Chapter 28: Kiss us~
Liang Lai’s heart skipped as she saw Asteris and Delucia at the door, their innocent smiles masking something unreadable.
Anxiety surged—not because she doubted their goodness, but because she feared their carelessness might let slip Duoluosa’s secret.
She waved them over quickly.
“Come here, you two.”
Asteris and Delucia approached hand in hand, their big, watery eyes fixed on the Saintess with adoration.
They stood obediently, radiating charm.
Duoluosa, sensing their approach, wrapped her arms around Liang Lai’s shoulders protectively.
Though shorter, she was only half a head below Liang Lai now, her frame sturdy enough to shield her.
Liang Lai, mistaking Duoluosa’s grip for fear that the twins might spill her secret, patted her arm reassuringly.
Asteris and Delucia stood quietly, making no move to compete for Liang Lai’s attention.
Their eyes sparkled with fervent admiration.
“You two must not tell anyone what you heard,” Liang Lai said sternly.
“This isn’t good for our family. If you do… your sister Duoluosa and I will be very sad.”
The twins nodded in unison.
“Of course we won’t, Mom~ Don’t worry,” Asteris said, her voice sweet and earnest.
Delucia echoed, “That’s right, Mom. We’d never make you sad!”
Their words were true—they didn’t want Liang Lai’s sorrow.
But they relished her efforts to save them, to be their savior.
Liang Lai exhaled, relieved by their assurances.
“Good girls~”
She reached out, ruffling their hair affectionately.
“But Mom, we meant it about having a solution~” Delucia said, blinking playfully.
Liang Lai’s eyes lit up.
“Really? What’s the solution?”
Duoluosa, skeptical, tugged Liang Lai’s sleeve and muttered, “How could they possibly know…”
But Liang Lai, willing to try, pressed on.
“Can you tell Mom?”
Asteris and Delucia exchanged a sly smile.
Delucia pointed to her right cheek.
“If Mommy gives us a kiss, we’ll tell~”
Asteris mirrored her, pointing to her left cheek, nodding with a grin.
Liang Lai blinked, then laughed softly.
Without hesitation, she moved to hug the twins and kiss their cheeks.
To her, they were her daughters—adopted or not, it didn’t matter.
A mother’s kiss was natural, just the affection-starved girls acting spoiled.
But Duoluosa’s face paled.
She grabbed Liang Lai before she could bend down.
“Hey! Liang Lai, you…”
Liang Lai caught the jealousy in her eyes and sighed.
Kids and their need for exclusive love.
To ease her, Liang Lai hugged Duoluosa’s neck and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.
While Duoluosa stood stunned, cheeks flushing, Liang Lai swiftly bent down, pulling Asteris and Delucia into her arms for loud, playful kisses.
“Mua!”
“Mua!”
The twins beamed, delighted.
They didn’t mind Liang Lai kissing Duoluosa—as long as they got what they wanted, they were content.
But Duoluosa couldn’t grasp their mindset.
She stood frozen, hand on her cheek, face burning red, lost in the sensation of Liang Lai’s kiss.
She barely registered that Liang Lai had kissed the twins too.
Liang Lai straightened, hands on hips, proud of her diplomacy.
“You’re all my daughters, so you all get kisses~!”
Adopted or not, they were hers.
Duoluosa stammered, still dazed, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
“Now, can you tell me?” Liang Lai asked the twins.
They nodded in sync.
Asteris spoke first.
“It’s where you found us. Go two alleys forward, then right. At the deepest part, second-to-last shop—a tailor’s. Tell the owner, ‘Give me fine fabric that hides my original temperament. I want to be the brightest moon tonight.’”
Delucia added, “He’ll take you to the basement and give you a piece of human skin based on your description or a portrait. It can be used three times, and you can get another after. But it can’t be soaked in water or exposed to sunlight too long.”
Liang Lai’s curiosity mingled with unease.
Human skin?
“Won’t the Church notice? Their perception is strong.”
Asteris shook her head firmly.
“No. It’s not magic—it’s a crystallization derivative, beyond the Church’s abilities. They can’t sense it.”
Delucia grinned.
“Like how they cut skin to check for Darkborn blood. The Church is pretty clueless sometimes~”
Liang Lai murmured, “Is that so?”
She knew about Darkborn blood tests but not this skin.
It sounded plausible, yet unsettling.
“Okay, I’ll draw Duoluosa’s portrait today and visit the tailor tomorrow.”