Hearing this familiar voice, the girl suddenly raised her head and looked toward the sound.
Then, a figure she had missed for so long was reflected in her pupils, and Lili's eyes slowly widened.
Mist began to rise in her eyes, and tears shimmered.
“Why do you cry every time I come back? Anyone who didn't know better would think I'm some kind of villain who specializes in scaring little girls into tears.”
Xia De smiled as he walked over to the girl, who stood frozen in place.
“It's only because you never come back, Big Brother Xia De!”
Lili wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her hand, pouting as she complained to Xia De in dissatisfaction.
But rather than a complaint, her attitude was more like throwing a tantrum, like a younger sister acting spoiled toward an older brother who hadn't returned home in a long time.
“Hahaha, haven't I returned this time? Don't cry, don't cry.”
Xia De let out a dry laugh. Just as he had been at a complete loss when dealing with Hilia's tears before, he was always bad at facing a woman's tears.
Of course, this only applied to women he was familiar with. If it were some unfamiliar woman, or even someone he was meeting for the first time, who dared to babble and point fingers in front of him...
They could take it up with his shadow and black flames!
“I know Big Brother Xia De didn't come back because the road is too far. After all, the journey from Toka City to our place takes even Uncle Greto two weeks to walk.”
Seeing Xia De's troubled expression, Lili gradually calmed down and sensibly expressed her understanding.
But her voice still carried a trace of loneliness as she said:
“It's just that everyone in the village misses you. Me, Sister Vanessa, Sister Linna, Uncle Greto, and that idiot Huey—everyone misses you.”
“Haha, see, didn't I find an opportunity to come back? Don't be sad anymore, okay?”
Xia De didn't know how to respond, so he could only make light of Lili's words.
“Anyway, you probably came back this time because you're going somewhere even further later, right?”
Lili said in a low voice.
Xia De blinked, smiling without saying a word, though his smile was a bit embarrassed.
Seeing Xia De like this, Lili knew she had hit the mark. She sighed, and then a bright smile appeared on her cute little face.
“No matter what Big Brother Xia De came back for this time, in short, Big Brother Xia De, welcome back!”
Xia De nodded and smiled. “Yes, I'm back.”
Without lingering on this topic any further, Xia De decisively changed the subject and asked:
“Is Sister Vanessa here right now?”
“Yes, she is. I'll take you to her.”
Lili immediately replied, and then led Xia De toward the church. Xia De lagged behind, blankly watching the girl ahead.
For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Had she forgotten that he had also grown up in this village and often visited the church?
But seeing the smile on Lili's face, the usually quiet girl now had an extra touch of excitement about her.
Xia De didn't say anything more either, but quickened his pace to keep up with Lili.
So, am I really that important to them?
Along the way, Lili told him all the interesting things that had happened over the past year or so. In some places, Xia De didn't think much of it, but she couldn't stop laughing.
“When Uncle Greto heard that Sister Linna was pregnant, he laughed and cried at the same time, just like a child. During that period, he was constantly hovering around Sister Linna, touching her belly from time to time. In the end, Sister Linna really couldn't take it anymore and kicked him out of the house, refusing to let him back in.”
Listening to this and imagining Greto like that, Xia De couldn't help but laugh out loud.
“Of course, Sister Linna was just putting on a show. When it was dinner time, she let Uncle Greto come back.”
...
“That idiot Huey reached Tier One right after you left last time and joined the village guard force. Back then, as soon as he got the guard uniform, he wore it to show off to me. I didn't want to laugh at him, but that uniform was just too ugly, and Huey even struck strange poses in it, looking like a total weirdo.”
...
“That day, Huey went out on patrol in the vicinity for the first time. He encountered a Tier One magical beast and volunteered to stay behind to cover their retreat, letting the others leave first. If he hadn't been lucky—for some reason, that magical beast suddenly disappeared—he might not have made it back. Later, when I was treating his wounds, Sister Linna saw all the scars on his body and gave him a severe scolding! He was still secretly smiling at me at the time. I think Sister Linna just didn't scold him enough.”
...
“Once, Uncle Greto and the others encountered bandits, which they hadn't seen in several years. After a hard battle, they finally managed to drive them all back. Although in the end no one was seriously injured, there were still many people who needed treatment at the time. Even with Sister Vanessa and me treating them together, we were still a bit overwhelmed. Later, Huey volunteered to help me as an assistant, and then, imitating Sister Linna, I gave him a scolding. Even though he was injured himself, he still had a silly grin on his face. I really don't understand why this idiot always has to make me worry.”
Lili complained about Huey's actions one by one along the way, but what she didn't notice was that with every thing she mentioned, the smile on her face grew a bit brighter.
Similarly, the strange look in Xia De's eyes deepened. Finally, looking at Lili, who was still talking about Huey, he sighed deeply:
“It seems Huey and Lili have also grown up?”
Lili looked at Xia De in confusion and asked, “Big Brother Xia De, what did you say?”
“Nothing, just feeling a bit sentimental.”
Xia De chuckled and shook his head. Then, without waiting for Lili to ask, he pointed ahead and said:
“We've arrived. Let's go see Sister Vanessa!”
Interrupted by Xia De, Lili didn't press further.
The two of them walked into the church together. At this moment, Sister Vanessa had just finished her prayers. Upon hearing the footsteps at the door, she said gently:
“Lili, why are you late today? Are you feeling unwell?”
Then, she saw the handsome figure beside Lili. Sister Vanessa was startled at first, but then a gentle smile appeared on her kind face, and she said softly:
“Welcome back, child.”
“I'm back, Sister Vanessa.”
Xia De quickly stepped forward to stand in front of Sister Vanessa, returning her smile.
Looking at the smile on Xia De's face, Sister Vanessa was stunned once more. Although it was still a familiar smile, she could feel the warmth within it.
Seeing this smile, the gentle look on Sister Vanessa's face grew even stronger. She reached out and gently smoothed Xia De's slightly messy hair, her eyes filled with maternal affection.
“My child, it seems you have fulfilled Novas's dying wish very well.”
Rate on N.U.
