Chapter 23 - Lillie Means Purity And Beauty
Since Tristan was a little bit tired, Zhen-Zhen decided to carry him as they flew from the mountain top going down. Tristan had never imagined that he would be able to experience flying in the air like a bird.
He experienced paragliding before but this feeling was different because he was flying while being hugged by a very beautiful maiden. Today's journey on the mountain was the most wonderful breath-taking experience he ever had in his life.
Who would have thought that he would find some extraordinary creature in this mountain? And that extraordinary creature was also a very beautiful woman like a goddess of beauty.
Aside from that, he also found a solution to his dilemma. He found the right candidate who would be suited to be his wife. He would marry the demon god's daughter, teach her, and control her. He would make her obey everything he wanted.
And the most important thing was his CEO position would not be taken away from him by his half brother Andrew. His grandfather would also stop nagging him about getting married.
He was very happy. Everything seemed like working according to his gains and benefits. Now, he was very excited to make his plan work. He would start by teaching Zhen-Zhen how to act like a simple and ordinary human being. He still had one month to train her.
Finally, they reached the foot of the mountain. Tristan immediately called his assistant Matthew. His phone rang several times before the call got connected.
Matthew: "Hello?"
Tristan: "Come and pick me up here. I will be waiting here at the same spot where you dropped me off this morning."
Matthew: "Noted, sir! I'll be right there in twenty minutes."
Tristan: "Oh I almost forgot. Please bring me a shirt and a set of clothes for a woman."
Matthew became silent from the other line after hearing his last remarks. He was thinking that Tristan might have met with one of his women in the mountain that's why it took him a lot of time before he returned.
Tristan: "Matt! I know what you are thinking! But believe me, that's not the case! You know me. If I want to be with nature, I will not bring any woman with me. This is my peaceful sanctuary. I won't let anyone disrupt me."
Matthew: "I know! That's the reason I am wondering why you want me to bring a set of clothes for a woman.
Tristan: "Later, Matt! I'll explain to you everything. Okay bye! I am hanging up."
When the call ended Tristan turned back only to find out that Zhen-Zhen disappeared.
'Huh? Where did she go?'
"Zhen-Zhen!?" he peered at the surroundings, looking for her.
He became anxious when he didn't see her.
"Zhen-Zhen! Where are you?!"
Tristan continued to walk in the nearby area, searching for Zhen-Zhen.
"Where is she? Did she return to the mountain? Did she change her mind? No! This couldn't be. We made a deal!" He mumbled to himself.
"Zhen-Zhen! Where are you?!!"
"Zhen-Zhen?!"
Tristan's scream echoed in the entire area. He was afraid that he wouldn't find her. He was frightened, thinking everything that happened in the mountain was just a dream.
'Is Zhen-Zhen just a dream? No! No!' Tristan began to panic. For an unknown reason, he felt worried… very worried that he wouldn't see her again.
He ran and ran….screaming her name and desperately looking for her.
He felt helpless. He needed to see her or else he would go crazy. Go crazy?? But why? Was it because all his plans would be ruined once he didn't find Zhen-Zhen? Or he had another reason that's why he felt that way?
After a while, Tristan saw a small nipa hut house just a few meters away from his spot. He ran towards the house, hoping that he would find Zhen-Zhen there.
When he reached it, he saw her. Zhen-Zhen was there, standing by the wooden door. Tristan dashed in her direction.
"Zhen-Zhen!" He called her name.
She turned around upon hearing Tristan's voice. She was surprised when she sensed that Tristan was scared and frightened.
The look on his face made her want to comfort him and ease his fear.
"Tristan? Are you okay?" She asked him in confusion.
Tristan didn't respond. He immediately closed their distance and gave her a rib crushing hug. Zhen-Zhen yielded to his warm, strong hug, her frame molding against him.
The moment he felt her soft warm body, that's the only time he began to feel at ease, finally calming his racing heart down.
"Zhen-Zhen! Why did you leave without informing me? Did you know how scared I was when I found out you suddenly disappeared? Don't do this again!" He started to rant at her, venting his worries and frustrations.
"Young man, don't get mad at your girlfriend. She came here to help us. She's a good girl… very kind and generous." One middle-aged woman spoke up behind Zhen-Zhen.
After noticing they were not alone, Tristan released Zhen-Zhen from his tight hug. He made a slight bow to greet and show respect to the elder woman.
"That's right. If not because of her I would be dead by now. A venomous snake tried to bite me, fortunately, she arrived on time and she stopped the snake with her bare hands." This time they heard a voice coming from a middle-aged man.
"Snake? You caught a snake?!" Tristan asked her with shock and disbelief.
Zhen-Zhen bobbed her head with a cheerful smile on her face.
"Come inside, we prepared some snacks as our token of appreciation for saving my husband's life." The middle-aged woman invited them inside their small house.
They had an enjoyable conversation with the husband and wife. They got to know their names- Alice and Thomas. They had been living in this mountain for three decades now.
Tristan also found out that the husband and wife had only one child, a daughter but unfortunately she died at the age of five because of Malaria 20 years ago.
The husband and wife were saddened the moment their daughter was mentioned.
"Our daughter might have been a fine and beautiful lady by now just like you Zhen-Zhen if she was just alive." Alice solemnly said to them.
"I know your parents are so proud of you. They are so lucky to have a very kind daughter like you." Thomas also shared his thoughts.
"My parents… they were also gone now." Zhen-Zhen suddenly blurted out.
Tristan felt the sudden change of atmosphere surrounding them. It became sullen in an instant. He didn't know what to say. The husband and wife as well as Zhen-Zhen were now looking so sad.
Then a bright idea popped up in Tristan's mind. He had seen another potential benefit in this situation.
"What if you adopt Zhen-Zhen and be your daughter? Since she also has no parents now. You will have another daughter and Zhen-Zhen will have new parents." Tristan suggested to them.
Everyone fell silent after hearing Tristan's suggestion. Thomas and Alice gave him a strange look while Zhen-Zhen was also thinking on her own.
Tristan felt awkward because of their silence. He gave that suggestion because he had a purpose. Zhen-Zhen was not a human so in order to live in this society, she needed a human identity. So he just saw a perfect opportunity to give her an identity.
Of course, he couldn't marry her without a human identity and some other necessary documents like other humans have such as a Birth certificate and family registry. His grandfather might also conduct a background check of Zhen-Zhen's identity.
All he needed to do now was to persuade Alice and Thomas to give Zhen-Zhen the identity of their dead daughter and become Zhen-Zhen's parents for real. He would be the one to take care of the rest.
After much thought and careful consideration, the husband and wife agreed on Tristan's suggestion.
"So, Zhen-Zhen will now become your daughter! From now on she will use the identity of your dead daughter! By the way, what is her name?" Tristan asked them.
"Lillie… her name is Lillie which means purity and beauty." Alice softly said, looking at Zhen-Zhen with so much tenderness in her eyes.
For an unknown reason, she wanted to be Zhen-Zhen's mother. She liked Zhen-Zhen.
Tristan smiled unknowingly.
'Lillie which means purity and beauty… this name suits Zhen-Zhen really well.' he thought to himself.
"Zhen- Zhen… from now on you have your new parents. And we will be calling you… Lillie! Do you like it?" Tristan softly asked her.
"Yes… Tristan! I like it!"