Starting from the Collapse World, I became the behind-the-scenes boss

She also believes that hot pot is the most delicious food in the world.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Shihen's Home

"Here we are, this is my home."

As he spoke, Shihen took out his key and opened the door. There was no entryway; the living room was right there, and a strong sense of home immediately rushed in.

With the main entrance as the boundary, the entire space is divided into two distinctly decorated halves.

On the left is a semi-open kitchen and dining area, while on the right is a living room furnished with a sofa, coffee table, and TV. Several wooden doors can also be seen along the wall.

"It's a bit simple, I hope you don't mind."

Shihen smiled shyly as he stepped aside to make way for the girl.

After having hot pot for lunch, Shihen asked Kiana about her upcoming schedule.

Whether out of concern for the boy's stamina or simply a desire to experience visiting a friend's house, the girl's answer was Shihen's house.

Faced with this somewhat abrupt reply, Shihen thought for a moment and then agreed.

As a professional behind-the-scenes boss, Shihen's arrangement of his current identity is naturally flawless.

From birth to the present, all information about Shihen's current identity can withstand scrutiny.

Even if someone were to personally ask his elementary school teacher listed in his records, the teacher could recount a whole host of past events to prove that Shihen was a well-rounded student who excelled in moral character, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor.

Of course, this is not memory manipulation, but a trap created by taking advantage of the characteristics of human memory.

Human memory is inherently vague. You might remember a close friend from ten years ago, but you might not be able to recall their name or appearance back then.

Time traces replaced certain vague memories of those people, thus creating the illusion that he had lived in this city for sixteen years.

This is something that took hundreds of people from around the world and a full week to complete initially.

In the long term to come, this identity will continue to be refined until Shihen achieves his ultimate goal—becoming the leader of the Anti-Entropy Alliance!

Indeed, in the foreseeable future, Shihen will join Anti-Entropy in his current capacity, starting from the bottom and working his way up to eventually become the next leader of Anti-Entropy.

This was the entropy-reversal replacement plan he proposed to Gray Serpent.

Shihen still remembers how the other party's electronic prosthetic eye kept flashing when he applied for the plan from Gray Serpent.

However, considering that Time Mark is crucial to World Serpent's combat power, and that World Serpent is currently in a dormant state and does not have an urgent need for S-rank Valkyrie combat power, Gray Serpent still agreed to this almost absurd plan.

Given Shihen's current status and position, he has the right to act willfully and recklessly.

Of course, "fooling around" is just Gray Snake's definition of it; Shihen is actually quite serious about it.

Both the leaders of Schicksal and World Serpent are qualified to compete for the final boss, so Anti-Entropy, as one of the three starter families, can't be too weak, right?

Since this generation of Welt is not up to par, then Time Mark should take up Welt's mantle.

Surely I can't be fighting for status with Kevin's top henchman even at the very end, can I?

So embarrassing.

Therefore, he will be the one to protect Walter's name!

Moreover, according to what Shihen heard at the last cadre meeting, Cocolia has already begun conducting X-10 experiments.

In this way, it won't be long before Bronya and the others officially join Anti-Entropy, and he must make plans for it as soon as possible.

He had high expectations for Seele's growth.

While Shihen was still pondering whether there were any flaws in his current identity, Kiana stared wide-eyed at her friend's house, which she was visiting for the first time.

"No, I think this is already very good. I'm not some noble lady."

As Kiana looked around at the vibrant, lived-in space before her, she shook her head slightly and said...

The furnishings inside weren't new, and even looked a bit old, but... they were very clean and cozy.

This is the feeling of home that Kiana has always dreamed of.

Thinking of this, the girl's eyes welled up with tears again.

When she was with Shihen, perhaps because she knew he was a friend she could rely on, she always seemed to be particularly vulnerable inside.

She's so strong when she's alone.

Kiana secretly wiped her eyes and quickly told herself to be strong; she couldn't let her tears make her friends laugh at her.

"I'm glad you don't mind."

As if he hadn't noticed the girl's change in expression, Shihen smiled and said.

He would never tell Kiana that this home, so full of life, was meticulously decorated by World Serpent over a week.

Judging from the current situation, the house will likely be maintained for several more years, even though he himself will most likely only stay there for a few days.

This demonstrates the professionalism of a behind-the-scenes boss.

"Have a seat. Would you like milk or juice?"

"Open the refrigerator," Shihen asked.

"Milk bar."

Kiana said softly as she sat on the sofa, her mind drifting to what it would be like for the boy to live there.

If her father hadn't disappeared, her life would probably be pretty much the same, right?

Shihen poured milk into a clean glass and placed it on the coffee table in front of the girl: "Here you go."

"Thank you."

Kiana answered politely, though she seemed a little reserved.

“You’re a guest now,” Shihen said with a smile and shook his head. “Besides, I’m the only one at home right now, so you can relax.”

"Huh?" Kiana seemed surprised to hear the boy's words. "Didn't you say last time that you had an older sister?"

She remembered what Shihen had said in Sicily.

“My sister…” Shihen sighed, “She’s very busy with work and often has to travel to other places for business, so I’m alone at home most of the time.”

If someone were to investigate Shihen's family background, they would find that the boy has an older sister who is an elite white-collar worker.

Delving deeper, one would discover that this woman was actually a mercenary alt account of Raven.

If you go any further, that person will disappear from this world.

Some darkness cannot be easily explored.

"I see," Kiana replied, seemingly understanding, "And what about your parents?"

"..." Shihen paused for a few seconds before speaking, "Actually, I used to be an orphan. My sister brought me out of the orphanage."

Compared to creating a happy and fulfilling ordinary family, fabricating an orphan's identity is much simpler and less likely to be exposed.

Similarly, someone with a so-called older sister is more trustworthy than a complete orphan.

After all, the former at least has a weakness that can be exploited.

"Sorry, I didn't know..."

Kiana immediately realized that her words had touched a raw nerve with the boy.

"It's nothing, I'm used to it." Shihen gave a forced smile. "Besides, my current sister is quite good to me."

Objectively speaking, the raven was indeed good to him.

"Yes, that's fine too."

Kiana smiled too.

Compared to her, who has never met her mother and whose father has disappeared, and is now all alone, the boy's situation is already quite good.

"Forget about it, humans ultimately live in the present." Shaking his head, Shihen raised the glass in his hand to the girl. "In the traditional calendar of Shenzhou, today is the first day of the fourth month, which is the beginning of summer."

So, Kiana, let's drink to our reunion.

"Yes, cheers to our reunion!"

Breaking free from her memories, Kiana's smile suddenly became much more genuine, and she raised her glass as well.

Bang!

The two glasses collided, and the white liquid rippled out in concentric circles.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Dinner at Shi Hen's House

Ah, the strange ceiling.

As Kiana opened her eyes and looked at the pitch-white sky above her, one thought involuntarily popped into her mind.

Immediately, the memories from before she lost consciousness flooded back, causing the girl's cheeks to turn bright red.

She...she actually fell asleep at a male friend's house!?

The curtains were mostly drawn, and the twilight light shone through the small gaps, making the whole room appear dim.

Looking around the exquisitely furnished room and smelling the faint fragrance in the air, Kiana could easily tell that the original owner of this bedroom was a woman with good taste.

According to Shihen, this is his sister's room.

Exhausted from the long train journey, coupled with strolling through the streets and a hearty lunch, she felt sleepy shortly after arriving at Shihen's house. So the boy kindly invited her to take a nap.

But... looking at the dim beam of light shining through the gap in the window, Kiana felt ashamed and indignant.

Although she is usually quite carefree, she is still a girl after all.

Burying her head in the blankets, breathing in the unique woody scent of the freshly taken-out quilt from the closet, Kiana really wanted to just faint, so she wouldn't have to face the boy's teasing gaze.

After a long while, the girl took a deep breath before resolutely pulling her head out of the blanket.

She's not someone who just runs away from things.

I got up, made the bed, and drew back the curtains. A flood of sunlight rushed into the room, dispelling the original darkness of the bedroom.

With the window facing west, Kiana stretched lazily towards the setting sun, feeling an unprecedented sense of comfort.

I haven't slept this well in a long time.

Although she had spent less than a day with Shihen, she felt as if she had known him for years. She felt no unease sleeping in this unfamiliar room and was even a little too comfortable with it.

Even in her own rented room, she rarely takes a nap until evening.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, looking at her face in the mirror that looked somewhat listless from sleeping for so long, Kiana quickly patted her cheeks to wake herself up.

As Kiana braided her long, loose hair back into braids, her gaze involuntarily fell on the photo frame in front of the mirror.

It was a photo taken at an orphanage. A young woman with gray hair and red eyes was embracing a boy with black hair and black eyes, and both of them were smiling.

That must be Shihen's older sister, right?

Looking at the woman who looked young but had a rather good figure, Kiana couldn't help but guess in her heart.

Moreover, judging from his appearance, Shihen in the photo is only two or three years younger than he is now.

Yes, they're all equally adorable.

Kiana couldn't help but smile.

She saw what the boy looked like in the past.

After quickly tidying herself up, Kiana took a deep breath to calm herself before opening the door as if facing a formidable enemy.

The living room lights were on, making it bright, but no one could be seen; only the clanging sound echoed in the air.

That was the rhythmic sound of a kitchen knife hitting the cutting board.

"You're awake. You look like you slept well."

Peeking out from the kitchen, Shihen smiled and looked at the girl.

Under the bright lights, the girl wore a faded T-shirt and denim shorts, revealing two long, slender, and shapely legs that were almost dazzlingly white.

"Hehe~" Kiana grinned, scratching her head. "I overslept a little..."