Three People Sleeping Together

The carriage stopped in front of the Greens' house.

Anna helped Helen out of the carriage, while Wayne ran to knock on the door.

Mr. Green had been awake all night.

The old gentleman, who usually paid close attention to his appearance, had fastened two buttons on his waistcoat wrong.

As soon as Green opened the door, he saw Helen.

He froze, unsure how to react.

Helen lowered her head and called out, "Father..."

Her call finally brought Mr. Green back to his senses, and he nearly broke down.

But then he quickly noticed Li Mo, Anna, and Wayne.

Mr. Green hastily swallowed his sobs, gently patted Helen on the shoulder, and said, "Go inside first. Go to your room and stay there."

Helen lowered her head and hurried into the house.

Mr. Green closed the door and immediately stepped forward. "Li Mo, what on earth happened? How did Helen end up with you?"

Li Mo said, "After Helen argued with you, she lost control of her emotions and ran toward the docks, crying all the way. She accidentally ran into a dangerous person, who knocked her unconscious and kidnapped her."

"Kidnapped?!" Mr. Green was stunned.

"Yes. After we discovered she was missing, we searched along the route she took and eventually found her deep in the birch forest in the western suburbs. Anna, Wayne, and I rescued her. The culprit has been identified as Doctor Morris. Before this, he was also suspected of murdering a spinning mill worker. Sheriff Sanders has taken charge of the scene and gone after him with hounds. Apart from a few scrapes, Helen wasn't hurt."

It was too much information to take in.

Kidnapping, a serial killer... Green swayed as he listened, unable to stay on his feet, and hastily grabbed the doorframe.

At the thought of his daughter, who normally didn't even dare speak to strangers, being held captive for so long, Green's eyes instantly reddened.

Thankfully, thankfully, Li Mo had rescued his daughter in time. Otherwise, there was no telling what terrible things might have happened.

Trembling, Mr. Green removed his hat, pressed it tightly to his chest, and bowed.

"Thank you... thank you all... truly... thank you so much..."

Wayne maintained his gentlemanly bearing, but his words cut deep. "Mr. Green, now you've seen it with your own eyes, haven't you? There's no so-called curse on Li Mo. On the contrary, he saved Helen's life. If anyone in town spreads those ridiculous rumors again, you'd better keep your eyes open."

Mr. Green nodded solemnly, then placed his right hand over his heart and looked up at the night sky.

"Goddess of the Moon above.

"I, Baskerville Green, swear on my soul: if I ever again speak a single disrespectful or critical word about Mr. Li Mo after tonight, may I be forsaken by the bright moons for all eternity. From now on, here in Mondel Town, Mr. Li Mo's affairs are my affairs. As long as Mr. Li Mo asks, whether it's workshop funds or manpower, I will never refuse in the slightest!"

The moons shone bright and clear.

The gas lamp flickered in the night breeze, as if answering.

In this world, swearing an oath to the twin moons was a very sacred matter.

Commoners might tear up contracts for commercial gain, but no one dared break an oath made to the moons.

Li Mo said calmly, "Let's put the oath aside for now, Mr. Green. What you should do now is go inside and have a proper talk with Helen. She had a terrible fright today and needs comfort from her family."

"You're right. I'll go look after her now."

Mr. Green was just about to turn and go inside.

But the door was pushed open.

Helen edged out from behind it, holding a stack of clothes.

With her head lowered, she said in a tiny voice, "F-Father... I-I want to sleep with Sister Anna tonight..."

Mr. Green had just been through the enormous shock of losing and then recovering his daughter, so naturally he wanted Helen to stay home.

But seeing his daughter like this, he didn't dare firmly refuse her at a time like this, for fear of upsetting her again.

Besides, Li Mo's house was right next door, and Anna really was a considerate girl.

Mr. Green hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask Anna first. "Anna, what do you think...?"

Anna replied, "I understand how Helen feels, but we have to leave this up to Li Mo."

Li Mo shook his head. He looked at Helen gently and said, "Helen, I suggest you stay at home tonight. Mr. Green ran all over half the town looking for you. You need to talk things out tonight."

That was what he said, but what Li Mo was actually thinking was:

If you sleep with Anna, who am I supposed to sleep with? Don't steal my Anna!

Helen didn't dare contradict Li Mo. Lowering her head, she replied, "I-I understand..."

Mr. Green breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Li Mo again. "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Li Mo."

"Get some rest."

Wayne tipped his hat to Green and his daughter, then turned and climbed into the carriage to return to his family's clock shop.

Li Mo took Anna home.

The house was quiet. His father, Li En, was still out running around on factory business.

The two went upstairs and washed up separately.

Li Mo finished a little faster and returned to his room first.

He sat down at his desk, propped his chin on one hand, and gazed at the night sky outside the window.

Whenever he looked at the two moons late at night, he felt an itch in his heart.

He really wanted to hurry up there and see what was going on. If he had a precautionary measure, he would have activated Focus and observed them again right now.

When you gazed into the abyss, the abyss gazed back at you...

Whether out of curiosity or something else, Li Mo unconsciously raised his hands, pressed his palms together, and held them in front of his mouth.

"Young Master."

Anna's voice came from the doorway, interrupting him with that one call.

Only then did Li Mo collect himself.

He turned to see that Anna had changed into her usual clothes and was walking over with a cup of warm milk.

"Young Master, have some warm milk and get ready for bed."

Li Mo knew Anna was exhausted today.

She had performed three Mystical Rituals in a row. How could she not be tired?

Yet even so, her dedication to serving him was still at its peak. Why put herself through it?

Li Mo sighed. "Anna, you don't have to keep calling me Young Master. When we're alone, can't we just treat each other the way we do outside?"

Anna shook her head. "Young Master is Young Master. The rules can't be broken."

Li Mo said, "Aren't you afraid we'll grow distant?"

Anna said, "I am, but I'm more afraid of losing sight of our stations."

Li Mo said, "You're as steady as ever. With you as my maid, I don't have to worry."

Having finished his quip, Li Mo let the matter go. "Take off your outer clothes and get in bed to warm it for me. I'll be there in a bit."

Anna said calmly, "Yes, Young Master."

Li Mo clicked his tongue.

He thought that if Anna were acting the way she did outside, he would be happy to tease her.

But once she switched back to being his little maid, he felt embarrassed to do anything strange. He always felt a sense of guilt.

Could all of this be part of Anna's plan?

Li Mo took a sip of milk and gathered his thoughts, thinking about tomorrow.

To achieve his goal of discussing research into Mystical Artifacts with the empress before the autumn equinox, he needed to produce a great many results immediately.

Publishing papers step by step according to his original plan was too slow. He had to speed things up.

Of all the disciplines, mathematics was the fastest to advance and the least bound by reason.

With math, you either knew it or you didn't. There was no such thing as almost knowing it.

So he quietly settled on a plan:

When he returned to school tomorrow, he would announce a seven-day [Mathematics Salon] directly at the academy.

For seven days straight, he would present one formula or theorem ahead of its time each day.

Precise definitions of calculus, the mean value theorem, Cauchy's mean value theorem-he would go through them one by one, in order.

These results would be enough to leave the people at the Kingdom Mathematical Association completely stunned.

Then the paper on the self-excited direct-current generator also needed to be sent to the Capital Royal Academy of Sciences as quickly as possible.

As for the subsequent plan to light up all of Mondel Town, he needed to contact Sister Shala for support as soon as possible.

Electricity and the Industrial Revolution had to be unleashed in this town in the shortest possible time.

Li Mo was thinking through the details of his paper's outline when he suddenly caught sight of Mr. Green hurriedly opening his door outside the window.

He looked panicked, with Helen wrapped in a blanket in his arms.

Mr. Green raised his head and met Li Mo's eyes.

He immediately said, "Mr. Li Mo! Could you come downstairs and open the door?"

Li Mo said, "Just a moment. I'll be right down."

He threw on a robe and hurried down the stairs, with Anna close behind.

As soon as the front door opened, Mr. Green hurriedly said:

"I'm sorry... Mr. Li Mo, I'm terribly sorry to disturb you so late... After she went back to her room, Helen didn't dare close her eyes at all... The moment the lights went out, she screamed. She was drenched in cold sweat and kept trembling... She was terrified, and she kept repeating Miss Anna's name..."

Looking at his suffering daughter in his arms, Mr. Green said, "I really don't know what else to do... She's in a terrible state of mind... Could I ask you... to help look after her tonight?"

Li Mo looked down.

Helen really was in a terrible state.

She was trembling all over and crying nonstop, tears pouring down as though they cost nothing.

For such a socially anxious young girl, being kidnapped really was far beyond what she could handle.

She had probably developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

As a result, she didn't feel safe even at home, and subconsciously relied only on Anna, who had pulled her out of the darkness tonight.

Li Mo sighed. "Leave her with us, Mr. Green. Let her stay here tonight."

Mr. Green nearly burst into tears again and bowed repeatedly in thanks. "Thank you... thank you so very much..."

Li Mo took Helen from Mr. Green's arms.

The moment she came into contact with Li Mo, she instinctively flinched, but after catching his scent, her trembling eased a little.

After seeing off Mr. Green, who thanked them profusely, Anna closed the front door and said, "Young Master, I'll take her for a hot bath first and change her into one of my nightgowns."

"All right, go ahead."

Half an hour later.

Helen had been washed clean and changed into a loose cotton nightgown, and she returned to the bedroom with Anna.

Seeing that Helen seemed to have calmed down somewhat, Li Mo said, "You two can sleep in my room tonight. I'll make do in the guest room downstairs."

"No, Young Master." Anna refused outright.

Li Mo was taken aback. "Why not?"

Anna said, "I have to sleep in the same room as you. If I'm not there to keep an eye on you, you'll definitely stay up late reading."

Little Anna really knows how to read people!

Li Mo said awkwardly, "Then what about Helen? We can't just leave her here alone, can we?"

Anna bent down, took Helen's hand, and asked, "Helen, how about the three of us sleep in this bed together tonight? I'll sleep in the middle, and Young Master will sleep on the other side. We'll both protect you, and no more bad people will come. All right?"

Helen said timidly, "All right..."

"Good girl." Anna patted her hand, then said to Li Mo, "Then let's sleep together, Young Master. You don't mind, do you?"

Li Mo said, "Uh, I don't mind."