Chapter 85: Two Mothers

That inhuman voice, accompanied by distorted noise, echoed in the deathly silent room.

"You discovered it, huh."

"You weren't supposed to discover it."

The monster tilted its head, its movements stiff as a marionette, its features constantly melting and reassembling within a blurry mosaic.

In that instant, the string of reason in Li Xiuli's mind snapped completely!

She isn't mad! She really isn't mad!

This thing before her, the monster disguised as her son, is ironclad proof!

Endless fear and cornered rage at that moment turned entirely into boiling murderous intent!

"Monster! Die!"

Li Xiuli let out a harrowing scream, her hands gripping a kitchen knife, using all her strength to charge wildly at the twisted figure!

She will kill it!

She will end with her own hands the nightmare that drove her to hell!

However, just as she lunged forward.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

Countless black‑gray, slime‑covered tentacles erupted violently from the flickering monster!

They moved at extreme speed, bearing a foul, fishy gust that instantly coiled around Li Xiuli's limbs and torso!

"Ah—!"

An irresistible force surged, yanking Li Xiuli off the ground and suspending her in midair!

"Clang!"

The knife in her hand flew out, bouncing a few times on the floor, emitting a crisp yet desperate sound.

She struggled wildly, twisting her body like a fish nailed to a cutting board.

But those tentacles were unbelievably resilient; no matter how hard she pulled, they wouldn't budge, instead tightening further, digging deep into her flesh.

At that moment, the flickering, twisted monster's form began to stabilize.

Light and shadow shifted, the mosaic faded.

It reverted to the innocent‑looking Ning Chao in pajamas.

He tilted his head back, gazing at the "Mother" hanging high in the air; his handsome face showed no trace of malice, only innocence and bewilderment.

He tilted his head slightly, his tone both simple and cruel.

"I just wanted a home."

"I blended in perfectly; Dad and my little brother both like me."

"Why... why is it only you who can't accept me?"

A hint of grievance tinged his voice, as if questioning an unreasonable child.

"It was you... who made this family imperfect."

The tentacles tightened suddenly around Li Xiuli's neck, an instant suffocation flooding her as the air in her lungs was swiftly drained.

Li Xiuli's face swelled to a purplish red, her eyeballs bulging outward from oxygen deprivation.

She finally realized she faced an absolute terror that could neither be communicated with nor overcome.

The shadow of death completely enveloped her.

"Please... please..."

She strained to open her mouth, forcing out broken syllables from deep in her throat, her eyes filled with primal fear and pleading.

"Beg you..."

Upon hearing her plea, Ning Chao's confusion vanished from his face.

In its place was an exaggerated, ear‑splitting Weird grin.

"It's okay, Mother."

He said gently.

"I will... make this family perfect again."

The words barely left his mouth.

"Crack!"

A tooth‑tingling crisp sound!

The tentacles coiled around Li Xiuli's waist surged suddenly, tearing her body cleanly into two pieces!

Her upper and lower halves separated instantly, organs and blood splattering everywhere.

The moonlight in the room was replaced by the glaring morning dawn outside the window.

Sunlight poured into the room, and Li Xiuli's two tragic halves, along with the horrific tentacles, vanished without a trace.

The floor was spotless and empty.

Only where the two bodies had been, two almost identical Li Xiulis appeared.

They, in pajamas, stared at each other expressionlessly.

Then, as if receiving a silent command, they simultaneously displayed an utmost gentle smile.

One Li Xiuli smoothed her slightly disheveled collar, moving with graceful ease.

She looked at the other herself and said softly:

"I'll go prepare breakfast; husband and Xiao Tian should be waking soon."

The other Li Xiuli smiled, nodded, and turned toward Ning Chao's room.

"Alright, I'll tidy Ning Chao's bed."

In the room, the boy named Ning Chao sat by the bedside, quietly watching it all.

Seeing the two perfect moms, his smile grew even brighter.

Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently spilling onto the dining table.

In the kitchen came the sizzle of frying eggs, accompanied by waves of tempting food aromas.

Mom was tying her apron, busy at the stove, her profile looking incredibly gentle in the morning light.

On the balcony, the other mom hummed a tune, holding a watering can, carefully watering each pot of plants, her movements skilled and leisurely.

Clack.

The bedroom door opened.

The husband yawned as he walked out, still half‑asleep.

Immediately, Ning Tian also came out, backpack on his shoulders, full of vigor.

They saw the busy figure in the kitchen and the figure watering plants on the balcony, and showed no surprise at all, as if this had always been the way.

Ning Tian happily rushed to the kitchen doorway and shouted inside, "Morning, mom!"

Then he ran to the balcony edge and shouted at the other figure, "Morning, mom!"

"Morning, moms!"

Finally, he simply called them together, his face beaming with a happy smile.

The husband smiled as he walked over, wrapped his arms around Li Xiuli's waist from behind in the kitchen, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Honey, today's breakfast smells amazing."

The mom in the kitchen turned, returned the kiss, and scolded, "Hurry and wash up; you'll be able to eat soon."

Sunlight flooded the entire living room.

At the dining table, the family of five sat together.

The husband watched the morning news while sipping soy milk.

Ning Tian chattered with his older brother Ning Chao, sharing school anecdotes, while Ning Chao listened patiently, occasionally patting his head—brotherly affection.

The two moms sat on his left and right, continuously serving the two children, their faces bearing identical, gentle, virtuous smiles.

A family perfect to a Weird degree.

A scene of harmony, joy radiating.

The camera slowly pulled back, through the window, focusing on this happy family.

In the residential building opposite their home.

A little girl with twin braids perched on the windowsill, pointing with her tiny hand toward Li Xiuli's house.

She turned back, tugged at the hem of the mother mopping the floor, and in a naive, clear voice asked innocently:

"Mom, Mom, look."

"Why does that family… have two moms?"