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Novel Catalog
Chapter 94
In this world, there were some things that didn’t have a rewind button once they were set in motion. It didn’t matter whether the Larsons had provoked them first or if it was her own overestimation of herself that led her to retaliate; it was already too late for her to back out.
Her only worry now was her foster parents.
Matthew, however, didn’t fully grasp Veronica’s thoughts. From his point of view, the Larsons were now nothing more than a means to an end—he saw their value as a potential bone marrow donor for Randy.
“I won’t let you die,” Matthew’s voice broke through the silence, after a long pause.
Veronica was momentarily dazed by his words, before offering him a faint smile. “You really treat Grandma well.”
What a filial grandson he was, she thought. Just because she knew how to humor and keep Old Mrs. Kings company, he would ensure that she stayed alive.
Old Mrs. Kings was already of a ripe age, but she still had time left—enough time to accomplish a lot in her remaining years.
They remained inside the tent, the wind outside howling as it battered the fabric. It wasn’t much shelter, and the mountain wind was relentless, making the tent shake as though it might collapse at any moment. There was nothing to distract them, and Veronica found herself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
The small space inside the tent was cramped, so Matthew could feel every movement she made.
“Can’t sleep?” His voice, soft and hoarse in the dark, came to her.
“Yup,” Veronica muttered in response, still struggling to settle. From eight o’clock to ten o’clock, and then from ten to midnight, she had tossed and turned without any luck.
“Did you also go to sleep around four or five in the morning?” Matthew asked, sensing that neither of them were getting any rest.
The proximity between them was enough that he could almost smell the scent of her shampoo wafting in the air every time her hair brushed past his face.
“No, I used to sleep at around midnight, then wake up at seven or eight,” Veronica replied, trying to recall her normal routine. She thought for a moment and added, “Maybe it was because I used to deliver goods all day long, and I was just too exhausted to stay awake.”
She had no idea why her sleep patterns had changed, but she figured it must have something to do with the physical toll her life had been taking on her.
She turned again, facing the sky, before rolling over onto her side, trying to sleep. However, her habit of pressing her legs against something made her curl them up, and they accidentally collided with Matthew.
The corner of her mouth twitched as she quickly retracted her legs. “Haha… That was an accident.”
This was unbearable. The space was so tight, she could barely move.
“Go ahead and get some rest. I’m going outside for a smoke,” Matthew said, standing up and unzipping the tent.
Veronica stretched out her limbs and rolled around in the tent to loosen up her muscles, but despite her efforts, sleep still evaded her. With a sigh, she decided to step outside.
The cold mountain air greeted her, but it was refreshing. The wind was strong enough to keep the mosquitoes away, which was a welcome relief.
She spotted Matthew on a stone, cigarette in hand. As she approached, she sat down beside him, looking up at the sky.
“You know, whenever we had a power outage when I was little, during the summer, my mom would fan me as I counted the stars. The stars were so bright and beautiful back then. It felt like I was staring at the Milky Way,” Veronica said, a wistful tone in her voice.
She paused for a moment, then asked, “Hey, Matthew, did you ever climb trees when you were young?”
“No.” He shook his head, cigarette still dangling from his lips.
“Hahaha, you really missed out on a lot,” she laughed, raising her head to smile at him. Without thinking, she lightly tapped his shoulder. “Did you know? I used to climb trees, catch fish and lobsters, and even stole my neighbor’s watermelon once. In the end, my mom gave me a good beating when she found out. We had to pay our neighbor a pretty hefty sum of money. Hahaha…”
Since there was nothing else to do, Veronica kept talking, recounting stories from her childhood. Matthew listened quietly, feeling a sense of nostalgia mixed with amusement. He could sense the happiness in her memories, and it made him smile faintly.
As she talked, time passed swiftly, and soon enough, Veronica grew tired. Her head drooped, and she ended up leaning on Matthew’s shoulder, dozing off.
Matthew, feeling her weight, allowed her to rest against him, gently running his fingers through her hair as he wrapped his arms around her. He felt a flutter in his chest as the cold wind tugged at her hair and brushed against his face.
He looked up at the stars, the bright, twinkling sky stretching above them. The sight was peaceful and beautiful, and for a moment, he allowed himself to get lost in it.
He shifted slightly, trying to make her more comfortable, but then he felt something damp on his legs.
Reaching down, he realized that Veronica had drooled on him in her sleep.
Though most people would be disgusted, Matthew simply frowned, his face serious, but the corner of his mouth twitched as he suppressed a laugh.
Carrying her in his arms, he returned to the tent. Inside, Veronica curled around him like an octopus, her grip tight and unrelenting throughout the night.
Matthew, though uncomfortable, endured the close contact, feeling as though he had been through a torturous session of some sort.
The next morning, Veronica woke up feeling surprisingly well-rested.
She opened her eyes to find the tent empty. When she emerged, she spotted Matthew returning from the base of the mountain, a small pot in hand.
“Matthew, where did you… Wow, that smells nice. What’s that?” She pointed at the pot, which looked like something used to cook over an open flame.
“Porridge,” Matthew replied, his voice calm.
“Porridge? Where did you even get that from? There’s nobody living near here,” Veronica asked, surprised.
“I couldn’t make a fire up here. So, I went down to cook it.” Matthew explained.
The wind was so strong on the peak that any fire could easily spread.
Veronica eyed the porridge hungrily. “About that… Could you share some with me?” Her tone was more playful than serious, but her stomach growled as she stared at the food.
Her antics made Matthew chuckle. “If you behave well enough, I might just consider sharing some with you.”
Veronica beamed at him, her eyes lighting up. “Of course, of course! This can be arranged. Come, brother, you’re so impressive. Your bag is like Doraemon’s pouch. There’s everything inside.”
Matthew had been climbing the mountain the previous day, carrying a black backpack that had somehow contained everything he needed.
She led him to the rock where they’d sat and watched the stars the night before, then stood behind him, fawning over the bag.
Though Veronica was only after food, Matthew couldn’t help but appreciate her enthusiasm.
He took out a spoon from his bag and handed it to her. “Time to eat.”
Veronica eagerly grabbed the spoon and was about to scoop some porridge when Matthew slapped the back of her hand.
“Not so fast. Did you brush your teeth?” he asked, looking at her with a raised brow.
“What? How could I do that when there’s no water up here? Don’t tell me you want me to brush my teeth at the base?” Veronica retorted.
Matthew smiled. “I have water and a disposable toothbrush in my bag.”
Veronica stared at him, a bit flustered. She hadn’t expected that, but she gave in with a resigned sigh. “Alright, alright. I’ll go brush.”
