“Qiang qiang –, Xiao Anqing, hurry and see, doesn’t Zhixian look just like Princess Belle in this outfit?”
The blonde girl, with a stiff posture, was gently pushed by her mother in front of the full-length mirror. Her light yellow tulle dress puffed out
like a newly blossomed dandelion.
The off-shoulder design of the dress revealed her delicate, elegant collarbones.
A thin golden necklace shimmered faintly around her neck.
The girl’s always-messy short blonde hair was held in place by a slim white headband, exposing part of her smooth forehead.
Ruan Zhixian tugged uneasily at the hem of her dress, her dainty feet, clad in small white heels, staggering a few steps in front of the mirror.
“Um, I really still think this doesn’t quite suit me…”
“Wow, Zhixian, you’re so pretty! You really look just like the real Princess Belle!”
Anqing’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the tomboy, now dressed completely unlike usual.
“Uh… Anqing, do you really think I look good in a dress? Isn’t it kind of weird…” Ruan Zhixian’s words sounded hesitant.
“Zhixian, you really do look nice.”
The black-haired girl blinked her big eyes and said shyly:
“Normally you look really cool, like a brave knight; but now, wearing a dress, you look just like the princess from a fairy tale who would rescue the Beast—also very pretty and cool.”
“Oh, oh.”
Ruan Zhixian scratched her head a little awkwardly.
So that’s how Anqing sees me? This is kind of embarrassing, hahaha…
Uh, a princess is a princess… At least I’m a brave Princess Belle! Didn’t Anqing say I look cool even in a dress?
Yeah, that’s me all right!
Subconsciously skipping over the word “pretty”, the blonde girl cheered herself up in an instant, satisfied as she spun in front of the mirror.
“All right, my little princesses, how about we take a photo here to remember today?”
Laila pulled out a camera from who-knows-where, smiling as she waved it in front of the two girls.
What?! A photo?!
No way! Are you kidding? This is the first time I’ve worn a dress since I was three! There’s no way I can let Mom take a picture!
Even if I am Princess Belle, no way! Who knows, that photo could end up as blackmail material for years to come!
“I think maybe we should skip the photo and just…”
Halfway through her sentence, Ruan Zhixian suddenly noticed the expectation in Anqing’s eyes fading as she spoke…
“Ahem! Maybe let’s not take a photo, let’s… um, let’s ask Dad to paint a picture for us instead!”
“Um, Anqing, you might not know, but my dad is a really famous artist—his paintings are amazing!”
The blonde girl stretched her arms as wide as she could, making a grand “so~ amazing” gesture.
“If we get Dad to paint a picture of us, it’ll look way better than a photo! What do you think?”
Anqing tilted her face up, stunned for a moment.
The blonde girl, bending forward with a smile, wearing a light yellow, puffy long dress, paired with her delicate headband and necklace, looked just like a princess stepping out of a fairy tale.
Princess Belle’s green eyes curved gently like crescent moons, her smile bright and soft.
“Mm!”
The little mermaid, lost in thought, nodded hard.
“There, it’s done! Zhixian, Anqing, come take a look—are you satisfied?”
In the backyard of the small house, the man behind the easel put away his palette and brushes, calling the two girls over with a smile.
“Wow! Dad, you’re amazing! It’s so beautiful!”
The blonde little princess was the first to run over, clapping her hands in praise.
On the canvas that Ruan Shuhe displayed, two girls dressed in fine clothes held hands, standing in a golden field of sunflowers.
The blooming flower heads and the bright blue summer sky intertwined into a radiant backdrop.
The blonde girl wore a light yellow off-shoulder tulle dress, her puffy skirt blending seamlessly with the sunflowers.
She faced outward from the painting, beaming with unreserved joy, her emerald green eyes curved in a smile, as if inviting the whole world to share her happiness.
The black-haired girl she held tightly by the left hand stood slightly sideways, her pale blue princess dress and pearl jewelry making her look just like a deep-sea mermaid who had wandered onto land.
In the painting, the black-haired girl lowered her head a little, as if trying to hide her blushing cheeks, but her gaze drifted uncontrollably toward the blonde girl at her side.
She gripped the other’s small hand carefully, her smile shy.
Well, Dad’s painting is good, but I still feel like I don’t look quite cool enough… Anqing, on the other hand, looks sweet and adorable…
Oh well, maybe Dad’s observation skills still need some work~~ He’s supposed to be a famous artist, but he can’t even capture his daughter’s heroic side—honestly.
Looks like Dad has the skill but not the true eye of a master painter… Mm, I’d better not say anything and hurt his feelings. I’m too considerate…
Ruan Shuhe, off to the side, was looking at Ruan Zhixian with a gentle expression, completely unaware that in her heart, he’d already been labeled as a “painting nerd” who only knew technique.
“Anqing, come look at the painting—isn’t it beautiful?”
After muttering in her heart, Ruan Zhixian decided to say nothing and instead turned, smiling, to the black-haired girl at her side.
Anqing stared blankly at the painting of the two beautiful little princesses standing side by side, speechless.
So, I can stand next to Zhixian like this too?
So, I can be as bright and dazzling as her?
I want to always stand by her side like this.
I want to always, always, hold her hand.
Her hand is so warm.
But I’m just an ordinary, unwanted orphan, while Zhixian is a little princess living in a loving home…
Thinking of her own situation, and of Ruan Zhixian’s beautiful big house, all the delicious snacks she’d never seen before, the pretty dresses taken out so easily, and the warm, enthusiastic Ruan couple, Anqing lowered her gaze self-consciously, pain welling in her heart.
Someone like me—how can I ever stay by her side?
How can I ever be worthy of someone so wonderful?
“Hey, Anqing, what are you thinking about?”
Ruan Zhixian waved a hand in front of Anqing’s face, breaking the girl’s ever-darkening train of thought.
“Are you thinking about where to put the painting? Hm, that’s true—if it were a photo, we could have lots of copies, so we could both have one, but there’s only one painting…”
Before Anqing could reply, Ruan Zhixian pinched her chin and began pondering right on the spot.
“Just keep the painting at your house, Zhixian.”
The black-haired girl shook her head, interrupting Ruan Zhixian’s soliloquy.
“It’s fine for me.”
Anyway, even if I took it back to the orphanage, I’m afraid it would just…
“Ah? Really?” The blonde girl looked a little surprised, but agreed quickly.
“All right then, but if you ever want to see it, Anqing, you can come to my house anytime!”
“Mm!”
In the sunlight, Anqing nodded gently, the pearl hair ornament in her hair shimmering with a soft, rainbow glow.