Chapter 148: What Are You Looking At? Eat Your Food - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 148: What Are You Looking At? Eat Your Food In the realm of the divine, belonging solely to Her. An endless sea of flowers stretched as far as the eye could see, their fragrances swirling in the air, swaying with the wind like a dazzling ocean. A deity stood at the heart of this flower-filled expanse. Clad in a gown of light purple, it elegantly enfolded Her slender form. The dress trailed behind Her like a magnificent train, untouched by dust. Her youthful visage remained unchanged, though now exuding a dignity that made it hard to link her to the boldness of that fateful night. Catching a petal drifting by, Her dark eyebrows furrowed slightly. Had something unexpected occurred? Her contemplation was interrupted by a gentle female voice. "Miss Selina, you seem to be troubled." As if to affirm her words, the flowing sea of flowers began to calm. Selina turned around, her face adorned with a smile. "Sister Anna," she called softly. Anna joined her, standing in the center of the floral sea. "Are you still thinking about the Father?" Anna inquired. Selina shook her head, her gaze drifting to the horizon, her expression tinged with a hint of contemplation. "I can sense the Father's presence. We will be reunited one day." Upon hearing this, Anna paused, murmuring an agreement. Then she asked, "If that's the case, what is it that worries you?" With downcast eyes, Selina replied, "It's Eileen." She looked puzzled. "By our agreement, she was supposed to return yesterday, so I could continue searching for the Father's presence." "If her spirit lingers too long without the nourishment of the divine realm, it could be dangerous..." Anna silently moved closer, comforting her as she took Selina's arm, "Maybe something just held her up?" The young woman sighed softly. "One can only hope." ... The rain was pouring harder. Chen An watched the bubbling pot in front of him. Various tempting ingredients bobbed up and down in the broth, one side red, the other white. Steam rose continuously, adding to its appeal. The woman, whose absence had been a cause for concern, now sat contentedly with a bowl in hand, blissfully preoccupied with her meal. Thoughts of returning to the divine realm had long been forgotten. As far as she was concerned, any place with the Father was her true divine realm. Surely, she thought, one more day here, then she would rotate back with Selina—after all, she wasn’t a selfish woman by any means. Eileen mused on this, though she had the same thought yesterday. Of course, the sharing only applied to Selina. She glanced at the woman across from her, her refined brows knitting together. Right, she had to remind Selina to keep an eye on this rebellious student, lest she take advantage of an opportunity to sneak a bite. Luo Cong An, sensing Eileen's ill-intentioned gaze, lifted her eyes to meet hers. Despite the little pot between them, the two were at odds. Chen An frowned. He tapped his chopsticks, trying to muster some semblance of teacherly authority. "What are you looking at? Eat your food." Yet clearly, his attempt was to no avail. Luo Cong An quietly scooted closer to the boy, seating herself beside him anew. She reached out, offering a slice of potato at the boy’s mouth. Noticing Chen An looking over, she blinked and mimicked his earlier tone, "What are you looking at? Eat your food." Chen An was momentarily taken aback, but still opened his mouth to eat. It was soft, with a slight tinge of spice. Luo Cong An laughed—a bright and joyous smile. In that moment, it felt as if time had reversed. Back to when it was Chen An who would feed her. Now, the girl was grown, and the mentor had returned to his youthful form. Their roles had reversed, changing everything yet changing nothing at all. She watched him intently, speaking softly, "Sir, do you remember how you used to feed me like this in that rundown old courtyard?" Chen An paused, chopsticks in hand. His eyes lowered slightly, he smiled, "Of course. Back then, you were shy, unwilling to step out alone. I had to go to the academy." "So I would bring you something on the way back. You weren't picky, you'd eat anything." Though her lips moved, Luo Cong An said nothing. She had wanted to say that she wasn't fearful of strangers back then. She just dreaded leaving the courtyard, returning to those cold, shadowed alleyways. For survival, she was willing to kneel and beg, sacrifice anything. How could she be afraid of strangers? Yet compared to the present moments, those words seemed trivial now. At least her teacher was truly before her. And she was no longer the helpless Luo Cong An, easily deceived. Her delicate lashes trembled slightly, as she clenched her hands. Taking advantage of the cover of the pot, her fair hand discreetly wound around the young man's waist. This unprovoked maneuver, executed so quietly, would have startled anyone less experienced than Chen An. He maintained his calm façade, turned to her, confusion in his eyes. What are you up to? Luo Cong An coughed lightly, her cheeks a rosy hue in the pot's glow. Her voice was gentle as her hand rested lovingly on the boy’s waist. "Sir, having eaten my potatoes, you can't eat anyone else's now..." Their playful exchange was understated, but listening nearby, Eileen was keenly aware. She frowned slightly. Naturally, she had heard the entire conversation between the Father and this mad woman. She didn’t interrupt because she wanted to glean more about the opponent. After all, in a sense, she and the mad woman were competitors. And knowing one's adversary was key to winning. Seeing the Father being fed made Eileen feel a pang of jealousy. Father was just too kind, without a hint of suspicion—what if this wicked woman poisoned him? Eileen was always wary of women trying to get close to the Father with hidden motives. She discreetly moved closer to the boy. In contrast with Luo Cong An, Eileen was far more reserved. Considering her past behavior, such proximity was the most she could do in her excitement. She couldn't help but long for Selina. Would this mad woman have dared act up like this if Selina were here? Chen An, meanwhile, kept his cool, surreptitiously lowering a hand to capture an adventurous hand. It was incredibly soft, carrying a slight chill. Luo Cong An blinked innocently, not making a move. She persisted, "Sir, you still haven’t agreed with me." Chen An's lips parted just as Eileen interrupted. She set down her bowl, leaning in slightly. Looking at the boy, she spoke gently, "Father, could you feed me?" Luo Cong An's expression stiffened. She scoffed, "Feed you? Here, let me feed you instead." (Chapter End)