Genshin Impact is a big stage, come if you dare

Kong nodded and said, "Leave it to me." Helping to prepare an exotic dish was just a small thing for him.

I had already agreed to help Kamisato Ayaka prepare a gift, so I decided to make something delicious to thank her for finding Su Mao.

Following Paimon's suggestion, Kong quickly made two exotic dishes that were easy to take out and give as gifts - grilled mushroom pizzas.

"Soft and tender mushrooms, crispy vegetables, and rich cheese, mmm~ so fragrant!" Paimon started to feel greedy as soon as he smelled the aroma.

The freshly baked pizzas were delivered to the food stand, one portion was cut and packaged by the owner Kinan, and the other portion was served together with the Inazuma cuisine that Kamisato Ayaka had ordered.

"I knew Sora would make more. Pizza is one of those foods that tastes better when you share it with friends," Paimon said as he began to devour the meal.

Kamisato Ayaka also cut a small piece of pizza and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up immediately, "Delicious! Sora, you are really good at cooking."

Paimeng was proud of it. "If it tastes good, eat more. I always feel like people passing by are looking at us."

Some people would go back and walk again pretending to be casual after they have walked past. Are the Inazuma people so weird?

Kamisato Ayaka knew why and showed a shy expression: "Because I don't have many friends, the only people who are close to me are my family and subordinates. So when you see me coming out to eat with you, you must be shocked and curious. I'm sorry to trouble you..."

Paimon didn't care. "What's the big deal? We are your friends, and this doesn't count as causing trouble to friends."

Speaking of who is most likely to cause trouble to his friends... Paimon looked to the other side, where Kong was patiently dividing the food into small portions and feeding it to Su Mao, wiping her furry chin from time to time.

Alas, when will Su recover?

"Thank you..." Linghua tried to cover her face with the fan again to calm down, "Sorry, I lost my composure."

Paimon: "Ayaka, just let out whatever emotions you have. Don't hold them in."

Paimeng felt that Linghua was the most delicate and shy girl she had ever met. It wasn't that she had to express herself openly, but she didn't have to suppress her emotions too much either.

Under the encouraging gazes of Paimon and Kong, Linghua tried hard to express her emotions, "I am your friend now, too. I am really... very happy."

Paimon smiled in a friendly manner, "It's as it should be. We have always been like this. We will treat those who are good to us well in return."

"Be nice to each other, that's how you make friends. Look, your mother writes down her friends' preferences on paper. This is also a way of showing that she cherishes them."

"Yes!" Linghua's eyes flashed with tenderness, "I will cherish this fate with you two."

After finishing the pleasant meal, the group took the packed pizza and went to the warehouse to pick up the clothes that were urgently made.

The owner of Ogura-ya handed over two gift boxes, one large and one small.

Paimon was still wondering why there were two boxes when he saw Linghua hand the small box to Kong, "This is a gift I prepared for you. I hope you can accept it."

Sora opened the box and found a very high-end Inazuma hairpin inside.

Linghua gently explained that this gift was a hairpin with a egret theme, which could be used as a hair accessory or as a decoration.

Huh? This...

Paimon had a question mark on his face.

Sora can't wear it as a hair accessory, it looks like a girl's style.

It’s not bad as a decoration, but I always feel like something is not right?

Paimon suddenly had an idea! "I remember your title, Linghua, is the White Egret Princess...right?"

A long time ago, Thomas said that the eldest daughter of the Kamisato family was titled Princess Egret!

"I am really grateful for your kindness," Linghua said, suppressing her shyness. "If seeing it reminds you of me, that would be great."

Carrying gifts, a group of people came to the location recorded in Linghua's mother's notes.

This is a desolate shallow beach, with a cave not far away filled with wind.

Paimeng felt that this place was not suitable for long-term residence. "It's so cold, is there really anyone who would live here?" You'll get rheumatism if you live here for a month.

It’s the same old saying, now that we’re here…

After checking the entire cave and finding no signs of human activity, Kong opened a stone chamber based on a codeword repeated by Ayaka.

Paimon looked at this small stone chamber and felt that it could only be used as a safe but it was absolutely impossible for people to live in it.

There was a box kept in the small stone chamber, and when it was opened, there was only a notebook inside.

Paimon was full of curiosity, "Did Tsubaki leave? Is this the note she left behind? Linghua, come and see what's written in it."

Who is this Chun? He is so mysterious.

The light in the cave was too dim, so Linghua took her notes and went outside to read them carefully.

Linghua took a moment to calm herself down and told the curious Paimon everything.

"It turns out that Chun's true identity is my mother." In other words, Chun is the freest version of herself imagined by her mother.

As Tsubaki, she is not Kamisato Kayo and does not need to be dignified and display the bearing and elegance of the mistress of the Kamisato family at all times.

The things about Tsubaki in the notes are actually my mother's ideas. Designing drawings and exotic cuisine are hobbies that my mother wants to try but doesn't have the time or can't try.

Because as the mistress of the Kamisato family, her every move represents the Kamisato family, and she is therefore bound invisibly.

Linghua understands her mother very well because she had the same difficulties and troubles as her mother at that time.

"My mother has always wanted to attend the local folk festival in Inazuma. She said that on clear nights, she could occasionally see the lights of the festival from her home in the distance."

"But she didn't want others to feel constrained and hoped that everyone could enjoy the joy and freedom of the festival. She didn't want to disturb others and didn't have that much free time, so she never went there."

The distant and bright lights of the festival became her constant expectation and regret.

Linghua smiled sadly, "With our status, it might not be proper for us to rashly attend the festival. Especially in my parents' time, the relationship between the community officials and the people was not that close..."

"You may laugh at me if I tell you this, but I have never been to a festival. I have always envied Miss Su, for I can go on adventures with you, see the vast world together, and be as free as the wind."

Paimon looked at this girl who suppressed herself with heartache. Why is it so difficult for the Inazuma people to be happy? It seems that everyone has a lot of helplessness.

"No one will laugh at Linghua. Everyone likes Linghua very much! Besides, the atmosphere among Inazuma now is different from before. Look, General Lei Dian even comes out to go shopping. This... this is called having fun with the people!"

Paimon looked at Linghua encouragingly, "Is the design what your mother is going to wear to the festival? Since Linghua has already helped Tsubaki fulfill two wishes, why not fulfill her wish to go to the festival as well?"

Linghua nodded, "Yes, it's a bit presumptuous to say this, but I never thought my mother had such a girly side, hahaha."

In her memory, her mother had always been dignified and noble. When she suddenly learned about this side of her mother, she felt that her heart was connected to her mother's heart when she was young.

She is a continuation of her mother, and in some ways, she and her mother are exactly the same. They have also experienced the same difficulties.

"Now I realize that no matter what responsibilities we bear, we are just ordinary people."

In just a few decades of life, if you keep suppressing yourself because of other people's opinions, you will gain nothing but regret.

From her mother's notes she learned that she should live every day without regrets.

After making up her mind, Linghua turned to Kong, "Kong, I..."

Her voice trembled due to her pounding heart.

Sora and Paimon both waited patiently for Ayaka to speak.

"Relax, relax..." Linghua took a deep breath to ease her tension, and finally made an invitation, "Sora, I want to invite you to go to the festival with me!"