Mei watched closely as Kiana swallowed the last bite of her sandwich and washed it down with her milk. Then, like a boneless blob of slime, the girl slithered back into bed.
Within ten seconds, the lump beneath the blankets was emitting the steady, rhythmic breathing of a deep sleep.
Satisfied, Mei withdrew her gaze. She slowly turned her head, shifting her focus to the adjacent bedroom window, where Shu was currently residing.
Watching from the safety of his room, Shu had felt a sense of impending doom the moment Kiana went to sleep. Upon realizing Mei was now staring directly at him, he instantly sprang up from his desk and surrendered.
"I am a victim! I am going to sleep right now!" Shu declared, cleanly washing his hands of all guilt and responsibility.
Mei sighed helplessly.
When it came to Kiana and Bronya, Mei was the oldest and most mature. Taking on the role of the responsible elder sister to discipline them felt perfectly natural.
But when it came to Shu, Mei truly felt out of her depth.
Shu was older than her, had more experience than her, and his power level was hundreds, if not thousands, of times higher than hers. No matter how she looked at it, she didn't feel she had the right to lecture him on how to live his life.
Seeing the increasingly resentful look in Mei's eyes, Shu wiped a bead of nervous sweat from his brow.
"I don't need breakfast. I have [Wish] to sustain me. I just need to refresh my physical status, and I'll be fine," Shu offered an awkward smile. Reaching out, he drew the curtains over his window for the first time, then obediently climbed into bed.
He didn't just not need breakfast; sleep wasn't even a biological necessity for a Herrscher. If he could use [Wish] to eliminate hunger, he could easily use it to eliminate fatigue.
But Shu still felt incredibly guilty.
Kiana had been tucked into bed by Mei, and Bronya probably hadn't escaped either. If he were the only one given a free pass... yeah, that would be weird.
I should just sleep. It can't hurt.
If I don't, Mei might actually come over and start begging me to sleep.
Watching Shu guiltily draw his curtains, Mei quietly packed up the dirty dishes, hugged the empty tray to her chest, and turned to leave.
With a soft click, the bedroom door closed.
The hallway was utterly silent, save for the soft padding of Mei's slippers against the floor.
The sprawling villa, which should have been bustling with life this morning, was completely silent. Everyone had surrendered to her "despotic rule" and obediently closed their eyes.
Next door, Bronya was desperately trying to catch up on sleep. Kiana was dead to the world, anime tears still staining her cheeks. Even Shu had raised his hands in surrender under her watchful gaze and chosen to lie down.
As for Principal Theresa... well, sleeping in was standard operating procedure for her.
In the entire first-floor common area, Mei was the only one awake.
Returning to the kitchen, Mei placed the dishes in the sink, washed them thoroughly, and arranged them neatly on the drying rack.
Only after finishing her chores did she untie her apron and pour herself a cup of warm black tea.
Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, baking the wooden floorboards until they were toasty warm.
Alone time... Time alone, without having to worry about anything.
Kiana was fast asleep in her room. Shu was right next door. Everyone was safe and sound. No one was missing, and no one was hurt.
It really is wonderful...
Carrying her teacup, Mei walked over to the sofa. She bent down, tossed the empty snack wrappers Kiana had scattered last night into the trash, and fluffed and straightened a crooked throw pillow.
Finally, she sat down comfortably in the center of the sofa and took a sip of her tea.
The fragrant steam curled upward, warming her face.
In a world slowly recovering from an apocalyptic disaster, a morning like this—a morning where she didn't have to be constantly on guard—felt like an extravagant luxury.
"However..." Mei lowered her teacup, resting her chin on her hand. A helpless yet affectionate smile touched her lips. "If these guys try pulling an all-nighter like that again, the punishment won't be as simple as confiscating a phone."
Despite her words, Mei knew perfectly well she could never truly bring herself to be harsh with them.
They were family. And among family, there should be suggestions, gentle persuasion, offering alternative choices, providing unwavering support...
Not breaking their wings with harsh commands, nor binding their souls with cold, rigid rules.
Mei gently blew on her tea, watching the leaves unfurl and dance in the warm water.
Still, being alone was a bit boring. Mei wasn't an elderly woman content to sit in a chair sipping tea all day.
Although her domestic aura was impossible to hide, she was ultimately still a teenage girl with plenty of energy to burn.
Well... it'll be quite a while before anyone wakes up.
Maybe I should go for a walk.
Finishing her tea, Mei slipped on a light-colored cardigan, grabbed her coat, and quietly left the villa.
Although the Level -10 residential zone was deep underground, the Fire Moth's advanced life-support systems and artificial lighting completely eliminated any sense of claustrophobia. Instead, bathed in simulated, gentle morning light, the area felt vibrant and full of life.
Strolling down the pristine streets, Mei soaked in the rare tranquility.
Thinking back to half a year ago, when this place was a nightmarish den filled with tragic, mutated monsters, Mei felt a sudden pang of melancholy.
Without realizing it, she found herself standing in front of a traditional Shenzhou courtyard.
The antique architecture stood out starkly against the modern villas surrounding it.
[Taixuan Dojo]
Mei looked up at the wooden plaque hanging above the gate.
This is Fu Hua and Li Sushang's place...
Or rather, it used to be just theirs. Back when it was only Fu Hua and Sushang living here, the courtyard had felt rather lonely, which was why the two of them frequently visited Mei's villa.
But with the recovery of Shenzhou, the Seven Swords of Mount Taixuan had shamelessly moved in. Now, the area was incredibly lively. It was no longer just an empty-nester and a left-behind child...
Wait, no. The Class Monitor is technically still a teenage girl.
Mei stepped up to the vermilion wooden gates and gently knocked on the brass ring.
"Coming, coming!" a bright, cheerful voice called out from inside.
The wooden gates creaked open, revealing Jiang Wanxi's smiling face.
Upon seeing Mei, Wanxi's smile widened. "Oh, it's Mei! Come in, come in!"
"Sorry for the intrusion." Mei smiled and nodded. But before she could follow Wanxi inside, a chaotic commotion erupted from the courtyard.
"Ma Yanqing! Did you seriously just steal my meat bun?!" a fierce, exasperated female voice roared, instantly followed by the heavy thud of someone hitting the ground.