Bittersweet Laughter

"Lucy, you're not a freak. Don't listen to what others say." Quentin Lin sighed, removed his fingers from Lucy Lou's wrist, and instead took her hand, patting it comfortingly.

Quentin Lin truly couldn't imagine what Lucy Lou had endured. Born different from others, unloved by her parents, and constantly the subject of gossip, if she were a weaker person, she might have given up long ago.

Lucy Lou smiled gratefully at Quentin Lin. "Quentin, thank you. But I'm doing well now. My aunt and uncle found me, rescued me, and brought me back to Weiyuan Manor. They treat me like their own daughter. With my aunt, no one bullies or mocks me anymore."

"That's great! Let the unhappy things stay in the past!" Quentin Lin grinned, pulling a box from his pocket and placing it in Lucy Lou's hand.

"Quentin, what's this?" Lucy Lou looked at the box curiously.

"It's rouge, something girls use. I'm giving it to you! This is from Quentin, so you can't let anyone else use it!" Quentin Lin extended his pinky finger.

Lucy Lou held the box, smiling happily, looking just like an innocent child.

She excitedly cradled the box as if it were a treasure, quickly hooking her pinky with Quentin Lin's. "Okay, I'll use it myself and won't give it to anyone else!"

After speaking, Lucy Lou carefully opened the box and took a sniff. The fragrance inside was delightful and refreshing.

Lucy Lou closed the box and tucked it away safely in her chest, beaming. "I've never received a gift from a friend before!"

Quentin Lin watched Lucy Lou's delighted expression, feeling a pang of sadness. Lucy probably never had any friends growing up. Truth be told, her current appearance was also partly due to the Lin Healers' Forbidden Elixir given by Dr. Leonard Lin. The powder Quentin gave her was Celestial Beauty Powder. Though it couldn't restore her looks, it would at least improve her skin and make her a bit prettier—just a small gesture of compensation from the Lin Family.

Seeing Lucy Lou so happy, Quentin Lin joked, "Lucy, aren't you afraid I gave you poison instead? What if it ruins your face?"

Lucy Lou was stunned for a moment and muttered, "Poison? Why would you give me poison? We don't have any grudges..."

Then she looked up at Quentin Lin, smiling shyly. "I think you're a good kid, Quentin. You wouldn't trick me into ruining my face. Besides..."

Lucy Lou lowered her head, touched her own face, and gave a bittersweet smile. "Besides, I'm already ugly and strange-looking. Even if my face got ruined, it wouldn't matter—I'm a freak anyway. I should've known better than to hope..."

"Alright, Lucy, since you're happy with your life now, just keep being happy! The more you overthink, the more worries you'll have." Quentin Lin stood up. "I have to go back and keep my dad company!"

Lucy Lou lifted her face, her disproportionately large head propped up, eyes filled with reluctant longing—a sight both heartbreaking and oddly endearing.

"Quentin, will you come again tomorrow?" Lucy Lou asked, her eyes full of hope.

"Of course! Until Madam Lou's foot gets better, I'll be here every day," Quentin Lin replied with a grin.