"That little thing was just badmouthing me behind my back, wasn't she!"
Paimon stiffened her neck, "No, no."
Yunling pinched Itto's soft flesh on his back hard, and Itto cried out in pain.
"Boss, don't bully Paimon!"
Paimon seemed to have found a backer and immediately ran from behind Lumine to behind Yunling.
Lumine: "..."
"Paimon, don't mind the boss, he just likes to play, he's still a child at heart, he's just teasing you."
Paimon glanced at Itto; truth be told, Arataki Itto's large physique did look quite intimidating.
"I didn't expect Lumine and Paimon to arrive so coincidentally. I was just about to go look for you two if you didn't come. Since everyone's here, let's have a barbecue party today! I've even prepared lots of snacks~"
The completion of the Statue of the Omnipresent God was just a matter of tomorrow or the day after. After these two days, it would be difficult for everyone to gather together again.
"Yay, a barbecue party!"
Paimon was very enthusiastic, her big eyes sparkling with excitement.
Lumine also took out the ingredients she and Paimon had collected. After Yunling inspected them, she gave Lumine and Paimon a thumbs up.
"These are all very fresh and wonderful ingredients! They'll definitely be delicious when cooked!"
Not everyone had arrived yet, so Yunling first instructed Itto and the others to prepare the ingredients. Lumine and Paimon also came to help.
Actually, Lumine's cooking skills were also excellent, but compared to Yunling, they seemed quite inferior. However, when it came to preparing ingredients, she was an expert.
Little Paimon held a Naku Weed almost as big as her, helping Lumine.
Itto saw her, and while Paimon wasn't paying attention, he quietly ran behind Paimon: "What are you doing, flying dwarf Naku Weed?"
"Waaah!"
Paimon was so startled by Itto that she dropped the Naku Weed on the ground. She turned around to look at Itto, her little face flushed with anger.
"You hateful person, how dare you scare me! And I'm Paimon, not some flying dwarf Naku Weed! I'm so mad, I'm going to give you an ugly nickname, I'll just call you Big Idiot!"
Paimon stomped her foot hard. She decided that she would eat all of Big Idiot's food later!
She wouldn't leave him a single bit!
There were many ingredients, and many people were preparing them, so everyone finished quickly.
At the same time, Kuki Shinobu also arrived with guests.
"Wow, so many people are here already? I didn't come late, did I?"
It was Yoimiya who spoke. As soon as she arrived, she quickly ran to Yunling's side and asked if there was anything she could do.
Yunling pointed to Lumine's side: "Yoimiya, go help Lumine skewer."
Ayaka and Thoma also arrived, and an unexpected person, Kamisato Ayato, also came.
"Little Yun, I came uninvited, I hope you don't mind."
Yunling quickly waved her hand: "How could I? I thought you would be very busy, Ayato-ge, I didn't expect you to have time to come."
Ayato smiled slightly: "If I didn't come to a party where Little Yun is personally cooking, wouldn't I be missing out greatly?"
Yunling chuckled, accepting Ayato's compliment.
"Haha, Ayato is here too!"
"My apologies for the intrusion, Itto."
Thoma went to help wash vegetables, and as for Ayaka, Yunling told her to go freeze ice cream.
Making the most of everything, you see.
Before long, everything was ready, and Yunling brought out her signature skills and began to cook.
Barbecue, rice wine, snacks, desserts...
When all these things were laid out on the table, everyone present was amazed.
The color, aroma, and taste of all these foods were exquisite. Little Paimon and Arataki Itto in front of the table didn't know how many times they had swallowed their saliva.
"Everyone, please don't be shy, eat."
Yunling knew everyone was waiting for her, but barbecue was best enjoyed while grilling and eating.
And grilling didn't stop her from eating either.
Seeing that Yunling had started eating, everyone stopped being polite and reached out for the delicacies they had long set their eyes on.
Itto was just about to grab some grilled meat when suddenly a white blur flashed by, and the freshly grilled meat instantly vanished.
Itto looked angrily at Paimon, who was biting into the grilled meat, her hands on her hips in triumph.
That's for bullying me just now!
The Ayaka siblings preferred desserts, but thinking that the skewers were made by Yunling, they both tried them and instantly fell in love, joining the army of skewer eaters.
Yoimiya held a bowl of rice wine; though called wine, it didn't have much alcoholic taste and was more like a beverage. Yoimiya loved it, especially paired with the skewers.
Lumine tried every dish, liked them all, and ate very happily.
For a time, hosts and guests alike enjoyed themselves, and the atmosphere was exceptionally lively. Even Ayato, at this moment, let go of his burdens and smiled a few genuine smiles.
"Oh dear, the little one is having a party and didn't even notify this big sister. Don't you know that would make this big sister sad~"
Yunling saw the newcomer and immediately went to greet her.
"It's Guuji Yae! I didn't expect Lady Guuji to have time!"
Yunling was telling the truth; she really didn't expect Yae Miko to have time, nor did she expect her to come.
Yae Miko also saw that Yunling wasn't lying. She smiled softly: "Seeing as little Yunling was thinking of this big sister, this big sister will forgive you."
Yae Miko made herself comfortable, her gaze sweeping over the table until she spotted her favorite fried tofu, winking at Yunling.
Yae Miko's arrival caused the originally lively atmosphere to stiffen slightly.
"Everyone, please don't let my arrival affect you, or I'll be sad."
"Mhm-mhm, Guuji Yae is just Big Sister here now, everyone please don't be constrained."
This party was just for fun, nothing else mattered.
With Yunling saying this, the atmosphere quickly warmed up again.
"Miko-jie, would you like to try this?"
Yunling walked to Yae Miko with a bowl of rice wine. Yae Miko was very pleased with Yunling's address and took a shallow sip.
"Mmm, it's good, very delicious."
Counting it, everyone here was a friend, and there was no need to be constrained. Although Yae Miko had a higher status, neither Lumine nor Yoimiya were the type of people who would feel constrained.
The Kamisato siblings were naturally similar.
Yunling, needless to say, was even less so.
Arataki Itto and his three followers were carefree and wouldn't care too much about these things.
If one were to say who Yae Miko's arrival affected the most, it would be Kuki Shinobu.
After all, she was a former superior, so it was normal for Kuki Shinobu to feel a bit uncomfortable.
However, she was only a little uncomfortable; it wasn't to the point of needing to escape.
At the party, Paimon ate the most. The little one also drank quite a bit of rice wine, her little face flushed, looking adorably clumsy.
When the party ended, everyone wore satisfied smiles.
Yae Miko even packed up a lot of things before leaving; all the fried tofu was taken by her.
She still loved fried tofu so much!
Yunling carried Paimon back to the newly renovated house and placed her on the bed.
"Delicious, Paimon, more..."
As expected of a foodie, even her sleep talk was about food.
Yunling shook her head and walked out.
"It's too late, Lumine, you should go rest too."
Lumine looked directly at Yunling until the latter became a little embarrassed, then she smiled: "Thank you, Yunling!"
Lumine suddenly hugged Yunling, and Yunling's body stiffened, not daring to move.
Lumine only hugged her for a moment before letting go. She whispered in Yunling's ear: "Good night."
.
.
.
_