Seeing that all the villagers had already started eating, Ningguang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Her task was now complete, and she was ready to get some food for herself.
However, when Ningguang got closer, she found that the food in the basins was almost empty, leaving only soup to mix with rice.
Ningguang wasn't sad about this.
Having experienced too many hard and impoverished days before,
she knew that even mixing rice with soup was far better than going hungry without food.
For her, being able to fill her stomach was already good enough, so how could she be picky?
Just as Ningguang was about to mix her rice and eat,
Makoto brought a steaming, generous portion of food to the pitiful girl.
Makoto reached out and pinched Ningguang's cheek, his tone full of doting affection: "Little girl, eat while it's hot, otherwise, the food won't taste good when it gets cold."
Looking at the full bowl of food in front of her, Ningguang's face was full of surprise.
She then immediately realized that Makoto had specially asked Chef Mao to stir-fry this new meal.
In an instant, the little girl's heart was filled with warmth.
She hadn't expected Makoto to always be thinking of her,
and even more so, to specially ask Chef Mao to make an extra meal.
It felt so good to have Brother Makoto take care of her~
(*≧∪≦)
Ningguang took the food, revealing a sweet smile: "Thank you, Brother Makoto~"
Looking at Ningguang's adorable and naive expression,
Makoto was a bit amused and exasperated.
It was just making a separate meal for her, was it really worth being this happy?
However,
Makoto had to admit,
ever since Ningguang stopped doing hard labor and worrying about making money,
the little girl had become more and more beautiful, or perhaps she was always this beautiful.
Makoto believed that,
as long as he raised the clean and lovely Little Cuties well,
in due time, Ningguang would surely become the most graceful and peerless beauty in Liyue.
At this moment, Makoto noticed again that
Ningguang was picking through the food in her bowl with her chopsticks, carefully separating the dishes.
At first, Makoto thought Ningguang was a picky eater,
until Ningguang put all the meat into Makoto's bowl, leaving only some greens and chili peppers in her own bowl.
"Ningguang knows Brother Makoto likes these dishes, so Ningguang wants to give them to Brother Makoto to eat~"
After these past few days of spending time together, Ningguang had memorized Makoto's daily habits.
For example, Makoto liked smaller pieces of meat, and he preferred lighter flavors, not eating much spicy food.
These details, though Makoto had never explicitly mentioned them, Ningguang remembered them all.
So, she wasn't being picky when she was sorting through the food just now,
but rather, she was setting aside the dishes Makoto liked to eat.
The little girl was innocent and simple-minded.
She just wanted to give the best things to Makoto.
Makoto didn't speak, he just reached out and rubbed Ningguang's little head.
They say daughters are like little padded jackets,
and although Ningguang wasn't Makoto's daughter, he could still feel the warmth brought by this 'little padded jacket'.
The little girl was too sensible.
"Little girl, I've already eaten enough, so you should eat the rest of those dishes yourself."
Makoto was touched, but still politely declined Ningguang.
Ningguang looked a bit dejected, pouting her lips, appearing pitiful.
"Is Brother Makoto looking down on Ningguang?"
The little girl was sensitive; seeing Makoto refuse, she thought he disliked her.
Seeing Ningguang on the verge of tears from sadness, Makoto quickly said: "Brother Makoto likes Ningguang too much to ever look down on her!"
The future Ningguang's tea-serving skills were unparalleled.
If Makoto were to look down on Ningguang, he'd probably slap himself twice.
Makoto paused, then continued: "I'm mainly considering that Ningguang is still in her growing stage."
"You need to eat more food so you can get enough nutrition, understand?"
"Not only do you need to eat more food, but I've also arranged for Chef Mao to prepare papaya for you as a post-meal fruit."
"With this combination of nutrition, you'll grow up faster, understand?"
Makoto's face was serious; he truly wasn't lying.
Ningguang's beautiful eyes, brimming with tears, stared intently at Makoto.
After a moment, the little girl softly spoke: "Brother Makoto, don't lie to Ningguang, okay?"
"Brother Makoto... really isn't looking down on Ningguang."
Makoto swore solemnly: "I won't lie to you. If I lie to you, I'll hit hard pity every ninety pulls!"
There was no more sincere promise than that.
Ningguang tilted her head; she didn't understand what 'hard pity' meant.
But she could see the seriousness in Makoto's expression and that he wasn't lying.
Ningguang hugged Makoto tightly, then softly said: "Ningguang likes Brother Makoto too."
Seeing Ningguang stop crying, Makoto finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Little Cuties was cute, yes, but she cried too easily.
While Ningguang quietly ate her meal,
Makoto looked up at the other Little One, Qiqi.
While the surrounding villagers were laughing and talking joyfully,
Xiao Qiqi sat quietly in a corner, lost in thought.
She seemed to sense someone watching her, so she looked up and met Makoto's gaze.
Immediately after, Xiao Qiqi picked up her rice bowl and walked towards Makoto.
Xiao Qiqi blinked her big pink eyes and said earnestly: "Qiqi... isn't hungry..."
"The food I got... leave it for Makoto to eat..."
As Xiao Qiqi spoke, she leaned forward and handed the bowl of food to Makoto.
Due to Qiqi's special physical constitution,
she couldn't taste anything she ate and didn't feel hungry.
The reason Qiqi had gotten a portion of food was entirely out of concern that Makoto wouldn't have enough to eat.
This meal was specially saved by Qiqi for Makoto.
Makoto suddenly felt like a father.
Both of his 'daughters' were exceptionally obedient and sensible.
This made him, as a 'father', feel immensely gratified.
However,
why were both of these Little One so intent on feeding him?
"Qiqi, I'm already full. I really can't eat anymore."
"How about you leave the food here, and I'll come back to eat it later if I get hungry, okay?"
Makoto squatted down and spoke to Qiqi.
"Okay..." Qiqi blinked her eyes and nodded obediently.
Looking at Xiao Qiqi's adorable appearance, Makoto couldn't help but smile, and asked: "Qiqi, do you want to go out for some fresh air?"
Makoto knew that Qiqi preferred quiet and cool environments.
She wasn't quite accustomed to the large, bustling atmosphere of the villagers eating together right now.
Going out for some air would also help Qiqi relax a little.
"Fresh air... Qiqi likes..." Xiao Qiqi nodded, then reached out and took Makoto's hand.
This was entirely Qiqi's instinct.
Because she trusted Makoto, she was willing to follow him.
In an instant, Makoto could feel faint chills emanating from his palm.
That was the cold air radiating from Qiqi's body, which was unavoidable.
However, that cold wasn't too harmful and was bearable.
Makoto led Qiqi out, away from the noise and lights.
The surroundings were quiet, and night had quietly fallen.
This was Qiqi's favorite time of day.
She didn't have to worry about the sun making her body uncomfortable.
The two walked in silence, side by side on the road.
After a moment, Qiqi stopped and then looked up at Makoto.
Even in the dark of night, Qiqi's large, peach-blossom colored eyes were exceptionally bright.
Makoto also felt that Xiao Qiqi had something to say, so he immediately asked: "Qiqi, what's wrong?"
Qiqi blinked her big eyes and said earnestly: "Today, some villagers got hurt... Qiqi wants to pick medicine for them..."
When building the village today, a few young men were helping Qiqi move a large tree, but they weren't strong enough and got injured.
The kind-hearted Qiqi wanted to pick medicine to treat the injuries of those young men.
In the game, Qiqi's role was that of a healing support.
Her desire to save people had become an instinct.
Naturally, Makoto wouldn't refuse Qiqi's request.
"Of course, what materials does Qiqi want to pick? I'll go with you to pick them."
It was dark now, and Makoto wasn't comfortable with Qiqi going out alone.
So, he decided to accompany Qiqi.
"Qingxin... glaze lily... Milk..."
Xiao Qiqi counted on her fingers, meticulously listing the items.
When she mentioned Milk, Qiqi paused slightly.
She looked up at Makoto,
"Makoto... Qiqi wants a Cocogoat..."
"coconut milk... tastes good..."
"Can I?"
The little girl blinked her eyes, which were filled with anticipation.
That expectant look in her eyes would make it difficult for anyone to say no.
Catch a Cocogoat?
This made Makoto a bit troubled.
Because even Grandpa Zhong couldn't find a Cocogoat in the game's storyline.
The so-called 'half-adepti beast' Cocogoat simply didn't exist.
Where would Makoto find one?
But if Qiqi insisted on drinking coconut milk,
it wasn't impossible,
but the key was that Makoto couldn't get it right away.
Just then, Makoto felt footsteps behind him.
He turned his head and saw that the person who had arrived was Ganyu.
Originally, Ganyu had planned to rest after finishing her work, but then she remembered Cloud Retainer's earlier instructions.
So she quickly rushed to Guili Plains.
Ganyu looked at Makoto and asked: "Please, please, is there anything I can help with?"