Volume 1 Chapter 115

Volume 1 + Chapter 115: Grievance

Eve took a deep breath. A stream of magic flowed slowly from Pipim’s shoulder into her body, instantly conveying back her internal condition. The answer was, no reaction whatsoever.

Something that Eve estimated could knock out a large beast on the spot, once consumed by Pipim, actually had no effect at all?

Although there’s the saying that ignoring dosage is all just playing the rogue, Pipim ate quite a significant amount.

Except for the bit that Maodou ate, the rest was entirely finished by Pipim.

And this little black cat’s body was also completely normal, with no strange reactions.

This left Eve utterly perplexed. It was as abnormal as an apple drawing a perfect semicircle from a tree and then killing Newton—so bizarre that Eve found it hard to believe.

She took another deep breath and checked again.

The result remained the same. This child’s tolerance was anything but ordinary.

Pipim still didn’t know what Eve was doing, but she could sense Eve’s fluctuating expression, which looked quite dramatic.

One moment, her brows were tightly knit, the next, her face showed surprise, then it returned to calm.

It was truly hard to fathom.

Despite this, only one thought remained in her mind at this moment: hunger.

At this age, Pipim was at her hungriest. Usually, rummaging through trash bins never filled her up. To be honest, even the meal Eve treated her to only left her half-full at best.

Even for an adult, that amount was already very substantial.

“Can I have a little more? Although this isn’t very tasty, it can fill the stomach at least.”

Pipim pursed her lips. For her, not having a full stomach was a paramount issue.

The reason she clung to Eve so much was because she knew only by following Eve could she eat her fill.

This little one had no other demands, she just hoped to find her mother and to eat enough. That was sufficient.

That was also why she desperately sought out Eve, even hiding when people from the shelter came to take her, continuing her life as a stray.

The reason was simple, going to the shelter might mean being fed and clothed, but she would never see her mother again.

Only by finding Eve and following her could Pipim possibly fulfill both these wishes simultaneously.

Although Pipim didn’t know how to repay Eve.

Thinking of this, a sense of loss grew in Pipim’s heart. Clearly, Eve owed her nothing, yet she was causing her such great trouble.

But there was no other way. Having lost her mother, in this vast empire, all she could rely on was the little black cat Maodou and Eve, whom her mother often mentioned.

Had Eve found her a few days later, Pipim might have died on the streets.

Even Qianzhi, after learning the whole story, often patted her chest in relief, thankful that Pipim was found by Eve.

Otherwise, in a few days when temperatures might plummet, Pipim and Maodou, lacking clothes and food outside, would definitely be finished.

Zhizhi was also a kind-hearted child. Though born into nobility, she never had the habit of spending lavishly, the jewelry she wore was bought from street stalls—cheap and pretty.

Despite her young age, she had already funded no less than twenty welfare homes.

Compared to Eve’s point-to-point assistance, which basically produced geniuses and future pillars of the empire,

The children Qianzhi could help were obviously more numerous, though the conditions were slightly less favorable, with most still having to struggle for food and clothing their whole lives.

But this also proved Zhizhi’s kindness, which was why she sympathized deeply with Pipim.

Although they hadn’t known each other long, Qianzhi already took the initiative to care for Pipim.

“Pipim, when you were wandering outside before, what did you usually eat?”

Eve inquired carefully. To be honest, although she was curious, what she felt more was guilt.

After all, asking such a question was little different from prying open the scars deep in this child’s heart.

But Pipim didn’t seem to mind at all, she even eagerly began introducing to Eve what she could eat outside.

“Like leftover food from restaurants that they can’t sell—that’s the best to eat. You might even come across warm meals.”

“Next best are things others have thrown away after eating half.”

“Then there’s kitchen waste and such, but you have to be careful, some things aren’t good to eat.”

As Pipim spoke, Eve, Qianzhi, and Leah beside her all frowned almost simultaneously.

They reached out as if wanting to stop Pipim from continuing, but Pipim seemed to grow more enthusiastic the more she talked. Even Maodou beside her joined in with approving “meows.”

Especially when Pipim mentioned certain things that were, to them, delicacies, Maodou would let out a series of agreeing meows.

The more Pipim spoke, the more heartbroken the three present felt.

Leah had experienced hunger before, though not to the point of scavenging through trash, but she knew that feeling was unpleasant.

Zhizhi, though born into wealth and never having to worry about food or clothing, was inherently sensitive and empathetic. Listening to Pipim’s account, she was so distressed that tears even fell.

Eve was utterly shocked—shocked that a little girl, separated from her mother, had wandered for months in the unfamiliar imperial capital just to find her.

How on earth did she endure it? Watching her smile as she told Eve which trash bins had the highest chance of finding good food, which ones usually had no food…

Hearing such things, Eve felt her heart was about to break.

“In those affluent areas, you also have to be discerning. Some houses are being renovated, so the nearby trash bins won’t have food, only various scraps and materials.”

“Alright, alright, I understand.”

Eve patted Pipim’s head, signaling her to stop.

“Wuwu, little sister Pipim is so pitiful. From now on, big sister will cook for you. I’ll make whatever you want to eat.”

Leah was also a good child, but when it came to cooking, she’d better step aside.

This time, the black smoke from her cooking almost turned the house black, almost choking Zhizhi and the highly resistant Pipim to death. Eve dreaded to think if next time Leah cooked, she might blow the roof off.

“Why didn’t you go to a welfare home? At the very least, they could let you eat your fill there.”

Qianzhi couldn’t bear it and asked quietly.

“I had to stay in the imperial capital to find Mom, and to find Miss Eve. Only she can save my mother.”

“If I went to a welfare home, I wouldn’t find Miss Eve, and I might never find my mother in my whole life.”

Pipim said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance.