His words carefully avoided the potential question of "can Melusine get sick?", only offering the most ordinary well wishes.
"Thank you so much for today..."
"It's nothing, go back quickly, be careful on the way."
Lovia nodded, clutching the ore and pastries, wrapping herself tightly again, then turned and walked towards home, trying to make her steps appear steady. She could feel Xingqiu's gaze linger behind her for a moment, but he didn't follow.
Just after turning a corner and exiting Xingqiu's line of sight, a stronger sense of weakness immediately washed over her.
Lovia could only grit her teeth and walk slowly, stumbling back to her secluded cabin at the fastest speed she could manage.
She closed the door behind her and slid down to sit on the floor, leaning against the door.
Only when she was home did Lovia finally let out a complete sigh of relief.
Her body was still very uncomfortable, but the ore and Lotus Crisp in her arms seemed to dispel some of the bone-chilling loneliness.
She rested for a while, then slowly sat by the bed, immediately took out another piece of ore, and began eating it in small bites. The feeling of energy slowly replenishing made her feel much better.
Although this strange "illness" hadn't healed, at least... she wasn't completely alone.
Someone actually helped her... that's really nice... After resting for a good while longer, Lovia struggled to get up, carefully put away the precious ore, and then looked at the bag of Lotus Crisp.
Finally, she opened the oiled paper package, picked up a still-warm Lotus Crisp, and ate it in small bites.
Lovia could distinguish the delicate lotus paste, the sweet fragrance of sugar, and the crisp richness of the oil.
It was much tastier than she expected (referring to her current taste), sweet but not cloying, yet Lovia actually didn't like sweets.
Even though the Lotus Crisp itself wasn't to her taste, in the end, Lovia still slowly ate the remaining Lotus Crisp in small bites.
Xingqiu is truly a good person... but the location of her home was her last bottom line, absolutely not to be exposed... Xingqiu's figure lingered in her mind.
His gentle tone, his perfectly timed support, his thoughtful lack of questions, and his clear, smiling eyes when he handed over the pastries and ore.
"He's so kind..." Lovia buried her face in her knees, murmuring softly.
However, this "kindness" made her feel an indescribable pang of sorrow. Ever since she chose to hide in Liyue Harbor, she had been like a startled bird, her nerves constantly taut.
She used a large cloak to conceal her unique figure, used silence and aloofness to ward off possible inquiries, and even going out felt like sneaking around.
Every interaction with people, even just asking for directions, she would rehearse countless responses in her mind, fearing to reveal even a hint of her secret, which might attract unnecessary attention or even danger. (She was the same in her original world, just afraid of different things.)
This kind of life is so tiring.
She was always alone, watching the people in the streets and alleys of Liyue Harbor walking together, chatting and laughing, and a strange emotion would always well up in her heart.
What was that? Was it envy? Or... loneliness?
She was alone in her previous life too, and back then, she never had such emotions... But at this moment, in this sickly night, these emotions drowned Lovia like a tide.
She suddenly yearned for someone to talk to, someone she didn't have to constantly pretend around, someone she didn't have to guard against with a pounding heart. Someone she could share trivial daily things with, someone who, when she was weak, could offer pure and unadulterated help and care, just like Xingqiu tonight.
Friend... This word was once a distant and vague concept to her; she never yearned for friends.
But now, a clear figure appeared before her eyes: Xingqiu.
Could he... become that "friend"?
But as soon as this thought emerged, Lovia's heart skipped a beat, immediately seized by deeper worry.
No, today's help might just be due to his chivalrous nature, an occasional act of kindness. How could she hope for more?
In her original world, she had opened her heart to people, but the result was... she couldn't afford to gamble.
"But..." Lovia hugged her arms tightly, her fingertips cold, "He has always... respected me."
The first time they met, he gave her a gift. This time... he helped her again, didn't ask about the use of the ore, didn't inquire about her illness, and even when she clearly stated she didn't want to be escorted home, he readily stopped and thoughtfully offered pastries.
If... if she could have a friend who knew her secrets, knew all her flaws, yet was still willing to treat her normally, how wonderful would that be.
"Forget it..." she told herself, her voice as light as a sigh.
However, another voice weakly retorted: "But... he's different, isn't he? He helped you, respected your boundaries, didn't ask about the Melusine matter... Perhaps he really just acted out of kindness?"
"But..."
That voice interrupted her: "There are no 'buts,' you've always known that the characters you're familiar with here aren't bad, are they? What are you worried about? Although people are good and bad, you can't generalize! Little Lovi..."
Two voices pulled at her in her mind, leaving her exhausted.
Yes, she had always known.
Not just those "characters," but also the ordinary people of Liyue Harbor, like Shopkeeper Sun, the Old Woman who invited her to eat, those street vendors she often dealt with... What if... what if she really tried, while ensuring safety, to get a little closer to others?
No need to reveal too much, no need to reveal her identity, just... a little more interaction? Like with Yaoyao, and the Old Woman... Perhaps next time she meets Xingqiu, she can try not to so frantically avoid his gaze, not to be so flustered, perhaps she can say "thank you" one more time, perhaps... Finally, Lovia took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
She raised her hand and forcefully wiped away the involuntary moisture from the corners of her eyes... After finishing the Lotus Crisp, Lovia curled back onto the bed, slowly lay down, and pulled the quilt over her head, as if this could block out everything from the outside world and suppress the chaotic emotions in her heart.
She pulled the quilt tightly, vaguely wondering when this illness would get better, vaguely wondering if Xingqiu would find her troublesome.
For a very long time, just as she was about to fall asleep, a vague call inexplicably came from the bottom of her heart, as if calling to her. But when Lovia vaguely tried to catch it, the call abruptly fell silent, as if it had never appeared.
The next moment, she fell into a deep sleep.
Outside the window, only the sound of waves remained.
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