Looking at Ningguang's pitiful expression, Makoto found it both amusing and heart-wrenching.
He reached out and flicked Ningguang's nose, then softly said, "Ningguang, you still have many tasks to do in the village. Finish them first."
"Tasks?"
Ningguang blinked her large, watery eyes, feeling confused.
Makoto nodded and continued, "Yes, haven't you prepared for the village's construction plan these past few days?"
"Once construction starts, it can't stop. Many situations will require you to consider them. This is a very arduous task, and you'll need time to think."
Construction plan...
Ningguang had already planned what the villagers should do for the next week,
but now, hearing Makoto, it seemed she had many things she hadn't considered.
Seeing Ningguang fall for it, Makoto continued, "Also, didn't I ask Chef Mao to prepare some fruit for you?"
"Your task is to eat all those fruits before I return."
"If I come back and find you haven't finished the fruits, then I'll have to punish you, got it?"
Originally, Ningguang was quite sad,
but hearing Makoto's last words, she couldn't help but smile through her tears.
"Eating fruit isn't a task..."
Ningguang knew very well that
Makoto was just using the excuse of a task to make her get more nutrition.
At first, Ningguang was quite worried,
worried that Makoto would meet more and more friends in Liyue and gradually stop liking her.
Ningguang was afraid of losing Makoto, so she always wanted to stay by his side.
It was only now that Ningguang realized her worries were completely unnecessary.
Because she could feel that
Makoto was still the same Makoto,
the Makoto who took meticulous care of her.
"Ningguang understands. Ningguang will complete the tasks Makoto left and then wait here for Makoto to return."
Although Ningguang was a bit willful, most of the time she was understanding and a very sensible, well-behaved child.
"Such a good girl."
Makoto rubbed Ningguang's small head, his face full of doting affection.
After giving Ningguang some instructions, Makoto moved away from the crowd and walked towards the quiet entrance of the village,
where Qiqi and Ganyu were quietly waiting.
During the short time Makoto was away, he had worried that Qiqi, with her childish innocence, might say something to embarrass Ganyu.
He hadn't expected Qiqi and Ganyu to get along so well.
And now, Qiqi was already holding Ganyu's hand, the two girls chatting and laughing.
It was clear that Ganyu must really like Qiqi,
so much so that Ganyu, who usually wasn't good at conversing with people, had said a lot today.
Makoto walked forward and said with a smile, "Sorry for the delay. Shall we set off now?"
As soon as Makoto finished speaking, Qiqi reached out her hand to him,
and at the same time, Qiqi said in a sweet, childish voice, "Hold hands... hold hands..."
"The wind is strong... Makoto, don't get blown away."
The little girl's beautiful eyes were innocent and pure. She was worried that Makoto would be blown away by the wind, just like her.
She was truly too adorable.
Makoto's face held a faint smile, and then he took Qiqi's hand.
"Okay, holding Qiqi's hand."
From a distance, the three of them looked like a young couple walking with their child.
...
And not far from the village, a squad of Millelith was patrolling.
Because of the previous incident with the Ancient Geovishap,
the Liyue Seven Stars had specifically deployed troops to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Night patrols were always rather dull and uncomfortable, and one of the Millelith in the squad wanted to break the atmosphere.
"Have you heard recently? They say Ganyu has already gotten married? And even has a child?"
He brought up the recent widely discussed topic in Liyue Harbor.
As soon as he said this, another Millelith immediately denied it, "Rumor, that's absolutely a rumor!"
"Ganyu has a heavy workload and is busy every day; it's impossible for her to be married! And even more impossible for her to have a child!"
"Besides, Ganyu is so outstanding, who could possibly be worthy of her?"
"True, these are all baseless rumors. Who knows where they came from."
"Alright, the affairs of the Adepti are not for us to discuss. Let's just focus on patrolling... Wait, look over there, isn't that Ganyu?"
The patrolling Millelith discovered what looked like Ganyu's back in the dim light.
"It really is Ganyu, and there's a man and a child beside her??"
The Millelith exchanged glances, too surprised to speak.
Could it be that Ganyu had really married and had a child?
Now, a family of three walking out hand in hand was the best proof.
"You absolutely must not..."
"Captain, don't worry, we'll keep it a secret!"