V1: Chapter 69: The Tentacle Girl's Pain

"...I've thought about it for a long time."

"Hilary is right, I don't understand love. Maybe I just don't love Liang Lin. For me, it's just an uncontrollable desire in a tentacle, and the feelings of childhood sweethearts."

But, but why does my heart hurt so much when I say this?

Liang Di's already pale face turned even paler. She clutched her clothes, lowered her head, and took a deep breath. She wanted to make up her mind and say something.

But...

The scene of Liang Lin holding her waist.

The scene of protecting her, holding her in her arms.

The scene of having already about to drug her, yet being soft-hearted and throwing the poison downstairs.

Liang Lin, sharp-tongued but kind-hearted.

Liang Lin, stubborn yet incredibly righteous, sunny and positive.

Compared to Liang Lin, she felt she would always live in the shadows.

As a child, when Octaville first brought her to Liang Lin, she timidly hid behind Octaville terrified of the unfamiliar little boy.

The boy, however, took her hand.

"You're the one Sister Fu brought to play with me? Ah, your scars on your face are so cool!"

"Eh, eh...?"

Yes, the left side of Liang Di's face was blood-red, devoid of skin and muscle tissue, and would even twitch occasionally. Her eyeballs bulged out, like a half-burnt corpse.

Children cursed by the Langwendi family suffer a backlash if they don't stay in their own homes for extended periods during childhood. Therefore, those abandoned children, those adopted by kind people, are often left unrecognizable, neither human nor ghost. Ultimately, they are bound to crosses by ignorant people, burned alive as children of the devil.

Because they are not of the Langwendi family bloodline, they cannot inherit the abilities of those other children.

The Langwendi family wouldn't inherit either, because they hadn't killed the child themselves. Although it was indirect, if they weren't the ones who killed him, they couldn't inherit.

At that moment, Liang Di blushed at Liang Lin's praise.

No children wanted to play with her, and inside the Magic Tower, all the magicians were busy with their own affairs, many not even glancing at her. Some, even the children of magicians, called her a "monster."

They weren't afraid of her, but they wouldn't accept her either.

"Yeah, don't you think your scar is cool?"

The boy leaned closer to Liang Di's face.

"Scars are a symbol of honor! It means you've protected many people!"

That's right, the elders of the Kronin family taught their children from a young age that only those with scars could be called warriors, a symbol of honor.

"Is it really, really cool?"

"Really, it's really cool!"

The boy's voice was sweet and gentle, his face still chubby, his short blond hair like a blazing sun.

It was then that a ray of sunshine finally pierced through Liang Di's life.

"You'll be very beautiful when you grow up."

Later, Liang Lin said this to Liang Di very seriously.

Liang Di, however, thought of the fairy tales she had read. Her face flushed, and she asked, "If... if I really am beautiful, can I be your bride?"

Liang Lin didn't hesitate for a moment.

"Of course!"

"Really?"

"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."

"Then..." Liang Di held out her little finger, her eyes full of expectation, "Let's pinky swear, pinky swear, whoever goes back on their word, whoever goes back on their word..."

"Whoever goes back on their word, becomes the other's little dog!"

Liang Lin hooked her little finger with Liang Di's.

The two children were so innocent and adorable back then.

Liang Di remembered this promise to this day, which is why she was so sad and angry when Liang Lin recognized her and forgot their promise.

"Waaah..."

Liang Di wanted to cry, but she couldn't squeeze out a single tear.

Octaville patted her back in comfort. She didn't know how to comfort the bewildered child before her; all words of comfort seemed so pale and inadequate.

"I... I really can't shed tears. I... I really... I'm a monster."

Liang Di twisted in agony.

"The Langwendi family, and Liang Lin... do I really have to give one up? Hilary... why, why are you forcing me like this?"

Octaville was taken aback.

Actually, Hilary's intention was simply to advise Liang Di. She had always thought highly of Liang Di and firmly believed that she wasn't a little monster.

But unexpectedly, Liang Di not only took her words from a few days ago to heart but also misinterpreted them so severely, thinking that Hilary wanted to break up the couple.

Octaville didn't explain. She felt that pushing Liang Di a little was for the best; otherwise, Liang Lin's life would be difficult. Liang Di's possessiveness was so strong; she would never let Liang Lin live comfortably.

Whether it's Liang Di's career path or her love life, both require trials and tribulations; nothing is ever smooth sailing.

"Liang Di, you don't need to worry too much. There's still plenty of time, a long road ahead. You have plenty of time to think things through, and plenty of time to understand your own heart."

After Octaville left, Liang Di sat there for the entire night.

The next day, when Liang Lin was having breakfast, she was startled to see Liang Di coming downstairs with heavy dark circles under her eyes.

She swallowed hard the blueberry jam-smeared toast in her mouth, smacked her lips, and finally asked, "You... were you dressed as a ghost last night? Or were you assimilated by Gladys and went out to drink blood?"

As ruthless as ever.

Gladys, who was happily drinking animal blood from a wine glass nearby, was suddenly struck by this, blinking her dull eyes and uttering a dull voice.

"Huh—?"

"..."

"It's okay, I didn't call you. Go ahead, drink it, go play somewhere else." Liang Lin sighed, feeling like there was another freeloader in the house.

Liang Di, absentmindedly, pulled out a chair next to Liang Lin and sat down. Then, she actually picked up the milk Liang Lin had just drunk and brought it to her own lips.

"Hey...!"

Liang Lin snatched it away, thinking the other was doing it on purpose again. "What are you doing? This is my milk! Are you blind?"

"Sorry."

"...Huh?"

Liang Lin thought she had misheard. She took a deep breath incredulously.

"No, no, what did you just say?"

"Sorry."

"...Holy crap."

Has the world finally gone mad? Or was she still dreaming because she went to bed too late last night? Was she still dreaming?

Liang Lin kept her distance from Liang Di, suspiciously looking her up and down for a while.

"What trick are you up to now?"