Four Split Personalities

Game Time PM18:10

Diesel Family Estate, Twin Lion Fortress Garden

"Sister Ya Ya, can you please not ’woof’..."

Ya Ya squatted pitifully in front of Ji Xiaoge, ears and tail drooping listlessly to the ground, staring up at her with big watery eyes and muttering with a mournful face, "Ya don’t want to part with you, Ya feels sad!"

As one of the first friends she made upon entering the civilized world, and also the first same-sex friend in Ya Ya’s memory, Ji Xiaoge held a very special significance for the dog girl. Despite her mature and sensible side, the mostly innocent and lively Ya Ya still threw a tantrum. Having unsuccessfully tried to make Ji Xiaoge stay by jumping up and down, the clever dog then initiated a charm offensive, attempting to soften what was already a not-so-hard heart.

But Ji Xiaoge was resolute in her decision, and Ya Ya’s previous near-fatal injury had greatly impacted her, even becoming one of the core reasons why she had resolved to work hard to become stronger. So even though Ya Ya’s pitiful appearance was indeed cute, it still could not shake the girl’s determination.

"There, there, I’m not leaving for good."

Ji Xiaoge bent down to hug the tearful Ya Ya, enveloping her with her large wings as she smiled reassuringly, "I’ve decided to go back and level up precisely because I want to hang out with you all in the future. Be a good girl, Sister Yege promises you that as soon as there is even a little progress, I will come find you immediately, okay?"

"Sister Ya Ya..."

"It’s Sister Yege~"

"Sister Woof Woof..."

"Sister Xiaoge is fine too~"

"Sister Wittle Woof..."

*Sigh*... "Sister Ya Ya it is, then."

Ji Xiaoge pinched Ya Ya’s cheek, then gave Jadka a look, who immediately came to hold Ya Ya’s shoulders, preventing her from continuing her obstinate behavior.

"I won’t stop you, after all, I’ve often had similar thoughts myself. You know how much of a drag a ’Self-Destruct’ Mage can be."

Jadka shrugged, then said to Ji Xiaoge solemnly, "But you’re not like me, Night Song. You’ve never held us back, so while I understand your thoughts, it doesn’t mean I agree with your rationale. Anyway, don’t overdo it, okay? Even if there isn’t any groundbreaking progress, if you’re tired, bored, or if you miss Ya Ya and Mor, you can always come to us. I’ll skip the safety lectures, as Master Lu will definitely be more reliable than us."

"Why did you have to add Mor? I really don’t think I’ll miss him."

Ji Xiaoge glanced at Motan, who stood next to Anthony Dubs behind Jadka, and made a hilariously exaggerated ghost face. She then sent him a light-hearted "We can always text each other, after all," and pulled out a bundle of shimmering, crystal-like red spice from her bag—a chili powder—and handed it to Jadka with a grin, "Here, I made this in your family’s kitchen over the past few days. Catch~"

In a flash, Jadka felt as though he were submerged in an ocean of Fire Element, hastily taking the bundle of chili powder that weighed at least ten-plus pounds with trembling hands, "These Fire Element Crystals... are really too precious... I..."

"What ’I’ are you talking about? All the ingredients were yours, and I have been staying here without charge for so long, stirring up some spellcraft materials for you is hardly excessive, right?"

Ji Xiaoge feigned anger and shot Jadka a cross look, waving her hand, "If you feel bad about it, just help me collect some regular ingredients when you have time~"

"Someone come here!"

Darian, standing on Jadka’s other side, immediately bellowed out, calling loudly, "Quickly move the kitchen..."

"No, no, no!"

Ji Xiaoge quickly waved her hands to stop the over-enthusiastic Sun Tzu, giggling, "Just keeping an eye out on the road for me is fine. You’ve done so much, Jadka already feels apologetic enough. If you keep this up, I bet he won’t be able to stay put for a day. Oh, and... that... I’ve actually used up a lot of ingredients... made some snacks for Anthony..."

"Snacks!!"

Anthony’s eyes lit up.

"Mhm, snacks."

Ji Xiaoge smiled, then pulled out three huge hemp sacks, each nearly a hundred pounds, from her bag and winked at Anthony, "You’ll have to eat them sparingly, Nini~"

Motan’s expression stiffened, "Ni... Nini..."

Dubs looked at Ji Xiaoge gratefully, "You’ve gone to a lot of trouble, Night Song."

"Not at all, not at all. It’s rare for someone to like the food I cook, so if anything, I should be thanking Nini."

Ji Xiaoge’s cheeks flushed slightly as she waved her hands dismissively and then produced an elliptical colorless Crystal enveloped in silver-white Runes from her pocket. She took a couple of steps back to the center of the garden, then flashed a smile at everyone, "Well then, I’ll just..."

"Wait."

Jadka suddenly raised his hand to stop Ji Xiaoge, then casually pulled Motan forward and pushed him towards her with a cheerful expression, "You two haven’t really talked much~"

"Uh..."

"Eh?"

Both Motan and Ji Xiaoge were taken aback.

"Then you guys talk~"

But before they even had a chance to speak, Old Jia, taking Ya Ya with him, turned around and walked out, summoning Dubs and Darian as well. The group walked off into the distance without looking back.

...

Half a minute later

"What are they doing..."

Ji Xiaoge looked at Motan with an amused yet frustrated expression, then at Jadka and the others, who had retreated dozens of meters away, and spread her hands, "What’s this about? An arranged marriage? Why did they have to make it so awkward!"