Rita went out to meet the visitors.
Mo Li drifted to the rec room—not to slack off, but to find Klee.
Didn't take long. That round red dumpling of a hat popped into view beside Hu Tao, Kiana, and Griseo. Klee was still dressed in her Genshin outfit; the moment she spotted him she scurried up the slide and whoosh—down she came, then barreled toward him on tiny legs.
"Mo Li gege~!"
He couldn't help smiling. He crouched, scooped her up, and gave her a little toss.
"Are we going fish-blasting, Mo Li gege~?"
He pinched her cheeks. "When New Year comes, I'll let you blast to your heart's content."
"Yay~!"
Hu Tao and Kiana trotted over, while Griseo stayed focused on her board, brush moving in soft, steady strokes.
"Boss, what brings you here?"
"Wanna try the slide, Boss?"
Mo Li chuckled and shook his head. "You two keep Griseo company. I'm borrowing Klee for a bit."
"Aww… mood ruined." As soon as she heard "business," Hu Tao's interest evaporated; she hooked Kiana's arm and went back to Griseo.
Mo Li didn't linger. Carrying Klee, he headed for the parlor.
All the way there, Klee chirped about the "important things" she'd discovered today and proudly produced a sketchbook—Griseo's homework.
The childish lines were brimming with heart.
"So good~ Little Klee's totally going to be a painter."
Klee shook her head. "Klee's going to be a scientist."
"Oh? Why a scientist?"
She gnawed her finger, thinking very hard. "Sister Hu Tao said scientists can make huge, super-strong torpedoes."
Mo Li: "…"
"Heh—" He coughed into a laugh anyway. "That's… a very grand dream."
"Mm!" Klee's eyes shone. "Then Klee will take Mo Li gege out to sea to blast fish~"
…He would graciously pass on that.
Though a yacht for vacations with the girls… that was tempting.
"Later," he told himself.
They reached the parlor—and the sight inside stopped him short.
Besides Bronya and Rita, the other three girls were all familiar faces.
In his arms, Klee wriggled. "Sister Arlecchino! Sister Pardofelis! And Sister Li Sushang!"
Mo Li set her down. She bolted toward them like a launched sparrow.
Mo Li rubbed his chin. This orphanage is… stacked.
Bronya and company before, Griseo now—and today even a Fatui executive walks in.
Might as well seize the chance for a good talk, especially with Pardofelis and Li Sushang—both slated for Honkai 3rd soon.
He stepped forward with a smile. "I'm Mo Li, head of the miHoYo studio."
"Hello," said the woman in black, eyes cool but warm to Klee. "I'm Arlecchino. To my left is Pardofelis, to my right Li Sushang."
After introductions, Mo Li gave them a quick tour. The others also traded greetings with the trio.
Shame their resident social-phobe was "asleep"; otherwise he'd have unleashed the Pink Fat Fairy to farm affection points.
The visit reassured Arlecchino: Klee lived like a princess here—everyone's favorite, with Hu Tao and the others playing with her daily.
She was happy. The "concern" had been an excuse; with Bronya around, she'd never truly worried. Today's real goal was to catch up with an old friend.
Once the tour and reminiscing wound down, the three prepared to leave.
"Why not stay a while?" Mo Li asked.
Arlecchino smiled. "We still have matters to attend to. Thank you for the hospitality, Mr. Mo Li."
"No need to be formal. If you're not in a rush…" He met each of their eyes. "I'd like to propose a collaboration."
Rita and Bronya exchanged a look. Here he goes again—recruit mode.
"Collaboration?" Arlecchino frowned, then glanced at Rita and Bronya—and understood. "You want me to play a character in the game?"
Mo Li grinned. "Not just you. I'd like to sign Pardofelis and Li Sushang as well."
"How about it? Care to consider?"
Li Sushang blinked. "Eh? Us too?"
Pardofelis's eyes lit up instantly. "Will it… pay well?" Unlike Arlecchino's reserve, the cat was very straightforward. Orphanage kids with no parents to back them had to be practical.
For Mo Li, anything solvable with money was the easiest kind of problem.
Li Sushang looked tempted as well. You couldn't live in this country and not know how big Honkai 3rd was right now.
Seeing the interest, Arlecchino didn't refuse outright. Even if she wasn't keen, she'd at least negotiate for her two little sisters. And with Bronya vouching, trust wasn't an issue.
"Let's hear the terms."
Mo Li relaxed a notch. "Shall we sit and talk?"
"Okay~"
"I kinda feel like this beats my university assignment already," Pardofelis muttered—until Arlecchino tugged her sleeve. She coughed. "I mean—if the pay is right, playing a role is totally fine."
"Mhm. Depends on your sincerity, Boss," Li Sushang added.
"Don't worry—I won't shortchange you." Mo Li looked to Rita. "Could we get three coffees? Ah—what would you like to drink?"
"Anything is fine," Arlecchino said.
Once Rita left, Mo Li laid out the package—more or less what Bronya and the others had received: a signing bonus, per-session voice pay, room and board, plus hands-on training in game production. Even if the studio vanished one day, they'd have a glittering line on the resume.
And the biggest perk—name recognition.
The offer had the two fresh grads buzzing. Even Arlecchino looked satisfied; the terms matched what Bronya had told her to a tee.
"So, Miss Arlecchino—interested?"
She shook her head. "Apologies, Boss Mo Li. I'm not interested in acting. I also have an orphanage to run, so I can't spare time to record."
"An orphanage, huh…" Mo Li was honestly curious. So young, already an administrator? Maybe the place was family-funded?
He kept the question to himself and joked instead. "I have to say, your orphanage produces talent."
Arlecchino froze, then smiled. True enough: girls from their home tended to be jaw-dropping in looks and bearing—leagues beyond most celebrities. Hard to believe no one had adopted such adorable children…
"But you don't need to worry about the voice," he added. "What I want is your likeness. I have a role in mind that fits you perfectly; I can handle the VA myself."
Arlecchino blinked. "You mean… I don't have to do anything? Just lend my appearance for a character?"
Mo Li nodded.
"In that case… I can consider it."
He didn't press. He sipped his coffee and waited.
Fatui Harbinger—but one that wouldn't show up in-game for a long while yet.
Also… he kept sneaking looks at Arlecchino's face. The resemblance to Eula was uncanny—blue hair with a touch of white, the elegant frost, even the voice matched.
"If you don't have a sister," he thought, "then maybe this world doesn't have an Eula at all… or—you are Eula."
What if game-Arlecchino is Eula in disguise? (lol)
While he was spinning scenarios, Arlecchino spoke. "Very well. I'll accept this collaboration." She smiled. "I'm curious to see how I'll perform in your game."
Mo Li stood and shook her hand. "Then please look forward to it, Miss Arlecchino."
Rita returned with contracts. Pardofelis and Li Sushang signed with sparkling eyes—two more powerhouses added to the studio.
"Bronya, take your two sisters to pick rooms."
"You really know how to order people around…" Bronya grumbled, but her heart was light as she bounced out with the cat and the swordswoman in tow.
"As for you, Miss Arlecchino—our doors are always open," Mo Li added. "We have plenty of spare rooms. If you want to stay with Bronya a few days, that's fine too."
Arlecchino's lips curved. "I'll remember that. Don't you go back on it."
"Never."
After seeing her off, Mo Li stood for a moment, oddly moved.
That orphanage… is a lucky star.
On a sudden impulse, he turned to Rita. "I feel like doing some charity."
Rita's smile was warm. "You'll have my full support, Boss."
…
[Yoimiya: Shogun-sama… I—I don't want to die…]
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