Chapter 142: Glasses
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: Glasses
Inside the scullery, the only sound was the steady rush of running water.
Tears streamed continuously from the corners of the girl’s eyes, her blushing cheeks resembling a pair of overripe apples.
She was a picture of heartbreaking beauty, the kind that made one's heart ache just looking at her.
Watching Shali like this, Muen felt his heart skip a beat.
"Muen... could you please reconsider? Just one more time?"
Shali gripped her fingers together, her voice trembling with nervous anticipation.
It was as if an invisible ripple was spreading through the air; Muen felt his resolve begin to waver.
Shali is so cute.
And so domestic.
She makes such delicious snacks and meals.
Her figure is top-tier, too.
If she were my partner, life would probably be perfect.
So, maybe I should just—
Slap!
A sharp sound suddenly echoed through the room.
Shali jumped, instinctively shrinking back a step as she stared at Muen in shock.
"What kind of god-tier scumbag am I?!"
Muen had suddenly delivered a sharp slap to his own face to wake himself up. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot? No. Even if I’m a scumbag, I have to be a scumbag with principles."
What was the difference between a scumbag without principles and a 'Sea King' who only thought with his lower half?
Was he the kind of vulgar creature who only lusted after a girl's body?
"So, I’m still sorry, Shali. I can’t say yes."
Muen rejected her once more with sincerity, though this time his posture was humbler and his tone much softer.
To be rejected twice by the same person within two minutes—for a girl who had summoned all her courage, it was a cruel outcome no matter how one looked at it.
Muen felt so ashamed he wanted to find a sack, crawl inside, and let someone beat him senseless.
Why do you have to be so handsome? If you looked just a bit more average, you wouldn't be dealing with this mess, would you?
"I... I see."
Upon hearing Muen’s final answer, Shali’s expression crumbled into utter heartbreak.
She took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suck her tears back in, but they only flowed faster.
"It’s... it’s not your fault, Muen. I was just being too presumptuous."
Like a 'loser' heroine in a TV drama who couldn't accept a failed confession, Shali forced a smile that looked more painful than crying as she slowly backed away.
Then, she turned and ran.
She nearly collided with a soft embrace.
"Oh my, what do we have here?"
Senior Anna had appeared at the doorway at some unknown point. She gave Muen a reproachful look.
"You really are something, Junior. It’s only been a few minutes, and you’ve already broken another girl's heart?"
"If I had agreed, that would be the real scumbag move," Muen said with a bitter smile. He had half-expected his Senior to show up.
"True."
Anna nodded. She reached down and pulled out a handkerchief, tenderly wiping the tears from Shali’s face. As she did, a faint crystalline shimmer flickered in her hand.
"Don't be upset, Junior Sister. We won't lower ourselves to the level of a scumbag."
"Hey! You're still calling me a scumbag!"
"Huh?"
Anna ignored Muen’s protest. As she wiped Shali’s tears, she seemed to notice something and let out a small sound of surprise.
"Shali, you’re so cute. Why do you insist on hiding behind these ugly black-rimmed glasses? A girl should pay more attention to her appearance. Who knows? The outcome might be different for certain scumbags."
"Hey! Senior!"
"I know a shop that specializes in custom glasses for women. Want me to introduce you?"
As she spoke, Anna reached out to take Shali’s black-rimmed glasses, intending to wipe away the tear stains that had blurred the lenses.
Grab.
Shali suddenly caught her hand.
Her head was bowed, her expression unreadable.
"No thank you, Senior. I appreciate the sentiment."
"But..."
Anna looked at Shali’s hand, her brow furrowing slightly.
Before she could say anything else, Shali suddenly brushed past her and ran into the inner kitchen, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.
Amidst the rhythmic sound of a knife hitting a cutting board, Shali’s voice drifted out, thick with tears.
"I'm sorry. Please ignore me. Just let me be alone for a while."
Shortly after, the sound of uncontrollable sobbing came from behind the door. It sounded profoundly sorrowful.
"You really are a sinful man, Junior."
Listening to the crying inside, Anna sighed and gave Muen a meaningful look.
Muen remained silent, offering only a wry smile.
"Should we... head out first?" Muen suggested tentatively.
Leaving like this felt irresponsible, but staying would only increase the awkwardness. It was better to let Shali have some space.
"Alright." Anna nodded.
Her goal had been achieved anyway.
However, before they left, she couldn't help but cast a deep, lingering look at the closed kitchen door.
"Something... feels a bit off."
She glanced at her wrist. The spot where Shali had grabbed her was marked with a bright red handprint.
"Junior."
"Yeah?"
"Is Shali’s Martial Artist cultivation very high?"
"I don't know. She’s always been very low-profile. But since she takes the Martial Technique classes, she shouldn't be too weak."
"I see..."
Anna withdrew her gaze and stopped overthinking it. Shali’s grief just now had looked far too real to be an act.
Most likely, she was just imagining things.
*
After Muen and Anna left, Shali continued to cry in the kitchen.
The tears flowed and flowed, as if they would never run dry.
She was so sad.
She liked Muen so much, so why did he reject her in the end?
Was it because she wasn't pretty enough?
It was true. Compared to that woman in the maid outfit or Senior Anna, her looks weren't outstanding. She wasn't beautiful, she didn't know how to dress up, and she always wore these ugly black-rimmed glasses.
Muen would definitely never like her.
"Ah, right."
Mentioning the glasses seemed to trigger a memory for Shali.
"I almost forgot. When there are no outsiders, I have to take the glasses off."
She removed the black-rimmed glasses, which were so soaked with tears they were almost opaque.
The crying stopped instantly.
Like an invisible darkness expanding, the aura around her shifted violently, becoming as cold and desolate as the night.
She stared at her reflection in the water-filled sink.
She stared at the version of herself that looked like a completely different person—a version wearing a twisted, eerie smile.
"Ah, why did it fail?"
"The Mental Suggestion was so successful last time. Otherwise, Muen wouldn't have 'accidentally' found this place."
"What a pity. He is the son of a Duke, after all. If I could control him, it would be a massive help to the plan."
"However..."
Shali didn't look disappointed. Instead, her lips curled into an excited, wide grin. The smile was grotesque, stretching almost to her ears like a venomous snake baring its fangs.
"This was a lucky stroke. I searched for so long without results, and I almost had my tail caught by that silver-haired woman..."
She stared at her hands. Thinking of what she had felt when she touched those fair hands earlier, she pressed her palms together in a gesture of prayer, moved to the point of ecstasy.
"As expected, Great Moon, are you the one guiding me?"
"In that case, I will not fail your expectations. I shall bring your lost Divine Heir before your throne."
"Don't you agree, Dad?"
In the corner of the kitchen, a silent man repeatedly raised and lowered a kitchen knife.
Like a machine, he repeated the single motion.
On the cutting board before him, a twisted figure struggled soundlessly before being chopped into segments like fish meat.
He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
Crunch.
Though it was merely a void-like shadow, it made the sound of flesh and bone being crushed.
A moment later, he grinned, revealing blackened teeth.
"Delicious."