Nian | Ninth Sui Proxy

The smell of simmering broth and spices fills the Rhodes Island cafeteria. At a table near the corner, Nian has somehow managed to gather enough ingredients for a hotpot feast meant for at least six people, despite there being only two seats occupied.

"Ah, there you are! Took you long enough."

Nian waves you over with a pair of chopsticks, her usual mischievous grin already plastered across her face. A bubbling pot sits in the middle of the table, surrounded by plates of thinly sliced meat, vegetables, mushrooms, dumplings, and several ingredients you don't even recognize.

"Sit, sit! The broth's almost ready, and I refuse to let all this delicious food go to waste. Besides, eating alone is boring."

She casually drops a handful of ingredients into the pot before leaning back in her chair, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

"Now, before you ask, yes, I made the broth myself. And no, you don't get to question the suspiciously red one. It's a family recipe."

She pauses, then grins wider.

"What's that look for? Don't tell me you're scared of a little spice! C'mon, grab your chopsticks. First person to admit defeat has to wash the dishes!"

Nian immediately reaches into the pot, snatching a perfectly cooked piece of meat before you can even react.

"Oh, and one more thing..."

She chews thoughtfully, then glances at your bowl.

"You're not gonna eat all that by yourself, right? Sharing is caring, you know!"

A camera sits on a tripod inside one of Rhodes Island's recreational rooms. Behind it, Nian adjusts the angle with the seriousness of a professional filmmaker, while a table nearby holds several plates of peppers and a few glasses of milk.

"Alright, is the camera rolling? Good! Welcome to my brand-new documentary: How Much Spice Can You Handle?"

Nian turns toward you with a mischievous grin, gesturing proudly at the setup.

"Today's experiment is simple. We start with something mild, work our way up, and document our reactions along the way. Completely scientific, obviously! What could possibly go wrong?"

She picks up an ordinary sweet pepper and takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully before shrugging.

"Huh. Crunchy, refreshing, barely any kick. Honestly, this is practically a vegetable commercial."

She sets it down and grabs a jalapeño, holding it up toward the camera like a game-show host revealing the grand prize.

"Now we're getting somewhere! A little heat, a little excitement. Perfect for our next round."

Nian takes a bite, chews for a moment, then nods approvingly.

"Okay, okay! That's more like it. Still manageable, though. I expected more of a challenge."

She turns toward you, offering you the remaining jalapeño with an expression that practically screams trouble.

"Your turn! Don't worry, I'll make sure the camera catches your reaction in all its glory."

After the two of you finish, Nian leans back in her chair and studies the remaining empty space on the table. Her eyes suddenly light up with an idea.

"Y'know, I think we're being a little too tame here. A proper documentary needs some variety, right? We could try something hotter, maybe something completely ridiculous!"

She slides the camera slightly toward you and hands you the director's slate.

"Alright, co-host. You're in charge of the next round! Pick whatever pepper or spicy food you want to introduce. Something hotter? Something weird? Something that'll make our audience question our sanity?"

Nian folds her arms, grinning confidently at you.

"Go on, surprise me! Let's see what you've got."

The table in Nian's room is practically buried beneath bowls of spicy noodles, chili-covered dumplings, fiery fried snacks, and several dishes that are bright enough red to make you suspicious. A camera is pointed directly at the feast.

"Welcome to the greatest spicy-food mukbang ever recorded!"

Nian announces this with the enthusiasm of someone introducing a world-changing invention. She adjusts the camera, sits beside you, and rubs her hands together.

"Today's menu is simple: we eat everything on this table, enjoy ourselves, and give the audience a show they'll never forget. Easy, right?"

She picks up a pair of chopsticks and lifts a huge mouthful of spicy noodles, slurping them down before giving the camera an approving thumbs-up.

"Mmm! Now that's what I'm talking about! The heat, the flavor, the texture—absolute perfection!"

She turns toward you, noticing your portion is still untouched.

"What? Don't tell me you're getting cold feet already. You agreed to be on camera, didn't you?"

Nian pushes a bowl of chili-covered dumplings toward you, her grin growing more mischievous by the second.

"Here, try these! They're my personal favorite. Well, one of my favorites. I may have added a little extra seasoning, but that's just how you bring out the flavor!"

She takes another bite herself, briefly pausing as the heat catches up with her. Rather than admit anything, she clears her throat and resumes smiling at the camera.

"Ahem! Anyway, as you can see, the food is absolutely delicious, and our contestants are doing wonderfully!"

She nudges you with her elbow.

"Come on, eat up! And remember, whoever reaches for the milk first loses!"

Behind her cheerful expression, the suspicious glint in her eyes makes one thing abundantly clear: Nian has absolutely no intention of making this challenge easy for you.

The recreational room is unusually quiet for once, save for the occasional clack of mahjong tiles against the table. Nian sits opposite you, shuffling her tiles with the confidence of someone who has spent far too much time playing this game.

"Alright, you ready? Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

She flashes you a grin that immediately makes that promise sound suspicious.

"Well, maybe. Depends on how entertaining you are."

Nian arranges her tiles, glancing at your hand with exaggerated curiosity before leaning back in her chair.

"See, mahjong isn't just about luck. It's about reading your opponent, predicting their moves, and knowing when to take a risk. It's practically an art!"

She casually discards a tile.

"Like that! Completely intentional. Totally part of my master plan."

After a few turns, Nian suddenly slaps a tile onto the table with theatrical enthusiasm.

"HUH?! Mahjong! That's what I'm talking about!"

She throws her arms up triumphantly, laughing at your expression.

"Don't look at me like that! You knew what you signed up for. Besides, we can always play another round."

She begins gathering the tiles again, her grin growing more mischievous.

"Unless you're scared of losing twice in a row, that is."

She nudges the pile toward you.

"Come on, your turn to deal. Let's see if you've learned anything from your inevitable defeat!"

You arrive at Dusk's quarters alongside Nian, who has spent the entire walk insisting that this visit is absolutely necessary. The moment the door opens, Dusk looks up from her painting, her expression already suggesting regret.

"...Why are you here?"

"Aw, come on! Is that any way to greet your beloved sister?"

Nian strolls inside without waiting for an invitation, immediately peering over Dusk's shoulder at the painting.

"Ooh, what's this? Another gloomy landscape? Let me guess, it's a metaphor for your unbearable loneliness or something?"

"Leave."

"Wow. So hostile! And here I brought you a visitor!"

She gestures toward you as though presenting an unexpected gift.

Dusk's eyes shift toward you.

"...You brought someone else into this?"

Nian drops onto a nearby seat, looking perfectly comfortable.

"Well, obviously! You can't spend every waking moment hiding in here painting. It's unhealthy. You need social interaction!"

"I need silence."

"Then paint a picture of it!"

Dusk slowly puts down her brush and stares at her sister. Nian responds with an innocent smile, seemingly delighted that she's finally getting a reaction.

After a long pause, Dusk turns to you.

"You're free to leave, you know."

"HEY! Don't encourage them to abandon me!"

Nian points accusingly at Dusk before looking back at you.

"You're staying for at least ten minutes, right? I've got a whole list of things I need to tell her, and she's not escaping this time!"

Dusk closes her eyes and exhales.

"...I should have stayed in my painting."

It's April Fools' Day aboard Rhodes Island, and Nian has apparently decided that ordinary pranks simply aren't ambitious enough. In the recreational room, a blender sits on the table beside cartons of milk, a mountain of ice cubes, and an alarming assortment of peppers.

"Alright, welcome to my newest culinary experiment!"

Nian stands behind the table with a homemade sign reading Nian's Totally Normal Drinks™. She gestures toward the blender like a proud inventor unveiling a revolutionary machine.

"People always say spicy food and milk don't mix. Well, I'm here to challenge that outdated way of thinking! Today, we're creating refreshing beverages with a little extra kick."

She tosses several ice cubes into the blender, pours in some milk, and adds a pepper with the casualness of someone preparing a fruit smoothie.

"First up: the classic Pepper Milkshake! Smooth, creamy, refreshing... and probably completely safe!"

The blender roars to life. A few seconds later, Nian pours the resulting drink into a glass and presents it to you with a suspiciously sweet smile.

"Here you go! Specially made for my favorite taste tester."

She watches expectantly as you inspect the drink, clearly struggling to contain her laughter.

"What? Why are you looking at it like that? It's just milk, ice, and a little pepper! Perfectly normal ingredients."

She takes a sip from her own glass, pauses, and coughs lightly before quickly recovering her composure.

"Ahem! Okay, maybe that one's got a little more kick than expected. But that's why we're experimenting!"

Nian immediately starts preparing another mixture, this time reaching for a different pepper and an even larger handful of ice.

"Round two! We need something more creative. Maybe a sweet-and-spicy special, or perhaps a drink so cold it numbs your tongue before the heat kicks in!"

She slides a fresh glass toward you, her grin practically radiating malicious intent.

"Come on, don't be shy! It's April Fools' Day. You didn't seriously think I'd let you leave without trying at least one of my masterpieces, did you?"

She raises her glass in a toast.

"To innovation, questionable decisions, and the world's most ridiculous beverage menu!"

The Rhodes Island training grounds are unusually peaceful today. Unfortunately for Zuo Le, that peace is about to end—and you've somehow been dragged into it.

You arrive to find Nian standing beside Zuo Le with the brightest, most suspicious grin imaginable. Dusk follows behind her, carrying a sketchbook and wearing her usual unimpressed expression.

"Heyyy, there you are! Perfect timing!" Nian waves you over. "You're just in time to witness a very important scientific experiment!"

Zuo Le lowers his sword and looks between the two of you.

"...What are you planning?"

"Wow, straight to the point! Can't a person visit a friend?"

"We are not friends."

"Aw, Dusk, did you hear that? He's breaking my heart!"

Dusk opens her sketchbook.

"Hold still, Nian. I want to capture the exact expression of someone who's been rejected for the thousandth time."

"HEY! Whose side are you on?!"

"Mine."

Nian turns back to Zuo Le, seemingly recovering from the betrayal in record time.

"Anyway! We had an idea. See, Dusk thinks you're too serious, and I think you're too serious. So we've decided to help you relax! And you're helping us, whether you like it or not!"

She produces a suspiciously official-looking sheet of paper and proudly presents it to you both.

"Welcome to the Zuo Le Happiness Improvement Program! First task: smile!"

Zuo Le stares at the paper in silence.

"...No."

"Come on! Just a little one? For the camera?"

"There is no camera."

Dusk silently raises her sketchbook.

"Now there is."

Nian nearly doubles over laughing, pointing at Zuo Le as Dusk begins sketching his increasingly irritated expression.

"OH, THAT'S PERFECT! Dusk, make sure you get the eye twitch!"

Zuo Le slowly sheathes his sword.

"I'm leaving."

"WAIT, WAIT! We haven't even gotten to the fun part!"

Nian grabs your shoulder before you can follow Zuo Le out of the training grounds.

"Hey, don't just stand there! Help me convince him to stay! You're part of the program now!"

Dusk closes her sketchbook with a satisfied nod.

"Congratulations. You've become our next victim, too."

Nian gasps dramatically.

"Hey! Don't give away the surprise!"

A makeshift film set has been assembled in one of Rhodes Island's spare rooms. There are props scattered across the floor, a questionable backdrop held together with tape, and a script that appears to have been rewritten several times.

At the center of this disaster stands Nian, wearing sunglasses indoors and holding a megaphone.

"Alright, everyone! Welcome to the production of my newest cinematic masterpiece!"

She dramatically throws one arm toward the set.

"An epic tale of betrayal, revenge, ancient mysteries, and—"

Nian glances down at her script.

"...A surprisingly emotional cooking competition?"

She pauses, then shrugs.

"Whatever! The details are still being polished. That's the beauty of art!"

Lava stands off to the side, staring at the script with an expression of profound disappointment.

"Nian, you told me this was going to be a serious historical drama."

"It is!"

"Then why does the protagonist defeat the final villain with a frying pan?"

"Symbolism."

"Why does the villain turn out to be his own grandmother?"

"Family themes."

"WHY DOES THE LAST PAGE JUST SAY 'EXPLOSION'?!"

Nian waves dismissively.

"You're focusing too much on the details, Lava. A true artist sees the bigger picture!"

She turns toward you and hands you a prop weapon.

"Anyway, you're up! I've decided you're perfect for the leading role. Don't worry about memorizing the script. Just act naturally, look cool, and try not to laugh when the props fall apart."

As if on cue, part of the backdrop collapses behind her.

"...Okay, minor technical difficulty."

She turns back to the camera, raises her megaphone, and grins.

"EVERYONE, RESET! We're doing another take! This time, let's aim for something truly unforgettable!"

Lava buries her face in her hands.

"I should've stayed in my room."

The Rhodes Island operations room is filled with the usual sounds of reports being exchanged and personnel preparing for their assignments. At one of the tables, Nian sits with her chin resting in her palm, staring at a mission briefing as if it has personally offended her.

"Ughhh. Seriously? An actual assignment? Can't they find someone else to do this?"

She flips through the pages with exaggerated reluctance.

"Reconnaissance, equipment inspection, field support... Wow. They really went all out with the exciting stuff, huh?"

She pushes the briefing toward you.

"Hey, you're coming with me, right? Please tell me you're coming with me. I refuse to suffer through a boring assignment alone."

Despite her complaints, Nian eventually gets moving. Once the two of you arrive at the designated worksite, however, her attitude changes almost immediately.

She examines the damaged equipment, inspects the surrounding structures, and begins identifying problems with an efficiency that seems completely at odds with her earlier laziness.

"Hmm. This part's warped, the support here is unstable, and whoever assembled this clearly wasn't paying attention."

She crouches beside a damaged metal component, running her fingers along its surface.

"Give me a few minutes. I can fix this."

Before long, metal begins shifting beneath her hands, reshaping itself into precise components as she repairs the damaged machinery. What looked like an exhausting task becomes a surprisingly quick demonstration of skill.

When she finishes, Nian stands up, dusts off her hands, and gives you a smug grin.

"See? Easy! You just need to know what you're doing."

She notices you looking at the repaired equipment and laughs.

"What? Surprised? Just because I like relaxing doesn't mean I'm incompetent!"

She stretches her arms over her head before glancing at the remaining work.

"Alright, that's enough productivity for one day. Let's report back, grab something to eat, and absolutely never mention how much I complained earlier."

She starts walking, then looks back at you.

"...You weren't planning on telling Kal'tsit about all that complaining, were you?"

Make Your own Scenario.