"Then let's continue the story."
After seeing Mei leave, Tian Shi did not forget his business.
After searching for a while, he took a book from the bookshelf and opened it...
Thump, thump, thump!
"It's already past ten, why aren't all of you asleep?"
Although not sleeping at night is nothing (well, after all, as a university student who only ate and gamed in his previous life, Tian Shi has no right to criticize this aspect).
But it is rare for his door to be knocked on at night.
After all, knocking on the door at this hour requires asking whether others are sleeping.
"Who is it? Come in."
"Am I bothering you, Brother?"
Seele timidly peeked her little head from behind the door.
"You can't do your homework either?"
"?"
"No, nothing."
Tian Shi coughed lightly.
"So, what's wrong, Seele?"
"I can't sleep..."
Seele scratched her cheek a little embarrassed.
"Um... Can I sleep with you, Brother Tian?"
Bronya: "???"
Wait!
Why would Seele say something like that directly?
Even I know that I shouldn't sleep with my brother at this age, right?
No, this is not the most terrifying thing.
The most terrifying thing is that I didn't realize for even a moment that anything was wrong.
I feel like there is nothing wrong with Seele saying that.
How scary.
In a way, she is even more terrifying than Sister Mei.
"Really? Well, you can stay. I want to tell Bronya a story, so why don't you join in?"
"Thank you, Brother."
A look of joy appeared on Seele's face, and she climbed into the bed skillfully.
"It seems like it's been a long time since I lay with Sister Bronya like this."
"Yes, we haven't slept like this since I grew up."
Bronya felt like someone was aiming at her.
I was worried about being discovered before, but now both Mei and Seele have done it.
"Can you lie down with me, Brother? I feel like it's been ages since I slept in my brother's arms."
"I'm not a Homu doll anymore."
Now, this is a bit inappropriate, isn't it?
"It's okay, we like Sister Reanna too."
Seele seemed to have decided to hug Tian Shi and sleep, then looked at Bronya beside her.
"Sister Bronya thinks so too, right?"
"Mmm..."
Seeing Seele's expression, Bronya felt a little awkward.
After all, she had just talked about growing up. But, if she could sleep in her brother's arms...
(Never mind... I am only fourteen. Compared to Sister Mei and my brother, I am still just a child.)
"Yes, that's right, I feel like I haven't slept with my brother in ages. Besides, we've never slept with a 'real brother', have we?"
"Although I still feel a little... Well, well, there's really nothing I can do about the two of you."
Tian Shi sighed and gave in to the hopeful gazes of the two little ones.
"Make room for me in the middle."
The two little ones were very considerate and took the initiative to move to the side to make space in the middle.
After Tian Shi got into bed, the two little ones quickly hugged Tian Shi's arms.
"No, is it necessary to stick so close?"
Bronya on the left was fine, but Tian Shi's right hand was already touched by another kind of warmth and softness.
"It's because there's no space..."
Seele made up a reason.
No, it's not unreasonable.
After all, the orphanage is not so idle as to provide a double bed for every child.
In the past, the two lolis were small, and Tian Shi had possessed the Homu doll, so one bed was enough.
But now it's Tian Shi's original body lying in the bed.
A space slightly larger than a single bed in the dormitory is sure to be quite crowded to accommodate an adult and two lolis.
(I'm hugging him... I'm hugging him... I'm hugging him...)
After burying her brother's arm in her chest, Seele lowered her head to prevent Tian Shi and Bronya from seeing her red face that was about to bleed.
"Hmm... it's a little crowded now, if not..."
"I-it doesn't matter!"
(Isn't my brother's waist very spacious?)
Dark Seele insisted in Seele's mind.
Of course, Seele simply ignored this instigation.
No matter what, you can't ride him in public!
No, I can't do this even not in public!
If I do it now, my brother will hate me, right?
"Then let me read to you..." Tian Shi sighed.
"Come on, let me have a free hand to hold the book..."
...............
Downstairs
"So, do you understand what I mean? You're in the same situation as I was back then."
Edison patiently advised.
"Although I had a good relationship with others back then, we were still separated by the barrier of Laboratory 42. And you and Bronya are also separated by the barrier of the Cocolia Orphanage."
"This is the first time I know that there are factions within Anti-Entropy."
Mei did not know how much of Edison's words she heard, but this was the first thing she complained about.
"Excuse me, but our faction in Anti-Entropy is not the 'How to Become the Alliance Leader' faction, is it?"
Mei's expression was very strange.
This faction was completely different from the power struggles she had seen in TV dramas...
"Ahem... that statement really hits the nail on the head."
When Mei said this, Edison knew that her plan had failed.
(To think I was looking for a seventeen-year-old girl as an ally...)
"But I agree."
Mei changed the subject and suddenly agreed.
"If I think about it, it's quite scary to have Sister Einstein, Sister Tesla, and Master Planck as enemies, now that I think about it, I realize how many opponents I have."
"Wait, why do you only call me Auntie?"
Although she was a little surprised that Mei suddenly agreed, Edison was more concerned about the address at the moment.
"Because, Sister Edison, do you give a very imposing impression? That is, unapproachable."
"Before I came, it seemed I hadn't exchanged more than ten sentences with you, Sister Edison, despite seeing each other quite a few times."
After all, Edison's direct subordinate is Raiden Ryoma.
As Ryoma's daughter and the owner of the Stigma, Mei met Edison on several occasions.
"In comparison... although it's not nice to say it, the few times I met Sister Einstein, Sister Tesla, and Master Planck were all very cordial."
"..."
Edison held her hand to her forehead.
"No, it's just that those types have nothing to do. Mei, do you know how many documents I have to manage daily? How many things I have to review? How am I going to have time to babysit? But of course, that Tesla person is very popular with children."
It must be mentioned that Tesla is the type of sister who takes children to disassemble electrical appliances or shows them her inventions with a touch of chuunibyou.
While satisfying the children's curiosity, she also enjoys their admiring looks.
From a certain perspective, Tesla is also quite childish.
But, ignoring her drinking habits and self-care ability, perhaps Tesla could be a good mother?
Well, ignoring the alcohol and self-care capacity.
But it doesn't matter.
I've been leaving everything to Planck for a while.
"What do you think, Mei? Now you understand that I am a person who is very easy to communicate with, right?"
"Uh..."
"What do you mean by that reluctant tone?"
"Nothing, the truth is that I've gotten to know you better, Sister Edison, during this time."
For example, Edison is her great-grandmother.
"I feel like you said something extra..."
Edison said with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"But the most urgent thing right now is that girl, Bronya, do you understand?"
"I understand."
Mei was silent for a moment and then nodded.
She is not allowed to sneak around under any circumstances.
What's more, Bronya is only fourteen and dares to sneak away.
What will she do when she's seventeen?
Mei can't even imagine!
Should I eat him secretly?
Thinking of this, Mei walked toward the kitchen.
"What are you doing?"
"Baking cookies."
.........................
Thump, thump, thump!
Tian Shi was halfway through his story when someone knocked on the door again.
"This is the third time."
"?"
Was there another time before?
Seele's expression was a little strange.
"Who is it this time?"
Tian Shi did not pay attention to Seele's expression, but looked towards the door with strangeness.
Guess, who is it this time?
The Olenyeva sisters?
Or Sin Mal?
Tian Shi sighed lightly and looked at the time again.
It was almost eleven.
"Come in?"
"Brother, are you sleeping?"
What surprised Tian Shi a little was that it was Mei who entered.
"I made this..."
Mei walked in with a plate, but the next moment, she froze when she saw Bronya and Seele lying on the bed to his left and right.
"May I ask... what is Brother doing with Bronya and Seele?"
Mei tried hard to keep smiling.
She had only been gone for less than an hour!
And there was already another person in the bed?
And it's Seele...
No, it's not that Mei has any opinion about Seele, but after getting to know her in depth over the past few days, Mei already has a rough idea of how "dirty" Seele's heart is, not referring to Dark Seele.
Well, Mei only has some opinions about Seele.
This person is definitely a dangerous person!
"Just telling a story."
Although what he said was true, Tian Shi still felt a little guilty.
After all, Mei's face... well, now Tian Shi feels like he was caught cheating by Mei.
"Really? I think the police will believe what my brother said."
Mei placed the plate on the cabinet next to her and pulled her cell phone from her pocket.
"Wait, wait! Mei, what are you doing?"
Tian Shi quickly interrupted her.
"Let's not talk about Anti-Entropy and the fact that the others have no control over it... it's just that it's not good to bother them at this hour, is it?"
"It's a joke, of course Mei will believe her brother's words."
"Why did you start referring to yourself in the third person?"
"Because it makes me feel like a little sister?"
Mei smiled and looked at Bronya and Seele, who looked a little awkward.
Before it was just interference, but this time... although nothing really happened, it can barely be called "catching someone cheating."
"Your statement is really awkward..."
Tian Shi curved the corners of his lips and made no comment on Mei's statement.
After all, there are quite a few children in the orphanage who refer to themselves in the third person.
"Speaking of which, this plate... cookies?"
Tian Shi quickly changed the subject.
"Well, I couldn't sleep, so I baked some cookies. Do you want to try some, Brother?"
"Let me try them... well, they're quite good."
Tian Shi sincerely praised.
"Brother, is that all you can say?"
"I'm sorry, I'm illiterate."
Tian Shi shrugged.
"Do Bronya and Seele want to try them too?"
"Uh..."
When Bronya and Seele reached down, they both felt Mei's scrutinizing gaze.
"Treat it as a midnight snack."
Mei kindly handed the cookies to both of them and then gave instructions like an old nanny.
"But remember to go back to your room and sleep after eating. You are all adult children now, you can't cause trouble for your brother."
"I understand."
Bronya is still fine, but Seele is too embarrassed.
(Ugh... I told you it wouldn't work... And Mei-san caught me...)
Don't worry!
It's a good start!
Tomorrow I can go one step further!
Dark Seele was full of fighting spirit and cheered Seele up.
(But then again, Sister Bronya was also sneaking away today, wasn't she? Seriously, can't she just give me some peace of mind?)
(I think maybe you are the most worried...)
(...)
"If you think they taste good, I'll go bake some more."
Mei watched Tian Shi eat the cookies with a smile on her face.
No, why do I feel this strange yandere feeling?
Doesn't this match your personality, Mei?
"But having said that, even though I've known for a long time... it's still incredible that you can cook so well, Mei."
Speaking of cooking, Tian Shi thought again about MEI—even with instructions she can't make homemade dishes at all.
Huh? Mei doesn't understand the point at all.
"Isn't this a very common thing? A skill that a Yamato Nadeshiko must master."
Yamato Nadeshiko.
Bronya and Seele silently looked at Mei at the same time.
Do you like the sadistic Yamato Nadeshiko?
Although it is undeniable that both are reserved, Mei is undoubtedly a kind, considerate, and virtuous woman.
Although she does not possess overly flashy qualities, there is nothing wrong with her.
Tsk, if you look at it this way, is Mei actually the best candidate for a wife?
But the moment Mei opened the book, she was already moving away from "moderation."
"Perhaps it's talent," Tian Shi sighed.
"If there's an opportunity in the future, I'll introduce you to someone with terrible culinary skills. You can teach her well then."
"Her...? Yes, I understand."
How many women does my brother know?
Although she managed to prevent the two little ones from sneaking around, Mei couldn't help but feel a little depressed.