Late at night.
Xia Zhi sat on a chair, with Little Shenhe sitting on his lap. The two of them were playing a ga together.
"Today is September 16th."
"Mm."
"I rember Diona ca to the shop on September 3rd."
"Mm."
"She sent a letter back ho on September 5th."
"Mm."
"It's only been eleven days since then. The letter probably took about seven days to reach Springvale, which ans Mr. Draff only took four days to travel from Springvale to Liyue. He must have set off imdiately after receiving the letter and didn't rest much along the way."
"...Mm."
"He was in such a hurry today. He didn't even eat, and he didn't have ti to buy gifts. It's clear he's really worried about Diona. Even though Diona seems to dislike his drinking, he's actually a good father."
"..."
"Shenhe, want to guess what gift Mr. Draff will bring to the shop tomorrow?"
"...No."
"Are you unhappy again?"
"No."
"Shenhe is just as tsundere as Diona."
"...What's tsundere?"
"It's when you clearly want sothing but say you don't, when you clearly an 'yes' but say 'no,' and when you clearly like sothing but say you don't."
"I'm not tsundere."
Xia Zhi couldn't help but laugh. He put down the ga controller, wrapped his arms around Shenhe's waist, and turned her around so she was facing him while still sitting on his lap.
"Shenhe."
"Mm?"
"The color of your dream bubble has deepened a bit today."
"...You're lying."
"Is it because of Diona and her father's situation? Did it stir up so emotions?"
"No."
"Don't be tsundere. Tsundere is out of style now."
"...I'm not tsundere."
Little Shenhe looked up at him, her lips pursed, her eyes carrying a hint of stubbornness. It was adorable.
"Are you unhappy?"
"No."
"Then smile for ."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to."
"What are you thinking about right now?"
"Playing gas."
"Girls shouldn't always think about playing gas."
"Watching cartoons."
"You've already finished all the cartoons."
"Watch them again."
"How about trying sothing new instead?"
"Sothing new?"
"Yeah, when you're unhappy, you should do sothing that makes you happy."
"Sothing that makes happy?"
"Shenhe, your adeptus talisman skills seem really impressive, right?"
"Not impressive. Not as good as Master."
"I noticed you're really fast at making those sealing talismans for the instant noodles."
"Those are simple."
"I want to learn."
"Huh?"
"Can you teach ? Master Shenhe."
"?"
Little Shenhe was montarily stunned.
Master Shenhe?
Then, the corners of her mouth twitched as if she wanted to smile, but she held it back. She nodded at him with a serious expression.
"Alright, I'll teach you."
"Do we need to prepare anything?"
"Paper and a brush."
"Nothing else?"
"No, we'll start with the basic strokes."
"Okay."
Xia Zhi fetched paper and a brush.
The table was a bit too high for Little Shenhe, so she spread the paper on the chair.
"I'll draw it once for you to see."
"Mm."
"...Did you understand?"
"I think so."
"I'll draw it again."
"Mm."
"Now you try."
"Okay."
"That's not how it's done here."
"Oh."
"You ssed up here too."
"Oh."
"Wrong again. Big Brother, you're so clumsy. I learned this after just one look."
"Such a complicated pattern, and you learned it after just one look? Really?"
"Really."
"Master Shenhe is amazing."
"Disciple, you need to work harder."
"...Mm."
Under Little Shenhe's careful guidance, Xia Zhi finally managed to draw one correctly.
Little Shenhe looked pleased, and by now, she had completely forgotten her earlier unhappiness.
"Let's stop here for today. It's ti to go mushroom hunting."
"Mm!"
The next morning, Shenhe woke up from her dream.
She sat on the edge of the bed, picked up a comb, and slowly started combing her hair. As she combed, she suddenly smiled and muttered softly to herself.
"Master Shenhe."
Then, her combing motions beca noticeably lighter and more cheerful.
In the morning, Zhu Zi and Diona went out and bought a large amount of fresh ingredients, mostly at.
Around noon, Mr. Draff arrived with a pile of gifts.
So were Mondstadt handicrafts, so were Mondstadt specialty dried goods, and there were also two bottles of Mondstadt wine.
"I was in a hurry, so I didn't bring much. These are things I carefully picked out from the shops in the harbor district. They're definitely not fake."
"You're too kind, Mr. Draff."
After a hearty al and so more conversation, Draff stood up to leave.
"It's hunting season now, and there's a lot to do in the town. I need to get back. Please take good care of my daughter, Mr. Xia."
"Of course."
"I trust Mr. Xia. The food here is great too. It's only been a little over half a month, but Diona has already gained so weight..."
"I haven't!"
"You're at the age where you're growing. You should eat more. If any of you ever visit Mondstadt, make sure to co to Springvale. I'll treat you all properly."
"We definitely will."
"Thank you for your hospitality these past two days. Goodbye, then."
"Goodbye."
Everyone saw him off at the shop entrance. Diona, pouting, walked her father all the way to the city gate.
When she returned, her eyes were slightly red, and her cat ears and tail drooped, making her look listless.
"Boss, I'm back."
"Mm, your father's gone?"
"Yeah."
Xia Zhi looked at the downcast Diona and couldn't help but feel a strange sense of a father-in-law entrusting his daughter to him.
"Tonight, I'll fry so small fish for you all."
"Huh?"
"Last Thursday, we went to Granny Ping's for dinner and didn't make fried chicken. I plan to make up for it tonight. Without fried chicken, the week just doesn't feel complete."
"Ah!"
"So? Do you want so?"
"Yes!"
"Mm."
Diona's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but swallow. Her cat ears and tail perked up, and her low spirits vanished instantly.
Indeed, fried chicken is sothing that can make people happy.
That night, after Xia Zhi finished giving massages to Zhu Zi, Qiqi, Chi Yu, and Shenhe, he was about to wrap up when Diona sneaked over.
"Boss."
"Hmm? What's up?"
"I... I also want... a massage."
"Oh?"
"Like... like the weight-loss massage Zhu Zi got."
"You're not fat."
"I am! My dad said so!"
"Weight-loss massages are expensive."
"I have money!"
"You really want one?"
"Mm!"
"Alright, lie down."
"Okay!"
And then, there was no "and then."
If anything, it was that Diona's tail and ears seed very sensitive, and they felt amazing to touch.
----
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