Since that day, Mei looked like she'd moved on.
But any time she was alone with Mo Li, her body language went stiff and awkward.
What surprised Mo Li more was that Mei never did cut her hair in the end.
In fact, she started wearing that long braided ponytail almost every day.
On anyone else it might look rustic; on Mei, it had a glow all its own—gentle, warm… almost motherly.
"Looks like Mei really does like this hairstyle~"
Mo Li chuckled and dragged his gaze off Mei, back to the monitor.
By now, the girls barely needed his help for voice work; two VA girls would usually pair up and handle each other's lines.
Which meant Mo Li suddenly had more free time.
When he wasn't gaming or doom-scrolling short videos, he was out playing with Klee and Griseo.
He kept an eye on the game industry, too.
Lately, aside from Honkai 3rd's Elysian Realm discourse and Genshin's Hu Tao guides, the biggest headline was "Penguin" and its new title.
That was what he was reading now—drip-fed teasers, just like squeezing toothpaste.
Only after Honkai and Genshin's heat cooled a little did Penguin finally drop something concrete:
"An earnest, 200-million project adapted from the famous Sakura-Nation anime Demon King & Hero—multi-platform, cross-save, open world…"
A debut promo vid followed.
Mo Li watched. Forget everything else—just that "200 million" line made him suspicious.
With Penguin's habits, that figure was probably… inflated.
The trailer itself? Decent rhythm, clearly took inspiration from his original Genshin PVs—but not outright plagiarism.
"They have improved."
He was… oddly pleased.
Not just Penguin; new anime-style games had been popping up everywhere.
Still a ways off from Honkai 3rd—never mind Genshin.
What did please Mo Li was that stories were finally getting attention.
No more "skip plot entirely."
Even Penguin had gone and licensed a well-known anime.
Was that because Penguin lacked the courage to build its own IP?
No—the courage was there.
Mo Li guessed they'd bought an adaptation to save time.
Demon King & Hero already had "game DNA," perfect for conversion.
Probably why Penguin could surface a new game again within half a year.
Piggy Studio, on the other hand, was quiet.
Saving a big move, maybe.
Mo Li checked the date.
Late December already.
If Penguin was rushing, they'd probably launch around the New Year.
He was genuinely curious.
As the country's biggest internet behemoth—how much had they really grown?
A warm gust of alcohol washed over him.
Before he could turn, Himeko's voice drifted in.
"Mm-hmm? Boss is watching Penguin's new game too~?"
At some point, Himeko had padded up behind him.
"Looks like they're serious this time. Feeling the pressure?"
Mo Li smiled. "Penguin doesn't pressure me. You do."
Himeko had a bottle in her left hand. Her right arm draped over his shoulder; her soft weight leaned in—literal pressure.
"What's that supposed to mean… I do watch my figure. Are you saying I'm heavy?"
She "retaliated" by leaning in a little more.
"It's not about heavy or not. I'll complain when you outweigh Elysia."
Himeko snorted, remembering his nickname for Elysia.
"Pink Fat Fairy~ hehe~"
With her cheeks lightly flushed and that soft laugh… Himeko looked dangerously seductive.
"So… Boss. Do I look fat to you right now?"
Mo Li sighed. She sounded drunk, but he still answered patiently. "You don't."
"Look like…" Himeko smiled—and bent to whisper in his ear, warm breath tinged with wine. "Then… want to check?"
A shiver ran down his spine.
Himeko with a little alcohol was even more lethal.
"Check whether I'm heavier than Elysia~"
Mo Li paused—then grinned. "Sure. Want me to princess-carry you?"
Himeko didn't answer.
She twisted her waist and—sat on his lap.
Mo Li jolted.
He shot a glance across the room at Mei and the others.
"Am I heavy?"
Heavy? How could Himeko be heavy?
Even calling Elysia "fat" was a joke. Himeko's proportions were perfect—slender waist, lush curves, all mature allure.
Now she sat on his knees, smiling with her eyes.
Mo Li could only nod awkwardly, forcing his thoughts elsewhere.
Any more "thinking," and he'd embarrass himself again.
"N-no… Himeko's figure is… great."
Her porcelain face was pink from the wine; her fox-bright eyes sparkled.
She caught his hand and guided it round her waist.
"How can you talk nonsense… without using your hands~?"
Mo Li: "…"
He was absolutely going to be exposed…
Was Himeko always this bold after drinking?
Before he could find an answer, her face filled his vision.
"Mmph~"
Soft, warm, and tasting faintly of wine.
Mo Li stopped resisting.
He had no interest in playing the "too-gentle male lead."
When Himeko came at him this directly, pushing her away would be either stupid—or monk-level discipline.
He worried, just a little, about the other girls in the distance…
But the danger made his heart beat faster.
One doubt still floated up—was she making a move because she wanted to… or just drunk?
He remembered early Honkai 3rd getting flak for pandering—very early—like that odd comic scene where Himeko kissed a passerby.
Later plotlines fixed it and half-explained it—getting older, fearing she'd die to Honkai erosion any day.
The real Himeko wasn't being eaten by Honkai.
So what reason did she have to be this forward?
He couldn't figure it out.
By the time he tried, Himeko had already pulled back.
Even Himeko got flustered when she felt what she was sitting on.
Mo Li glanced across the room again.
"Phew…" He let out the breath he'd been holding.
Looked like no one noticed.
Then he looked down at Himeko, sprawled against his chest.
"…You really knocked yourself out, huh."
He tried to shift—then hissed.
"—Tch."
Nope. Any more pressure and he was a goner.
"A gentleman doesn't take advantage."
He reluctantly helped Himeko up. "Don't blame me when you wake up. You sat down first…"
The pressure vanished, leaving him oddly empty.
"Damn it. You get to sleep, and I get to suffer…"
Grumbling, he hoisted Himeko onto his back.
He'd barely started toward her room when Mei hurried over.
"B-Boss… Himeko, she…?"
Mo Li coughed. "Drunk, I think. I'll take her to bed."
Mei blinked and nodded. "I'll help."
"Thanks." He didn't refuse. With Himeko being a girl, he would've asked one of them anyway.
Mei followed close behind.
She couldn't help replaying what she'd just seen from afar.
She'd seen everything.
So… that's… their relationship?
She wanted to ask.
But the words stuck.
Maybe Himeko was just drunk…
But even drunk, Himeko wouldn't… with a man… that close…
And that string of…
Mei's cheeks flamed again, and her chest felt strangely hollow.
On Mo Li's back, Himeko's eyelashes quivered… then a narrow slit opened.
She wasn't drunk.
She was just… going along with the exit he'd given her.
Her heart was pounding, equal parts delighted and nervous.
She'd wanted to do this for a long time—but never had the nerve.
Until today, drinking with Eden—talks wandered far and wide.
When the topic turned to Mo Li, Himeko finally understood just how extraordinary he was in Eden's eyes.
That, and the sudden reminder of her age.
Twenty-six—already getting called "auntie." And right beside her was a boy this outstanding—why hesitate?
So he was a little younger. Not a problem.
She wasn't some timid little girl.
Borrow the courage of wine—go straight.
And all of Mo Li's muttered words? She'd heard them clearly.
"So… the little man likes his big sister, too~"
"In that case, no more wavering."
"Still, I should keep acting for now—Mei's here."
"Ugh, this dummy's too proper… otherwise, in a bit, I'd just…"
Thinking that, Himeko remembered a few of the other "little sisters."
They seemed to have feelings for Mo Li as well.
At that, she hesitated again.
More than ten years together. They'd never been apart.
Fight them for him?
She couldn't bear it.
She couldn't bear to give up Mo Li—or her sisters.
Mo Li was only one person. He couldn't be split into pieces…
And there she was, frowning softly.
Girls marry, in the end. If they marry off, can they still stay together like this?
Suddenly, she remembered Mo Li's old line—
About a certain… man's dream.
Himeko: "…"
"Sigh… let's hope you've got what it takes."
She wanted him to realize that dream.
Then none of them would have to break apart.
…
Mo Li reached Himeko's bedroom.
He laid her on the bed and smiled at Mei. "I'll leave the rest to you."
Mei was still lost in her own thoughts—her cheeks a pretty red.
Mo Li didn't think much of it. In recent days, Mei always looked like this when they were alone.
They had an unspoken agreement not to mention what happened in the office.
"O-okay…"
Mo Li nodded and turned to go.
"Boss—"
He paused. "What is it?"
Mei tugged at her hem and wouldn't look at him.
Nerves jammed the question in her throat.
After a long silence, she panicked—and blurted:
"I… I saw…"
"Saw what…" As soon as he asked, Mo Li realized.
What else could it be? Obviously what she'd just seen between him and Himeko.
Mo Li: "…Ahem. Himeko was probably drunk."
Mei shook her head. "Even if she was… Himeko wouldn't do that…"
She swallowed, then asked, very softly, "Are you two… that kind of relationship?"
That was the real question.
Mo Li thought for a second.
Mei was right—Himeko wouldn't do something mindless even when tipsy.
So… Himeko really was into him.
Damn. If he'd known, he would've held her longer.
What a loss.
"Boss?"
Mo Li snapped back and shook his head honestly. "Not… yet."
"I see…"
His heart skipped.
Why was Mei asking this?
Could it be…
He dipped his head to read her face.
Mei panicked at the look, stepped up, and put her hands on his chest—pushing.
"B-Boss, please go. I have to wipe Himeko down."
She ushered him out and shut the door.
…
Mo Li could only leave.
Back at his desk, his mind was still churning over Mei and Himeko.
The Lantern Rite questline on his monitor felt miles away.
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