Behind the closed door, Long smiled faintly.
A quiet sense of victory crept in as he realized he had successfully teased that mischievous older sister. The soft chuckle escaped his lips, light as air, dissolving before it could pass through the thin wall and reach Lia's ears.
How long had it been since his face last relaxed like this? Since his grandfather passed away, his smiles had always been forced, hollow. But this one was different. It was gentle, sincere, born from deep within his heart.
For a long time, Long had been trapped in weariness and uncertainty, letting himself sink into a fog of aimlessness. But now, a small light had begun to glow within the darkness. He finally had a reason to keep moving forward.
The bright bathroom light flooded the space, reflecting the image of a slender teenage boy in the mirror. Long stared at his black T shirt, tough enough that even the goblins' teeth could not tear through it, yet now stained with dark blotches of slime and blood.
He grabbed the hem and pulled it over his head, tossing it into the laundry basket along with the makeshift bandage wrapped around his arm. His gaze lingered briefly on his reflection. Strangely enough, the scratches and bruises on his arms and shoulders from the earlier battle had already healed completely, leaving no trace behind.
He paused for only a second, then calmly turned on the shower. Water poured down, washing away the filth and stench of that cursed dungeon.
When Long stepped out of the bathroom with damp hair, he walked toward the window and stopped. At some point, the sun had already set, leaving the garden outside wrapped in quiet darkness.
As he entered the living room, his eyes were immediately drawn to the petite girl sitting on the sofa, her legs swinging back and forth. Lia was still struggling with the hair dryer. Even after all this time, she had made little progress, awkwardly letting the hot air blow straight into her face, forcing her wide eyes shut. The sight was clumsy and oddly amusing.
She frowned at the device in her hand and pouted.
"Hmph. That annoying brat just left me to suffer all by myself."
"Are you talking bad about me again?"
The voice sounded right beside her ear. Lia jumped in surprise. Long was already standing behind her. She quickly turned around, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.
From this angle, with Long's bangs brushed back to reveal his forehead, Lia could clearly see his features. A sharp jawline, a straight nose, thick eyebrows that gave him a surprisingly masculine look. Most striking of all were his long, naturally curved eyelashes, making his eyes appear deeper than usual.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She hurriedly looked away, cheeks flushing as her left hand unconsciously clenched the hem of her shirt.
Before Lia could calm herself, Long gently touched the back of her wrist. The contact was light, yet the warmth from his fingertips traveled straight into her skin. He slowly guided her hand toward him, his voice low and soothing.
"Let me help you."
That gentle but decisive gesture stripped Lia of her usual teasing demeanor. Her knees pressed together, her legs suddenly stiff and unsure. She did not resist. She quietly handed him the hair dryer and lowered her head, trying to hide the embarrassment spreading across her face.
After a while, her body relaxed, unconsciously enjoying his care. Her gaze drifted around the room before stopping at the framed portrait on the altar.
"Hey, Long. Is that Alex in the picture?"
"Yes," he replied softly. "That's my grandfather."
"Oh. He looks so old. Where is he now? I want to see him."
Long's hands paused mid motion. He looked down at her head, his expression darkening with grief he could not hide.
"My grandfather passed away," he said quietly. "I suppose your world does not have ancestor worship. That picture is a memorial."
Lia's face tightened instantly. Her small frame seemed to shrink even further as her body stiffened. Her breathing became erratic, eyes squeezing shut as a burning sensation rose in her nose.
She could not bring herself to look at Long, staring only at the floor to hide the tears welling up. Before he could react, she stood up abruptly and rushed into the bathroom.
"I… I need to use the restroom for a bit," she said, her voice trembling.
Long reached out instinctively but stopped halfway. He withdrew his hand, stared at the closed bathroom door for a moment, then quietly headed to the kitchen.
Nearly ten minutes later, Lia emerged. Her face was pale, eyes red and swollen from crying. Seeing her like that made Long's chest tighten. He clenched his fists but forced a gentle smile.
"Dinner is ready. Let's eat."
Suddenly, Lia rushed forward and hugged him tightly. The unexpected impact made Long stumble back a step.
"Lia… what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I didn't know your grandfather had passed away. I must have brought back painful memories for you."
Long froze, then felt a wave of tenderness rise within him. He gently placed his hand on her head, stroking it as if comforting a child.
"You silly girl. It happened a long time ago. I've learned to live with it. You're the one who just found out. You're the one who needs comfort. If there's anything I can do to help you feel better, just tell me."
To be honest, holding Lia like this made Long reluctant to let go. Her warmth, softness, and the faint herbal scent surrounding her were strangely intoxicating. At such close distance, he could even feel her heart pounding wildly. Then came a loud growl from her stomach.
Not wanting to let her stay hungry any longer, Long suddenly lifted her up and walked straight toward the dining table. Lia yelped, instinctively clinging to his neck.
"W What are you doing?"
Long simply smiled and gently set her down on the chair, patting her head reassuringly.
"Let's eat."