Category: My Cthulhu Girlfriend (gl)

Chapter 93: The Letter

After a long, deep kiss, Xiang Er leaned against Akhe, the heart-shaped gem pressed against her own chest.

She looked up at Akhe and whispered:

“I’ll keep this safe.”

The temple was cold and ancient, the flickering oil lamps casting long, dancing shadows, and as Xiang Er looked up, her eyes, reflecting the red light, shone like a startled rabbit’s, wide and wet with unshed tears.

Or like a deer, a pure, innocent creature in this dark, corrupted world, unaware, untouched, her presence a beacon, a guiding star, a vessel of hope… a home.

Even gods could be fragile, Akhe thought.

Akhe gently stroked Xiang Er’s hair, her voice low and husky:

“Let’s go home.”

Xiang Er, about to stand up, suddenly cried out in alarm!

A thick tentacle had wrapped around her waist, lifting her into the air, and beneath her feet, the giant stone steps began to crack!

A deafening roar echoed through the temple as it began to collapse!

The massive stone steps, the intricately carved gargoyles, the vibrant murals, all cracked and crumbled, the floor shattering, the altar splitting apart, the human skulls, as if coming alive, leaping and scattering!

A chasm opened beneath them, black slime oozing out, devouring everything.

The slime swallowed the altar, the pillars and statues, the grotesque, eye-adorned monsters, the human bones and animal furs… the falling oil lamps igniting the fur, the fat, the wood, eerie blue flames spreading rapidly.

And Xiang Er, protected by the tentacles, had already been carried to the temple entrance by Akhe, hovering high above, watching the destruction unfold.

Xiang Er, speechless, stared at the epic scene, a spectacle she had never imagined witnessing.

The hot, dry air, thick with the stench of decay and burning flesh, the black smoke swirling, those primitive, roughly hewn statues and carvings, testaments to humanity’s earliest creativity, worthy of a museum, all crumbling, dissolving into the black slime… those terrifying, or perhaps sacred, works of art, imbued with the faith of countless humans… all gone!

Beneath the burning blue flames, Xiang Er felt a strange, inexplicable sadness.

She didn’t know where it came from, but… her eyes stung, her throat tightened, and she turned to look at Akhe, who held her close.

Akhe’s familiar face, in the flickering firelight, was expressionless, like a perfectly sculpted statue.

What was she thinking? As her own temple crumbled, did she feel regret, or relief?

Akhe suddenly turned, her gaze meeting Xiang Er’s.

Her eyes, reflecting the blue flames, seemed frozen, then, seeing Xiang Er, thawing instantly, a smile curving her lips:

“Let’s go.”

Xiang Er:

“This place… like this… is it really okay?”

Akhe’s voice was calm:

“It’s okay, its purpose has been fulfilled.”

The tentacles shifted, adjusting Xiang Er’s position, making her more comfortable, and they rose into the air, leaving without looking back.

The valley below burned with eerie blue flames, the black stream swelling, the massive wooden pillars collapsing, soon, it would be just an ordinary valley again, no trace of the temple remaining.

Xiang Er, high above, suddenly felt a pang of fear. Was this… a premonition?

But it was probably just her imagination… Akhe was powerful, wasn’t she?

They flew all the way back, Akhe seemingly abandoning the car, flying much faster, and they arrived home just as night fell.

Xiang Er’s mood, throughout the journey, had been somber, although reconciling with Akhe was a good thing, she still felt… a lingering unease.

As soon as they entered the apartment, Akhe’s bag still in her hand, Xiang Er wrapped her arms around Akhe’s neck, pulling her close, her lips finding Akhe’s.

She couldn’t say the words, but she thought them, a silent plea: Kiss me…

She craved the comfort, the familiarity of a loving touch, to quell her anxiety and fear.

Akhe immediately kissed her back.

The kiss was forceful, almost desperate, her tongue, like a small snake, invading Xiang Er’s mouth, the force of it almost painful.

Xiang Er had thought the kiss would calm her, would dispel her worries, but… it had the opposite effect.

A sudden clap of thunder, lightning splitting the sky, the camphor tree outside thrashing wildly in the wind, the incessant beeping of car alarms…

It was the last storm before autumn… a cold wind blew in from the balcony, ruffling Xiang Er’s hair, her neck arching back, her body bending, the wind and the tentacles caressing her bare skin… she shivered, her legs involuntarily parting, a cry escaping her lips:

“Mm…”

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

And at that moment, the rain, with a sudden “whoosh,” began to pour down.

The stars and moon vanished, the world falling silent for a moment, only the sound of rain, a chaotic drumming. Raindrops splattered on the ground, on the trembling flower petals, on the very source of life.

That night, in the storm, they were lost in a frenzy of passion.

When Xiang Er woke up, her eyelids felt heavy, the simple act of opening them requiring all her strength.

She opened her eyes, and a weak sunlight, filtering through the blue windowpane, illuminated her desk.

Her body ached with exhaustion, but she seemed to have been healed, there were no injuries. She sat up, pushing herself up with her arms, and saw that it was already afternoon.

The air, washed clean by the rain, was fresh and cool. Xiang Er tried to get out of bed, but her body felt weak and heavy.

She sat there for a while, leaning against the headboard, resting.

Her throat was parched, she wanted some water.

But… she waited, and no water came.

A scratching sound at her door made Xiang Er frown, puzzled, when had Akhe developed a habit of scratching at the door?

Xiang Er coughed a few times, put on her nightgown, and went to the door, opening it.

The small eyeball was crouching there, several black tentacles extended, and seeing her, it blinked its large eye, its expression one of unconcealed panic.

Xiang Er was now familiar with the small eyeball’s every move, every expression, but she had rarely seen it look so frightened.

A sudden fear gripped her, and she frowned, asking the small eyeball:

“What’s wrong?”

The small eyeball opened its slit-like mouth, but… no sound came out.

It blinked, as if struggling to speak, its mouth open, yet silent. It rolled away from the door, gesturing with a tentacle towards a certain direction.

Xiang Er’s hands and feet trembled, a terrible premonition washing over her, her movements clumsy, bumping against the door and the doorframe.

She walked forward, as if crossing the boundary between dream and reality, the pink bubble of her illusions about to burst, her steps slow and hesitant, unable to even leave the doorway.

Her breathing grew heavy and labored, and she pushed open the door, following the small eyeball, looking around…

There was nothing there.

Yes, nothing. The apartment was clean and tidy, meticulously so, the old furniture even polished, not a speck of dust, the lightbulb in the ceiling fixture replaced.

The cushions on the sofa, neatly arranged by color. The sofa itself smooth and clean.

But last night… Xiang Er remembered what had happened on the sofa, the tentacles writhing in the slimy fluid, the entire sofa soaked…

The floor, too, was spotless, gleaming, not a single trace.

Xiang Er looked towards the master bedroom. Last night, they had… made a mess of that bed… but now, the bed was perfectly made, the sheets clean and smooth, nothing out of place.

The small eyeball hopped onto the dining table, where a piece of paper lay.

But Xiang Er avoided looking at it, her gaze, filled with a mixture of panic and a strange, lingering hope, fixed on the kitchen.

Every morning, Akhe would be there, preparing breakfast, her culinary skills now so advanced that it wasn’t unusual for her to be quiet… perfectly normal.

She must be in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, that’s why she wasn’t there to greet her. It had to be.

Xiang Er walked towards the kitchen, her steps slow and cautious, and looked inside.

It was… empty.

Clean and tidy, spotless, the utensils neatly arranged, no one there, no tentacles.

No one was making breakfast.

Xiang Er, her heart sinking, stumbled back, then ran to the bathroom, frantically searching.

Finally, she couldn’t help but call out:

“Akhe…? Where… where are you?”

She ran through the apartment, searching every room, but she couldn’t find her.

The apartment now felt vast and empty, terrifying, like a cave in the deep mountains, the air heavy, suffocating.

Xiang Er passed by a mirror and saw her own reflection, her face pale and bloodless.

Ignoring it, she turned and walked towards the dining table, where the small eyeball was.

The small eyeball was crying silently, large, transparent tears dripping onto the table, carefully avoiding the piece of paper.

Xiang Er, her hand trembling, picked up the paper, a few lines of elegant handwriting:

“My beloved Xiang Er:

Remember the… other one I mentioned? It has arrived near this planet, and I have to go and… negotiate, or perhaps fight, so I must say goodbye.

I promised to be honest with you, so I have to tell you, the outcome of this battle is uncertain. You have my heart, and if it… breaks, disappears, then please… forget me, and live your life.

I am truly sorry for everything I’ve done to you. And I’m eternally grateful for your… forgiveness. I will fight for you, but please don’t wait for me.

I’ve instructed the investigators to… look after you. If you need anything, contact An Yue, she’s always nearby.

The small eyeball will stay with you, but it will gradually weaken without me, you can give it to An Yue if you want.

Under the witness of the universe and the stars, I will always love you, until I cease to exist.

Your most devoted lover, Akhe.”

Chapter 92: First Kiss

The car sped through the forest, a blood-red lightning bolt, the branches of the towering trees whipping past.

A fierce, greyish-green wind buffeted the car, the sky overcast, the sunlight barely filtering through the dense canopy, the trees a blur of green, the deep, ancient forest seemingly endless.

Xiang Er realized, with a start, that they were heading towards the mountains!

The mountains she had visited only once, yet a place she would never forget.

As the car wound along the mountain road, through the thick, thorny bushes, Xiang Er caught a glimpse of the small city below. The small, remote city she had visited when she was twenty-one, the city where she had bought that wooden carving, the carving that had brought this… thing… into her life.

It was… where it all began.

And now, this car, this speeding, blood-red car, was taking her deeper into the mountains, a remote, almost deserted region…

Xiang Er’s voice trembled as she turned and grabbed Akhe’s shoulder:

“Where… are we going?”

Akhe, her arms crossed, her profile serene, her gaze fixed on the small city below, a complex emotion in her eyes, turned to Xiang Er.

Her dark eyes, reflecting the deep green of the forest, held a deep, tender affection.

Her hand gently caressed Xiang Er’s cheek, her voice slightly unsteady:

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Xiang Er, her eyes wide with unease, asked:

“What… what are you planning to do?”

Akhe said:

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you… I would never hurt you, not even if it meant hurting myself.”

Xiang Er, reassured, still asked:

“And you… you won’t hurt this world either, right?”

Akhe hesitated, then smiled, her smile reflecting the wild, untamed beauty of the forest and mountains:

“I’ll try.”

Xiang Er’s heart sank, the answer unsettling, what… what was she planning?

She bit her lip nervously and reached out, grasping Akhe’s arm:

“You… you won’t hurt this world, will you? It’s… important to me.”

Xiang Er’s voice was soft, a hint of pleading in her tone, her eyelashes fluttering as she looked up at Akhe.

Akhe, touched by her vulnerability, forced a casual smile, trying to lighten the mood, her hand gently caressing Xiang Er’s cheek, her fingers lingering on the soft skin.

Her voice light and playful, she said:

“I was just joking, look how worried you are… so cute.”

But Xiang Er didn’t smile, her gaze fixed on Akhe, wary and watchful.

The red car, like a streak of lightning, sped along the winding mountain road, the shadows of the trees flickering across Xiang Er’s face, making her look like a fragile paper doll, not a living, breathing person.

Akhe stared at her, a long, lingering, almost hungry gaze.

Xiang Er suddenly reached out and gently touched Akhe’s arm, her eyes, in the shifting light and shadow, glistening with tears:

“Then… don’t hurt yourself either, okay?”

As she spoke, the car entered a tunnel, the roar of the wind filling their ears, drowning out everything but Xiang Er’s soft plea, her eyes shimmering with tears.

She was… worried about her.

Akhe, overwhelmed by this realization, couldn’t believe it, she even tried to reach out with her mental tendrils, to probe Xiang Er’s mind.

It was the same, a genuine concern, even deeper.

As they emerged from the tunnel, the light returning, Akhe’s smile was bright and gentle, seemingly carefree, as she took Xiang Er’s hand, patting it softly, and said:

“Okay.”

Perhaps she wasn’t lying, or perhaps… it was a monumental lie.

The world whizzed by, and as they drove deeper into the mountains, they occasionally passed small villages, the elderly residents, in their traditional clothes, carrying baskets on their backs, fleeting glimpses before they disappeared.

Xiang Er unconsciously searched for the woman who had sold her the carving, but of course, she didn’t see her.

Akhe explained:

“The wood used for those carvings does carry my… essence, but it doesn’t usually react to human blood, only you, you’re special, your blood… it called to me, it awakened me from my slumber…”

Xiang Er frowned:

“So you decided to become a stalker?”

Akhe nodded:

“Yes, it was a… mistake. I sometimes wonder… if I hadn’t awakened, would things have been different… never mind.”

She turned her gaze towards the window, no longer speaking, and Xiang Er felt a growing unease.

Something was about to happen… but what? She couldn’t figure it out.

The car reached the end of the road, the path ahead leading into the deep mountains. The sports car wasn’t designed for such terrain, and Akhe and Xiang Er got out, walking side by side along the dirt path.

The deep mountains were perpetually shrouded in mist, their vision limited, barely able to see each other’s faces. Xiang Er stumbled along the uneven path, and soon, Akhe gently lifted her with a tentacle.

She sat on the thick, secure tentacle, almost completely enveloped, Akhe’s voice, carried by the mist, reaching her ear:

“Hold on tight.”

A high-pitched whine, like a phoenix’s cry, echoed through the air, and Xiang Er, with a gasp, clutched the tentacle as she was lifted high into the sky!

They looked down, the contours of the mountains and forests emerging from the mist, ancient trees brushing against their feet, glimpses of unseen animals in the woods below, a world untouched by humans, slowly revealing itself, the cold, sharp air carrying a metallic tang, like ancient secrets unveiled.

Xiang Er was mesmerized, until they landed.

Akhe extended dozens of tentacles, their movements slow and deliberate, as they descended into the deserted valley, gently placing Xiang Er on the ground before retracting, the tentacles coiling behind her like a cluster of tails.

And before them… Xiang Er looked up, her mouth open in astonishment, as if in a dream.

It was a temple.

In the deepest part of the valley, a black stream snaked through the mist, bones scattered across the ground, the earth a dark red, as if stained with ancient blood.

And the temple gates, over thirty feet tall, made of massive wooden beams, their surfaces covered in a blood-red paint, adorned with mysterious symbols, the pillars carved with intricate, tentacle-like patterns, the red paint thick and crude.

The doors, made of wooden planks, painted with images of tentacles, eyes, and other strange symbols, were closed.

Xiang Er was stunned.

She could see that the entire temple was carved in the same style, a primitive, almost brutal aesthetic, a wild, untamed beauty that defied all modern conventions.

It was… exactly the same style, the same colors, the same symbols as the wooden carving.

Before she could speak, Akhe’s voice, solemn and echoing, said beside her:

“This is my temple.”

Xiang Er turned, and behind Akhe’s human form, countless black tentacles unfurled, like rivers of darkness, the mist in the sky turning red and black, the world closing in on her.

Akhe’s face glowed faintly, and she said:

“Enter with me.”

Her voice echoed through the valley, the trees trembling, her command absolute.

Xiang Er involuntarily followed. She reached the gates, and they opened automatically, a musty smell of decaying wood and damp stone emanating from within, and she looked inside, too stunned to speak.

The interior of the temple was even larger, more magnificent than the outside, its pillars and beams intricately carved, the floor paved with expensive green tiles, countless terrifying images, vividly depicted, crawling across the surfaces, not just tentacles and eyes, but all the grotesque creatures of human nightmares.

And in the center of the floor… a giant, circular altar.

The altar was piled high with bones, fur, fat, and ashes, and even… human skulls.

Xiang Er stood before the altar, her senses overwhelmed by the pungent stench, a familiar stench, the primal, terrifying scent of the Evil God’s true form.

Akhe entered the temple, and as she did, the oil lamps on the walls flickered to life, one by one.

Akhe also stood before the altar, her small figure, dwarfed by its height, like a tiny sprite with a trailing tail.

Xiang Er, speechless, looked at Akhe and asked, her voice filled with a sudden dread:

“Is it… time?”

Akhe raised an eyebrow:

“Hmm?”

Xiang Er said:

“Is it time? Is my offering… ready? Are you going to throw me into the altar now?”

Akhe chuckled:

“No, of course not. I brought you here… to give you a small gift.”

She walked towards the back of the altar, where a wooden throne sat atop a small set of stairs, its design, compared to the altar, surprisingly plain, except for a large obsidian embedded in its back.

Akhe sat on the throne, her finger gently touching the obsidian. The throne split open, revealing a dark abyss beneath.

Akhe said:

“Look.”

Xiang Er cautiously approached and looked inside. The abyss was empty, except for… a large, softly glowing red stone.

Akhe said:

“That’s my heart.”

She said this casually, her finger beckoning.

The so-called heart, pulled by some invisible force, rose from the abyss, shattering the throne, the obsidian, and the stairs, creating a large hole in the floor, before finally hovering in mid-air.

The giant, irregular stone, the size of a small hill, radiated a soft, red light that illuminated the entire temple. Akhe’s tentacles extended, wrapping around the stone, absorbing its red glow, the tentacles writhing and pulsing, as if compressing something.

Xiang Er, sensing what was happening, asked, slightly puzzled:

“What are you… doing?”

Akhe stood beside her, her human body like an empty shell, her gaze fixed on the stone above, her expression serene, unwavering, but she didn’t answer.

She didn’t show any sign of pain, but Xiang Er, watching, felt a growing ache in her own chest.

It was as if she could feel Akhe’s heart being squeezed, the tentacles straining, some of them even snapping, falling to the floor, absorbed by the black slime, then regrowing.

It seemed to be a strenuous task, yet Akhe’s expression remained calm and effortless.

What… was she doing this for?

After a long time, the giant red stone was finally compressed into a fist-sized object, wrapped in a tentacle, and offered to Xiang Er.

“This is for you, this is why I brought you here.”

Akhe’s voice, low and hoarse, whispered.

Xiang Er looked at the object. The red stone had been forcibly shaped into a perfect heart, translucent, glowing red, a stark contrast to the ancient, terrifying temple.

Akhe continued:

“When we had coffee for the first time, we received those heart-shaped cards, and I learned that offering one’s heart is a common way for you humans to confess your love. This is my true, my only heart, if it is destroyed, I will also be destroyed. Now, I’m giving it to you.”

She looked at Xiang Er, her beautiful face like an eternal statue, her eyes filled with tenderness:

“I want you to know, I will always love you, Little Ears.”

Xiang Er’s hand trembled, she didn’t know if she should accept this… heavy gift.

Akhe, cupping the glowing heart-shaped gem in her hand, gently placed it in Xiang Er’s palm.

It was heavy, almost too heavy to hold.

Akhe then said:

“There’s one more thing… I want to give you a dream… or perhaps, another life.”

Akhe’s finger gently touched Xiang Er’s temple, and a stream of unfamiliar memories flowed into her mind.

It was a strange sensation… Xiang Er still remembered her own life, her own memories, but with a thought, she could switch to this other life, these memories as real, even more real, than her own.

Like having two lives simultaneously.

In this other life, Xiang Er had been born into a loving family, growing up in a bright, clean home, her father playing with her as she learned to talk, her mother holding her when she fell, a fluffy black kitten her constant companion. Lullabies, glow-in-the-dark stars on her bedroom ceiling, her gentle mother, her talkative father, the warmth and comfort of a loving home.

She had gone to kindergarten, where the other children were kind, no one ever stole her candy, they even shared theirs with her, eager to be her friend. Elementary school was the same, good grades, popular, family outings on weekends, pictures taken amidst fields of flowers, falling asleep in her mother’s arms, sipping a sweet drink.

In middle school, she hadn’t boarded, staying at home with her loving parents, her rebellious phase, brief and mild, her parents understanding and supportive.

In high school, still living at home, the pressure of studies mounting, but her grades excellent, a natural talent for the humanities, earning her praise from her teachers. She had performed on stage, her singing voice captivating the audience, becoming the school’s most popular girl. She had received love letters, politely declining them, discussing them with her parents. She was well-read, traveled abroad during school breaks, learned to scuba dive and play golf…

She had been accepted into her dream university, her college life a happy blur. And there, she had met Shen Yuhe, the most popular, the most accomplished senior in the entire school.

And she had fallen in love with Shen Yuhe, at first sight.

Their love was beautiful, a dreamlike romance, Shen Yuhe completely captivating… and this time, there were no secrets, no lies.

Shen Yuhe was honest, sincere, completely devoted to her.

After a few blissful years together, Xiang Er nervously confessed their relationship to her parents, expecting their disapproval, but her parents, after a long silence, had simply said:

“As long as she makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”

Xiang Er had brought Shen Yuhe home to meet her parents.

Xiang Er, after graduating, had found a good, stable job, with no demanding bosses, no harassment. She worked in a field she loved, a normal nine-to-five schedule, her parents buying her an apartment in the city.

Shen Yuhe had also bought an apartment, its decor chosen entirely by Xiang Er, pink curtains, a tea table, and they had moved in together, their love nest, adopting a small, black kitten they named “Ball Ball.”

Ball Ball would always curl up at Xiang Er’s feet while she was reading, a small, black, furry ball, its tail swaying like a tentacle, occasionally wrapping around her ankle.

Ball Ball was very attached to her.

They had gotten married, two women in white dresses, exchanging vows, their kiss witnessed by their family and friends.

They had lived a happy, ordinary life, no secrets, no lies, a world without anomalies, without investigators, without… Evil Gods.

In this alternate life, Xiang Er had everything she had ever wanted, a perfect, ordinary life.

She opened her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips, and saw the terrifying temple before her.

And there, standing before her, was Shen Yuhe… no, it was Akhe.

Akhe, in Shen Yuhe’s form, stood before her, smiling, and as Xiang Er opened her eyes, she asked:

“Do you…”

Before she could finish, Xiang Er reached out, her arms circling Akhe’s neck.

Her soft lips, after a long hesitation, finally, willingly, touched Akhe’s.

Xiang Er’s lips pressed against Akhe’s cool, soft mouth, and she sighed:

“I thought… I would prefer the you in my dream… but I can’t lie to myself.”

She pulled away slightly, her gaze locked onto Akhe’s dark, bottomless eyes, seeing her own flushed, yet resolute, face reflected in them.

She said:

“I still… love you more.”

This broken, lost, clueless, awkward, foolish… you.

Akhe froze, stunned, as if unable to move. Xiang Er was about to pull away when Akhe suddenly embraced her tightly.

Akhe, her arms wrapping around Xiang Er’s waist, her kiss fervent and desperate, claimed Xiang Er’s lips.

Xiang Er closed her eyes, surrendering, shedding her armor, her past, ready to embrace a new future, she couldn’t bear this torment any longer, this self-inflicted pain.

This was their true first kiss, a kiss freely given, a mutual surrender.

Chapter 91: Bonfire

Late September, the end of summer, was a deep, inky green. The palm fronds, the camphor leaves, the grass, even the wind seemed saturated with this hue, like layers of green gauze, swirling and clinging.

The rooftop basked in the afternoon sun, the beautiful, otherworldly deity standing amidst the light, the wind lifting her long, black hair, which intertwined with thick, black tentacles, their tips glistening with slime, their suckers gently opening and closing, tasting the sea air and the sunlight.

She had just returned from battle, having devoured that enormous, monstrous fish, yet she stood there, her white dress flowing, ethereal and beautiful, a languid contentment in her eyes.

The stark contrast of the white dress and the dark, glistening tentacles. The Evil God, and the protector of humanity, an equally stark contrast.

And within that contrast, a mesmerizing beauty, a disorienting allure, like being drunk or on a roller coaster, reason and judgment suspended.

Xiang Er waved a dismissive hand:

“Keep it.”

She turned her gaze towards the white foam of the waves, lapping against the shore in delicate patterns of lace. The ocean, seemingly undisturbed by the recent chaos.

She thought, she was truly out of touch, living at home all the time, she had no real sense of the world outside.

Perhaps she should find a job.

Akhe seemed to put the bank card away. Her voice, soft and light, now always carried a gentle lilt.

She asked:

“Do you want to… spend a few days here?”

Xiang Er was about to refuse, then, looking at the palm trees swaying in the sea breeze, changed her mind:

“Alright.”

Akhe’s face lit up, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, and she grabbed Xiang Er’s wrist, pulling her towards the edge of the rooftop.

“Let’s fly!”

With her arm around Xiang Er’s waist, she jumped!

The strong, salty sea breeze whipped against Xiang Er’s face, the world a blur of sound and motion, fading away… her ears popped, her heart pounded, her gaze unfocused, then she suddenly turned her head.

Beside her, Akhe, her hair a wild halo in the wind, her face indistinct, but her eyes, dark and bright, fixed on Xiang Er.

She mouthed the words: Don’t worry.

Xiang Er turned back, the descent seeming endless, her initial fear giving way to an adrenaline-fueled excitement.

A dive! Like a warrior into battle, the golden beach rushing towards them, Akhe slowing their descent just before impact, and they landed softly on the sand.

They were alone on the vast beach.

The beach had been closed after the monster fish attack, but Akhe and Xiang Er had the highest level of clearance, they could do as they pleased, a simple trip to the beach met with the full cooperation of the investigators, the military, and the police, their privacy ensured.

After landing, Xiang Er pulled her hand away from Akhe’s and walked towards the sea, her feet sinking into the sand. It was her first time seeing the ocean, and she was mesmerized.

Akhe followed, smiling, her steps echoing Xiang Er’s, silent.

As Xiang Er walked, Akhe carefully placed her feet in Xiang Er’s footprints, her movements precise and deliberate, more so than in battle, as if this were the most important task in the world.

After a while, Xiang Er sat down, the sand warm and soft beneath her, a comforting sensation.

Akhe sat beside her, then suddenly looked up, her brow furrowed, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

It was dusk, the first stars appearing, the night sky above the ocean a breathtaking sight, countless stars, clear and bright.

Akhe stared intently, her gaze seemingly piercing through the stars, into some distant, unknowable dimension.

Black slime, unconsciously, oozed from her, flowing across the sand, towards the sea.

Xiang Er sighed contentedly:

“The stars are beautiful.”

Akhe nodded:

“Yes…”

But her voice was distant, ethereal, and Xiang Er turned to look at her, her gaze also fixed on the stars, her expression… strange.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh… nothing.”

Akhe looked away and smiled at Xiang Er:

“Would you like… a bonfire on the beach?”

And so, that night, a group of highly skilled investigators found themselves on the beach, guitars in hand, dressed in beach shorts, tasked with creating a bonfire party for the Evil God and its girlfriend.

They took turns performing, sharing stories, dancing around the bonfire, and Xiang Er, who hadn’t socialized in a long time, felt a mixture of social awkwardness and genuine enjoyment.

She also noticed that, at some point, the investigators and Akhe seemed to have developed a rapport. Although still slightly intimidated by her, they would occasionally chat with her, even crack jokes.

But Akhe seemed distracted tonight, her replies brief, rarely engaging with Xiang Er.

The firelight, like a golden veil, flickered on Akhe’s white dress, her dark eyes reflecting the dancing flames, her gaze distant and unfocused, as if lost in thought, even Xiang Er’s presence seemingly unnoticed.

This wasn’t like her. But Xiang Er didn’t ask, enjoying the evening.

After two nights at a luxurious beachfront villa, they returned home.

The days flowed by like water, and Xiang Er, having asked An Yue to help her find a job, waited. An Yue had submitted the request, but her superiors were still deliberating.

Xiang Er waited patiently, it was understandable, after all, she had a Evil God living with her, it wasn’t exactly a normal situation, finding a job wouldn’t be easy.

But… Xiang Er had noticed that Akhe seemed… different lately.

For instance, she would occasionally burn the food while cooking, a rare occurrence for someone with Akhe’s now-proficient culinary skills, but it had happened several times since their return from the beach.

And she would often be lost in thought, seemingly distracted, not even paying attention to Xiang Er. A few times, Xiang Er, testing her, had deliberately left the apartment and wandered around the streets alone, and Akhe hadn’t even noticed for almost half an hour, a stark contrast to her usual, almost instantaneous response.

A few more days passed, Xiang Er’s job search still fruitless, and Akhe’s gaze, whenever it fell on her, seemed to intensify, a hungry, possessive look, filled with yearning, yet also… a strange sadness.

Xiang Er, unnerved by this scrutiny, her skin crawling, feeling like a piece of meat waiting to be devoured, would snap at Akhe:

“Creep! Why are you staring at me?”

Akhe would just smile and shake her head:

“Because you’re beautiful.”

Xiang Er would frown, retreat to her room, and Akhe, unlike before, wouldn’t follow.

Akhe’s affection had indeed cooled.

Xiang Er’s feelings were a tangled mess, she had thought that after their trip to her hometown, they could try again, she hadn’t expected this sudden withdrawal from Akhe.

She wasn’t going to force it, but… she felt… a pang of sadness.

She had almost forgotten the name “Shen Yuhe,” and the lies and betrayal it represented, couldn’t Akhe give her more time? Or was an Evil God just a Evil God, inherently fickle, its promises and vows meaningless?

That was… truly evil.

Xiang Er also grew colder, her expression, when facing Akhe, as frigid as the snows of Kilimanjaro.

But Akhe seemed… oblivious to her coldness, lost in her own world, even disappearing from the apartment for hours at a time.

Until one day, at the end of October…

Xiang Er woke up to find Akhe’s beautiful face inches away from hers.

She whispered:

“You’re awake? Are you free today? Will you come with me somewhere?”

Xiang Er was surprised. Akhe hadn’t greeted her at her bedside in a while, what was this, a change of heart?

Xiang Er sat up, and, trying to sound annoyed, said:

“I’m busy.”

Akhe, however, said:

“It’s your real birthday today.”

Xiang Er froze. The orphanage had always used the day she was found as her birthday, and since middle school, she had stopped celebrating it, the date long forgotten.

Akhe continued:

“I know I haven’t been… very attentive lately, so as an apology, and to celebrate your birthday, I have a gift for you.”

Xiang Er looked at her, her brow furrowed, wanting to appear aloof, but she said:

“You’ve finally noticed?”

Damn it, that sounded too eager… Xiang Er bit her lip, regretting her words.

Akhe smiled, her eyes deep and mysterious, like distant nebulae, and she lifted Xiang Er’s hand to her lips, gently kissing her fingertips.

Starting with her pinky finger, then her ring finger, her middle finger, her index finger, then her thumb, then turning her hand over, kissing each knuckle, then her wrist.

A pleasant tingling sensation, a long-forgotten warmth, spread through her hand like an electric current, and Xiang Er gritted her teeth.

Akhe’s full lips pressed against the delicate skin of her wrist, and she looked up, her eyelashes long and dark, like a peacock’s feathers, her eyes beautiful and alluring:

“I’m sorry, okay? Come with me, I’ve prepared a gift, it took me a long time…”

Xiang Er:

“…”

This temptress!

She pulled her hand away:

“Fine.”

Akhe chuckled softly, stood up as if to leave, then suddenly turned back and pulled Xiang Er into a tight embrace.

Akhe was standing, Xiang Er sitting, and in this embrace, Xiang Er’s face was pressed against Akhe’s flat, soft stomach.

The embrace was unusually tight, not just a hug, but as if… Akhe was trying to absorb her.

Xiang Er felt a surge of fear, and a strange premonition, and she tried to push Akhe away, but it was no use, Akhe, when she didn’t want to be moved, was as immovable as a mountain.

Akhe’s arms were around her head, tentacles probably also involved, holding her back, her waist, even her legs, and Xiang Er, helpless, stood up, trapped in the embrace.

Her face buried in the crook of Akhe’s neck, she couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, only the cool strands of Akhe’s hair against her cheek, like willow branches swaying in the spring breeze.

Akhe, with her tentacles and her human arms, held her tightly, her lips pressing against the top of Xiang Er’s head.

Then, her voice, low and resolute, a vibrating hum, echoed in Xiang Er’s ear:

“No matter what happens, remember… I will always love you, always.”

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.