A new day arrived as promised.
Morning light gently peered into the window, softly brushing across girl’s sleeping face.
He was still deep in slumber, his breathing even and long, a peaceful arc lingering at the corners of his lips.
Until at a certain moment, Columbina’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, like butterfly wings testing the new morning, and she slowly awoke from her dream.
She propped herself up with her slender arms as usual, lowering her gaze to look at the bedside table; what was different from before was that the originally empty cabinet now quietly held a group photo taken during the last tea party.
“Arlecchino and the others have already left.”
Columbina’s gaze fell on everyone’s smiling faces, a faint melancholy spreading deep within her heart.
A few days ago.
Port of Snezhnaya.
Arlecchino stood at the port dressed in a special Harbinger uniform, the sea breeze blowing the corners of her uniform, snapping sharply in the wind.
He turned his face sideways, the distant masts reflecting as thin, straight shadows in his eyes.
“So,” in the brief lull of the wind, his voice gradually became clear, “Columbina, have you figured out what to do?”
Columbina did not answer immediately.
She took a few steps forward and stood at the edge of the dock.
The salty sea breeze suddenly grew fierce, wantonly stirring his ginger-red long hair.
Her gaze crossed the sparkling sea surface, looking towards the hazy blue where the water and sky met, where seagulls circled and ship whistles hummed.
There were some things he had to make clear.
“I have.” Her voice was very light, a faint smile hanging on her face, “Thank you for your care over these past few days.”
“That’s good.” Arlecchino nodded slightly.
“Columbina, it’s time, I should go.” On the warship at the port, Fatui soldiers were waving to Arlecchino.
“Mm, remember to come over for tea often after the mission is completed.” Columbina smiled slightly.
“Take care.” Arlecchino gave her a final look, then turned and stepped onto the rocking deck.
She waved with his back to the port, her dark hem blown up by the wind, and never looked back.
“You too…” Columbina’s voice dissipated in the wind, and she stood in place until that ship became a dot on the horizon.
[Now it’s just you and me, Sandrone.]
Returning to the present, Columbina had already skillfully put on her clothes and dress.
After simply combing her hair, she took out her phone and opened the system mall.
The unremitting check-ins these past few days finally gave her a small amount of savings.
[High-potency Blood Sugar Recovery Reagent (10 System Coins / vial)]
She glanced at his soon-to-be-depleted hunger value again, and bought a vial without hesitation.
Ding!
A metal syringe filled with pink liquid appeared out of thin air in his hand.
Her skin shimmered slightly under the morning light, with soft curves that looked exceptionally alluring.
She gritted his teeth and was about to inject it, but suddenly stopped his movement.
[Damn it, I’m afraid of pain, and this needle looks way too thin.]
Columbina let out a soft sigh and put her skirt back down.
[Things have come to this, I might as well find Sandrone, and I can freeload a meal along the way.]
Columbina gently shook her head, and after making up her mind, walked towards the direction of Sandrone’s laboratory.
After she left, in the empty room, a faint sigh came from nowhere.
“Sandrone, Sandrone~”
“Hey, Columbina, can you be quiet for a while?
Didn’t you see I’m doing an experiment?”
In Sandrone’s laboratory, he was standing in front of the experimental workbench, his hand drawing blueprints trembling, forcefully turning a square into an ellipse.
“Speak, do you have something to find me for in broad daylight?”
Sandrone really couldn’t stand Columbina’s pestering, and was forced to stop her current work, turning around to look at him.
“I want to treat Sandrone to a drink.” Columbina lay prone on the table, smiling faintly.
Sandrone speechlessly looked at the somewhat pale-faced Columbina; didn’t this guy even know she was about to starve to death?
She skillfully tossed a piece of cake in front of Columbina, without looking at her again, “Eat it, and leave early after eating.”
However, Columbina didn’t react, instead continuing to speak to herself, “Last time Sandrone said the iced black tea I brought was very sweet, so this time I specially brought a bitter one for you.”
“Huh?” Sandrone paused her steps, turning back to look at Columbina, who still had a smile on her face.
At this moment she had already stood up, a green beverage bottle appearing in her hands from goodness knows when.
“Bitter gourd juice, treating you.”
Columbina handed this bottle of bitter gourd juice in front of her, looking at her with anticipation.
Sandrone:?
What kind of strange thing is this again?
She looked again at the cake on the desktop, as well as Columbina’s stubborn expression.
What does this mean?
If I don’t drink it, he won’t eat, right?
Sandrone glanced at Columbina’s pale face, and after all let out a sigh, gracefully taking the bottle of beverage.
There really was nothing he could do with him.
She raised her head and took a sip of the bitter gourd juice, her brow furrowing.
What on earth was he expecting?
“Alright.” Sandrone put the bitter gourd juice back in its original place, and said indifferently, “I’ve drunk it, now you can finally eat the cake.”
Columbina this guy, even after she coaxed him like this, was actually still going against her.
Sandrone involuntarily clenched her fists.
If it weren’t for seeing her in this miserable state, she would have already let Pulonia invite Columbina out.
“Sandrone, are you not angry anymore?”
Columbina lowered her head onto the table again, looking listless.
“Hehe, not angry, not angry at all!”
Sandrone crossed her arms over her chest, looking down condescendingly at Columbina who was lying on the table.
“That’s good.
I heard that bitter gourd juice has the function of clearing internal heat, I specially prepared it to prevent you from getting angry.”
“Huh?” Sandrone speechlessly looked at Columbina; what kind of magical brain circuit was this?
“Sandrone, can you not be angry about what I’m going to say next?”
Columbina supported himself on the desktop with one hand, barely managing to lift her head.
Looking at Columbina looking like she was about to starve and faint, Sandrone forcibly suppressed his anger, squeezed out a smile and said, “As long as you obediently eat this cake, whatever you say, I won’t be angry.”
“Mm…” A trace of a smile slowly rippled across Columbina’s pale face, her fingertips moving slightly, her voice soft and light like a sigh, “Sandrone…
then, can I hold hands with you?”
Sandrone: “???”
“Co!
lum!
bi!
na!” Every word seemed to emerge from between clenched teeth, “What kind of joke are you playing?
Holding hands?
Huh?
Who wants to…”
As soon as the voice fell, the hand supporting Columbina’s head suddenly loosened, and her whole body collapsed powerlessly onto the table.
“Wait…
don’t sleep!”
Sandrone stepped forward quickly, her voice carrying undisguised worry.
Could what Arlecchino said…
actually be true?
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”