Volume 1 Chapter 151
by Need_More_SleepVolume 1 + Chapter 151: Hostility
Fortunately, none of them seemed interested in the dresses that had been thrown out. They did not even feel like sparing them an extra glance.
The dresses that were extremely precious in Vivian’s eyes were now casually piled on the ground, like a heap of discarded rags that no one cared about.
However, a single offhand remark from Leah pierced Vivian’s heart like slender needles, one after another. Her expression subtly changed, and even her fingertips tightened unconsciously.
“Since they’re garbage, then we can just throw them away later, right?”
Leah’s gaze swept indifferently over the pile of dresses. The fabrics were exquisite and the designs ornate, indeed, quite eye-catching, but she only frowned faintly before withdrawing her eyes, clearly not intending to pay them any further attention. The reason was simple, the sizes did not fit her at all. Even if she forced herself into them, they would not look good.
She paused briefly, then said calmly, “My mom has made much prettier dresses for me, so these are really just so-so. Nothing special.”
That remark reminded Mira of something. She suddenly realized it and spoke up, “Oh, you mean the formal dress you wore at your graduation ceremony? That one was really beautiful! The entire hall was looking at you back then, even with Her Highness the Princess standing beside you, it felt like her presence was completely overshadowed by yours.”
“Hehe… really?”
Leah lowered her head slightly, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. Her voice carried an unmistakable delight. She had always been like this, she genuinely felt happy when praised by others, especially when the compliment involved her mom. In those moments, her joy would double.
If the other person could also compliment the dress her mom had personally sewn for her, she would probably be happy all day long.
In her good mood, Leah completely forgot about the box of dresses. With a casual toss of her hand, she turned lightly and cheerfully ran off to continue cleaning the courtyard. Her movements were as light as a little bird, as if she had not given the dresses a second thought, nor cared about what would become of them.
Once the courtyard had fully returned to silence and she was sure that the group had truly left, Vivian cautiously emerged from the shadows. Her steps were extremely light, and even her breathing slowed instinctively, as though she were afraid of being discovered.
She looked down at the dresses scattered on the ground, her eyes flickering slightly as an indescribable emotion surged within her. She knew very clearly that, in those people’s eyes, these dresses were nothing but useless trash, things not even worth a proper glance. But to her, they held an unspeakable allure.
She suddenly felt like a rat hiding in the shadows, humble, timid, and trembling as she coveted things that others scorned…
After all, the items in that box were of immense significance to her. They were her only treasures she could not bear to throw away. Yet Leah had discarded them without hesitation and even casually suggested tossing them into the trash.
How could Vivian possibly stand by and watch this happen? Her fingertips trembled slightly, her heartbeat falling into chaos. The dresses inside were the last mementos Eve had left her, the only remaining warmth she had in this world.
She could not allow them to be abandoned like worthless rags. If that happened, it would feel as though her own heart were being cast into an abyss, never to be retrieved again.
With that thought, Vivian took a deep breath, slowly knelt on the ground, and carefully picked up the dresses that Leah and Mira had casually rummaged through. She gently smoothed out the wrinkles and folded them neatly, one by one.
Her movements were slow and focused, as if she were not merely tidying clothes, but mending her shattered memories.
Once the dresses were neatly placed back into the box, she raised her head and quickly scanned her surroundings. After confirming that no one was paying attention, she cautiously reached out and struggled to lift the box.
The box was not light. Her arms ached slightly, but she held on tightly, as though she were holding her past, unwilling to let go.
She hurried out of the small courtyard, her steps rushed and hurried, as if afraid of being seen, like a cat fleeing from the shadows. When she reached the courtyard gate, she subconsciously stopped and looked back. That all-too-familiar courtyard had once been where she lived, a place where opening the door always meant being greeted by a warm smile.
But now, she no longer has the right to return. Even if she did… no one would be waiting for her anymore.
“Mom…”
Vivian whispered softly, her voice so faint it seemed as though a breeze could scatter it away. Even so, her gaze stubbornly lingered on the familiar courtyard, and an unrealistic hope rose within her heart.
Perhaps, in the next second, the courtyard gate would be pushed open from the inside. A figure would walk toward her as usual, wiping her hands on an apron, wearing an incomparably gentle smile.
That was a smile Vivian would never forget, warm enough to dispel all the cold in the world, unchanged even if the sky were to fall. That voice seemed to echo in her ears,
“Hungry, sweetheart? Let’s go home and eat.”
“Okay…” Vivian answered subconsciously, her voice tinged with confusion, responding almost by reflex to that familiar warmth. But the moment the word left her mouth, her reason caught up with her, and she froze. Wait, what was going on? In reality… was someone really saying this to her?
She blinked and lifted her head in confusion, her gaze drifting through the crowd until it finally locked onto the source of the voice.
Those words were not spoken to her, but to someone else, spoken gently to Leah.
“Leah’s mom?”
Vivian’s eyes fixed on the silver-haired beauty, recognizing her almost instantly.
Gentle and refined, composed and elegant in every gesture, her temperament bore a striking resemblance to the mother Vivian had lost with her own hands.
That very resemblance made Vivian’s heart shudder, as if it were being silently clenched.
She had always held a deep impression of Leah’s mother, but never before had she so vividly felt this familiar yet heart-wrenching illusion.
Was it because… they were standing at the entrance of this familiar courtyard?
“I wanted to give Mom a surprise, but you ended up seeing it first. Hehe…”
Leah scratched her head shyly, her brows and eyes carrying a hint of mischief mixed with small pride. Her voice was light and slightly bashful.
“So all that effort to earn money was to buy this little courtyard?”
“Yep!” Leah nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with undisguised excitement and anticipation. “Once we clean it up a bit more and renovate it properly, we’ll have a real home that truly belongs to us!”
Her tone was full of longing, as if she were already sketching the future in her mind.
Eve was momentarily stunned, surprise flashing across her face. She had thought Leah was simply working hard to earn money, never imagining that she already had such a plan, to truly create a home for the two of them.
Warmth spread subtly in her heart. She smiled and reached out to gently rub Leah’s soft hair, saying warmly, “No need to rush. A home isn’t just a house. As long as there’s you and me, that’s already a home.”
Her voice was gentle yet firm, carrying a reassuring strength.
“Come on, let’s go eat. What do you want for dinner tonight?”
Her smile was still warm, like the softest moonlight in the night. Hearing these familiar words, Leah’s smile grew even brighter.
Not far away, Vivian clutched the heavy box tightly in her arms, her knuckles whitening from the force.
She should have instinctively avoided them, preventing Leah from noticing her presence. Yet at this moment, she seemed rooted to the spot, even the thought of leaving disappearing entirely.
The conversation drifting to her ears left her dazed. Even her breathing became shallow and hurried, as though the slightest movement might shatter this fleeting warmth.
“I want sweet-and-sour pork! And also ma… ma-fan tofu…”
“It’s mapo tofu.”
Eve corrected gently, her tone tinged with mild helplessness and indulgent amusement.
Upon hearing these familiar dish names, Vivian’s pupils shrank sharply. Her body trembled slightly, and her breathing instantly became erratic.
Sweet-and-sour pork… mapo tofu… The names struck her heart like muffled thunder, exploding without warning and dragging her thoughts back into the past.
They were her favorite dishes as a child, the flavors her mother used to cook for her with her own hands. Her unique sauces and techniques could not be found anywhere else. In the entire world, there was only one such taste… yet that taste had vanished forever with her mother’s passing.
“Mom gives the dishes such complicated names, I can’t remember them all,” Leah pouted and complained softly, her tone full of spoiled affection. “Anyway, I don’t need to remember them that clearly. Mom will understand me.”
She tugged at Eve’s hand, about to head off excitedly, her words brimming with anticipation. “Let’s go, ”
Before she could finish, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a figure in the distance. Her voice cut off abruptly, and the smile on her face froze.
“Huh? Vivian?”
Leah’s expression darkened slightly. The cheerful mood vanished instantly, replaced by vigilance and displeasure. Especially when she noticed the shabby box cradled in Vivian’s arms, her brows knitted tightly together.
That was something she had casually thrown away, something she had not cared about in the slightest. Yet now, Vivian was holding it close, as though clutching a priceless treasure.
“Her Holiness the Saintess seems to be in a fine mood.” Leah sneered, her tone filled with disdain, her voice rising unconsciously. “Spending your day off rummaging through trash here to make ends meet?”
She did not hide her hostility at all. She even stepped forward instinctively, half-blocking Eve behind her, her cold gaze locking onto Vivian.
In the past, whenever she faced Vivian, she would instinctively feel fear, not even daring to meet her eyes. She would always lower her head timidly, allowing her dignity to be trampled at will. But now, she was no longer that easily bullied little girl.
Eve’s love had long since pulled her out of the mire of weakness and helplessness, teaching her to straighten her back and fight back. Now, when facing Vivian, there was no fear left in her heart, only irritation and guarded hostility.
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