"Sorry, Aise isn't feeling well today. I'm afraid we can't properly entertain you," Xia Lun said apologetically to Liyana.
"It's... it's fine, Xia Lun. Is the child alright?" Liyana had also noticed something unusual about Aise.
"Don't worry... this is between me and Aina. We'll handle it." Xia Lun waved his hand wearily. "I won't see you out this time. Come visit again another day."
The wooden door closed, and inhuman howls echoed from the second floor of the cabin.
Liyana's expression shifted, but she quickened her pace and left.
"Aise, Aise! Don't be afraid, I'm here! Calm down..." Xia Lun held his son tightly, but Aise, as if struck by overwhelming terror, clawed wildly at the person closest to him, even biting down on Xia Lun's shoulder.
Aise was just a child—his actions couldn’t truly harm Xia Lun.
Aina watched silently before finally stepping forward. She seized Aise from Xia Lun’s arms and delivered a precise chop to the back of his neck, instantly knocking him unconscious.
"Aina, what are you doing—"
Aina grabbed Xia Lun by the collar and forcefully silenced him with a kiss.
A long moment passed before their lips parted, leaving behind a glistening thread between them.
"You're the one who needs to calm down, Xia Lun," Aina murmured, pressing her forehead against his, her gaze unwavering.
Xia Lun opened his mouth, then sighed.
Aise’s breathing had steadied, his small body now lying peacefully on the bed.
"If we can't fix whatever's wrong with Aise... what will become of him?" Xia Lun muttered.
"It's my fault for giving birth to such a freak," Aina said, her expression as still as a lake’s surface.
"No... Aina, how could this be your fault? This has nothing to do with you..." Xia Lun shook his head.
"Then it's your fault—for leaving all that filthy genetic matter inside me," Aina continued.
Xia Lun’s breath hitched, his face flushing red—whether from embarrassment or something else was unclear.
"Clearly, neither of us is at fault, right?" Aina gently pulled Xia Lun into her embrace, pressing him against her chest. "Don't blame yourself so much, Xia Lun."
Xia Lun took a deep breath and whispered, "Thank you... Aina."
"Now, take Aise back to his room," Aina said, patting the bed beside her. "I won’t trouble you tonight. Just rest. I’ll prepare some calming magic for you."
Xia Lun did feel exhaustion weighing on him.
"But..." Aina suddenly added with a stern expression, "You’ll have to make up for today’s missed session later."
......
Aise slowly regained consciousness, staring up at the familiar ceiling.
The first thing he felt was the throbbing in his head.
Next was the burning pain at the back of his neck, as if it had been set aflame.
As the pain settled in, a complicated look flickered in Aise’s eyes.
Though only three years old, he possessed intelligence and maturity far beyond his age.
He knew he had never been like the "normal" children his parents spoke of.
Smiles, hugs, affection, concern—all of it was like an allergen to him, making his skin crawl.
And yet, his foolish father still hadn’t realized it, still believing he suffered from some rare illness.
His mother, however, seemed to have noticed. After all, Aise spent more time with her. Aina didn’t speak much, nor did she force affection on him—this distance was the only thing that made Aise feel slightly at ease.
Aise sat up slowly and pulled open a drawer in his desk, retrieving a small transparent bottle filled with common insects.
He unscrewed the lid, carefully plucked out a ladybug, and held it between his thumb and forefinger, examining it closely.
The ladybug’s six legs wriggled desperately, its wings fluttering as it tried to escape.
Then, Aise’s fingers tightened—crushing the insect instantly.
Yellow-green fluid and shattered exoskeleton smeared across his fingertips, a disgusting sight, yet Aise’s face twisted with something like rapture.
"This is... life..."
After wiping his fingers clean, his expression returned to its usual blankness.
Then, pain flickered across his young face. "No... why did I do that? Father says it’s wrong..."
Trembling, Aise clutched at his chest, nails digging into his skin through his clothes, leaving red marks.
"Father... is right. I’m the one who’s wrong. Love... is good. Father loves me, and I... love Father..."
Every word seemed to cause him unbearable agony.
Aise doubled over, dry heaving as if trying to expel his very organs.
Finally, pale and drenched in cold sweat, he collapsed onto the bed.
"I just have to get used to it... can’t let it show... can’t make Father worry... gag!"
"I love Father."
"I love... Father."
"I love... Father..."
......
"Aise... are you alright?" Xia Lun crouched down, worry etched on his face as he studied his son.
"I’m fine, Father. I feel perfectly fine." Aise forced a strained smile, his eyes bloodshot.
Xia Lun noticed the trembling left hand hidden in Aise’s sleeve and slowly stood, putting some distance between them.
"In a few days, your mother and I plan to leave this place—return to the city we used to live in. There’ll be many other people there... will you be okay?" Xia Lun asked cautiously.
"Of course, Father. With you and Mother, I’ll be just fine," Aise replied with a light laugh.
Xia Lun blinked, a flicker of relief crossing his face.
"Aina... Aise seems to be doing better."
"Hm." Aina gave a cool nod, her piercing gaze lingering on Aise as if trying to dissect him.
Aise looked up and flashed his mother an innocent smile.
He really did like her.
Even if she didn’t seem to care much for him, Aise didn’t mind.
What he couldn’t understand was why she loved his father. In Aise’s eyes, Aina shouldn’t love anyone—that would have been more fitting.
But it didn’t matter.
Aise was clever. He had already found his way to survive.
He was a monster. To live among ordinary people, he only needed to pretend to be one of them.
That was what Father would want to see.
So he would keep pretending.
Pretend until the day he died.