After the rush of excitement from the stream faded, Su Yu lay in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
The game had traction now, and Kiana's existence had been pushed into people's awareness—but another problem sat in front of him like a ticking time bomb:
A household registration.
In a hyper-digitalized modern society like this one, without an ID card, Kiana was a complete ghost.
Forget taking the high-speed rail or checking into a hotel in the future—she wouldn't even be able to go to a hospital openly.
Back when she could still get away with staying cooped up at home, he could muddle through. But once the game launched, Kiana—its core motion-capture performer and possibly even its future face—would inevitably have to step into the spotlight.
That "black户," that undocumented status, had to go.
At that thought, Su Yu turned over, picked up his phone, and tapped on Kevin's profile.
That perpetually expressionless avatar was still lit up even this late at night—proof that wage-slave overtime was apparently his default setting.
Su Yu: You asleep? Need to ask you something. Urgent.
Kevin: Just got off work. Still eating noodles. Say it.
Instant reply.
As expected of dependable Kevin: if he wasn't asleep, he was basically always on standby.
Su Yu considered his wording for a moment, trying to phrase things as delicately as possible.
Su Yu: It's about… uh, the "cat" at my place.
Su Yu: Because of some special circumstances—you know, family tragedy, wandering the streets, that sort of thing—she's never had a household registration. If I wanted to get her an ID through official channels, is there any proper way to do it?
The other side went quiet for a while, probably trying to process what kind of "cat" would need an ID card.
Kevin: If there's truly no record at all, it'll be troublesome. Usually you need to go through an orphanage, or provide proof that the person's file was lost due to force majeure.
Kevin: But if you can prove she has some kind of "irreplaceable special value," it gets easier.
Kevin: The research institute where Mei works—or some official partner organizations—reserve a few "special talent recruitment" slots every year. If it's filed under something like "confidential research staff" or "specially appointed expert," it can go through an expedited approval channel. The requirements for past records are much more lenient.
Special talent.
There it was.
That was exactly what Su Yu had been waiting for.
He glanced at Kiana, who was curled up on the floor mattress beside the bed, sleeping soundly like a defenseless kitten.
Although right now she looked harmless, like some soft little stray cat, that terrifying strength capable of tearing apart mech suits—and the Kaslana gun-fu carved straight into her DNA—
If that didn't count as "special talent," then nobody in this world was ordinary.
Kevin: If you need it, I can ask Mei to help. But the premise is that she needs a "background" that sounds plausible.
A whole string of recent incidents flashed through Su Yu's mind.
The night their drunken neighbor Himeko had seen Kiana's strength and started shouting things like "martial artist" and "junior sister straight from the mountain."
The "junior sister" story he'd improvised live under the pink menace's gaze.
And that night, under full public observation, Kiana had picked him up in a textbook princess carry and walked several hundred meters without even breaking a sweat…
Looks like the script he'd prepared just happened to be useful after all.
Su Yu: Got it.
The corners of Su Yu's mouth shot upward as his fingers flew over the keyboard.
Su Yu: Actually… she's my master's youngest disciple, taken in years ago deep in the mountains. She grew up cut off from the world, devoted entirely to martial training, and only recently came down the mountain to seek out me, her senior brother.
Su Yu: Since she's always lived in the deep mountains, she has neither a birth certificate nor a household registration.
Su Yu: Does that… setup—uh, I mean, situation—meet the standard for "special talent"?
The other side fell silent again.
So silent that Su Yu started wondering whether Kevin had stared himself to sleep, or whether the absurdity of that backstory had left him charred inside and out.
At last, a message came through.
Kevin: …Deep mountain martial arts?
Kevin: So that night she carried you around because of this?
Su Yu: Yes! Exactly! Childhood discipline! Kaslana-style ancient martial arts! Normal people can't learn it!
Another pause.
Kevin: Then your junior sister should have a proper Shenzhou surname, right? She wouldn't happen to be surnamed Ye, would she?
Su Yu: Kao-ge.jpg
Su Yu: Can I ask which "Ye" you mean?
Kevin: Ip Man, obviously. Who else would I mean? Me?
Su Yu wiped at his brow. Thank God.
If Kevin had typed something like "Ye Shunguang," Su Yu felt like he would've needed to open a video store on some street corner and start thinking seriously about how to go into business.
Actually, maybe not. If she was the "junior sister," then what did that make him—some benevolent old orange grandpa, or the legendary dragon warrior slash head chef slash financial manager?
Was there really no option where he got to remain a normal human being? Damn it!
Kevin: Back to the point. It sounds like something out of a movie… but if Mei handles it, she can probably package it into something plausible. After all, "inheritor of an endangered ancient martial tradition" does fall under cultural preservation–class special talent.
Kevin: As long as the data is real, Mei can make it work. I'll ask her for you.
The next morning, Kevin's message arrived right on time.
The line on the screen made the knot in Su Yu's chest loosen by half—only for the other half to tighten again.
Kevin: Mei agreed. We can take the expedited route, under the name "intangible cultural heritage inheritor" and "special security consultant." But…
That "but" always heralded something troublesome.
Kevin: Mei wants to perform a full physical examination.
Kevin: Since it's supposedly "ancient martial arts," she's extremely interested in muscle density, neural response speed, even blood composition. You know how she is—occupational habit.
Su Yu's brows knitted instantly.
He reflexively looked over at Kiana, who was currently sitting on the carpet and turning a Rubik's Cube like a little animal wholly absorbed in a toy.
Research.
Examination.
Data.
For ordinary people, those words might just mean routine procedure.
But for Kiana, every single one of them reeked of blood.
Cold operating tables in laboratories. Days spent as a test subject.
Even though this world's Mei was a good person, a kind-hearted scientist, Su Yu didn't dare take that risk.
Trust was like a thin eggshell: once it cracked, no matter how carefully you patched it, the fractures stayed.
He had worked so hard just to let that frightened little cat settle down a little.
Su Yu immediately replied, fingers striking the screen hard enough that it felt like he was trying to punch holes through it.
Su Yu: No. Absolutely not.
Su Yu: Kevin, my junior sister grew up deep in the mountains.
Su Yu: She has a severe aversion to modern medical procedures. You could even call it serious psychological trauma. If she sees needles or strange equipment, she might… well, panic.
Su Yu: You don't want a startled "humanoid tyrannosaur" demolishing Mei's research institute—or the police station either, right? Thinking back to the way she carried me that night… I really don't think any of us wants to take that risk.
The reply took a long while.
Kevin was probably imagining Kiana going berserk and tearing buildings apart. His survival instincts, at least, were apparently functioning.
Kevin: Understood. I'll tell Mei exactly that. Safety first.
A few minutes later, a revised plan arrived.
Kevin: Mei took a step back. No invasive examination.
Kevin: But for the household registration, the police still need to enter her basic information and verify her "special talent" to justify the expedited approval.
Kevin: Mei wants her to demonstrate this so-called "ancient martial art" on site, and allow the collection of some non-contact physical performance data. That's the bottom line.
Grip strength tests, reaction speed, burst-force demonstrations.
In other words… perform some little act like smashing boulders on her chest or bending steel bars barehanded?
That, at least, was right in Kiana's wheelhouse.
Su Yu let out a breath and turned to look at her.
"Kiana, there's good news… and there's also a task."
After hearing him explain the arrangement—especially after hearing how firmly Su Yu had rejected the physical exam—Kiana stopped turning the Rubik's Cube in her hands.
She lowered her head. Her long lashes hid her expression, but her fingers tightened around the cube.
She knew exactly what "research" meant.
If Su Yu had hesitated, or if he'd agreed just because it was easier…
But he hadn't.
He had cared more about her feelings than she had herself—like some overprotective old hen, shielding her from every possible source of harm.
"Um… Su Yu."
Kiana looked up, her gaze a little uncertain, but her voice was quiet and serious.
"Thank you… and thank Dr. Mei too. Thank her for me."
She took a deep breath, as if casting off some invisible chains, then stood up and stretched her shoulders wide.
"So all I have to do is show them how amazing I am, right? Easy."
"If I'm going to play this 'ancient martial arts inheritor' role, then I absolutely can't disgrace the Kaslana name. Let's go! I'll show them what real genius looks like!"
"I'll let them see how I punch a sandbag to pieces!"
Watching her regain that spark, Su Yu smiled.
This was the Kiana he knew.
Su Yu: OK.
Kevin: How's your body? Can you walk yet? Mei wants the data as soon as possible. Need me to drive you?
Su Yu: No need. Walking's fine. Appetite's great too. Feel like I could punch a tiger to death.
Kevin: I feel like you still can't beat the "cat" at your house. Sorry, your "junior sister."
Su Yu: You really know how to kill a conversation, bro.
Su Yu sent him a smirking pink-Elysia sticker with that exact expression of troublemaking satisfaction.
Don't ask where it came from. Let's just say there was once a year when Elysia desperately needed a talented designer to create a sticker pack for her fans.
So Su Yu had stepped in.
Kevin: Squinting Tibetan fox.jpg
Kevin: Also, Su said you're in good shape. Just kind of weak.
Su Yu immediately shot back a You're the weak one.
A man's mouth was always the hardest part of him. You could call him short, fat, ugly, or stupid and maybe he'd shrug it off—but you absolutely could not attach the word weak to him.
That was a matter of dignity. A sacred line that could not be crossed.
It was the same kind of sacred logic as two guys fighting over who got to be the other's dad.
After confirming the time and place with Kevin and Mei, Su Yu brought Kiana to the local police station.
Its décor was completely different from the kind of oppressive, cold, mechanical security bureaus Kiana had imagined.
The lobby was brightly lit, the lighting warm, and there was even the faint smell of coffee in the air.
The staff behind the counter didn't have the cold, scrutinizing eyes of people judging criminals either. Their attitudes were professional, but polite.
Still, Kiana was nervous.
Her hand clutched at Su Yu's sleeve.
Deep in her subconscious, she was still a criminal carrying the burden of countless deaths.
No matter how many times Su Yu had told her this wasn't that world, the guilt engraved in her bones made her want to flee the moment she stepped into a place that symbolized justice.
She didn't even dare look directly at the uniformed officers, afraid that at any moment they'd recognize her, slap heavy electronic restraints on her wrists, and haul her away.
"Don't be scared."
Su Yu seemed to notice how stiff she was. He shifted subtly, blocking her slightly with his body, and lowered his voice so only she could hear.
"You're my junior sister now."
"Remember—you're a reclusive martial master from the mountains. You're here to experience the mundane world."
"When you look at these ordinary mortals, do it with the eyes of someone thinking: This generation really isn't good enough. You need the lonely aura of a true master."
Kiana nearly broke character on the spot.
The tension in her nerves loosened for no reason at all.
She drew in a breath and looked at Su Yu, who was currently at the front desk negotiating with the receptionist.
That back wasn't especially broad, but at this moment it felt like a wall, one that blocked all her anxiety from reaching her.
I can't embarrass him.
Kiana told herself that firmly.
If he's working this hard, then I have to… I have to play the role properly too!
"Um, excuse me… about the special-talent expedited channel…"
Su Yu was in the middle of doing his best to explain the situation to the receptionist.
The young woman behind the counter was clearly not following all of it. Her suspicious gaze drifted past Su Yu and landed on Kiana—the white-haired girl in sportswear, head lowered, looking for all the world like some underage teenager.
"Special talent? She is…?"
This was the moment!
Kiana abruptly looked up.
She recalled the martial arts dramas Su Yu had shown her, and the kind of tranquil, detached bearing Fu Hua always seemed to have in her memory.
Then she stepped forward, straightened her back, and sharpened her gaze.
After that, she clasped her fists in a perfect martial salute—clean, crisp, and strong enough to stir the air.
"This humble one… ahem, that is to say…"
She stalled for a beat, then quickly adjusted and lowered her voice, trying to sound as deep and composed as possible.
"My name is Kiana. I am the thirty-eighth disciple of the Taixu Sect. Greetings, honored constables."
The air froze.
The receptionist's hand stiffened midair, pen still in it.
Several officers nearby, who had been drinking tea, also froze—one nearly spraying his mouthful all over the floor.
Even the older couple arguing in the corner stopped mid-fight and turned to stare at the white-haired girl like she had descended from another planet.
Taixu Sect? Constables?
Was this some period drama shoot? Or a new kind of public prank?
Su Yu was pinching his own thigh with all his might to keep from laughing out loud.
He had rehearsed this with her already, but seeing Kiana solemnly introduce herself using the ancestral home sect of "Fu Hua," fully prepared to die on that hill, was devastatingly adorable.
Just as the receptionist looked ready to reach for the intercom and call the psychiatric department—no, sorry, call her supervisor—
a crisp sound of high heels striking the floor echoed from the entrance.
"Sorry. Traffic was bad. I'm late."
A calm, intelligent voice broke the awkward silence.
Everyone turned.
Dr. Mei walked in wearing her signature white coat, a few technicians carrying equipment behind her, moving with brisk purpose.
Her presence was so strong that it stabilized the entire room at once. There was authority in the way she carried herself.
Pushing up her glasses, Mei swept her gaze across the room before stopping at the application form on the counter.
"I'm Mei. I'm responsible for the review process for this special talent recruitment."
She produced her credentials and placed them on the desk.
"Miss Kiana here is an ancient martial arts specialist specially appointed by our institute, and also a key protected special talent. I will be personally handling the verification of her identity."
Research institute. Special appointment. Ancient martial arts specialist.
The moment those big, important words landed, the way everyone looked at Kiana changed instantly.
The amused or baffled looks vanished, replaced with the solemn respect people reserved for hidden masters.
So she wasn't a lunatic—she was state-affiliated! No wonder she spoke like she'd stepped out of another century.
This was called traditional culture!
"Oh! So she's an expert! My apologies, my apologies!"
The receptionist sprang to her feet, her attitude turning instantly respectful.
What had been on the verge of becoming a complete farce was dragged back under control purely by Mei's aura.
Mei turned and signaled for her staff to begin preparing the testing area.
Only when no one else was close did she walk over to Kiana's side, her gaze pausing for a second on the silver collar around Kiana's neck.
It was the "anti-cat-scratch device" Kevin had delivered the day before.
Of course Mei recognized her own handiwork.
She wasn't as dense as Kevin—though even Kevin probably already knew by now what exactly Su Yu's "rescued cat" really was.
Kiana instinctively drew her neck back a little, suddenly feeling guilty.
But clever as Mei was, she didn't expose the truth or press further.
Everyone had secrets, and Su Yu had gone to absurd lengths to protect this girl. Mei naturally meant to cooperate all the way.
Her gaze lingered on the device for just an instant, understanding flashing across it, before moving away as naturally as if it were nothing more than a piece of jewelry.
She saw through it—but chose not to say so.
That was the gentleness of intelligent people.
"Getting used to it okay?" she asked, as if it were casual, though there was real concern in her tone.
Kiana paused, then touched the collar reflexively.
"Yeah… it's fine. Ever since I started wearing it, my head's been a lot quieter."
That was the truth.
Since putting it on, the constant sensation of another consciousness watching and mocking her had eased considerably. For the first time in a long while, she'd slept well.
"That's good."
Mei smiled, and some of that cold scientist aura softened.
Looking at this slightly awkward girl standing in front of her, she had to admit the "cat" really was endearing.
No wonder Su Yu, lazy as he was, cared so much.
"Nervous?"
She changed the subject and pointed toward the training hall deeper inside.
"You're about to perform ancient martial arts in front of a whole crowd of police officers."
"If you mess it up, every ridiculous thing Su Yu made up will fall apart."
Kiana looked at Mei, then at Su Yu, who wasn't far away chatting cheerfully with the officers while very obviously keeping one anxious eye on them.
"Kind of."
Kiana nodded honestly.
"But…"
She clenched her fists, feeling the power that ran through her body.
That power had once been a curse. The source of disaster.
But now, in this peaceful world, with Su Yu's help, maybe it could become a shield that protected her. A key that opened a new life.
"But I want to try."
Her gaze grew bright, like the sky after rain.
"I want to use these hands to protect something."
"Even if it's only… this lie."
Mei nodded, as though she'd just verified some line of data.
"In that case, try to act a little more confident."
She pointed toward the training area again.
"There are a lot of officers watching in there."
"Since you've already invoked the name of the Taixu Sect, don't disgrace it. Otherwise Su Yu is going to lose a lot of face."
"After all, if the special talent I personally approved can't even break a few sandbags, it'll be very hard for me to write that report."
Kiana blinked.
She looked into Mei's eyes—those eyes that seemed to see through everything and still choose to accept it—and the unease in her heart faded even more.
There was no judgment here. No suspicion.
Only the kindness of people willing to treat her like an ordinary person who just happened to possess unusual abilities.
"Don't worry!"
Kiana took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and sharpened her gaze again.
"I… this heroine definitely won't embarrass you!"
Standing off to the side, Su Yu watched all this and couldn't help smiling.
It turned out he wasn't the only one trying.
Everyone in this world was carefully, gently protecting this injured little cat in their own way.
"After you, Heroine Kiana," Su Yu said with a grin, gesturing gallantly.
"Go give them a little Kaslana-flavored shock."
....
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