"Girl, how old are you this year?"
Himeko's resentment briefly oppressed Tian Shi before she turned to Bronya.
"Fourteen years old"
Bronya looked at Himeko and replied.
"Is there a problem, Himeko-sensei?"
"So bold at fourteen?"
Himeko asked with a twitch in her eye.
"Don't your parents care?"
Although Himeko harbored deep resentment toward Tian Shi for his ambiguous relationship with such a young girl, she could still discern where the problem lay.
But in reality, fourteen years old is no longer young; she herself was only 15 when she met Tian Shi.
"My older brother is like my father"
Bronya hugged the tablet without any expression and said naturally.
"..." Her resentful and oppressive gaze returned to Tian Shi once more.
"Tian Shi, is this how you raise children?"
"What! Bronya's guardian is clearly Cocolia... Fine, I'll take the blame"
Tian Shi's rebuttal stalled halfway.
To be honest, Cocolia shouldn't be blamed for this.
Alright, alright, I'll take the blame!
Tian Shi was frustrated.
It seemed that among all the children he raised, only Fu Hua was a decent girl; the others seemed a bit odd.
He's taking the blame for this... I'm not happy about it, you know?
At least Fu Hua proved that his education was excellent! The problem is these young ladies!
"In any case, a fourteen-year-old child should have learned to sleep in a separate room from their parents"
Himeko invoked the authority she had accumulated over the years as a teacher... well, not much.
After all, Himeko is not a serious teacher.
"..."
Bronya showed no intention of answering, instead she clung to the tablet possessed by Tian Shi, seemingly trying to be cute and spoiled.
However, the problem is that it actually comes across as really endearing for a cute 14-year-old girl, who looks 11 or 12, to make that expression.
Himeko was not the type of person with a heart of stone; her lips twitched a couple of times and she simply did not know what to say next.
"Damn it... that's cheating" Himeko, unusually, cursed and then turned her gaze towards Mei.
This girl will probably try to dissuade me, right?
Sensing Himeko's gaze, Mei scratched her face.
"Eh... Himeko-sensei, is your room big enough? If possible, I would like to..."
"It's not enough! Don't even think about it" Himeko was so angry with the two of them that her lungs hurt.
"Alright, alright, you two can stop bothering me, besides, Bronya, didn't you know how to sleep alone a long time ago?"
Tian Shi also recovered from his resentment over being blamed and asked.
He was the one who transformed Bronya from a "weapon" to a "person," so how could he not know what habits this girl had?
After Tian Shi said that, Bronya reluctantly put Tian Shi down, showing an expression of regret.
It must be said that the only success of Tian Shi's education system is that it makes people obedient... probably.
"Bronya just wanted to sleep with her brother after a long time" Bronya argued that Seele had taught her that there was nothing wrong with acting like a child.
What did she say?
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease"
"Has it been that long?" To be honest, it hasn't been that long since Bronya's simulation ended, has it?
The upper and lower sections are connected, alright?
"By the way, nothing happened while I was away for the past few months, right?" Tian Shi did not hold back in discussing this subject.
Although this question raises points of contention, it is not enough to create a temporary world.
As he said before, as long as you don't directly observe another version of yourself, there's no major problem.
If you don't see it, it doesn't exist (I'm sure).
This situation is quite similar to computer games that require loading maps.
"Does my father's attempted rebellion count?"
Mei brought up this matter, which could be summarized as a loving father and a filial daughter, with a hint of helplessness.
"Let's pass on that kind of direct suppression"
Although he has heard it many times, it still feels strange every time Mei mentions it.
"By the way, how is your dad?"
"Fortunately, Dad should be digging potatoes in Siberia right now"
Tian Shi: "..."
Where should he even begin to criticize this statement? He actually went to dig potatoes...
"Cough... It has nothing to do with me, it was Aunt Edison who arranged it"
Mei was still a little embarrassed saying this.
"As for the orphanage, Aunt Cocolia took over after you left"
"Yes, it's good that she took control"
Tian Shi felt it was better not to comment too much on Edison's act of throwing Ryoma to dig potatoes.
It is natural for Cocolia to take over the orphanage again.
After all, he had driven her out in a fit of pique.
After he left, Anti-Entropy took a look and found that... well, apart from Cocolia, Ragna was quite suitable.
But let them take over again if they want.
In any case, Cocolia already took care of what she wanted, so she no longer has to cause trouble.
Leaving aside any mischief, Cocolia is actually quite competent.
"But speaking of that, Brother Tian, what is going on between you and Teacher Himeko..."
"So that's what you're asking"
After all, the contradictions in the timeline can be noticed with a little attention.
"Then I will give you a free lesson"
As Tian Shi sighed, he explained to the two girls the "timeline theory" that MEI had previously summarized for him (see Chapter 126 for more details).
Although the two girls seemed a little confused by what they were hearing.
Himeko was not too surprised, as she had long known that Tian Shi seemed to know Rita from the future, and this theory only confirmed it.
"By the way, how do you feel on your first day here? I think it's fine, right?"
Seeing that the two girls were somewhat confused, Tian Shi changed the subject.
"I remember Mei, you were preparing for the college entrance exam, right? Are you adapting well?"
After all, thanks to Ryoma, Mei had already set herself on the right path, as if she didn't have the Gem of Conquest.
It is merely entering a prestigious university, studying finance and Honkai, then returning home at 27 or 28 to inherit Mei Corporation and officially joining Anti-Entropy, as Edison's secretary.
However, now that Mei is a full-time combat professional, the original plan has naturally been discarded.
"I feel great"
Mei, being a well-behaved young lady, nodded.
Although it is not pleasant to put it that way, the university entrance exam was not an obligation for Mei, and she had also broadened her horizons, so Mei felt no sense of loss at all.
The elders surrounding her (Edison, Einstein, Tesla, Planck) were all figures who would be considered major leaders in the history of science.
Calling Mei a princess is no joke.
As long as Ryoma is willing to swallow his pride, a group of top scientists from Anti-Entropy will be willing to come and teach Mei.
If all else fails, using them as an assistant is not a bad idea.
Since she could see these things clearly, Mei's mood was perfectly fine.
She was even quite excited to be able to talk to Tian Shi.
However, Mei then showed a slightly worried expression.
"The atmosphere is even livelier than in my high school days, and the class monitor is very calm and reliable, but..."
"But?" Tian Shi asked, somewhat puzzled.
"My deskmate keeps staring at me... it's not exactly annoying, but it is a little bothersome"
Mei subtly revealed her distress.
The deskmate... isn't that Kiana? Is this what they call fate?
"Kiana..." Himeko twitched the corner of her mouth.
"What does staring at the new student mean? Don't worry, I'll remind her tomorrow before class, Why are you looking at your classmates in class? Look at me! I am your teacher, alright?"
Himeko, now in teacher mode, was quite unhappy.
"Alright, it's getting late, you two should go back to your dormitories and get some rest"
Himeko abruptly changed the subject and immediately started shooing them away, so that these two girls would not stay there.
"Crisis feeling has flared up!"
If she had to compete with a group of children for one man, Himeko felt that she would be forced to become a spinster even if she wasn't...
Fine, Himeko admits that she has recently started to resemble a "leftover woman" (an unmarried, single woman).
That is why she is even more anxious!
Although she is only twenty-four this year, she is only seven years older than Mei.
It's a ghost!
It must be said that Himeko's ability to maintain her composure is quite poor.
Back then, Mobius was able to defend herself even when faced with two girls a decade younger than her (Fu Hua and MEI).
Although this may not be something Mobius is particularly proud of.
That is why Himeko is extremely anxious right now! Where is the Captain? Where is the Captain? I have to take out the garbage!
Himeko's trashy temper has exploded.
The only positive point was that Mei and Bronya did not stay there; they looked at the time and obediently returned to their dormitory.
"Tian, sleep with me" After the two girls left, Himeko said resentfully.
"What did you say?" Tian Shi, after being released from the possession, looked at Himeko suspiciously.
"I'm an artist, not a prostitute"
"What if I put on a maid outfit?"
Himeko gave it her all and took out a maid outfit that she had saved for a long time, a gift that Ragna had given her before the New Year's party years ago.
"Can you fit into it? It's been almost eight years since then, hasn't it?"
"Are you looking down on me!?" Himeko was furious.
Although Tian Shi's question was perfectly normal, it still hurt the heart of Himeko, which was still that of a single woman.
"I'll wear it right now and show you!"
Infuriated, Himeko didn't worry about anything else and immediately started changing her clothes.
Sizzle!
"To reiterate, don't force yourself to wear clothes that don't fit, otherwise, it would be very uncomfortable..."
Well, although the first time was not uncomfortable at all, let alone the second.
"..."
"Well... is this what you call a second attempt?"
Tian Shi began trying to soothe Himeko's emotions.
"Get out of here!"
Himeko reacted strongly this time, but unfortunately it was not out of shyness, but out of anger.
...
"Kiana, why are you looking at your classmates? Look at me!"
"Kiana, why are you looking at me? Look at the blackboard!"
"Kiana, what are you doing looking at the blackboard? Go read a book!"
The next day, due to her conversation with Mei the day before, Himeko began to pay attention to Kiana.
Hmm, I made progress today.
She didn't fall asleep, but she liked staring at her new classmates.
"Kiana, wouldn't it be better if you paid more attention in class?"
Seeing that her deskmate, who was unusually awake, was not sleeping, Fu Hua could not help but quietly remind her.
"If you are interested in the new classmate, you can talk about it after class"
Fu Hua was not blind; she naturally knew what the other person was thinking.
Fu Hua didn't care much about being interested in her new classmates; she understood it.
After all, she was also very interested in her teacher, Tian Shi, but not as much as Kiana.
Besides, given Kiana's personality, she might lose interest in a couple of days.
"Hey! What are you saying, Class Monitor?" Kiana coughed awkwardly.
At the same time, the bell rang to signal the end of class.
"Ahem, I'm leaving now, goodbye Class Monitor!"
Embarrassment caused Kiana to walk away.
Although she was only "escaping," Kiana already had a plan in mind! I'll wait outside the first-year student named Mei's dormitory, pretend to bump into her, and try to build a relationship with her! My plan may be simple, but it is absolutely perfect!
"..."
What is Kiana thinking?
Fu Hua had been Kiana's deskmate for more than a year, and seeing Kiana's bouncy movements, she knew that Kiana must have some unreliable ideas in her mind again.
Hopefully, Kiana won't cause any major trouble.
Fu Hua nodded slightly towards the figure next to Himeko.
So, what should we talk about with Master Tian today?
Fu Hua casually glanced at the new classmates who had arrived yesterday: Mei and Bronya.
These two are also packing their things to leave, hopefully, Mei won't be bullied by Kiana in the future.
Fu Hua had a bad feeling about it.
"Speaking of which, Himeko-sensei's three reprimands to Kiana during class were truly brilliant" Fu Hua and Tian Shi conversed idly.
"Huh? Mm... Are you referring to those three sentences that sounded like nonsense?"
"Kiana, why are you looking at your classmates? Look at me!"
"Kiana, why are you looking at me? Look at the blackboard!"
"Kiana, what are you doing looking at the blackboard? Read your book!"
"Yes, at first glance it seems fickle and unreasonable, but looking closer it has a marvelous charm" Fu Hua had a slight smile on her face.
"Kiana is unpredictable, so Himeko-sensei's reminder is quite timely"
"That's true" Tian Shi nodded.
"But what Himeko said was, indeed... well, classic"
"But speaking of which, Kiana seems to have a thing for the new girl, Mei..."
Knock, knock, knock
"Um... Tian... cough, is Teacher Himeko here?" Mei and Bronya looked cautiously.
"Looking for you, Tian" Himeko felt a headache coming on just looking at the two girls, worse than when she sees Fu Hua.
"?" Fu Hua was a little surprised by Himeko's words.
Does Teacher Tian know these two new students?
"Hey? Class Monitor, are you here too?"
Mei greeted Fu Hua when she saw her.
"Um" Fu Hua nodded.
"Are you here to see Master Tian?"
"Master Tian?" Mei took a moment to realize that this referred to Tian Shi.
"Class Monitor, do you also know Brother Tian?"
"We are all family" Tian Shi leaned over the tablet.
"Do you need anything, Mei?"