Below the illustration was a line of text, content from Kusayla's letter.
["But once you understood a bit more, you weren't as cute anymore—definitely blame Idrisi and the others for not teaching you good things all day..."]
The grown-up Dehya no longer needed to be held, and started resisting being treated like a little child and hugged.
Even the candies she loved to eat before and the wooden figures she loved to play with—she didn't want them anymore; all put into the wooden box.
This disappointed Kusayla a lot—Dehya not letting me hold her must be because of Idrisi and them!
[Dehya smiled softly: "What are you saying—the real culprit is who, exactly."]
In reality, Dehya seeing this part broke her defenses again—now she truly understood what those written about in the prophecy book felt.
This is a special attack! Even Hu Tao and Xiao couldn't withstand this special attack!
Zhongli and Venti back when reading their own stories couldn't let go for a while!
Other more emotional people need not be mentioned—Furina hasn't even seen her own story yet and has already broken defenses how many times.
Fortunately, Dunyarzad beside Dehya had slightly recovered—she could comfort Dehya's emotions.
"Wrong, serious matters, serious matters." Written here, the handwriting was slightly scribbled—unknown if Kusayla was restraining his nostalgic emotions or if he was a bit drunk.
["The purpose of me writing this thing is to tell you—if one day you know everything, don't grieve for me."]
["Because, actually, I... am not your father at all."]
Short two sentences, word by word like knives—Dehya's pupils suddenly contracted; the surrounding noise gradually faded, leaving only her chest's violent heartbeat, deafening.
Critical hit! The moment this sentence came out, not only Dehya—many readers' eyes turned sour.
Originally, everyone didn't plan to cry, but somehow, before the brain could even savor and think about this sentence, tears had already come out.
Even some who weren't crying originally—seeing this sentence, emotions surged.
If Kusayla was Dehya's father, this was a touching story.
But he isn't—so this story became not just touching, but added a portion of greatness.
Dehya was already stunned—even Dunyarzad forgot to comfort Dehya.
He loved Dehya so much, paid so much for Dehya—yet he surprisingly wasn't Dehya's father?
Without even seeing the follow-up, Dehya broke defenses—stinky old man saying don't grieve for you! Knowing this, doesn't it make me even sadder?!
Did you think that since you're not my biological father, I wouldn't have feelings for you?!
Is that it!?
So that's why I say—I really don't understand what this guy is thinking! Inexplicable, self-righteous...
Dehya lowered her head, teeth clenched—tears uncontrollably flowing, dripping onto the book.
In her vision already covered by tears, the words became somewhat blurry, but she could still see clearly—that was her old man's self-boasting.
["I was awesome when young—way better than some 'Blazing Mane Lion' by a hundred times, hehe."]
["Going to heaven or earth, omnipotent—felt like with a bit of effort, I could take the whole desert."]
This section was Kusayla's self-boasting—he seemed worried Dehya would be sad, so using this way to lighten the atmosphere.
But everyone seeing this content not only had no emotional relief, but felt even sadder.
Because this text was too vivid—as if Kusayla was really here recounting himself.
Even without looking at illustrations, everyone could imagine his boasting appearance—even "smell" the alcohol on him.
He boasted like that, yet no one could feel a bit of dislike.
["In the end, one day I was drinking alone in the desert—saw you, still an infant."]
["Lying there, tiny, tiny enough that another gust of sand could bury you."]
In the illustration, it was still Dehya in swaddling clothes—but this time beside her no mercenaries, only endless yellow sand.
If not picked up by Kusayla, what would bury Dehya wouldn't be "love" but yellow sand.
["Later I told Idrisi and them—I made a little mistake outside; they surprisingly didn't suspect me."]
["Deceived them a lifetime—really sorry; I was also forced."]
["I'm their boss—can't tell them I just suddenly wanted to be a 'father,' right..."]
["The wine just drunk almost came back up, hahaha."]
Idrisi and others were also reading the story—hearts heavy.
This boss really deceived them a lifetime—not just about Dehya, but others too.
Taking blame for them, going alone to burn those "criminal evidence," plus Dehya's matters—these he never discussed with them; really a willful person.
But it was this willful person they willingly followed as boss—Idrisi wiped tears.
In this view, Dehya and Kusayla were really alike—both "willful" people.
Dehya was actually also someone who liked shouldering things alone—in the main story, she would go alone to negotiate with Rahman.
And in this story, she originally wanted to resolve the desert matters herself.
If not for Dunyarzad understanding Dehya too well and persistently asking, this story would be Dehya's solo adventure.
In this light, though Dehya and Kusayla not blood father-daughter, they were better than blood father-daughter.
["Alright, Dehya."]
["You have the freedom and kindness we dreamed of—next life, choose yourself."]
The letter's content ended here—not long, merely a father's entrustment to his daughter.
But short paper, long affection—the touching within, even non-parties could feel.
Kusayla wasn't a good person in the strict sense—didn't even do bad to the end—but in the end, no one could deny he was a qualified father.
As if many "unqualifieds" finally synthesized one "qualified."
Just like he himself wrote—he perhaps didn't want so many identities, just wanted to be a "father"—wanted to be a qualified father.
A "bastard" growing in the desert picked up a "pearl" in the desert—that was the freedom and kindness desert people dreamed of.
[Dehya silently relieved: "...Really, even in the end treating me like a child."]
Kusayla told Dehya to decide herself—and Dehya already had her decision; she would find the person who abandoned her.
["Not for anything else—just want to tell him there was such a story."]
["—There once existed a careless, reckless, both childish and great person."]
["I also had the chance to grow into the current me."]
Another tear gland critical hit—this moment was the daughter's understanding and acknowledgment of her father.
From resistance to understanding—as a father, what more could one want.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Lines · Shenhe: About Kusayla
"He's a good father—makes me want to remove the red rope and cry once..."