After two days of continuous care, Joyce's hanging heart finally settled a little, letting out a long sigh of relief, as she saw the boy's physical condition gradually improve.
She nimbly walked to the campfire and carefully picked out the potatoes she had placed in it to roast that morning.
Fortunately, she had been extra careful and hadn't thrown the potatoes directly into the flames, but instead placed them near the fire source and wrapped them tightly in thick ash.
With this method, the potatoes roasted this time were simply perfect, cooked to just the right degree.
When Joyce gently broke open the steaming, fragrant potato in her hand, its soft and floury texture instantly enchanted her.
With one bite, the delicious flavor bloomed on her tongue, making her involuntarily narrow her eyes as she savored the rare satisfaction this food brought.
Just then, the words Ann had said earlier—about meat broth—suddenly came to mind.
At the thought of the rich, savory taste of meat broth, Joyce subconsciously swallowed.
After all, opportunities to eat meat at home were few and far between.
"I really want to taste meat..." Joyce accidentally whispered her heartfelt desire.
As soon as she spoke, she seemed to realize something and quickly raised her hand, wiping away the transparent, seemingly saliva-like liquid from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
Her gaze slowly shifted to the potato, still mostly intact, in her hand, and Joyce sighed helplessly.
Oh, why think about such things!
It's already quite good to have something to fill her stomach now, especially with such delicious potatoes in front of her.
Just then, her stomach rumbled, as if urging her to eat quickly.
So, Joyce simply cast aside her fantasies about meat and focused on heartily biting into the potato in her hand.
While Joyce was eating with gusto, she was completely unaware that the person beside her, who had been unconscious, had quietly opened his eyes at some point.
He silently gazed at the wound on Joyce's knee, a faint light flickering in his eyes, but he soon closed them again and fell back into a deep sleep.
Time flew by, and when he woke up from his slumber again, the sky outside was already clear, the sun high in the sky; it was noon before he knew it, and the continuous drizzle had also stopped.
"You're awake! How are you feeling! Is there anywhere you're still uncomfortable?" Joyce walked over, limping slightly and holding some small wild fruits, her tone full of surprise; he had been unconscious for two days.
He sat up and pursed his dry lips.
Joyce then brought over the warm water she had prepared earlier, the coconut shell was a bit uneven, and quite a bit spilled out as she moved, soaking his collar.
"Your clothes are wet; take them off and dry them by the fire.
You can't catch a cold now," Joyce said.
He obediently took off his clothes and propped them up with a stick next to the fire.
Feeling the warmth from the flames, his chilled body felt much better.
A hand appeared before him, its fingers stained black, holding a peeled potato in Joyce's palm.
"You haven't eaten anything yet; eat quickly."
Joyce looked at his bony body; he was too thin.
He needed to eat more to gain some weight.
He took a bite of the still-warm potato, his gaze falling on the flickering flames before him, his long eyelashes casting a shadow.
Meat?
The next day
As soon as Joyce woke up, she found the boy had already gathered a pile of sticks and stacked them by the fire to dry out the moisture inside.
Rubbing her eyes, still half-asleep, she mumbled, "Are you feeling... better?"
Yawning, she climbed out of her grass bed, rinsed her mouth with the rainwater she had collected earlier, and casually picked up a wild fruit she had gathered yesterday.
One bite, and the sourness twisted her face into a grimace, instantly waking her up.
"Pah! So sour!" It was so sour her teeth felt like they were about to fall out.
She stuck out her tongue, then turned to look at the boy not far away, a mischievous smile playing on her brown eyes.
"Xiao Yaba! Come here for a moment.
This fruit is so sweet!"
Hearing her call him Xiao Yaba, he didn't mind and walked to her side.
He looked at the wild fruit she offered, took it, and bit into it.
His chewing paused for a moment, then he swallowed it expressionlessly.
?
This isn't right!
Was it just her imagination?
Joyce snatched the fruit from the boy's hand and took another bite.
"Pah, pah, pah!" She only felt a sudden sourness in her teeth.
After a brief interlude, the boy started walking towards the forest.
Joyce wanted to follow, but he shook his head, not allowing her to go with him.
Joyce was still a bit worried, so she asked with concern, "But you just got over your fever.
How can you go alone?
What are you going to do?
I can help you."
The boy still shook his head and pointed at the sticks on the ground.
"So I have to pick up branches again ~ Alright, alright, I'll stay home.
Come back soon, Xiao Yaba!"
Joyce watched Xiao Yaba's retreating figure, still somewhat worried.
She didn't know what he was going to do, running off right after recovering from his illness.
Recalling his thin, frail figure, Joyce wondered how someone could be so thin.
She felt like he would be blown away by the wind.
She needed to make him eat more, gain some weight, and grow taller.
What should she feed him?
"Oh, that's right, we caught some small animals, thanks to your fire.
If you need anything, you can come find us.
I can give you meat broth; it's good for sick people."
"Meat..." Joyce whispered.
Although she didn't particularly like Ann's overly good-natured personality, if she could get some meat, it would be worth a trip.
It wasn't far from the beach, so she should be able to return quickly.
She wondered what expression Xiao Yaba would have when he saw meat ~
Would he be happy?
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