In Kiana's eyes, what kind of person was Theresa?
Setting aside her childish appearance that inspired zero confidence, Theresa hadn't shown even a flicker of panic when Kiana mentioned her father Siegfried was missing. She hadn't even offered to help look for him; instead, she had told Kiana to stop meddling in those affairs.
That's my father! Why is this woman telling me to stay out of it? What right does she have to say that?!
Although Kiana had spent over a year without finding a single trace of him, she had truly given it her all. It was one of the few times she had ever worked so hard on anything. Yet here was her aunt the only family she knew of besides her father treating the matter with such an attitude.
Furthermore, despite being her aunt and her kin, Theresa had no intention of taking her home. She planned to leave Kiana all alone in Nagazora. She had been unfriendly to Hua Yi from the start, and now she was putting on the airs of an elder to decide Kiana's future, casually tossing her into a school.
Kiana's impression of Theresa was far from good.
Theresa, of course, was oblivious to Kiana's internal monologue. Hearing the girl's blunt refusal, her eyes widened immediately.
"What do you mean you won't go to school? Do you plan on living in the same dormitory building as a boy for the rest of your life? It seems he's taken good care of you, and you certainly seem to be enjoying it,
but what about the future? This boy... Hua Yi, was it? Once he graduates from high school, what will you do? Will you stay in this half-abandoned dormitory, or will you actually move in under the same roof as him?"
Theresa's description made Kiana feel a bit bashful, but the girl's temper or perhaps her rebellious streak was flared. She decided to dig her heels in.
"That's none of your business!"
What should one do when a child won't listen? A good beating usually did the trick.
Theresa, a violent person at heart, darkened her expression. She turned toward Hua Yi with a distorted smile.
"Could you excuse us for a moment? I believe I need to give my dear niece a lesson in 'loving education.'"
Seeing this, Hua Yi scratched his cheek, looking somewhat troubled. "Well, if Kiana really plans to let me take care of her while she lives like a salted fish, I don't really mind."
Hua Yi's words brought a look of joy to Kiana's face. She didn't think too deeply about it; she was just happy to know she could keep being a lazy fish.
"...Kid, you shouldn't make promises like that so lightly. You have no idea what you'll have to pay or what you'll have to face. This isn't a problem that can be solved with money," Theresa said meaningfully.
Seeing that Hua Yi had no intention of leaving, she picked a random vacant room and kicked the door open. She used brute force to drag Kiana inside.
"I'll pay for any damage later. Just give me a little time."
Theresa felt she had to assert her dignity as an aunt and show this disobedient niece who was boss. Kiana, for her part, had fought alongside her father against Honkai Beasts and Deadmen.
She didn't believe for a second that she would lose to this shorty who had appeared out of nowhere. She didn't resist much as she followed Theresa into the empty room, looking at her aunt with a competitive glint in her eye.
"Going to get physical? I usually don't bully children, but since you're acting like such a high-and-mighty elder, I guess I can set my reservations aside."
"Is that so? I suggest you give it your all. Let's see how much of Siegfried's skill you've actually managed to learn."
Listening to this dialogue full of "family affection," Hua Yi decided it was best not to interfere. He leaned against the wall outside the room, listening to the "friendly" exchange happening within.
Thud... Bang, bang, bang!
A series of heavy impacts echoed through the hall.
One minute later.
"I'll handle the paperwork for you. Next semester, I'm sending you to Chiba Academy. Until then, I hope you'll take some time to reflect."
Theresa clapped her hands together, looking like she had just finished a job well done.
Kiana's eyes were brimming with tears of pain as she clutched her head. If she wasn't mistaken, a massive bump was already forming where Theresa had struck her. Despite the resentment and frustration swirling in her heart, Kiana found herself unable to utter a single word of refusal.
This woman's strength defied common sense, and her combat techniques were incredibly sophisticated. Kiana, who prided herself on being a warrior against the Honkai following in her father's footsteps, had been completely overwhelmed by Theresa.
Kiana didn't ask Hua Yi for help. In her eyes, Hua Yi was just an ordinary person who couldn't even beat her, let alone someone as strong as Theresa. This was the same reason Kiana had been willing to stay in this dorm in the first place she didn't believe Hua Yi had the power to force her to do anything.
Her silence was as good as a surrender. Theresa nodded in satisfaction and walked out of the room. Seeing Hua Yi in the corridor, she thought for a moment and then gestured for him to walk with her until they were outside the building, far from Kiana's hearing.
"I'll have to trouble you to keep looking after her for now. Also, don't you dare use sweet talk to trick my precious niece, or I'll give you a taste of my strength too."
Theresa shook a tiny fist at Hua Yi as a warning. However, given her voice and appearance, it wasn't threatening at all; it was just cute.
Truthfully, Hua Yi didn't think he would be helpless against an unarmed Theresa, but he saw no reason to antagonize her when she clearly meant no harm.
"Understood," Hua Yi nodded.
Seeing how easygoing he was, Theresa breathed a sigh of relief before changing the subject.
"I'll be counting on you to take care of her for the time being. I'll pay you double for whatever you spend on her. Also, once the next semester starts,
if Kiana is unwilling to live in the Chiba Academy dorms, I hope you can talk her into it. If word gets out that you two are living together, it won't be good for you. In fact, it would be very dangerous. Please, believe me."
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