"By the way, where is Satsuki?" After finishing some matters with Li Mingxue, Chu Lian suddenly remembered that there was still one person who had not shown up. She should have known about Chu Lian's return. So what was the reason she was unwilling to come see her?
"Her? She came to me at the beginning of those days when you were busy, wanting to learn martial arts from me. I sent her away," Li Mingxue said with a casual wave of her hand, clearly unconcerned.
"Sent her away?" Chu Lian froze. What did that mean?
"It means I told her not to pursue this path. Her road holds a future that belongs to her alone. If I interfere carelessly, I would only waste such a fine seedling."
"Speaking of which, she's the most gifted girl I've ever seen in Nihon martial arts. There aren't many stronger than her. Perhaps that one from the past counts."
"She was born into a distinguished family, after all. Samurai blood flows naturally in her veins. In any case, I think very highly of her. If Lian'er isn't careful, she might surpass you in no time." Li Mingxue poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip before continuing.
"That's true. During those five years she spent fleeing for her life, without anyone guiding her, she relied solely on the swordsmanship she learned as a child to reach that level. If I hadn't had Inori with me back then, I might not have been able to defeat her at all."
"Even though she was severely injured and I was unhurt, with superior abilities across the board, when we fought she even gained the upper hand at the beginning. I have to admit, she's incredibly strong."
Li Mingxue's words made Chu Lian recall the first time she met the white-haired girl. That stubborn figure, that pretty face devoid of expression, always seemed coated in eternal frost, rejecting anyone who tried to approach.
"That's why I said I can't teach her. A gifted martial artist like her doesn't need a teacher. What she needs is to find a path that belongs to her alone, one that suits her and allows her to move forward without obstruction." Li Mingxue's gaze passed through the ripples in her teacup, as if she could still see the stubborn girl leaving in silence after being rejected, her back carrying deep regret.
"Mm. Then where is she now?" Chu Lian wanted to see her, to talk to her, so she wouldn't brood and do something foolish.
"On the rooftop. You'll know when you get there." Mother pointed at the ceiling.
"Then I'll go find her. Anna, Inori, what about you two?" Just as Chu Lian was about to stand up, she realized she was still holding Anna, and Inori was beside her. It would be inconvenient.
"I'll take care of Anna. Inori can go with you," Li Mingxue said without waiting for consent, lifting Anna from Chu Lian's arms and gently pinching the girl's delicate little nose.
"All right. It's almost five. Chu Chu should be coming back soon, right? Mom, when I return later, should I cook dinner, or will you?" It had been many days since Chu Lian last cooked. She wanted to show off her skills today.
"I'll do it. You just got back. I won't let you into the kitchen. I'll be home these days anyway, so you don't need to worry about cooking."
Li Mingxue was firm about this. At the end, she added, "Remember to bring that stubborn little thing back too. If you don't, I'll personally go fetch her. Making this old woman climb up there every day to invite her down is too much."
"All right, Mother. Don't worry. I'll just capture her and bring her back." Chu Lian nodded. When that girl was in a bad mood, she truly did whatever she pleased. Stubborn, difficult, lacking in social grace. Without some discipline, she'd be a real headache.
"Go on, go on. This little Anna has been secretly complaining every day that my cooking has no flavor. Hmph. Just wait and see how I deal with her later." Anna had been quiet in her arms, but the moment she heard that, she struggled desperately like a frightened cat with bristling fur, trying to escape. With tearful eyes, she looked at Chu Lian and cried, "Mommy, Mommy..."
Although her heart ached, Chu Lian knew she couldn't spoil her all the time. Otherwise, Anna's habits would never change. So she forced herself to pretend she hadn't seen anything and pulled Inori upstairs.
When Chu Lian left, the light in Anna's eyes dimmed instantly. Within her golden pupils, black particles began to surface. Mysterious symbols condensed in her gaze, and that sensation—like something about to devour the entire world—returned once more.
Smack~
Just as Anna was about to lose control, Li Mingxue tapped her lightly on the head, suppressing the violent surge of emotion. Leaning close to the small girl's ear, she whispered, "What is it? Are you afraid Mommy doesn't want you anymore? Or are you worried I'll do something strange to you? You silly child, you never understand other people's good intentions. If it weren't for your own good, who would bother doing all this?"
"But Mommy doesn't want Anna. Doesn't want Anna. Doesn't want Anna..." She still fixated on Chu Lian turning away. In her heart, that single action meant abandonment.
If Mommy doesn't want me anymore... then destroying this world shouldn't matter, right? No one cares about me anyway. No one likes me. No one will hold me and speak gently to me...
"When did she ever say she doesn't want you? If she truly didn't, she wouldn't have brought you home. This is a family—a home that belongs to everyone. But no matter how big a family is, how many people it holds, how close everyone is, each person still needs their own space and time. If you cling to Mommy like this all the time, people won't like it." Anna's words made Li Mingxue's eyes brighten. She had found a breakthrough.
"If Anna doesn't cling to Mommy, those people will steal Mommy away and keep her from being with Anna." Anna shook her head. She did not believe it. In her eyes, anyone who approached Mommy was trying to take her away.
Mommy was so adorable, so beautiful, so lovable. How could she let anyone steal her? Mommy could only belong to Anna. Only to Anna!
"They do all want to take Mommy away. So you should compete with them and win her back," Li Mingxue said, following her logic.
"Exactly. So as long as I kill them, Mommy will be Anna's. Anyone who tries to get close to Mommy in the future, Anna will kill them. Then Mommy will only belong to Anna." In Anna's world, there were only two ways to obtain what she wanted: ask Mommy for it—or destroy every obstacle.
"But have you considered whether Mommy would be happy about that? You must understand, people cannot live alone. They need many others around them to be happy. If you drive everyone away from her, she will become lonely and unhappy." At this moment, aside from comforting her like a child, there was no other method.
"But Mommy is happy when she's with Anna. How could she be unhappy?" It was true. During the time Anna had spent with Chu Lian, she had always been smiling. That gave Anna the illusion that Mommy was happiest with her alone—that as long as Anna was there, it was enough.
"That's because she also has other people she cares about. When all of them are together, they give each other warmth. That's why she's happy. But if only you remained—if the people she longs for were gone—she would feel lonely, then miserable, and eventually she might never smile again. Anna, do you want a Mommy like that?" Li Mingxue was gambling now. Did Anna need Mommy more—or did she need Mommy to be happy?
Anna imagined it for herself. "If Mommy isn't happy, she won't smile. She won't tease Anna. She won't be nice to Anna. Anna doesn't like that kind of Mommy. I don't want that."
Mommy's smile was so beautiful, so gentle. It shouldn't disappear forever.
"So, Anna, have you thought about what you should do?" After giving her the choice, Li Mingxue watched as the little girl sank into thought. Satisfied, she set Anna down on the sofa and headed into the kitchen, tying on her apron as she began to cook.
Her favorite daughter had finally returned. How could she not prepare something delicious and lavish? It was a pity Chu Ke and Chu Ren were away training, and Chu Xiao couldn't come back either. For now, there were only her daughter and her daughter's friends.
"Since she's home, it should be livelier." Just as she picked up the kitchen knife, she remembered Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er. She ought to inform them.
Taking out her phone, she dialed Chu Chu's number and told her that Chu Lian had returned...
Left alone on the sofa, Anna struggled for a while with the urge to run upstairs and find Chu Lian. Gradually, she calmed down and began to think.
"If Mommy isn't happy, Anna won't be happy either. An unhappy Mommy won't smile. A Mommy who doesn't smile won't be as pretty. Anna doesn't want that."
"Mommy likes having more people around her... so Anna will help her... But will she get stolen away by someone else?"
"No, no, that won't happen. Mommy likes Anna so much. She won't really let herself be taken. And if Anna ever finds someone daring to try, she can just kill her."
"From now on, Anna won't be hostile to them. She won't attack them. Anna wants Mommy to be happy. She wants Mommy to stay by her side."
"Yes. That's it. Humans don't even taste good anyway. Hiru told me that. The flavor is bland. Aside from restoring my body, there's no other benefit. Killing them gains nothing."
"On the contrary, if Anna obeys Mommy and helps her more, then Mommy will rely on Anna more and more. She'll become unable to leave Anna. When that time comes, everything Mommy has will belong to Anna. Then it won't matter how many others are around her."
"Anna is the one Mommy needs most. Anna will prove it. First... hmm, what should Anna do first? Maybe preserve a strand of that doomed big sister's soul and find a chance to bring her back in the future? At that time, she'll surely be grateful and stop trying to take Mommy from Anna. Even if she stays nearby, it won't matter. Mommy will already belong to Anna."
"As for the others... slowly, one by one... In the end, Anna will make Mommy her exclusive possession. Even if others surround her, they won't be able to take Mommy away."
The little girl's thoughts grew more and more excited. She clenched her small fists and resolved to carry it out.
Poor Anna had no idea that this outcome was precisely what Li Mingxue had been guiding her toward.
Everything Anna intended to do aligned perfectly with the result Li Mingxue desired. She would only believe she had thought of it herself.
But for now, let her be happy.
After all, the road to conquering her own mother was long and arduous. If Anna wanted Chu Lian to develop feelings for her akin to those of a lover, it would likely be even harder than for anyone else.
A forbidden love was never so easily freed from its constraints.