"I'm sorry, Auntie..."
"You wretched girl... (grumbling) I told you to hold back..."
...
Inside the Canglan Capital Ability Bureau.
Silver Wolf and Firefly stood silently outside the office, listening to the commotion inside with mixed expressions.
Listening to the continuous grumbling from within, Silver Wolf could already imagine the aggrieved expression on Liu Xiyue's face.
As Liu Xiyue's wronged voice gradually faded away, Firefly hesitantly looked at Silver Wolf.
"Silver Wolf, aren't we going in yet? Before Xiyue went inside, she specifically asked us to help persuade her if the situation called for it!"
However, Silver Wolf merely waved her hand dismissively, her expression calm.
"Don't rush, don't rush. It's not time yet.
Besides, this is their family matter. Why should the two of us outsiders meddle?
We just have to wait. I believe she can handle it."
Firefly glanced worriedly at the tightly shut office door, then at Silver Wolf, whose face clearly said, I'm enjoying the show.
The latter had even casually pulled up the office's surveillance feed and was watching it from the first-person perspective with great interest.
"...Alright."
After hesitating for a few seconds, Firefly finally nodded helplessly.
She couldn't help but silently mourn for Liu Xiyue for a few seconds.
The scolding inside continued on and off. After an unknown amount of time, it gradually subsided.
With a soft click, the office door slowly opened a crack.
"Come in."
Liu Xiyue pulled the door open just enough to reveal half her face, her voice still carrying a trace of lingering grievance.
Firefly responded with an "Okay," and she and Silver Wolf entered the office one after another. The door gently closed behind them.
The moment they stepped inside, both of them noticed the resentment written all over Liu Xiyue's face.
She pouted slightly, and when her gaze swept over them, it clearly carried the accusation:
"You didn't keep your promise."
It was obvious she was blaming them for agreeing to help her earlier, only to abandon her at the critical moment.
Faced with Liu Xiyue's resentful stare, Silver Wolf calmly blew a round pink bubblegum bubble.
Pop.
After it burst, she slowly continued chewing while casually looking out at the sycamore trees beyond the window, as if she hadn't understood the accusation in that look at all.
Firefly subconsciously brushed a strand of silver hair over her shoulder. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she awkwardly averted her gaze, even shrinking behind Silver Wolf a little.
The reactions of the two of them successfully pierced Liu Xiyue's heart, making her even angrier.
Just as she was feeling utterly heartbroken and about to complain, her aunt shot her a sharp glance.
The words that had reached Liu Xiyue's lips were instantly swallowed back down. She tightly shut her mouth, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
There was nothing she could do.
Although this wasn't the first time, she absolutely didn't dare provoke her aunt again right now.
Otherwise, the little loli who had just become homeless might really end up sleeping on the streets.
To quickly change the subject, Liu Xiyue immediately wiped away the grievance on her face, replacing it with a mysterious expression.
She leaned closer to her aunt, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her voice full of anticipation.
"Oh right, Auntie! You'll never guess what Silver Wolf's hidden identity is!"
Liu Yunshuang almost blurted it out instinctively.
"One of the Stellaron Hunters?"
"That's right! Exactly—Uh, wait... Auntie, how did you guess that?"
Liu Xiyue's excitement instantly froze. The sparkle in her eyes was immediately replaced with astonishment.
She stared suspiciously at Liu Yunshuang, her gaze carrying obvious scrutiny, as though she suddenly suspected that the aunt she had always trusted had been hiding something from her.
Feeling guilty under her niece's stare, Liu Yunshuang quickly turned her head away and pretended to adjust her sleeves.
After a few seconds, she cleared her throat, deliberately putting on the dignified air of an elder.
"Actually... Auntie has known for quite a while."
Liu Xiyue (*ﾟﾛﾟ)!!: "No way?! I only found out today! When did you know?"
"Actually, I found out just a few days after you returned to Canglan Capital."
Liu Yunshuang calmly took a sip of tea.
Then, afraid her niece might misunderstand, she quickly added,
"Silver Wolf asked me to keep it a secret for the time being."
The moment those words were spoken, Liu Xiyue immediately turned to Silver Wolf, her eyes clearly asking:
"Really?"
Seeing this, Silver Wolf nodded indifferently.
"Mm. I noticed you were deliberately hiding your own identity from me, so I figured you enjoyed this kind of 'mysterious identity' storyline."
Hearing that, Liu Xiyue's face immediately collapsed into the expression of a bitter melon.
It wasn't that she disliked the trope of playing the pig to eat the tiger. In fact, she quite enjoyed those mysterious plotlines.
But could someone please tell her why she was the one being played—and the very last person to realize it?!
This feeling of being "betrayed" by the people closest to her...
Liu Xiyue found it extremely difficult to accept.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Just as Liu Xiyue squatted on the floor, questioning her entire life, Liu Yunshuang clapped her hands twice, decisively steering the conversation back on track.
"Xiyue, go outside for a while. I have something to discuss with Silver Wolf and Firefly."
"Eh?!!! Auntie, we're not outsiders! Why do I have to leave?"
"Stop fooling around. This is important."
Liu Yunshuang's tone became serious, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Hmph!"
Liu Xiyue snorted indignantly.
Pouting, she reluctantly glanced at the three people in the office before slowly shuffling toward the door, looking back every few steps. Finally, she walked out and deliberately slammed the door shut.
After all, her title of "Strongest" had never been earned through intelligence.
Complicated matters that required too much thinking were better left to her aunt.
Bang!
The door slowly closed, and the room instantly fell silent, leaving only Liu Yunshuang, Silver Wolf, and Firefly facing one another.
Before getting down to business, Liu Yunshuang's gaze first settled on the silver-haired girl beside Silver Wolf, a trace of curiosity hidden in her eyes.
She had long since heard Liu Xiyue mention Firefly's name, assuming she was simply a new friend.
Only now did she realize that this silver-haired girl was also one of the Stellaron Hunters.
Likewise, Liu Yunshuang still hadn't connected the seemingly pure and adorable girl before her with the infamous and ruthless Sam.
She was merely curious about how many members the Stellaron Hunters actually had, and what kind of unknown abilities this seemingly ordinary girl possessed.
Liu Yunshuang gently shook her head, temporarily pushing those scattered thoughts aside.
She picked up the purple clay teapot on the table and naturally poured each of them a cup of hot tea.
After setting the teapot down, she straightened her expression, preparing to explain why she had asked the two of them to stay behind.
However, before she could speak, Firefly suddenly raised a hand, signaling her to stop.
Firefly didn't explain immediately.
Instead, she slowly lifted her head and fixed her gaze on the sycamore trees outside the window. Her voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable certainty.
"Sister, You've been eavesdropping for quite some time now. Are you still unwilling to reveal yourself?"
Seeing their reactions, Liu Yunshuang's heart tightened.
She immediately followed Firefly's line of sight and looked out the window vigilantly.
But all she saw was a peaceful scene of blue skies and drifting white clouds, with not the slightest sign of anything unusual.
Several minutes passed.
There was still no movement outside.
Liu Yunshuang frowned, wondering whether she should personally inspect the area outside the window.
However, Firefly had already taken a step forward.
Her emerald-green longsword returned to her hand, its blade glowing faintly.
"Since you're determined to keep hiding..."
"...don't blame me for forcing you out."
Yet the moment those words fell, a clear voice immediately drifted in from outside the window.
"Eh, eh, eh?!!! Don't be so worked up! I'm coming out, meow!"
Immediately afterward, a figure flipped down from outside the window and hung upside down.
A familiar, beautiful face appeared before everyone's eyes.