Chapter 197 Su Mu: You, Old Lady Theresa, Are Actually Quite Funny
It was neither because Kiana had caused some trouble nor because MiHoYo had encountered difficulties. Su Mu's purpose for this trip was, in fact, simply to visit Theresa.
If this reason were made public, others would surely feel that things were a bit ambiguous between Su Mu and Theresa. But in Su Mu's view, it was perfectly commonplace.
Nonsense. It was the New Year, and as a person of Shenzhou, it was only natural to pay respects to those who looked after him on a daily basis. Theresa had previously been busy working behind the scenes for MiHoYo's affairs and had even gifted Su Mu an office building. she was essentially MiHoYo's protective umbrella, the great hand behind Su Mu's back. Not maintaining a good relationship with the "great hand" would be asking to be abandoned, wouldn't it?
He simply wanted to visit Theresa. As an "Old Captain," naturally, not one could be left behind. On a festival as important as the Spring Festival, how could he exclude Theresa?
There was also another important reason: talking to Theresa carried no burden; it was very comforting for Su Mu. Lately, Su Mu had quite a few troubles, the most pressing of which, unsurprisingly, were emotional.
Boothill was a total bachelor; he shouldn't be expected to have any unique insights. Himeko? Also a bachelor, and she was absolutely unreliable. Was he supposed to discuss such matters with Kevin? Or Otto? Or Welt? Forget it; every single one of them was terrifyingly henpecked by their wives.
After thinking it over, it seemed he could only talk to Theresa about these things. Firstly, Theresa was older than the other girls—not to say she was old and stodgy... rather, in terms of interpersonal conduct, Theresa was certainly more mature compared to those girls in their early twenties. Although it was a bit absurd that the word "mature" could even be associated with Theresa, this was a world without the Honkai; her current figure was indeed very "mature." Don't underestimate the terror of a physique identical to Lunar Vow.
Secondly, Theresa's age was close to Su Mu's age in his previous life; at least compared to Kiana and the others, she truly felt more like a peer. she was also one of the few friends who knew his situation and could chat with him without any burden.
What? Why not find Elysia? Su Mu would remember the things "Bad Elysia" did for a lifetime. Expecting that problematic Miss Pink Elf to offer advice was pure wishful thinking. There was no guarantee his little secrets wouldn't be flying all over the company as scandals the next day; she was unreliable to the core.
"How have things been with Seele lately?" Theresa took the initiative to bring up Su Mu and Seele during the meal, without him even having to open his mouth.
"Quite good," Su Mu replied.
"Oh..." Theresa responded, "You've been together for nearly half a year, haven't you? Have you considered getting married in the future?"
"Not for now. As you know, the career is the priority right now."
Theresa was somewhat speechless. she naturally knew Su Mu's nature as a workaholic, but hearing him be so blunt left her momentarily unsure of how to respond.
"Maybe you should just spend your whole life with your work. I really don't know what Seele sees in you..." Theresa shook her head, looking like she had a headache.
"Could it be because I'm too charming?" Su Mu spread his hands. He didn't know what Seele saw in him either, and originally, he hadn't been the one to initiate the relationship.
"Hmph, stop showing off your 'charm' in front of an elder. In my eyes, you're no different from a little brat." Theresa rolled her eyes hard. "Anyway, since things with Kiana have fallen through... be good to Seele. she is my student, after all. If I find out you're bullying her, I won't let you off easy."
Su Mu put on an innocent face: "If I said she's the one who's always been bullying me, would you believe it?"
Perhaps because Seele had been pure and lovely before, after crossing that line, she had developed a taste for it and wanted to be glued to Su Mu all day. she was no longer satisfied with just the evenings; even at the firm, she would sneak into the office when no one was around. Sometimes, when Su Mu closed his eyes to rest and then opened them, he'd find a little head under the desk...
While Su Mu also enjoyed these "play sessions," the problem was the frequency. Troubles followed in their wake. ...Bronya seemed to have sensed something. Though Bronya hadn't said anything, Su Mu had caught glimpses of it in her daily actions. They say a woman's intuition is terrifying, and now Su Mu believed it. No matter how hard one tries to hide it, the fire will eventually burn through the paper.
As for why he hadn't told Bronya about him and Seele yet, one reason was that both were very busy, especially after the New Year break when they were working non-stop. There simply wasn't a suitable moment to speak up.
"Did you come all this way just to show off your love life to an old woman like me?" Theresa looked at Su Mu with dissatisfaction. Her exquisite face showed no traces of age. Although she called herself an "old woman," her current striking figure and beauty truly amazed Su Mu. They say women are like wine—the older, the purer... and besides, Theresa really had nothing to do with the word "old."
Watching Theresa pout her lips like a child, Su Mu felt that this "Old Lady Theresa" was actually quite cute.
"Not at all. I came specifically to visit our highly respected Ms. Theresa. As you know, I've always been one to repay kindness... If not for your efforts, Seele and I truly wouldn't have ended up together."
"...Did you think about picking out a burial plot before mentioning that?" Theresa clenched her fists, looking annoyed. "I think you're looking to be dumped into the river to feed the fish tomorrow!"
"But I'm telling the truth," Su Mu said innocently. "It was indeed thanks to Theresa that Seele and I got together. I've already decided that when we get married, I must invite you to take the seat of honor to thank you for bringing us together..."
"Is this how you have fun at an elder's expense? Do you really not know what my true intention was!" Theresa stood up abruptly. Her fierce demeanor looked quite adorable in Su Mu's eyes.
"I don't know what you think about this matter." Su Mu smiled and shook his head.
"What do you mean 'what I think'?"
"Have you, or perhaps you and Mr. Siegfried, considered Kiana's thoughts?"
"..."
"I believe I have some self-awareness. The Kaslanas merely took an interest in the wealth I can create, which is why they support me so unreservedly."
"You really have a nerve. Someone as narcissistic as you is truly rare in this world." Theresa was speechless, but she knew Su Mu was right. The world has always been this way; truly capable people are sought after everywhere. Su Mu's ability was indeed outstanding—and not just by a little bit—which was the fundamental reason he could gain so much support.
Su Mu's current background was built upon his own abilities. If he had been a mediocre, unremarkable person from the start, he wouldn't have reached this point. But beyond that, there was another extremely important reason: he was too good at managing connections... or rather, grasping the human heart. Anyone who had collaborated with Su Mu was full of praise for him. And among employees, he had extremely high prestige and a solid reputation. This was definitely not something that could be summarized simply by saying he was "capable."
The simplest example: if Theresa were asked whether she would continue to support Su Mu's work and provide him with maximum assistance in the future, she wouldn't even need to think—she definitely would. As for the reason... Theresa also asked herself, and the conclusion was: whatever the task, just hand it to Su Mu. He would handle everything properly and submit a satisfying answer—one that was infinitely close to the "standard answer" in everyone's heart. This was his most formidable trait. No one felt they were losing out by collaborating with Su Mu, and no one felt that pouring resources into him was a waste. He was like a cornucopia; as long as you invested, there would surely be a response and action.
"I'm just stating facts." Looking at Theresa, Su Mu smiled slightly. "Theresa, you and I both know the rules of this society have always been like this... for an individual or an enterprise to constantly climb upward is no easy task. Without a strong background, one eventually becomes a plaything in the hands of others."
"You certainly understand that well." Theresa's expression became serious. "Just as you said, without a powerful background, you wouldn't even be able to make games in peace... countless people would find all sorts of ways to trip you up, and they wouldn't stop until the day you were completely ruined."
"Indeed." From the beginning, he knew perfectly well that even if this world had no Honkai, there would be countless other troubles. Conflicts exist wherever there are people; after all, it has been that way since ancient times. Therefore, to do what he wanted as he pleased, he had to possess a powerful background, have his own network, and carefully manage all of it. only then could he avoid being coerced and act according to his own will.
"So, because of that, I don't understand why you turned a blind eye to my attempt to match you with Kiana. You should know very well what the status of the Kaslana family's son-in-law means." Theresa gazed at Su Mu. "It means you would receive the maximum support from one of the most powerful families in the world. Since you value your career so much, you shouldn't have refused my kindness."
"Perhaps, as you say, with that status, my future would be an effortless rise." Su Mu smiled and shook his head. "But does lacking that status mean I'm destined to fail? Or rather, do you think I look like a loser right now?"
"Of course not."
"That is the reason I work so hard."
"?"
"I don't want my life to be a play on someone else's chessboard. I want to master my own life. And most importantly—I hope that both Kiana and I have the power to choose." Su Mu's gaze became deep.
He had once asked Kiana a question: what kind of life did she want to have? When asked, Kiana froze for a moment before immediately replying: "Of course, it would be a leisurely life of eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating, comfortably lying flat forever!"
But Su Mu said he didn't want to hear that kind of nonsensical, evasive answer. He wanted to hear the real life that Kiana wanted.
"I don't know," Kiana had answered. "I don't know what kind of life I want. So... from that perspective, I'm a bit envious of that version of myself you write. she has her own clear life goals and things she must do. Whereas I... I don't have anything I must do, no ideals, and I don't know what the future holds."
"My sister Bianca is an excellent person. Everyone places high hopes on her and feels she represents the future of the Kaslana family. But I'm different. Since the day I was born, no one has ever expected anything of me. After all, Big Sister Bianca has always been so outstanding—outstanding enough to overshadow all my light and attract everyone's attention. No matter what I do, I can only become a 'second Big Sister.' So, what's the point of trying? I'm a Kaslana, but in the end, I'm only a Kaslana, and can only be a Kaslana..."
"Actually, I'm aware that I'm someone who has achieved nothing. I'm unaccomplished, I'm a handful, I'm unmotivated... but perhaps this is the proof of me being 'Kiana.' At least, when I'm mentioned, no one feels that I'm a 'second Bianca'."
Su Mu could not forget the loneliness Kiana couldn't hide on her face at that time. It wasn't something that had lasted only a day or two. It was something more despairing: a nightmare that had accompanied her since she could remember. Su Mu didn't believe that Siegfried and Cecilia didn't love Kiana. But love cannot solve all problems, and many issues are not so easily noticed. Siegfried likely wouldn't have imagined that the daughter he viewed as "unaccomplished," "troublesome," and "unmotivated" had always hidden such a secret in her heart.
Looking at Theresa, Su Mu took a deep breath.
"I want to give her the power to choose, the strength to support her choices... this MiHoYo is her capital. It's the support that will allow her to live with integrity, without compromising herself, living with dignity even when she finally understands that this world isn't as beautiful as imagined! Her life should be controlled by her, and the choices should be made by her."
"she should become 'Kiana Kaslana,' and not a substitute for anyone else. If everyone is expecting her to be a 'second Bianca'..."
"I will also do my best to give her the choice to be 'Kiana Kaslana'!"
END OF CHAPTER
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