"Qiqi?!" Hu Tao's eyes lit up upon hearing the name, and she immediately turned around. Seeing Qiqi, she threw her arms around her and exclaimed,
"Wow! This Hall Master was just thinking of looking for you, Qiqi! Look, these are the candies for you today~" Hu Tao released Qiqi and happily pulled a bag of candy from her pocket, handing it to her.
"Mmm... Thank you..." Because of what happened yesterday, and with Ying also by her side, Qiqi didn't feel nervous or scared.
"So, why are you here, Qiqi? Out gathering herbs again?" Ying instinctively pinched Qiqi's cheek. She couldn't help it; the feel was too good, it had become a habit.
"Qiqi... got separated from Mr. Bai... and then... I saw you guys... so I ran over..."
Ying: "Separated? Where did you get separated?"
"Over... there... but it's okay... Qiqi remembers the way back... but before I go back... I want to stay with you guys for a while..."
"I see... Then do you want to have a meal with us? After we finish, we'll help you get back~"
"Mmm... okay..." Qiqi nodded in response.
"Alright, let's go. And Hu Tao, stop hugging her. Aren't you tired of squatting?"
"Hee hee~ Got it, I was just happy that Qiqi didn't run away~" Hu Tao reluctantly let go and stuck out her tongue.
"Right, right, does Paimon still not know Qiqi's identity?"
"Huh? Actually, I... uh... okay, I don't know." Paimon subconsciously wanted to say she knew, but suddenly remembered the experiences her host had arranged for her and had to change her words.
"Hmph hmph~ Let this Hall Master tell you then~"
Hu Tao pulled Paimon to her side and whispered in her ear, making Ying beside her slightly confused. Ying asked, "What are you telling her that I can't know?"
"Hee hee~ Nothing, nothing. Anyway, you already know, so it's useless to tell you~ (^_^)"
"Okay..." (Hmph... Based on my recent interactions with Hu Tao, this smile, though common, actually hides a secret. She's probably planning to prank someone again...)
The group soon arrived at a restaurant. Ying looked at the menu, ordered a basket of buns and a cup of soy milk, then handed the menu to Qiqi. After Qiqi finished ordering, Hu Tao happily let go of Paimon and took the menu Qiqi handed her, clearly having abandoned her mischievous ideas.
"What did she tell you?" Ying asked curiously, seeing Paimon's frightened look.
"She, she, she... she's a zombie..." Paimon immediately hid in Ying's arms like she had found a savior and replied fearfully.
"e
"Mm, it's good you're full. But with this delay, I didn't eat much myself..."
"Cough cough~ Then let's order another basket of buns, Ying. I fed all the ones I ordered to Qiqi (￣▽￣～)" Hu Tao said apologetically, sticking out her tongue.
"Fed them all?! You sure overestimate Qiqi's appetite... But that's fine, my basket should have been eaten by Paimon too... Huh?" Ying looked at the basket in front of her in surprise.
"Why are only two missing? Paimon, are you eating that slowly... Huh?! What's wrong, Paimon?!" Ying saw Paimon leaning motionlessly against her and quickly shook her.
"Don't... don't move... I'm going to burst..." Paimon opened her eyes and said painfully.
"Burst? But you only ate two?"
"Perhaps because... of the bowl of porridge this morning..."
"I see... Then you digest for a while, and Hu Tao and I will eat my basket."
"Mmm mmm!" Hu Tao happily sat next to Ying and enjoyed the meal together. They quickly finished the food on the table. Although not much, their appetites weren't very large, and they were both about eighty percent full.
"Phew... Full, full, let's go." After Ying paid, they left the restaurant. Hu Tao, with her characteristic enthusiasm, immediately took on the task of escorting Qiqi home. Ying, on the other hand, took Paimon to the Adventurers' Guild to accept four quests...
A period of time later...
"Mhm... there's even a precious treasure chest in this Hilichurl camp. A free 40 Primogems, how nice~" Ying happily ran to the chest after dispatching the last Hilichurl brute with a few Anemo blades.
"The host is getting more and more arrogant with the five-star weapon..."
"Arrogance requires capital, and I have it right now (^～^)"
"I hope the host can still be this smug when encountering the Fatui Harbingers →_→"
"Hehe~ That's when you'll have to step up ๑乛v乛๑"
"Uh oh... It's doable... but I don't have a weapon. Could the host lend me the Aquila Favonia?"
"No, this sword is for Lumine. I'll pull another one for you later."
"Uh oh... Alright then (*￣з￣)"