"It's getting late, let's head back."
Looking at the sky, it was almost noon. The afternoon would be relatively hot and unsuitable for outdoor activities, so Liu Anqing shouted to the others in the field.
"Coming!"
Hearing the call, Okabe shouted back from the field, then plucked the eggplant in front of him and headed in Liu Anqing's direction.
"Coming right away."
"Wait for me a moment."
At the same time, the voices of Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri, along with the sound of clothes brushing against branches and leaves, came from the other two corners of the field.
Everything was so orderly.
If it weren't for...
"Ah!"
A cry of pain came from deep within the field.
Okabe, who had a relaxed expression and was about to go back to discuss the 'Five Methods of Discerning Vegetables and Fruits' with Liu Anqing, frowned the moment he heard the sound.
Without hesitation, he put down his basket and ran toward the sound.
If he wasn't mistaken, that was where Alice Nakiri was.
"Did something happen?"
Snapping off a branch from an eggplant plant, Okabe's face was tense. He worried she might have encountered a snake and simultaneously considered what to do if she had.
Reason told him he should wait for Liu Anqing.
Having lived to his age, the man would surely have experience dealing with snakes. But if it was a critical moment, he had to act, or Alice Nakiri would be in danger.
"Waaaah, I think I twisted my ankle."
"Phew... You just twisted your ankle? You scared me. I thought you'd run into a snake."
In the cornfield, Alice Nakiri's voice was tearful, but after hearing her words, Okabe's tense heart immediately relaxed.
It's all a matter of perspective.
Hearing the scream, he had subconsciously assumed she'd met a snake. Now, finding out it was just a sprain, the injury no longer seemed like a big deal.
Pushing aside the leaves, he saw Alice Nakiri sitting on the dirt amidst the corn stalks. She was clutching her ankle, her fair little face etched with pain.
"What do you mean 'just' twisted my ankle? It really hurts!"
Hearing Okabe's relieved tone, Alice Nakiri lifted her small head, her eyes welling with tears, and spoke with strong dissatisfaction in her voice.
"Well, it can't be helped. It's your fault for running in such a hurry. Now you know how much it hurts to fall. Come on, get on. I'll carry you out. The midday sun is scorching."
"And my fruits! They all fell on the ground!"
"You're in this state and you're still worried about trivial things? We can have someone come get them later."
Noticing the reluctance in Alice Nakiri's eyes, Okabe couldn't help but retort. He then crouched down in front of her, and she climbed onto his back quite naturally.
"I'm ready."
After finding a comfortable position on Okabe's back, Alice Nakiri, holding a straw hat, whispered in his ear. Then, the crouching Okabe stood up.
In an instant, he felt the heavy weight on his back. A normal child might have struggled, but he possessed the physique of a young adult, so it was easy for him at this moment.
"Sorry for causing you trouble."
Burying her head in the crook of Okabe's neck, Alice Nakiri's voice was low, tinged with a barely perceptible sadness.
"This wasn't your fault. Life is full of accidents. If you blame yourself every time something bad happens, living would be a very painful thing."
Okabe replied gently as he carefully pushed aside the corn leaves in front of them.
He could feel a slight nod against the side of his neck.
"But you have to be more careful next time, especially when you're alone. No one will be there to save you then; you'll just have to cry until someone comes looking for you."
"I wouldn't cry that much! Besides, I won't fall in the same place twice!"
Alice Nakiri said in a muffled voice. It was already embarrassing enough to sprain her ankle in the field. If she fell again, she might really shut herself away for a while...
Before long, the two of them reached the edge of the field.
Erina Nakiri and Liu Anqing were waiting there and immediately came forward when they saw the two emerge.
"I have some medicinal wine in my room. Come back with me later, and I'll help you massage the sprain. It should be better in two days at most."
"Okay, Grandpa Qing."
Looking at Alice Nakiri's slightly swollen ankle as she lay on Okabe's back, Liu Anqing sighed in relief inwardly. Fortunately, the fall wasn't too serious.
Beside them, Erina Nakiri looked at the embarrassed Alice Nakiri, who was hissing in pain from time to time, and said with a cold expression, "You're always so reckless."
Though her words were harsh, she proactively reached out and took the straw hat Alice Nakiri had been clutching.
"I know I was wrong, and I've already been punished, so don't criticize me anymore. But Brother Okabe's back is so warm... it makes me feel safe."
As she spoke, Alice Nakiri closed her eyes and twitched her nose slightly against Okabe. The pain in her foot didn't seem so noticeable at that moment.
A faint scent of lavender emanated from him. Perhaps that was the source of her comfort.
"I seem to recall you're older than Okabe, aren't you?"
Hearing Alice Nakiri's way of addressing him, Erina Nakiri's eyebrows twitched.
The two were no longer in the ignorant state of one-year-olds; they had a clear understanding of age and knew that Okabe was actually a few months younger than Alice Nakiri.
"What does it matter? Alice has always wanted an older brother, and Brother Okabe fits all my fantasies about what an older brother should be."
To this, Alice Nakiri just pouted.
Liu Anqing watched the interesting interaction between Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri, a smile involuntarily appearing on his face.
Watching the three little ones grow up bit by bit, it was impossible for Liu Anqing to say he felt nothing. In his heart, he had long since come to see the three of them as his own grandchildren.
It was just a pity.
He had a mission he had to complete.
"Children, after today, I will be leaving."
Although he was reluctant to break the beautiful moment, Liu Anqing still said these words.
He knew it was better to rip the band-aid off quickly.
After this lesson, they would part ways. It would be difficult to gather again, especially to talk about such things, so now was the best time to say goodbye.
The air suddenly fell silent.
Okabe stopped walking and tilted his head slightly to look at Liu Anqing. Alice Nakiri's eyes widened, and she even forgot the pain in her ankle. The straw hat almost slipped from Erina Nakiri's hand, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Grandpa Qing, are you getting ready to leave?"
Hearing Liu Anqing's words, Okabe felt a bit surprised, but not shocked.
For the former head chef of Juxiang Restaurant to have stayed in Japan and taught them for two years was already incredible.
Unless he had an absolutely compelling reason not to return to his country, it was impossible for him to stay in Japan long-term. He had family across the sea.
"That's right. I've been very happy these past two years. But partings are a constant companion in life. I've been with you for a long time; it's time for you to walk your own paths."
After two years, having taught them the 'Five Methods of Discerning Vegetables and Fruits', he had nothing more to teach them.
From now on, the path of culinary arts was something they had to explore and cultivate on their own. Ultimately, each of them would walk a completely different path.
He couldn't force his own path onto another person; that would only create another Liu Anqing.
"I understand. Have a safe trip, Grandpa Qing."
After a brief silence, Okabe finally chose to accept this reality, though his heart felt a little sore, and he felt something warm on his neck.
It was Alice Nakiri's tears.
"Grandpa Qing, please be safe on your journey. We'll miss you, and we'll go to China to see you someday. We hope you won't forget us."
"Good children. I'll be waiting for you to come see me in China."
Erina Nakiri's heart ached as well. She had actually known for a long time that Liu Anqing would leave, she just hadn't expected the day to come so soon.
"I don't want Grandpa Qing to go..."
"But I know that Grandpa Qing is free. Have a safe journey, Grandpa Qing."
Alice Nakiri bit her lip. Even though she was extremely reluctant to see him go, she felt she couldn't be so selfish. Otherwise, even if he stayed for her, she wouldn't be happy.
"Well, there's no need to be so dramatic. Although I am leaving, my plane ticket is for tomorrow."
Seeing the three of them, Liu Anqing also felt his nose tingle, but he forced a smile and jokingly reported his schedule.
"If it's tomorrow, then we want to cook a dish for you with our own hands, as a farewell gift!"
_____
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