"Nonsense!"
Gajeel turned and glared at him, his face unusually flustered.
" Natsu has Happy, Wendy has Carla, Zhongwei has Nancy. You guys are all surrounded by people, but I'm the only one who doesn't! I finally got my eye on someone, and then she's gone?"
Lucy's face twitched upon hearing this.
"That's actually what you're focusing on?"
Happy flapped his wings and flew up, blinking his eyes.
"Ai, Gajeel is really in a hurry."
Carla crossed her arms and added indifferently.
"Shameful."
Gajeel didn't even bother to retort and continued shouting at the top of his lungs.
" Lily! If you dare stand me up, I'll—"
A rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes.
Everyone instinctively looked over.
The next second, a small black cat, about the same size as Happy, emerged from the bushes.
He had wings on his back, and his face was still the same, but his entire body had shrunk considerably.
Gajeel was stunned.
"... Lily?"
The little black cat raised its head, its expression still somewhat unaccustomed to the situation.
It's me.
Happy flew over and circled him twice, his face full of surprise.
"Ai! How did you get so small?"
Carla also glanced at it a couple more times.
"It really has changed."
Lily stretched its paws, its tone remaining relatively calm.
" Earth-land's original physique was incompatible with mine, and after coming here, it became like this."
He paused, then looked at Gajeel.
"But this is good too, at least it makes movement easier."
Gajeel was still standing there, completely stunned.
He stared at Lily, his eyes gradually brightening.
"You... you're really back?"
Lily felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, turned his head away, and coughed lightly.
"I promised you. And--"
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to join Fairy Tail."
There was a moment of silence after those words were spoken.
Immediately afterwards, Gajeel completely exploded.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey! Are you serious?!"
He rushed over and lifted the entire cat Lily, high into the air with both hands.
"You want to join Fairy Tail?! You really want to come with me?!"
Lily's face turned black from being shaken so badly.
"Put me down first."
I won't let go!
Gajeel's voice cracked, but his eyes suddenly reddened.
"I finally have a cat! Hahahaha! I have a cat now!"
As he spoke, he suddenly pulled Lily into his arms, his voice choked with emotion.
"That's great... you really didn't lie to me..."
Lucy's lips twitched when she saw this.
"No way..."
She couldn't help but complain.
" Gajeel is crying?"
Gray stared at them with a look of utter disbelief.
"She really cried."
Natsu immediately burst into laughter, doubled over with joy.
"Hahahaha! That bastard Iron Block is crying!"
Gajeel, holding Lily, turned around and roared.
"Shut up, you fire idiot!"
Lily was being held so tightly he could barely breathe, and struggled for a moment with a dark expression.
" Gajeel, let go."
"I don't!"
You're squeezing me.
"... oh."
Gajeel responded verbally, but his hands still didn't loosen their grip much; his eyes were red-rimmed, but his mouth was stretched wide open.
Erza watched this scene, and unusually, she didn't say anything, only gently shaking her head.
But the next second, she realized something and turned to look in the other direction.
Lu Chongwei did not participate in the commotion.
He was standing not far away, his eyes scanning the surroundings, looking for something.
Erza walked over.
" Zhongwei, what are you looking for?"
Lu Chongwei did not answer immediately.
He looked ahead, his expression unusually serious.
Lucy's attention was also drawn, and she turned to look.
" Zhongwei, you haven't discovered something again, have you?"
Gray, Natsu, Wendy, Happy, and the others gradually quieted down.
Lu Chongwei then spoke.
"I'm looking for Lisanna."
The air fell silent the moment those words were spoken.
Lucy's expression froze.
Gray's smiling face fell.
Natsu paused for a moment, then instinctively looked in the direction of Mirajane and Elfman.
Erza's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What did you say?"
Her voice even lowered a few decibels.
Lu Chongwei turned to look at her, his tone steady.
"I said, I'm looking for Lisanna."
Happy was the first to react, his eyes widening immediately.
"Love?! Lisanna?!"
Lucy opened her mouth, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"But... didn't Lisanna already—"
She didn't finish speaking.
Because the name was too heavy for Mirajane and Elfman.
Suddenly, no one spoke.
No one dared to accept it easily.
Erza stared intently at Lu Chongwei.
" Zhongwei, you can't just say things like that."
"I'm not making this up."
Lu Chongwei's voice wasn't loud, but it was very certain.
"It's Lisanna from our world, I've confirmed it."
Upon hearing this, everyone held their breath.
Natsu's smile vanished completely.
" Zhongwei, are you serious?"
Gray frowned.
When did you meet her?
Lucy looked shocked.
"If it really is Lisanna, then she is now—"
Before she could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from afar.
Immediately afterwards, a girl's voice, trembling uncontrollably, drifted over from afar.
" Zhongwei--!"
Everyone turned their heads.
Not far away, a white-haired girl was running desperately towards them.
She ran very fast, her eyes were red, and her face was covered in tears.
"Everyone--!"
When that face appeared, everyone was stunned.
Lucy's eyes widened; she was completely stunned.
"It really is..."
Gray's breath hitched.
Natsu stared with his mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Erza's hands clenched slightly.
Happy was stunned for a full two seconds, then immediately let out a wild bark.
"Love--! Lisanna! It really is Lisanna!!"
He flapped his wings and rushed over, his voice trembling with excitement.
The girl had already rushed up to them.
She threw herself into Lu Chongwei's arms, tears immediately streaming down her face.
" Zhongwei..."
She gripped Lu Chongwei's clothes tightly, her shoulders trembling as she cried.
"I'm finally back..."
Lu Chongwei looked down at her, his gaze finally softening.
He raised his hand and gently patted her head.
The sound was soft, yet steady.
"It's good that you're back."
As soon as those four words were uttered, Lisanna cried even harder.
Everyone around seemed to come alive at that moment.
Happy circled around her, so excited he almost lost his balance.
"Love! Lisanna is back! Lisanna is really back!"
Erza, usually so calm, was now trembling as she looked at the scene before her.
"It really is you..."
Lucy covered her mouth, her eyes instantly reddening.
"How is this possible... What on earth is going on...?"
Natsu finally snapped out of his daze and grinned, but his eyes were still red.
"Great! It really is Lisanna!"