I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

Although he had regained some of his energy, he couldn't even hold a pair of chopsticks anymore.

"Really, it's all my fault."

Even though it was clearly her own fault for not catching it, the little devil suddenly started blaming herself loudly.

"Sir has been asleep for so long, his body must not have recovered yet. How could I have forgotten that?"

"Sir, please rest. I will take care of you."

As he spoke, he took the chopsticks off her and took out a new pair. Then he picked up a piece of fish from the bowl and brought it to her mouth.

"Sir, please have your meal."

"..."

The painter looked at him, at his silly grin, at the chopsticks holding the fish.

"Hey sir, please eat more. I've stewed two fish for you. If that's not enough, I'll go get a few more."

Why would they take so much money from her? Do they think she's a glutton?

"..."

It seems... that's not necessarily true.

Despite a multitude of thoughts swirling in his mind, his aloof demeanor remained undiminished.

"You did very well this time."

She changed the subject, no longer wanting to discuss her own appetite. Besides, based on past experience, if she didn't take the initiative to change the subject, this kid could talk about the same sentence for an hour straight.

"Ah, of course. After all, the master values ​​the paintings so highly, I certainly can't let them be lost."

"Um……"

Although that wasn't what she was talking about, the artist didn't say anything more.

"besides?"

After eating five bowls of fish soup, the painter couldn't help but call out to him when he was about to get more.

"There's still half a fish left, sir. We can't waste food."

Have you eaten?

"Hey. I still have some dry food in my bag. I'll just have some soup with it to fill my stomach later."

The little devil chuckled as he held the bowl, then quickly ran back with the bowl in his hand.

"Sir, the fish have arrived."

"I have no appetite."

The artist waved his hand, indicating that he didn't want to eat anymore.

“But we can’t waste food, sir.”

"Then you'll have to solve it yourself!"

The little devil's relentless pursuit annoyed her greatly.

"But this is for the gentleman to recuperate."

Ugh! So annoying! Just eat what I tell you to eat.

The painter looked at him with slight annoyance.

"Uh, sir, please don't be angry, you're not fully recovered yet."

"Then sir, you eat half, and I'll eat half."

Seeing that she was angry, the little devil immediately changed his words and tried to persuade her.

Hmph, you're quite perceptive when it comes to her emotional changes.

"Just this once."

She didn't say anything more, her eyes looking away from his face, her lips slightly parted.

"Hey."

■

"Phew, it feels so good to be full."

After feeding her, the little devil sat down on the ground and filled his stomach with dry bread soaked in the incredibly delicious fish soup. He happily downed a large bowl, until his stomach was full, and hummed a tuneless little tune, looking very content.

"Humph~"

The artist, who belatedly realized he had been tricked into eating all the fish, snorted and glared at him.

"Hey, hot soup and steamed buns are quite filling, sir."

He just chuckled and smiled, leaving the artist and student unable to find any reason to be angry.

With the thought that out of sight, out of mind, she closed her eyes to rest.

###

"Sir, are you really not going to rest a little longer? Have you really recovered? Let's rest after walking for a while."

"Sir, where are we going?"

"gentlemen……"

The artist, who had no intention of staying any longer, was immediately bombarded with verbal attacks by the brat as soon as she stood up, which angered her so much that she threw her pen at his head.

"Oh dear, sir, please don't be angry! We'll leave right away."

Seeing that she was angry, the little devil stopped talking about resting and quickly packed her things into a bamboo box. Then, with some effort, he carried the bamboo box, whose contents he didn't know, to her and ran to her. He handed her the pen with a smile and continued to smile at her.

How silly.

Hmph~.

She took the pen, and her mood suddenly improved.

Like a lake surface touched by the wind, once the wind passes, the surface returns to calm.

It's time to move on.

■■■

The artist is in front, the little devil is behind.

"If only we had a car, you could sit in it and I wouldn't have to worry about you getting too tired."

"Sir, let's buy a carriage after we reach the next town, and then buy a Kuranta beast or a Fengti beast to pull it."

"Hmm, we'll also need to see if there are any clothes suitable for the gentleman."

"We need to replenish our supplies; the little we have left is simply not enough."

"Ugh. I need to find a way to earn some money; this little bit of money won't buy much supplies."

The little devil kept rambling on about all the things he was going to do.

The artist listened, his expression subtly shifting.

When did her affairs become something for a brat to prepare?

Hmm... I remember now.

After she foolishly pulled him out of the river, he used the excuse that "a drop of kindness deserves a spring of gratitude. Now that you have saved my life, and I have nothing of value to offer, I can only repay you by serving you like a beast of burden," and forcibly followed her. After that, as naturally as water flowing into a channel, he took over everything she owned.

How skilled was he at serving others before?

From travel and check-in to meals, everything is handled in an orderly manner.

His past...

Although the artist was interested, he was not willing to deliberately explore it.

And... so the kid's name is Bai Zhou (White Day).

The artist had just remembered his name.

Daytime...

The name is quite good.

pity……

"gentlemen……"

"gentlemen……"

"gentlemen……"

It's this mouth of hers that's so annoying.

Forget it, whatever his name is, let's just call him Little Devil, consider it a punishment for his noisy behavior.

However... they didn't choose to leave her while she was unconscious...

not bad.

"Sir, it seems we won't be able to reach the town today."

The artist tilted his head slightly, and the once clear clouds turned gloomy and heavy, the wind grew a bit cold, and it seemed like it was going to rain.

trouble.

"Sir, it's raining!"

The thought had just formed in my mind when the rain began to fall.

The rain was fine as hair, but it was plentiful and rapid; if you didn't find shelter, you would soon be soaked.

If one catches a cold or falls ill in this remote, desolate place, it will be even more troublesome.

"Sir! An umbrella!"

The rain was blocked, and the pale yellow oil-paper umbrella was faintly visible in the corner of my eye.

"Sir, let's take shelter from the rain under that tree."

The little devil pointed to a lush tree not far ahead and shouted.