“Liangcai.”
Dolosa unconsciously murmured aloud.
Liang Lai’s eyes grew wider and wider.
She wanted to stop something, but her body wouldn’t move.
She didn’t know why…
At that moment—
“Mom!”
Asterys’s voice came from outside, followed by the sound of someone pushing open the door.
“Bang!”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
Dolosa was so startled she almost bit her own tongue.
She immediately let go of Liang Lai’s wrist and retreated several steps, no longer so close to the other person’s face.
How embarrassing! It was truly embarrassing, so mortifying she could die.
Dolosa turned her head and glared fiercely at Asterys.
But Asterys acted as if she didn’t see the anger in her eyes, smiling cheekily as she pulled Delucia in from outside.
“Mom, why are you going to bed so early today? Delucia and I just made some cookies and let Illucy try a few. She said they were pretty good, so we thought we’d bring them to you as a late-night snack, but you were already planning to sleep?”
Liang Lai climbed up from the bed.
“No, no, I wasn’t planning to sleep. It’s just that Little Duo said she wanted to tell me a story to help me fall asleep, so I was thinking I’d listen and maybe nod off. But now I’m not sleepy at all, so come on, let Little Duo and me try your cookies~”
Liang Lai could feel the heat on her face gradually fading.
She lifted her hand to touch her cheek; it wasn’t burning like before.
Ah… what was that just now?
She wasn’t sure, so she turned to glance at Dolosa.
Dolosa had also sat up by now, her cheeks showing no blush at all, still wearing that same indifferent expression.
Huh? So calm?
Liang Lai even began to doubt whether she had imagined everything that happened just now.
Otherwise, why did she think Dolosa wanted to kiss her? That kind of thing… must never happen!
That’s right!
If something like that did happen, wouldn’t it be like a “ghost mother” incident? Even though she adopted this child…
No, no, it can’t happen!
Liang Lai glanced at Dolosa again and saw the other calmly putting on her slippers, standing up, and asking Asterys where the freshly baked cookies were, showing no shyness or nervousness at all.
“Whew~”
Liang Lai let out a sigh of relief, feeling she had definitely overthought it.
How terrible! How could she suspect Dolosa, such a good child, of something like that? Her own thoughts were truly filthy! From now on, she must never have such thoughts…
All her children were pure and good.
Thinking this, Liangcai placed her hand on Asterys’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go eat cookies together~”
The Saintess and Asterys walked ahead, Dolosa and Delucia following behind, so Liang Lai didn’t hear the conversation between the two kids at the back.
“You two really had to come at the worst possible time, didn’t you?” Dolosa said to Delucia expressionlessly.
Delucia grinned mischievously, her face showing an expression that begged for a smack.
“If we hadn’t come, what were you two planning to do? We really had no idea~ After all, my hearing is good, but it’s not like I could poke my head in and see what you were doing on the bed.”
Dolosa was so angry she couldn’t catch her breath.
“Do you realize when I leaned in toward Liang Lai, she didn’t even pull away? If it weren’t for you two barging in, I probably would’ve kissed her lips by now.”
Delucia pursed her lips, giving a careless shrug.
“Then you really should thank me and Sis for opening the door just now.”
“Huh?” Dolosa stared in disbelief, shocked by how righteously Delucia spoke.
“You ruined my chance, and you want me to thank you? Delucia, have you been spending too much time with Dexilensi lately? Where did you get such a bandit theory from?”
Delucia, for once, grew serious and looked at Dolosa. “Because having those thoughts is wrong. Why would you think that, after kissing Liang Lai, she wouldn’t be disgusted by you? What if she gets angry?”
The corners of Delucia’s lips curved in a mocking smile. Her face was smiling, but her words were ruthless.
“Did you ever consider that after you kiss Liangcai, she might ignore you? She might think you’re disgusting? Dolosa, did you forget that Liang Lai treats all of us as her own children? Even if we’re not her real children, she still sees us as little kids… Even though we’re all about to turn twenty.”
Though she and Asterys were already twenty-two, they would never admit it! As long as they didn’t say, no one could tell that the two of them—each only 1.53 meters tall and with loli faces—were actually adults.
After hearing Delucia’s words, Dolosa fell silent.
That’s right, she had been too impulsive and hadn’t considered that. If she really did kiss her, could she handle the consequences?
Of course, if Liang Lai wasn’t disgusted, then it would be fine.
But if she was? What if she thought it was revolting for someone she saw as a child to try and claim her? What if she kicked her out? The very thought made Dolosa shudder.
Dolosa suddenly went quiet, and this silence lasted all the way to the kitchen.
“Fine, you were right,” Dolosa finally spoke again.
“This time, I was too impulsive. I shouldn’t have tested her so easily. I should’ve spent more time building feelings. At least… I should wait until I’m sure Liang Lai feels something different for me before I kiss her.”
After saying that, Dolosa looked a bit dejected.
She plopped herself down on a chair by the dining table and began waiting for Asterys to set out the freshly baked cookies.
Liang Lai, meanwhile, had completely forgotten about what happened on the bed.
Her mind was now wholly occupied with how to praise the cookies Asterys and Delucia baked.
Actually, she didn’t even need to think too hard, since the cookies from Asterys and Delucia really were delicious—unlike Motifiel’s…
“Wow~! It smells amazing! What are you guys eating?!” Motifiel’s voice rang out from afar.
Speak of the devil, and she appears.
Liang Lai forced a slightly awkward but still polite smile and looked toward the dining room entrance, just in time to see Motifiel running over hand in hand with Morgana.
Ah, there they are. With these two around, there would be no more peace and quiet.
But thankfully, as long as Motifiel didn’t try to cook…
As for Morgana—she hadn’t cooked at the Court of Purity yet.
Who knew if it would be good or not? But hopefully, she wouldn’t try, as she didn’t seem all that reliable either.
Motifiel pulled Morgana to sit down nearby, leaving only Illucy and Dexilensi not yet present.
Seeing the dining room so full, Liang Lai’s eyes sparkled with a new idea.
Hmm, now there were three clear factions…
Dolosa, Asterys, Delucia, and Illucy formed one; Motifiel and Morgana another; and Dexilensi stood alone… In a big family, forming little cliques wasn’t ideal. Everyone should be able to feel the warmth and happiness of family!
This was something Liang Lai had always wanted to do…
So, taking advantage of the moment, why not let everyone stay up for an all-nighter! (crossed out) Well, maybe not all night, as that’s not good for their health.
In any case, she wanted the children to grow closer!
As the matriarch, Liangcai racked her brains for this.
“So, since everyone’s here, Asterys, Delucia, how about you two go call Illucy and Dexilensi for me?”
She chose the twin sisters to fetch the others because Asterys and Delucia were the smoothest of all the children.
If she sent Dolosa, there would probably be a fight with Dexilensi before anyone came downstairs.
If she sent Motifiel and Morgana, they’d probably scare Illucy or anger Dexilensi. So, the twins were the safest choice.
In terms of personality, the two kids Liang Lai appreciated most were Asterys and Delucia.
The former was a bit introverted, the latter a bit outgoing, but both within a normal range.
Unlike Dolosa, who was almost reclusive, or Morgana, who was so exaggeratedly extroverted.
“Okay, Mom.”
In less than three minutes, Asterys and Delucia led a timid Illucy and a Dexilensi with a fake smile down the stairs.
With Liang Lai present, Dexilensi behaved quite friendly—at least on the surface.
As soon as she arrived, she greeted everyone with remarkable politeness, making people wonder if she had a split personality.
“Alright~ Now everyone’s here!” Liang Lai put her hands together in relief.
Though everyone sat together at meals, the atmosphere was always tense and awkward, and no one liked to talk.
But now, they were just snacking. Later, she’d fetch some juice, and maybe the kids would start chatting.
“Wait here, I’ll get you some juice.”
After saying this, Liang Lai stood up, but in the next second, Morgana tugged at her sleeve.
“What’s the matter?” Liang Lai turned to ask.
Morgana blinked her beautiful big eyes, giving an embarrassed smile as she asked, “Liang Lai Mama, doesn’t the Court of Purity have any wine? I remember the nun sister said there was. Can’t we have a little drink?”
Huh?
“Children can’t drink alcohol!” Liang Lai blurted out instinctively.
She had completely forgotten that the kids at this table were all around eighteen…
And the legal adult age in this world was even younger.