Chapter 2Strange Nightgowns

Mom led the two sisters to the back of the shop, where she slowly slid open a hidden door.

“Wait… why do we need to go to the basement just to pick out a nightgown?”

The younger girl stared nervously at the dark staircase leading down. She swallowed hard, her unease written all over her face.

Mom gave her a cryptic smile.

“A nightgown like this is different from anything else you’ve worn. The fit has to be perfect—length, size, everything. Otherwise, you won’t get a good night’s sleep.”

Before the younger girl could protest, her sister grabbed her hand and pulled her down the steps.

I watched as the hidden door closed behind them. Bored, I plopped down on the floor, waiting.

Mom had always told me I wasn’t allowed in there. She said kids shouldn’t see what was inside—it wasn’t “appropriate.”

But I wasn’t a kid anymore.

Pouting, I pressed my ear against the door, straining to catch any sounds.

What I heard was… strange. Rustling noises, faint murmurs, and the occasional sharp cry.

Were they fighting over the same nightgown in there?

I was puzzled.

After two hours, I finally heard loud voices from behind the door. It sounded like they had made their choice. Brushing the dust off my pants, I stood up.

Sure enough, a moment later, the hidden door creaked open, and Mom emerged with the two sisters.

Both of their faces were flushed, but the younger one looked like she could barely stand, her legs trembling.

The older sister was now wearing a short, fitted slip dress, while the younger one had on a long, sleek nightgown.

But… they didn’t seem that long to me.

I frowned in confusion.

Still, they did look different—prettier somehow.

The girls waiting outside the shop gasped when they saw the transformation.

“Wow, your skin looks so radiant!”

“And your complexion—it’s glowing!”

The younger girl—apparently called Ann—touched her flushed cheeks, embarrassed but pleased, and hid behind her sister.

Mom grinned, helping the girls out the door with a touch of pride.

“This is just the immediate effect,” she said. “The more you wear it, the better it gets. We only sell to girls recommended by regulars. Save up your money, and you can all buy one someday.”

“But remember this.”

Mom’s expression turned serious, almost eerie.

“These fabrics are extraordinarily rare. You must treasure them. Wear them with care.”

“Whatever you do, don’t let them tear again.”