Chapter 43: Don’t let her go out! If she goes out, she will pick up the child!
“Mom, Mom! I didn’t do well this time—only got third… Waaah, I embarrassed you, sorry~!”
Asteris actually let real tears spill, sniffling and dabbing at them.
“Aww~ What’s there to cry about~?”
Liang Lai ruffled Asteris’s hair.
“You were amazing already~ And Mom doesn’t care that much about scores—as long as you tried your best, I’m thrilled! I saw all your hard work~”
With that, she pinched Asteris’s cheek, utterly indulgent.
“No worries! To me, Little Te, you’re already awesome!”
Asteris broke into a grin at once, dropping the waterworks—no more milking it.
But she kept clinging to Liang Lai’s arm, all coquettish and refusing to let go.
Duoluosa watched agog at the seamless tear faucet, then rolled her eyes huge—making zero effort to hide from anyone.
“Faker!”
She hissed under her breath.
Liang Lai clocked Duoluosa sulking nearby at once; she beamed and tugged the girl into her embrace too, patting her back soft.
“You were incredible~ Little Duo,” Liang Lai thumbs-upped.
“Truly stellar! Mm… Blown away! Though I’m no good at compliments… Super badass! Yeah!”
The praise stumbled awkward, but it soothed Duoluosa’s chest plenty; she huffed inwardly at Asteris, spitting a silent ‘ptui,’ while playing the perfect angel—snuggling sweet against Liang Lai.
That’s when Duoluosa noted her height: closing fast on Liang Lai’s, thanks to all the good grub.
Nutrition overload in just two months had shot her up to eye-level.
“Liang Lai, bet in half a year, I’ll top you.”
Duoluosa beamed inside, flashing back to their first meet—Liang Lai cradling her then.
Once taller… could she scoop Liang Lai up instead? Spin her in circles, bridal-carry style!
Bliss just thinking it~
Liang Lai stepped back, sizing Duoluosa up.
“Really, huh~”
She nodded pleased—as if patting her own back.
“Not bad for me! Raising kids this well!”
Normal enough, though; before priest gig, she’d fattened pigs for folks—little porkers to plump prizes.
By slaughter time, they bowled grown men flat.
The look she gave Duoluosa held no glee—just pride in her child-rearing chops.
Duoluosa caught the odd vibe in Liang Lai’s eyes but shrugged it off.
On the trek home to the Immaculate Courtyard, Liang Lai snagged color-shift candies and light-honey jellies.
She dug these treats herself—harmless in heaps, no additives…
Fresh through the door, Iluci launched into Liang Lai’s arms, nuzzling like a needy pup.
She’d stood vigil by the upstairs window, drilling crystallization while peering down—aching for that figure to fill her world.
At last: Liang Lai, chatting merry with the kids.
Delucia had parked downstairs; the door cracked, and she geared to pounce into Liang Lai’s hold—only for Iluci to rocket down from above, cutting her off.
Delucia’s grin froze, a flicker of disbelief.
“This speed demon…?”
No warning for the ambush.
Once Iluci had burrowed in, Delucia strolled up casual; she hooked Liang Lai’s hand, gave it a sway or two, flashing sugar-sweet.
“Welcome home~ Mom~”
Liang Lai eyed her brood of “darling” adoptees, maternal floodgates bursting anew; she clapped sharp.
“To celebrate Little Duo and Little Te’s smooth pass—I’m taking you all out tomorrow! Buy whatever you fancy, eat what strikes you! No more holing up studying~”
The others lit up—save Duoluosa, whose joy crashed after three seconds flat.
She flashed: Liang Lai’s jaunts always netted kids—one, maybe two.
What if tomorrow snagged another bullied stray? Liang Lai’d haul ’em home…
Duoluosa’s gaze swept Asteris, Delucia, Iluci clustered ’round Liang Lai—her head ballooned two sizes.
No! Can’t add more! Any more… and Liang Lai’s looks her way’d thin out!
Worse: stiffer competition! Already brutal!
So Duoluosa cut in: “Liang Lai! Skip it—no fun stuff… J-Just celebrate in-house.”
The others (bar Liang Lai) stared baffled—especially Iluci, who—usually such a timid mouse—peeked from behind Liang Lai, piping up soft:
“B-But… going out once in a while sounds nice…”
Fair point from her; a month in, and she hadn’t stirred outdoors once—stuck in the Immaculate Courtyard, unvisited even to other halls, let alone dustfolk markets.
Asteris and Delucia didn’t get Duoluosa’s angle yet either; they chalked Iluci’s pickup to fluke.
What were the odds of Liang Lai stumbling on battered kids mid-bullying, hero-save after hero-save?
Liang Lai least of all; weren’t kids wired for outings? Cooped eternal bred cabin fever…
Duoluosa seethed at the crowd’s (sans Liang Lai) blank stares, cussing inward:
‘These idiots haven’t eaten my losses yet—daring to loose Liang Lai! Every trip snags a stray!’
But out loud? Couldn’t vent—had to play magnanimous; it killed her.
“Little Duo, it’s been ages since we all played out—just a breather… If walking tires you, I can carry you~”
Liang Lai figured plain laziness.
Duoluosa: “…”
Liang Lai kept on: “See? Your sisters all crave an outing (truth: she itched for a ramble too). Right?”
The twins and Iluci chimed yes in sync—now the three aligned against her.