Qiqi wanted to walk over to Fang Xun,
but then she noticed a little girl with white hair standing beside him, about as tall as she was.
Qiqi froze for a moment, then immediately turned around.
Fang Xun found it strange and couldn't help asking, "Qiqi, what's wrong?"
Qiqi spoke timidly. "Qiqi... is afraid of scaring people again..."
"That would be... bad..."
"So... so Qiqi won't turn around..."
The little girl's voice was full of worry, which made Fang Xun chuckle,
but at the same time,
Fang Xun knew that Qiqi had only just been hurt by people, which was why she was acting this way.
Like Ningguang, Qiqi was a sweet, simple-minded girl.
Qiqi always put other people's feelings first,
and didn't mind even if she was the one who got hurt.
How could Fang Xun bear to let such a kind, pitiful little girl suffer?
So Fang Xun said, "Qiqi, you don't have to worry about scaring people again,"
"because I've already explained to everyone that you're a kind-hearted zombie who would never hurt anyone."
"The villagers have accepted you now, and they even want to be your friends."
At that, Qiqi blinked her big, watery eyes.
"Everyone wants to be Qiqi's friend..."
"Is that true?"
Ningguang, standing beside Fang Xun, spoke up. "It's true."
"Qiqi, my name is Ningguang. I hope we get along. Maybe we'll become good friends."
Ningguang felt that she and Qiqi had been through similar things.
Both girls were unfortunate souls at the mercy of fate,
and that was exactly why Ningguang wanted to be friends with Qiqi.
"Friends..."
Qiqi turned around and nodded firmly.
"Qiqi... wants to be Ningguang's friend."
Hearing Qiqi's answer, Fang Xun let out a sigh of relief.
Since Qiqi had agreed, that meant she hadn't completely lost faith in people.
There was still a chance to make things right.
Fang Xun crouched beside Qiqi and spoke gently. "Qiqi, the villagers know that what they did hurt you, so they all want to apologize."
"Can you forgive them?"
The little girl blinked her big, watery eyes and answered earnestly, "Qiqi... doesn't blame everyone..."
"Everyone doesn't hate Qiqi... Qiqi is happy..."
Hearing this, Fang Xun reached out and rubbed Qiqi's head, then spoke gently. "Then let's go outside and leave the forest,"
"you should see the scenery in more places."
Qiqi murmured, "See the scenery... Qiqi likes that..."
"Qiqi wants to... see the scenery with Fang Xun..."
Fang Xun chuckled at that and nodded. "All right. I'll take Qiqi and Ningguang,"
"and the three of us can go see the scenery together."
Fang Xun had deliberately mentioned Ningguang,
because he couldn't just focus on Qiqi and neglect little Ningguang.
He knew it was important to treat them fairly,
since balance was the key to making things last.
The little girl's kindness hadn't gone to waste—she was so thoughtful
Soon,
Qiqi followed Fang Xun and Ningguang out of the forest and toward the village.
As they drew closer to the village entrance,
Qiqi lowered her head without thinking, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes.
She looked uneasy.
Qiqi was afraid that her appearance would frighten the villagers again.
But things didn't turn out as badly as she had imagined.
On the contrary, the villagers didn't avoid her. They even took the initiative to greet her.
Everyone already knew about little Qiqi's tragic past,
and they also knew she wouldn't hurt anyone and was a kind-hearted zombie.
So they did their best to make Qiqi feel their warmth and goodwill.
"Qiqi, welcome to our village!"
"Qiqi, want to play marbles with us?"
"Qiqi, you're so cute!"
Seeing how warmly the villagers welcomed her, Qiqi blinked her pink eyes and said softly, "Everyone... is so nice to Qiqi..."
"Qiqi... likes it here..."
Qiqi felt her eyes grow moist.
Unlike before, when she'd been overwhelmed by sadness and grief, this time her heart was full of gratitude.
The villagers were no longer avoiding her or afraid of her,
and they had accepted her and were willing to be her friends.
For Qiqi, who was afraid of being lonely and longed for friends,
this was truly something worth celebrating.
The little girl was easily contented by nature.
Even the smallest bit of warmth could make her feel happy.
Qiqi felt very happy now.
Meanwhile,
some of the villagers who had done wrong came forward.
They scratched their heads and said to Qiqi, embarrassed, "Qiqi, we heard about you from the adeptus,"
"we misunderstood you before. We hope you can forgive us."
"That's right. The adeptus told us you're a kind-hearted zombie. We feel terrible. We shouldn't have hurt you like that."
One after another, the villagers came forward to apologize to Qiqi.
And Qiqi, innocent and kind-hearted as she was, forgave them all.
"Qiqi... doesn't blame everyone..."
"Qiqi likes it here..."
Throughout all this, Qiqi wasn't sure what "adeptus" meant, though it sounded a little familiar.
But she knew the villagers were referring to Fang Xun.
It was Fang Xun who had cleared up their misunderstanding about Qiqi,
and gotten them to accept her.
At that,
Qiqi looked up at Fang Xun and spoke each word with great seriousness. "Fang Xun... thank you..."
"Qiqi... wants to repay Fang Xun..."
The little girl was innocent and guileless.
She thought that since Fang Xun had helped her, she should repay him.
Looking at the adorable, sweet little Qiqi,
Fang Xun couldn't help chuckling. He rubbed her head and said softly, "Qiqi, I appreciate the thought,"
"but there isn't anything I need you to do right now."
"So let's save it for next time."
Qiqi obediently nodded. "Okay..."
"When Fang Xun has something he wants to do... tell Qiqi..."
"Qiqi... will do it..."
Little Qiqi's voice was soft and childlike, but her tone was firm.
But just after Qiqi finished speaking, her face visibly turned ashen and deathly pale.
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