Chapter 45: A Debt of Gratitude and a Buried Truth

“The necklace?”

Yalin mused for a moment before speaking. “Oh, right, that person snatched it away. My apologies. Was it very important to you?”

“Mm…”

Liyang lowered her gaze.

Though she understood the necklace was likely unrecoverable, it was, after all, the only memento her mother had left behind.

She couldn’t help but cling to a faint flicker of hope.

Just then, Fulin emerged from the kitchen, a teacup held delicately in her hand.

“Liyang, this attitude simply won’t do, dear.”

She stated with a serious expression.

“I understand how important that necklace is to you, but have you considered that Yalin risked his very life to rescue you from those madmen of the Church?”

“While my words might seem unfeeling, I believe that Yalin, not the necklace, should be your primary concern right now.”

“Grandma Fulin, I… I’m sorry…”

Liyang bowed her head in shame.

Indeed, Yalin had faced a figure of the Church’s priestly rank then—a demon who killed without a blink of an eye!

Had he not risked his life to shield her, she would have met one of two fates.

Either she would have been killed on the spot, or she would have been manipulated, falling into the wretched existence of a puppet.

A shiver ran down Liyang’s spine as she recalled Nabel’s chilling gaze.

She had been utterly despairing then, too terrified to utter a single word.

Just how much courage had Yalin possessed to save her in such a dire situation?

“Yalin… I’m sorry, and truly, thank you for that day. If it weren’t for you, I surely would have…”

Liyang stammered, her lips trembling as she whispered, “Um… please allow me to repay you. What do you wish for? Anything within my power, I will do my utmost to fulfill!”

“Ah, well…”

Yalin rubbed his nose.

‘Please, could you not phrase things in such a misleading way? Just how innocent can you possibly be?’

He genuinely wanted to say, ‘If you truly wish to help me, then just don’t get involved with me.’

Alas, with the Vice Dean right beside him, he dared not speak such thoughts aloud.

“Hahahaha, my little Liyang has truly grown up! She’s become so proactive.”

Fulin’s expression suddenly shifted, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.

“Huh?”

Liyang looked a bit dazed, not immediately grasping the implication.

Only after replaying her own words did she realize something sounded amiss, and she hastily tried to cover her tracks, “I, I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Hahaha, just look at you. Have some tea and calm down.”

Fulin placed the tea set on the table, skillfully poured three cups of tea, and then pushed two of them towards the pair.

“Yalin, you too. Come, try the tea I’ve brewed.”

Looking down, Yalin saw clear green tea steeped in a delicate porcelain cup, a few tea leaves gently floating on the surface.

Yalin was somewhat surprised; it was green tea that had been served.

The kingdom’s teas were primarily black teas, as green tea was a specialty of the Far Eastern nations.

Not only was its yield scarce, but it was also difficult to preserve, and its exorbitant price would frighten anyone, making it a rare sight in Elanmia (TL Note: A fictional name for a country/region in the story).

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Yalin picked up the teacup and took a sip, the refreshing aroma of tea instantly filling his mouth.

Even though he knew nothing about tea, he could tell this was undoubtedly a superior brew.

‘The price must be… tsk tsk…’

Yalin shook his head inwardly, a familiar habit resurfacing.

‘It couldn’t be helped; a country bumpkin from the countryside was like that, always wanting to convert everything into gold coins to see its worth.’

Liyang also held her cup, sipping delicately.

She seemed accustomed to such refined things, her expression betraying no change.

‘See? That’s what you call a difference!’

Fulin gazed at the two seated side-by-side before her, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

“Oh my, what a handsome young man and a beautiful girl! You two truly look like a perfect match.”

“Liyang, dear, I think you should just offer yourself to Yalin, perhaps even give yourself to him.”

“…”

‘Zero-frame initiation, no chance to react at all.’

Yalin’s throat tightened, and he forcibly swallowed the tea in his mouth, barely preserving his composure.

Liyang, however, was not so fortunate, letting out a sudden “Pfft!” as she spewed her tea.

“Cough, cough, cough… Grandma, you!!”

She coughed violently, her fair cheeks instantly flushing crimson, as if steam might rise from them.

Though mortified and indignant, with tea spilled all over the table, Liyang had no choice but to frantically grab a towel and clumsily begin wiping the surface.

As she wiped, she couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at Yalin from the corner of her eye, her heart a tangled mess.

Yalin couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her.

Seeing her adorable, clumsy demeanor, he surmised she was likely often teased by Fulin.

‘Alas, poor Liyang, so easily played right into Fulin’s hands.’

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you two.”

Fulin felt satisfied; the honest little Liyang was simply too adorable, always tempting her to tease.

She extended a finger and casually waved it in the air.

In the next instant, the spilled water on the table vanished instantly, leaving not a single trace.

Yalin hadn’t caught precisely what she did, but such a seamless action was enough to reveal the unfathomable depth of her magical prowess.

Liyang felt a touch of annoyance, yet remembering Yalin’s presence, she dared not show it.

She merely puffed out her cheeks and sullenly settled back into her seat.

“Very well, let us now discuss matters of importance.”

Fulin took a sip of tea, gently set down her cup, and her expression grew a touch more serious.

She looked at Yalin and spoke earnestly.

“First, Yalin, please allow me to express my sincere gratitude. I am truly thankful that you intervened to save Liyang that day.”

“Ahaha, it’s no problem, I…”

“It is not ‘no problem.’ If even the slightest error had occurred then, you might have perished there as well.”

“Therefore, I must thank you regardless. If there is anything you desire, simply name it.”

Yalin found himself in a predicament.

Although Fulin’s offer was enticing, he genuinely wished to avoid getting further entangled in this matter.

He had initially considered asking for some money, but the somber atmosphere made it impossible for him to speak.

Fortunately, Fulin seemed to sense his discomfort, and her expression softened slightly.

“It’s alright, you can take your time to think. Let’s set this matter aside for now.”

Next, she turned her gaze to Liyang beside her.

“Secondly, Liyang, this time I must criticize you severely!”

“You are a grown woman, yet you would so readily trust a letter of unknown origin and rashly go to an appointment alone!”

“Do you realize that you weren’t just risking your own life, but also placing another’s life in grave danger?”

“I… I’m sorry…”

Liyang, who had just been annoyed, wilted completely once more.

She knew she had made a grave mistake and was utterly unable to refute her grandmother’s criticism.

Fulin looked at Liyang’s downcast expression and sighed.

“However, in truth, I also bear some responsibility for this matter.”

“I always treated you like a child who wouldn’t grow up, fearing you couldn’t handle the truth, so I kept delaying telling you, which ultimately led to this unfortunate mistake.”

She paused, then spoke with a solemn expression, “But you have grown up now. It is time to tell you everything about your parents from back then.”

“Really?!”

Liyang’s body trembled, and she immediately lifted her head.

The matter of her parents had always been a stone weighing on her heart; she desperately wanted to know the truth.

“Should I… perhaps excuse myself?” Yalin asked weakly.

After all, it was a family matter, and his presence as an outsider was surely inappropriate.

Moreover, he had no desire to be dragged into any further trouble.

However, Fulin shook her head.

“No, Yalin, you should listen as well. You have the right to know about this, and indeed, you should know these things, as they are quite important to you too.”

“Alright then.”

Since the esteemed Vice Dean had spoken thus, Yalin could only continue to sit obediently on the sofa.

Fulin once again picked up her teacup, drained its contents, and after a moment of contemplation, slowly began to speak.

“Liyang, both your parents were my students back then.”

“And they were also… researchers affiliated with the Abyssal Church.”