"Okay, would you like to live with me for the time being? At least get through this winter. Although I'm an orphan, at least I have this house." Ye Jiu invited him, wanting to stay by his side until he came of age.
Lorien looked up at her, stammering, "Is...is it okay?"
This was the first time someone had shown him kindness. Was it because she didn't know his true identity? He clutched at his own tail, trying to hide it well, to keep himself from being exposed.
He figured he could stall for time. He thought that if she found out, she would definitely kick him out without hesitation, since that's how other people had treated him before.
Despite being wrapped in a warm blanket, Lorien's hands and feet were ice-cold.
"sure."
"What can I do for you?" Although he doesn't know anything right now, he needs to take the initiative to do some work in order to make his existence have some value.
Ye Jiu pondered for a moment, "Hmm... Help me with making potions? Keep me company? Run errands for me? Anything is fine with you."
"Is that all...?" Lorian was somewhat surprised; these tasks sounded far too simple.
"Isn't this enough? You're still so young, it's already amazing that you can do all this."
Lorian looked down at his palm. "But I'm already 13 years old... not young anymore."
Now it was Ye Jiu's turn to be surprised. "But you look..." Ye Jiu gestured with her hand, "You look at most ten years old."
Lorien remained silent. Ye Jiu waited for a long time but received no response from him. Just as she was about to explain, he suddenly spoke up.
"Because...because I didn't have enough to eat before, please don't look down on me, I'll grow taller soon." After saying that, as if to make it more convincing, he added, "soon."
Unease flickered in Lorien's emerald eyes, fearing that Ye Jiu would abandon him because of this.
Although his face was dirty, his eyes were bright and sparkling. Ye Jiu wet a handkerchief and handed it to him. "I don't mean to look down on you because of this. I just find it a little unbelievable. Wipe your face. You look like a little kitten right now."
Lorraine blushed suddenly and took the handkerchief. "Th...thank you."
Watching Luo Rui'an carefully wipe his face clean, a delicate and fair face appeared before Ye Jiu's eyes.
Although he is still young, one can already see what extraordinary talent he will have in the future. However, Lorian's appearance is quite different from the traditional elf look. He has a pair of beautiful, nascent fox eyes with upturned corners and a small beauty mark under his right eye, which makes him even more alluring.
Ye Jiu exclaimed in amazement, "You're so beautiful! Are all elves as beautiful as you?"
Lorien blinked rapidly, avoiding eye contact, and whispered, "Mmm."
“Poor child, I can’t believe you’re living on the streets.”
"It was my own fault... I wandered off..."
"It's okay. You'll have a home now. You can live with me until you want to leave."
Lorian's pupils dilated, his lips trembling. "Really...really?"
"Of course, I'd love to have a family member like you. And if one day you want to leave, I'll never stop you."
The word "home" was too painful; it was a word he hadn't touched since he was three years old. He bit his lower lip, "You...you'll regret this..."
He was so despicable, filthy, and wretched that he seemed even more inferior compared to her jewel-like heart.
Ye Jiu was puzzled. "Why would I regret it?"
Lorian didn't want to lie to her anymore. He had only intended to survive the winter with her, but he felt that if he didn't confess now, it would be difficult to extricate himself later. He might as well let her get rid of him now...
He mentally prepared himself, "I...I lied to you..."
As soon as he finished speaking, tears started falling uncontrollably. He wasn't actually very sad; he was just upset because he had to spend the winter outside again.
Ye Jiu didn't respond, waiting quietly for him to continue.
“I…I’m actually…not an elf…I hope you won’t be angry because you saved me, I’m not worth making you angry.” He stood up, his bare feet touching the wooden floor, took a deep breath as if to cheer himself up, and turned around.
A slender, flexible tail with a heart-shaped tip was revealed in front of Ye Jiu.
It's a succubus's tail.
"Huh?" Ye Jiu asked in surprise, why is there a succubus tail?
Lorrian explained first, "I...I'm mixed race...I'm sorry...I'm not...I lied to you, I just..." He sniffed, "I just didn't want to die this winter..."
"I'm sorry, I've soiled your blankets and the floor..."
His toes gripped the ground awkwardly, but after he had said everything, he felt a sense of relief.
It was all just a dream, and now that he's awake, he needs to go out and find a place where he can survive.
He bowed his head and awaited Ye Jiu's judgment. He was willing to pay compensation, but he had no money. He could ask her to sell him to the arena, so she could use the money to buy a new quilt.
He just wanted to escape from there one more time. He comforted himself.
Ye Jiu was stunned after hearing this, and for a moment he couldn't understand why he would react this way just because he was of mixed race...
Oh right, mixed-race people are the most despised in the world. Most people think that mixed-race people are dirty and inferior, irresponsible and arbitrary products of two races, and are rejected by both races... It seems that most mixed-race people die before reaching adulthood because they are driven out at birth, wander, and then die outside.
Ye Jiu stood up and walked to his side.
The clattering footsteps were like a death knell, and Lorian trembled uncontrollably. Was she... was she coming to hit him...?
He subconsciously murmured, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'll pay for it, please... please don't hit me..."
Instead of the expected violence, a warm hand was placed on his head. "Lorian is very honest. This is a reward for your honesty."
"It's okay to be mixed-race. You can't choose where you're born. You must have suffered a lot."
Lorien could no longer stop her tears.
You must have suffered a lot...
Driven away, beaten, fought with wild animals, rummaged through garbage cans, snatched food from dogs… Was it hard? He didn’t know…
“I…” Lorian’s tears kept flowing down his face, “I don’t know…”
Ye Jiu cupped his face in her palm and gently wiped away his tears with her fingertips. "Don't cry. That will never happen again. You can still live here with me. You won't die this winter. You will have many, many more years to come."
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