Rumors of the Church

The Church of Saint Lia is a church established by members who worship the Goddess of Light.

It has existed for countless years since its founding, but because it was the first church ever established in the world, compared to churches that worship other gods, it is absolutely in a league of its own.

“Su Mo, come preach with me.”

In a branch of the Church of Saint Lia, a white-haired girl wearing a nun’s outfit shouted at the boy lying on a branch of a tree.

“I’m telling you, Xiao Ying, why do we go do such boring things every day? If they believed in this stuff, they would have come on their own already. Do we really need to go find them every day?”

Although he said this, the boy obediently jumped down from the tree, his face showing a helpless expression as he looked at the smiling girl in front of him.

That’s right.

He was Su Mo, returned from Edenia, who had been picked up one night while unconscious by a trainee nun from the Saint Lia Church branch during her evening walk.

And the girl in front of him, now called Xiao Ying, was that same girl.

“Hehe, even though you said you didn’t want to, Su Mo, you still obediently came down, didn’t you?

Alright, alright, just come walk with me, okay? It would be boring to go alone.”

Xiao Ying, smiling, said this and directly took Su Mo’s hand, leading him outside.

“Hey! Slow down! Those people aren’t going anywhere!”

Pulled abruptly by her sudden strength and stumbling, Su Mo quickly regained his balance and followed her.

Looking at the soft, delicate white hand in his, Su Mo smiled lightly and then quickened his pace to walk alongside Xiao Ying.

Even so, their hands remained clasped.

“So, Su Mo, how have you been living at the church lately? Have you gotten used to life here?”

Xiao Ying asked, glancing at Su Mo as they walked.

“It’s okay, I guess. But those people, always acting all mystical like some kind of cult, it’s a bit annoying.

Also, why do you ask that every day? Like a nagging mom.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ying’s face showed anger, her lips puffing out.

She stopped walking, released Su Mo’s hand, and placed her hands on her hips like a little adult, dissatisfied, saying:

“I picked you up, Su Mo! So I have the duty to take good care of you! And don’t call me a nag! My age is almost the same as yours!”

Seeing Xiao Ying in this puffed-up, little-cat-like state, Su Mo didn’t feel scared at all—in fact, he found it quite cute.

But he didn’t dare speak his thoughts aloud, or Xiao Ying might really bite him.

Don’t ask how Su Mo knew—he learned that the hard way.

So, he could only pretend to surrender:

“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. Please forgive my rudeness just now, beautiful, cute, and young Miss Ying.”

His tone was perfunctory, showing no real sincerity, but Xiao Ying was satisfied, nodding with a smile.

She lowered her hands from her hips and naturally held Su Mo’s hand again, and they continued walking.

“Um… Su Mo, have any of your memories returned?”

Walking along, Xiao Ying asked again, her face showing concern as she looked at Su Mo.

“……”

Su Mo was silent for a moment, then sighed and shook his head.

“No, there’s no sign of them coming back. Except for the name ‘Su Mo,’ I don’t remember anything before I lost consciousness.”

At this, Su Mo’s brows furrowed.

Since Xiao Ying had picked him up and he awoke at the church, he had forgotten everything from his past; aside from the name Su Mo, his memory was a blank.

“Don’t worry! You’ll remember eventually! Until then, I’ll take good care of you, Su Mo!”

Seeing Su Mo frown, Xiao Ying tightly held his hand, her concern obvious. Seeing this, Su Mo smiled and said:

“Why are you talking about me like I’m a little pet? And I don’t want to be some kept man.

Besides, you want to take care of me? Take care of yourself first! You can’t even cook.”

Su Mo poked Xiao Ying’s forehead with his finger, only to be swatted away.

Xiao Ying covered her forehead with both hands, looking embarrassed, a faint blush coloring her soft, pink face.

“You can’t blame me. It’s all because your cooking is too good, Su Mo.”

When he awoke, Xiao Ying feared he had gone hungry during his long unconsciousness, so she brought him some food from the church.

But when he took the first bite, the waxy texture almost made him vomit.

And for some reason, he felt the scene was oddly familiar, as if he had experienced it before.

Yet, unfortunately, Su Mo did not recall anything.

After that, Su Mo asked to borrow the church’s kitchen and, to Xiao Ying’s astonishment, displayed exquisite culinary skills.

To this day, Su Mo remembers Xiao Ying’s mouth opening in surprise, saying in disbelief:

“The food is glowing! This is a miracle!”

Then, like a child who had been starving for decades, she ate nonstop.

At that moment, her true foodie nature was revealed.

Once accustomed to otherworldly food, anyone who tastes it will never go back.

Since tasting Su Mo’s cooking, Xiao Ying could no longer eat the church’s meals. Fearing his skills would make him the church’s official cook, they secretly cooked for themselves.

So, when Xiao Ying’s foodie nature was exposed and Su Mo mentioned it, she immediately blushed.

“It’s okay, that kind of Xiao Ying is also very cute.”

Su Mo reached out and patted Xiao Ying’s head, smiling.

“Hehe…”

Xiao Ying, touched on the head, gave a silly smile, and they held hands again.

“By the way! Su Mo, have you heard the latest rumors in the church?”

Almost leaving the church, Xiao Ying suddenly exclaimed as if she remembered something.

“What rumors? You know I don’t like hearing all that mystical stuff.”

Su Mo asked, puzzled.

“Well, recently, a pink-haired girl with a very holy aura has appeared in the church from time to time. She shows up randomly to help those in need.

People say she is incredibly gentle, and her appearance is unbelievably beautiful, unlike anything in this world.

Everyone she helps says it feels as if the Goddess Saint Lia herself has descended!”