Two Years of Time, Chang Yuan: Wuwuwu, Airi Doesn't Get Close to Me Anymore!

Even after being caught, the small figure didn't seem to calm down.

"You still haven't given me my orange."

"...I was tricking you, tricking you, you know? I don't have any oranges at all."

Seeing Airi still trying to demand an orange, the small figure was momentarily stunned.

But then she righteously declared that she had been lying.

Upon hearing this answer, Airi showed no signs of anger.

Instead, she reached into her small satchel, rummaged around, and then took out a few candies.

"Then, do you want to eat this candy?"

"...Thank you."

Seeing that Airi didn't hold a grudge and was even offering her candy.

For a moment, the small figure felt a pang of guilt.

"Heehee, it's okay. Mommy Celia said that when you meet someone who needs help, you should lend them a hand."

"Oh right, what's your name?"

Pulling the small figure along, Airi acted like an old friend, leading her to a nearby seat.

"I, I don't have a name, but I gave myself a name, it's Pardofelis. What about you?"

"My name is Airi, that's also a name I gave myself. This is Chang Yuan, his parents gave him his name."

"..."

Compared to the two little ones chatting, Chang Yuan fell into silence.

So, it wasn't a coincidence that the 13 Flame-Chasers were those 13 people.

Even from a young age, Airi had met and formed relationships with a few of them.

"Airi, you're really kind, but if you meet a liar like me in the future, you can't be so kind-hearted anymore.

I just wanted something to eat, but I don't know about others. I heard some people even eat children."

Out of guilt, Pardo also spoke up to remind Airi.

After all, a child as innocent as her could easily encounter bad people.

"Hmph, I'm not scared. Big Brother Chang Yuan will definitely protect me."

With her hands on her hips, Airi proudly lifted her head.

"Hmm, but I don't think he can beat those people either."

"..."

Speaking rationally, Pardo was absolutely right. With his small frame, how could he fight adults? He'd probably get swatted away like a fly.

"That's okay too, we're really fast at running away."

"Alright, then you two need to be careful in the future. I'm leaving now."

"Goodbye Pardo, see you again if fate allows. Remember, my name is Airi, meaning a flawless paradise, an eternal land."

It was unclear if Pardo heard Airi's self-introduction, but as she walked away, she slowly raised her hand and waved.

Lying back on Chang Yuan's lap, Airi looked up at him and asked, "Big Brother Chang Yuan, do you think we'll really meet again in the future?"

"Yes, we definitely will."

How could they not meet? She was one of the future darlings, Pardo.

"Hmm, are you so sure? Never mind, Big Brother Chang Yuan, can you continue telling me the story that you haven't finished?"

"No problem, but remember to use the tissues sparingly, don't use up all the tissues in your satchel."

"How dare you say that! It's all your fault, Big Brother Chang Yuan."

Hearing Chang Yuan's audacity, Airi, who was lying down, immediately reached out and poked his stomach.

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault, but you're the one who wants to keep listening, aren't you?"

"Hmph~"

Without answering, Airi just gave a soft hum and stopped talking.

Seeing this, Chang Yuan began to continue the story from before.

As he was telling the story, the little pink-haired girl resting her head on his lap let out a soft snore.

Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Chang Yuan leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

The night passed without incident. After waking up, Airi immediately woke Chang Yuan and went to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Even when traveling, Airi still paid attention to her appearance.

"Mmm~, a beautiful day starts now."

Stretching, Airi began her lively journey.

Stepping onto the bustling main street, Airi's eyes widened at the sight of the fragrant breakfast stalls.

The owner of a breakfast shop seemed to notice her gaze and the clothes she was wearing.

He immediately took a plastic bag and packed a few steamed buns.

"Here, little one, take these and share them with your brother."

"Huh? Are these for me? Thank you, kind sir."

Taking the plastic bag, Airi thanked him and then took a bite of a steaming meat bun.

"Mmm, delicious! Chang Yuan, big brother, you should eat too."

Seeing the meat bun offered by Airi's small hand, Chang Yuan accepted it without hesitation.

It's no wonder she's Airi, he thought. She's always so popular wherever she goes, and always gets help.

The two children then continued their stroll, holding hands.

Time flew by, and the two had been traveling for two years.

During this time, Chang Yuan hadn't been idle; he had been secretly gathering information about Flame-Chasing Moth.

However, it was clear he hadn't obtained any useful intel.

After all, before the Third Honkai Eruption, people had no understanding of the Honkai at all. It was easy to imagine how mysterious Flame-Chasing Moth must have been to ordinary people.

Similarly, over the two years, Airi had gradually come to understand the concept of differences between boys and girls.

Because of this, holding hands became a rare occurrence, only happening when they needed to run.

And the reason they needed to run was naturally because human traffickers had set their sights on them.

A handsome boy and a beautiful girl, both orphans without parents.

What human trafficker wouldn't be tempted by such a sight?

Fortunately, Airi possessed extraordinary strength and stamina from birth.

Thus, it was always she who pulled Chang Yuan along when they ran.

"Mmmhmm~, Brother Chang Yuan, how about we listen to some music here? I heard the music today is special, like a very skilled person is performing."

Looking at the grand opera house before them, Airi's expression was full of longing.

Hearing this, Chang Yuan patted his pocket and took out all his savings, which amounted to nearly ten thousand yuan.

After all, he hadn't been idly waiting for death over the years; he had been working odd jobs everywhere he went to earn money.

Moreover, the bosses would agree and even give him a little extra money out of consideration for Airi.

Because of this, Chang Yuan understood how Airi could have traveled the world alone at such a young age.

Goodness, with all this preferential treatment, what's the difference between him and those overpowered male protagonists in novels? People help him wherever he goes.

"Let's go. Indulging ourselves once in a while isn't a bad thing."

With that, Chang Yuan took Airi's small hand and headed for the ticket counter, thinking they might even get a discount this way.