Gu Xinghe turned his gaze away from the stage and looked at Theresa sitting next to him.
Perhaps it was the scenery that evoked memories, or perhaps it was a feeling in one's heart.
He saw that her eyes were already slightly moist, and her blue pupils had become melancholy and sad.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, glistening with tears, and then a tear rolled down her cheek.
The glistening teardrops fell, transforming into crystals just like those seen in the play.
Theresa lowered her head slightly, as if gazing at the crystallization held in her palm.
But her fleeting gaze made her seem as if she were looking through the crystal in her hand, passing through countless years of time, recalling her past.
"This is the crystallization of suffering, an essential ingredient for crafting the [Potion of Misfortune], and something the Thorn Cult craves."
The deeper the suffering within the creator of the crystal, the greater its power.
At this moment, Teresa seemed to be explaining to Gu Xinghe beside her, and also commenting on her own "story".
Judging from both its name and the way it was created, the crystallized form of suffering has nothing to do with anything beautiful.
Gu Xinghe sat to the side, but for a moment he didn't know how to continue the conversation.
He didn't want to say anything weak or powerless like "It's okay" or "Everything will be alright" at this moment.
"A crystallization of suffering? Then is what I made a crystallization of sugar?"
"I think it looks just as good as the crystallized fruit of suffering. Teresa, would you like to try some?"
Gu Xinghe took out a "candy" that he had made earlier at the Rose Manor from his pocket and placed it in Teresa's hand.
The name "Crystal of Suffering" doesn't sound pleasant, but its appearance is quite the opposite of its name.
At that moment, a similarly glistening candy appeared in Teresa's hand.
Compared to the crystallization of suffering that can be described as exquisite crystal art.
Although Gu Xinghe's candies had vibrant colors, they did look rather shabby.
"Then I think your skills still have a long way to go."
When Teresa saw the candy Gu Xinghe took out, she was stunned for a moment, but then a smile finally appeared on her face.
"However... given that this is a 'candy crystal' you made with your heart and sincerity, I guess it'll barely pass."
"Since the quality is not good, we can only make up for it with quantity."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xinghe raised an eyebrow, then grabbed a small handful of candy and completely buried the crystallization of suffering at the bottom.
Theresa held a handful of candies, their vibrant colors truly bringing joy.
The future is perhaps too far off.
But no matter what, what Gu Xinghe wants most right now is to cheer Teresa up.
Grand background music was playing on the stage, but Gu Xinghe and Teresa were whispering to each other.
Food is not allowed in the theater, of course.
But at this moment, the two were secretly eating small pieces of candy that could be held in their mouths, so it was naturally difficult for anyone to notice.
What's more, they had a group of bodyguards sitting around them providing cover.
The sweet taste of honey candy filled my mouth.
Gu Xinghe saw Theresa lick her lips with the candy in her mouth, making her lips even more moist.
The sadness that had previously lingered around her seemed to have vanished.
"Actually, I later learned that the disaster in the town was caused by the Thorn Cult."
They sacrificed the entire town to the evil creature, summoning it to descend into the world.
Because this is the ritual required to bring down the gods.
The suffering and misfortune at the deepest despair are precisely what the goddess of thorns favors.
Theresa carefully put away the candy Gu Xinghe gave her, then quietly took his hand and whispered her secret in his ear.
Her voice seemed to become low and heavy again.
But Gu Xinghe didn't show any bitterness or resentment after hearing this; instead, he said it quite "naturally."
"I know, isn't that how it's always portrayed in traditional Chinese operas?"
The female protagonist, who lost her loved ones and had no one to rely on, was told the truth about everything by the male protagonist when she grew up.
It turns out that his adoptive parents, who took him in when he was a child, were actually his murderers.
Then, she chose to fight alongside the male protagonist, and ultimately, with his help, successfully avenged herself.
Gu Xinghe's slightly exaggerated expression and reaction brought a smile to Teresa's face.
So she continued, following Gu Xinghe's words.
"Oh, is that so? Then tell me—who will be my male lead?"
"Hmm... how about you consider me, for example?"
Gu Xinghe pointed to himself and "recommended himself."
"But what I saw in the show was clearly—"
True princesses do not need a prince to save them; they are strong and beautiful enough on their own.
Perhaps, how about you consider a script where the protagonist successfully avenges himself and then wins the heart of the beautiful woman?
In the other party's words, it is Theresa who successfully took revenge, and it seems obvious who the beauty is referring to.
Gu Xinghe pretended to think for a moment before speaking.
"It seems... not impossible. I happen to own a manor. Would you like me to bring you, my beauty, home?"
"No need, it's okay. After all, I'd rather build my own new home."
However, Theresa seemed to reject her offer to help.
The other party seemed to be referring to the "new home"...
Gu Xinghe recalled the new doctrines that Teresa had proposed within the sect, as well as the bodyguards around him who were clearly not quite right in the mental state.
At this moment, Gu Xinghe had already imagined Teresa looking like this—
"Today, I'm going to single-handedly split up your stupid cult! I'll crush you all!" she declared with an imposing aura.
Of course, this was all just Gu Xinghe's imagination.
He simply couldn't imagine that the real Theresa would say such a line.
So Gu Xinghe stopped talking and stopped the conversation.
At this point, the play on stage was nearing its end.
In the theater, Tristan stands in the hall, a dreamlike crystal crown adorning her head.
She wore a pure white gauze dress that did not reveal an inch of skin, knelt on the ground, and offered a sacred and solemn prayer to the statue of the deity.
Below, countless believers looked up at her, gazing upon the noble and elegant saint.
The gods bestowed holiness upon her, but they also took away her freedom.
The actors' movements froze in this solemn and dignified moment, and the curtain slowly fell on the stage.
As the lights in the theater came on again, the audience burst into applause, and the scene erupted in thunderous applause.
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