"Why join the party too? Is it because you're concerned about my mood after today's unsuccessful invitation?"
Zeke maintained his composed demeanor while looking at Fu Hua. One hand gently tapped on the table, while the other—hidden beneath, firmly held Kiana's face.
The force she applied wasn't insignificant.
But amidst this awkward situation, Kiana dared not resist or make a sound, even in her panic. She could only desperately cover her mouth as tears welled up from the pain.
"Also?"
Fu Hua entered gracefully, raising an eyebrow slightly at the scene unfolding before her.
Zeke casually waved his hand, conjuring a chair next to the desk with ease.
Taking a seat, Fu Hua smiled faintly and said, "It seems I arrived just a bit too late?"
"Indeed, Bronya and Kiana beat you here." Zeke leaned back, casting a nonchalant glance under the table. He couldn't help but smirk contentedly at the sight of teary-eyed Kiana silently accusing him and Bronya, who stood speechless with bewilderment.
Ah, what a pair! One was a perpetual headache, always causing trouble, while the other, usually well-behaved, had a knack for pulling off major stunts when she did act out—like a bona fide street racer. Today they'd collided head-on; how could he resist having some fun with them?
Zeke's enigmatic smile sent shivers down their spines, prompting both girls to plead with pleading gazes simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Fu Hua chimed in with a gracious compliment: "Receiving so much concern shows that Your Majesty is truly beloved by all!"
"Hmm, indeed. So, were you really just here to express your care?"
"Partially."
"And the rest?"
"The other half is your fault too. Didn't you give Little Fuxi some educational materials, just a little bit extra? Recently, she's started planning lessons for Senti. And knowing how that child is—she can't handle such tedious coursework; it exhausts her completely. Then..."
Fu Hua sighed, revealing hints of weariness as she rubbed her temples with a pained expression, as if reliving those difficult moments.
Zeke briefly pondered and added, "Then she came to you for help. You've always been soft-hearted towards her, so I imagine after a few pleas, you couldn't resist and pleaded on her behalf to Little Fuxi. Naturally, this kind of indulgence doesn't sit well with Fuxi. If my guess is right, you also got quite the scolding yourself?"
"...Spot on."
"So now, caught between poor, overwhelmed Senti and fiery, strict Little Fuxi, Red Kite Immortal finds herself in an unprecedented predicament and had no choice but to seek refuge here?" Zeke analyzed methodically yet nonchalantly.
Underneath the table, Kiana covered her mouth with both hands, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably as she fought back the urge to burst out laughing.
With her awkward situation exposed by Zeke, Fu Hua could only laugh helplessly.
She glanced at the table and softly said, "Zeke, perhaps there are some things we don't need to state so bluntly, wouldn't you agree?"
"Should I send Little Fuxi a message?"
"As long as you're happy, go ahead—please don't worry about sparing this old woman's feelings!"
"Heh... Without proper shaping, even jade is just raw material. You know well enough what Kiana's true nature is like behind closed doors. Would she have any semblance of decorum without my strict guidance? If your heart softens, simply close your eyes and look away. On this matter, I stand with Little Fuxi."
Fu Hua sighed once more, nodding her agreement with Zeke's reasoning.
The child Senti indeed needed to be reined in; it was time for some serious discipline, Fu Hua understood that. However, just as Zeke had pointed out, when faced with those tearful pleas, Fu Hua found it hard not to relent. Somewhere along the way, she began feeling as if confronting Senti was akin to facing her own past self, full of naivety and innocence. All she wanted was to see her smile, unable to bear witnessing her sadness.
As Fu Hua remained lost in thought, beneath the nearby table, Bronya discreetly slid a dimly lit virtual screen towards Kiana.
[Bronya: Good evening.]
[Kiana: More like good hell! What are you doing here?!]
[Bronya: The same reason you're here, Kiana.]
[Kiana: Bronya!]
[Bronya: Stay calm; if Fu Hua-sensei discovers this, Zeke's and our reputations will be ruined. On that note, Kiana, can you use your space abilities to teleport us away? Bronya senses that Zeke is starting to get excited, so it's not safe to linger here.]
[Kiana: ...No, Fu Hua-sensei is very perceptive. As soon as I employ my abilities, she'll definitely detect fluctuations of Honkai Energy.]
Silently exchanging glances, they both turned to look outside. Sure enough, Zeke was watching them with a faint smile on his lips.
Undeniably, he was indeed becoming quite thrilled.
After briefly drifting off, Fu Hua glanced at the table again and stood up, saying,
"Alright, seeing you in good spirits reassures me. It's late now; after taking a quick stroll, I'll head back to rest. You two should also remember, while affection is wonderful, moderation is key. Goodnight."
Fu Hua smiled warmly, her eyes curving like crescent moons as she gazed cheerfully at Zeke.
"Tch!"
Zeke clicked his tongue, waving dismissively, showing disinterest.
With a slight bow and nod, Fu Hua gracefully turned and exited, still smiling softly.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a hint of complexity flashed across her eyes in that fleeting moment before turning away.
The door closed once more, bringing silence to the room.
Amidst a deathly quiet, Zeke nudged the girls' bodies with his foot, breaking the stillness.
"Still not coming out?" Zeke asked mildly.
The two girls crawled from under the table and stood on either side of him, awkwardly lowering their heads.
After a long moment, Kiana, blushing, nervously fidgeted her fingers and timidly said,
"Um... Do you think Fu Hua-sensei noticed us?"
"There were extra presences in the room that weren't mine. You really expect her to be as oblivious as you? She likely figured it out ages ago."
"Well, uh, I did smell Bronya's scent too and even asked you about it!"
"It doesn't matter if you didn't notice; your perception is so weak it barely fits your status as a Herrscher." Zeke criticized coldly, leaving Kiana red-faced yet unable to retort.
Fortunately, Zeke was merely commenting offhandedly. He understood that Kiana wasn't truly unobservant; rather, she often had a unique, instinctive sense. It was simply because Bronya's presence was overly familiar to her, leading to this misjudgment.
Zeke got up and announced, "I'm going for a shower. Feel free to do as you please."
With those words, he headed towards the door.
Then, Bronya placed her Homu pillow on the table and nonchalantly followed behind.
"Hm?"
"Holding hands with Bronya," Zeke thought to himself.
"Bronya is still growing, and her body undergoes changes every few days. I believe it's necessary for Zeke to conduct a thorough examination to ensure safety." As Bronya spoke earnestly, she gently tickled his palm—a subtle touch serving as a silent allure.
The mischief in this girl left Zeke subtly craving more.
Kiana stood frozen, momentarily stunned, before suddenly lunging at Zeke from behind.
"You..."
"Since becoming the complete Herrscher of Flame, my body temperature can reach extraordinary heights. Surely Zeke would be interested in exploring that further, wouldn't he?"
Zeke silently looked heavenward.
Well then, one using growth as an excuse, the other citing body temperature—admittedly, both piqued his curiosity quite effectively.
A smile tugged at the corners of Zeke's lips. With Kiana on his back, he reached around and took hold of Bronya's wrist. Amidst their blushing faces, he confidently led them towards the bathroom.
At this moment, there was no turning back for either of them.
Details aside, suffice it to say, the water level in Zeke's bathtub that night was unusually high.