"Are we all family?" Mei looked at Fu Hua with a strange expression.
She would definitely believe anyone who said "we are all family," but when her own brother said it, why did the word "family" seem to have taken on a slightly different meaning?
Although she was a little conflicted, Mei did not forget the important matter.
"Brother Tian, if you don't mind, you can possess this doll in the future"
Mei and Bronya Zaychik took a rather crude doll out of their backpacks.
You can't really appreciate Tian Shi's appearance if you look closely, but you can see it more clearly from a distance or by squinting your eyes.
"Who made it?" Evidently, this work is not Mei's.
Although Mei's skill points are currently a bit scattered, they are still mostly in the Yamato Nadeshiko skill tree.
Mei is quite reliable when it comes to sewing and similar skills.
"Everyone at the orphanage sewed it, Mei-neechan fixed it last night" Bronya spoke.
Bronya never expected things to turn out this way, as it was originally just something to remember him by.
But now that we have the real thing, why bother playing with dolls?
"Is this... Master Tian?" Fu Hua looked up and down at the doll in Bronya's hand.
"Hmm... Although it is a bit rude, I can't see any resemblance to Tian Shi at all"
Fu Hua even took off her glasses, as if she were really nearsighted.
"Well... it still looks quite similar, right? Look at the clothes, look at the face... uh, forget the face, look at the limbs, look at the head"
Mei tried to describe it as best as she could.
"Do you think I have three heads and six arms?"
The doll started to move and revealed a strange expression... Well, the doll's face was quite strange, so the strange expression didn't really matter.
"But I appreciate your kind gesture"
Tian Shi did not blame the children for their thoughts, after all, it was the children's intention and Tian Shi was not a strict person.
Going a step further, Tian Shi also knew his little ones' skills.
Among the Arlene sisters, Seele, Bronya, and the rest of the group, who was good at tailoring?
Even Reanna, as a teacher, wouldn't be good at it, would she? It would be strange if it could be sewn correctly.
Bronya and Mei breathed a sigh of relief.
Although they knew that Tian Shi wouldn't mind such a small matter, they did, if this doll had not been sewn by the children in the orphanage, Mei thought it would be better to spend a week sewing another one herself.
"Speaking of which, Mei, did Kiana cause you any trouble?"
Just as Mei gave a sigh of relief, Fu Hua suddenly asked.
"Huh? Cause trouble?" Mei was a little confused.
"No, not at all... Why are you suddenly asking this, Class Monitor?"
Although the fact that the other person was constantly observing her was a bit bothersome, it wasn't to the point of causing any real trouble.
"Perhaps Kiana will soon cause you trouble, Mei" Fu Hua gave Mei a deep look.
Considering that Kiana was jumping up and down after class, Fu Hua couldn't believe that she hadn't come up with some terrible ideas.
Since they met face-to-face after class, and given their connection to Tian Shi, Fu Hua simply gave her a reminder.
"?" Fu Hua's cryptic words made Mei feel a little uncomfortable.
But after thinking carefully, it is not entirely unreasonable to say that Fu Hua's words were not without merit.
After all, who would stare at someone for no reason at all?
"If that's the case... do I feel like Kiana's gaze towards me is strangely familiar?"
Mei rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
"Familiar?" Bronya tilted her head.
She was sitting with Mei and didn't find that gaze familiar... Wait, really?
Bronya also inexplicably fell into deep thought.
Now that you mention it, it feels strangely familiar, like...
"Seele!" Bronya and Mei said in unison.
"That's the kind of look Seele gives her brother"
"I have a feeling that you two are talking bad about Seele while she's not around..."
Although it may seem reasonable to say this from a certain perspective, aren't they all birds of a feather?
"..." Fu Hua, standing next to them, sighed.
Although Fu Hua didn't know who Seele was, she could roughly guess what she was like from their tone of voice.
Hmm... Master Tian is really popular.
Fu Hua's feelings were somewhat complicated.
"But speaking of that, Kiana's gaze..."
"This is not good, is that what you mean?" Mei's expression was strange.
"It's good to be popular, but this is too much... After all, my orientation is perfectly normal"
"Yes, I understand"
Fu Hua, who had long been called "Big Sister" due to her heroic demeanor, nodded.
"But Kiana normally has a short attention span, so Mei doesn't need to worry too much... Hmm, if that's the case, does that mean Kiana went to your dormitory to wait for you?"
Fu Hua, remembering Kiana's expression after class, made a somewhat uncertain guess.
"Ugh... that's really problematic, if I could, I'd prefer to have a normal student life, how about I hide at Brother Tian's place for a while?" Mei suggested.
"I really don't want to go back to the days when I received love letters every day in high school, ah, but if it's... ahem, it's nothing"
My current personality is still that of a younger sister, so I can't be too radical, I can't be too radical.
Mei tried hard to remind herself.
First, let's solve the cohabitation problem.
"That's my house" Himeko, who was writing lesson plans, was quite exasperated.
"Little brat! Aren't you tempting fate too much?"
"Bronya felt that Kiana also had inappropriate thoughts about her and wanted to stay at her brother's house for a while"
Seeing this, Bronya also seized the opportunity.
Then, Mei and Bronya exchanged a look.
Bronya, isn't that a very weak excuse?
Don't run away, Mei-neechan.
"..." Mei looked away silently.
Forget it, now is not the time for infighting.
If I had known that I would meet Brother Tian, I would have hung Bronya up with Seele.
Mei felt a pang of regret in her heart.
Indeed, when you eat alone, you cannot hesitate or you will lose.
"When you two say things like that, can you at least consider how I, as the homeowner, feel?" Himeko searched everywhere but couldn't find chalk.
Finally, she couldn't help but say.
"I must say, the longer you are a teacher, the more you realize that chalk is a good thing"
"Hmm... If Brother Tian agrees, wouldn't you agree, Teacher Himeko?" Mei asked.
"Ha... then why bother...?" Um, wait a minute, it seems that in general terms, if Tian Shi agrees, I probably won't refuse.
After all, Himeko had to admit that Tian Shi was smarter than her and wouldn't trick her.
But is this considered "in general terms"?
"Of course I don't agree!" This is definitely not something that can be described as "ordinary"!
"If Kiana really bullies you to the point that you can't stand it, then I'll let Kiana live with me"
Mei: "???"
Isn't this an expulsion? When I can no longer stand Kiana, I'll put her next to me to drive me away.
That's what you mean, right?
Mei's lips twitched.
"Well, in that case, I will try to get to know Kiana, if we don't get along... well, don't be fooled by my appearance, the truth is that I am quite good at saying no"
After all, she was someone who was considered an unattainable beauty in high school.
Although Mei felt that this was a misunderstanding, judging by her behavior, she must have done many things that shattered the fantasies of adolescents.
"Tsk, if that's the case, I was more or less the same back then" Mei's behavior reminded Himeko of her lost youth.
"It's been almost ten years, let's not dwell on the past"
"It's none of your business!" Himeko glared at Tian Shi with disgust.
Tian Shi shrugged, indicating that he no longer cared.
"Back then" is just that: going back to the past every day will truly solidify your status as a "leftover woman".
"Oh, and remember to tell Kiana not to forget to come to tutoring tonight"
Before Mei and the others were about to leave, Himeko casually reminded them.
This also tells Mei that if she can't continue the conversation with Kiana, she can use this to end the topic.
"Ahhh..."
That night, Kiana was sitting at her desk sighing and looking completely unmotivated to do her homework.
"What's wrong?"
Tian Shi looked at Kiana, although he had a general idea of what had happened.
"You?"
Compared to the flat-chested character that she couldn't even glance at, Kiana actually gave Tian Shi a sidelong glance.
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I explained it to an AI like you"
"I understand, now hurry up and finish these three pages of questions"
I taught this silly girl for more than a year and she really has no brain at all... She really thinks I'm an AI.
"..." For some reason, Kiana felt even more frustrated after Tian Shi said that.
"A mere AI..."
Kiana comforted herself, telling herself not to get angry at an AI.
"Hey, tablet teacher, could you look up 'how to make my classmates like me'? I'll do the exercises if you look it up"
Tian Shi rolled his eyes and looked at Kiana after hearing this.
"I'm an AI for educational purposes, so I suggest you ask Himeko about these kinds of questions"
"Come on, my aunt told me that Miss Himeko is a spinster" Kiana pouted.
Your aunt is the one who has the least right to call Himeko a spinster.
Tian Shi rolled his eyes again.
"What? Did the principal really say that about me?"
Himeko, with her keen hearing, came out of the dormitory at that moment.
"What right does a forty-something-year-old woman who still reads Homu comics have to talk about me like that!"
"Neither of you is better than the other"
Tian Shi switched to the private chat channel and said irritably.
It's embarrassing to say these things in front of Kiana.
"Cough... it's true" Himeko nodded as she put away her grudge.
"Speaking of that, Kiana, I heard you've been harassing the new classmate?"
Although Tian Shi was not particularly interested in this kind of gossip, Himeko was.
After all, in a way, it was like finding out where your love rival was, and it's really embarrassing to consider a seventeen-year-old girl your love rival.
"Harassment? What do you mean by harassment?" Kiana immediately looked bewildered.
"I... I was just concerned about the new classmate!"
"Ha..."
It would be strange if Himeko believed Kiana.
However... if Kiana gets entangled with Mei, it seems like Mei won't be able to get entangled with Tian Shi? Himeko, for some inexplicable reason, felt a little tempted by this idea.
"I really hope you didn't scare the new student"
"I didn't scare her at all..."
"You hesitated"
"Even if I jump out of the bushes she won't be scared, right?"
"Kiana, are you crazy...? Okay" Himeko sighed, realizing that this girl was indeed a bit slow to grasp some things.
"Then what? Didn't you get beaten up?"
"And then... and then, of course, there was a friendly and cordial conversation" This girl practically has "I'm lying" written all over her face.
Besides, if it really was friendly and cordial, this girl wouldn't be so listless.
Well, most likely Kiana would skip class if she were excited.
"So friendly and cordial..." Himeko was not drunk; Tian Shi could notice it, and so could she.
Mei really lives up to her reputation as a high school beauty; she's adept at shattering illusions.
Shatter!
Suddenly, Kiana dropped her pen.
"No! I can't give up like this!" Before Himeko could even speak, Kiana composed herself.
Being a "fool" is really convenient.
Himeko exclaimed from the bottom of her heart.
But is this not bad... is it really that good?
Himeko inexplicably felt that something was not quite right.
Theoretically speaking, with Mei, this "Yamato Nadeshiko" with a super perverted heart, being restrained by others, her chances should be much greater...
Greater?
Himeko suddenly realized where the problem lay.
Mei is gone, but Bronya is there.
Although she is only fourteen years old, she is really brave.
Even if Bronya is also restrained, there is still Fu Hua left, at most, it will just mean returning to the starting point, right?
It seems a little strange, did I never have the chance to start?
No, no, no, I am actually spending most of the time with Tian Shi right now, aren't I?
Himeko felt that something was wrong.
Why does it seem like I'm the slowest in terms of progress?
It's not that I haven't made any progress, but these last few times it seems as if I have... made things worse?
Himeko felt a little embarrassed thinking about her torn underwear and her previous maid outfit.
The reason why they don't fit me is not because I'm fat, but that my chest and hips are too developed.
Himeko would not have felt anything if she hadn't tried on the old clothes.
Well, the clothes don't matter, the real problem is that something seems to be missing between Tian Shi and me.
Hmm... excitement?
What other traits does this guy have besides being a maid-lover and a lolicon?
Black stockings fetish?
Black stockings are not a bad thing...
Oh, and this guy really likes cheongsams.
Where did I keep that cheongsam from back then? It was quite loose on me; hopefully, maybe I can still use it.
Or should I buy a new one?
"What are you thinking about, Himeko?"
"Cheongsam"
"Huh?" Tian Shi didn't react.
"Ahem, where is Kiana?" Himeko suddenly stopped talking and looked around.
"She ran away long ago" Tian Shi said with a wave of his hand.
"And what about the cheongsam?"
"Hmm... Do you prefer a maid outfit with black stockings or a cheongsam?"
"Huh?"