"Qiqi, I'm full already. I really can't eat another bite."
"Why don't you leave the food here? I can come back and eat it if I get hungry later, okay?"
Fang Xun crouched down and spoke to Qiqi.
"Okay..." Qiqi blinked and nodded obediently.
Looking at little Qiqi's adorable expression, Fang Xun couldn't help smiling. "Qiqi, would you like to go outside for some fresh air?"
Fang Xun knew that Qiqi preferred quiet, cool places,
and she wasn't very comfortable with the lively atmosphere of all the villagers gathered to eat.
Going outside for some fresh air would help Qiqi relax a little.
"Fresh air... Qiqi likes that..." Little Qiqi nodded, then reached out and took Fang Xun's hand.
It was completely instinctive for Qiqi.
She trusted Fang Xun, so she was willing to follow him.
Fang Xun could feel a faint chill spreading across his palm.
It came from Qiqi's body, and there was no avoiding it.
But the cold wasn't too harsh, so he could tolerate it.
Fang Xun led Qiqi away from the noise and lights.
The area around them was quiet, and night had fallen.
This was Qiqi's favorite time of day.
She didn't have to worry about the sun making her feel uncomfortable.
The two walked side by side along the road in silence.
After a while, Qiqi stopped and looked up at Fang Xun.
Even in the dark, Qiqi's peach-colored eyes were especially bright.
Fang Xun sensed that little Qiqi had something to say, so he asked, "Qiqi, what's wrong?"
Qiqi blinked her big eyes and said seriously, "Some villagers got hurt today... Qiqi wants to pick medicine for them..."
While they were building the village, a few young men had helped Qiqi carry some trees. They hadn't been strong enough, though, and ended up getting hurt.
Kindhearted Qiqi wanted to pick medicine to treat them.
In the game, Qiqi was a healer.
Saving people had become second nature to her.
Naturally, Fang Xun wouldn't refuse Qiqi's request.
"Sure. What materials do you want to pick, Qiqi? I'll go with you."
It was already dark, and Fang Xun didn't feel safe letting Qiqi go out alone.
So he decided to accompany her.
"Qingxin... Glaze Lilies... milk..."
Little Qiqi counted on her fingers, carefully making a list.
She paused slightly when she got to milk.
Then Qiqi looked up at Fang Xun.
"Fang Xun... Qiqi wants a coco goat..."
"Coconut milk... is tasty..."
"Can I?"
The little girl blinked, her eyes full of hope.
It would be hard for anyone to say no to that hopeful look.
Catch a coco goat?
That left Fang Xun a little stumped.
In the game's story, even Old Man Zhongli couldn't find a coco goat.
That supposed half-adeptus beast, the coco goat, simply didn't exist.
Where was Fang Xun supposed to find one?
But if Qiqi insisted on drinking coconut milk,
that wasn't impossible.
The problem was, Fang Xun couldn't get his hands on any right away.
Just then, Fang Xun heard footsteps approaching from behind.
He turned around and saw Ganyu hurrying over.
Ganyu had planned to rest after finishing her work, but then she remembered Cloud Retainer's earlier instructions.
So she quickly made her way to Guili Plains.
Ganyu looked at Fang Xun and asked, "Um, is there anything I can help with?"
Hearing the noise, Qiqi instinctively turned to look in that direction.
She saw a poised, elegant young woman standing behind them.
But what caught Qiqi's attention most was the pair of dark red horns on the girl's head.
Wasn't this the coco goat they'd just been talking about?!
Qiqi blinked her big eyes and tugged at Fang Xun's clothes. In her soft little voice, she said, "Fang Xun... coco goat..."
It was easy to hear the excitement in Qiqi's voice.
"Fang Xun... Qiqi wants to drink..."
Before Qiqi could finish, Fang Xun hurriedly covered the little girl's mouth.
Little Qiqi,
some things just shouldn't be said out loud!
A lot of things had to be taken slowly.
It was a gradual process.
As the saying went, haste wouldn't get you a cup of hot coconut milk.
Qiqi looked up at Fang Xun, her watery eyes full of confusion. She clearly didn't understand why he wouldn't let her speak.
Fang Xun understood what the little girl was thinking.
He gently pinched Qiqi's cheek, then said softly, "Qiqi, I promise I'll let you drink coconut milk. But first, you have to be good and listen to me tonight."
"From now on, don't bring it up again, okay?"
To keep Qiqi from scaring Ganyu, Fang Xun laid down some ground rules.
When Qiqi heard that she'd get to drink coconut milk, she immediately nodded obediently. "Qiqi... understands..."
Ganyu, standing beside them, was completely baffled.
She had no idea what Fang Xun and Qiqi were whispering about,
but something felt off.
She just couldn't put her finger on what.
This little girl named Qiqi seemed very fond of her?
From the beginning, Qiqi had kept her eyes on Ganyu and hadn't looked away once.
Looking at Qiqi's innocent, wide eyes, Ganyu couldn't help smiling.
What an adorable little thing.
While Ganyu was marveling at her, Fang Xun spoke up.
He looked up, his expression serious. "Miss Ganyu, we were just about to gather some medicine to treat the injured villagers."
"One of the herbs we need is Qingxin, but we don't know where it grows. Could you help us gather some fresh Qingxin?"
Fang Xun remembered that Ganyu ate Qingxin every day, so she was probably familiar with where it grew.
Ganyu was the perfect person to ask for help gathering some.
As expected,
Ganyu nodded repeatedly. "If it's Qingxin you need, I can help."
"There are lots of Qingxin growing around Jueyun."
At the mention of Jueyun, little Qiqi spoke up too. "Qiqi wants to go to Jueyun too..."
"There's Violetgrass... there."
Fang Xun was delighted. What a coincidence!
The three of them could head to Jueyun together.
But before they left, Fang Xun needed to tell Little Ningguang.
Otherwise, if Little Ningguang finished dinner and couldn't find him, she might cry, and then they'd have trouble.
Fang Xun wanted Ningguang to stay in the village while they went to gather medicine.
Ningguang was still very young, and after a tiring day, she didn't need to work overtime at night. She should get some rest.
Besides, gathering medicine was dangerous. Many herbs grew on steep cliffs, and the slightest mistake could lead to a fall.
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