Chapter 196: Su Mu's New Fangirl, the Mine-Owning Miss Susannah!
Unsurprisingly, discussions regarding Honkai Impact 3rd once again dominated the internet on a massive scale, and the horned Herrscher of Thunder brought MiHoYo another wave of terrifying revenue. This was a stellar start after the New Year, marking another heartening success.
Looking at the latest financial reports, Siegfried's mood was ecstatic. Thanks to the massive revenue generated by MiHoYo, the wallet of the Kaslana Patriarch grew thicker by the day... Otto had even invited Siegfried to go to a public bath together several times. Of course, Siegfried refused; he felt there was no fun in two grown men soaking together. It was better to soak with Cecilia.
Siegfried considered himself an open-minded father, but this was also where he felt the most anxious. He couldn't wait to see Kiana married off—like water splashed out of a basin. But why was Kiana so disappointing? It was a new year, and she still hadn't secured Su Mu!
The news from Bianca told Siegfried one thing: Kiana and Su Mu had almost no progress to speak of! This wouldn't do—absolutely not! What if an excellent young man like Su Mu was snatched away by someone else?
Regarding this, Theresa had grumbled: "Other people treat their daughters like treasure, but you're practically trying to gift Kiana to Su Mu?"
Siegfried widened his eyes: "Speak with a conscience, Theresa! Tell me, do you or do you not want to see Kiana married off?"
Theresa replied without hesitation: "I want to, very much!"
Siegfried: "There you go. You know what that girl is like. If Su Mu can take an interest in her, I truly feel it's the blessing of eight lifetimes."
Theresa was speechless: "Is there any father who belittles his daughter like you?"
Siegfried: "Just tell me if it's true or not."
Theresa: "It's true."
Siegfried: "Then that's that!"
Theresa sighed. Damn it. In the matter of Kiana, her and Siegfried's opinions were unprecedentedly unified. This troublesome child truly needed a good family to marry into. It wasn't that Kiana was bad... well, Siegfried admitted her reputation in Schicksal used to be terrible. Although she inherited Cecilia's looks and was a first-class beauty, she was a literal "dead salted fish" with a kind of beauty that made you worry she might drool if left unattended.
This led many people eyeing the Kaslana background to try and approach her, thinking she was simple-minded and easy to control. They thought that by winning Kiana over, their careers would soar. But Siegfried had intercepted all such people before they could get close. Now, with Kiana's prestige rising due to MiHoYo's success, fewer people targeted her—likely because they felt the current Kiana was no longer easy to control.
Regardless, Siegfried learned a lesson from this: his daughter absolutely had to marry a man who would be genuinely good to her, not someone after her money or background. Though he constantly complained about her, he intended to fulfill his duties as a "Stupid Dad." And conveniently, such a person had already appeared by her side.
Siegfried had been monitoring Su Mu's movements, as he naturally had "informants" inside MiHoYo. Placing eyes in a company was no difficult task for him. Over the past year and a half, while many only saw Su Mu's glory, Siegfried knew the sweat he poured in. Diligence, hard work... these were qualities Siegfried valued. As for money—well, it was important, and Su Mu had indeed earned a massive fortune for the Kaslanas. That was Su Mu's ability, ensuring Kiana would never starve. As for character... Siegfried couldn't find a flaw. his informants praised Su Mu's personality. He wasn't approaching Kiana for her background; in fact, Siegfried now strangely hoped Su Mu would take an interest in their background, because he didn't know what else his "unaccomplished" daughter had to offer...
Who wouldn't want such a kind, capable, and honorable son-in-law?
"About that..."
On the other end of the phone, Theresa hesitated. she was weighing whether to tell Siegfried that Su Mu already had a girlfriend. But she didn't know how to start. After all, Theresa was the one who initially tried to match Kiana and Su Mu. she found love for Su Mu, but... it was the wrong person. she wanted to create chances for Kiana, but Kiana was just too useless. Instead, Seele had naturally ended up with Su Mu.
That Su Mu and Seele succeeded was partly due to Theresa's "push" from behind. she couldn't say it. There was no way she could say that!
"What is it?" "Nothing! I'll talk to you later, I have work to handle..."
Theresa hung up hastily and let out a long sigh in her office. "Even if you ask me to help Kiana..." Su Mu's face appeared in her mind, and her cheeks flushed slightly. "What can I do... I can't even figure out my own feelings..."
she shook her head, trying to shake the image of Su Mu away, but it only grew clearer. "What on earth am I doing..." she leaned back in her chair with a wry smile. Because she had returned to Europe for the Spring Festival, she had been away from Shenzhou for a while, missing the holiday. she heard from Kiana that they had a great time with Su Mu. But the more Kiana boasted, the lower Theresa's mood sank. she couldn't say it, but she had really wanted to be there.
However, she knew how heavy her responsibility as Otto's successor was. she shouldn't have such a childish mindset. she knew it, yet she couldn't convince herself. "Grandpa was right; I really am just a child who won't grow up."
Theresa sighed and prepared to start her day. Just then...
"Lady Theresa! Lady Theresa!"
A sweet-looking but flustered and clumsy girl burst into her office.
"Susannah, what happened?"
Theresa instantly vanished her sighing persona, becoming the "mature and reliable" boss. This girl, Susannah, was a "reliable" subordinate who had requested to come to Shenzhou with Theresa after her trip to Europe. she was always full of energy and very likable. Despite being the daughter of a wealthy Middle Eastern family involved in mining and gemstones—possessing more money than she could ever spend—she had an abnormal passion for work. No one knew what was in her head.
Theresa hadn't refused her, partly because she lacked manpower and partly because with Susannah around, that "pervy maid" Rita might finally realize she wasn't being transferred back!
"It's Mr. Su Mu! Mr. Su Mu is here!"
Susannah's eyes sparkled as she looked at Theresa, her excitement overflowing. "Aaaah! Lady Theresa, how—how should I face Mr. Su Mu!"
Seeing Susannah acting like a total fangirl, Theresa felt a drop of sweat. Okay. Now I know why she followed me to Arc City. The girl admired high-efficiency workers; she had targeted Otto as her goal when working for him. Su Mu's name had become legendary within Schicksal recently, and Susannah was a loyal Honkai 3rd player who had spent hundreds of thousands on the game... With those factors combined, it was no wonder she was incoherent with excitement.
Wait. Blind spot. "Su Mu? Why is he here??"
Theresa didn't recall asking for him. Their contact was usually purely professional; Su Mu only visited for work. Aside from that, she never talked to him about personal life. she had self-awareness regarding her status—Kiana's aunt, Schicksal's heir, and Su Mu's elder. These boundaries forced her to maintain an "elderly dignity," which often stopped her from doing what she wanted.
Surprised by the visit, she set aside her work and let Susannah bring him in.
Shortly after, from the corridor: "Mr. Su Mu, I love your games! Please give me an autograph!" "Aaaah! Thank you, thank you! I actually got Su Mu's autograph!" "I'm so happy! Hehe..."
Susannah's silly laughter echoed. Clearly, she had succeeded in her "celebrity pursuit."
"Lady Theresa, Mr. Su Mu, you two talk! Hehe!" Susannah showed some tact; after bringing him in, she gave a playful smile and closed the door.
Only Theresa and Su Mu remained. Theresa looked at Su Mu and saw him holding a paper bag.
"Her name is Susannah, right? Very enthusiastic," Su Mu said with a smile. "I came uninvited; I hope I'm not unwelcome?"
Theresa rolled her eyes. "If I said you were unwelcome, would you turn around and leave? 'No one visits the temple without a reason'—tell me, did Kiana cause trouble again?"
In her eyes, Su Mu wouldn't visit without a major reason. Otherwise, a call or a WeChat message would suffice.
Su Mu shook his head. "No." Theresa looked at him suspiciously. "Is MiHoYo in trouble?" Su Mu shook his head again. "No."
Theresa sat up straight. If Kiana hadn't caused trouble and MiHoYo wasn't in trouble, did Bronya get arrested for speeding...? Was he here to ask for a bail-out?
A certain "Big Duck" suddenly sneezed in her office. Looking at the driver's license she just reclaimed, she felt someone was talking about her. Thinking of the motorcycle Su Mu gave her, her heart felt sweet. Now that I have my license back, I must let Su Mu feel the speed of the wind from the pillion seat!
"None of that. I just heard you were back from Europe, so I came to see you." Su Mu placed the bag on her desk and pushed it toward her.
Theresa gave him a strange look and opened the bag. It was full of cured meats and sausages.
"Kiana and the others helped make them," Su Mu laughed. "That girl kept saying, 'I'm going to shock Auntie,' and she was very diligent when helping chop the meat. Though while we were drying them, she kept sneaking bites... I thought it was sparrows until I realized it was Kiana."
Looking at the cured meats, Theresa felt a sudden warmth in her heart. Does this guy have telepathy? Did he come here because he knew I missed the New Year activities due to Schicksal business?
"You came all this way just to bring me cured meat?"
Su Mu pulled a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to her. "You weren't here for the New Year, so I'm giving it to you now. Theresa, Happy New Year."
Theresa froze, realizing he truly had come just for her. "What's this... are you treating me like a child?" she wanted to laugh. she was the elder, shouldn't she be giving him an envelope? What a reversal.
The New Year... Thinking back, her grandpa used to give her envelopes, but not since she grew up. Not that Otto stopped, but Theresa insisted she wasn't a little girl anymore and refused them. How many years had it been since her last one? she couldn't quite remember.
Theresa let out a huff, but the corners of her mouth curled up. "Since you're here, stay for a meal before you leave."
END OF CHAPTER
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