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

"Um! Sir, please don't hit me, I'll go to sleep now."

Seeing that Bai Zhou had indeed closed his eyes, Xi let him go and quietly sat there watching over him.

The ants had had their fill of playing, and the car slowed down. After all, it was raining, and if they ran too fast, they might slip and overturn. It wouldn't matter if they fell and hit their owner; at most, they would just be grabbed by the tail, hung up, and given a good beating.

If the little master accidentally bumps into it... well, what awaits the radish and cabbage is a punishment of endless darkness and ridicule from their own kind.

The car moved slowly.

Since his death, Bai Zhou's physical strength has never recovered. He also experienced great emotional ups and downs, which kept him in a state of constant tension. No matter how much he rested, he couldn't recover.

Now that I have such a leisurely moment, with someone I trust by my side, my mind naturally relaxes. Feeling completely at ease, I quickly drift off to sleep.

Xi sat beside him, silently memorizing the two pieces of paper in her mind.

The herbal medicine brush was also delivered five times, so she didn't need to buy any more.

Boiling medicine is easy too; just throw it into the painting, and it'll be ready in no time.

The only slightly difficult thing is these precautions; Xi isn't entirely confident that she can remember them all.

"Phew. You little rascal."

After putting the paper away, Xi, annoyed by the regulations, reached out and gently poked Bai Zhou's face with her finger.

"If you're greedy and sneak a bite of something you shouldn't have, hmph."

Without mentioning punishment, Xi slowly moved the fingers that had been touching Bai Zhou's cheek to his lips.

"You'll be sorry."

She pressed her hand lightly against his lips, then withdrew her hand to continue reciting those annoying regulations.

Whether it was because Bai Zhou was sleeping too lightly or because she used too much force, Bai Zhou shook her head and groggily took a mouthful into her mouth.

"Σ(???)ノ!"

Feeling the smooth, delicate texture wrapped around her fingertips, Xi froze completely.

"What...what should we do?"

Pull it out?

What if I hit him too hard and wake him up?

Why not pull it out?

Are we just going to let him keep biting like that? And... he's even licking it... what kind of behavior is this!

"Sir...it's sweet..."

It seemed like a dreamlike murmur, yet also like a lucid sigh.

Xi lowered her head, her ears turning bright red.

She gave up thinking.

Just leave it at that.

After a while, probably feeling uncomfortable sitting like that, Xi gently lay down, turning to her side next to Bai Zhou.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder rang out.

"Well……"

Although her fingers were freed, she also gained a soft little thing in her arms.

The strange sensation made Xi pause again.

The little devil's body was trembling.

It's probably... a lingering effect of the Three Calamities.

Gently encircling the young dragon in his arms, the artist lowered his head slightly, resting it against the little head. The bluish-white tail wrapped around his legs, the bluish tip hooking the young dragon's tail, then softly and slowly tightening its grip.

Now, I can protect you.

Fifty-two cups of turbid wine, a joyful reunion.

Holding a soft, cuddly baby dragon in her arms, Xi unknowingly fell asleep as well.

Fortunately, the vegetable still remembered the time and woke her up while she was sleeping soundly.

"How...inappropriate..."

After regaining her senses, Xi let go of the deep sleep of Bai Zhou and got up to go to the painting to find someone to help her prepare the medicine.

She's just an artist after all; you can't expect her to be an expert in everything, can you?

"Ah... Ah Xi... Wake up, drink your medicine before you go back to sleep."

"Um... sir..."

Hearing the call, Bai Zhou groggily sat up, took a sip of the bitter-smelling herbal medicine, and immediately became fully awake.

"Well……"

The medicine was very bitter, but Bai Zhou still drank it all in one go.

I can't embarrass myself in front of my husband.

"call……"

Setting the empty bowl aside, Bai Zhou looked around. There was no clock or hourglass in the car, making his sense of time dulled.

"Sir, what time is it?"

"A quarter past noon... about."

Xi wasn't quite sure about the exact time, and she was somewhat dissatisfied with her vague answer.

"Sir, are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"

"I'm not hungry yet. What about you? What would you like to eat?"

"Hmm... I'm not that hungry."

He had just finished a large bowl of herbal medicine, and his stomach was full. There was nowhere to store any more food he could eat.

"Then...sleep a little longer?"

Xi picked up the empty bowl, her eyes lowered, and her voice soft.

"It will be another half day before we reach the nearest town. You're still not fully recovered and need to rest more."

"Um... thank you for your help, sir."

"It's good to know."

After putting the bowl away, Xi's gaze returned to Bai Zhou.

"gentlemen."

The sudden call from daylight startled Xi.

"What's the matter?"

"Sir, you've taken care of me for so long, you should rest too."

As he spoke, he shifted to the side, looking at Xi with a smile and anticipation.

Then, he laughed even more heartily.

"..."

How did that happen?

Xi stared at the young dragon's blue eyes, her rational mind still reeling.

Why did she lie down as soon as the kid called her?

"gentlemen…"

As daylight slowly drew closer, Xi wanted to back away, but she didn't know why she should back away. Unable to make up her mind, she froze in place.

"Sir, what did you call me just now?"

The little devil's face was close to her eyes, and Xi could smell his fragrance.

"W-what's wrong?"

Does he feel awkward? Or is there something wrong with how he addressed him? Was his tone too harsh? He's clearly practiced for two days.

Xi also felt that she shouldn't have impulsively called him by his nickname. Their relationship didn't seem to be very close.

but……

Xi was a little unhappy.

The guy who writes can call him that, so why can't she?

"gentlemen."

The call of daylight pulled Xi from her reverie.

"I'd like to hear it again. Is that alright?"

"..."

It wasn't what I thought.

Xi breathed a sigh of relief, but then suddenly tensed up again.

He just said... "Should I call him again, one more time?"

What should I do? What tone and attitude should I use?

After much thought, Xi felt that no matter what tone she used, it wouldn't be appropriate.

I wanted to refuse, but after looking into his eyes, I couldn't bring myself to say those words.

“Um… Ah… Ah Xi.”

Xi didn't know how she said it. In a daze, she only remembered that a light seemed to rise in those blue eyes.

"gentlemen!"