Su Yu was just about to open his mouth, ready to trot out a few platitudes in his freshly-appointed role of gold-medal mediator — something like "kids grow up and develop minds of their own," that kind of empty filler.
But Bronie clearly wasn't going to give him the chance.
"I've had ENOUGH!"
That shout carried all the grievance and fury unique to adolescence — the conviction that the entire world had it in for her.
A flurry of hurried footsteps followed, the soles of tactical boots scraping harshly against the floor.
That gray figure, like a startled hare, slammed open the bar's heavy wooden door.
"BANG—!"
The door rebounded with force, and the wind chimes hanging on it were jolted into a wild, broken, frantic jangling.
Then the world fell silent.
All that remained was that door, still trembling faintly from the inertia, like the lingering reverberation after some emotional outburst.
Inside the bar, the air froze for several seconds.
Cioara stood behind the counter, the polishing cloth still clutched in her hand.
Her posture was stiff, her eyes locked dead-on at the door that had just closed. The spine she usually held so straight seemed to have had some essential support yanked out of it, collapsing visibly.
In that moment, she was no longer the mercenary called "Raven" whose name struck terror into hearts, nor was she the shrewd, capable bar mistress.
She was just a single mother, utterly helpless against a daughter in her rebellious phase, drowning in frustration.
"...Sorry."
After a long while, Cioara finally let out a long, heavy breath.
She lowered her head and resumed wiping the glass in her hand — the one that was already cleaner than clean — as if using the motion to mask a hint of red rimming her eyes.
"You all had to witness that little farce. That child… she's gotten harder and harder to manage lately."
Her voice was hoarse.
In the corner, Theresa shrank into her shoulders, wanting to step forward and offer comfort but not daring to. All she could do was shoot Eden a pleading look.
After all, in a situation like this, the only one who could take control of the room was the queen of the Golden Courtyard.
Eden gently swirled the whiskey in her hand. The ice ball clinked crisply against the glass.
She didn't rush to console her — instead, she shifted her weight, settling into a more comfortable lean against the bar, her gaze soft as she looked at Cioara.
"Cioara, that child's computer skills… they should be pretty impressive, right?"
The question, seemingly coming completely out of left field, made Cioara pause.
The hand wiping the glass stilled for a moment.
She lifted her eyelashes, and a complex glimmer flickered in the depths of her eyes — worry mingled with a pride she couldn't quite hide.
"...Mm."
She nodded, the corners of her mouth curving into a bitter arc.
"Her personality may be a complete trainwreck, but when it comes to computers… she really does have a bit of talent. A few years back, when the shop was strapped for cash, she secretly took freelance jobs online. With those skills of hers, she made the shop a decent chunk of side income."
At this point, Cioara's gaze softened.
"She thinks I don't know. The truth is… I haven't touched a single cent of that money. I've been saving every bit of it for her."
A textbook Shenzhou-style parent. Was this her version of going native?
Su Yu sighed silently to himself.
One secretly earning money to help support the household. The other secretly stashing money away to pave her child's future.
Love rushing toward each other from both directions — and yet, the mouths on both sides seemed coated in poison.
"In that case."
Eden smiled.
That smile carried the composure of someone with every move already plotted out, as though everything was unfolding according to her script.
She turned her head and looked at Su Yu, who was currently in full bystander-snacking-on-melon-seeds mode. A sly glint flashed in her eyes.
"Su Yu, you came to find me this time about that game project, didn't you?"
"In that case… as a producer about to make big waves in the industry, your team must surely need a genius with rock-solid skills in network security, right?"
Su Yu blinked.
Before he could even react to what Eden was scheming, the patron-saint of the Golden Courtyard had already turned back to Cioara, her tone so earnest she could've taken up a career in sales.
"Cioara, the truth is, Su Yu is in the middle of putting together a game. The project's huge, and the prospects are excellent."
"He's been looking for a reliable head of technology. Rather than having Bronie out there taking those dangerous gray-market jobs, why not have her come work for Su Yu?"
Eden extended a single finger and tapped lightly on the bar counter.
"Safe, stable, no need to take risks. And… right under your nose, since after all, Su Yu is a man I personally vouch for."
Cioara's eyes lit up.
It really was a perfect solution.
An honest job, a chance to use her talents, plus a familiar face keeping watch.
"That actually is a good idea…" Cioara turned her gaze to Su Yu. "But, Mr. Su Yu, this studio of yours… what kind of scale are we talking? Is it legitimate? I don't expect that girl to rake in a fortune, but at the very least, there should be a respectable office, right?"
It was practically a soul-searching interrogation.
Cold sweat broke out on Su Yu's forehead in an instant.
Studio?
What studio?
Up to this point, the entire development progress of Honkai Impact 3rd had relied on his jury-rigged custom-built PC and Sys's black-tech wizardry. His "office" was his own living room. The "motion capture set" was Fu Hua's dojo.
Was that "respectable"? That was a back-alley garage band operation!
Su Yu was just about to come clean and try to spin it with "the passion of a startup" to bluff his way through.
"Of course it's legitimate."
Eden's voice suddenly cut in, slicing right through Su Yu's impending self-implosion.
She looked at Cioara, an impeccable smile on her face.
"Su Yu's studio is located in the newest office tower in the city center. Top floor, panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, top-of-the-line equipment across the board. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for next week."
Then she turned her head and looked at Su Yu with an exceptionally gentle gaze that nonetheless carried a thinly-veiled killing intent.
"Isn't that right? Boss Su?"
Su Yu: "..."
He looked into Eden's eyes.
Written plainly within them was a single sentence:
"If you dare to undercut me in front of Cioara and admit you don't even have a hole to call home, I'll show you what [The Wrath of Gold] truly means."
The corner of Su Yu's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Sister Eden, this isn't an assist you're handing me — you're shoving a duck onto a perch!
City center? Top floor?
How astronomical would the rent be? Even if he sold himself, it wouldn't cover the down payment, would it?
Was this how rich women's brains worked? The answer to any problem — just buy a building?
In that moment, Su Yu finally understood why Elysia always called Eden "the generous Muse."
Generous was an understatement. She was a money-scattering angel.
Clearly she was already prepared to buy him the entire building outright?!
"...Ahem. Y-yes."
Su Yu swallowed hard and, beneath Eden's deceptively kindly gaze, gritted his teeth and nodded.
"It's right… in the city center. The environment is… pretty nice."
This soft-rice meal was hard enough to chip a tooth, but he had no choice but to eat it.
With Eden's endorsement, the last stone in Cioara's heart settled into place.
Even Eden couldn't praise him enough — was even personally vouching for him on the spot. It seemed this Su Yu… really did have hidden depths.
"Whew."
She let out a long sigh, her whole body finally relaxing, as if she'd just set down a thousand-catty burden.
She picked up the bottle of whiskey and poured a little into the empty glass in front of Su Yu — the motion casual, but carrying a note of acceptance.
"Mr. Su Yu."
Cioara set the bottle down and looked at Su Yu, her expression growing complicated.
"Honestly… when I first saw Eden walking in with you, I really thought you were her secret underground lover she'd been hiding for years."
She gave a self-deprecating laugh, polishing the glass as she spoke.
"After all… you never see a man at her side. Not even the tiniest hint of a rumor. For her to take this much interest in someone, going so far as to call in favors and pave the way for you… I thought you must be the one who could finally pluck the Flower of Gold."
The whiskey Su Yu had just sipped nearly came spraying back out.
Not this again?
Did the older women of this world have some sort of fixation on matchmaking?
If Elysia caught wind of this, that Miss Pink Elf would absolutely grab a megaphone and broadcast it around the Golden Courtyard 24/7, with the headline: "SHOCKING! Has-Been Producer Caught Being a Kept Man by Wealthy Older Woman!"
Eden, on the other hand, took it completely in stride.
She gave a soft laugh, twirling a stray lock of hair beside her ear, her eyes shimmering.
"Oh my, I wish."
She glanced at Su Yu, who was hacking up a storm, her tone laced with genuine regret.
"Sadly, the falling petals are willing, but the flowing water has no feelings."
"Even that pestering Miss Pink Elf Elysia couldn't reel this guy in. Looks like my charm… just isn't enough to make Little Su Yu fall for me."
She even threw Su Yu a wink, and the flash of allure in that instant was enough to send any man's pulse racing.
But all Su Yu felt was raw, gut-wrenching panic.
What did she mean, "even Ellie couldn't reel him in"? If that ever got out, the trending topic "Miss Pink Elf Gets Rejected" would crash every internet server in Arc City by tomorrow morning!
"Sister Eden…."
Su Yu thumped his chest to settle himself, then raised both hands in surrender.
"I'm just an honest guy who wants to make a game. Please, have mercy."
He was already starting to miss Kiana.
At least Kiana wouldn't be like these older sisters, constantly cracking veteran-driver innuendos at the drop of a hat — and one of these women happened to be his patron, while the other was the mother of the talent he was trying to recruit.
The bitterness had nowhere to go.
Jokes aside, though.
With Eden's guarantee in place, Cioara's attitude toward Su Yu underwent a complete reversal.
From the initial hostility, to the subsequent suspicion, it had now transformed into a request laced with a hint of hope.
"Mr. Su Yu."
Cioara reached behind the bar and produced a business card — one Bronie had secretly printed herself, featuring a drawing of a cocky-looking rabbit.
"The job of talking some sense into that girl… I'm leaving to you."
Cioara slid the card across the bar to Su Yu, her tone solemn.
"If she's willing to come work for you, the salary… you can decide whatever you think is fair. So long as you can keep her from doing those dangerous things anymore, I'll owe you one."
"Bzzz—"
Just then, the phone in Su Yu's pocket vibrated.
He pulled it out for a look.
A new text message popped up on the screen.
The sender was saved as: [Hack Bunny].
All it contained was a brief set of coordinates and a single sentence.
"Rooftop, six thirty tonight, come alone."
Su Yu raised an eyebrow.
What was this supposed to be? Hearts beating in sync? Or had this girl planted a bug on him somewhere?
Well, since the woman of the hour had spoken, things would be easy from here.
He put away the phone, fished a black USB drive out of his pocket, and gently set it on the bar, sliding it over to Eden.
"Sister Eden."
Su Yu's expression turned serious, that aura of professionalism that belonged to a producer settling back over him.
"This is the sample I mentioned. It's called "Befall"."
"I'd originally wanted to find a better setting for you to hear it in, but right now…"
He glanced toward the doorway.
"Just give it a listen first. If you think it's any good, get back to me with an answer later."
With that, Su Yu gave Cioara a nod, then turned and strode toward the door.
He pushed the door open. The wind rushed in, lifting the hem of his coat.
That receding silhouette actually carried a touch of the unbothered grace of "having finished the deed, he flicked his sleeves and departed."
Once Su Yu's figure had vanished from sight.
The bar settled back into quiet.
""Befall"?"
Eden picked up the USB drive, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Cioara, do me a favor and play this — just on the shop's sound system."
Cioara accepted the drive and plugged it into the playback unit behind the counter.
After a few seconds of silence.
"DOOM—"
A heavy, low-frequency drumbeat, as if rising from the depths of an abyss, detonated through the bar without warning.
Right on its heels came the tearing, lacerating quality of an electronic synthesizer — like an electric current ripping through nerves.
Pressure.
Suffocation.
An ineffable, lofty sense of divinity, spreading with the unfolding of the melody, instantly saturated the entire space.
There were no lyrics — the intro alone was enough to make one almost see a pair of golden eyes coldly gazing down from the void at the ants beneath their feet.
Cioara's motion of polishing the glass came to a complete standstill.
Her eyes went wide, fixed on the speakers, every hair on her body standing on end.
This music….
This crushing pressure that made you want to drop to your knees...
Was created by a young man barely in his twenties?
After a long while, Eden opened her eyes. Those golden pupils were brimming with awe.
"What did I tell you?"
She turned her head and looked at Cioara, the curve at the corner of her lips deepening.
"Su Yu… is even more unbelievable than we imagine."
Cioara drew in a deep breath, fighting to steady her heartbeat.
She glanced at Eden, her expression turning strange.
"That… new studio."
Cioara pointed toward the ceiling.
"It's fake, isn't it?"
As a former top-tier mercenary, Cioara's intelligence network in Arc City wasn't just for show.
Whether a new game studio had opened up in the city center — there was no way she wouldn't know.
"Heh."
Eden gave a soft laugh.
She lifted her glass and swirled it gently, watching the amber liquid trace lingering streaks down the walls of the glass.
"A few minutes ago, yes — it was fake."
She took a small sip.
"But now… it's real."
"Because just a moment ago, I had my people start handling the paperwork. The top floor of that office tower in the city center is, as we speak, being transferred into Su Yu's name."
The corners of Cioara's mouth began twitching wildly.
"This habit of yours, where you just casually gift people entire buildings… could you maybe try to break it?"
She pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling like her poverty was limiting her imagination.
"I'm telling you, that boy is going to have a heart attack from you sooner or later."
"What can I do?"
Eden sighed, her tone carrying — improbably — a trace of the "trouble of having money I can't spend."
"It's not like that idiot Su Yu ever comes to consult me when he's in trouble."
She looked down at the black USB drive in her hand, her expression turning tender.
"Over these past few years, he's done quite a bit for everyone at the Golden Courtyard, fixing all sorts of things. Kevin's gaming console, Ellie's stereo, even Pardo's delivery truck that's always breaking down… the favors everyone owes him have piled up sky-high."
"Finally catching a chance to pay him back…"
Eden raised her glass, lifting it in a distant toast to a figure somewhere in the void.
"I'm going to make the most of it. After all… any problem that can be solved with money isn't really a problem for us, is it?"
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