Chapter 52: Why did you pick up a child again?!

“Mm~”

Liang Lai let out another soft hum from her lips, the sound like a feather tickling across Duoluosa’s heart.

God, she wanted to dive deeper…

“Duoluosa, what’re your hands up to?”

Asteris’s voice cut in sharp from the side, snapping Duoluosa from her wandering grasp.

Duoluosa jolted awake, yanking her hand back fierce.

“Cough!”

She hacked loud to cloak her cringe.

“Nothing—hand just… slipped. Wasn’t on purpose.” She twisted her face away, all stiff and awkward.

Asteris brushed it off.

“My turn now…”

If Liang Lai were awake, she’d peg the kids as leeches—clamped to her lips, guzzling her essence dry.

Delucia wound her black, tentacle-like tendril ’round Liang Lai’s waist too, soaking in her warmth.

Clothes splayed full-open, just a last scrap left untouched.

Duoluosa itched to press on—but the thought of sharing the feast soured her gut.

Might as well quit—today’s lip-feast sated; next round could wait~

“That’s enough, Asteris—push more… and we’re crossing lines.”

Asteris dabbed her mouth slow, gaze lingering meaningful on Duoluosa—nailing it cold:

“You just want her solo, huh~”

Duoluosa froze a beat, then flushed fury; she shot to her feet.

“Quit guessing at me! You always paint folks so vile—don’t you see you’re the worst?”

Asteris and Delucia reeled at Duoluosa’s blast.

Delucia’d slithered from the shadow; her temper shorter than sis’s, she bristled instant—gearing to lunge and call out Duoluosa’s fake—but Asteris snagged her wrist firm.

“Enough—calling it tonight. Wasn’t planning more anyway.”

With that, Asteris tugged Delucia down to the bed—flanking Liang Lai close.

“Wanna stay? Innermost spot’s yours.” Asteris said back-turned to Duoluosa from the edge.

Duoluosa hovered bed-side, words failing long moments—pride screaming fresh-fight no-bed; but another whisper cooed: bed meant saintess-sleepover bliss.

In the end, pride folded.

Duoluosa clambered awkward over Asteris, Delucia, Liang Lai—claiming the squeeze inside.

Tight quarters, sure—but safe; saintess scent wrapped her tight.

“Liang Lai smells so sweet…” Duoluosa murmured.

Yeah—nestled by your crush? Peace, joy pure.

Duoluosa sank swift to heavy dreams.

Liang Lai woke squeezed and sweat-woke; she twisted back—right into Duoluosa curled behind.

“Huh? When’d this kid sneak in for sleep?” She mumbled.

Routine clock-in meant early rise; Liang Lai tiptoed tucks for Duoluosa, Asteris, Delucia—sighing at another crisp dawn.

Days blurred mundane after—save Iluci’s odd tumbles now and then, leaving Liang Lai puzzled.

How’d this kid stay so klutzy? Didn’t strike as scatterbrained…

Iluci’s logic ran simple: keep hurting, keep hurting—saintess’d stick close, fussing, doting.

“With her flopping over and over—no study, no crystallization grind—she’ll bomb assessment,” Duoluosa sniped from upstairs, all cool detachment. “No need for us to lift a finger—Liang Lai’ll sour on her. Face it: zero threat.”

Asteris shook her head.

“You’re thinking too shallow. Liang Lai’s not the quit-kid type. Bank on that… and eat crow in half a month.”

Iluci’s first trial loomed two weeks out; the other three eyed it hawkish.

What they didn’t clock: their real worry wasn’t Iluci’s pass— but Liang Lai’s next stray-haul.

After two months’ calm, two days shy of Iluci’s test: Duoluosa spotted work-home Liang Lai cradling a kid—age near her own.

“Hah—?”

Duoluosa gawked, finger trembling at the bundle.

“Wh-Where’d you snag this one?”

Liang Lai ducked guilty. “She… got lost. Wandered to church gates—I was dispatched for a sweep, spotted her… so I, I…”

“…”

Unforeseen, right?

Liang Lai spoke straight—no fibs.

She’d circled out, and bam: scrawny girl slumped wall-root, eyes shut, starvation’s edge.

Our kind saintess? No ignoring that—scooped her up, dashed back to the Immaculate Courtyard.

Duoluosa: “…”

“That simple?”

“Yup—that simple.” Liang Lai bobbed emphatic twice.

Duoluosa: “…”

Heh—she blinked once, and bam—new kid.

What to do… Duoluosa’d gone full zen: haul ’em home? Fine—early or late, same diff…

Duoluosa, Buddha-mode on.

With her eldest mum, Liang Lai clutched the girl tighter—beelining for the nuns.

This time, no deep probe; the nun pegged straight: pure hunger faint—water, millet porridge’d fix.

Better off than the bullied Asteris, Delucia, Iluci—or Duoluosa’s under-sanctum scars.

Liang Lai exhaled at last, pouring warm water, brewing porridge—propping the bed-girl, spooning slow.

Once the full cup downed, the girl on the sheets finally fluttered eyes open.