C3 Chapter 3 Ina West

"Where is this?" In a daze, the white-haired girl opened her green eyes again.

What she saw was not the dusky sky or the dark night, but a brown wooden ceiling.

Almost at the same time, the snow quickly fell down from where it lay.

But the unexpected softness underneath her body and her extremely weak physical condition still prevented her from completing the subconscious warning action.

With a "pop" sound, Due fell off the sofa, and her body came into real close contact with the ground.

"Ugh...it hurts." Do felt the pain and protest coming from all over her body, and she knew that there were several more wounds on her body that were about to open.

But what surprised her was that she actually felt pain, and it was from every wound on her body. From the limbs to the ends of the limbs...

It was completely different from her pre-coma state, completely unlike the condition after severe frostbite, excessive fatigue, or hypothermia. And it's obviously changing in a good direction.

"Am I being rescued? Why..." Do thought in disbelief as she propped herself up and felt the condition of her body.

Only then did she realize that her hands had been wrapped with clean cloth, and she could smell the bitter and strange smell of herbs on it.

"Not just the hands." Since she didn't pay attention to herself at the first time, she realized that her whole body and muddy feet had been cleaned and then carefully covered with clean cloths when she regained consciousness. Full of entanglements.

The recovery of your body is mostly due to their contributions.

The disgustingly smelly old cloth she relied on for a living was missing.

Instead, she wore a long shirt that was so wide that she couldn't hold it out of her hands, and a comfortable pair that was knotted around her waist to serve as the fabric for a long skirt.

It's like a coincidence, and it's just right.

When Due stood up, a gentle voice came into her ears: "Are you awake? You're quite happy."

"But I have to remind you that your condition is very bad. Vigorous movements are not good for your recovery. As for treating your wounds, I'm sorry. There is no other better way."

Do look up and saw a man in hunting attire walking out of the kitchen carrying a pot of fragrant stew.

Although she was confused at the time, Snow recognized Lake immediately.

"He is the owner of that house... I am in that house?" She couldn't help but look at the unfamiliar things around her.

Sparks pop up from the firewood in the stove from time to time. Under the scorching flames, the temperature in the hall where the breath should turn into mist rises to a temperature as warm as spring.

On the dining table were meats that Snow had only seen from a distance in the bar.

There is no orange sun at sunset outside the unobstructed recessed window, but only darkness and dots of lights from the houses facing the street.

It means it is already nighttime.

Seeing Due didn't respond, he just lowered his head. Reike couldn't keep a weak and injured person standing, so he had to walk forward.

Every sound of shoes touching the floor became very clear in Due's ears, and every footfall was like stepping on her chest.

She knew that the man was approaching her, but at the same time she did not dare to act rashly, so she could only stand there.

Until the shadow that was far taller than herself covered her, and the broad palm stretched out towards her.

She was so frightened that she took two steps back in panic.

It was precisely because of these two steps that Lake was finally able to see the little girl's face clearly, which was a face full of nervousness, vigilance and fear.

"She's afraid of me." A thought flashed across Lake's mind. He sighed softly and retracted his hand that was reaching into the air.

Seeing that Lake gave in, while maintaining a certain distance, Snow just put her hands on her chest - still standing.

Of course, she could have chosen to run away, but that would have been foolish.

First, she was so weak that she would not be able to escape from the hands of the owner of the house.

Secondly, even if she escapes from this house, what can she do without a resident certificate? Will she wait to be deported back to the ghetto by the guards?

"Anyway, how about we come over and sit down first?" Do freeze at first, but when Lake returned to the dining table, she seemed to have figured it out and followed him.

"I have tried to chase freedom and struggled, but nothing has changed... I will become a slave anyway, even as a toy. This gentleman at least saved my life. Staying here is better than staying here." It’s nice to be in a cold prison car…”

She carefully sat down next to Lake, the only open seat on the dining table.

"Eat whatever you want, although I don't know if it suits your taste." Rake filled a bowl with stew for himself and Snow, and broke off half of a bread stick.

But after taking a few bites, he found that the white-haired girl seemed to have no intention of moving: "What's wrong?"

"My lord, if you are dissatisfied with my behavior just now... I'm sorry... I am willing to do anything to make up for my mistakes, and I will work hard to complete anything..."

Snow clutched the fabric that served as a long skirt, mustered up her courage, and said, trembling.

Lake was stunned for a moment, and what he heard was confused. He was silent for a long time before he considered it and said:

"You are afraid, and I use this as a reason to abuse you...right?"

Do's body trembled slightly, but after a few seconds, she nodded.

Then, a broad palm was placed on her head, and she could feel her white hair being rubbed.

"I don't know how to explain it to you, but I mean no harm."

"Maybe we can start with the most basic exchange of names."

Lake's voice was gentle and patient.

"My name is Lake West. You can call me Uncle Lake, or you can just call me Lake."

Do CUO raised his head in shock, and then saw Lake's gray eyes looking at him, with a faint smile on his face.

"So, I've already introduced you, little girl, what's your name?"

Snow was confused for a moment. She seemed to have had a name, a simple name.

But it had been so long since no one had asked her... so long that the name had become blurry in her mind...

"I... forgot that I have been living next to a smelly ditch almost since I became a professional."

Do's voice was very low, and her eyes turned aside in despair.

"It doesn't matter. If you don't mind, we can choose one, Ina, Ina West, how about it?"

Lake's words made Due a little stunned, but she still captured an incredible message from them.

"Vested...but that is yours, my lord..."

"Then are you interested in staying?" His words obviously made Due's thoughts difficult to turn around.

"Eh?!" Do look very surprised.

"But, but I am a wanderer, a poor person with no identity. You have no obligation to do this..." Do's eyes suddenly widened.

"Is there any problem with this? I hope you can stay. In exchange, I can provide you with everything you need to grow." Lake replied nonchalantly:

"But this is unreasonable! You can't get any benefit from it at all!" In her concept, everything in the world is based on profit first.

Just like copper coins were exchanged for bread, slave owners captured them for money.

There is no relatively equivalent thing, and it absolutely cannot be exchanged for what you want.

This is one of the few principles she understands, and it is also the "truth" she adheres to survive in the slums.

A dying homeless man with no background was everywhere in the slums, and even she didn't think she was qualified to accept this deal.

"Then please blame all this on luck. You are a lucky person, so just think so."

Lake seemed to understand what Due was thinking and ruffled her hair again.

"Nina, if you don't mind, let's have a meal as a member of the family."