Just after sending Himeko off, before Ming Yu could even catch his breath, he was beset by new troubles. Kiana burst in right on Himeko's heels, a whirlwind of energy, with Bronya floating in slowly behind her.
"Hmph!" Seeing that Ming Yu was in good spirits, Kiana immediately felt annoyed. *A whole group of us were worried about you for so long, and it turns out you're totally fine?* She walked up and punched Ming Yu in the chest, saying huffily, "You jerk, Ming Yu, making us worry for so long! If you don't give me an explanation, I won't let you off easy."
Bronya also glared at Ming Yu with unfriendly eyes, as if pondering how to punish him. *Should I not carry him in games anymore, or should I crush him a hundred or eighty times?* This was a question worth deep consideration.
The punch from Kiana left Ming Yu's chest feeling a bit tight—this was no ordinary gentle tap. His face changed, and he gasped for a few breaths before recovering. He complained, "Kiana, can't you be a little gentler? I'm still a patient, you know~"
Kiana glanced at Ming Yu's only slightly pale face, her expression full of disbelief, her gaze burning into him.
"Alright, alright, it was nothing serious." Ming Yu felt a little unnerved by her stare. He shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly, "I just wanted to challenge a tougher opponent to test the results of my training during this period. Who would have thought that Templar-class Honkai Beast would be so strong?" Ming Yu raised his two cast-covered hands, signaling that he was the victim here and that she shouldn't go too far.
Kiana, naturally, didn't believe this explanation. She was sure Ming Yu was hiding something from them, but if he wouldn't talk, how could she force it out of him? Since Ming Yu was willing to make up an excuse, it meant he still cared about them in his heart. After experiencing Siegfried's disappearance, Kiana was terrified that the people around her would vanish just as suddenly as her father had. She had been alone for too long. Now that she finally had companions, she didn't want to lose any of them again.
"Please forgive me, Miss Kiana. This lowly one won't dare to do it again." Seeing that Kiana wasn't speaking, Ming Yu, thinking she was still angry, bowed in apology, though his strange tone only made him look comical.
"Then this young lady will forgive you this time." Kiana pouted and pointed a finger at Ming Yu, saying, "If something like this happens again, this young lady will face it with you! Don't forget, we are companions!"
"Idiot Kiana!" Bronya said softly. Since Kiana had made her position clear, even though it wasn't what they had originally agreed upon, Bronya didn't dwell on it. She quickly declared, "Bronya will be with you all too!"
Looking at the determined expressions of the two of them, one tall and one small, a warm current flowed through Ming Yu's heart. *This is what a bond is, right?* When a companion runs into trouble, you subconsciously extend a helping hand, without asking for any reason.
"Eh?" Suddenly remembering something, Ming Yu asked, "Where's Mei?" Logically, since even Kiana and Bronya were here, there was no reason for the ultra-housewife-material Mei not to come.
"Big Sis Mei is at the dorm preparing dinner. After getting the news that Brother Ming Yu woke up, she started preparing a bento box, saying she wants to help you recover properly," Bronya explained.
"During the exam, your hands were covered in blood. You scared us all. After you were sent to the infirmary, Aunt Himeko wouldn't let us see you. We just got the news from her that you were awake and rushed over. We're exhausted from the journey." Kiana complained. The thought of her Mei preparing a special bento for the person in front of her sent a pang of jealousy through Kiana. She punched Ming Yu in the chest again, feeling a sense of satisfaction only when she saw his face turn pale again.
Having been randomly punched again, Ming Yu was internally coughing up blood. *What's wrong with Kiana now, why is she angry again? This is so tiring. Give me back my touching moment from just now!*
Seeing Ming Yu's frustrated look, Bronya, whose own anger hadn't completely subsided, also felt a lot better. But seeing that Kiana looked like she might throw another punch, Bronya quickly used the excuse that Ming Yu needed rest and pushed Kiana out.
Finally, some peace and quiet. Lying in bed, Ming Yu let out a relieved smile. This Kiana, who throws a punch at the drop of a hat, who can stand it? And he's a patient, for crying out loud! Doesn't she have any sympathy?
But the quiet didn't last long before a knock on the door broke the silence.
Clearing his throat, Ming Yu called out, "Come in, the door's unlocked."
Hearing the knock, Ming Yu tried to guess who the visitor was. Theresa never thought to knock when she came in last time. Himeko should be fooled for now. The word 'knock' doesn't exist in Kiana's dictionary. Could it be Mei, with his bento?
When the door opened, however, it was someone Ming Yu least expected: Fu Hua. Noticing the change in Ming Yu's expression, Fu Hua said, "You seem disappointed to see me."
"Not at all." Ming Yu shook his head repeatedly. "Just a little surprised, that's all."
Fu Hua didn't press the point. After looking Ming Yu over carefully, she nodded and said approvingly, "You're recovering faster than I expected. It looks like you'll be able to leave the hospital in a few days."
Although he was amazed by Fu Hua's ability to draw a conclusion after just a few glances, and despite not understanding the principle behind it, Ming Yu quickly accepted it. It was normal for Celestial Phoenix to have extraordinary methods.
After a pause, Fu Hua continued, "You were a bit reckless this time. I've said before, your talent isn't bad, you don't need to take such risks. But judging by your final performance, you seem to have made some progress. Well done."
"Thank you for your guidance during this time, Class Monitor," Ming Yu said earnestly. This was true. Without Fu Hua's careful instruction, there was no way Ming Yu could have reached this level so quickly. Although his learning ability had been greatly enhanced by the System, Fu Hua's guidance was also a crucial part.
"It was your own hard work," Fu Hua shook her head, not taking the credit. "Your progress is much faster than I imagined, but your physical strength can't keep up. Your foundation is a bit weak. You need to strengthen it."
Ming Yu nodded in agreement. This was evident from the injuries to his own arm after using Inch Strike: Rock Break. His body still couldn't withstand such an attack; forcing it was just a case of 'killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred of your own.' But Ming Yu didn't have a good solution for the time being. Improving physical strength isn't something that happens overnight; it takes time to build up. Ever since passing the novice period in Nagazora, Ming Yu had found his progress slowing down, but there was nothing he could do about it. He already had C-rank strength, achieving in a few days what would take ordinary people several years of effort. It was already a decent start.
After setting up a future training plan, Fu Hua reminded Ming Yu to rest well and then turned to leave.
*Now it should really be quiet*, Ming Yu thought, gradually drifting off to sleep in the silence.