Chapter 62: Ways of Self-Abuse

“You’re talking nonsense—I don’t get it.”

Therilens feigned confusion, flipping open a book and settling in to read quiet.

“I just wanna stay here—that’s all. Hope you won’t target me too hard… I’d love to be friends~”

Therilens’s words always dripped honey.

Asteris and Delucia traded looks, smiling synced.

But they held back on calling her bluff—after all… the long con? Way more fun~

Therilens played perfect these two days—meals, bed, all model.

On the third—Liang Lai’s solo watch—Therilens planned a real doze, one-two hours.

Heart jittery: please walk this true sleep.

Liang Lai sat bed-edge, eyes a mix of ache and steel on her.

“Good girl—sleep. If you didn’t… Mom’ll apologize, make it up. But after… ropes for nights. Or… it’ll spook your sisters.”

She stroked Therilens’s head soft.

Therilens blanked a tick—then flushed shy; she tugged the sheet up, veiling half her face to hide the pink.

Since the blowup two nights back, Liang Lai’d kept distance—no head-ruffles.

“Mm, got it Mom—but no need apology. Mom’s always right… My walks scared sisters—my fault.” Therilens played insightful sweet.

The reply tugged Liang Lai’s heartstrings; she ruffled again.

“Enough—bed now. Sisters say you’ve walked both nights… Mom… believes you.”

“Mm!”

Therilens grinned, flashing her little fangs.

Under Liang Lai’s murmur-soothe, Therilens dozed off quick—real tired, after all…

Two nights’ broken sleep; she couldn’t hack it.

Therilens woke to a sharp gasp; eyes open, she found Liang Lai yanking her collar back fierce—hauling her into embrace tight.

“You scared me half to death!”

The saintess’s cry held after-tremble; she patted Therilens’s back light—like venting gripe.

“Your body’s lean another inch… you’d have tumbled from the floor! So close… Good I trailed you, saw what you’d do. Bit farther? No catch!”

Eh?

Therilens blanked too.

Post-doze walk-walk… to window-edge, prepped to dive?

This… total windfall!

Therilens’s lips quirked unwitting—edging manic-scary.

Why hadn’t she thought self-harm for sympathy?

Who’d fake-walk off a third-floor drop for show?

Odds on death—head-down? Done.

Normal folk? Never…

But she, Therilens? No normal.

“Mom! Did I… nearly dive from upstairs? So scary!”

Therilens wailed, burrowing into Liang Lai’s arms.

Liang Lai clutched the child close, patting her back soft.

She’d seen it crystal: Therilens straight-stiffed the window, groping like for something—half out already…

One more nudge… splat.

For the act? To that extreme? Shouldn’t…

Liang Lai near-trusted the girl in her hold now.

But for the others’ peace… tests rolled on, days more.

Two days later: sixth dawn—all kids and Liang Lai on edge-watch.

Therilens ringed mid-bed, the big one—crowd ’round her.

But tonight? No sleep allowed.

Therilens ached bone-deep; pillow-touch’d knock her out—but she knew: stay wake.

So stubborn it.

So tired, so tired… but no sleep, no sleep, no sleep…

Therilens chanted inner mantra.

Good: her will ran iron—propping her from crash.

Just survive tonight… then done…

That thought hauled her half-hour in.

Right—hit ’em with the sleep-trick: balcony flip!

Third floor, sure—true slip? Head-spare odds for survive… but half-paralyze risk loomed…

But! She’d try!

No grip on this warmth? Booted out… better dead!

With that, Therilens paced a room-loop first—then drifted window-ward slow.

“Click~”

Sash swung wide.

“Ther…”

Therilens caught Liang Lai’s call behind—but just a sec, then cut—like Duoluosa’d jammed it.

Now: conquer death-dread, lean half-out—job done.

Conquer death-dread?

Fun~

Therilens’s lips hooked unseen.

She, Therilens—feared death least!

Years of agony inured her; two paths only: grind on, or die!

That creed in mind, Therilens plunged half-out no-waver.

She felt her frame lift—tumbling free.

Mid-air: angle right, shield head…

Lawn below—cushion; crash ass-first? Treatable—as long as no brain, no spine bash…

But mid-pose—Therilens felt her waist snagged sudden.

Ah~

Liang Lai to the save!

Therilens timed eyes-open—but body locked stiff a tick.

‘Cause the saver? No Liang Lai.

Asteris’s “shadow”—Delucia, coiled in it.

Right now: Delucia in tendril-form, lashing Therilens’s waist—yanking her back up.“You’re talking nonsense—I don’t get it.”

Therilens feigned confusion, flipping open a book and settling in to read quiet.

“I just wanna stay here—that’s all. Hope you won’t target me too hard… I’d love to be friends~”

Therilens’s words always dripped honey.

Asteris and Delucia traded looks, smiling synced.

But they held back on calling her bluff—after all… the long con? Way more fun~

Therilens played perfect these two days—meals, bed, all model.

On the third—Liang Lai’s solo watch—Therilens planned a real doze, one-two hours.

Heart jittery: please walk this true sleep.

Liang Lai sat bed-edge, eyes a mix of ache and steel on her.

“Good girl—sleep. If you didn’t… Mom’ll apologize, make it up. But after… ropes for nights. Or… it’ll spook your sisters.”

She stroked Therilens’s head soft.

Therilens blanked a tick—then flushed shy; she tugged the sheet up, veiling half her face to hide the pink.

Since the blowup two nights back, Liang Lai’d kept distance—no head-ruffles.

“Mm, got