Bright light filtered through the delicate window纱 (sha), a dance of pure, elfin motes.

In that brief, silent moment, Lanqi's bedroom seemed especially still.

"Could you explain why there's a portrait of me in your bedroom?"

Talia finally asked.

Her expression remained unreadable, revealing nothing of her anger.

"It's a complicated story..."

Lanqi instinctively took two steps back.

Glancing aside, he saw Hyperion standing in the doorway, her gaze also drawn to the conspicuous portrait.

"..."

Seeing the painting in Lanqi's bedroom, Hyperion's lips parted slightly, but she couldn't find the words to speak.

The beautiful woman in the painting was too familiar to Hyperion. Her solitary figure could never be mistaken for a fragile existence. The more the dust tried to conceal, the more it failed to hide the nobility flowing in her blood. It was Hyperion's favorite image.

It was then that Hyperion recalled the chain of events.

When Lanqi mentioned the portrait in his bedroom after leaving Nan Wantina Territory with Tata, he'd described it as a poor, pitiful old woman.

But the portrait was actually Talia!

Hyperion finally understood why Lanqi had been so flustered since yesterday.

Yet, she didn't know why, but an indescribable emotion surged within her.

Why would Lanqi keep a portrait of Tata in his bedroom, and such a carefully drawn one at that?

Could it be… that Lanqi had special feelings for Tata?

The thought unsettled Hyperion. She had always assumed Lanqi and Tata had a teacher-student relationship, with clear boundaries.

She couldn't help but look at Lanqi and Tata, seeking an answer, but they both remained motionless.

"How complicated?"

Talia's approaching voice gave Lanqi a sense of inexplicable pressure, even danger.

Talia said nothing more, slowly walking towards Lanqi.

Her eyes seemed to have finally seen through Lanqi's vile nature—a guy who had been playing her for a fool.

Her steps were light but resolute, each one like the tick of a grandfather clock.

"Why don't you sit down first, and listen to my explanation?"

Lanqi wanted to retreat, but reason kept his heels rooted to the spot.

He knew he couldn't panic. If Talia sensed any intention of fleeing, it would truly be over.

Because at this distance, there was no way he could escape Talia.

However, Talia seemed not to hear Lanqi's words. She reached Lanqi, swiftly and skillfully seizing his wrist.

Lanqi's reaction was almost instinctual. He wanted to say something, but at that moment, Tata kicked Lanqi's heel, cleverly causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground with a thud.

"This painting is actually..."

He cried out, not even having time to worry about losing his balance.

Immediately, Tata quickly and nimbly sat on Lanqi, covering his mouth with one hand, cutting off his words.

The look in her eyes as she glared coldly at Lanqi flashed with anger and accusation.

Lanqi was completely dumbfounded.

It was the first time he had been pinned down and restrained, not even allowed to speak. If he showed any sign of using a magic card, Talia would definitely strike first!

Talia straddled Lanqi, leaning down slightly to look into his eyes.

"A portrait of a poor, pitiful old woman, one of your early works, is that it?"

Talia knew better than anyone how glib this kid was.

It was a unique talent. As long as he could communicate with someone verbally, he had countless ways to bewitch them, even bypassing her lie detection magic.

What was most infuriating was that he had genuinely thought the painting was of a poor and pitiful old woman back at the station. It was too infuriating!

The more Talia thought about it, the more unbearable she felt. Her chest rose and fell, and her grip on Lanqi's cheeks tightened.

"…!"

Lanqi never dreamed that Talia would be so ruthless, excelling in knowing the enemy.

Talia could detect lies, and now she had realized that lie detection could be bypassed by rhetoric. So she would only let him answer yes or no with his eyes!

But Lanqi felt that answering the question was a death sentence.

Lanqi was completely restrained at this moment, only able to look at Tata innocently.

The atmosphere in the room became tense and heavy, and Talia's patience was gradually wearing thin.

Lanqi's face grew increasingly embarrassed under Tata's control, as if he were trapped in an inescapable dead end.

If he didn't answer, he might die!

Hyperion stood to the side, watching the scene with concern and anxiety.

She was sure Lanqi had really screwed up this time.

He probably couldn't save himself.

At this moment, she had to save her good friend!

"Tata, let Lanqi go."

After a moment's decision, Hyperion hurried over, grabbed Tata's hand, and tried to make her release Lanqi.

But soon, Hyperion realized that her strength was no match for Tata's. No matter how hard she tried, Tata's hand was as solid as a mountain, and she showed no sign of letting go.

"..."

Tata's attention was drawn to Hyperion by her arrival. Although the look in her eyes softened slightly when she looked at Hyperion, it soon became stern again.

Lanqi's refusal to answer her question said a lot.

Even if Hyperion pleaded for him today, she would never let Lanqi deceive her. She would never give him the chance again!

"Tata, Tata!"

Hyperion shook Tata anxiously, but it was no use.

In the end, she had to change her strategy.

Hyperion squeezed in between Tata and Lanqi, hugging Lanqi on the ground, protecting him with her body.

Her actions were full of protection and determination, holding him tightly, as if she would use her body to shield Lanqi from all attacks.

"Lanqi, don't worry."

Hyperion's face was pressed close to Lanqi's, her eyes resolute, as if declaring that no matter what, she would not let Lanqi be harmed.

The air in the room became tense and quiet, and the heartbeats and breaths of the three people stood out in this silent space.

"…?"

Not only Talia, but Lanqi was also dumbfounded. He didn't expect Hyperion to suddenly hug him.

Although it might be acting.

But Hyperion's impromptu performance had exceeded his imagination.

"Hyperion, you..."

Talia was first shocked, then the dazed emotion in her eyes turned into another kind of hidden resentment.

She understood Hyperion's meaning.

She didn't know why she was so angry, so disappointed.

But her hand was still tightly gripping Lanqi's cheek, unwilling to give up this last control.

Cat Boss was standing at the door, already dumbfounded.

It originally thought that Sigrid and Hyperion's Shura field was explosive enough, but it didn't expect Tata and Hyperion to play even bigger.

However, it seemed that the three people in the room were all in an explosive state of mind. They didn't even notice one thing—

The footsteps outside the door just now.

The butler Hans, the maid Francine, and Lanqi's father, Noel, stood at the door, staring blankly at the three people entangled on the ground inside the door.

The three people on the ground also realized something was wrong and looked at the three people outside the door.

At this moment, silence spoke louder than words.

Originally, after hearing that Lanqi had brought Hyperion back today, Noel came over from the study with Hans, chatting and laughing happily.

But he never expected it.

When he arrived at Lanqi's room, he saw this scene.

Francine covered her mouth, her pupils shaking, completely unaware of what was happening.

Silence lasted for a long time.

"Are you three playing a fighting game..."

Noel seemed to doubt whether his education method was wrong, and muttered.

When Hans heard Noel's words, he coughed lightly and closed the bedroom door as soon as possible.

The door closed instantly, isolating the entanglement in the room from the outside world.

At this moment, the breaths of the three people who realized they were being watched became heavier and faster.

Talia's body tensed, her dazed eyes full of disbelief, as if she felt she couldn't live anymore.

And Hyperion's face was also completely red, unwilling to look up again.

She never thought that she would be in such an embarrassing posture with her aunt and friends, and that she would be watched by her friend's family.

She might as well die.