Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Xixi smiled. “She’s so cute, and she calls me big sister!” she said to Lulu. Then she turned to Amy and shook her head. “No. I’m not an elf or a Flower Fairy, but I was kind of an elf 100 years ago.”
Lulu looked at Xixi and Amy with a big smile.
“So you’re over 100 years old?” Amy was astonished. “But you look so young and pretty.”
“Thank you. I thought I was old.” Xixi beamed, stroking Amy’s hair. “What’s your name?”
Amy found her really pleasant. “I’m Amy, and this is Ugly Duckling.”
“Your name is as beautiful as you. You can call me Sister Xixi. But, it looks like a cat. Why do you call it Ugly Duckling?”
“It came out of an egg, so it must be a duckling. But it’s so ugly, so I call it Ugly Duckling. Although it’s ugly now, it will grow into a swan, and then…” Amy dropped her gaze to the kitten, staring at it as if it were a gourmet dish.
“Meow, meow,” Ugly Duckling cried, suddenly frightened.
“So lovely! Come on, give me a hug,” Xixi asked.
“You want to hug Ugly Duckling?”
“No. You’re lovelier than it is. I want to hug you,” Xixi said, looking at Amy with loving eyes.
Amy hesitated a moment and then nodded. “Okay.” She looks so kind and gentle.
“Thank you.” Xixi gently lifted her up onto her lap and touched the kitten’s head. “Ugly Duckling is cute too. Your father is so lucky to have a lovely girl like you.”
Normally, Ugly Duckling would shun strangers, but not this time. It was enjoying her touch; it even rubbed its head against her hand.
“No. I’m lucky to have him. He is a great cook and so handsome. My father is the best man in the world,” Amy said solemnly.
Xixi laughed. “I’m sure he is. It must be great to have a father who’s a talented cook. You get to eat all kinds of yummy food.”
Lulu clenched his fists and looked a little sad. His mouth opened and closed.
“Your braised chicken and rice. Enjoy,” Yabemiya said, putting the dish down in front of Xixi. She was surprised to see Amy being held in her arms. I thought Amy only liked to be hugged by Mag.
Amy got down from her laps. “Try it, Sister Xixi. It’s very good.”
“Its smell is so inviting! And there are little moons in the rice grains!” Xixi’s eyes were shining with surprise. “Let’s eat, Lulu.”
Lulu shook his head. “I’ll watch you eat. I’ll eat after you’ve had enough.” His eyes were filled with love and care.
“Lulu? Your name is so strange, Big Bear,” Amy said to Lulu.
Xixi laughed. “Big Bear. I like this nickname. Thank you, Amy.” She picked up a piece of chicken and held it to his mouth. “Eat this, honey. There may be nothing left after I’ve had enough.”
“I don’t think you can eat all of it,” he said, but he opened his mouth and ate it. His eyes lit up.
They had been to many places during all these years of running. Every time they arrived in a new place, they looked for restaurants to eat in since Xixi was a foodie. They sometimes got found or ambushed because of that, but Lulu always indulged her.
He had tried so many kinds of food, but none of them could compete with this; it was on a different level.
Xixi knew Lulu to be indifferent to the food he put into his mouth, so one look at his face, and she could tell the food was good. “Is it really that good?” she asked.
“Yes. It’s very good. Go ahead and eat,” Lulu answered with a smile, pushing the bowl towards Xixi.
“Eat with me, then.”
“No. I’ll watch you eat.” He stroked her head. “You’ll like it.”
“Okay.” She put a piece of chicken into her mouth. She had eaten a lot of fire chicken as they often traveled through the woods, but she had never thought it could taste this delectable.
Then she ate a piece of shiitake. The soup is intoxicating!
She put some soup into the rice, and sent a spoonful of rice into her mouth.
“It’s so good! I feel I can eat 10 more bowls of rice!” Xixi said, excited.
Lulu smiled. “Eat as much as you want.” He reached out his hand, plucked a rice grain off her cheek, and put it into his mouth. “Excuse me, we’d like another braised chicken and 10 more bowls of rice,” he said to Yabemiya.
