Chapter 12 Only Have Solo Pictures
+8 Pearls
Simba was eager to lunge forward, but Hadden gave a gentle tap to his back, and the lion immediately settled down, lying quietly at his feet. Winona bent slightly to stroke Simba’s head, and the lion nuzzled her hand affectionately, nuzzling against her palm with a soft purr.
Not wanting to make it obvious that she was trailing behind Hadden and Winona, Lilith decided to stay for a while longer and then leave. She had initially planned to head out right away, but that seemed a little too obvious, like she was running away.
Sitting aimlessly on the lawn, she watched as Winona took the leash and led Simba in circles around the field. The lion was drawing closer, and Lilith thought she might take this chance to slip away unnoticed.
Unexpectedly, Simba suddenly dashed toward her with lightning speed, colliding into her so forcefully that she tumbled to the ground. Fortunately, the grass cushioned her fall, and while it wasn’t painful, Lilith had braced herself for the likelihood of getting hurt by Simba today.
But to her surprise, the lion simply pressed his large head against her chest, seeking affection, like a giant, cuddly puppy. The misunderstanding was merely due to its size.
Carefully, Lilith stroked Simba’s head, and the lion nuzzled her neck, gently pushing his face against her.
In that moment, Lilith was struck by a sudden memory of her childhood–of Winona. The gesture reminded her so much of those days.
The action seemed to startle Hadden and the other animal keepers. Out of the corner of her eye, Lilith saw Hadden rush over, pulling Simba’s leash sharply back. The tightness of the leash likely tugged at Simba’s neck, and the lion, startled, got up from Lilith’s lap, letting out a low, mournful whine.
Only Winona remained unfazed, strolling over at a leisurely pace before stopping several feet away from Lilith. Her expression was unreadable, calm, and indifferent.
Lilith rose from the ground, brushing the grass off her clothes. She couldn’t help but feel a little distaste for Winona’s demeanor–so mature for her age, always appearing aloof and distant, as though she was never truly happy.
At not even 14, she was still just a child, and Lilith wished she could be more carefree and joyful.
Hadden’s gaze remained focused on Simba, but he seemed distant, like he was looking at something else entirely–his own wrist where the leash was held, rather than Lilith. After a moment, he spoke, his tone soft but serious, “He didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know,” Lilith replied, standing up fully. With both of them now so close, it would be impolite to leave abruptly, so she hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’ll head out now.”
Without waiting for a reply, knowing there likely wouldn’t be one, Lilith turned and began walking back toward the villa.
Hadden kept a firm grip on Simba’s leash, his other hand resting casually on Winona’s shoulder.
“Winona, don’t release the leash like that,” Hadden said. “It can be dangerous. After all, Simba’s still a wild animal.”
Winona stepped back a few paces, and the hand that had been on her shoulder naturally dropped. She watched Lilith’s retreating figure for several moments without expression, her eyes cold and indifferent. After a beat, she looked down at Simba and began to pet its fur.
Without lifting her head, Winona gently traced a finger along Simba’s eye. “It’s fine. He’s better behaved than most people. Don’t you understand the pet you raised?”
Before Hadden could respond, Winona gave a soft laugh, almost a whisper. “Right, Simba? What do you think?”
Simba, lying at her feet, let out a small, soft sound in response.
As the youngest sibling, Winona had always been spoiled and indulged, and Hadden could only helplessly shake his head, smiling in resignation.
After spending some quiet time alone in her room, Lilith had an unexpected realization. She had become so accustomed to
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Chapter 12 Only Have Solo Pictures
+8 Pearls
her ordinary life that she had almost forgotten a peculiar ability she possessed–the ability to know the identities of everyone around her. It wasn’t until she saw Hadden and Winona that she noticed the screens above their heads had started to grow clearer.
In the past, the screens had been dim, flickering like an old television, constantly unstable and unreliable.
Now, they were gradually sharpening, and Lilith couldn’t help but think that soon enough, the information displayed would be neat and well–organized, just like files meticulously arranged before her eyes.
It almost felt like something from a strange, futuristic virtual world.
The holidays came to an end, and Lilith slipped back into her usual school routine. While uneventful, it was everything she had hoped for: no more being isolated or looked down upon, no more injuries, and best of all, no more encounters with a certain person. It was as close to perfect as she could imagine.
The semester passed without any issues. Liana, who had a completely different personality from hers, became her closest friend. Lilith, naturally quiet and reserved, contrasted sharply with Liana’s lively, energetic nature, but the two became inseparable.
When winter break arrived, Liana invited her over to spend time at her house. As Lilith stepped inside, she was greeted by a large family portrait on the wall, with several childhood photos of Liana and various awards displayed in the cabinets.
Liana’s home wasn’t extravagant, but it was full of signs of her growth. Even the spontaneous doodles she’d made as a child on the walls were preserved.
Her room was a collection of skateboards, guitars, stuffed animals, Legos, and models, like a treasure chest of memories. A child raised in such a home was bound to be joyful, free–spirited, and carefree.
The two of them sat together on the bed, and Liana excitedly brought out a thick photo album, filled with pictures from family vacations. The images captured smiling faces, vibrant and lively, with young Liana looking cuddly and round.
As they flipped through the album, Liana, curious, asked, “Lilith, next time you’re at home, can you show me some of your old photos? I want to know if you were as cute as this when you were little. Actually, forget it–just send me some tonight.”
Lilith shook her head, but Liana grabbed her hand, pretending to be upset, and asked, “What’s going on? You don’t want to show me? Or are you not letting me come over to your house?”
Lilith shook her head again, feeling apologetic. “It’s not that. I don’t have any pictures like that, so I can’t show you. I’m sorry.”
She realized that throughout her life, she had never had any warm, personal family photos. She had always been an outsider, watching others‘ joys and sorrows from a distance.
Whenever she thought about it, Lilith would imagine herself as a child who had wandered into a happy family–a stranger looking from the outside in. Thinking of it that way helped make it a little easier to bear.
“No way!” Liana exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
“Really,” Lilith replied, nervously twisting her fingers. “I’ve never had any. I only have solo pictures. Want to see them? I can send them when I get home.”
Liana’s demeanor immediately shifted to seriousness. She slammed the album shut, looking frustrated, before jumping off the bed and rummaging around. Without a word, she pulled out a Polaroid camera, draped her arm around Lilith’s shoulder, and snapped a rapid series of photos.
The pictures came out blurry, out of focus, and some didn’t even show their faces clearly.
Despite that, Liana added them to her album, marking them as part of the joy she shared with Lilith.
She even gave some to Lilith. When Lilith got home, she found the clearest of the pictures, framed it, and placed it on her desk next to a small angel statue.
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