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In the kitchen, the only sound that could be heard was the splashing of water.
Tears continuously slipped from the corners of the young girl’s eyes, her blushing cheeks resembling ripe apples.
Like pear flowers in the rain, she was utterly pitiable.
Seeing such Shali, Mu’en couldn’t help but feel his heart race.
“Mu’en, can you reconsider a bit more?”
Shali clenched her fingers, nervously asking again.
Like invisible ripples spreading out, Mu’en’s thoughts began to waver uncontrollably.
Seeing Shali like this was so cute.
So virtuous.
She could also make delicious snacks and meals.
Her figure was top-notch.
If they became partners, it would definitely be perfect.
So, why not just…
“Smack—”
A crisp sound suddenly echoed.
It startled Shali, and she instinctively took a step back, looking at Mu’en in surprise.
“What kind of scumbag am I!”
Mu’en suddenly slapped himself, waking himself up, gritting his teeth and saying, “Eating from one bowl while looking at another? No, even if I’m a scumbag, I must have principles.”
A scumbag without principles—what’s the difference from a thoughtless king?
Am I really that vulgar being who covets others’ bodies?
“So, I’m sorry, Shali. I can’t agree to you.”
Mu’en sincerely refused again, but this time he softened his attitude, his tone more gentle.
In just two short minutes, being rejected twice by the same person was an extremely cruel outcome for a girl who had mustered her courage.
Mu’en felt so ashamed he wished he could find a sack to hide in and take a beating.
Why was he so handsome? If only he were a little more ordinary, wouldn’t he avoid this mess?
“This… is that so?”
Shali’s expression turned extremely sad upon hearing Mu’en’s final answer.
She took a deep breath, as if wanting to suck back all her tears, but they only flowed out even more.
“No… it’s not Mu’en’s fault; I was just assuming too much.”
Like a female loser in a drama unable to accept the failure of a confession, Shali forced out a smile worse than crying and slowly backed away.
Then she turned and ran.
Only to nearly crash into a soft embrace.
“Oh my, what did I just see?”
Senior Anna appeared at the doorway without anyone noticing, looking reproachfully at Mu’en:
“You really are something, junior. In just a few minutes, you’ve rejected another young girl?”
“If I had agreed, that would really be called being a scumbag,” Mu’en bitterly smiled, as if he had expected the senior’s appearance.
“True.”
Senior Anna nodded, then lowered her head and took out a handkerchief, delicately helping Shali wipe her tear-streaked face. During the process, a glimmer passed through her hand:
“Don’t be angry, junior, we won’t bother with a scumbag.”
“Are you still viewing me as a scumbag?!”
“Eh?”
However, Senior Anna paid no attention to Mu’en’s retort. Instead, while helping Shali wipe her tears, she noticed something and slightly exclaimed:
“Shali, you’re so cute. Why do you have to hide behind those ugly black-framed glasses? Girls should pay a bit of attention to their appearance. Who knows, it might change the outcome for certain scumbags.”
“Hey! Senior!”
“I know a place that specializes in custom women’s glasses. Do you need me to introduce it to you?”
Saying this, Anna raised her hand to take Shali’s black-framed glasses, wanting to help her wipe them clean, which had become completely smeared with tears.
Smack.
But Shali suddenly grabbed her hand.
Lowering her head, her expression was unclear.
“No need, senior, I appreciate your kindness.”
“But…”
Anna looked at Shali’s hand, slightly frowning.
Before she could say anything more, Shali suddenly crossed over her and ran into the kitchen, then slammed the door shut with a bang.
In the rhythm of chopping vegetables, Shali, her voice trembling with sobs, said softly:
“I’m sorry, please don’t mind me, let me be alone for a while.”
Soon after, sounds of uncontrollable crying came from behind the door, sounding extremely sorrowful.
“Junior, you’re really quite sinful.”
Hearing the cries, Anna let out a sigh, casting a meaningful glance at Mu’en.
Mu’en was at a loss for words, only managing a bitter smile.
“Then shall we leave first?”
Mu’en suggested tentatively.
Although leaving like this felt irresponsible, staying here would only add to the awkwardness.
It was better to let Shali be alone for a bit.
“Alright.” Anna nodded as well.
After all, the goal had been achieved.
However, before they prepared to leave, she couldn’t help but take a deep, lingering look at the closed kitchen door.
“Something feels… not quite right.”
Her gaze glanced at her wrist, where Shali had grabbed her, leaving a red mark.
“Junior.”
“Uh-huh?”
“Is Shali’s warrior cultivation very strong?”
“I don’t know. She’s always been quite inconspicuous, but since she is also in martial technique classes, she shouldn’t be too weak, right?”
“I see…”
Anna withdrew her gaze, not thinking much further.
After all, Shali’s sad appearance just now didn’t look like something acting could achieve.
It was likely she was just overthinking it.
…
After Mu’en and Anna left, Shali continued to hide in the kitchen, crying.
Tears flowed endlessly, as if they would never run dry.
She was so sad.
She liked Mu’en so much, but in the end, why did he still reject her?
Was it because she wasn’t good-looking?
That might be it; compared to that woman in a maid outfit and Senior Anna, her appearance wasn’t remarkable.
She wasn’t pretty, didn’t know how to dress up, and kept wearing those ugly black-framed glasses.
Mu’en probably wouldn’t like her, right?
“Ah, right.”
Mentioning the black-framed glasses, Shali seemed to remember something.
“I almost forgot, when there are no outsiders, I must take off my glasses.”
So, she took off the black-framed glasses that had been soaked with tears, almost completely blurred and unable to see the road.
Her crying suddenly stopped.
Like an invisible darkness spreading out, her aura changed sharply, turning cold as night.
Looking through the already filled sink, she stared at herself.
Staring at the… oddly smiling self, as if she had become a different person.
“Ah, why did it fail?”
“Last time’s mental suggestion was so successful; otherwise, Mu’en wouldn’t have accidentally found this place.”
“What a pity, after all, he is the son of a duke. If I could control him, it would greatly help the plan.”
“But…”
Shali didn’t feel disappointed; instead, she excitedly grinned.
That smile was exceedingly strange, her mouth almost stretching to her earlobes, like… a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
“This is really a happy accident. I had searched for so long and found nothing, and almost got caught by that silver-haired woman…”
She stared at her hands, thinking about the soft hands she had just touched, felt moved, and clasped her hands together, praying:
“Indeed, great Moon, are you guiding me?”
“Since that’s the case, I will not disappoint you and will bring your lost divinity before your throne.”
“Isn’t that right, Dad?”
In the corner of the kitchen, a silent man continuously raised the knife in his hand, then repeatedly brought it down.
Like a machine, repeating one action.
And on the cutting board in front of him, a distorted shadow silently struggled, then was cut into pieces like fish meat.
He grabbed a piece and put it in his mouth.
Chewing.
Though it was just a shadow, it emitted a sound as if flesh and bones were being crushed.
After a moment, he grinned, revealing blackened teeth.
“Delicious.”
