“Let’s take a group photo.
The girls are really sad to leave you,” Kather grinned, scratching his head.
“After all, you won’t see them after today.
Keep it as a keepsake.” Grandma Lin was silent for a moment.
In the end, she let out a soft sigh and stopped in her tracks.
She wasn’t good at goodbyes.
Slipping away quietly like that was probably more her style.
Although they had only spent less than half a month together, as an empty-nester, she had already come to view these girls from another world as her own children.
Since they all wanted a keepsake, she had no reason to refuse.
“Oh, Grandma Lin is back!
Come here, quick!” Seeing Grandma Lin turn back, Amis quickly pulled her over to sit in the center seat on the living room sofa.
Meanwhile, Denia, Chisaki, Lynae, Amis, and Sigrika gathered in a circle around her.
“Girls, strike a nice pose.
Grandma Lin, give us a smile.” Kather kept adjusting the camera and directing their poses, wanting to make this group photo look as beautiful as possible.
“Okay, just like that.
Perfect.
Get ready—” After setting the timer and pressing the shutter, Kather immediately ran behind them, flashing peace signs and grinning widely.
“Alright, three, two, one!” “Cheese!” …
Before they left, Grandma Lin suddenly remembered something.
She jogged back to her place and returned with six small red blessing bags in her hands.
“Grandma Lin, what are these?” Sigrika asked curiously, looking at the red bags in Grandma Lin’s hands.
“These are safety amulets,” Kather explained for Grandma Lin.
“She went and prayed for your safety.” Grandma Lin, who was about to speak, rolled her eyes at him.
Then, she solemnly placed the red bags into the girls’ hands, one by one.
“This old woman is poor and doesn’t have much to support you materially.
I only hope that after you leave with that brat Kather, you can live safely and happily,” Grandma Lin said earnestly.
“If that little bastard ever bullies you, come back to me, and I’ll take a hanger to him!” The bright red bags carried a trace of Grandma Lin’s warmth, holding within them her most sincere blessings for these girls from Solaris.
“Thank you, Grandma!
We love this gift so much!” The girls bowed deeply together to the grandmother who had prayed for their safety.
“Alright, go on, go on.
The world outside is huge.
Go travel and see more of it,” Grandma Lin said, her voice choking up slightly as she sent off the lovely girls.
Although tears welled in their eyes, the girls still bid farewell to Grandma Lin with smiles.
“Hey, brat, get over here!” Kather, who was about to leave with Amis and the others, heard Grandma Lin calling him and immediately knew she had some final words for him.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me, Grandma?” Kather asked softly.
“Don’t take this immense blessing for granted.
Treat them well.” Grandma Lin stuffed the last safety amulet into his hand.
“If they suffer even a bit of grievance, you’d better expect me to come over with a hanger and whip you!” “I will, Grandma,” Kather promised solemnly, holding Grandma Lin’s aged, wrinkled hands with a sincere smile.
“I promise.” “Then I’m leaving.” “Go on, brat, and don’t come back!” Looking at the sharp-tongued but soft-hearted elderly woman before him, Kather also bowed to her solemnly before turning around and quickly walking away.
…
Stepping out of the somewhat narrow alley, Kather immediately saw the breathtakingly beautiful girls waving at him.
“You’re finally out!
Let’s go, let’s go!” Amis skipped over light-footedly, grabbed his hand, and ran toward Chisaki and the others.
When the elderly residents in the alley saw this group of handsome men and beautiful women gathered together, they immediately sensed an atmosphere different from usual.
“Aemeath, are you all leaving?” an unknown auntie was the first to ask.
“Mhm…
yes, Auntie Liu.
We probably won’t be back for a long time,” Amis replied sincerely.
“I see…” Auntie Liu, the snack stall owner, immediately pulled out an empty bag and stuffed it with snacks, forcing it into Amis’s hands before she could refuse.
“These are all your favorite snacks.
I packed extra for you so they’ll last a while.” Auntie Liu stood on her tiptoes to pat Amis’s head.
“Take good care of yourself after you leave here, alright?” “Mhm…
yes, Auntie, I will.” The tears Amis had just held back threatened to spill over again, and she replied with a slight sob.
Perhaps because Auntie Liu had started it, the stall owners on both sides of the alley began spontaneously stuffing things into the hands of the lovely girls.
“These are fruits freshly picked from my yard.
They’re very fresh, take them for the road!
Remember to come back and visit when you have time!” “These are dumplings I just wrapped today.
Little Linne, you always told me my dumplings were delicious.
Here, take more, take more!
Who knows when you’ll get to eat them again once you leave!” “Sister Sigrika, Sister Chisaki, these are snacks my mom made.
Oh, do you remember her?
You helped her a lot!
My mom is so silly, she’s a grown-up but was too embarrassed to come say goodbye…
Anyway, please take these!
Remember to visit often in the future!” …
Only now did Kather truly realize how much everyone in this alley loved Amis and the other girls from another world.
No questions asked about where they were going or why, there was only the heavy weight of blessings packed into their bags before their departure.
Even though their hands were nearly full, these simple and kindhearted folks still found ways to stuff things into them.
Even Denia, who had just arrived, had quite a lot shoved into her hands.
By the time they reached the end of the alley, the afternoon sun cast a golden halo over them, making them look exceptionally radiant.
Amis and the others turned back to look at these simple, kindhearted folks who had shown them so much love and care despite their short time together, and bowed deeply once more.
Then, following Kather who walked ahead, they headed toward a new chapter.
Life is just like that.
There is no eternal winter; at the end of the melting of the last snowflake, spring will eventually arrive.
Just like the ending of every fairy tale.
The breeze is soft; spring has arrived.
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”