Chapter 4: Registering for household registration

Duoluosa thought the person before her was a bit self-righteous and foolish.But she was under someone else’s roof now.She couldn’t say anything.So she kept her mouth shut.
“Hmm…”
Liang Lai tilted her head, looking at the girl.
‘What a shy, introverted child…’‘She must have suffered a lot out there, right?’
Thinking this, Liang Lai gazed at Duoluosa with deep pity and compassion.
Duoluosa’s body stiffened slightly.
‘What a disgusting look!’‘Is she pitying me?’ Duoluosa muttered to herself.
“Oh, right, I only asked your name.”“How old are you this year?” Liang Lai asked.
Duoluosa actually answered:“I’m sixteen.”
“Huh?”
Liang Lai’s voice rose.She turned Duoluosa’s small frame back and forth, like flipping a pancake in a pan.
“You call this sixteen?”“If you hadn’t told me, I’d have thought you were thirteen or fourteen!”
Liang Lai hugged her with heartache.Her tone brimmed with tears.
“Poor child, you’ve suffered so much.”“But don’t worry.”“I’ll make sure you eat well and grow strong…”“Your good days are coming.”“You’ll wear gold and silver, with endless food every day.”“The only downside is you won’t be able to find a partner…”“Er, I mean, you won’t need to worry about that.”
‘Huh?’
‘HUH?’
Duoluosa was startled by her enthusiasm.
‘Are people outside like this?’
She deeply doubted her former companions—and herself.They’d misled her.This person before her was so easy to deceive.So naive…
“Gurgle~”
Just as Liang Lai was about to describe their bright future, Duoluosa’s stomach growled.
‘She must be starving.’‘How long has this poor child gone without food?’‘Alas, I’ll be a father from now on.’‘No, a mother and father both.’‘I have to be careful not to let my child go hungry.’
“Come on, I’ll take you to eat first.”“Then I’ll show you around the house.”“And tomorrow, you’ll come with me.”“We’ll report to the Pope together.”“Then you can live here forever~”
But when Duoluosa heard “Pope,” her body noticeably stiffened.She slowly raised her head.She looked at Liang Lai.Her lips moved twice.
“I don’t want to see the Pope.”
“Hm?”
Liang Lai didn’t take the child’s words seriously.She thought Duoluosa was just shy.So she spoke in a soothing tone:“It’s okay, baby.”“We’re just registering your identity.”“The Pope won’t say anything about you.”“As long as I say you’re talented, it’ll be fine.”“The Pope might not even be there…”“If you’re scared, you can hide behind me.”
Duoluosa fell silent.She grew quiet again, not saying a word.
‘Alas, this child must have suffered so much to become this timid.’
Thinking this, Liang Lai felt a dull ache in her heart.She couldn’t help it—she was just too emotional.A naturally kind person.
A maid brought dinner.Liang Lai pulled a small chair for Duoluosa, placing it beside her own.
“Eat lots and gain some weight~”
She pinched Duoluosa’s thin cheeks.
Duoluosa wasn’t used to such touch.She gently dodged Liang Lai’s hand.
This woman’s words were odd.Treating her like a child.It made Duoluosa uncomfortable.
But children are children.When the delicious dishes arrived, Duoluosa forgot her doubts.
She’d never eaten such tasty food.Or rather, food that wasn’t tough and hard.
Seeing the child eat voraciously, Liang Lai’s heart softened.She clasped her hands in a prayer gesture.
“God, I did a good deed today.”“I hope…”
Before she could finish, Duoluosa tugged her sleeve.
“Done eating?”
Liang Lai looked at the plate, licked spotless.She took a deep breath.She promptly dumped her untouched beef onto Duoluosa’s plate.
“I didn’t touch a bite, so eat without worry.”
Duoluosa didn’t hesitate.She buried her face in the plate again.
Liang Lai tilted her head, propping it with her hands.She watched Duoluosa eat happily.The corners of her mouth curved slightly.
‘This is great!’‘Though I can’t marry, I can be a parent.’‘Skipping the messy steps and raising a child directly.’‘Sounds pretty good.’
After Duoluosa licked the plate clean again, Liang Lai took her hand with a smile.
“Come on, I’ll take you upstairs.”“You can stay in the room next to mine.”“That way, if you need anything, you can call me.”“Um… if you’re scared of sleeping alone, I can…”
Before she finished, Duoluosa cut her off.
“No, I can manage on my own.”
In the underground sanctuary, she’d slept in one bed with her companions.
Liang Lai was still worried.She gave several more instructions before reluctantly returning to her room.
After Liang Lai’s figure disappeared, Duoluosa breathed a sigh of relief.She lay on the big bed.
“So soft…” she murmured.
She never imagined lying on such a big, soft bed on her first day out.She thought she’d have to wait until the current Pope—that old man—died.
Thinking of meeting the Pope tomorrow, Duoluosa frowned slightly.She sat up.
“What should I do…”“He probably won’t recognize me, right?”“After all… I haven’t seen him since.”“And he never visits the underground sanctuary.”
But…
Duoluosa glanced at her birthmark.She thought for a moment.Then she pulled a delicate piece of human skin from the small cloth bag at her waist.She carefully placed it over her birthmark.She smoothed it out slowly.She pressed it gently, holding it for a long time.
“That should do it.”
Her eye and hair color, though… those couldn’t be changed.But many people here had similar eyes and hair.A quick glance wouldn’t give her away.
Liang Lai had said the old Pope might not even be there.Even if he was, if she acted timid and shy, hiding behind Liang Lai, there shouldn’t be… any problem.
It’s Liang Lai.
Duoluosa narrowed her eyes.
‘Is this person really as simple-minded as she seems?’