In that very yard, she met a person that she would not forget for the rest of her life.
What kind of encounter was it?
Looking back, Queeny thought that encounter seemed rather trivial. No one made a dramatic entrance, or carried a special title or distinguished status.
In the backyard filled with grapevine, she saw a boy about 12 sitting under the grape trellis, absorbed in a book.
He was quite pretty. Though he was a boy, his exquisite features could compare with a girl's.
He had big eyes, long eyelashes, and smooth skin that almost seemed to be made of the finest jade.
He was wearing a sharp suit and a pair of matching-colored leather shoes. His hair was neatly arranged. The look he had when reading was also quite different from regular boys. It seemed that he had an air of affected sophistication that did not suit his age.
Queeny was stunned at this scene.
As if he had sensed her arrival, the boy put down his book and looked up.
His eyes were cool, calm, and otherworldly. They were like lakes on the snow-capped mountain, which cooled her heart in an instant.
Queen then thought that she would perhaps never forget this encounter.
Mr. Webber led her into the yard and warmly introduced the boy to her. "Well, let me introduce myself. He is my student, Felix. You can see him as your older brother."
Then, he turned to Felix and said, "This is Queeny. She's my granddaughter now. Like her brother, you should take care of her, do you understand?"
The boy neither nodded nor shook his head. He didn't say anything, either.
But his brow furrowed. Though he was only 12, his stern expression made him look like an old man.
A moment later, he spoke in a doubtful tone, "Queeny? Isn't she the stepdaughter of the Dempsey family in town? How did she become your granddaughter?"
Mr. Webber froze.
It took him by surprise that Felix, who stayed in this house all day long, also knew a lot about what was going on in town.
He sighed with resignation and recounted Queeny's story to Felix.
After he finished, Felix displayed no trace of sympathy at all.
He merely snorted and said, "Fine. I don't care as long as she doesn't disturb me while I'm reading."
After that, he sat down and began to read again.
Mr. Webber did not seem surprised by his aloof reaction. He just held Queeny's hand and drew her away with a smile on his face.
Queeny, however, found this odd.
"What's with this kid? Why is he giving us an attitude?"
"Mr. Webber is such a kind person. He took me in when he learned I had nowhere to go. And he also teaches this boy. Then how can he talk to him like that?"
"This is out of line!"
She pouted angrily and looked back. She intended to glower at Felix so that he would know she was not a pushover and wouldn't think about picking on her.
Yet, she looked back only to see Felix bending over the book, reading quietly. At this moment, he seemed like a gem shining in the sunlight.
Queeny was stupefied in place.
She thought that perhaps no other boy could be more beautiful than Felix.
"Well, since you're so good-looking, I'll cut you some slack for now!"
"But if this happens again... Humph!" She thought.
Therefore, Queen settled down in the orphanage and lived with Mr. Webber.
At that time, the legal protection for the underage was quite sparse.
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