How to become a sea witch

From seven o'clock in the morning, she sat in the corner of the second floor of the Jungle Bar, next to a transparent floor-to-ceiling window, staring out of the window with her eyes empty, until crystal clear water drops fell on the glass like stars, Only then did she realize that it had started to rain.

In less than 3 minutes, this gloomy drizzle gradually developed into the most common torrential rain in summer.The torrent of water was blown by the wind and rushing randomly on the window, making a whining sound similar to the wailing of animals.The cloud layer carried a large amount of water mist from the ocean, and it was turbid and heavy on the top of the head, rolling continuously.

According to the Cheshire Cat, the next three days will be such a sunny day.

After withdrawing her gaze, Bernice took the thick sea salt milk ice cream in front of her, scooped up a ball with a spoon and stuffed it into her mouth.A burst of icy sweetness melted away immediately, making her feel cool, but at the same time, she couldn't help but think of the scene where she promised to start with Thiago from now on as if she was bewitched yesterday.

She almost wondered if she had been hypnotized by the other party at that moment? Otherwise, how could she muster such terrible courage? It was even more courageous than the courage she had had in the previous hundreds of years.

The most important thing is that now that she has calmed down, the uneasiness and anxiety of being late have gradually taken over.

Bernice bit the spoon, her delicate eyebrows were almost furrowed together, and at the same time, she reflected on why she was so impulsive yesterday, and she actually agreed to the other party.

What happened then?

Shouldn't we just continue to hang out, until the conversation moves in a safe direction?

Is she really out of her mind?

but……

Thinking back to yesterday, after he uttered the phrase "yes" in a slight way, Thiago was stiff for a moment, and then he seemed to be stimulated by something, even the gentleness and calmness of the past were temporarily thrown aside.

He held Bernice's face in his arms, and lowered his head to touch her forehead. The joy and brightness in the clear blue pupils almost overflowed and burned her eyes, and even his voice was dyed with an imperceptible tremor.

Bernice rarely saw such an obvious expression of emotion from him.In my impression, apart from the last time I almost escaped but was caught by him, this should be the only time.

In a daze, under Tiago's coaxing, she obediently repeated the words over and over again, such as they will start again, and she promises not to leave again, until he finally laughed loosely and turned his head to bite Her earlobe, kissed the delicate skin behind her ear that was rarely touched carefully.Some small air sounds mixed with whispers calling her name fell into her cochlea one after another, causing intense and unsettled waves in her heart.

What was she thinking at that time?

Bernice mechanically scooped up the ice cream and put it into her mouth one by one. She was shivered by the low temperature in her mouth, and finally recalled him smiling happily.

Clean and warm, with a kind of handsome boyishness that really matches his appearance age, very real and vivid, completely different from his usual appearance.

It was the first time that Bernice stretched out her hand proactively and carefully, tentatively, and slowly touched the other person's face, seeing him lower his eyes and tilt his head to rub against her palm, and the water flowing between his fingers All that came out was his soft and cold long hair.

For a moment, she thought she saw Thiago as a child.When he didn't know anything, he was so docile and well-behaved that people couldn't refuse.

At the same time, Bernice also seemed to gradually understand why the succubi in the Fallen Garden were always persistently trying to seduce the guardian angels.

In addition to the nature of being a succubus, this feeling of rubbing a timeless and dust-free statue into the smoke and fire of the world with one's own hands, watching it continue to be soaked and sinking, is indeed very satisfying.

But Bernice wasn't keen on chasing that feeling.

After all, this process is extremely dangerous and quite uncontrollable, and she has always been a lover of risk aversion.

However, at that moment, when she looked at the mermaid in front of her, she would briefly have the illusion that he and herself were in the same world.Terrible.

I don't know since when, she seemed to be infected by all kinds of emotions on Thiago, and felt a little happy because of his happiness.

Thinking of this, Bernice sighed resignedly, and continued to stuff ice cream into her mouth.

When the ice cream in the bowl was about to run out, Rebecca came up with some cold drinks ordered by other guests.

When she saw Bernice, she quickly finished the drink in her hand, then quickly walked up to her, took out a card with dried sage flowers from her skirt pocket, and handed it over: "Berness, Can I invite you to my birthday party tonight? It’s here, and all the friends I know are here, so I’m missing you.”

"Invite me?" Bernice looked at the card in surprise and then at her, but she didn't take it immediately, she just stirred the melting ice cream balls in the bowl with a spoon, and sincerely suggested, "I think you Don't think about it anymore? Otherwise, your friends may be very uncomfortable at that time."

"It doesn't matter, you know most of them anyway." She smiled, and the pair of clear eyes under the brim of the red hat also bent into two lovely crescents, "Then it's settled? Come to the party at seven o'clock in the evening , I will prepare your favorite snacks in advance."

It could be seen that her wish to invite herself to this birthday party was so sincere and enthusiastic, and it was hard for Bernice to refuse for a while.

Moreover, if you come here to participate in the party, you can also temporarily avoid the possibility of going to the observation center to meet Thiago...

What a shameful but useful escape.

This is another serious consequence of hastily agreeing to something that she is obviously not good at. She doesn't know how to get along with the other party in that capacity.This problem has given her a headache all night, and she can't help but want to avoid the problem by her most commonly used procrastination and dodging tactics whenever she encounters something that makes her anxious or feels threatened. impulse.

The survival instinct cultivated by creatures is really too difficult to overcome.

Bernice slandered guiltily, and nodded to Rebecca without much hesitation: "If this is what you wish, I will come. Happy birthday, little beauty."

"That's great, see you tonight."

"See you tonight."

Time slipped by in the dense clatter of rain.Before seven o'clock, Bernice had already arrived in the bar hall that had not yet been furnished.

As soon as the door was pushed open, a screaming magical balloon came out of the crack of the door. Before it could fly into the sky, it was easily captured by Bernice's magic power, and it was thrown back to the front door. Cheshire Cat floating in mid-air: "Need help?"

"We just need someone here who can make those evil spirits obedient." The Cheshire Cat grinned at her, looking extremely eerie and weird, showing neat white teeth.

She walked in the direction pointed by the other party's upturned tail, and saw the group of devil flowers neighing and fighting for a dead bloody rabbit carcass, feeling a little puzzled: "Why do you use this kind of flower for the birthday party?" For decoration?"

"That's not a decoration." Jack of Hearts, who was carrying a thick log trunk on one shoulder, explained casually, "It's a cleaning helper who will help us clean up the leftover food residue after the party."

"You guys are quite thoughtful." Bernice nodded, and then picked up one of the vicious flowers that was grinning with blood on its face, and pressed its thumb against its calyx, preventing it from lowering its head and biting itself.

Automatically dismissing the excessively sharp warning snort as if she didn't hear it, Bernice neatly kicked the empty basin next to it and stuffed it in, followed by the second and third flowers.

The Evil Spirit Flower that had been choked became even more irritable. It shook its head and opened its mouth full of narcotic poison and small fangs, ready to bite off a piece of Bernice's flesh as a reward when it was not paying attention. Retaliation, but the other party noticed it in advance.

In an instant, a strong shadow emanated from the sea witch in front of him.The absolute suppression caused by the gap in magic power made the group of evil spirits quiet in no time, and they didn't even bother to fight when the rabbit's corpse fell to the ground.

It can be seen from this that it is more suitable for me to be a villain.While thinking silently, Bernice speeded up her movements, and finally put them all into pots.

At this time, the door of the bar opened again, and she saw a tall and tall white figure walking in against the cloudy gray light outside.

Fortunately.

Before her feet had their own thoughts and immediately took her away, her gaze first noticed the iconic six wings on the back of the opponent.

It's Gabriel.

And he obviously also saw Bernice, and the sight in the golden eyes flickered subtly, but his face remained unchanged, maintaining the serious and serious expression.

"Archangel." She hugged the evil essence flower in her arms, which was holding a specimen with her mouth closed, and bowed to him habitually.

Gabriel also replied with a simple salute: "Your Majesty just asked me if I saw you, I didn't expect you to be here."

"Ah...really?" Bernice blinked and quickly changed the subject, "Speaking of which, the Archangel also came to Rebecca's birthday party, right?"

He hummed casually and pursed his lips slightly unnaturally, as if he had been told some secret.

Bernice noticed this subtle change in him, and suddenly felt that her vision had increased again, and she couldn't help feeling: "Rebecca is probably the only one who can make you take the time to come to the party in person."

"Actually, apart from you, I have never seen Your Majesty cherish anything else like this." He replied lightly.

As expected of an archangel, speaking directly hits the vitals.

Bernice felt that if the conversation continued, her blood bar would be cleared sooner or later, so she responded vaguely, and was about to turn around and leave with the Evil Flower in her arms.

The overly obvious evasive move made Gabriel move slightly in his heart, and he took the initiative to call out to the other party: "Miss Sea Witch."

"What?" She turned her head and saw that the other party was looking at her intently.

There was a sharp and straightforward light in those overly brilliant golden eyes, which made her feel as if she was being dissected from the inside out by some invisible blade, and even her back couldn't help but tense and feel chilly.

"Have you encountered any troubles, or had a conflict with Your Majesty?" he asked.

"Why do you ask that all of a sudden?" Bernice was at a loss.

"You don't seem to be willing to mention things related to Your Majesty, and he happened to ask me about your whereabouts just now, so..."

"Oh... that one."

She blinked, trying to find an excuse to prevaricate, but it happened that Rebecca called Gabriel from the second floor.

The girl in the red dress wearing a crown of flowers was waving happily at him, with a pure and bright smile on her face: "I thought you couldn't come."

"I promised you." Gabriel said, turning his head to look at Bernice again, "Although I don't know exactly what happened, Your Majesty looks worried."

Not only because she didn't show up at the observation center all day today, but also because of the incident that Grendel was killed in the early morning.He guessed that Bernice didn't know about it yet, but considering Thiago's confession in advance, it's best to wait until he sees Bernice himself before telling her, and Gabriel didn't intend to mention it at this time , just simply suggested: "If you want, please have a good chat with Your Majesty."

After speaking, he imitated Bernice's most frequently used words, and added sincerely: "I believe this will be good for all of us."

Bernice: "..."

It's so ruthless, I was hit to the core again.

She nodded vaguely, holding the Evil Spirit Flower, which was still struggling to maintain the shape of the specimen, fled all the way to the open space full of tables, chairs and flowers outside the house.

Just as she put down the flowerpot in her hand, a strange rustling sound suddenly attracted her.

It was a giant cocoon hanging upside down on a cedar tree, and the creatures inside the cocoon had been tightly wrapped by filaments with a faint pearly halo, leaving only one small hole that had not been completely sealed, revealing a A drowsy wrinkled blue face.

Bernice walked over to have a look curiously, and recognized the other party at a glance: "Ralph?"

The famous intelligent insect in the underground kingdom, one of Queen White's most trusted military advisers, has also helped her several times, and is one of the few elves in the original world who have a good relationship with her.

"How did you become like this?" She looked at the other party's dying appearance in surprise, and quickly said, "Wait a minute, I'll help you out right away."

"Don't worry, Bernice." Ralph stopped slowly with a hoarse voice, even the simple action of opening the eyelids seemed so slow and difficult, "This is just a necessary step for me to get a new life." It’s just a painful process.”

"New life?"

"Every butterfly in the world has evolved from a caterpillar, and I'm going through this process right now."

"That's right." Bernice nodded half-understanding.

Too limited land life experience is not enough for her to fully understand the relationship between butterflies and caterpillars, these two seemingly unrelated creatures, but she substituted the growth process of the moon jellyfish that used to be her food【1】 , the feeling should be little difference.

"It's fine, it's the first time I saw you like this, it scared me."

After hearing what she said, Ralph opened his eyes again with great difficulty. The amber eyeballs lost their luster and were hollow like two clumps of cloudy stiff resin: "It's the first time I've seen you like this, but it seems that the two of us It's almost there."

"what?"

"You look worried, don't you?" Ralph said, moving his head slightly, and more filaments grew out, constantly eroding the only breathing space he had left, making his tone of speech more drawn out. Condensed and stiff, as if he would die at any time, "They are also like this cocoon that wraps me, imprisoning you airtight."

This can be regarded as a particularly unflattering ability of the sapient. He can easily feel the emotions of others and analyze them.

"For the sake of helping you before, can you tell me if this annoying ability to see through people's hearts will improve after you become a butterfly? I'm considering whether to avoid you in the future." Bernice shrugged and said half-jokingly, "Fortunately, you are not a marine creature, otherwise I would have to find a way to settle on land."

"The question you asked is about the future, and I can only answer you in the future."

Ralph replied slowly: "But this change will affect everything about me, there is no doubt about it."

"You mean you can fly?"

"Flying is just a form, Bernice. I mean something deeper."

"I can't guarantee that I understand what you mean."

"When you were a kid, did you see the world the same as you see it today?"

She froze for a moment, the light in her light green eyes dimmed a bit: "Of course not."

"Then so do I."

Ralph replied, in a voice so slow that he was about to fall asleep, and on his wrinkled blue face was a tranquility that Bernice had never seen before.It was as if he was immersed in a weird world full of wonders she couldn't comprehend and see: "When I was just a sapient, I had to cling to trees or land, and what I saw And it's only a small part of the world.

But when I transform into a butterfly, what I feel will be completely different.Where it used to take me a long time to go, I will soon be there in the future.This life-extending change, which affects how I look at everything, is fascinating. "

"Charming?" Bernice repeated with a frown, her attitude subconsciously cold. "Maybe, after all, there are very few creatures who are less lucky than me. The changes that may happen to them are very important to them." It's charming."

"I'm sorry if my words made you feel bad, Bernice."

Ralph said weakly: "I just want to say that I look forward to such a change. The change of vision will allow me to gain more wisdom that I didn't have before, at least I think so."

After a short silence, Bernice suddenly asked: "Then what if...these changes bring you not only the wisdom or strength you want, but also make you fall into a worse situation?"

"Are you saying it's worse than I am now?" Ralph asked, his expression changed slightly, "If I don't accept it, then I will be smothered in a cocoon with nowhere to go. On the contrary, if I accept the change , Trying my best to break free, no matter what I encounter, at least I am alive, I have more strength and wisdom, and I can use this to fight against all the pain I encounter, and I have realized the meaning of my life."

"The meaning of living?" Bernice seemed a little confused by this sentence, because all along, she only thought about how to live, and never thought about such an overly vague and abstract question.

She suddenly remembered Thiago's calm expression when he looked at everything in the world, as if he was looking at countless busy dust. It seemed that everything about them was meaningless to this supreme god.

This thought made her heart sink. She blinked and forced herself not to think about it anymore. She only continued to ask absent-mindedly: "Then what does it mean to live meaningfully?"

“The word meaning itself is very subjective.”

Ralph said softly: "For me, what I pursue is more wisdom and a broader horizon. As long as I can get these, I think my life is meaningful, even if others don't necessarily do so. Think. So, similarly, it is inappropriate to use other people's standards to measure the meaning of one's own life.

No matter what it is, no matter what other people think is worth it or not, as long as you feel that you have no regrets and finally got what you have been chasing, then all the time is worthwhile. "

"So you see, there is no need to ask others whether it is meaningful to live. Just ask yourself whether you have got what you want most."

"What do you want? Have you got them?" He asked, his aging voice seemed to carry the dust of endless time, so thick that Bernice felt her whole body tremble.

Yeah, what does she want?

What she wanted most in the past was to live, and she has done it.

Later, she wanted to not be bullied by other demons and to have enough ability to protect herself, and she got it.

Later, she hoped that she could get rid of the curse on her body and live a peaceful life like the beginning.

This, too, seems within reach.

"Yes." She lowered her eyelashes, and her voice didn't sound so sure, "I think I've got it."

"Then, all the suffering and sorrow you've been through, all the struggles and the price, it means a lot. It's a big deal."

"Really?" Her eyes brightened slightly.

"Of course. There are many creatures in this world who have never gotten what they want in their entire lives, and have never even thought about it. There are very few who can figure it out and do it successfully. "

This time, Bernice did not answer, but was quietly thinking about something.A clear uneasiness and melancholy lingered between her brows and eyes.

Sensing her emotional change, Ralph took the initiative to say: "You seem to be afraid, because you have no confidence in the things you have? Do you think they will disappear at any time?"

"...Yes." Bernice admitted reluctantly, she was not used to the feeling of being easily seen through.

"Then throw it away." Ralph lightly suggested, "Anyway, it's something you're sure will be lost sooner or later. Relatively speaking, the sooner you throw it away, the less damage it will cause, isn't it?"

This answer was completely beyond Bernice's expectations. She tried her best to swallow the rejection that had subconsciously rushed to her lips, and only kept silent with her brows furrowed even more. After a long while, she murmured and replied: "It's not that Sure……"

"So, it's not that you don't have confidence in that thing, but in yourself who owns it?" Ralph struggled to open a slit of his eyelids, his eyes covered with a layer of translucent white clouded his eyes dully. watching her.

As if she had been stabbed in some of the most fragile thoughts, Bernice shifted her gaze to a farther place, and saw the golden-red sunset that was about to fall behind the mountains, and a large piece of twilight that dragged away flourished above her head Burning, the fall is covered with a flame-colored afterglow.

"If you got something you didn't deserve, would you be upset about it?"

"Then what does it take to be worthy?" Ralph asked strangely, "Are there any specific rules or rigid requirements?"

Bernice was stunned by his question for a second, and then shook her head after a while: "No, it's just..."

"It's just that everyone else thinks so, including yourself, doesn't it?"

"That's it."

He looked at the other party quietly, and that kind of dead and dull gaze gave Bernice the feeling that she was being watched by a fossil.

"Do you care about other people's opinions?" He asked, but there were not many questions in his old tone, as if he already knew the answer, and he just asked it routinely.

Bernice hesitated for a few seconds, then shook her head: "I don't think I am."

Otherwise, she would have gone crazy. After all, looking around, the entire sea clan basically hated her, and she couldn't care less.

"Then, the core problem still lies with yourself."

"……I do not quite understand."

"Look, judging from the questions you just wondered, whether it's the meaning of living or whether you are worthy of what you have now. As long as you rule out your concern for other people's eyes, the only remaining obstacle is you own thoughts."

Bernice was silent, and heard him go on to say: "Another question, are you sure this is what you really want? Because you seem to be hesitant. We all know that when a creature is extremely When you long for something, even if you know the hope is slim, you will still go for it. After you get it, you will try your best to hold it in your hands, lest it will be taken away by others. But you don’t seem to have this reaction, you seem to be Scared to have it."

"What are you afraid of?"

What a familiar question, Lambert asked her once.The illusion of overlapping time and space made Bernice dazed for a moment.

"You think you don't deserve to have such a thing, I'm curious, why? Please forgive my poor wording, whether it was taken by you with dishonorable means, so every time you see it, you will feel guilty or even afraid face?"

Bernice froze suddenly after being questioned by him, and subconsciously wanted to escape from this disturbing topic.After all, she didn't have the habit of sharing her past with others easily, which would make her feel very uneasy.

However, it is not clear whether it is because she wants too much to get rid of the current state that makes her feel at a loss, or because of something else.A small voice was always yelling repeatedly in Bernice's mind, urging her to speak out, to listen to Ralph's opinion, maybe she would get the answer, instead of continuing to rely on anxiety and avoidance. Solve the problem.

So, after thinking about it for a long time, Bernice finally nodded and admitted with great difficulty: "Because, I got it by lying, so..."

She didn't say any more, and it seemed that the frankness made her very uncomfortable.

"I see." Ralph sighed softly. "Then, its original owner still doesn't know the truth of the matter, does he?"

"No, he already knew."

"...Really, that's quite surprising."

Ralph pondered for a moment, then asked: "Since the original owner already knew that this was your lie, did he ask you to return it?"

"not at all."

Bernice shook her head, and after a pause for a few seconds, she added softly: "Actually, he gave me a better one, but..."

This answer silenced Ralph again.

After a short silence, he continued: "So you think that what you have now is because of your lies. It makes you feel that you don't deserve it, does it?"

"Almost." Bernice replied vaguely.

That's one of the reasons, the other...

"However, that lie no longer exists, and the other party already knows the truth."

"That's what I said..."

"I think you seem to be ignoring a more obvious cause, which is yourself."

Ralph said: "In this matter, there are three crucial existences, you, the original owner, and your lie.

It is true that lies can deceive you into things that should not be yours.But when the lie is exposed, this false bond no longer exists.In my opinion, the only reason left for him to make such a move is you yourself. "

"He was willing to give you such things for you, not a so-called lie. If he still didn't know, then we can think that the role of lies at that time. But now, I think he is willing."

Bernice suffocated, the expression on her face was not relaxed, but even more tense, it was so obvious that she couldn't even cover it up.

At this time, the white cloud covering Ralph's eyeballs became more obvious.He sighed tremblingly, showing a confused tone for the first time: "This inference seems to make you more scared. I don't quite understand it, because it seems to me to be a very good thing."

"Maybe... I mean, yeah, that's a really good thing."

"But it scares you."

Ralph hit her where she hurts: "Are you afraid of something good to happen to you?"

"No one will refuse to meet you." Bernice's words flickered.

"Except for you." Ralph was not misled by her words, "You are afraid of encountering, and think that you do not deserve such a thing. Why do you think so?"

In Bernice, Ralph saw a very contradictory state.She doesn't care about anyone's eyes, and she is not afraid of the malice imposed on her by any creature. She is easy to use all kinds of lies and tricks, and she seems to be a very self-conscious demon.

But at the same time, she will be afraid of other people's kindness to her, and even good things that happen to herself will make her feel panicked.

He was suddenly curious about what her living environment was like.

"I just think it shouldn't be like this, at least...it shouldn't be me."

"Why not? You never answered that question."

why?

Bernice struggles to find answers.

"You don't deserve all this kindness and beauty. Who told you that?" Ralph asked.

In his opinion, this is still a matter of Bernice's own thinking. She seems so free and easy that she doesn't care about anything, but she is inexplicably extremely inferior.

And it was this last sentence that made Bernice start to tremble uncontrollably.

Ralph's voice seemed etched directly into her mind, asking who told her that.

Who repeated in front of her over and over again that you are a waste, you don't deserve any preferential treatment, and no one will care about your feelings.

"They are all looking forward to your death, and the only one you can rely on is me."

"Who would believe a liar? If you really believed in your so-called friendship, why didn't you just tell him what you did?"

"Look at yourself, you are useless except for your sweet words. If I find out that you dare to betray me, then I will throw you out, and let the mermaids in the entire Abyss Sea God Realm come and see the one who was raped." The children raised by sea witches, let them know what you've done, and what do you think they'll do to you?"

"Useless things."

This is the sentence she hears most often in her impression.

She was born as an ordinary jellyfish, not as powerful as a demon, even if she is bullied and humiliated, she has no ability to fight back.

She knew that those fish carcasses that were deliberately thrown in front of her and eaten by other demons were a kind of malicious contempt for herself.But when she was about to die of starvation, she didn't have time to care so much, she just swallowed the leftovers that were no longer fresh with harsh laughter, and ate as much as possible.

At this time, someone suddenly pointed at her and laughed loudly and said, "Do you think she looks like a dog that no one wants?"

Bernice stared blankly at the other party, not knowing what dog she was talking about, but cautiously retorted amid increasingly exaggerated sneers: "...I'm not a dog."

Mother said that she is the most obedient little jellyfish, not a dog.

But they didn't listen, they were still pointing at her and laughing, and tore off the translucent umbrella-shaped head curtain covering her face one after another, watching her curled up on the bottom of the sea because of the severe pain and screaming, her body restrained. She kept convulsing and convulsing, but still felt that it was not fun enough, so she was forced to crawl to eat the little food left.

The great pain of a part of her body being torn apart made Bernice unable to move at all, but the demons did not let her go. Instead, they pressed her on the sea sand, stuffed the carrion of flying fish into her mouth, and cursed at her. She can only pick up the leftovers they ate to make food, just like those stray dogs who were abandoned by people.

"An ugly thing that no one wants! You don't even have the strength to struggle, it's just a waste." They sneered and insulted, and finally left because Bernice's resistance was too weak.

Such a dark time, like a nightmare that she could never shake off, was so heavy that she couldn't breathe.Even after she inherited all the magical powers of the sea witch and killed all the sea devils who changed their faces and began to kneel at her feet and beg for forgiveness, the hatred in her heart could not completely disappear.

But at the same time, what took root in her mind were the humiliation and abuse she had heard countless times.

It is like a hideous monster, whenever Bernice's heart moves, it will crawl out and repeat the words it heard to her over and over again:

You don't deserve them, you're a useless piece of shit.Sooner or later he will see it, and sooner or later you will lose him.

Hide like you used to, unwanted dog.

Bernice took a deep breath, feeling that something warm was about to drip from her eye sockets, she closed her eyes and tried to bear it back.

"You look sad," Ralph said softly, "but it wasn't my intention, Bernice, and I'm sorry. I just want to tell you that the problems you're worrying about are actually your own Negative perceptions of what you do, and you have to learn to change that."

"Nothing." She blinked quickly until her vision became clear again, "Thank you for your suggestion. It's just..."

She didn't go on, but Ralph already understood: "In fact, sometimes, we are always more willing to trust others than ourselves, and there is nothing to be ashamed about."

"It's just that the person who is still willing to give you better things even though he knows your lies, do you believe him?"

Bernice pursed her lips, the furrows on her brows never loosened, and she finally nodded after a while: "Yes, I think I believe him."

"So sometimes when you are struggling, it is also a good attempt to give the other party the right to choose."

"Option?"

"As I said, things that will be lost sooner or later, relatively speaking, the sooner they are lost, the less damage will be caused."

Ralph said: "Since you have no