing her to hide under the bed and refuse to come out.
Moreover, the matter of the collar was hard to explain.
[Su Yu: Don't! Absolutely do not come! It's inconvenient for me!]
[Su Yu: Home... the house is a bit messy, not suitable for guests!]
[Elysia: Hmm? Inconvenient?]
The "typing" status on the other side lasted for several seconds before a meaningful message was sent.
[Elysia: So... is there someone taking care of you at Su Yu's house right now? Is it that girl whose voice appeared in the live stream last time? Mhm?]
Su Yu laughed bitterly.
Sure enough, nothing could be hidden from this Miss Pink Elf.
Combined with that honest man Kevin, he estimated that the events of that night had long been "confessed" cleanly.
He glanced at Kiana, who was staring curiously at his phone screen beside him, completely unaware that she had been exposed. He sighed and decided to come clean.
[Su Yu: Yes, she is my... um, Little Junior Sister, the kind who just came down from the mountain.]
Su Yu answered this way based on situational considerations.
Alright, actually the biggest reason was that Himeko seemed to have truly taken the "Junior Sister" thing for real. Especially after she witnessed a 1.8-meter-tall man like him being carried on Kiana's back, she was even more convinced.
As everyone knows, once the first lie is told, countless lies are naturally needed to round it out.
Since that was the case, he might as well go all the way. If asked about the sect, he'd say deep in the old forests; if asked about the master, he'd say the elder was wandering everywhere.
Shenzhou is so big, with extraordinary people gathered in piles. The Old Heavenly Master smiles and says "Where is there any cultivation in the world," then turns around and uses Qinggong to fly down the mountain.
Su Yu had watched plenty of such videos. As for whether they were true or false, or AI special effects, no one knew or cared.
Anyway, it was all for fun; the traffic era was just like this.
You say I have no evidence to prove a hidden sect? Then I ask you, whoever asserts must prove. I question you, I ask you...
As everyone knows, the character of Shenzhou people is all about compromise.
If you say Kiana is a Valkyrie who transmigrated from another world, you'd more or less have to reshape people's worldview.
But if you say she's a Little Junior Sister down from the mountain, who cultivated with her master since childhood so she looks a bit silly (?) and has no household registration... The key is that Kiana really can fight and jump. Combined with the Shenzhou people's love for stall literature and martial arts novels...
It seemed this setting wasn't unacceptable.
Plus, Su Yu had been thinking about long-term matters. For example, if Kiana could really leave him one day in the future, how would she settle down and make a living in this world?
With her abilities, if she could become a police officer or something, she would definitely be able to realize her value and shine brilliantly in this world.
So she needed a clean background.
[Elysia: Junior Sister? Is Su Yu-chan a disciple of some hidden sect? Very suspicious oh~ But since someone is taking care of you, then I'm relieved.]
[Elysia: In that case, tonight's live stream can't be skipped! You must properly compensate my wounded heart! I want to rank up!]
Su Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Although somewhat helpless, he still replied with a single word: [Okay].
After all, whether it was Kiana's daily expenses or the subsequent equipment investment for making the holographic game, a large amount of funds was needed.
Relying solely on his previous savings wouldn't last long.
And...
He glanced at the "Recognition" value on the System panel, which was slowly increasing with the heat of the live stream.
Using the popularity gathering place of live streaming might be the fastest way to expand Kiana's activity range, aside from releasing the game.
He had advanced quite a bit of the main storyline recently, and the restriction on the live stream had been correspondingly lifted.
Although the limit only increased by a few dozen centimeters.
Sometimes Su Yu really had to suspect whether this System was secretly taking kickbacks; it was a bit too stingy.
"Looks like I have to work overtime tonight."
Su Yu put away his phone and shrugged at Kiana.
Life is hard; Su Yu sighs.
"To earn living expenses for us, and also so you can walk out of this room early to eat hot pot."
Kiana blinked. Although she didn't quite understand the specific process, she understood the phrase "so you can walk out of this room early."
She subconsciously touched the device on her neck and nodded with a determined look in her eyes.
"Go for it, I... will help too."
Although the so-called help was just not causing trouble.
As night fell, soft lights lit up the room.
Su Yu adjusted the position of the microphone and tidied his slightly messy hair.
Today he specially wore a shirt and even tied a bowtie—looking like a white-collar worker sitting in an office, but mostly it was to cover the bruise on his neck.
Although he was a veteran streamer, tonight's stream made him inexplicably nervous.
Probably because of the white-haired girl currently "Ge You slouching" on the sofa behind him, and the Pink Elf on the other end of the screen who feared nothing more than the world not being in chaos.
At the Pink Elf's strong request, Su Yu had to turn on the camera tonight; the other party said she wanted to confirm his condition.
If he didn't turn it on, she would fly over directly, and then make Su Yu fly directly.
Faced with this threat, Su Yu was forced to choose to be a "face streamer" for once.
"Um... Kiana," Su Yu turned back to instruct her, "I'm going to turn on the camera in a bit. You stay over there and move around, don't come over. If you get filmed..."
He made a "cutting throat" gesture.
"You might really be caught as an alien and taken for dissection."
Kiana looked up from the phone screen, still holding half a potato chip in her mouth, and responded vaguely.
"I know, I know, so nagging. I'm not a three-year-old child."
She was currently addicted to the APP called "Encyclopedia," trying to figure out what the world "fifty thousand years" later had become in this glowing square box, and why there was such a divine drink as Happy Water.
Seeing her like this, Su Yu knew she hadn't taken it to heart at all.
According to the System's current progress, the data collected for Honkai Impact 3rd was already quite substantial. Once the high-precision motion capture equipment from Vill-V's side was finished, the most important link would be completed.
It was also time to start working on promoting the game; after all, even good wine fears a deep alley.
Traffic, popularity—it just so happened that the Pink Piggy-Cat lacked neither of these. She could even become the best promoter for this game.
And letting Kiana, the protagonist, appear in the live stream was undoubtedly an excellent method to harvest heat and traffic.
But right now, she still had the problem of being an undocumented resident.
Again, since she was the protagonist of this game, Kiana was bound to step onto the stage.
Before he found a suitable method, it was best not to let Kiana appear directly in the live stream.
After all, the human heart is treacherous; no one could guarantee what would happen.
Right.
He had heard Mei mention unintentionally before that their research institute recruited some special talents externally every year.
Perhaps this was a good opportunity to get Kiana an official endorsement.
Su Yu was already planning how to let his "Little Junior Sister" gradually step onto the stage.
But for now, let's deal with the live stream first. After all, one still needs to eat.
He sighed, turned back around, took a deep breath, and clicked [Start Streaming].
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