Category: My Cthulhu Girlfriend (gl)

Chapter 90: Summer Days

That night, they still slept separately, Xiang Er maintaining her cold demeanor, her bedroom door locked.

The next morning, Akhe had already prepared breakfast, a local specialty, waiting for Xiang Er to wash up and join her.

After breakfast, they returned home to Lǜ’è City.

At the car, Xiang Er opened the passenger door herself, sat in the back, her arms crossed, her face cold and distant, not speaking to Akhe.

She regretted saying those words at the playground last night. What was she doing? Was she really… that pathetic, that desperate for love?

She could still clearly feel the resentment towards Akhe, the pain of the past betrayals, still festering, no matter how much Akhe tried to make amends.

But she could also feel the sincerity of Akhe’s remorse, the genuineness of her affection…

And… that night, in bed, Xiang Er knew she hadn’t truly resisted. Perhaps it was the thrill of the unfamiliar environment, or perhaps her own feelings had shifted over time, but in that moment, when she had been pressed against the bed…

For some reason, inexplicably…

Her anticipation had outweighed her aversion.

And Akhe could read minds.

Akhe could hear her innermost thoughts, and although it was… considerate, it was also… incredibly annoying!

Xiang Er sat in the car, lost in thought, aware that Akhe could hear her, but she didn’t care anymore. She felt conflicted, like riding a banana boat in a dense fog, one side a chasm of pure hatred, the other the promise of a beautiful, unconditional love, and she… was stuck in the middle, pulled in both directions.

She was… getting angry.

She wasn’t sure who she was angry at, at Akhe for being able to read her mind, at herself for being so weak, at this messed-up world for not giving her any other options!

It was all so absurd and frustrating!

As she thought, Xiang Er ate her snacks and drank her milk tea, a spiteful thought crossing her mind: She would just eat until she was fat, then the Evil God wouldn’t love her anymore, and she would be free.

A soft chuckle came from the front seat, a happy, carefree sound, and Akhe’s voice, gentle, said:

“Eat all you want, I’ll love you no matter what you look like.”

Xiang Er’s annoyance intensified, and she put down the cake, her appetite gone.

The thought that even her unspoken thoughts, the constant stream of complaints and insults in her mind, were heard by Akhe, made her even angrier!

She couldn’t help but speak:

“Can you stop reading my mind? Don’t I deserve any privacy?”

Akhe, hidden behind the driver’s seat, extended a thick tentacle, which gently patted Xiang Er’s knee.

Her voice came from the front:

“Okay, I’ll try. But… our connection is very deep now, I can’t guarantee I can completely sever it, I can only try to… lower the volume.”

Then she fell silent, the tentacle also still, resting on Xiang Er’s knee, like a rubber toy.

Xiang Er looked at the blunt, black tentacle and covered it with a tissue. It was ugly, she didn’t want to look at it. The red ones were slightly better… no, they were all disgusting!

After a while, Akhe’s voice, soft, said:

“Okay, I’ve lowered the volume, I shouldn’t be able to hear you unless you shout in your mind.”

Xiang Er, testing it, thought silently: Can you really not hear me?

Akhe didn’t react, the tentacle also still.

She tried again: Akhe, get out of this planet!

No reaction.

She thought for a moment, then thought a little louder: I really hate Akhe!

Still no reaction.

She shouted in her mind, as loud as she could: Akhe, you’re a fucking idiot!

The tentacle twitched, knocking the tissue off Xiang Er’s knee. Akhe, in the driver’s seat, sighed:

“I heard that. Try not to curse so much, you’ll strain yourself.”

Xiang Er, surprised, said aloud:

“I told you to stop reading my mind before, why didn’t you listen to me then? Why now?”

Akhe’s voice was calm and gentle:

“I was afraid you would hurt yourself. Now, I don’t think you will, you said… we have a future.”

Xiang Er pursed her lips, silent. She shouldn’t have said those words yesterday, now this tentacle monster was treating them like a sacred decree… truly a crazy, tentacled monster!

Xiang Er, annoyed, continued shouting in her mind: Akhe, you’re a fucking idiot! Akhe, you liar! Akhe, you’re an idiot! Akhe, you’re terrible at that! Akhe, your tentacles are disgusting! Akhe, your true form is disgusting! Aaaah, I hate Akhe!

Akhe, in the driver’s seat, sighed occasionally, offering a mild rebuke, but she didn’t seem angry.

The tentacle coiled around Xiang Er’s knee, patting it gently, like a patient adult comforting a child.

It seemed that since Xiang Er had mentioned “the future,” Akhe’s mood had stabilized considerably. Xiang Er remembered the times Akhe had cried or hidden herself after being insulted, she seemed to have developed a tolerance now.

Xiang Er, having run out of insults, just repeated “I hate Akhe” over and over again, until her head started to hurt, and she gave up.

The scenery along the way was beautiful, and as they reached Lǜ’è City, Xiang Er felt a sense of relief, a homecoming, but she quickly suppressed the feeling.

Akhe chuckled softly, the sound light and joyful, like a dove taking flight, echoing in the narrow stairwell.

As they opened the apartment door, Akhe turned to get the luggage, and before Xiang Er could step inside, a small, black thing launched itself at her, colliding with her chest.

For a moment, she felt like she had a cat.

The small eyeball clung to her, its tentacles wrapping around her, its slit-like mouth emitting childish cries:

“Wuwuwah! Wuwuwah! I missed you! I missed you!”

Before Xiang Er could react, Akhe, grabbing the small eyeball with one hand, tried to pull it away:

“Don’t cling to her, she’s my wife!”

The small eyeball wailed, its thin tentacles stretching like rubber bands, refusing to let go, its cries loud enough to raise the roof.

Xiang Er, exasperated, grabbed her bag and started hitting Akhe:

“What nonsense are you spouting! Who’s your… get out, get out, get out! I hate both of you!”

The bag hit Akhe’s temple, drawing blood. Her hair tumbled over her beautiful face, and she looked at Xiang Er with an expression of pained innocence, as if wronged.

Xiang Er hesitated, then lowered her bag, still fuming, ignoring the small eyeball still clinging to her, and walked inside.

Akhe finally managed to detach the small eyeball, holding it in one hand, the suitcase in the other, and followed Xiang Er, a smile on her lips, her voice a soft murmur:

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, okay? It was a slip of the tongue, you’re not my wife yet, you’re my precious Miss Xiang Er, my Little Ears…”

Xiang Er didn’t look back, entering the guest room and closing the door just as Akhe reached it, almost catching Akhe’s nose.

Akhe touched her nose and smiled at the closed door, a blissful, contented smile, tinged with disbelief.

She couldn’t believe it, happiness had come so quickly, she had been prepared to wait a lifetime.

Xiang Er was truly the kindest, most gentle person in the world.

Akhe, touching the small cut on her temple, smiled sweetly.

Oh, right, they hadn’t had lunch yet. There was still time to prepare something light, and Akhe, unleashing her tentacles, hurried into the kitchen.

Summer was drawing to a close.

The days passed, one after another, a peaceful, uneventful flow, and before Xiang Er even realized it, it was the end of September.

These days… how to put it, they were similar to before, yet different.

Mainly, she and Akhe had developed a strange, unspoken understanding. Akhe could no longer read her mind, giving Xiang Er some much-needed privacy, but her care and attention hadn’t diminished, in fact, it had intensified.

For example, when Xiang Er wanted milk tea, Akhe would buy every new flavor, every brand, a luxurious indulgence, even more so than when she could read Xiang Er’s mind.

And when Xiang Er wanted to go out, Akhe would offer several options, letting Xiang Er choose, and if Xiang Er changed her mind, Akhe would adapt, her mood always calm and accommodating, Xiang Er’s wishes her top priority.

Xiang Er gradually realized that living with a god… was much better than living an ordinary life, at least, she never had to worry about money.

Akhe seemed to have an endless supply of it.

Xiang Er, finally unable to contain her curiosity, asked worriedly:

“Where do you get all this money? You’re not… robbing banks, are you?”

Akhe chuckled and patted her phone:

“It’s all legal income. I help those investigators kill monsters, the government pays me, I’m even on their payroll now, you can ask An Yue if you don’t believe me.”

So, one day, Xiang Er asked An Yue, who was following them at a discreet distance, pretending not to be there.

An Yue, her voice filled with respect, said:

“It’s true, Ms. Shen is now a special consultant for our bureau, a department-level position, several ranks above mine. She’s single-handedly eliminated over thirty Class S+ monsters, she’s definitely getting the Investigator of the Year award this year, you should come to the ceremony!”

Xiang Er’s expression was complex:

“…But… your bureau knows she’s an Evil God, right?”

An Yue’s eyes widened:

“So what if she’s an Evil God! As the great leader once said, it doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice! If an Evil God can kill monsters, then she’s not an Evil God, she’s our comrade! And she’s saved many of my comrades, you just don’t know it, why don’t you come with us next time she goes on a mission?”

Xiang Er’s expression grew even more complicated, taken aback by this twisted logic, but she still nodded:

“Okay.”

So, the next time Akhe received an urgent call from An Yue, she took Xiang Er with her.

Akhe, carrying Xiang Er, flew to the designated location, a coastal area, where a giant, mutated fish, the size of a skyscraper, was wreaking havoc.

With a single flick of its tail, the monster fish had demolished a thirty-story building.

Akhe, arriving just then, immediately unleashed a cloud of black mist, which transformed into countless tentacles, swiftly rescuing the people trapped inside the building.

While the mist-tentacles were busy, Akhe set up a lounge chair and a small table on a nearby rooftop, complete with flowers, milk tea, and a telescope.

She placed Xiang Er in the chair and smiled:

“This is the best viewing spot.”

Xiang Er sat in the chair, her mood a strange mix of emotions, she took a sip of her milk tea, her favorite flavor.

Ahead, several giant, snake-like tentacles erupted from behind Akhe, who winked at Xiang Er before flying towards the giant fish.

Xiang Er:

“…”

Even her tentacles seemed to be showing off.

However, despite being the “best viewing spot,” Xiang Er hadn’t even been watching for two minutes when the giant fish was completely devoured.

It was a complete annihilation… Xiang Er, sipping her milk tea, finally grasped the true extent of the Evil God’s power.

Akhe, after devouring the fish, continued to help with the rescue efforts on the ground, her tentacles carefully carrying the injured to the ambulances, some even receiving the Evil God’s direct healing touch.

Soon, it was over, and Akhe, flying back to the rooftop, her voice cheerful, said:

“Another zero-casualty mission, we’re definitely getting a big bonus this time!”

Xiang Er’s expression was complex:

“You’re really… good at making money.”

Akhe smiled, her tentacles swaying behind her like a gorgon’s hair, as she pulled out a bank card and offered it to Xiang Er:

“My salary card, for my wife.”

Xiang Er was about to angrily throw the card away…

When Akhe added:

“Nine figures.”

Xiang Er:

“…”

Her hand, holding the card, trembled slightly.

Chapter 89: The Schoolyard

Xiang Er wandered aimlessly through the streets of the old county town.

She had no destination, no purpose, just a need to escape the confines of the hotel room, the suffocating feeling of being trapped.

After all these years, the town hadn’t changed much, every corner a memory.

As Xiang Er walked, the anger, the shame, the awkwardness, the pain, gradually subsided, replaced by a flood of childhood memories, transporting her back in time.

She hadn’t walked a block when a figure appeared beside her, keeping a small distance, yet following her every move.

Xiang Er didn’t even have to turn around to know it was Akhe! The familiar warmth, the scent, the shape of the shadow, she knew them too well!

She turned her head slightly:

“Go away, I want to be alone.”

Akhe obediently stopped following.

Xiang Er, slightly relieved, continued her aimless wandering, then stopped, her gaze fixed on a small restaurant.

She had been five years old, her first trip to the city with the other children from the orphanage, to see a movie. Sun Wukong wreaking havoc on the heavens, the children in the theater laughing and shouting, even the girl who always stole her lollipops had been nice that day, twirling her around excitedly.

After the movie, they had walked along this street, and she had seen the golden, steaming pies fresh out of the oven, their aroma enticing, and she had stopped, mesmerized.

But she didn’t have what they called “money,” she couldn’t buy a pie. She had never had one before, so golden and tempting, its filling bulging, it looked so delicious.

Then, her teacher had found her, scolding her as she led her away, telling her not to wander off, what if she got lost, what if she was kidnapped… Xiang Er had craned her neck, looking back, the golden pies receding into the distance.

She had whispered:

“Teacher… I want to eat that…”

The teacher, herding the children, had replied dismissively:

“You’re hungry? We’ll eat when we get back to the orphanage.”

“But… they don’t have those at the orphanage…”

“Hurry up, hurry up! We’ll miss the bus!”

Xiang Er’s small voice had been lost in the noise of the traffic and the crowd, and she had realized, for the first time, how big the world was, and how… insignificant she was.

Later, back at the orphanage, she had dreamt of pies every night, all kinds of pies, imagining their taste. Were they apple-flavored? No, maybe the taste of youtiao? Perhaps a little, but what about the filling? Was it youtiao filled with beans? Or pork? But pork was only in dumplings… was it the taste of youtiao and dumplings combined?…

Then she had started elementary school on a different street, surrounded by all sorts of tempting treats, and she had started saving money, but she had never bought a pie from that shop again.

The honking of a car horn brought Xiang Er back to the present, and she stepped aside, then turned and saw Akhe standing at the corner, a few meters away.

On the old, faded street, against the backdrop of grey tiles and white walls, Akhe, in her red dress, was a vibrant splash of color, the passersby staring, their faces filled with curiosity, but she seemed oblivious to their gazes, her eyes fixed on Xiang Er.

Her gaze was filled with a tender ache.

Xiang Er frowned and looked away, walking on, then suddenly heard Akhe’s voice behind her:

“I’ll take all of these, and do you have any other flavors? I’ll take one of each.”

She turned around in surprise and saw the shop owner, beaming, packing all the pies into a plastic bag, handing it to Akhe.

Akhe nodded politely, paid with her phone, then, a tall, beautiful woman, holding a bag of greasy, incongruous fried pies, walked towards Xiang Er.

Xiang Er took a step back, her voice defensive:

“Don’t think I’ll suddenly like you just because you bought these. I’m not touched, not at all!”

Akhe smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons:

“It’s not to… touch you, I just wanted you to try them, to let the five-year-old you know what they taste like.”

Under the clear blue sky, the beautiful woman smiled, her expression genuine, her dress swaying gently in the breeze, the greasy bag in her delicate, white hand.

Her gaze seemed to be on Xiang Er, and yet, also on… that five-year-old girl.

She took out a pie, its warmth and aroma filling the air as she broke it in half:

“Ah, this one is red bean paste, do you want to try it?”

She offered half of the pie to Xiang Er, holding the other half, and took a large bite, her voice exaggeratedly enthusiastic:

“It’s so good!”

Xiang Er hesitantly took the pie and bit into it.

It was… decent, nothing special, an old-fashioned pie, heavy with oil and sugar, the red bean paste overly sweet, but… it was warm and sweet, undeniably so.

She couldn’t imagine how happy the five-year-old her would have been, to have a taste of this pie.

Xiang Er thought about this, and she looked up, seeing Akhe’s eyes closed, her expression one of pure bliss as she devoured the pie, as if it were the most delicious thing in the world.

Xiang Er swallowed, then turned and walked away, her voice sullen:

“It’s just a pie.”

Akhe, still eating, followed her, and this time, even though she kept a small distance, Xiang Er didn’t try to shake her off.

She reasoned that if someone was carrying all the food, it wouldn’t be practical to be too far away.

As they walked, many things triggered Xiang Er’s memories, and whenever she reminisced about something, Akhe would immediately buy it for her.

From brightly colored fruit juice, to sugary popsicles, to stickers from the stationery store, to noisy children’s toys, celebrity posters and trading cards, sparkly butterfly hair clips, a pink, hard-cover notebook… she bought almost everything Xiang Er looked at.

By the end, Akhe’s hands were full of shopping bags, her arms outstretched.

As the sun began to set, they passed by Xiang Er’s elementary school, then arrived at the schoolyard of the middle school where she had boarded for three years, and sat down.

The security guard had tried to stop them, but Akhe, with a subtle manipulation of his perception, had easily gained them entry.

Akhe blew bubbles, the iridescent spheres floating away in the evening breeze. Xiang Er munched on her snacks, which didn’t taste as good as she remembered, but she still tried each one.

A few middle school students, their thin bodies swallowed by their oversized uniforms, walked across the schoolyard towards the cafeteria, their laughter echoing, their eyes filled with the boundless hope of youth.

Just like Xiang Er had once been.

The students, passing by, occasionally glanced at the two unusual adults, some of the girls with envious looks in their eyes, perhaps imagining their own future selves, beautiful and successful, their lives filled with endless possibilities.

Xiang Er smiled at a few of the girls, her own mood surprisingly light.

She suddenly realized that life wasn’t so bad after all, looking back, it hadn’t been all pain and suffering, there had been moments of joy, of being cared for.

She had endured a lot of pain, but… she had also survived, thanks to the kindness of others, she had made it this far, she was… okay.

Perhaps… she had finally achieved a normal life… except for the Evil God.

After all, other ordinary people didn’t have a Evil God in their lives!

She turned to look at Akhe, the setting sun casting a golden-red glow on her face as she diligently blew bubbles, her profile gentle and innocent, her eyes, beneath her slightly messy hair, still familiar.

Xiang Er looked at her for a long time, then asked softly:

“Are you… hiding anything else from me?”

Akhe put down the bubble wand, a puzzled look on her face, but her voice was firm:

“Of course not, I’ve been completely honest with you, I have no secrets, and I’ll never lie to you again, I promise!”

Xiang Er looked at her face.

There was indeed no sign of deceit, but Xiang Er didn’t trust her own judgment anymore, she had been so easily fooled before, completely oblivious to the lies.

Akhe’s eyes, reflecting the golden light of the setting sun, her lips curving into a hesitant smile, a mixture of hope and trepidation:

“Why… why are you asking this now? Are you… still thinking about what I did before… I’m sorry, I was so stupid, so foolish, so horrible back then, I understand if you hate me, I deserve it…”

“You were stupid!”

Xiang Er suddenly interrupted her, looked away, and stood up, picking up the bag of uneaten snacks.

She walked away, her back to Akhe, then… stopped.

Akhe, although puzzled, still obediently extended her tentacles, gathered the trash, and put it in a bag, a model citizen.

After throwing the garbage bag into a nearby bin, she turned around…

And saw Xiang Er, her head turned slightly, looking back at her, her voice barely a whisper:

“And what about… the future?”

Akhe froze.

On the lush green lawn, Xiang Er, having spoken, walked away, her figure shrinking in the distance, like a slender middle school girl, her silhouette almost cinematic in the golden light.

The future…

Akhe, as if struck by lightning, stood frozen, her eyes shining brightly, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s retreating figure, as if seeing a completely different person.

She had mentioned the future.

She was thinking about the future!

And in her future… there was a place for her!

Akhe’s heart throbbed with emotion, the grass around her, as if caught in a sudden gust of wind, swirling and swaying, a fleeting black shadow looming overhead, the sky momentarily darkening.

As dusk deepened, Akhe appeared before Xiang Er, her arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace, her face buried in Xiang Er’s shoulder, her lips showering her neck with kisses, her movements frantic and unrestrained.

Xiang Er pushed her away, they were at her middle school, people were watching, this was so embarrassing!

“What are you doing! Let go of me! I didn’t… I didn’t mean it like that!”

She had just casually mentioned the future, she hadn’t meant that she wanted to reconcile, why was Akhe acting like this! Such emotional instability, how could there be a future?!

But… cold tears fell on her neck, and Akhe’s voice, trembling and soft, whispered in her ear:

“Thank you… thank you…”

Thank you for… even considering a future with me.

Chapter 88: The Hotel

Life in the small county town was simple. It was only a little past nine, and the streets were already deserted, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, which filtered through the windows of the hotel room.

But the presidential suite was brightly lit, the harsh, fluorescent lights banishing all traces of the moon’s gentle embrace. The decor was opulent, almost gaudy, the surfaces gleaming, every detail of the room illuminated mercilessly, the colorful candies on the table, the soft towel on the floor, and… the woman, standing there, pale as snow.

Xiang Er, her health restored, no longer resembled a delicate bud, but a fully bloomed camellia, exuding a subtle fragrance.

The lollipop in her mouth, a touch of girlish charm, a hint of vulnerability beneath her usual hard shell.

She was so beautiful… that even a god couldn’t resist.

Akhe, in an instant, was before her, her long, jade-like arms pulling Xiang Er into an embrace, and the next moment, Xiang Er, startled, found herself lying on the bed!

The large hotel bed was soft as a marshmallow, and Xiang Er, pinned beneath Akhe, tried to crawl away, her hands gripping the sheets, but the bed, like quicksand, held her captive!

She cried out:

“What are you doing?!”

But the next second, the bright lights in the room suddenly went out.

Akhe’s face, half-hidden in shadow, her hair tinged with the silver glow of the moonlight, her eyes dark and unreadable, her expression a mystery.

Suddenly, several tentacles, slowly, deliberately, rose, reaching towards her, their movements languid yet forceful, under Xiang Er’s terrified gaze.

The room was silent, the air thick with a heavy, almost suffocating sweetness, the temperature rising steadily.

Xiang Er bit her lip, trying not to make a sound, her eyes fixed on Akhe, a burning hatred in their depths. But Akhe wasn’t looking at her eyes, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s body… certain parts, a fire burning within them.

The moonlight, a soft yet revealing glow, filtering through the window, illuminated everything, and Xiang Er could clearly see the dark red tentacles, their surfaces slick and wet, approaching her body.

The sweet fragrance filled the air, and Xiang Er, her body tense, her voice trembling, said:

“Let… let go of me.”

Her resistance, of course, was futile, and the beautiful, Evil God face leaned closer, her lips pressing against Xiang Er’s neck.

“Mm…”

Xiang Er’s head tilted back, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, the moonlight shimmering like scattered gold.

The hotel room was unfamiliar, and Xiang Er’s heart, tonight, unusually soft, she was like… a knight, who, having shed their armor in this strange, warm place, had let down their guard, and now… was completely vulnerable.

She raised her hands to push Akhe away, but they couldn’t move, and even if she managed to push her away, there were still the tentacles, waiting, their movements subtle, their touch inescapable.

The plush hotel bed seemed to soften, to liquefy beneath her, sparks flying where her skin met the tentacles, the thick summer air filled with the sweet fragrance of spring, the world blurring, shifting, and Xiang Er couldn’t even see Akhe’s expression…

Akhe’s voice, soft and low, whispered:

“Relax.”

Her magnetic voice echoed in the room, like a spark igniting the already heated air.

Xiang Er’s heart was filled with anger, but… her body, involuntarily, relaxed, she didn’t want to give in, but her body, too familiar with this dance, wasn’t even startled by the tentacles anymore.

As the tentacles moved across her skin, she remembered seeing them on her bed before, but the feeling… the feeling… was completely different now.

Like a lifetime ago.

Xiang Er’s slender wrists, gently bound and lifted by a soft, slimy tentacle, her arms above her head, her body exposed, offered up willingly.

As they drew closer, their bodies trembled. Her body remembered the intimacy, the pleasure, her instincts overriding her reason, her emotions, and for a moment, Xiang Er almost screamed.

This was the first time, fully conscious, that she had been with the tentacles.

As the dark red, glistening tentacles approached, caressing, entwining, she trembled and cried out, but her cries were hoarse, high-pitched, like music…

And the tentacles, hearing her cries, tightened their grip, a soft, wet, sucking sound.

Transparent slime oozed from the suckers, the sweet fragrance filling the air. Xiang Er clutched the sheets, trying to escape, but Akhe’s arms wrapped around her neck, her soft lips kissing Xiang Er’s face, her forehead, her cheeks, her escape blocked…

Finally, her back against the rumpled bed, her face pressed against the cool leather of the headboard, the scent of leather in her nostrils, her eyes closed, she surrendered.

She cried and trembled, her body convulsing.

The leather was cold, the tentacles hot, the world a blur, and she… lost.

Xiang Er’s body was completely enveloped by the tentacles. She didn’t move, her body pressed against the headboard, and someone, from behind, embraced her.

A warm, gentle embrace, a hand softly patting her back, a comforting, maternal touch:

“There, there… it’s my fault, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have… been so impulsive…”

Xiang Er bit her lip, about to lash out, but the next second, a pair of slightly cooler lips gently touched hers.

It was their first kiss since her suicide attempt…

Even during their passionate encounter, their lips hadn’t met, Akhe had avoided her mouth, and now, suddenly…

Akhe didn’t force her lips open, just pressed gently against them, not giving Xiang Er a chance to bite her tongue.

After the intensity of their earlier encounter, this soft, lingering kiss, the desire fading with the moonlight, the warm bed like amniotic fluid, and she… a seed, sinking into it.

Xiang Er’s body relaxed in Akhe’s embrace, her eyes closed, her mind blank.

She should have been angry, hurt, but… she was so tired.

And soon, she fell asleep.

After she was asleep, Akhe finally released her, gently holding her close.

In the darkness, the world finally at peace, the moonlight soft, Akhe’s face was streaked with tears.

She cried like a child, tears of joy, of overwhelming happiness!

Whatever happened next, Xiang Er’s anger, her rejection, even another suicide attempt, would have to wait until morning.

At least, in this moment, tonight, in this unfamiliar room…

They had truly, deeply, loved each other.

When Xiang Er woke up, it was already noon the next day.

Akhe had cleaned her thoroughly, even changed the sheets. Everything was clean and tidy, as if nothing had happened.

She lay alone in the large, unfamiliar bed, in the unfamiliar hotel room.

She felt like she was lying at the bottom of an abyss.

She moved slightly, her body aching, and as she tried to sit up, her muscles screamed in protest, her waist sore and weak, like she had swallowed a dozen lemons.

Gritting her teeth, she sat up, leaning against the soft leather headboard, the quilt pulled up to her chest, her mind blank.

The room seemed empty, but Xiang Er knew better, and she said softly:

“Come out.”

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Akhe, carrying a tray of food, entered, still wearing the red dress, its soft fabric clinging to her body, outlining her curves.

Akhe smiled faintly, placed the tray on the small table, and said:

“You’re awake? Come eat something, I made all your favorites…”

A pillow suddenly flew through the air, striking Akhe, then landing on the table, knocking over the tray of food.

Silence. Akhe lowered her head, then looked up again, a smile on her face:

“You can be angry, but don’t waste food. What do you want to eat? I’ll order something else.”

Another pillow flew through the air, landing on Akhe’s beautifully styled hair.

Akhe turned, her face half-hidden in shadow, her hair disheveled, her expression complex, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er.

She looked like she was inhabited by two souls, one wanting to punish her disobedient lover, the other pleading for forgiveness.

She looked at Xiang Er, her mouth opening as if to speak, then closing again.

And Xiang Er looked at Akhe, images and emotions flashing through her mind. She hated this, hated her own helplessness, hated her own wavering resolve, her susceptibility to the Evil God’s tricks, but… her feelings were complicated.

Because… she felt… a softening within her, a reluctant acceptance.

It was this insidious acceptance that terrified her. Would she eventually just give in, become the Evil God’s lover, its plaything? Could she truly, after being so violated, forgive and forget, and accept this monstrous love?

Tears welled up in Xiang Er’s eyes:

“Am I just your toy? To be played with… however you please?”

She hadn’t expected an answer, her sobs trapped in her throat, as she was about to say something more…

Akhe’s voice, soft and low, said:

“No, you’re the one I love. And if you want… I can be your toy.”

Akhe’s body, below her head, began to dissolve, a mass of black slime extending tentacles, which touched the floor, reaching towards Xiang Er.

She rested her head on the edge of the bed, offering her tentacles to Xiang Er, her voice gentle:

“We’re equals, I was wrong last night, I shouldn’t have been so impulsive, please don’t be angry, you can… play with me, punish me, however you like.”

Xiang Er looked at the tentacle. Was this the one… that had been inside her last night?

She muttered to herself:

“Who wants to play with you… that’s disgusting.”

Akhe’s beautiful head tilted slightly, a smile playing on her lips:

“Wasn’t last night… playing with me?”

Xiang Er froze, grabbed the last remaining pillow, and threw it at Akhe’s head:

“…Get out! Get out of here, I don’t want to see you again!”

Akhe stood up, smiling, her human skin reforming, her naked body standing before Xiang Er, admiring her anger.

She suddenly leaned closer and kissed Xiang Er’s flushed cheek:

“I’ll go make some lunch. Wait for me, okay?”

Xiang Er, fuming, watched as Akhe turned and left, her movements deliberately swaying, her curves on full display, it was… infuriating!

Xiang Er grabbed her clothes and, while Akhe was gone, climbed out the window.

Chapter 87: Teacher

The arcade visit ended abruptly.

Xiang Er declined Akhe’s offer of lunch and chose to go home.

Stepping out of the mall, she looked at the clear blue sky for a moment, then said:

“Can you fly me home? I don’t want to walk.”

Akhe, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around Xiang Er’s waist and lifted her into the air, soaring above the city, past the high-rise buildings.

She didn’t bother concealing herself, and on that ordinary, hot afternoon, many people saw two beautiful women, flying together high above the city, a sight that quickly became an urban legend.

Back at the apartment, the atmosphere was tense.

Akhe, having gone back on her word, felt slightly embarrassed, and still jealous of An Yue, she didn’t say much, just went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Xiang Er went straight to her room and lay down on the bed. She didn’t want to talk to Akhe either.

That night, for the first time in three months, Xiang Er locked her bedroom door, refusing to let Akhe in.

But Akhe wasn’t as easily deterred this time. After Xiang Er fell asleep, she simply slipped into the room and, as usual, held her close throughout the night.

A few more days passed, their relationship seemingly regressing to its winter state, barely speaking except for essential communication. The apartment, already quiet, was now often silent for hours at a time.

The weather grew hot, too hot to go out, and Xiang Er spent her days at home, practicing calligraphy, reading, trying to fill the emptiness.

Until one morning, she woke up to find Akhe sitting by her bed, holding a dress.

“Come with me today, we’re going to see someone.”

Akhe said, then stood up and left, not waiting for a reply.

Xiang Er, after washing up, was puzzled, and she called out:

“Who are we going to see?”

Akhe, busy in the kitchen, didn’t answer.

Xiang Er was slightly annoyed:

“Aren’t you even going to ask if I want to go?”

Akhe still didn’t reply, and Xiang Er went back to her room and lay down on the bed, refusing to get dressed.

After a while, Akhe entered the room and, with the help of several tentacles, started dressing Xiang Er.

She gently peeled off Xiang Er’s nightgown, like removing an eggshell, revealing the pale, delicate skin beneath, the tentacles carefully dressing her.

Akhe helped Xiang Er put on her sandals, and after they left the apartment, Akhe opened the passenger door of a red Porsche:

“Get in.”

Xiang Er, surprised, sat down in the car and asked:

“When did you buy a car?”

Akhe didn’t answer, just got into the driver’s seat, her profile cool and aloof.

She snapped her fingers, and the car started, driving itself. She leaned back in her seat, her arms crossed, her chin raised.

Xiang Er:

“You don’t need to snap your fingers, the car can drive itself, can’t it?”

She knew Akhe’s abilities by now, she could control objects remotely, conjure countless tentacles and eyes, devour monsters with her black slime. And of course… her scent was an aphrodisiac.

Truly a versatile Evil God. Xiang Er thought to herself, if Evil Gods could be mass-produced, they could probably solve the energy crisis.

But no matter what she thought, what she said, Akhe didn’t respond, the car driving smoothly along the open road, and Xiang Er, feeling drowsy, yawned.

Akhe, although silent, gently placed Xiang Er’s head on her shoulder.

And Xiang Er, before she could protest, fell asleep.

When she woke up, the car was still moving. Xiang Er looked at the scenery outside, fields, crops, rural houses, and she frowned, surprised:

“Are you taking me to the countryside to sell me?”

Akhe glanced at her, exasperated.

Xiang Er muttered to herself:

“Well, if you sell me, I’ll be free, but that would be too good to be true.”

Akhe, even more exasperated, said softly:

“You’re more lovable when you’re asleep.”

Xiang Er raised an eyebrow, then, feeling hungry, leaned back and said:

“I want to eat! And I want dessert!”

Akhe waved her hand, and handmade sandwiches and a boxed cake appeared from the glove compartment.

Xiang Er:

“…You came prepared.”

She took the food and started eating. Akhe’s baking skills had improved considerably, the cake surprisingly delicious.

After the sandwiches and cake, there were fruits, milk tea, beef jerky, and Xiang Er ate all the way, until the sun began to set, and the car finally stopped.

Xiang Er put down the beef jerky and looked outside, her breath catching in her throat.

Why… why here?

It was a small, rural town, surrounded by fields, ponds, and trees, and a single, old building stood in the distance.

A faded sign above the entrance, its red paint chipped and peeling, read: Hope Orphanage.

Xiang Er stared at the sign, her hand involuntarily loosening its grip on the beef jerky, the familiar words, which had once seemed so large, so imposing, so vibrant, now… now they seemed so small, so old!

This was where she had grown up, and after all these years, it hadn’t changed at all…

Akhe had already gotten out of the car, her red dress flowing, her hair swaying, her beauty breathtaking against the backdrop of the rural landscape, like a scene from an old movie.

She opened the passenger door, bent down, and said calmly:

“Get out.”

Xiang Er licked her dry lips, stepped out of the car, and stood on the familiar dirt road, looking at the scenery she had known since childhood.

She murmured:

“We… the children from my class… we planted that tree, it’s grown so tall…”

The row of trees behind the orphanage had been planted by each graduating class, and after more than ten years, many of the trees had grown tall, new saplings planted beside them.

Akhe led Xiang Er towards the orphanage gate. The gate was unlocked, and the sounds of children playing, their shouts and laughter, echoed from within.

But Xiang Er stopped at the gate, hesitant, she hadn’t… achieved anything yet, she hadn’t even donated any money to the orphanage, she didn’t deserve…

“It’s Director Zhang’s eightieth birthday today.”

Akhe whispered in her ear.

Director Zhang! A flood of memories, and Xiang Er’s heart surged, she pushed open the gate and entered. Director Zhang, Mama Zhang, who had held her as a baby, fed her with a bottle, who had slept beside her until she was two years old…

Xiang Er had no memories of her earliest years, but later, she had always been slightly afraid of the thin, stern Director Zhang, until she realized that Director Zhang was actually very kind to her, a truly good person.

And later, when she started boarding school, Director Zhang had sent her the tuition fees, and along with the money, a photo album, filled with pictures of her.

From one month old, to two years old, although only a dozen pictures, they were Xiang Er’s most precious memories.

Xiang Er couldn’t help but glance at Akhe. She knew about this… she had even remembered, bringing her here on Director Zhang’s birthday…

They entered the orphanage, and a woman in an orange vest, one of the caregivers, approached them, asking their names. Xiang Er, socially awkward, remained silent, and Akhe, her voice gentle and friendly, explained, registering Xiang Er’s name, and saying they were here for Director Zhang’s birthday.

The caregiver’s face lit up, and she led them to the staff dormitory, where they found Director Zhang.

Director Zhang’s hair was white, her body still thin and frail, her face a roadmap of wrinkles, surrounded by teenagers, young adults, even middle-aged people, all former residents of the orphanage.

But seeing Xiang Er, she immediately recognized her, her voice surprisingly strong:

“Xiao Xiang!”

Xiang Er, fighting back tears, walked towards Director Zhang and extended her hand.

Director Zhang took her hand, her own hand dry and rough like bark, patting Xiang Er’s hand, her voice loud, a common trait among the elderly:

“How are you doing?”

Xiang Er’s tears overflowed, and Director Zhang pulled her down to sit beside her, Xiang Er’s vision blurred as she looked at her, her voice firm:

“Director Zhang, I’m… I’m doing very well.”

After catching up for a while, Akhe, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a large birthday cake, a traditional longevity peach design, a favorite among the elderly.

She smiled, handed the cake knife to Director Zhang, put a birthday hat on her head, helped light the candles, and gathered everyone around, leading them in a chorus of “Happy Birthday.”

“Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~”

Director Zhang, surrounded by the children she had raised, beamed.

Akhe took pictures, added everyone on WeChat, sent them the photos, bustling around, attending to every detail.

Xiang Er, occasionally glancing at her, felt that Akhe was different today, unusually gentle and patient. If only these people knew that the person taking their pictures, sending them photos, was a Evil God capable of destroying the world… what would they think?

After the cake, Director Zhang, tired, retired to her room. The sky had darkened.

As Xiang Er said goodbye to Director Zhang, Director Zhang, her hand gripping Xiang Er’s, her voice a soft murmur, said:

“Xiao Xiang… you’re so soft-hearted, I always worried about you… sigh, I wish there was someone reliable to take care of you… I always remember, how you were bullied by the other children, they would steal your candy, and you wouldn’t even cry…”

Director Zhang’s eyes, clouded with age, slowly closed, her voice fading.

Xiang Er gently withdrew her hand, looked at Director Zhang, and whispered:

“I cry now, Director Zhang…”

Back in the car, Xiang Er’s eyes were dry and sore, her throat tight.

Akhe didn’t snap her fingers this time, the car starting automatically as soon as they were seated, driving towards the small county town.

Akhe booked a presidential suite at the best hotel in town, a two-bedroom suite. Xiang Er, after showering, came out of the bathroom and saw, on her bedside table, a giant, gaudy lollipop, larger than her head.

Xiang Er hesitated, then walked over, unwrapped the giant lollipop, and discovered that it was filled with smaller lollipops of various flavors.

As a child, although they were supposed to get a lollipop every weekend, hers were often stolen by the other children.

These lollipops were the same brand as the ones from the orphanage, and Xiang Er unwrapped a strawberry-flavored one and put it in her mouth, the familiar sweetness flooding her senses.

Truly… this Akhe… why was she so thoughtful…

As Xiang Er was feeling a surge of emotion, the door suddenly opened.

She turned, startled, the lollipop still in her mouth, and her towel, not securely fastened, fell to the floor.

Like a discarded eggshell, revealing the smooth, delicate skin beneath, her body still damp from the shower, her eyes wide with surprise, the lollipop in her mouth, a drop of saliva trickling down her chin.

And Akhe, standing at the doorway, saw it all.

Chapter 86: Animal

Due to the relative stability of the past few months, the tight security around the residential compound had been relaxed, leaving only a small special task force for routine monitoring, led by An Yue.

Of course, the residents of the compound had changed, especially the elderly, who had been relocated, removing the lingering sense of stagnation.

And now, with the arrival of summer, the trees lush and green, everything seemed vibrant, alive.

Xiang Er ran out of the compound, across the street, stopping at the first red light.

Her breathing was slightly elevated, a light sheen of sweat on her skin, her cheeks flushed a healthy pink. She stood at the intersection, waiting for the light to change, wondering where to go, what to do… but nothing came to mind.

The light turned green, and she crossed the street, her slender figure blending in with the crowd, just another ordinary person.

Xiang Er looked around, at the buildings, the shops, the people, the cars. The city was constantly changing, and she felt like she had just woken up from a long hibernation, everything new, everything strange.

She went out every day, of course, but always with Akhe, and now, completely alone, her senses, her attention, focused only on herself, she felt… free.

Xiang Er wandered aimlessly, stopping occasionally to buy a candied hawthorn, a grilled sausage, or to watch a group of old men playing chess.

As Xiang Er watched the chess game, a dark, shadowy mass, Akhe, crouched on the rooftop, observing her from a distance, its gaze downcast.

Akhe had held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that perhaps Xiang Er, alone and without her, would realize what she was missing, but… no, nothing.

Xiang Er was perfectly content, she hadn’t thought of her at all.

Below, Xiang Er continued her aimless wandering, shopping, eating, taking pictures of flowers and plants with her phone, chatting awkwardly with shopkeepers… She seemed so happy, a faint smile always playing on her lips, and people were kind to her, their voices gentle.

Xiang Er needed to talk to more people, her language skills having atrophied from disuse. But dying seemed to have changed her, she had been so socially awkward before, so afraid of interacting with others, but now she was no longer afraid, her conversations genuine, her focus on the other person, even laughing off her own awkwardness, no one seemed to mind.

They were all just ordinary people, and she was just an ordinary person too, no longer burdened by the shadow of an Evil God, no longer entangled in a strange, monstrous fate. She was normal again.

Until… at a corner, she suddenly turned around.

Her sudden movement startled the figure following her, who, caught off guard, could only wave awkwardly:

“Hi.”

Xiang Er paused, then smiled:

“Oh, Officer An.”

On the rooftop, Akhe, a mass of darkness, suddenly opened hundreds of eyes, its gaze fixed on the scene below. Akhe knew that An Yue, in a way, also fit Xiang Er’s preferences, a handsome woman, her presence always bringing Xiang Er a sense of security, a dangerous rival!

On the street below, An Yue, in a simple black T-shirt and jeans, her hair tied back in a messy bun, her expression unfazed by being discovered, smiled and asked Xiang Er:

“Why are you out alone today?”

Xiang Er didn’t seem surprised by An Yue’s appearance. She knew she was being monitored, and the most likely candidate was An Yue, they were practically acquaintances now.

She said calmly:

“I don’t know, she wasn’t there when I woke up, she left a note, saying she was setting me free.”

She took the note from her pocket and showed it to An Yue, who leaned in to read it, only half a meter away, her arm almost brushing against Xiang Er’s.

On the rooftop, Akhe’s form darkened, a mass of black engulfing the entire roof, the darkness spreading towards the windows of the top floor, the office workers inside looking up in confusion:

“Hmm? Why did it suddenly get so dark?”

“Is that… something black sliding down the window? When was the last time they cleaned the roof?”

An Yue finished reading the note, her brow furrowed in thought. Xiang Er, however, asked:

“Officer An, are there any… fun places around here? I want to go somewhere fun.”

An Yue said:

“Well, there’s a military base nearby… no, how about… the mall? There’s a new arcade there.”

Xiang Er:

“Sure. But I don’t have any money, can you lend me some…”

As soon as she finished speaking, her phone buzzed. She took it out and saw a message from “Shen Yuhe,” who hadn’t contacted her in a long time: Transfer of 20,000 yuan.

Akhe, a shadowy mass on the rooftop, typed with a tentacle, wanting to add that the twenty thousand was just the daily transfer limit, not her actual limit, but… after typing for a while, she deleted the message.

Xiang Er, without hesitation, accepted the transfer. Then she looked up, scanning the rooftops, the sky, the trees, clearly searching for Akhe.

Akhe, startled, quickly shrunk its form, a small, black ball huddled in the corner of the rooftop.

Xiang Er, unable to find her, raised an eyebrow and turned to An Yue:

“Then lead the way.”

They soon arrived at the mall and entered the new, upscale, and ridiculously expensive arcade. An Yue, seeing the prices, clicked her tongue, even though her salary was decent, she wasn’t one for extravagance, and besides, her mission was more important.

So, no matter what Xiang Er played, An Yue followed closely behind.

Xiang Er, however, was having a great time.

On the ceiling of the arcade, a large, flat, black entity, invisible to human eyes, its countless tentacles waving and writhing, carefully avoiding Xiang Er’s gaze.

Many people in the arcade were murmuring to their companions:

“Did they turn on the AC? Why is it so cold?”

They looked up, puzzled, but saw nothing. The Evil God could conceal itself from everyone except Xiang Er, whose prolonged exposure and connection had made her more perceptive than even a high priest.

But the chilling aura emanating from the Evil God was impossible to hide.

Xiang Er was playing a basketball game, her arms weak, unable to make a single basket. An Yue, watching, couldn’t help but step forward, rolling up her sleeves:

“Your form is wrong, let me help you…”

Xiang Er held the basketball, and An Yue, reaching around her, her hand covering Xiang Er’s, guiding her, explaining the correct posture.

An Yue’s head was almost touching the back of Xiang Er’s, her chest almost pressing against her back…

Suddenly, with a “smack,” something struck the back of An Yue’s head, the unexpected blow almost making her cry out. Her hand twitched, and the basketball slipped from her grasp, still missing the basket.

An Yue rubbed the back of her head and looked around, but there was no one there. What had hit her? Or was she just being paranoid?

An Yue muttered to herself:

“I must be sleep-deprived…”

Xiang Er, having given up on basketball, moved on to a motorcycle racing game. The game required the player to sit on a motorcycle and lean into the turns, wearing a VR headset for a more immersive experience.

An Yue, watching, saw Xiang Er lean back a little too far, almost falling off the motorcycle, and she quickly reached out to steady her.

But… before she could withdraw her hand, another sharp blow, like a whiplash, struck the back of her head!

This time, she couldn’t help but cry out, but Xiang Er, wearing the VR headset, didn’t hear her. An Yue glared around and spotted a child with a slingshot. She grabbed the child and scolded him, the child bursting into tears and running away.

After the motorcycle game, Xiang Er moved on to a shooting game, and An Yue, an expert marksman, eagerly stepped forward to offer some advice.

But the next second, she was lifted into the air by an invisible force and tossed aside.

Despite being a highly trained investigator, weighing over 130 pounds, with a muscular build, she was handled like a helpless chick, her scruff grasped, as she landed in a heap in the corner.

Xiang Er was adjusting her aim, struggling to focus on the target, when a deep, magnetic voice whispered in her ear:

“Here, let me teach you.”

Xiang Er instinctively replied:

“No, thank you, Officer An, I can…”

She stopped mid-sentence, the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly standing on end, that familiar, unsettling feeling.

She slowly, slowly turned around, her heart pounding.

And there… it was Akhe, not the beautiful human facade, but the real Akhe, her tentacles swaying behind her, her face calm and gentle, her beauty almost divine, like a thousand-armed Guanyin, miraculously appearing in the spot where An Yue had been standing.

Xiang Er was stunned:

“Where’s An Yue? What did you do to her?”

She tried to look around for An Yue, but two tentacles gently cupped her cheeks, preventing her from turning her head, forcing her to look at Akhe.

Akhe’s beautiful face, like a deity’s, was filled with a barely suppressed possessiveness, her voice low and dangerous:

“Don’t look at anyone else, only me.”

Xiang Er stared at her for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, a self-deprecating laugh.

Akhe, surprised, asked:

“What are you laughing at?”

Xiang Er’s smile was cryptic, her eyes filled with a mixture of contempt, resignation, mockery, and a deep sadness.

She said:

“I thought you were actually setting me free. But in the end, you’re still like this, like an… animal.”

Xiang Er called her an animal. Akhe should have been hurt, but she didn’t show it. She just nodded, her eyes clear:

“I tried, but I can’t. I have to be with you, always, forever, it’s my… animal instinct.”

She reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from Xiang Er’s face, her hand sliding down her shoulder, grasping her wrist, guiding Xiang Er’s small, pale hand to the gun.

Akhe placed her own long, slender hand over Xiang Er’s, their hands together on the cold, hard grip of the gun, and whispered:

“Come, I’ll teach you. Only I can teach you, only I can be with you.”

Xiang Er didn’t reply, just pulled the trigger.

A loud bang, followed by the cheerful jingle of a “bullseye.”

But neither of them smiled.

Akhe rested her chin on Xiang Er’s shoulder, like a serpent coiling around its prey, her voice soft and seductive:

“What else do you want to play?”

Xiang Er turned her head slightly, and so close, she could see every pore on Akhe’s face, even though it was all an illusion.

Akhe was truly a skilled sculptor, having crafted such a beautiful facade, imbued with such a unique and charming personality, a facade that had captivated her completely.

But… Xiang Er whispered:

“What do I have to do… for you to leave me alone?”

Akhe’s answer was swift and decisive:

“Never.”

Chapter 85: The Photo

The night, soft as a veil, quickly faded into dawn.

When Xiang Er woke up, the warmth of another body still lingered, the sweet fragrance still filled the air, the mushroom on her pillow a reminder that it hadn’t all been a dream.

Her bedroom door was closed, even the small eyeball was asleep in its box, everything seemed normal.

Except… Xiang Er touched her chest, she knew, something had changed.

She sat up, got out of bed, straightened her pajamas, and went to the bathroom.

But… she couldn’t help but glance towards the kitchen.

The familiar clatter of pots and pans echoed from within, the Evil God, as usual, preparing breakfast.

Xiang Er washed up, cleaned herself thoroughly, then stood before the mirror, looking at her naked body, exhaling softly as she slowly got dressed.

When she came out, the table was set. There were slightly misshapen soup dumplings, a bowl of red date and snow fungus soup, a plate of smashed cucumbers, and tea eggs.

A traditional Chinese breakfast, surprisingly challenging to make, and although Akhe’s cooking skills had improved considerably, the dumplings weren’t quite perfect, some of them even leaking their filling.

Akhe, wearing an apron, walked over, untying it as she sat down, her face glowing with happiness, like a blooming red rose, her lips curved into a perpetual smile.

As she sat down, she said:

“Try it, the soup is very good today.”

She said this every morning, but Xiang Er usually ignored her, just forcing herself to take a bite out of politeness. But today was different.

Akhe had barely finished speaking when Xiang Er had already scooped up a spoonful of soup and taken a sip.

The warm, sweet liquid, smooth and fragrant, flowed down her throat. Xiang Er swallowed, then picked up a soup dumpling with her chopsticks.

Akhe, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of anxiety, said:

“Wait, don’t rush… the dumplings might not be very good, let me try one first…”

But Xiang Er ignored her, dipped the dumpling in the sauce, and popped the whole thing into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

Akhe held her breath, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air, trembling slightly, her expression anxious, like a defendant awaiting the verdict.

Xiang Er chewed, her face expressionless. After swallowing the dumpling, she said calmly:

“It’s edible.”

Akhe:

“!”

Akhe couldn’t believe her ears, edible! Such high praise! Xiang Er had actually praised her cooking!

Akhe was speechless for a moment, then she whispered:

“Then… eat more.”

As she said this, a slow smile spread across her face, a radiant, blissful smile.

Akhe looked at Xiang Er’s eyes, as if seeing a field of flowers blooming within them, her gaze filled with adoration and a quiet joy. The food she had made, with her own hands, or rather, her tentacles, being savored by Xiang Er, receiving such high praise, it was… it was wonderful!

Xiang Er continued eating the soup dumplings, one after another, occasionally taking a bite of the side dishes, and even finishing a tea egg.

A truly satisfying meal.

Akhe, throughout the meal, watched in astonishment, her eyes wide, worried that Xiang Er might eat too much, even saying:

“Slow down…”

Xiang Er, her mouth full, finally spoke, her first words that day:

“I’m hungry.”

Those two words made Akhe freeze, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er, tears welling up in her eyes.

It was the first time Xiang Er had said those words since… since revealing her true identity.

Those two words weren’t just about hunger, Akhe knew, they meant… that Xiang Er was acknowledging her own needs, taking care of herself.

She no longer resented being alive!

This was wonderful news! Akhe couldn’t stop smiling, even as tears streamed down her face:

“Good, good, eat as much as you want, whatever you want! There’s more soup and dumplings, and if you like, I can make more, anything you want!”

Xiang Er continued eating, not saying a word. Akhe’s cooking wasn’t perfect, the dumpling filling a bit too salty, and after two bowls of soup, she finally finished her breakfast.

From that day on, things began to change.

Xiang Er ate every meal with gusto. After breakfast, they would go for a walk in the park, and Xiang Er would join the other people exercising, even jogging occasionally, her physical health improving visibly, her complexion returning.

She started practicing calligraphy, filling expensive sheets of xuan paper with clumsy, beginner strokes, which Akhe, overjoyed, would carefully frame and hang all over the apartment.

She started reading, spending hours each day on the balcony lounger, immersed in thick, difficult classics, until sunset.

She even started playing online games, a silent assassin, her skills average, but whenever she was struggling, Akhe would discreetly extend a tentacle and help her, and soon, she became a top-ranked player, known in the game as “Tentacle Monster.”

Xiang Er’s life was finally regaining some semblance of normalcy, and Akhe, watching, felt a surge of relief. She diligently practiced her cooking, constantly bringing Xiang Er small gifts and trinkets, and although the first few attempts missed the mark, eventually, she found things Xiang Er liked.

And since that night, Xiang Er no longer locked her bedroom door.

But whenever Akhe knocked, asking to come in, Xiang Er would still refuse.

But after Xiang Er fell asleep, Akhe would sneak into her room, hold her close until dawn, and sometimes, Xiang Er would wake up, but… she wouldn’t ask Akhe to leave, just move slightly away.

Spring arrived, the flowers blooming, and Akhe would take Xiang Er to see them. Akhe bought a new camera and would secretly take pictures of Xiang Er, the early attempts clumsy and awkward, then she took a photography class, her skills improving rapidly, even learning how to pose Xiang Er.

Xiang Er just wanted to enjoy the flowers.

But Akhe, her hand on her hip, holding the camera, her smile sweet and eager, her voice soft and pleading, would say:

“Please, just try this pose, it’s very simple, look how beautiful it is here!”

The flower viewing spots were usually crowded, and a beauty like Akhe always attracted attention. Xiang Er, afraid of embarrassing herself, of being stared at, would reluctantly comply, posing for the camera.

Once, beneath a fiery red kapok tree, Akhe took countless pictures of Xiang Er, still seemingly unsatisfied.

Then, a thought occurred to her, and she looked up at Xiang Er:

“Have we… never taken a picture together?”

Xiang Er froze, her memories flashing back, all the time she had spent with Akhe… Shen Yuhe, and she realized, they had never, for some reason, taken a proper picture together.

A wave of sadness washed over her. So she and the non-existent “Shen Yuhe” didn’t even have a single memento. Those memories, that person, had vanished without a trace, and although she had tried to move on, to focus on the present, the pain… still lingered.

A thorn in her heart, occasionally pricking her, not fatally, but still, a sharp pain.

Akhe, putting down her camera, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er, walked over to a young woman, a university student, and after speaking to her for a moment, handed her the camera.

Then, parting the crowd, she walked towards Xiang Er.

Xiang Er stood beneath the kapok tree, lost in thought, tears welling up in her eyes, motionless.

But soon, Akhe was beside her.

Akhe’s arm gently wrapped around Xiang Er’s shoulders, and she whispered in her ear:

“Anyway, we can take a picture together now. Look at the camera!”

Xiang Er instinctively looked up, her gaze meeting the lens. Akhe’s hand tightened around her shoulder, pulling her closer, a possessive, almost forceful embrace.

The two of them, side by side, a beautiful picture, and the young woman, smiling, said “Say cheese,” and pressed the shutter button.

A click, and a flash of light.

The moment, along with the blossoming red kapok tree, was captured, frozen in time.

Two figures, one human, one god, a vast chasm still separating them, their faces unsmiling, yet standing together, their bodies close, the fiery red blossoms of the kapok tree a vibrant backdrop, a sea of red.

It was their first picture together.

Spring quickly passed, and summer arrived.

By the time summer came, Xiang Er had gained some weight, her face even looking slightly round and healthy, earning her compliments from the vegetable vendor.

Akhe had bought her several apartments, one by the beach in a neighboring city, perfect for a summer getaway.

As the weather in the city grew hotter, Akhe repeatedly suggested they move to the beach apartment, but Xiang Er refused.

“I’m used to living here, I wouldn’t be comfortable in a fancy apartment.”

Xiang Er said, and Akhe didn’t press the issue, just bought a new air conditioner, keeping the apartment at a comfortable temperature.

But Xiang Er had developed a habit of exercising in the mornings, and she would always come back sweating. Akhe’s persistent suggestions to move finally annoyed Xiang Er:

“You go if you want! I’ll finally be free when you’re gone!”

Akhe’s voice was filled with sadness:

“You still think I’m restricting your freedom?”

Xiang Er nodded:

“What else could it be? Have you ever let me go out alone?”

Akhe was speechless, looking at her with reproach, then changing the subject:

“But it’s dangerous outside.”

Xiang Er scoffed:

“Excuses.”

The argument ended there, but Akhe took it to heart.

So, one morning, Xiang Er woke up and discovered… that no matter where she looked, Akhe was gone.

Even the small eyeball was gone, not a single tentacle in sight.

Xiang Er went to the living room, and on the breakfast table, a delicious meal was laid out, along with a note: Go find your freedom.

Xiang Er frowned at the note, ate her breakfast, put on her workout clothes, and left the apartment, looking around the compound as she walked.

Had Akhe… really… set her free?

The thought made Xiang Er’s body tremble slightly, she wasn’t sure how she felt, but she started running, a smile slowly spreading across her face.

The taste of freedom, it had been a long time.

Meanwhile, on the roof of the building, a tentacle firmly covered the small eyeball’s mouth, muffling its screams, holding it down.

Beside the small eyeball, a large, black, slimy monster, with numerous thick tentacles, its movements surprisingly agile, was leaping from rooftop to rooftop, following Xiang Er.

Let her go? As if! It had finally captured its beloved, warmed her up, it wouldn’t let her go so easily!

Chapter 84: Mushrooms

The night she learned about her parents.

The moon was bright, the stars sparse, the world so silent that not even the chirping of insects or the rustling of leaves could be heard. It was past one in the morning, nature and humanity asleep.

Akhe, her tentacles dancing, finished the last stitch of a spring sweater, eager to see how it would look on Xiang Er. If it looked good, she would make one for herself, a matching couple’s outfit.

Unfortunately… Akhe knew that Xiang Er always locked her door at night, and she was always careful not to let Xiang Er know about her nightly visits. Xiang Er was still awake, her mind filled with sadness and sorrow, she wouldn’t want to see her now.

Akhe’s own heart ached. It had been so long, on the surface, their days were filled with peaceful domesticity, but only she knew the pang of pain she felt every time she looked into Xiang Er’s eyes.

Xiang Er still hated her, that hadn’t changed. At most… the hatred had perhaps… subsided slightly.

Akhe still walked towards the door, her hand instinctively reaching for the doorknob, expecting it to be…

But with a click, the door creaked open.

Akhe froze, her tentacles still, staring into the room. The moonlight, filtering through the blue and white panes of the window, cast a soft glow on the floor, like a square pool, the open door’s shadow rippling across its surface.

Tonight… the door wasn’t locked?

Akhe’s heart, the artificial heart she had crafted, pounded in her chest. She cautiously extended a hand, its skin pale and smooth, into the moonlight, as if parting a curtain of mist, then… she spoke:

“Little Ears… why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Xiang Er didn’t answer.

But since the path was clear, Akhe entered the room, her gaze gentle and humble, looking towards the bed.

On the small bed, Xiang Er sat huddled, her head buried in her knees, her slender back arched, her black hair cascading down, obscuring her small form in the shadows.

She was motionless, like a small, sad stone.

Akhe clutched her chest, a sharp pang of pain, a shared sorrow, a feeling… she couldn’t quite comprehend, but it hurt, so much.

Akhe had noticed that as their connection deepened, she could almost feel everything Xiang Er felt, and as a result, Xiang Er was no longer susceptible to her mental influence, having developed a resistance to the Evil God’s power.

Akhe took a few steps closer, the pain almost overwhelming, forcing her to lean against the wall for support. It was different from the sharp, intense pain of Xiang Er’s self-harm, a dull ache in her chest, a persistent, lingering sorrow, not acute, yet relentless, not fatal, yet agonizing.

Akhe reached the bed and whispered:

“Little Ears… don’t hold back, you can… do whatever you want.”

She knew Xiang Er’s pain stemmed from learning about her parents, but Xiang Er’s thoughts weren’t focused on her parents themselves, it was a chaotic jumble of sorrow and self-loathing.

Akhe pursed her lips, hesitated, then composed herself, climbed onto the bed, and crawled towards Xiang Er.

Xiang Er remained huddled, as if completely withdrawn, her emotions and thoughts buried deep within.

Even with Akhe so close, she didn’t lift her head, her fingers, clutching the hem of her pants, didn’t move, as if completely unresponsive to the outside world.

She had built a cocoon around herself, her soul trapped within, no longer willing to emerge. Because she now knew her origins, all her comforting illusions shattered, her humble wishes impossible, she knew she was just a useless moth, even if it broke free from its cocoon, it wouldn’t grow the beautiful wings of love.

She knew, finally and irrevocably, that she was unwanted, a mistake, a source of shame. She had never been a treasured pearl, had never known true love, she was trapped, unable to live, unable to die.

Like a lone ship, lost at sea.

She hated herself, and she hated this world.

And she was… completely powerless.

A warm touch, gentle and cautious, soft and delicate, caressed the back of her hand. Whose hand it was, Xiang Er knew, of course, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

She didn’t want to care.

The hand opened, gently grasping hers, slowly unfurling her tightly clenched fingers, one by one.

The touch was gentle, careful, not forceful, yet… warm and firm.

As her fingers were unfurled, Xiang Er heard a soft sigh, Akhe’s anxious breath.

Akhe’s voice, soft and hoarse, whispered:

“Little Ears…”

She sighed, the endearment, the nickname that Xiang Er couldn’t help but resent, yet also… a small comfort.

The warm, gentle hand closed around Xiang Er’s.

Their fingers intertwined.

Xiang Er’s hand, limp and unresponsive, like a tool, offered no resistance.

She knew the Evil God’s desire, she vaguely sensed what was coming, but she didn’t care anymore.

She was useless, a discarded scrap, a piece of trash no one would even notice if it were crushed and thrown away, why should she care about her body, her feelings?

But… a long time passed, and nothing happened.

The sweet fragrance filled the room.

Akhe’s soft breathing remained close.

The shadows of the tentacles swayed in the moonlight.

But… nothing happened.

Akhe held her hand, but their bodies remained separate, no forceful embrace.

Ten minutes passed, then twenty, then thirty.

Akhe sat beside her, motionless, not even their intertwined fingers moving.

Xiang Er’s palm was damp with sweat.

The chaotic thoughts in her mind gradually subsided, and she became aware of her body. The dampness of her palm, the ache in her legs and neck, the darkness behind her closed eyelids.

She finally moved slightly.

She remembered an old story:

A mental patient would squat in the corner of her room every day, unresponsive to anyone, until one day, a new doctor came, and squatted beside her, silently.

The patient, unable to bear the silence, finally spoke, her first words since being admitted:

“Are… are you a mushroom too?”

A faint smile touched Xiang Er’s lips.

Akhe seemed to stir beside her, a soft chuckle:

“Heh…”

Then, Akhe’s voice, low and husky, echoed in the moonlit darkness:

“Yes. I’m a mushroom too.”

The words broke the silence of the night, even the pool of moonlight on the floor seemed to tremble, and Xiang Er finally lifted her head slightly, turning to look.

Akhe sat beside her on the bed, her posture mirroring Xiang Er’s, her head resting on her knees, one hand clutching her ankle, the other intertwined with Xiang Er’s.

It was late, the moon had shifted, and a sliver of moonlight fell on Akhe’s face, her dark eyes, like a still lake, turning towards Xiang Er.

A quiet affection welled up within them.

Xiang Er froze, then quickly turned away, her body trembling slightly, as if seeking shelter from a sudden downpour of love.

A rustling sound, Akhe moving, Xiang Er’s trembling intensifying, her heart pounding.

A hand, pale and luminous in the moonlight, suddenly appeared, making Xiang Er gasp.

She looked closely.

The hand held two small, round, white mushrooms.

Like large oyster mushrooms, their stems plump and white, their caps wide and snowy, they looked almost comically cute, beautiful in the moonlight.

Akhe’s voice was soft:

“This one is you, and this one is me. You’re not unwanted… you’re my little mushroom.”

Xiang Er stared at the two mushrooms.

And Akhe, in the moonlight, her human eyes gentle and patient, her hand still holding Xiang Er’s, waited.

She held the mushrooms aloft, as if willing to wait for an eternity, her hand steady.

Fortunately, Xiang Er didn’t make her wait that long.

Xiang Er reached out with her other hand, took one of the mushrooms, and held it to her nose, inhaling its scent.

It was, after all, conjured by Akhe, and it carried Akhe’s strong, sweet fragrance, and Xiang Er, after a few sniffs, coughed, as if the scent were too strong:

“Cough, cough, cough!! Mm… cough!”

Her coughing fit doubled her over, but she carefully avoided crushing the mushroom, placing it on her pillow. Her body trembled with the force of her coughs, her hair falling across her face, obscuring it completely.

Akhe, concerned, leaned closer, listening to the wracking coughs, her hand gently patting Xiang Er’s back:

“Are you alright?”

Xiang Er’s coughing subsided, but her body still trembled.

Akhe gently brushed the hair away from Xiang Er’s face and saw… that she was crying.

Her eyes were open, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, soaking the pillow, her cheeks flushed from the coughing and crying, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

She looked… so pitiful, and so lovely.

The sweet fragrance intensified, a sigh from behind her, the rustling of clothes against the sheets.

Akhe gently lay down beside her, mirroring Xiang Er’s posture, her legs curled up.

Like a large spoon, she gently, carefully, wrapped her arms around Xiang Er’s small, huddled form.

One hand cradled the back of Xiang Er’s head, like a pillow, catching her tears.

The other arm wrapped around her waist, a gentle, comforting embrace.

Xiang Er continued to cry.

And all her tears fell into the hands… of a Evil God.

She closed her eyes, unwilling to face this reality, but she didn’t pull away.

Akhe’s warmth enveloped her, her hand gently caressing her back, her voice, soft and alluring, whispering in her ear:

“There, there… cry… let it all out… it’s okay… you’re… you… you don’t need anything else… you’re precious… my precious…”

The words were meaningless, nonsensical, but Xiang Er’s tears gradually subsided.

Soon, she fell asleep.

And she didn’t dream of her parents.

Chapter 83: Parents

The entire space was deathly silent. The world seemed to be spinning and shifting. A strong, pungent smell of blood assaulted An Yue’s nostrils, invading her senses with brutal force, making her head spin.

She almost didn’t dare look at the horrifying body of the evil god, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away either. It was a warrior’s instinct. She even saw several of the tentacles begin to move slowly and steadily.

It was like a feline locking its gaze on its prey before the hunt, the slow turn of its head.

Cold sweat dripped down An Yue’s temples.

Before she could react and think of something to say to diffuse the situation, a thick tentacle suddenly lashed out, wrapping around her waist and hoisting her into the air!

An Yue, experienced by now, immediately relaxed her body, adjusting her posture to the movements of the tentacle’s muscles. The tentacle carried her into the house, the door slamming shut with a “bang.” An Yue, like a ragged cloth, was swung back and forth carelessly in mid-air.

Akhe’s face was extremely gloomy, as if she hadn’t yet decided what to do with this human.

At this moment, Xiang Er strolled leisurely into the living room, her gaze sweeping over Akhe. Her voice was extremely soft:

“If you hurt her, I’ll hate you even more.”

The words were as light as whispers in a dream, devoid of any emotion, like stating a simple fact, such as saying it will rain if the wind blows today.

She didn’t even look directly at Akhe.

But Akhe’s entire body trembled slightly. Immediately, she manipulated the tentacle, setting An Yue down. She almost meticulously ensured An Yue was steady on her feet before releasing her.

An Yue looked at Xiang Er with a newfound respect. A single sentence could hold such power… Xiang Er absolutely had to side with humanity!

A thin tentacle reached out and patted An Yue’s face, turning her to look at Akhe.

Akhe stared at her, speaking in her mind:

“If you look at her again, I’ll gouge your eyes out.”

An Yue couldn’t help but think, Probably not. Xiang Er wouldn’t allow it.

Akhe:

“…Shut up!”

An Yue: But I didn’t even say anything! I just thought it!

Akhe was clearly angered again. Her brows furrowed tightly, her gaze like sharp arrows, piercing An Yue’s face, making her cheeks ache.

An Yue quickly stated her purpose, opening her mouth to speak:

“I came today because I heard your summons…”

As soon as she spoke, Akhe immediately covered her mouth with a tentacle, roaring in her mind:

“We agreed on secrecy!”

An Yue immediately switched to communicating mentally, adjusting her phrasing:

“I understand. I wanted to say, regarding the matter you entrusted me with before, I’ve found some information.”

Akhe:

“Good, tell me everything.”

An Yue recalled the data pages she had carefully reviewed before coming, every row and column crystal clear in her mind. She showed everything to Akhe in her mind.

Xiang Er had just languidly settled onto the living room sofa. The small eyeball immediately hopped to her feet and lay down, the slender tentacles swaying like tails.

Xiang Er looked idly in their direction. An Yue and Akhe were standing face to face, separated by a distance of more than a meter, but their gazes were completely intertwined, occasionally exchanging glances, clearly communicating something mentally behind her back.

Xiang Er yawned. She knew, of course, that the country sending An Yue here must have had some ulterior motive, but she would never compromise with Akhe for the sake of national security.

She didn’t want to be some selfless, heroic martyr.

From beginning to end, all she wanted was the ordinary, mundane life she deserved. She hadn’t even known she was a lesbian until she met Shen Yihe.

Thinking about it this way, Shen Yihe was truly hateful. Xiang Er’s lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. Uncontrollably, ripples spread through her mind again. She thought of Shen Yihe’s smile, Shen Yihe’s hair, Shen Yihe’s injured arm, Shen Yihe buttoning her shirt under the lamplight… So hateful.

She didn’t know what the two over there had discussed, but after a while, An Yue placed the flowers in a vase, greeted Xiang Er, and hesitated, unsure of what to say:

“Ah, this… Then I’ll be going. You… rest well.”

Xiang Er gave her a bland look:

“Officer An, won’t you stay for dinner? Try the evil god’s cooking.”

An Yue:

“Ah, no, no… I wouldn’t dare impose…”

As she waved her hands repeatedly and reached the door, Xiang Er scoffed:

“What imposition…”

An Yue:

“…”

She looked at Xiang Er sympathetically. In fact, she fully understood Xiang Er’s pain and resistance. If it were her, she would also resist, and not going insane would be a blessing.

But… there was simply nothing that could be done.

All of humanity was powerless.

In the face of absolute power, everyone was… utterly helpless.

An Yue left, and Xiang Er continued to sit in a daze.

Soon, a table was set with freshly made pan-fried dumplings and millet porridge. Akhe invited Xiang Er to sit at the table and eat. Xiang Er absentmindedly ate one dumpling.

This was the first time Xiang Er had truly eaten something she made. Akhe was full of anticipation:

“How is it?”

Xiang Er glanced at her, chewed slowly, swallowed, and then said:

“The dumpling skin isn’t cooked through.”

She was rarely so gentle!

Akhe was already extremely satisfied, so happy she could barely hold her chopsticks. She immediately promised:

“Next time, next time I’ll definitely make them more delicious!”

Xiang Er didn’t reply, her gaze empty as she drank the millet porridge.

Akhe softly asked:

“Don’t you want to know what An Yue just told me?”

Xiang Er didn’t respond.

Akhe cautiously continued:

“It’s… news about your parents.”

Xiang Er’s spoon didn’t even pause, as if she hadn’t heard.

But a sentence appeared in her mind:

“Here it comes.“

Indeed, she had known all along that Akhe would help her find her birth parents, and perhaps even have them try to persuade her to compromise.

But could the heart-wrenching pain of betrayal be erased by compromise?

Besides, Xiang Er knew her own background. She had been abandoned at the orphanage gates, still wrapped in swaddling clothes.

She didn’t think such irresponsible parents were of any use.

Seeing her indifferent reaction, Akhe lowered her eyelashes, her thick lashes casting a shadow on her face. She softly said:

“If you don’t want to see them, then forget it. But do you want to know their current situation?”

This time, Xiang Er’s spoon paused slightly, clinking against the edge of the bowl, making a faint “clink” sound.

Akhe looked up at her, her thin lips pursed slightly, her brows furrowed in a troubled expression.

Akhe could hear Xiang Er’s inner struggle. She stretched out a hand and gently patted Xiang Er’s other hand resting on the table.

Xiang Er quickly withdrew her hand.

Akhe’s hand remained on the table, slender and well-defined, with round, pink nails, glowing white as jade.

Akhe looked at Xiang Er tenderly:

“I understand how you feel. After dinner, I’ll show you. If you want to contact them, you can. If not, then forget it.”

Xiang Er didn’t say anything, continuing to drink her porridge, the spoon raised high enough to almost cover her entire face, obscuring her expression.

Akhe, however, smiled faintly, lowering her head to continue eating her slightly undercooked dumplings.

Akhe didn’t understand the concept of parents. Her parents were the universe itself. But for humans, parents… were indeed very special, weren’t they?

After dinner, Akhe cleared the table with her tentacles and came to the sofa, draping a meticulously woven blanket over Xiang Er and placing a cup of hot chocolate in her hands.

Xiang Er sat on the sofa with her legs tucked under her, her head resting on her knees, lost in thought.

Akhe sat beside her and turned on the television.

The figure of a woman appeared on the screen. She sat on a sofa in a spacious hall that resembled a villa, her simple and plain dress clashing with the opulent style of the room. She was thin, pale, and coughed occasionally, her face etched with worry.

Her features bore a striking resemblance to Xiang Er’s.

Almost as soon as she saw the woman’s face, Xiang Er straightened up, her eyes glued to the television.

Soon, someone pushed the door open. It was a pot-bellied man, somewhat balding, with lecherous features and reeking of alcohol. The woman on the sofa, seeing him, immediately rushed over to fuss over him, gently asking him how his business entertainment went and if he wanted some sobering soup… but the man waved her away, sending her tumbling to the floor.

The woman lay pathetically on the ground, coughing violently. Fueled by alcohol, the man shouted crude insults, even kicking her.

The man’s Mandarin wasn’t standard, and Xiang Er couldn’t hear clearly, but she could make out words like “sickly,” “bad luck,” “giving me a retarded son,” and “useless.”

Then the man picked up his briefcase from the table and, before leaving, said flippantly:

“You’re nothing compared to Xiao Li…”

After the man left, the woman lay on the ground for a long time before getting up. She clutched her chest and coughed up blood, her face even paler. At this moment, a timid male voice came from behind her, asking if she was alright.

It was her son, indeed with a crooked nose and mouth, and intellectually disabled. His limbs were uncoordinated, and even though he was a tall eighteen-year-old, he still had the demeanor of a child.

The woman stumbled over and, embracing the boy, burst into tears.

The boy also bore a slight resemblance to Xiang Er. This should be her younger brother.

Akhe then turned to look at Xiang Er.

She expected Xiang Er to be sad and in pain, but unexpectedly, Xiang Er simply watched calmly.

Xiang Er’s voice suddenly sounded:

“Are these my parents?”

Akhe nodded in confirmation.

Xiang Er looked directly at her for the first time:

“Tell me about them.”

Akhe recounted the story of this couple.

When the woman was 16 and working, she met the 18-year-old delinquent man. They fell in love and quickly became pregnant out of wedlock. Both families disapproved, and the man abandoned her. The woman gave birth to Xiang Er at her parents’ home and tacitly allowed them to take Xiang Er to the orphanage, pretending she had never given birth to this daughter. This left her with a weakened constitution.

Later, the woman went out to work, and at 26, she encountered the man again. By then, the man had already been divorced once. The woman, however, resolutely married the divorced man. After that, the man’s luck turned, and his career took off. The woman risked her life to give birth to a son, but he was born with an intellectual disability. Their relationship deteriorated because of their son, and the man kept many mistresses. The woman’s health collapsed, and she could only rely on the man, who returned once a month, weeping and grieving every day.

The rest was as Xiang Er had seen.

As Akhe spoke, she observed Xiang Er’s reaction, her tentacles protectively hovering nearby, fearing that Xiang Er would break down and cry.

But Xiang Er stared at the television throughout, listening intently, her eyes dry, her nose not even red.

She now knew where she came from, and that was enough.

There was no need to yearn for more.

She said:

“Hmm.”

A simple word, without joy or sorrow, without judgment or resentment.

It was simply what it was.

Akhe reached out and gently wrapped her arm around Xiang Er’s shoulders from behind the sofa:

“If you’re sad, you can cry. Don’t bottle it up.”

Xiang Er didn’t react to her small gesture, continuing to stare at her own reflection on the television screen even after it went black.

She never cried.

But for the first time, she didn’t pull away.

She allowed Akhe’s hand to gently pat her back, like a warm mother soothing her infant.

Chapter 82: Daily Life

For a moment, Xiang Er was frozen.

Their bodies pressed together, their breaths mingling, the warm, intoxicating scent of wine and the subtle intimacy of months of shared moments, a familiar dance.

Xiang Er swayed, almost losing her balance, falling into Akhe’s arms.

Akhe’s eyes were bright, like two small suns, her desire and anticipation unconcealed.

It wasn’t just desire, it was also anger, anger at Xiang Er’s mercy towards the small eyeball, a mercy she hadn’t shown to It.

Its emotions were a tangled mess, It had even briefly hoped that Xiang Er would cut off the small eyeball’s tentacle, and yet, a part of It had also thought, perhaps Xiang Er’s mercy… was because of It?

Perhaps… she still felt the same way about It?

Akhe held Xiang Er close, expecting her to push It away angrily, even prepared for their relationship to further deteriorate.

But… Xiang Er, for a moment, was stunned!

And in that moment, Akhe’s heart soared, a burst of hope, like a wildflower blooming in a barren wasteland.

The next second, Xiang Er pushed her away, stepping back.

Xiang Er stared at that beautiful face, the face that had once captivated her, and felt a pang of sorrow, the depth of her past love now a measure of her present pain.

She was hurting too! Why wouldn’t this creature just leave her alone!

“Get out!!!”

She shouted, her voice filled with rage, then raised her hand, her arm trembling, her teeth clenched.

She wanted to slap Akhe, but… she didn’t have the strength.

The pervasive sweet fragrance in the room had weakened her, her arm still sore and numb from pulling at the small eyeball earlier.

But… Akhe’s eyes were bright, tears glistening on her cheeks, yet she smiled, a complex, almost grateful smile, and she leaned closer to Xiang Er, her voice soft:

“Be careful, you’ll hurt your hand.”

Xiang Er’s hand trembled even more violently, her teeth biting into her lip, the metallic taste of blood, the memory of that kiss in the clouds, flooding back.

The sweet fragrance, the vivid memories, swirling in her mind, she hadn’t forgotten, she had simply refused to remember, but the intoxicating scent, like a key, unlocked the floodgates…

She remembered. That first dream, in front of the mirror… Akhe had revealed Its true form to her…

She screamed:

“Ah!!! Get out!!!”

Xiang Er lashed out, her hand striking blindly, landing against something cold and silken. She didn’t care, she didn’t look at Akhe, just turned and ran back to her room, slamming the door shut.

She buried her face in her pillow, her body pressed against the bed.

She knew how distorted her expression must be, and she knew that she was starting to uncontrollably think about “Shen Yuhe”… but that soul, it was Akhe! The one who had shared those intimate moments with her, who had been by her side, who had taken care of her, it wasn’t “Shen Yuhe,” it was “Akhe”!

Because Shen Yuhe didn’t exist, the only one who existed was Akhe!

She couldn’t accept it!

But even her pillow carried that faint, sweet fragrance, assaulting her senses.

Xiang Er’s heart ached, she couldn’t understand why her life was like this, why she was so weak!

But life was truly difficult, every choice, or even the lack of choice, a constant struggle, a painful loss…

She lifted her head, turned over, and stared at the ceiling, a single tear escaping her eye, rolling into her ear.

She was so sad, why wasn’t Shen Yuhe real, why was it Akhe?

The following days blurred into a monotonous cycle.

Xiang Er didn’t attempt suicide again, but she seemed to have lost her soul, going through the motions, rarely speaking, her gaze unfocused.

After a month, a clear pattern had emerged in their lives. Xiang Er would wake up naturally to the aroma of breakfast, and after washing up, she would find the table set, a fresh bouquet of flowers beside her plate.

The flowers were different every day, beautifully arranged, each day a different color theme, the dew on their petals always fresh.

And Akhe, displaying her remarkable learning abilities, had become a surprisingly good cook, now able to prepare a wide variety of dishes, even mastering the art of soup dumplings, but Xiang Er never ate anything Akhe made, just sitting there for a while, occasionally sipping some soy milk or coffee.

After breakfast, Akhe would take Xiang Er for a walk. They would stroll through the residential compound, then through the nearby park, looking at the new spring buds, observing the elderly people exercising, dancing.

After their walk, they would have lunch at a nearby restaurant, then buy groceries, snacks, small trinkets, pretty clothes and shoes, milk tea.

Two cups of milk tea every time, one extra sweet, one unsweetened.

Xiang Er would eat the restaurant food, and drink the milk tea, but whenever Akhe tried to take a picture of them together, she would turn away, sometimes even throwing her milk tea away.

In the afternoons, in the quiet, warm apartment, Akhe would disappear, hiding somewhere, giving Xiang Er various forms of entertainment, movies, exercise equipment, origami paper, a sewing machine… everything a human could do at home, to occupy her time.

But Xiang Er rarely engaged in these activities, preferring to sit on the balcony lounger, basking in the warm sunlight, her eyes closed.

The small eyeball would curl up at her feet like a cat, no longer daring to touch her with its tentacles, just a small, black ball, content to be near her.

Sometimes Xiang Er would fall asleep, and when she woke up, a hand-knitted blanket would be draped over her, but Akhe would be nowhere in sight.

Akhe seemed to be learning to knit. Once, she must have forgotten to conceal herself, and Xiang Er saw her sitting on the bed in the master bedroom, two hands and three tentacles manipulating four knitting needles simultaneously, a colorful blanket rapidly taking shape.

Whenever the yarn got tangled, a few small tentacles would deftly untangle it.

Xiang Er watched her for a few seconds, then returned to her lounger, her eyes closed, her thoughts like ripples on a still lake.

She thought:

“Tentacles are quite useful…”

Akhe’s head snapped up, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s lounger, her eyes shining, a happy smile curving her lips. She had indeed forgotten to conceal herself, completely engrossed in her knitting, only a small part of her mind monitoring Xiang Er’s safety, unaware that Xiang Er was watching her.

So… Xiang Er didn’t mind her using tentacles to knit?

From then on, she deliberately didn’t hide anymore, spending her afternoons knitting in the master bedroom, her tentacles on full display.

Although Xiang Er didn’t stare at her for as long as she had the first time, even a fleeting glance was enough to make Akhe happy for the entire day.

The apartment filled with blankets, mountains of colorful, hand-knitted blankets, and besides blankets, there were sweaters, scarves, vests, even socks… there was barely any space left.

In the evenings, Akhe would prepare elaborate meals, occasionally even candlelit dinners with mulled wine, and under the flickering candlelight, Xiang Er’s usually cold and distant expression would soften slightly, a sight Akhe couldn’t get enough of.

But Xiang Er would only eat a few bites, and she never drank the mulled wine. She would always lock her bedroom door before going to sleep, a symbolic gesture, even though she knew it was meaningless.

Of course, it didn’t stop Akhe. Every night, after Xiang Er fell asleep, Akhe would sneak into her room, hold her for a while, even entering her dreams.

Xiang Er’s dreams were now filled with monsters, all sorts of terrifying creatures, all with black and red tentacles and blood-red eyes, just like Akhe. Akhe would enter her dreams, defeat the other “Akhes,” then quietly leave before she woke up.

Under Akhe’s meticulous care, Xiang Er’s physical health was perfect, but the color never returned to her cheeks, her eyes remained dull and lifeless, no longer reflecting the vibrant emotions of before.

Her thoughts were also chaotic and confused, a constant source of bewilderment for Akhe, who even wondered if her SAN value had dropped too low.

Aside from Xiang Er’s silence, their life together was almost perfect, Akhe having researched human relationships and concluded that this was what couples did, it was called “peaceful, domestic bliss.”

If only Xiang Er didn’t hate It so much, it would be perfect.

Meanwhile, for the past month, Lǜ’è City had become the focus of the world’s attention, the nation’s top investigators gathered there, yet none dared approach the entity, only maintaining a tight security perimeter around the old residential compound, on high alert whenever the entity and its girlfriend appeared.

The only person who could communicate with the entity was An Yue, who had become a global celebrity, responsible for liaising with Akhe, delivering fresh flowers every day, which Akhe would retrieve with its tentacles, even occasionally sitting with Akhe in the stairwell, discussing relationship problems.

An Yue had even taken a crash course in relationship psychology, although it was all theoretical, for now, that was all Akhe needed.

One morning, a month later…

An Yue, summoned by Akhe, arrived at the sixth floor, and after waiting for almost an hour, finally knocked on the door.

She occasionally knocked before, but Xiang Er never seemed to hear, it was always Akhe’s tentacles that opened the door.

But today, after only three polite knocks, the door opened.

…A human!

An Yue’s heart sank, had Akhe taken a new hostage?

But then the door opened wider, and Xiang Er’s pale, expressionless face appeared.

An Yue was holding a bouquet of flowers, her appearance professional, her hair styled in its usual wolf cut, her angular face radiating a wild, romantic charm.

Xiang Er’s eyes lit up slightly, and she spoke, her voice hoarse from disuse:

“Officer… Officer An?”

An Yue:

“Ah… it’s me. I’m here to… deliver flowers.”

Xiang Er looked at the flowers, then suddenly smiled:

“You’re holding the flowers, so the flowers are the ones that are alive.”

Just then, Akhe, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen, tentacles holding a spatula, a kitchen knife, a steamer basket, a rolling pin, and dumpling wrappers.

Her beautiful face was calm, her gaze fixed on An Yue, her jealousy undisguised.

The air in the room grew heavy, the pressure almost crushing An Yue, who stood firm, her willpower and strong physique her only defense.

But Xiang Er, glancing back at Akhe, added, her voice laced with a hint of malicious amusement:

“Unlike that thing, which can’t even pretend convincingly.”

Akhe’s tentacles lashed out, the kitchen knife raised menacingly, like a hydra’s heads poised to strike.

Chapter 81: The Small Eyeball

Akhe silently, helplessly swallowed the blood, her mouth opening as if to speak, then closing again.

She simply lifted Xiang Er with a tentacle and carried her swiftly back to the apartment.

The journey was silent.

That day, many people saw a strange, unidentified flying object in the sky, a swirling mass of black tentacles, moving swiftly above the city.

Flocks of startled birds scattered in its wake, aircraft malfunctioned, even electromagnetic signals were disrupted. As the massive, silent tentacles passed overhead, people felt a strange, inexplicable pang of sadness.

Back at the apartment, Xiang Er’s mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, and she immediately rushed to the bathroom, rinsing her mouth repeatedly.

She washed her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror, the water droplets clinging to her skin, the ghost of Akhe’s kiss lingering, impossible to erase.

She gritted her teeth, her eyes red and swollen, the tears difficult to wash away.

“Chirp?”

A small, bird-like sound came from outside the door, a hesitant, almost cautious chirp.

Thin lines tapped against the door, then snaked upwards.

Xiang Er finished washing her face and opened the bathroom door.

There was no tall, elegant woman waiting for her, no thick tentacles, nothing.

Xiang Er hesitated, about to turn away, when something grabbed her ankle. She looked down.

The small eyeball, its large eye wide, was clinging to her ankle with its thin, smooth tentacles, bouncing slightly, chirping softly, trying to get her attention.

Xiang Er:

“…”

She tried to shake it off, but it was stuck, like a piece of sticky candy, clinging to her foot, bouncing back like a black yo-yo when she kicked it.

Xiang Er simply dragged it along as she walked, it wasn’t heavy anyway.

She dragged the small eyeball out to the living room, looked around, and realized that Akhe wasn’t there.

Where had it gone? The thought crossed her mind, then she quickly dismissed it: What did it matter to her?

Xiang Er sat down on the sofa, lifted her foot, placed the small eyeball in her hand, and started pulling at it.

The small eyeball let out a series of agitated squeaks, as if in pain, but its tentacles clung tightly to her ankle, refusing to let go.

Xiang Er thought for a moment, then said coldly to the small eyeball:

“Get off.”

Small Eyeball:

“Chirp!”

Xiang Er:

“Do you want me to cut off your hands?”

Small Eyeball, its voice timid yet defiant:

“Woof… ooo chirp!”

Xiang Er couldn’t understand what it was saying, but seeing its tentacles tighten their grip, she understood its meaning. She grabbed a pair of scissors from the table and held them towards her ankle.

“Get off, or I’ll cut them.”

The small eyeball whimpered:

“Ooh… wuwuwu chirp squeak…”

Xiang Er’s voice was cold and merciless:

“You can talk, I know.”

The small eyeball’s cute animal sounds stopped abruptly, and after a moment of silence, it spoke:

“No… don’t…”

Xiang Er:

“Then get off.”

Small Eyeball:

“Wuwuwu no, no… Mommy doesn’t want me… wuwu…”

The small eyeball, its black, slimy body, rubbed against Xiang Er’s ankle and foot, leaving trails of black slime, and Xiang Er, disgusted, tried to shake it off.

She held the scissors closer, lifting one of the small eyeball’s tentacles:

“Get off! I’m going to do it!”

The small eyeball suddenly opened its slit-like mouth wide, almost splitting its body in half, and wailed loudly:

“Waaaaah—Mommy, it hurts—waaaah—don’t hurt me, wuwuwu—waaaah aaaaaah!”

Xiang Er pressed her hand against her temple, her head throbbing. She wasn’t afraid of death, but she couldn’t handle this kind of childish tantrum, it was worse than Chinese New Year.

She held the scissors, the tentacle, but hesitated at the last moment.

Just then, Akhe, appearing from nowhere, her arms crossed, scoffed:

“Heh… if you cut off its hand, it won’t grow back.”

Xiang Er turned to look at her. Akhe, in her flowing red dress, leaned against the wall, her posture elegant and aloof, her makeup light and understated, her expression seemingly annoyed, but… her beautiful eyes were filled with a mixture of reproach and sadness, glancing at Xiang Er, then quickly looking away when their gazes met.

Her attempts at stealing glances were truly clumsy.

Xiang Er turned back to the small eyeball, lifted the scissors, and… “snip.”

The small eyeball’s cries stopped abruptly, and it looked at Xiang Er, its slit-like mouth closed, its eye wide with disbelief.

Xiang Er held the severed piece of fabric from her sock, glanced at the small eyeball, and said coldly:

“Touch me again, and you’ll end up like this.”

The small eyeball looked at the scissors, then at the severed fabric, its tentacles still clinging to it.

But… she hadn’t cut its tentacle.

The small eyeball opened its mouth and said, its voice filled with wonder:

“Mommy… Mommy didn’t hurt me… Mommy doesn’t want me to be hurt!”

Akhe, in the corner, stared, her eyes wide with disbelief. Why? This wasn’t fair!

The small eyeball, however, was overjoyed. It opened its eye wide, bounced excitedly like a black ping pong ball, almost hitting Xiang Er’s face, shouting:

“Mommy didn’t hurt me! Mommy didn’t hurt me! Mommy likes me, Mommy likes me!”

Xiang Er, exasperated, covered her face with her hand, stood up, and stepped over the bouncing small eyeball.

She had to go to her room, which meant passing by Akhe, who was still standing in the corner.

As expected, a thick tentacle shot out and grabbed her, holding her captive.

She sighed, her gaze fixed on the imperfectly repaired wall, not looking at Akhe.

Akhe approached, her voice low and angry:

“You could bite off my tongue, why can’t you cut off its tentacle?”

Xiang Er:

“Because I wanted to.”

Akhe suddenly appeared in front of Xiang Er, a tentacle lifting her chin, forcing her to look, to meet her gaze.

Only after confirming that Xiang Er’s eyes held only her reflection did Akhe’s anger subside slightly.

Akhe’s voice, slow and deliberate, each word measured, asked:

“You hate me, don’t you? Then why don’t you hate it? Do you even know what it is?”

Xiang Er didn’t know, but she knew her instincts were right, the small eyeball and Akhe were separate entities, otherwise Akhe wouldn’t be so jealous.

She raised an eyebrow, a defiant glint in her eye, and said calmly:

“It’s more lovable than you, no matter what it is.”

Akhe’s anger flared again, the tentacle holding Xiang Er’s chin tightening, almost drawing blood.

She stared into Xiang Er’s eyes and said:

“It’s… a manifestation of my endless love for you. Don’t you understand… it came from me, but it was born because of you, you hate me this much, then why… why don’t you hate it?”

Xiang Er froze.

Akhe, with a tentacle, roughly grabbed the small eyeball, lifted it into the air, and held it before Xiang Er’s face:

“Look! Look at it! If you hate me, if you hate my love for you, then why don’t you hate it? It is my love for you!”

The small eyeball, dangling like a black and red ornament, its red eye peeking out from beneath its eyelid, looked utterly pathetic. Its slit-like mouth opened, and it said sadly:

“Mommy… I love you the most, Mommy…”

It didn’t even look at Akhe. Although it had been born from Akhe, all its yearning, all its innocent affection, was directed towards Xiang Er.

Xiang Er was stunned, utterly stunned.

She had imagined many origins for the small eyeball, a byproduct of Akhe, a small animal turned into a monster.

She also realized that the fight between her and the small eyeball had been orchestrated by Akhe, but she had never imagined… that the small eyeball was born because of her.

Akhe’s tentacle, holding the small eyeball, trembled slightly, and transparent tears, like a human’s, welled up in her eyes. She said:

“You know… when I first discovered it, I was scared, because I didn’t understand, why my body was splitting, why I was… giving birth to something, I thought I was… broken. I kept it in the refrigerator, and that day, you wished for me to leave. I left, but it… it didn’t disappear, it grew larger. Can you understand… you asked me to leave, but my love for you… was growing.”

Xiang Er looked at the small eyeball, silent, the tentacle on her chin now gone, but she didn’t seem to notice.

Akhe’s voice trembled:

“Later… later, we… I thought we were a couple, that we should… be intimate, and I… I did that with you in your dream… my love for you grew uncontrollably, and it grew larger, more powerful… that night, it… it climbed into your bed, I didn’t even know until I emerged from your dream…

You were so angry, I tore it apart, reabsorbed it, but I realized it had developed its own consciousness, it thought of itself as your child, it didn’t want to merge with me… I could only… restrict its growth, and send it to you.

Don’t you… also think it’s like your child? If so, then please don’t hate me anymore… I’m its mother too…”

By the end, Akhe’s voice was choked with sobs, tears streaming down her face, her eyes glistening with pain and a desperate plea.

The room was silent, the small eyeball also silent, its single eye fixed on Xiang Er, like a well-behaved child.

It was a lot to process. Xiang Er thought for a long time, then finally understood.

She spoke with difficulty:

“You’re saying… I… the things I… dreamed, it was all you… how did you… do those things?”

Akhe extended a tentacle, gently touching Xiang Er’s forehead, a wave of sweet, thick fragrance filling the air.

Their clothes instantly vanished, the small eyeball thrown into the bedroom, the door slammed shut, and Akhe, her naked body beautiful and flawless, pressed against Xiang Er, her eyes still angry, her breath a sweet, intoxicating whisper against Xiang Er’s skin.

Her breath warm against Xiang Er’s ear, her soft breasts pressed against Xiang Er’s chest, she slid into Xiang Er’s arms like a smooth, sweet fish, turning Xiang Er’s face towards hers:

“Do you want to try again?”