81. Boyfriend Gao Qi and Best Friend Kiana?
Before true hardship strikes, everyone believes they are strong enough.
"Gao... Brother Gao Qi... Dad, he—"
Her delicate hands trembling slightly, Raiden Mei stared at the information on the TV in disbelief. The sudden news left her at a loss.
Although her father rarely spent time with Mei, she still trusted and relied on him deeply. Whenever Raiden Ryoma returned home, she was always overjoyed.
Likewise, Mei believed that her father's work genuinely contributed to societal progress and the well-being of the people.
In life, Mei looked up to Brother Gao Qi, hoping for a beautiful and stable future with him.
But in her career, she also aspired to achieve similar success as her father, preferably by starting her own company and becoming a strong, independent woman.
After all—that way, she could better take care of Brother Gao Qi!
If Brother Gao Qi went out to work, the time he spent at home would surely decrease. Mei preferred him to stay by her side always.
But now, the trusted and admired image of her father in Mei's mind began to crack.
If her father left, her life would undergo earth-shattering changes. Without the employment relationship, Brother Gao Qi might leave too—
Before Mei could spiral into anxious thoughts, the next moment, a broad and sturdy embrace pulled her close.
"It's alright, it's alright. There must be some misunderstanding here. Don't worry, I'm here for everything—you didn't think I'd run away just because you couldn't pay my wages, did you?"
Gently stroking Mei's back, Gao Qi whispered soothing words to the helpless girl.
"Mr. Ryoma told me that the internal conflicts at ME Corp are particularly intense. Many people have been bribed by his external competitors. If anything happened to him, I would protect you properly—he already knew something like this might occur."
Before Mei could overthink, Gao Qi presented the explanation he had prepared long ago—what did Raiden Ryoma know? He was probably still in shock himself.
"Don't worry about Mr. Ryoma. Someone will rescue him. Everything has been planned for."
This was true. Raiden Ryoma wouldn't be detained for long before Einstein rescued him.
As Gao Qi spoke these words, he didn't even need to incorporate "divine whispers." For the helpless Mei, she would instinctively believe the first information she received.
As long as Gao Qi set the tone, she would harbor less resentment toward her father and feel less lost amid the surrounding changes.
"R-really? Dad already anticipated this… But he should have at least told me something so important!"
Gao Qi's firmness and well-reasoned explanation helped the already trusting Mei calm down slightly. She began to think in the direction Gao Qi intended.
"Should we… No, I shouldn't trouble Father."
Finally, Mei regained her rationality. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at Gao Qi, who had "received her father's instructions."
"Then, what should we do, Brother Gao Qi?"
Clearly, at this moment, she already saw Gao Qi as her pillar of support.
"Good, very calm. Mr. Ryoma would surely be proud of you now—don't worry, Mei. Right now, it's not Mr. Ryoma who needs attention, but you!"
Reaching out, Gao Qi gently tapped Mei's nose and stroked her smooth purple hair.
"From now on, you're no longer the young lady of ME Corp. Those who flocked to you for your status and reputation will avoid you from now on. And those 'dear friends' and flattering followers who once treated you so kindly will no longer take you seriously—in more severe cases, it might even turn into school bullying~~"
These were all things that happened in the original story and were the reasons Mei fell into darkness. Gao Qi naturally wanted to avoid them as much as possible.
"Also, I'm afraid this house will be seized tomorrow—if there's anything you like or can't bear to leave behind, take it with you early."
As he spoke, Gao Qi pulled out a bank card from his pocket. He had saved all his wages over the years.
"Now, it's my turn to take care of you, Mei. Go to school as usual tomorrow. I'll go rent a place. Our lives will go on as before—mmph."
However, to Gao Qi's surprise, before he could finish speaking, Mei stood on her tiptoes and gently pecked his lips.
Now, there was no trace of panic or helplessness on Mei's face. Instead, it was replaced by a reassuring smile.
"As for me, as long as I bring Brother Gao Qi with me, everything will be fine!"
After saying this, Mei returned to the dining table and began eating heartily, her appetite even stronger than before.
Although her father had been sent to detention and would likely face a trial and prison time, since Brother Gao Qi had assured her, there shouldn't be any major issues.
Moreover, Gao Qi's earlier words reminded Mei of a fact that made her incredibly happy—
From now on, she could leave this spacious, empty villa and live a wonderful life with just Gao Qi. Perhaps, because the new place would be small, they might even share a bed!
Although it sounded somewhat irreverent, Mei had to admit that this delightful prospect filled her with joy and lifted her spirits.
As for the people and things that would leave her after her father's fall from grace, Mei felt no regret—some things were simply beyond control.
Right now, Mei only needed Brother Gao Qi by her side. And… it was also time for his role as her "brother" to change a little.
[When your world falls apart, only he will remain by your side. See, you love him. Only he is your one and everything—possess him, own him, enjoy him… He is yours alone and will forever belong to you!]
For a moment, a sentence seemed to flash through Raiden Mei's mind. It sounded like her own voice, but colder and more authoritative.
Shaking her head, Mei pushed the strange thought out of her mind.
[How could that be? Brother Gao Qi isn't mine alone. He has family and friends too. No one belongs solely to one person.]
The strange thought didn't linger in Mei's mind. She quickly finished her rice, even swallowing several mouthfuls without any side dishes.
After finishing the meal and completely calming down, Mei, who hadn't dared to look up at Gao Qi, was now overwhelmed with shyness.
Did she… did she just boldly kiss Brother Gao Qi? No, that couldn't be! Where did she get the courage?
Thinking about it, Mei, who had always been a well-behaved child, panicked entirely! This was probably the most outrageous thing she had ever done in her life!
How could she have dared to do such a thing just now?! And that was her first kiss!
Although she had always planned to save her first kiss for Brother Gao Qi, it should have happened in a more romantic and beautiful setting!
Finally, she cautiously looked up, only to meet Gao Qi's gentle gaze.
"What, regret it?"
Grinning, Gao Qi hadn't expected Mei, the "good girl," to actually take the initiative like that.
Judging by her original personality, the current Mei would never have had the courage to kiss him.
It seemed that with someone like him around who didn't like following rules, Mei had indeed been "corrupted" in some way.
"If you're unwilling, I can treat it as a kiss from a sister to her brother~~"
Looking at the extremely flustered Mei, Gao Qi couldn't resist teasing her a little.
"I-I don't regret it! Remember this clearly—it was my first kiss! You better give me a proper response! I'm done eating. I'm going to pack!"
Emphatically declaring the meaning of her kiss, Mei stood up shyly and hurried back to her room.
But in Gao Qi's eyes, Mei's retreating figure seemed to… shimmer with a faint purple electric light.
"It's not just the result of my influence, right?"
Gao Qi knew that at this very moment, a seed was taking root and sprouting in Mei's heart.
As for what kind of tree this seed would grow into, Gao Qi believed it depended on whether he or the Will of the Honkai would prove to be the better gardener.
——————
The next day, despite the sudden upheaval, Mei still chose to go to school. Gao Qi had already packed their luggage and escorted her to the school gates.
After this, it was time to buy a new car—one that wouldn't be seized.
"Phew, when I go home today, it'll be to a new place—don't worry, Brother Gao Qi, I'll handle things at school just fine. You don't need to worry about me."
Dark circles surrounded her eyes—Mei seemed to have had a sleepless night, only mustering her energy now.
But unlike usual, today Mei was holding a wooden sword used for kendo practice.
"I'm off now, Brother Gao Qi. Make sure you give me a proper answer later—Mmh!"
However, before Mei could finish speaking, Gao Qi suddenly pulled her closer and gave her a gentle kiss that lasted a full half-minute.
Of course, he kept it chaste—such things could have an immeasurable negative influence on teenagers. Relationships should progress step by step.
"This is my answer, Mei—be prepared. Starting tonight when we go home, the two of us will be living together."
This time, without any hesitation or doubt, Gao Qi directly accepted Mei's feelings.
"Eh, ehhh, ehhhhhh?!"
The greedy kiss short-circuited Mei's brain, leaving her frozen in place. Meanwhile, Gao Qi, as usual, got out of the car and walked to the passenger side, gracefully helping Mei out before whispering in her ear:
"You naughty girl, you've opened quite the extraordinary door."
Soon, the car slowly drove away, leaving Mei standing there with a flushed face. After hesitating for a moment, she finally walked through the school gates.
Not far inside, Mei heard a sharp, mocking voice by her ear.
"Well, look who decided to show up—our little miss princess? I thought you'd be busy testifying for your father in court. Just after your dad gets arrested, you're already fooling around with that pretty boy? What a filial daughter you are."
Mei turned around, her expression turning cold and threatening. She saw several familiar faces.
The girl leading them used to greet Mei with a bright smile every time they met. And behind her were girls who once called Mei "Big Sister"—now standing among the mockers.
"What, you're glaring at me? What's the fraud's daughter going to do to me? You—"
Slap—Thud!
One step, two steps—covering several meters in an instant, Mei closed the distance and raised her slender hand, delivering a sharp, resounding slap.
Though she had her family's martial art, Mei had also learned a set of exquisite hand to hand techniques from Brother Gao Qi—no, from Gao Qi himself. She had only studied the footwork and mental techniques, not the rest.
At the same time, Mei's other hand gripped the hilt of her wooden sword, driving it hard into the girl's stomach.
"You can insult me, but not my father—and don't you dare insult my boyfriend. Understood?"
Gripping the girl's pain-twisted face, a faint, eerie purple light flashed in Mei's eyes as she softly repeated something Gao Qi had once taught her:
"You can report my violent behavior, get me expelled. I remember your father holds a high position, but his income doesn't quite match your lavish lifestyle, does it? And he also holds shares in ME Corp—that's why you used to bow and scrape before me. But guess what? After I visit my father, do you think he'd mind exposing a few more 'accomplices'?"
In that moment, Mei felt… incredibly free.
"You're insane, completely mad! Get her, strip her clothes off, take pictures—I'll tear her mouth apart! She's not our queen anymore! Don't you all want to drag her down from her throne?!"
Thrown back into the crowd of girls, the instigator shouted in fear and rage, trying to rally them to surround Mei. But when Mei's purple eyes swept over them, none of those fair-weather cowards dared to step forward.
Finally, one tall, sturdy girl from the wrestling club mustered her courage and lunged at Mei for a takedown.
"Hmph."
Mei's lips curved slightly as she placed both hands on her wooden sword. She'd make sure this one stayed down for a good ten days or more—to show the whole school not to mess with her!
Mei's life was about to get busy! She wanted to enjoy her new relationship, not waste time on petty bullying games!
This childish nonsense could go rot in the garbage!
Thud!
But before Mei could swing her sword, the wrestling club girl stumbled and slumped weakly to the ground.
"Hey, I can't just stand by and watch a bunch of people ganging up on one girl—you're nothing but bullies picking on the weak! So this is what Dad meant by school bullying!"
A lively, spirited voice rang out. Curious, Mei looked toward the person who had struck from behind the athlete.
It was a girl with white twin-tails and bright blue eyes. Even in the cold weather, she wore only a thin top and a plaid skirt, a piece of bread dangling from her mouth. With a single palm strike—holding back her fist's full force—she'd still left her opponent writhing in pain.
And that move… Mei recognized it!
"Thank you for helping. That move was… 'White Tiger'!"
Hearing her question, the girl nodded, scratching the back of her head with a slightly goofy smile.
"Yeah! And you used 'Vermilion Bird,' right? How lucky—to meet someone from the same school here in the Far East! Dad said there aren't many left in the world who know the Inch Heart Fist. I'm Kiana! Kiana Kaslana!"
Seeing the fierce, cold girl before her suddenly soften, Kiana's eyes widened in surprise before she enthusiastically reached out a hand.
"Well, that's fortunate. Hello, I'm Raiden Mei—just call me Mei."
Looking at this girl, Mei couldn't help but smile slightly and shake her slender hand.
Brother Gao Qi was really right—perhaps only when she hit rock bottom could Mei find true friends.
She felt she might have just found one.
"Mei, what a lovely name. You're in your second year of high school, right? Then I'll call you Mei-senpai! My dad taught me this fist style. What about you?"
"Ah, my… brother—no, my boyfriend taught me. He's a really good person."
"Brother? Boyfriend? That's complicated. I don't really get dating stuff—I came to Nagazora City to find my dad."
"Looking for your father? That's nice… Are you from abroad, Kiana? Your blue eyes are so pretty."
"Mei-senpai's eyes are beautiful too! But I'm not a foreigner—I'm a clone! Pretty cool, huh?"
"A—a clone?!"
And so, the two girls walked side by side, chatting more and more enthusiastically.
They both felt they had found their best friend.
With the love of her boyfriend and now a true friend, Mei felt that the upheaval in her life might not be so bad after all.
At least, for now.
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: warboss
Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?