Everyone Doesn't Hate Qiqi. Qiqi Is Very Happy

Who could have guessed that tiny, frail Qiqi had silently endured so much?

Thinking back to what had just happened, the villagers were overcome with guilt.

They had said so many hurtful things to Qiqi and done so many things that had hurt her.

When Qiqi first appeared, the villagers had instinctively shielded the children behind them.

They had worried the children might get hurt, yet overlooked the fact that Qiqi was a child, too.

How sad must Qiqi have felt then?

The more the villagers thought about it, the more remorseful and guilty they felt.

"We misunderstood Qiqi. That child didn't do anything wrong."

"Although Qiqi is a zombie, she really didn't mean to hurt anyone. I accidentally fell while running away, and Qiqi pulled me back up."

"She was afraid of scaring me, so she ran off right away. How could such a kind child hurt anyone?"

"If I could, I'd like to apologize to Qiqi, and I'd be willing to be her friend."

"I want to apologize to Qiqi, too."

More and more villagers realized they had hurt Qiqi, and wanted to apologize.

But Qiqi was nowhere to be found now.

Even if they wanted to apologize, they couldn't.

Just then, Little Ningguang looked up at Fang Xun and said earnestly in her childish voice, "Brother Fang Xun, let's go find Qiqi!"

"You just said Qiqi doesn't have many friends. Ningguang wants to be her friend!"

Hearing Ningguang's words, Fang Xun smiled and nodded. "Then let's go look for Qiqi right now."

He had still been wondering how to help Ningguang and Qiqi get along.

He hadn't expected Ningguang to be the one to suggest becoming Qiqi's friend.

That made things much easier.

There was no need to worry about Qiqi; she'd be happy to make a friend.

Before long, Little Ningguang took Fang Xun's hand and acted as their guide.

She pointed north, then said seriously, "Brother Fang Xun, I just saw Qiqi leave in that direction."

"But the area we have to search is so huge. Where should we start?"

As Ningguang pondered, Fang Xun spoke up.

"Violetgrass."

"Qiqi said she was going to pick some Violetgrass."

"I think she'll go somewhere with Violetgrass where she can also hide from people."

Little Ningguang's eyes lit up as an idea came to her.

"Brother Fang Xun, I know a place like that!"

"Come with me!"

"Qiqi might be there!"

Chapter 36: Everyone Doesn't Hate Qiqi; Qiqi Is Very Happy

Liyue, Cui Jue Slope,

On top of a steep, rugged mountain.

Little zombie Qiqi plopped down on a stone slab, her little feet swinging gently.

Her pink eyes gazed into the distance, lost in thought.

Everything looked so peaceful and serene.

But beneath that lovely surface lay an indescribable desolation and loneliness.

The villagers' panicked expressions from earlier were still vivid in Qiqi's mind.

Now she didn't dare leave the forest, afraid she might scare the villagers again.

Qiqi could only hide beside the steep cliff, since hardly anyone ever came here.

Little Qiqi sat quietly at the edge of the cliff.

She saw a pretty cloud in the sky shaped like Violetgrass.

Then she noticed that the view of Liyue from up here was actually quite beautiful.

Qiqi wanted to share it, but there was no one around her.

It was... very lonely.

There wasn't even anyone to talk to.

Just then, a little finch flew toward her through the sky.

It didn't seem afraid of people, and Qiqi was sitting so still that she looked like a piece of wood.

The finch folded its wings and landed on Qiqi's hat.

It seemed to find her hat unusual, and looked it over curiously.

Little Qiqi's eyes glimmered with delight.

She held out a finger, wanting to pet the adorable little bird.

At the same time, she worried that it might get scared and fly away.

So she was careful about everything.

Carefully trying to make friends.

When the finch saw Qiqi's outstretched finger, it wasn't afraid at all. It hopped right onto it.

The finch tilted its head toward Qiqi and chirped.

Qiqi thought it was very cute and softly asked, "Little finch... are you hungry?"

"Qiqi... has no food... only Violetgrass..."

"Do you... want some?"

"You can have all this Violetgrass..."

"If it's not enough... Qiqi will pick more..."

Looking at the Violetgrass Qiqi offered, the finch tilted its head, clearly confused.

It had no idea what the pale-faced, innocent-eyed little girl wanted.

The finch chirped, and Qiqi tried her best to understand what it meant.

They were each saying their own thing, but somehow, that didn't matter.

Qiqi was happy.

Because she had a new friend.

"The little finch isn't afraid of Qiqi... It wants to be Qiqi's friend..."

"Qiqi... likes the little finch..."

People instinctively kept their distance from Qiqi.

Yet the little finch wasn't afraid of her and was happy to come close.

Maybe that was why Qiqi had always wanted a little finch of her own.

Qiqi's clear, bright eyes fluttered as Fang Xun came to mind.

Thanks to the talisman that enhanced her memory, Qiqi still remembered Fang Xun clearly.

"There's someone else who wants to be Qiqi's friend... Fang Xun..."

"Qiqi... likes Fang Xun, too..."

Qiqi looked down at the little finch perched on her finger, then softly said, "Little finch... Qiqi wants to find Fang Xun..."

"But Qiqi doesn't know... where Fang Xun is..."

"And Qiqi can't leave here... She'll scare other people..."

The little girl lowered her head, sadness showing in her eyes.

She realized she might never see Fang Xun again.

She could only hide in the mountains, unable to go out.

Unless Fang Xun came to find her.

But...

She was beside such a steep cliff.

How could Fang Xun ever find her here?

Just then, Qiqi heard a sound behind her.

She turned around and saw Fang Xun walking toward her.

Qiqi quickly stood up, not noticing that the little finch perched on her finger had already flown away.

Fang Xun wore a faint smile as he looked at Qiqi and said gently, "Little Qiqi, don't run off to such hard-to-find places next time."

"Otherwise, we won't be able to find you."

Qiqi gazed at Fang Xun, joy dancing in her eyes.

"Did Fang Xun come here to find Qiqi...?"

"Qiqi is very happy..."