Lin Lue squatted down to face her and called out softly, “Miss Molly?”
After ten or so seconds, Molly slowly lowered her hands.
Her cheeks were puffed out, looking somewhat embarrassed and a bit annoyed.
She had much to say, but when the thousands of words reached her lips, they came out as a single aggrieved sentence.
“Am I… really that unattractive?”
“Of course not. You are very charming, Miss Molly.”
“Then why did you…”
Lin Lue’s tone was serious.
“Miss Molly, you are already married.”
Those words were like a basin of cold water poured over her from head to toe.
Molly calmed down completely.
It was true.
She was already married.
How could she have done something so out of line?
“Thank you.”
After a long silence, Molly whispered her thanks.
“You’re welcome, Miss Molly.”
“You’ve already paid.”
Lin Lue’s reply was gentle yet rational.
‘If it were anyone else, they would probably be desperate to get closer to me, but Lin Lue…’
Molly thought to herself, ‘Truly, he’s different.’
“Let’s go back and sit on the bench. Squatting is uncomfortable.”
Molly didn’t say anything, but she silently reached out her two slender hands.
Lin Lue tilted his head, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.
“Do you want a hug?”
Seeing her stubborn little expression, he laughed.
“Miss Molly, you’ve turned into a child.”
“Can’t I be a child?”
Molly wrinkled her small nose, her bright eyes shimmering like spring water over pear blossoms.
“You said it yourself—I’ve already paid.”
“Of course you can.”
Lin Lue leaned over and carefully picked her up, gently placing her on the bench.
As soon as Lin Lue sat down beside her, Molly grabbed his head and pulled it toward her.
She pressed it against her shoulder.
Lin Lue was startled.
“Miss Molly?”
“Don’t move. Just lean here for a while.”
Molly’s voice was soft.
“I know you have a lot weighing on your mind as well.”
“Doing this kind of work isn’t exactly honorable to begin with.”
“You never told me you had a sister.”
“Seeing her today, I finally understand completely. Living in the Lower District is hard enough on one’s own, let alone with a sister… Lin Lue, you really work hard, and you’re very impressive.”
“Gentle yet strong.”
“So, just for this brief moment, please relax and rest on my shoulder.”
“It’s okay to show your fragile side, because I won’t tell anyone.”
Lin Lue’s pupils shook slightly as he turned to look at Molly.
Those eyes were as gentle as the ocean, clear and inclusive, as if they could easily hold all his fatigue and burdens.
As expected of a Witch who had received a top-tier education.
With just one glance, she had seen through all the embarrassment and pressure he kept hidden in his heart.
…How despicable.
“Miss Molly,” he whispered.
“Hmm?”
Molly tilted her ear toward him.
“You’re a woman who could be my mother.”
Molly: “???”
The expression on her face froze in bewilderment and confusion…
Between laughing and crying, Molly finally couldn’t help but let out a burst of laughter.
She reached out, pressed down on his head, and ruffled his hair.
“If that’s what you really want… at this moment, I can be your… mother.”
Not far away, a few passersby with good hearing overheard this.
Their expressions turned strange and subtle.
Young people nowadays certainly knew how to play.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of a distant street corner, Lin Xue’er stood silently.
No one knew when she had appeared, nor how long she had been standing there.
Those pink pupils, which were originally clear and bright, were slowly losing their luster and becoming hollow.
She lowered her head, her face hidden in the shadow of her bangs.
Only her eyes were visible as she watched quietly, taking in the scene of Lin Lue and Molly “leaning intimately” against each other.
The way Lin Lue leaned on Molly’s shoulder—that relaxed, dependent posture—was supposed to belong only to her.
Only at home, when her brother was exhausted to the limit, would he lean on her shoulder and close his eyes in peace.
But now, the person he leaned on had become another woman.
She was no longer the only one whose shoulder her brother would lean on.
I hate it…
I hate it so much.
‘Brother is resting… I’ll go over after a little while longer so I don’t disturb him…’
Lin Xue’er muttered under her breath, telling herself over and over again, but her heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand.
She was truly sad.
A faint pinkish-white mist began to spread silently from beneath her skirt, churning quietly in the shadows.
—
Lin Lue leaned on Molly’s shoulder with his eyes closed.
He appeared to be resting, but his mind was entirely immersed in the [System Panel].
He was studying the newly appeared [Talent].
[Space Affinity].
His magic attribute had become the [Spatial Element].
This [Conquest System] could actually farm attributes from Witches.
Did that mean he could farm different magic attributes from different Witches in the future and keep switching between them?
Lin Lue suddenly felt that he would surely become terrifyingly strong in the future.
He would definitely become the strongest “Witch.”
About thirty minutes later.
Lin Lue opened his eyes to see Lin Xue’er walking over from not far away.
A sweet smile was plastered on her face, making her look like a pure, innocent little angel.
Lin Lue’s heart softened.
He couldn’t help but marvel at how pure and cute his sister was.
“What took you so long? Did you run into trouble?”
Lin Lue asked softly.
Lin Xue’er shook her head slightly, indicating that nothing had happened.
She hid the gloom in her eyes perfectly.
“Here, Brother, and… Sister Molly, have a drink.”
—
The streets of the Lower District were noisy and filthy.
Molly quickly reined in her emotions.
She held her delicate small handbag in front of her with both hands, maintaining an elegant and dignified posture with a gentle smile.
Her snow-white high heels clicked crisply against the ground.
Her long legs, clad in white silk stockings, moved with purpose, and her back remained straight.
Her every move was exceptionally eye-catching.
The noble temperament she naturally exuded was something the grimy Lower District could never produce.
Lin Xue’er stared at her, her hands gripping her skirt so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Lowering her head again, Lin Xue’er felt that from head to toe, there wasn’t a single part of her that could compare to the perfect Witch beside her.
Lin Lue keenly noticed his sister’s low spirits.
He reached out to pat her small head and gave her a smile.
He gently pried her small hand open and took hold of it.
Lin Xue’er blinked in surprise, and her eyes instantly lit up again.
“I often hear people from the Upper District say that the Lower District is filled with chaos and danger at every moment,” Molly said with a soft smile as she walked beside them.
“But as we’ve walked along, we haven’t seemed to encounter anything bad.”
The moment she finished speaking.
*Boom!!!*
A violent explosion suddenly rang out!
Molly hurriedly turned to look.
She saw flames soaring into the sky, rubble flying everywhere, and thick black smoke billowing upward!
The entire street was engulfed by a terrifying heatwave.
Buildings shook violently!
Passersby screamed and fled in panic!
The smile on Molly’s face froze and then vanished.
Lin Lue’s expression was somewhat complicated.
He looked at Molly, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Miss Molly’s mouth was truly something else.
Lin Xue’er’s face was pale.
She squeezed Lin Lue’s hand tightly, her voice trembling.
“Brother, this is…”
Lin Lue gently patted the back of her hand, comforting her and telling her it was okay, that he was there.
“An explosion? Why would it suddenly explode?”
Molly asked urgently, her elegant demeanor starting to crumble.
“There are many reasons for an explosion. Now isn’t the time to investigate,” Lin Lue said.
“You’re right. Now isn’t the time for that. I hear children’s cries for help inside that burning building. They need help!”
Without a second thought, Molly was about to rush toward the fire, but Lin Lue grabbed her wrist.
“Miss Molly, the Lower District has its own [Enforcers].”
“The [Enforcers] of the Lower District? I know them all too well! they only ever show up after everything is over!”
Molly looked at him with an unwavering gaze and a determined tone.
“I’m going to save them!”
The excellent upbringing carved into her very bones made it impossible for her to back down when others needed help.
Even if those people were considered lower-class citizens by the Witches of the Upper District.
“You two leave quickly!”
With those words, Molly broke free from Lin Lue’s grip and dashed toward the raging flames.
Lin Lue watched her back disappear, remaining where he was.
Lin Xue’er pulled desperately on Lin Lue’s hand.
Her small body wouldn’t stop shaking, and her voice carried a sob.
“Brother, let’s leave first, okay? It’s too dangerous… I’m not a Witch, and you’re just a normal person. A single flying rock could seriously injure or even kill us…”
“Let’s run, Brother…”
She was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m a very selfish person, a bad woman. I just want you to be okay…”
Lin Xue’er knew Lin Lue too well.
That was why she was afraid—so incredibly afraid!
“It’s okay, Xue’er. Don’t worry.”
Lin Lue leaned down to look her in the eye and smiled.
“Your brother won’t do anything foolish.”
“Oh, right. I suddenly have a craving for those pastries from the shop at the end of the street. The line is a bit long. Could you go wait in line for me?”