The sunshine was just right that afternoon.
Its golden radiance was no longer as fiercely hot as it had been in midsummer.
Instead, it carried just the right amount of warmth, spilling generously over the earth.
A breeze swept past, carrying the fragrance of fresh grass and the damp scent of the distant river, refreshing enough to lift anyone's spirits.
Outside Roa City lay the banks of a broad river called the Asura River, hailed as the mother river of the Fitoia Territory.
A group of people added a splash of life to the peaceful scenery.
Cui Ciyou and his companions chose a shady spot near the riverbank, beneath a lush, leafy tree whose name they did not know.
They carefully spread the large picnic cloth they had brought over the soft green grass.
This time, the thoughtful and attentive Lilia had needed to stay in Buena Village to care for Aisha, who was still an infant, so she had not come with them.
And so, the "heavy responsibility" of preparing the picnic food...
Under Alice's forceful demands, which brooked no argument, and the expectant, trusting gazes of Roxy and Sylphy...
Had naturally fallen to Cui Ciyou.
To be honest, Cui Ciyou did not dislike cooking. In fact, he rather enjoyed it.
During those lonely years in his previous life, his mother had worked away from home year-round, while his father had left early on.
Much of the time, he had handled the housework alone.
To him, cooking had meant more than simply filling his stomach.
It had been a unique way to relax, allowing him to forget all his troubles for a while and find a pure sense of accomplishment.
They chose a shady spot near the riverbank beneath a lush, leafy tree and spread out the large picnic