Wow...
"You've made the greatest contribution, so drink more water." Luciel carefully poured a generous amount onto the tea plant.
He sealed the barrel lid tightly again so the crystal fish wouldn't keep gushing out.
"Wow! It's a green tree!" Mino ran over excitedly.
The bunny-eared girl blinked her big blue eyes, asking curiously, "Luciel, were trees like this before?"
"Yeah, haven't you ever seen a tree?" Luciel asked in surprise.
"I have... but all I've seen were withered ones."
Mino nodded, her innocent voice full of wonder. "I just didn't expect trees to grow like this."
"This plant is a tea tree."
Luciel's tone carried a hint of complexity as he explained, "Tea leaves can be brewed with water, and they taste really good."
He hadn't expected that the bunny-eared girl had never even seen a green tree. Just when exactly did the wasteland age begin? And why do some people still have seeds?
"Can we drink the tea tonight?"
Mino smiled shyly, speaking in a small voice. "Just a little bit—I'm only curious about its taste."
"Of course, drink as much as you want," Luciel nodded indulgently.
"A little is enough," Mino said, gesturing timidly with her fingers.
"Then go pick some young leaves and buds. That part is best for making tea," Luciel instructed softly.
He noticed the bunny-eared girl was eager to touch the tea tree.
"Okay." Mino's blue eyes sparkled as she carefully approached the tree.
Not long after—
"Wow!"
The bunny-eared girl exclaimed in delight. "The tea leaves are so beautiful."
"Was this tea tree also transplanted from Bloodbeard's stash?"
Liyue walked over, her face smudged with dirt, silver-white eyes staring in awe at the tall tree.
"Something like that," Luciel replied with a deep smile.
"This tea tree could be traded for at least tens of thousands of catties of jerky. He really was rich..." Liyue stopped halfway, then turned her head to look sideways at Luciel, teasing lightly, "It seems the truly rich one is you."
"You can enjoy this wealth too," Luciel said meaningfully.
"Huh?" Liyue froze, not quite understanding.
"Have you seen tea trees before?" Luciel asked, changing the topic.
"I have—though only half the height of yours." Liyue's teeth clenched slightly, silver eyes flashing with hidden hatred.
"It must have brought you some bad memories." Luciel could hear the suppressed emotions in her voice.
"It's all in the past," Liyue said softly.
She quickly shifted the topic with a cold tone. "You'd better keep a close eye on this tea tree. Thieves will definitely target it."
Such a large tea tree—some would see it as a priceless treasure.
Luciel smiled and asked gently, "Do you think if I used tea to trade, I could get some beast cores from people?"
"Yes, but not many would trade." Liyue's emotions steadied again.
She reminded him, "Those who value tea usually don't lack beast cores. Once word spreads that you have such a big tea tree, they might just try to seize it instead."
"Then we'll see who dares to take it." Luciel's lips curled faintly.
"Ah! Angel Wings are planted here too!" Liyue suddenly spotted the flowers beneath the tea tree.
Her face brightened as she ran over, crouching to admire them.
Luciel simply smiled at the girls, then raised his head toward the sky.
Stretching lazily, he sighed. "It's already evening."
"Time to make dinner." Carrying the wooden barrel, Luciel turned leisurely toward the house.
"Luciel, wait for me!" Mino held her pockets and ran after him.
"This kind of life is really nice," Liyue murmured as she stood, watching them enter the house.
She looked up at the sky, then back down at the Angel Wings.
"Wouldn't it be safer to cover it?" she muttered to herself.
But just as she finished, she noticed the massive lizard quietly appearing on the ridge.
For a moment, the white-haired girl was stunned. Then, inexplicably, she smiled and skipped lightly back to the house.
With such a beast standing guard, wasn't it even safer than trying to cover it?
At the doorway, before she stepped inside, she heard Mino's cheerful voice.
"Luciel, what do you think of the warehouse?" The bunny-eared girl's eyes shone with expectation.
"It's very well done—better than I imagined." Luciel praised warmly.
"Hehe..." Mino's cheeks flushed as she smiled sweetly at the compliment.
She quickly added, "Liyue helped a lot too. She's amazing—just a row of stone bricks and swish, it was finished."
"Then you'll have to eat more tonight," Luciel chuckled as he came out of the warehouse and noticed Liyue sitting at the table.
He lowered his voice. "Thank you for your hard work today."
"I only did what I should." Liyue's tone was cold, but the corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly.
Even she couldn't help but feel happy being praised.
Mino came out of the warehouse and, seeing Liyue sitting at the table, suddenly felt a little awkward.
She quickly found an excuse and said, "I'll move the rest of the things inside."
"I'll help too," Liyue stood up immediately.
"..." Mino froze, answering weakly, "No, I can do it alone."
"Two people will be faster." A glint of amusement flickered in Liyue's eyes as she picked up a roll of cloth and headed toward the warehouse.
Luciel leaned close to Mino's ear, whispering encouragement. "Don't be afraid. She's actually very nice. You two can be friends."
"I-I'll try," Mino replied timidly, her rabbit ears drooping low.
Earlier, while building the warehouse and rooms, the two girls had only spoken when necessary, working quietly otherwise.
"You don't need to force yourself," Luciel said gently.
"Mm." Mino nodded slightly, then picked up a roll of cloth and went into the warehouse.
"How did I not notice Mino's shyness before?" Luciel muttered to himself.
As he sliced tomatoes to prepare soup, a thought struck him.
Maybe at first, the bunny-eared girl thought he had died.
Then afterward, he couldn't move and slept for a day or two, and was still weak for several more days.
"So that's how her fear of me faded without either of us realizing?"
Luciel shook his head with a wry smile.