Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

Cecilia moved closer and nudged Brunhilde, forcing a smile. "It seems... Miss Claire and Boubou have reconciled... Congratulations..."

"I..." Brunhilde wanted to argue, but it didn't ease the tension at all. Now she couldn't find a reason, so she could only swallow her bitter pill.

He couldn't out-emotionally outmaneuver Claire; she always managed to manipulate his thoughts from various angles.

“After all, Bubu needs to be completely focused during exams,” Claire said with relish. She had successfully won a round against Brunhilde, at least making it less convenient for Brunhilde to continue trying to embarrass her in front of others. Feeling better after winning, she initiated a conversation, “I’ll accompany Bubu during his exams, and I’ll cook all three meals a day, so Bubu doesn’t have to worry about anything. It’s perfect; I haven’t taken care of Bubu in so long, it’ll remind him of his mother’s cooking!”

"I'm so sorry, it was supposed to be me taking care of Bubu, I've troubled you, Miss Claire." Cecilia regained her composure, trying hard not to feel inexplicably jealous. Strangely enough, even though Claire was the least likely person to make her jealous, she inexplicably... felt that Claire was dangerous.

So much so that she herself didn't realize that she had gone from calling Claire "Aunt Claire" to "Miss Claire." This was because, subconsciously, she was treating Claire as a competitive rival.

"Oh? Why are you taking care of her?" Claire asked, puzzled.

Cecilia broke out in a cold sweat in an instant! She suddenly realized that her guardedness had caused her to unconsciously reveal information.

Yes, with Bubu taking his exams, there are so many people taking care of him, including his girlfriends... would Cecilia even be a chance? At the very least, there's Siegfried, his older sister. Her relationship with Brunhilde is that of "sister's girlfriend," not really close.

“Bubu and I have been siblings for so many years, he’s like my own brother. If I’m free, I’ll definitely take care of Bubu.” Cecilia reacted quickly. “Phil also asked me to take care of Bubu. He’s been staying at my house in Moscow for the past few months since he’s not taking exams.”

Claire smiled silently.

"But Bubu seems quite happy staying with me these past few days. She spends all her time in the hotel with me and doesn't even go out."

"Not...not going out?"

“Yes, once we get back to the hotel, Bubu and I don’t go out.” Claire looked into her eyes and said softly, “We stay in the hotel all day long, eating together, watching TV together, going to the gym together, doing everything together. Bubu makes me breakfast, and I make Bubu dinner, and then we exercise after eating. Hmm, sometimes we exercise while eating.”

Brunhilde covered her face; she was no longer able to participate in the conversation.

“So…so you guys really love sports.” Cecilia felt that Claire’s eyes were malicious.

“Of course I love it! Exercise keeps you young. You know, Bubu’s favorite sport is yoga; he’s incredibly flexible. Of course, I’ve also had over ten years of yoga experience, so we work together seamlessly.” Claire casually stretched and yawned. “Cecilia, you should learn a lot too. After all, this sport is very good for developing the body, and girls who learn yoga have an amazing allure for men. They can even… make boys who are initially resistant to you fall head over heels for your softness and beauty.”

Cecilia was silent for a moment. She knew Claire seemed to be implying something, but she couldn't quite follow Claire's train of thought, so she could only nod calmly in the end: "Thank you for your guidance, Miss Claire, but I don't really need to use any silly tricks to seduce boys."

"How can the means be boring? This is the path to happiness."

"When people are in love, everything they do can be a source of joy for each other. Even just looking at each other can bring them happiness. They don't need any tricks; they are naturally happy."

"If you don't know how to use some tricks, your beloved boy might be snatched away by someone else."

"No need for Miss Claire to remind me, but anyway, I prefer girls."

"Ah."

Brunhilde sensed a tension in their conversation, but upon looking over, she saw two equally beautiful white-haired women smiling broadly. The saintly young lady in her school uniform and white stockings wrapped her arms around his waist and pinched his flesh hard, while the witch young lady in her black stockings and bodycon skirt, dressed like a teacher, had already reached the door, turned back to look at the two of them, and blinked her beautiful crimson eyes.

She could see Brunhilde and Cecilia holding hands, of course. She watched for a long time, but said nothing. She simply pushed open the door and left.

--------------

Brunhilde had the hotel send over ducks; in places like Siberia, only imported ducks are available, and these were frozen, so the taste wasn't very good.

Boil the meat in water until it's about 80% cooked, then let it cool. Remove the bones, shred the meat into pieces, and simmer it in a broth with various spices. Add three tablespoons of salt, a bottle of brandy, sprinkle with diced shiitake mushrooms, ginger slices, and chopped green onions, along with some spaghetti and toasted bread slices, and finally a pinch of Sichuan peppercorns.

This dish was learned by Brunhilde from Chinese cuisine and adapted from duck blood vermicelli soup using Nordic methods. It's like a soup, yet also like a stew, but it's actually more suited to Western tastes, with a layered and well-balanced flavor. Italian pasta replaces the unavailable vermicelli, resulting in a surprisingly delicious taste. As for substituting duck blood for duck meat… well, duck meat is actually better for duck blood vermicelli soup; the duck blood was simply a cost-saving measure.

It was already lunchtime when it was finished. After lunch, Claire and Cecilia once again marveled at Brunhilde's exceptional cooking skills.

Sometimes, a white Ragdoll cat can win the hearts of girls of all ages, and it certainly takes some skill. As someone who has studied Chinese cuisine since childhood, known for producing some of the best food in the world, Brunhilde is adept at winning over any girl who loves food.

“Actually, I think it’s not really your job to open a media company, Bubu. With your skills, you should open a high-end restaurant or bar/club, something geared towards the supernatural side. Then only the Valkyries can come to your shop to taste your cooking, and with your face, Bubu… it’ll be a killer! Forget about destiny, you might even become a sensation throughout the entire supernatural side!” Cecilia said to him.

Brunhilde remained noncommittal. In fact, he started the media company not only to meet the needs of Shigure Kira and other members of the Snow Wolf Squad, but also because he was genuinely short of money.

Unlike the Shaniat family, the Kaslana family cannot be considered an ultimate wealthy family that completely disregards money. Brunhilde has never had much financial freedom since childhood. Raising Sugar Dew Star Frost Official is essentially about making money, and she doesn't need to pay high salaries to Shigure Kira and the others, since her body has already paid for it.

The money you make from starting a company is definitely much higher than what you earn from running a restaurant or bar.

As for attaching himself to the Schariac family... to be honest, Siegfried and Claire of the Kaslana family are currently receiving unlimited financial support from the Schariac family, and Brunhilde believes that she should at least be the last one in the family who cares about appearances.

After lunch, it was midday and the sun was shining brightly, so Brunhilde decided to check out of the hotel and the group went for a walk on the campus of Moscow State University.

After spending several months on vacation in Siberia, the group had basically explored every alley in the city, geographically speaking.

However, with the recent fighting, Moscow has begun to close off many places, and police officers have set up cordons at many street intersections, even restricting residents' daily movements. In contrast, this school campus has become one of the few safe havens in Moscow, with students coming and going as if nothing were different during peacetime.

The vitality of young people is always the most pleasing to the eye. Everywhere on the campus of Moda University, you can see girls carrying books and wearing long cotton and linen dresses, or boys who have gone out to get food and then run back to their dormitories quickly because they are afraid of the cold. The tree-lined paths are piled with snow, some evergreen trees have had their crowns trimmed, and there are also some cameras that did not exist a few years ago but are now common, as well as loudspeakers in the broadcasting room hanging on the utility poles.

The year 2000, spanning two millennia, saw rapid progress, even in the civilian sector, with many things changing daily. For example, VCDs were replaced by DVDs, mobile phones began to emphasize visual interaction, and surveillance cameras became ubiquitous in various countries. Development was rapid almost every year, accelerating even further after the turn of the millennium. Many previously secretive technologies were now being developed and popularized by private companies.

For example, with Microsoft, Apple, and the fledgling Google, a brand new era is rising. Even for a young person like Brunhilde, the world feels unfamiliar. Everyone is changing, changing rapidly, and he feels like he can't keep up, feeling somewhat lost and confused.

Life is only fit for living in Liangyuan Garden, where several white-haired fathers would be overjoyed. This refers to his family's five generations of elegance and extravagance, sleeping soundly in the rain at Rouge Slope.

Brunhilde unknowingly walked to the vicinity of an old apartment building. As she looked up, she was suddenly bumped by something. Looking down, she saw a small, pale blonde girl, probably only five or six years old, carrying a sapling and flowerpot, struggling to walk past. Because she had been looking down at the road, she had accidentally bumped the sapling into Brunhilde's nose.

Chapter 83: Scenarios for Using the Word "Baby"

It's quite rare to encounter elementary school students at university. Brunhilde experienced this firsthand when she was in university; her age and appearance were basically at the level of a cute middle school girl.

The little girl in front of me was only five or six years old, at most a first grader, short in stature and incredibly cute. She wore a neat Lolita dress, her soft, dark golden hair covering one eye, and the way she was struggling to hug a small tree only accentuated her cuteness.

Such an adorable little girl would definitely be treated like a treasure in college, just like Brunhilde was back then.

Brunhilde reached out and pinched the sapling to avoid the branch scratching her face. The little girl, not watching where she was going, stumbled and was about to fall after bumping into someone. Brunhilde reacted quickly and caught her shoulder.

"Thank you, brother... sister?" the little girl quickly thanked her.

Her voice was soft and gentle, and although she was still young and full of childishness, to Brunhilde's surprise, her voice actually carried a subtle and alluring charm.

He couldn't help but look down at the little girl. The Lolita girl from Dark Gold Chang'an was holding his arm, looking tired, her fingers weakly hooking the edge of the flowerpot.

In short, she now looks weak, pitiful, and adorable, as if the flowerpot would fall to the ground if Brunhilde didn't help her hold it.

Brunhilde felt a surge of amusement.

—He's not an ordinary boy.

Most boys have a gentlemanly mindset. When faced with a girl showing her vulnerable side, they immediately feel a surge of male chauvinism, or a desire to "play the strong," and will rush to help. Girls, especially precocious ones, are more adept at understanding this mindset and use various subtle hints to get help.

Yes, an implication.

Girls need to be reserved, so when they want help from others, they often won't offer it themselves, but rather show weakness. Naturally, boys will volunteer to help enthusiastically, and after they politely and reservedly refuse a few times, they will finally reluctantly accept the help.

In this way, you won't owe anyone a favor; at most, you'll just need to say thank you.

But Brunhilde was no ordinary boy.

Brunhilde has lived as the little princess of the Kaslana family for so many years, and in school and in society, she enjoys exactly the kind of beautiful girl setting that makes her easy to get help from.

So he knows all too well how to be "reserved," but that doesn't mean he would do it, nor does it mean he agrees with doing it.

This mentality is interesting, but also pointless. People should be equal; no one is obligated to cater to your emotions, perceive your weaknesses, or maintain enthusiasm and warmth towards you. Moreover, this is such a young girl, already learning to exploit her appearance at such a young age—this kind of family education is simply malicious.

The little girl was about to hand the flowerpot to Brunhilde, who grinned and put her hands back in her pockets. The little girl's flowerpot fell straight down, but she quickly recovered and grabbed it, then looked up at the handsome white-haired boy in disbelief.

"Good luck." Brunhilde put her hands in her pockets, cheering her on with her eyes, then turned and walked away.

If someone needs help, they should ask for it instead of implying it to the other person and then taking it for granted without any psychological burden, or even adopting an attitude of "I can do it myself, I don't need your help, but you insist on helping, so be it."

The little girl paused for a moment, watching Brunhilde's retreating figure.

Her mind went blank for a moment; this was truly the first time she'd ever seen anything like it. Someone wouldn't help her, someone who was so adorable? And not only that, they gave her an encouraging look? I'm only six!

Rita Losweather was stunned for a long time before she suddenly noticed the chest that almost covered the top of her head.

“Losweisse, this little girl, reminds me of Bubu when she was little,” Claire smiled.

In Rita's eyes, the three white-haired beauties were easy to distinguish. The one in front, who wasn't helping and had a rather boyish, spirited look, was called "Crazy." The other two had a quirky yet gentle older sister vibe, so she was called "Ancient Elf." And the last one was mature and beautiful, with alluring eyes and a youthful appearance that clearly showed she had matured over time, so she was called "Settled Matter."

And at this moment, it is the sediment that is speaking.

"Hello, Sister Claire!" Rita thought to herself, but her words remained polite.

She knew Claire, who had been coming here often to tease her lately. It was said that this woman was the project leader of a laboratory jointly established by Moscow State University and the London Academy of Sciences, but she was never seen leading any work. Instead, the researchers in the laboratory treated her with utmost respect. Rita was temporarily living at the university with her father. She was too young to be in first grade or nursery school, but now that it was the holidays, she was the darling of her father's colleagues at the university.

However, her father seemed to respect Claire quite a bit, which made Rita quite afraid of this woman.

But if what Claire just said—Rita thought about it—then this lunatic named Bubu is Claire's child?

"You know him?" Brunhilde turned around.

“I know all the lovely children, like you, Bubu, and little Rita.” Claire smiled as she squatted down, picked up Rita, and handed Cecilia a flowerpot. She kissed Rita’s tender little face. “After all, I love children. Bubu, you’re too big for me to hold and kiss anymore, so I’ll let little Rita unleash my maternal instincts.”

"Is she your illegitimate daughter?" Brunhilde casually, but with a sharp and incisive remark, pierced Claire's heart.

Claire took a deep breath and continued to smile: "Honey, you know I can't... How could I do such a thing?"

“Who knows?” Brunhilde was good at provoking her.

Cecilia looked around curiously.

“Baby, you know perfectly well that I would never betray you in the slightest…” Claire almost blurted out, glaring at Brunhilde with a mixture of grievance and resentment. “Nonsense…you just know how to bully me!”

“Bully you? I dare to do that.” Brunhilde sneered.

Cecilia felt a little uneasy listening to this, but she didn't understand it either, and looked around in confusion.

"Sister Claire, is this sister the...brother you were talking about?" Rita kindly eased the awkwardness.

Brunhilde realized what she meant and frowned at her: "You're telling an ordinary person our Kaslana family's secret?"

“Yes, this is Brunhilde, your future brother.” Claire said to Rita with a smile, then said to Brunhilde, “It doesn’t matter. Rita has already been tested and found to have excellent Honkai energy adaptability. She’s very good at it, and she probably won’t stray far from our circle in the future. Besides, little Rita is very discreet; she understands everything.”

Brunhilde then realized where this little girl, only five or six years old, had learned her innocent charm and vulnerability from...