Chapter 52: The Unbidden Thought and the Crimson Glow

“Oh, it hurts so much…”

“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking. Are you alright? Did you fall and hurt yourself badly?”

Wendy quickly knelt, helping the girl to her feet.

“No, I’m fine…”

The little girl rubbed her waist, clutching the wooden box tightly to her chest. Then, as if a thought had just struck her, she quickly craned her neck, peering around.

However, the loving couple she had just seen had already vanished without a trace.

“Oh, they’re gone…”

A crestfallen expression stole across her face.

“What’s the matter? Are you searching for someone in particular?”

Wendy inquired, her voice laced with concern.

“No, not really. I just wanted to sell them some flowers.”

Shaking her head, the little girl opened the wooden box, revealing several delicate bouquets of roses nestled within.

Each rose was meticulously wrapped in white paper, its petals vibrant and dewy, exuding a fresh, fragrant scent—a clear testament to their recent bloom.

“That couple looked so deeply in love; I was certain they would buy my flowers… What a shame they’re gone now.”

“Oh, I understand. How truly regrettable…”

Wendy reached into her cloak, pulling out her purse. “Tell you what,” she offered, “I’ll buy your flowers instead.”

“Oh, big sister?”

The little girl blinked in surprise.

Her gaze swept around, finding only Wendy standing there, utterly alone.

“But these flowers are typically given to lovers, big sister. Are you truly certain you wish to buy them?”

Although she was eager to sell her blooms, the woman before her seemed kind, and the girl felt compelled to offer a gentle warning.

“I…”

Wendy found herself momentarily at a loss for words. After a brief hesitation, she finally managed, “He hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll give them to him later.”

“Oh, I see! That’s wonderful then!”

The little girl’s eyes immediately sparkled with delight.

“So, big sister, how many would you like? One for twenty-five Lier, or three for seventy Lier!”

“I’ll take them all.”

“Truly? Let me count for you then! There are four left. If you take them all, I can offer you a slight discount. It would be…”

The little girl anxiously tapped her fingers together, yet she was never particularly adept at arithmetic, and after a lengthy attempt, she still couldn’t arrive at a final sum.

Wendy, observing her struggle, produced a gleaming gold coin and gently placed it into the little girl’s outstretched palm.

“This… what is this?”

The little girl froze, her gaze riveted on the sparkling gold coin.

A single gold coin! Worth a thousand Lier! Never before had she received such a substantial amount of money!

“This… this is far too much! I don’t have change…”

“It’s quite alright. There’s no need for change; consider it a small apology for our earlier collision.

The hour is growing late; you should hurry home and rest.”

“Thank you! Oh, thank you so much! I’m truly, truly grateful!”

The little girl, overwhelmed with emotion, thanked her profusely, then carefully tucked the gold coin deep into her pocket.

“Goodbye, big sister! I hope you and that special person find everlasting happiness!”

Waving enthusiastically at Wendy, she skipped away, disappearing into the distance.

Wendy watched her retreating figure, a wry smile playing on her lips.

‘Who that person was, she herself couldn’t say.’

Suddenly, a name surfaced unbidden in her mind.

‘Why would I suddenly think of him?’

Wendy shook her head, dismissing the thought. She must simply be overtired.

She lowered her gaze, regarding the fresh flowers in her hand with a slight frown of perplexity.

Walking alone through the streets, clutching such a voluminous bouquet, felt undeniably awkward.

Already, more than a few passersby were casting her curious, even strange, glances.

‘What should I do with them? Should I really take them home?’

Yet her home was virtually barren; she wouldn’t even find a suitable place to display them.

‘Perhaps I should find somewhere to discard them later?’

But the thought of the little girl meticulously wrapping each bloom made her heart ache with reluctance.

There was no other option. She would simply have to take them to the laboratory.

Professor Grant used to cultivate various plants, so there were likely still a few vases gathering dust in the storage room—they would serve her purpose perfectly.

The brilliant moonlight, pristine and clear, cascaded upon the triangular rooftops, draping the entire academy in a shimmering veil of silver.

At this late hour, the academy was largely deserted, silence reigning supreme save for the occasional faint glow from a few illuminated rooms.

Wendy returned to the familiar sanctuary of her laboratory, a place that had long become her true haven, holding even greater significance than her actual home.

The interior was impeccably tidy, devoid of any trace of disarray, suggesting that Yalin had meticulously tidied it once more after her departure.

The moonlight was exceptionally bright tonight, so Wendy decided against switching on the lamps.

From the storage room, she retrieved a dust-laden vase, gave it a perfunctory rinse, filled it with fresh water, and then carefully arranged the newly acquired roses within.

Suddenly, the otherwise monotonous room gained a vibrant splash of color.

Wendy placed the vase on the table, then sank back onto the sofa.

The laboratory felt vast and empty, the only sound breaking the profound silence being the rhythmic tick-tock of the clock.

The bustling night market, so vibrant just moments ago, now seemed as distant and ethereal as a scene from a dream.

A sudden chill swept through the room, making her shiver slightly. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around herself.

She had always believed herself accustomed to this profound solitude.

Yet, it was only after Yalin’s unexpected intrusion into her life that Wendy truly realized she was far less resilient than she had always imagined.

Indeed, she was universally acknowledged as a genius, having been adorned with countless brilliant accolades since childhood.

But ultimately, she was merely a person, a woman, nothing more.

No matter how meticulously she concealed it, no matter how forcefully she compelled herself to embrace solitude, deep within her heart, she still yearned for someone who would genuinely care for her.

Wendy sighed, a profound reluctance settling over her to confront this vulnerable aspect of herself.

A sudden thirst pricked at her throat. Wendy rose from the sofa, intending to fetch herself a glass of water.

Just as she moved, however, she halted abruptly, sensing a faint, anomalous presence.

From a narrow gap in the storage cabinet, a faint, eerie red glow seemed to emanate.

Though it was merely a feeble glimmer, the pervasive darkness of the unlit room rendered it strikingly conspicuous.

‘What is that?’

Wendy approached cautiously, a question mark hovering in her mind. Opening the cabinet, she found a necklace lying quietly within.

‘Why is there a necklace here? Could it be Yalin’s? Yes, that must be it… his clothes are here as well.’

She carefully picked up the necklace, raising it to eye level for a closer inspection.

The necklace was exquisitely crafted; despite bearing the subtle marks of time, it had been so meticulously cared for that it appeared almost brand new.

A single, luminous ruby was embedded within, radiating a captivating red glow.

That crimson light flickered as if alive, dancing like a tiny flame, firmly captivating her gaze.

Wendy found herself staring blankly at the malevolent glow, her mind momentarily drifting.

For an instant, it seemed as though countless faint whispers drifted to her ears, only to vanish the very next moment.

‘Was that merely an illusion?’

Wendy shook her head, concluding that she must genuinely be exhausted.

It was impolite to meddle with another’s belongings without permission. Thus, Wendy returned the necklace to its place and closed the cabinet door.

Yet, instead of leaving the cabinet, she remained rooted to the spot.

‘How strange… What is happening to me?’

Her body felt undeniably amiss.

Not only was she utterly devoid of strength, but an intense heat consumed her, as if countless tiny snakes were coiling around her, suffocating her.

Her head swam with dizziness, making it impossible to stand steadily.

Wendy swayed precariously, her hand reaching out to steady herself on a nearby chair. In doing so, her fingers brushed against Yalin’s clothes, which hung casually over its back.

The cool sensation of the fabric spread from her fingertips, coursing through her skin, bringing an unprecedented comfort that offered temporary respite from the scorching heat.

But it was not enough… not nearly enough.

To utterly extinguish that fiery sensation, she desperately needed to feel even more comfort.

In her dazed state, Wendy could no longer reason. Yielding to a primal instinct, she tore Yalin’s clothes from the chair and clutched them tightly to her chest.