It was the essence of time left behind after pain and suffering.

And this kind of growth was irreversible.

It was like how Snakel’s death aged Gu Mengmeng by a thousand years overnight. Elvis and Lea took two years to gradually pull her out of that abyss.

How much love and affection had they poured into her to rebuild her former innocent manner. But only Gu Mengmeng herself knew that there were some things which were irreversible. She had to continuously remind herself to be happy, to be cheerful. She could not let her own emotions drag down the people around her. But this pressure was slowly tearing her apart. One side of her struggling to maintain a smile during the day. The other side of her secretly crying at night.

How many times in her dreams had she seen Elvis carrying her broken body into the cave, after she had been torn into by Ellie. He would say as he kissed her “seems like one would really get their retribution for teasing a married woman… it is like cutting one’s chest open to take their heart out…”. She would always wake up in fright after that. But apart from widening her eyes, she dared not even sit up or cry out, for fear of letting Elvis and Lea discover that she was having nightmares again.

Then what about Sandy?

Only four of her original nine partners were left. Did it mean that Sandy had endured five times the pain that Gu Mengmeng had gone through? After all, she only took on males whom she liked.

This type of growing up—how could Gu Mengmeng’s heart not ache for her?

Gu Mengmeng continued to hold Sandy’s little hand, but she didn’t know what to say to comfort her.

Only those who had experienced the same thing could understand just how meaningless those easily-spouted words of comfort were?

Anyone who had never been stabbed could easily say “How painful could that be? Just bear with it and it would pass.”

Sandy smiled back. “Don’t worry, I am fine already.”

Gu Mengmeng jumped down from Elvis’ arm and hugged Sandy. “Mmm, I believe you.”

Sandy returned Gu Mengmeng’s hug. She gave a loud exhale, as if finally expelling all the pain and suffering she had kept suppressed inside her.

She then sat up straight again and continued. “My current way of thinking is to choose a few powerful males from the wolf beasts. Ideally those who can be promoted to the fourth-level after partnering. In this way, by the time you all leave after the drought season, Hede and Jialue will someone they can use. Given their own status plus the power of my partners, I believe no wolf beast would dare show any disloyalty.”

Gu Mengmeng chuckled. “You are saying you wish to enhance your family’s power, but in reality, you are entering into a marriage of alliance with the wolf race?”

Sandy gave a light smile. “Marriage of alliance is true. But it is also true that I wish to enhance my family’s power. I asked to discuss this with you as I was afraid you will misunderstand and let your thoughts run wild.”

Gu Mengmeng pinched Sandy. “I am already having wild thoughts.”

Sandy shook her head. “Stop having those thoughts then.”

Gu Mengmeng said, “Elvis is the wolf king and he is my partner. To the wolf race, this is already the best marriage of alliance. You really don’t need to sacrifice yourself.”

Sandy smiled. “But you won’t be at Sauder all the time. I am the closest to the wolf king’s family and so am the best choice for a marriage of alliance, aren’t I? I had planned all along to choose new partners anyway. And because of my ties to you and Elvis, my range of choices have widened a lot despite the fact that I am only a half-beast female. From this point of view, I am the one benefiting. How come you are acting like I am being treated unfairly?”

Gu Mengmeng pouted. According to the ways of the Beast World, Sandy’s words were true. But she still felt very uncomfortable about it.