323: Chapter 157: Intersection of Lives_4 323: Chapter 157: Intersection of Lives_4 Olivia was somewhat pleased with herself and was about to open the door to go home when there suddenly came a knock from outside.
“Brother Leon, the water is ready, can I bring it in?” Lena asked softly from outside.
“Bring it in.” Leon answered.
“Okay.” The little maid with twin ponytails hummed a tune as she pushed open the room door.
“Sister Olivia, you’re here too?” Lena walked in with a bucket and a wooden basin dutifully and asked, “Are you staying the night?
Should I go fetch another bucket of water?”
“No need, Lena, I was just about to go back,” Olivia said with a smile, shaking her head.
She just assumed I would stay overnight; such decisiveness…
Who exactly started this rumor.
No longer obstructing Little Lina’s household duties, Olivia walked past the girl and went outside.
She had only taken two steps.
Her keen hearing picked up the sound of water spilling from a wooden barrel inside the house, followed by a light body settling onto the bedding…
“…Brother Leon, could you continue the story you didn’t finish last time?
that four thousand years in Heaven story.”
“Oh, where did we leave off last time?”
“It was where the Jade Emperor had closed himself off, and Marshal Monkey led the nine cave generals to ascend to Heaven and fought with the Jade Fist’s divine warriors at the South City Gate.”
“Uh…how do you remember it so clearly?
Well, let me think, this time I’ll make…
General Snake, by the order of Marshal Monkey, attacked inside the city….
and suddenly a bald Heavenly General jumped out from the Jade Fist army formation!
Named the Black Sword Knight, also called Dong Jismond…”
As Leon’s nonsensically told tale continued to unfold, laughter and soft gasps from Lena filled the room from time to time.
With each step, Olivia walked more and more slowly.
It wasn’t because of that obviously muddled, incoherent story.
But under her sharp hearing, she noticed.
Inside the room, Lena, maybe due to an instinct ignited by engrossment, seemed to continually snuggle closer to Leon’s side…
It wasn’t strange; Little Lina, having lost all her family, now viewed everyone as relatives.
These gestures of closeness were just her instinct, masked by fear, seeking affection; she was affectionate to both her brother and sister figures.
Olivia had never let her thoughts wander about this before.
A strange feeling surged in her heart, and for some reason, she suddenly felt a bit upset.
Listening to Leon’s gentle narration, coaxing continued giggles from Lena.
Olivia quietly, in little tiptoed steps, moved a few paces back.
Treading softly, her golden hair and pale forehead peeked over the door frame, her green eyes silently glanced through the slightly ajar door, peering into the room.
At the bedside, Lena leaned against Leon, her eyes sparkling as she listened to the vivid bedtime story.
Leon, with his feet soaked in the hot water, scrubbed and gestured, while his other hand gently stroked Lena’s head, as if petting a cat.
Seeing the closeness of the two, Olivia felt another pang of bitterness.
She didn’t know if it was intentional.
As she listened, Lena eventually draped herself over Leon’s legs, yawning like a sleepy cat, and then just sprawled out there, continuing to listen with half-closed eyes.
Leon indulged her, patting the girl’s back gently, softening his voice even further.
The scene was akin to a warm father-daughter or sibling-like…
except it was as if a flash of lightning called “Jealousy” struck through Olivia’s mind.
She blinked, observing Lena’s posture snuggled on Leon’s legs, and suddenly realized.
In fact, Lena was only two or three years younger than herself, and due to recent good nourishment, her body had also developed noticeably.
A thought involuntarily arose…
wasn’t Leon also part of the reason Lena was saved?
Reason was telling her that it was impossible.
Olivia frowned, picturing Lena’s obedient face calling her sister, and couldn’t help feeling guilty for her silly thoughts.
Yet an irritable sadness lingered in her heart.
Looking at her lover’s legs, now occupied by Lena,
That place should belong to her.
Biting her lower lip, Olivia suddenly couldn’t bear to leave silently tonight.
She raised her hand and gently knocked, muttering with a hint of grievance, “…Leon.”
“Hm?” Leon stopped his increasingly softer storytelling and turned toward the door.
I thought you had gone back,” he replied, his voice still low, puzzled.
Olivia pushed the door open, uncomfortably folding her arms behind her.
Then she suddenly realized, in just a few breaths, Lena, who had been laying on Leon’s legs, had somehow already fallen deep asleep.
a child longing to be lulled to sleep by an elder…
…No wonder Leon’s voice was getting lower.
Seeing it clearly now.
Olivia realized her absurd thoughts were simply self-inflicted troubles.
Instantly, her cheeks flushed with shame, feeling remorse towards Lena and annoyance at herself.
Somewhat deflated, she bowed her head, her dazzling golden hair dimming slightly.
“What’s wrong, did you leave something behind…” Leon strangely watched his lover’s dejected face.
Olivia raised her hand to cover a cough, her eyes flickering as she looked at Leon.
“Actually, I’d like to hear that story tonight too, is that alright?”
“Ah?” Leon raised an eyebrow.
So the young girl had been listening from outside all this time?
To listen to the story?
That patched-together story he told to appease Lena, he himself couldn’t repeat it exactly the same way a second time.