Muzan: My daughter can't be that weak!

Hmm.

That impatient, commanding tone... it sounds kind of familiar.

Somewhat like my father…

Yukina loosened her grip on Nakime's clothes, widened her eyes, and cautiously sized up the unfamiliar boy a few steps away.

My heart is pounding a little fast.

She hesitated for a moment, then slowly moved out from behind Nakime.

Then, it shuffled forward little by little, its eyes fixed on the boy's face, trying to find familiar traces in the unfamiliar features.

The shape of their eyes is somewhat similar, especially when they are slightly squinted.

That impatient look in his eyes is somewhat similar to…

Could it be?

Yukina stopped three or four steps away from Muzan and did not approach him.

She tucked her small hands behind her back, unconsciously twisting her fingers, tilted her head back, and tentatively whispered, "Could it be...could it be that you are...?"

His tone was filled with immense uncertainty.

Muzan's brow relaxed slightly upon hearing this opening scene that was about to reveal the truth.

Hmph, at least you're not completely stupid.

It seems that she did inherit a small portion of her own intelligence.

However, he maintained a cold expression, neither admitting nor denying it.

In Xue Nai's view, this silence was almost tantamount to acquiescence.

A thought struck her little head like lightning, making her eyes widen instantly, and she blurted out:

"Are you my brother?!"

The gasps were especially clear in the quiet Japanese-style room.

Shock instantly flashed across Yukina's face, but it wasn't followed by complete joy.

A bittersweet feeling welled up unexpectedly, overshadowing the initial surprise.

The father has another child.

When I woke up, my father was gone, but I had a handsome younger brother who looked a bit fierce.

Is it because her father has a new, more obedient, and cuter child that he left her here and entrusted her to this older sister's care?

Will my father prefer my younger brother?

The thought was like a small thorn, gently pricking her, making her nose tingle and her eyes feel hot.

She quickly lowered her head, not wanting others to see her terrible mood.

How could you think like that?

After so much time has passed, it's perfectly normal for my father to have his own life and a new family.

Besides, isn't it nice to have a younger brother?

She tried to convince herself.

That way, even if her father is very busy and can't spend much time with her, she still has a younger brother to play with!

My younger brother looks a bit fierce, but he's very handsome...

Thinking about it this way, the discomfort in my heart seemed to be suppressed a little, and replaced by a sense of responsibility and novelty.

"But……"

A new question arose. Yukina tilted her head, her little face full of regret and apology. "When were you born? It's all my fault for sleeping too long..."

She even started to become a little flustered, tugging at the sleeve of her kimono with her small hands, her voice growing softer and softer: "I...I didn't prepare a gift for my little brother in advance, I'm such a bad older sister..."

What should we do now?

She has nothing on her, will her younger brother dislike her or not want to play with her because of this?

The child's chaotic thoughts drifted away, completely absorbed in the sudden dilemma of "how to be a good older sister upon first meeting".

The vein on Muzan's forehead twitched unceremoniously during her exclamation and the ensuing events.

He decided to completely retract any of his previous affirmations about intelligence, even if they were only one ten-thousandth.

"Miss Yukina,"

Nakime, who had been standing quietly to the side like a background figure, saw that things were heading in a bizarre direction. Finally, despite the invisible low pressure emanating from Muzan's side, she prepared to speak the truth.

But Yukina's actions were faster than her words.

She had completely digested and accepted the fact that she had a younger brother, and even overcame her initial fear and slight sadness.

With bright eyes, she ran up to Muzan and, before Muzan could react, reached out her little hand and gently pinched her "little brother's" cheek with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

"younger brother!"

Her eyes curved into crescent moons. "You're so cute!"

After pinching his hand, she very naturally took his hand, turned around and tried to lead him towards Nakime, saying, "Look, this is my little brother! We..."

Muzan finally lost his temper and immediately reverted to his original form.

The next second, Xue Nai felt the little hand she was holding suddenly grow bigger, and the soft touch of a child vanished instantly.

She turned around in surprise.

The handsome "younger brother" who was not much taller than her was nowhere to be seen.

Standing in place was a tall, slender adult man with black hair and red eyes, dressed in a dark kimono.

That handsome yet chilling face was the one she had been searching for ever since she woke up.

"Father?! Father?!"

Startled, Yukina immediately released her grip, took a small step back, and instinctively covered her gaping mouth with both hands, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Muzan looked down at the little thing in front of him.

A brief silence.

Xue Nai's brain seemed to have stopped functioning due to the shock of this sudden change.

She looked at Muzan, who had returned to his original form, and then looked down at the hand she had just held with her "little brother," her face blank.

After the initial shock, a strange logic reconnected.

She suddenly raised her head, not angry or scared at being deceived, but instead lunged forward and grabbed Muzan's hand that was hanging by his side again.

Her upturned little face instantly radiated a light of admiration ten times brighter than when she had seen her younger brother.

"Father! You're amazing!!" Her voice rose with excitement, filled with amazement.

"Where did you...where did you put my brother?! Can you bring him back?"

Muzan: "..."

He looked down at his hand, which was being held tightly, and suddenly felt a headache.

He began to seriously consider whether he should immediately, right now, force-feed Nakime a few more bottles of blood, then knock her unconscious and let her continue sleeping.

At least he's asleep, so he won't test his limits with such stupid questions and sparkling eyes.