As Molly's words hung in the air, the once-lively living room sank into a sudden, uneasy silence. It was Mia who finally broke it.
"What does that person want, calling us?" she asked, her voice sharp with contempt. The disgust in her tone made it clear—she wanted nothing to do with Evelyn.
Ryan, who had blurted out Evelyn's name without thinking, now pieced together the details from his memory. Evelyn's father had been the mastermind behind the hostile acquisition that destroyed the Zane family's small company. Given that, it was no surprise Mia's hatred ran deep. Her loathing for Evelyn extended to the entire Wynn family, and she didn't bother to hide it.
"Evelyn said she's coming over soon," Molly chirped, unfazed by the tension. Her eyes narrowed playfully as she sank her teeth into the chicken wing Ryan had just handed her.
Ryan's expression darkened. He didn't respond to Mia's angry rant, simply sat in silence, cradling his small bowl of soup as he took slow, measured sips.
From what he remembered, Evelyn was... complicated. Arrogant but kind, superficial on the surface yet stubbornly persistent underneath—a walking contradiction. In his previous life, she had been one of the few bright spots during a very dark time.
After the Zane's offended Victor Hanley, Ryan's family had been hounded even after they relocated to this small town. What little peace they found was, oddly enough, thanks to Evelyn. She had stepped in more than once to put a stop to Victor's harassment.
They'd met when she offered support to Mia and Molly, shortly after the company collapse. It wasn't much, just a few words of comfort, but at the time it meant the world. Evelyn had even scolded Victor Hanley in public once—so harshly that he backed off, at least on the surface.
But Victor was not the kind of man to let things go. Though he stopped attacking them directly, he made sure no one else would hire them. He poisoned the well wherever they went. That quiet, relentless pressure kept Ryan's family stuck in hardship, their lives hanging by a thread.
Evelyn hadn't contacted them in over six months. So what did she want now?
Was this about the game?
Ryan finished the last of his soup and absentmindedly tapped the rim of the bowl with his spoon, the crisp sound echoing in the stillness of the room.
Before anyone could speak, a knock came at the door.
"I'll get it!"
Molly shot up from her seat and dashed to the door. The second she opened it, a cheerful voice rang out: "Hello, Sis!"
Evelyn had arrived.
"Oh wow, you guys are eating roasted chicken!"
She stepped into the room with practiced grace, light on her feet. A beautiful girl, dressed in breezy summer clothes that showed off her long legs, strolled in holding a large bag of takeout containers. Her eyes immediately landed on the modest table.
"Hmph. Of course, it can't compare to the fine dining of a rich young lady," Mia muttered, not even trying to hide the bite in her voice.
"Well, Mia, you're still as unlikable as ever," Evelyn replied with a smirk. Then, turning to Molly, her expression softened. "Molly, you're the cutest!"
She wrapped Molly in a warm hug, nuzzling her cheek affectionately before pulling away—just a little too late to avoid the awkward glances from the others.
Without waiting for an invitation, Evelyn unloaded the bag onto the dining table. One by one, she stacked takeout containers until the entire surface was covered. The once-prized roasted chicken got shoved aside in the process, much to Mia's annoyance—she'd been about to tear off a piece.
"Come, come!" Evelyn beckoned with flair. "The most delicious dishes are here!"
She popped open each container with the confidence of someone used to turning heads. The rich aroma of warm, spicy food filled the room.
Pork chops, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly, spicy beef, garlic pork slices—dish after dish lined the table. There were at least eight different meat plates, each looking more indulgent than the last.
"I had to drive all over town to get these," Evelyn said proudly. "They're from the most famous spots—worth every mile!"
"Who has an appetite for this in this heat?" Mia scoffed, rolling her eyes as she reached for her bowl. She downed the rest of her soup in one go and stood up, already heading for the door.
"Hey, don't go!"
Evelyn quickly reached out and grabbed Mia's arm. "Sis, wait. I actually came here today to help you guys. I want to introduce you to a job. It's easy work, and the pay's not bad either."
Ryan, who had been quietly observing from the side, suddenly understood something that hadn't clicked before. No wonder he had never formed much of an impression of Evelyn in his past life—she had always been focused on his sisters. Even now, she barely spared him a glance.
"This time, I'm recruiting for a gaming studio under my management," Evelyn explained. "I'd like to bring all of you onboard."
As Mia hesitated and slowly sat back down, Evelyn's face lit up. She turned to Ryan with enthusiasm. "I think Ryan should join my Blackcollar Studio. They need specialized support players. You could make a few thousand dollars a month, and there are bonuses and subsidies during events!"
Ryan's heart gave a small jolt. Blackcollar Studio—he had just encountered some of their members recently. Now it made sense: they were under the leadership of this unpredictable woman.
"And for Mia and Molly," Evelyn continued, turning to the girls with renewed excitement, "I also have an all-female team called Crimson Roses. Including me, we're already five strong. I'd love for you two to join us in-game. The pay's decent too, and you'd be playing together with me."
Her voice was cheerful and eager as she spoke directly to Mia, repeatedly trying to link arms with her like they were already teammates. But Mia kept subtly pulling away, her expression growing darker.
"We don't need your pity!" Mia suddenly snapped, standing up in frustration. "Brother already earns money through the game! We don't need your Blackcollar this or Crimson Roses that!"
As she spoke, she pointed to Ryan as if he were her living proof.
"Wait—did you say Crimson Roses?" she asked sharply, her anger momentarily overtaken by suspicion.
Evelyn blinked, then nodded. "Yeah. Why?"
Mia stared at her, eyes narrowing. "So... are Faded Leaf Kitten, Tyrant Queen, Heavyblade Vina, and Sun Driver all part of your Crimson Roses?"
Evelyn's face lit up. "Oh? You know them too? I'm Tyrant Queen!"
She puffed out her chest, proud as ever. "Our team was among the first hundred human players to leave the starting village! And just yesterday, I found a super promising mage named Winter Lily. I'm planning to invite her next. If you two join us, we'll only need two more players to form a full team."
"Dream on!" Mia exploded. "Winter Lily would never join Crimson Roses. Never!"
With that, she stormed out of the living room, her footsteps heavy. Moments later, a loud thud echoed down the hallway as she slammed the bedroom door shut behind her.
Evelyn stood frozen, utterly baffled. "What did I say?"
Ryan, biting back a laugh, covered his mouth to stifle a chuckle. Evelyn caught the gesture and turned to him with a huff, visibly annoyed.
"Evelyn..." Molly tugged on her sleeve and leaned in close, whispering, "Mia is Winter Lily. She told me this morning."
There was a beat of stunned silence before Evelyn gasped. "Ah!"
In an instant, everything clicked. Earlier that morning, she and Mia had chatted like friends. But the moment Mia realized Evelyn—Tyrant Queen—was the same person she'd been so hostile toward in real life, her mood had shifted like a stormcloud.
"No wonder she was so mad..." Evelyn muttered, now pacing in circles, flustered. "This is bad. This is really bad."
Ryan watched her fumble for words and finally spoke, his tone calm. "Don't worry. I'll talk to Mia. I'll convince her to join your team."
Evelyn paused mid-step, glancing at him with a hopeful look. Ryan gave a faint smile.
"As for me," he added, "I've already got another team in mind, so I probably won't be joining Blackcollar."
His voice was gentle, reassuring. Evelyn, for all her quirks, had a good heart. But Ryan had no intention of revealing his real identity to her just yet. For now, it was enough to let Mia get some experience under Evelyn's wing. When the time came, he would bring her into his own team—on his own terms.