"Before, when everyone learned that you had gone to such great lengths just so Dawn and Fragrant Branch could have her, they could understand it somewhat-she really was outstanding, after all-but deep down, they still didn't really approve."
As she said this, Yudun was lounging on a cloud, playing with a Building Block Player.
"Oh." Qihua was tending the flowers in the garden and showed no particularly obvious reaction to the subject. Nor was she curious about how everyone was reacting now.
But Yudun was clearly a very considerate storyteller. She continued on her own, "But now even Feiju has gone quiet. They're all discussing how to get her into the worlds of their own kind, and whether you knew all along that she could make it this far."
Qihua raised her eyes from the sea of flowers and glanced at Yudun. "That second question is what you wanted to ask, isn't it?"
Yudun didn't deny it. She admitted frankly, "Yes."
"I didn't." Seeing the disbelief in Yudun's eyes, Qihua said wistfully, "If I'd known, I would have acted sooner, even at the risk of being discovered."
Unfortunately, she had still been a step too late.
"So you could tell she was extraordinary that early on? She was so silly when she first joined the game." As she spoke, Yudun pressed the Building Block Player in her hand. The Building Block Player clutched its head and swayed from side to side, crying, "I did nothing wrong~" and "I did nothing wrong~"
"Not that early." Qihua thought back carefully, speaking in a tone she herself found a little incredulous. "You might not believe this, but at first, I had no intention of making her belong to Fragrant Branch. I really did go play with her because I thought she was interesting.