Chapter 50: Plan to stun the Saint Lady~
“You, you…”
Duoluosa started to mount a defense when Asteris cut her off.
“Hold on, hold on—no need to explain a thing. We wouldn’t buy it anyway. What I mean is… why not team up, us three? What do you say?”
The words dropped, and the room plunged silent once more.
Duoluosa grasped the gist, but still pressed in disbelief: “You mean…?”
“I mean, we slip her that colorless, odorless brew—no harm to the body~ You just reap the perks. But on one condition: we join in too~”
Asteris and Delucia clasped hands, waving them teasing before Duoluosa’s nose.
Hah?
Let these two in on it?
Duoluosa shut it down flat: “No way! I said it last time—I won’t let you two…”
“Hold on!”
Delucia barked over her—her fuse shorter than Asteris’s.
“But I guarantee: sans us, you’ll never score another brew—harmless, traceless, side-effect-free.”
Delucia’s tone dripped cold sarcasm. “Don’t buy it? Fair—exists, sure. But you can’t touch it. How much coin you got? Beg Mom? She’d grill the why—and it’s pricey. No straight story? No coin.”
The barrage doused Duoluosa like ice-water; her heat ebbed.
“And we’re not asking wild, right? Dose Liang Lai out, and it’s just pecks, pets, cuddles. Or are you scheming…?” Delucia eyed the golden girl thoughtful.
“No!”
Duoluosa’s face torched; the poke at her secrets left her squirming.
This near-17 girl—how to outplay these 21-year-old world-weary big sisters? Her little plots? Glass-clear.
“You’re not plotting that~” Asteris grinned. “So partnering’s pure profit for you~”
Duoluosa sank into thought.
Then it hit her.
“But if I do zilch… how’s that ‘team-up’? I’m just freeloading. Sans me, you two could dose Liang Lai solo.”
She eyed them wary, fists balled guard.
Asteris and Delucia swapped looks, shrugging synced in defeat.
“Think we crave it? Sharing’s fine… but solo’s sweeter. Yet you hawk-eye us—you know it best. Nights, you watch; even wake to check. One move, and you swoop in. Right?”
Duoluosa owned the hit—but no shame there; she just nodded.
“Mm, spot on.”
“So, to dodge your buzzkill… we gotta bribe you~” Asteris winked at Duoluosa. “Bribe’s… tasting saintess with us~ Deal to your liking?”
Yes!
Total yes!
But Duoluosa masked it surface-cool.
Still, she wavered hard.
“Think on it, Duoluosa… More kids piling up? Windows for dosing her, getting frisky… dwindle fast. Soon she’ll sprinkle love even—every last one~”
Asteris’s whisper coiled devilish ’round Duoluosa’s ear.
“Then? Sleepover shots shrink—gotta share the rain~ Our moves? Rarer still. Hesitate… and poof—chances thin~”
“And hey—even clueless, cozying her counts cozy. She stays blind; we feel it real~”
Asteris and Delucia hand-linked, bending synced to peer at sofa-sunk Duoluosa.
The pair parted lips in tandem.
“Come on, Duoluosa—join us~ Only we can grant your wish~ Ours too, all three~ Agree quick—then savor Liang Lai time… Isn’t that your crave?”
Duoluosa’s eyes glazed; she stared at the twinkling “pentagram” and “hexagram” inches off, a queer urge blooming in her chest.
Yeah—why not?
“Decide quick~”
“Decide quick~”
Under Asteris and Delucia’s nudge, Duoluosa nodded on ghost-whim.
Yeah—just smooches, snuggles. No finale… Maybe a lick or two. Just… that. Balk now? Wait ages—itchy watch-only, no taste…
Right.
Sign on.
Asteris and Delucia’s grins turned triumphant at the nod.
“Tonight’s a no-go~ Nor tomorrow, next—Liang Lai’ll bunk with Iluci, nursing. But drug math: fourth day, she’s mending major. Then we whine ‘haven’t hung with us ages’—lure her over~”
Delucia and Asteris tag-teamed the plot.
“She hits our room; dozes off—we dose… Then fetch you in, all together~”
Plan spilled full, the twins eyed Duoluosa expectant.
Duoluosa’s throat bobbed tight—but she rasped one word:
“Y-Yeah…”
“Yay~”
Asteris and Delucia high-fived, toasting the win.
As predicted, Liang Lai camped Iluci’s room first three nights.
Till fourth eve: Asteris clutched her doll, tears streaming, sidling to Liang Lai.
Asteris tugged Liang Lai’s sleeve faint, piteous:
“Mom… Nightmare… Can you… come hang with me and Delucia?”