When he woke up, he was already seated in a chair. Across from him sat Elusa, her face stern with a hint of anger.

He’d miscalculated.

These past few days, he’d focused entirely on Eira’s health, neglecting that relative.

Dressed in military uniform, she sat upright at the table, flipping through a document.

Her icy expression, dismissive gestures, and that piercing gaze felt like it could drill right through him.

Zeming fidgeted, tapping his leg. In this awkward tension, he made small, nervous movements—utterly lost.

“Tell me,” she said, “do you know why I called this face-to-face talk?”

...Even if you spring that on me, I wouldn’t know.

Elusa lowered her voice deliberately, sliding the document toward him.

The living room was pitch dark except for a tiny desk lamp placed right before Zeming. Its harsh beam blinded him, stinging his eyes.

This is an interrogation! Damn it, big sister—are you messing with me?

“Big sister Elusa, what’s the meaning of this?”

Only now did he grasp the gravity of his situation.

“What do I mean? You recognize this, don’t you?”

“This... Huh?! This?!”

Flipping through the photos on the table, he was genuinely startled.

Pictures of him in class, sleeping in, before he got his teaching job...

“Where did you get these?”

His black history! Being a teacher with only two students was embarrassing enough. Now it was investigated—even details like him sneaking bites of Yunhu Li’s lunch. God, wasn’t this excessive?

“I had it investigated. You’re marrying my sister. A thorough understanding is crucial!”

The air suddenly crackled with tension.

“Yes, yes, but this invades privacy... Never mind. It’s fine.”

After all, could military surveillance even be called stalking? No issue there.

“Do you know what I discovered these past days?”

“What?”

“A man barely affectionate with my sister. A man with zero contact before marriage. Yet now he lives under her roof.”

“Uh, that’s serious. I don’t know if you’ll believe it, but Eira and I fell in love at first sight. Our relationship is truly harmonious.”

“Is that so...”

Eira walked over then. Her eyes met Zeming’s—they understood each other instantly.

“Sister, we really did fall in love at first sight. No problems at all.”

“Is that so? Your bond is... extraordinary.”

“Yes. We’re truly in love.”

Zeming suddenly grabbed Eira’s hand, pressing her arm against his cheek in an intimate pose. Unprepared, Eira squeezed his palm hard—the crunch of bones made him wince.

“Is that so? A man who loiters in convenience stores, staring at adult magazines for hours.”

The first photo slammed down.

“A pervert wandering anime conventions, even telling every cosplayer girl, ‘I like you.’”

The second photo.

“A man who found a stranger’s dropped underwear—and spent two hours debating whether to return it.”

The third photo.

His past black history—why was it all here?!

Eira’s grip tightened, his wrist feeling like it might snap.

“Do you still like a man like this?”

“Of course!!”

She’s practically breaking my wrist!!

Eira said it tensely, as if cornered.

“I see.”

Elusa sighed, stood, and left.

“I’ll keep digging into your past. Keep your neck clean and wait. And... sister, I’m not blaming you—but this won’t do.”

No relief came after she left. Eira grabbed Zeming’s face with both hands, squeezing hard enough to mash it into pulp.

“Shall we talk tonight?”

Her dark expression, terrifying eyes, and that bone-breaking strength—he couldn’t escape this.

“Okay.”

“Please. Tell me everything about your past issues. All of it. Okay?”

“No problem.”

If he lied, he’d definitely die.