Kiana raised her head, meeting Griseo's expectant gaze.
Those pale purple eyes were filled with a childlike innocence and a light that yearned for recognition.
"...Big Sister, what do you think?"
Kiana felt as if her heart had been squeezed by a small, invisible hand. That gaze was too clean. It was completely different from her devastated world, and completely different from the Miyuki in her memories who had ultimately turned into a monster.
"...It looks very good." She turned her face away, her voice somewhat dry, as if she hadn't yet adapted to this kind of pure kindness. "Thank you."
A bright smile blossomed on the little girl's face, so pure that Kiana subconsciously wanted to dodge it. It was so pure that it made Kiana feel a bit uncomfortable.
She looked away, folded the sketch, put it into her jacket pocket, and pretended to drink her milk tea.
Su Yu watched this scene and felt the timing was about right.
He fished out a few sheets of neatly folded printer paper from his pocket and, like he was handing over some top-secret document, slowly pushed them in front of Griseo.
"Griseo, take a look at this. This is a story I conceived recently," Su Yu said. "I would like to ask you to draw it."
Griseo put down her milkshake and gingerly picked up the papers.
Kiana watched from the side, inexplicably feeling a bit nervous in her heart. That was The Three-Year Sakura. The story she had told personally, about Asakura Miyuki, about twisted love, and about that girl she had ended with her own hands.
The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Kiana stared fixedly at the bobas floating in her cup, her breathing unconsciously lightening. Was it really okay to show this kind of thing to a ten-year-old child?
Griseo read very slowly. At first, her expression didn't change much. But those pale purple eyes gradually focused, becoming increasingly serious. She turned a page, then another, her fingertips gently rubbing the edge of the paper.
A few minutes later, she raised her head.
"...Very interesting."
Her voice was still very light, yet it held more warmth than before—it was the throbbing of an artist capturing inspiration.
"Yuri, suspense, horror... and a very deep sorrow."
"Especially that final part, contrasting with Kiana-oneesan spending her birthday in the dormitory with friends."
"Griseo... likes this story."
Su Yu's eyes lit up. "Then are you willing to—"
"But."
Griseo interrupted him. She folded the papers neatly and gently pushed them back in front of Su Yu, her movements unusually resolute.
"Griseo... cannot draw it."
"Why?"
"Griseo can only draw... flowers." The little girl's gaze drifted out the window, her voice becoming somewhat elusive, as if reciting lines she wasn't familiar with. "Oil paintings. Teacher said Griseo's paintings... have a great artistic sense. Mama Aponia likes that kind too."
What a perfect excuse.
Su Yu lifted his iced Americano and took a slow sip. The bitter liquid slid down his throat, suppressing the urge to laugh.
"Is that so? Can only draw flowers? That is truly regrettable."
He sighed and took back the stack of scripts, but his other hand unhurriedly fished out his phone.
"Actually, I happen to have a collection of special flowers here. The art style is stunning, the emotions are delicate, and I've always wanted to ask who the holy author actually is."
His finger tapped lightly on the screen, and then he turned the phone screen toward Griseo.
It was a manga cover. The art style was delicate and gorgeous; two handsome male characters were embracing each other, their eyes full of affection.
The title was written in flowery font: Love Honey.
Griseo's originally calm little face stiffened instantly, her pupils quaking.
"This..."
Su Yu didn't give her a chance to react; his finger swiped again.
Preemptive Strike! Even the Squinty-Eyed Have Their Day!
On the cover was a grey-haired man wearing glasses, being 'kabedon-ed' against a wall by another man.
Su Yu didn't stop; he continued to mercilessly twist the knife.
"And this one, which is the one I personally appreciate the most."
Does the Cold Prince Also Shed Tears?
On the cover was a white-haired young man, a teardrop hanging from the corner of his eye, his expression fragile. And behind him, a dark-haired man was wiping away his tears with a finger.
That dark-haired man...
Kiana's gaze involuntarily darted toward Su Yu. She looked at the cover again. Then looked at Su Yu again.
Her expression became quite spectacular. She looked at Su Yu with the eyes one would use to look at a monster.
This guy... this drawing is clearly a ten-times-beautified Su Yu and that guy named Kevin!
"The pen name of these manga authors is 'Painted World'," Su Yu's tone carried a smile. "With hundreds of thousands of fans, known in the circle as 'Mistress Painted World'. It is said she excels in various genres, aside from Otome, she is especially good at..."
He gave the petrified Griseo a meaningful look, his lips parting slightly to spit out two words/letters:
"...BL."
Griseo's little face had turned as red as a boiled prawn. Her small face flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye, red like a fully ripe tomato.
Her two small feet, clad in white socks, pressed together uneasily, toes curling inward, fighting under the table. Her two small hands gripped the hem of her dress tightly.
Those eyes, originally empty, were now filled with mist, darting around in panic.
"Griseo... Griseo doesn't know what you are talking about..." Griseo was still putting up a final resistance.
"Being stubborn is useless, you know." Su Yu swiped again. "Then what about this draft?"
On the screen was an unfinished line drawing.
The background was the familiar Golden Courtyard. In the center of the image, several male characters were engaging in some kind of... indescribable 'wrestling' sport.
Mn, the kind where they 'stand obediently'.
And in the corner of the picture, there was a tiny signature—
The two characters for "Painted World", with a small flower drawn next to them.
It was exactly the same as the one she had just signed in the sketchbook.
Checkmate, no solution.
Griseo froze completely, as if someone had pressed the pause button.
"I saw your sketchbook in Dr. Mobius's laboratory."
Su Yu put away his phone, crossed his hands, and rested his chin on them, revealing a harmless smile.
"Your signature is very distinctive; one can recognize it at a glance. As a fan, I have a photographic memory."
"..."
"So, Teacher Painted World. Do you need me to continue displaying them?"
Griseo's face was so red it looked like it was about to drip water. She lowered her head, shoulders trembling slightly, like a caught little rabbit.
"You wouldn't want Dr. Mobius to know you are 'Painted World', right?"
Su Yu leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"She has high hopes for you, always saying you are the future Art Star of the Golden Courtyard. If she finds out that her beloved little painter is drawing online—"
"Su... Brother Su Yu!"
Griseo finally broke down. She suddenly raised her head, her eyes rimmed with red, her voice carrying a sobbing tone as she pointed at Su Yu and accused him.
"You are simply... a big meanie!"
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