I Have Some New Ideas...

"You've arrived?"

Maria sensed Lamaline's arrival with little effort.

She turned her head and looked at the other person.

The millet also heard Maria's voice and turned its head in surprise.

Upon seeing Lamaline's face full of black lines, she was momentarily stunned before getting up from Maria with a flushed face.

"That... that..."

She stammered a little, and her mind was a bit foggy.

At this moment, only one question was on Shu's mind.

How long has she been here?

"Perhaps... I came at the wrong time?"

Lamaline spoke, she took a small step back, seemingly preparing to leave.

After observing the Hundred Stoves for a few moments and confirming that tonight should be a peaceful night, Maria slowly got up and walked towards Lamaline.

The process was silent and uneventful, yet it left Shu feeling inexplicably disappointed.

Under the moonlight, she stood alone, forcing a smile as she watched Lamaline's retreating figure gradually walk towards Maria.

In his hand, the gourd filled with only clear water was swaying slightly.

But... just as she stood there silently by herself.

That gentle female voice slowly drifted over.

"Let's have a drink together after this is all over..."

Shu looked up in disbelief.

Not far from her, Maria, who was leaving, stopped in her tracks.

She turned slightly to look in their direction.

He lowered the brim of his hat, giving a slight nod.

Then...

He turned and left.

On their way back, the two walked side by side as always.

The night air was slightly chilly.

Lamaline moved with light steps, her lowered gaze suggesting a distracted state.

You seem to be troubled by something.

Maria's voice came at just the right moment, gently echoing around the two of them.

"..."

Lamaline didn't reply; she simply took a deep breath.

The slightly humid air moistened Lamaline's lungs.

She spat it out, her gaze complex as she looked at Maria beside her, who remained as serene as ever.

For Maria, everything seemed to proceed as expected and without any surprises.

Sometimes, even Lamaline couldn't help but sigh that Maria's emotions were a little too stable.

You know, she was just seen being intimate with another woman by him, her actual wife!

She didn't...

Aren't you even a little bit uneasy?

Even so, there must have been some awkwardness, right?

But...

No.

No matter how Lamaline observed Maria's expression, she couldn't detect a trace of guilt or unease in the other woman.

In comparison, it was Lamaline became the slightly suspicious and annoying woman.

Lamaline also knew that she should trust Maria.

After all, judging from what the two of them had gone through and Maria's behavior, it was impossible for her to fall in love with someone else... Her attitude towards relationships remained steadfast.

But...

The Aegir that Aifanier mentioned, who called Maria their mother.

The subtle and understated sense of unfamiliarity between the two people.

Maria's elusive appearances and the undisclosed secret of her identity.

All of this made Lamaline unable to stop thinking.

What exactly is the relationship between these two people?

To be honest, this idea and question made Lamaline herself feel a little annoying.

She should be a good mother, a supportive figure who can put Maria at ease, but now, she seems to be gradually becoming a burden to Maria.

Conflicting emotions welled up in her mind, leaving her somewhat confused.

After a moment, she asked softly.

"You... seem to have a very good relationship with her..."

"Um."

Maria nodded, showing no sign of denial.

But this answer only made Lamaline more at a loss.

For a moment, she even began to resent Maria's slowness.

Maria seemed to sense something and slowly began to speak.

"I had a relationship with her... mother for a while; we were... good friends."

Maria briefly explained the nature of their relationship.

Lamaline nodded slightly after hearing this.

She could roughly sense that she was overthinking things, and after getting the real answer, she felt relieved.

But... before long, a complex feeling welled up in my heart.

But at that moment, Maria suddenly spoke up.

Are you... jealous?

"Huh?"

Lamaline was clearly surprised that Maria would say such a thing, and looked at Maria with a face full of astonishment.

Maria did not turn around, but silently gazed into the distance.

Did my actions just now upset you?

"Eh..."

Lamaline paused for a moment.

She didn't know what to say.

In Lamaline's mind, all of this should be her problem...

I'm being too sensitive, which is why I'm having these wild thoughts.

But she didn't expect that Maria would be the one to take the initiative and be gentle.

This sudden gentleness left her completely bewildered.

Maria hesitated for a moment before lowering her head slightly.

"If this makes you unhappy... I'll be more careful."

At this moment, Lamaline finally noticed a rare hint of restraint in Maria.

This woman, who fears nothing and has always presented herself with absolute strength and toughness, is incredibly gentle in front of Lamaline!

This made Lamaline feel flattered.

After hesitating for a long while, she finally spoke softly, "Why?"

"Why?"

Maria repeated the girl's words, tilting her head slightly like a bewildered child, "Because... you'll be unhappy, won't you?"

"... But, you..."

Lamaline somewhat speechless... Maria's actions, though a little naive, revealed a strong emotion.

She cares a lot about Lamaline.

She didn't do it on purpose; she simply didn't know where the overly ambiguous boundary lay between them.

She didn't know what she should do for Lamaline, this special person.

She can only learn and correct her mistakes one by one.

Frankly... like a child...

The swaying scarlet eyes met those gray eyes once more, and in an instant, the unease vanished.

Instead, a helpless smile appeared.

Lamaline felt utterly ridiculous.

She stood there, silently watching Maria in front of her.

What the Doctor said may indeed have some merit... but... it aligns with common sense for normal people.

But can she and Maria really be categorized as one of them?

They don't even need to follow normal order!

Their immense strength and sense of responsibility have led them down paths unimaginable to most... Given this, why should their emotional habits conform to those of ordinary people?

The two people gazed at each other, their figures swaying slightly in the moonlight.

A moment later.

Lamaline gently cupped that face in her hands.

"Thank you... for liking me..."

She whispered as she slowly approached.

Two graceful, dark figures gradually merged under the moonlight...

Even the moonlight seemed a bit brighter.

And it was in this environment, on the bridge of the Rhodes Island ship, that a woman, hanging there, looked on with envy.

In her hand, she still held onto the plastic fork from her instant noodles, which she couldn't bear to throw away.

"That's wonderful..."

She sighed with emotion.

The body swayed gently in the breeze...

It looks like a teru teru bozu (a Japanese doll).

385

Chapter 385 A New Idea...

Moonlit night, in a dilapidated old farmhouse in the suburbs of Hundred Stoves.