Ji Xingmi nodded at Elder Hua's words and went to find Mantis. It was better for Spider to stay by Elder Hua's side.
"Uncle Mantis, I want to go somewhere without people," Ji Xingmi said directly to Mantis after finding him. She wanted some quiet.
"Somewhere without people?"
"Yes, I want to be alone for a while."
"Then I know a place. I'll take you!" Mantis led Ji Xingmi to a small hill. Although it was near the park, it was less visited because it faced away from the mountain.
When Ji Xingmi arrived, she found a clean spot and sat down, then started to space out. Mantis couldn't quite understand the girl. In fact, after a few days of interaction, not to mention Elder Hua and Secretary Sun, even the guards had grown fond of the young girl.
Of course, besides the daily feeding, she also took their pulses and made them pills. Although they didn't know what kind of pills they were, they all felt their bodies had recovered a lot. They had some hidden injuries before, but she had almost completely healed them. After such a long time, this was the first time he had seen her like this, appearing a bit lost.
Elder Hua saw that it was getting dark and the girl hadn't returned yet. He took his people to look for her and found Ji Xingmi spacing out in that corner.
"What are you thinking about?"
Ji Xingmi was truly lost in thought, her mind blank. She only gradually came back to her senses when she heard Elder Hua's voice. "Hmm? I don't know!"
Hearing her answer, Elder Hua raised an eyebrow and found a spot to sit beside her.
"You've seemed distracted since this afternoon. Are you homesick?"
"Grandpa Hua, if you have the ability to do something, but choose not to do it because you want a more relaxed life, is that right?"
Hearing this, Elder Hua glanced at her. "Isn't 'right' something you should decide for yourself? Have you forgotten what you told your brother?"
"Huh?" Ji Xingmi looked confused. What had she said?
"First, you decide what kind of person you want to be, and then you consider what you need to do! Didn't you say that yourself? Why can't you figure it out when it comes to yourself? The world is so big. If you don't do it, someone else will. Don't make things difficult for yourself!"
"Ah? But I was just trying to inspire my brother! Don't you think there's a problem with that statement?"
"Oh, so you want to overturn your own theory?"
Ji Xingmi was speechless. She couldn't convince herself, and now this old man was using her own logic against her.
"My body has gotten much better recently. Do you want to go home and stay for a while?"
"Ah? I'm just a little emotional, and you want to send me home?"
"You little brat, when did I ever try to send you away!?" Elder Hua wanted her to go back and relax. He felt that Ji Xingmi was like this because she had been staying here for too long. She only heard them talk about things and never went out. Ye Yu and the other two hadn't visited recently, so she was too lonely. But listen to what this brat was saying!
"Ouch~ It hurts, it hurts!" Elder Hua pinched Ji Xingmi's cheek. She could only cry out in pain. Finally, when he let go, she rubbed her face vigorously. "You pinch my face every time. It's all deformed."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing. Oh dear, it's getting dark. Let's go back quickly!"
Ji Xingmi didn't wait for anyone. She stood up, patted her pants, and started walking home. Elder Hua, supported by Spider, also stood up and walked back. Halfway there, he saw Ji Xingmi waiting for him.
"Didn't you leave already?"
"Aren't I waiting for you? Waiting to go home together."
"Hmph!"
Ji Xingmi walked directly to Elder Hua's side and supported him. The two slowly walked towards home. Deng Caiyun was peering at the courtyard entrance, worried that the old man and the young girl hadn't returned yet. Just as she was thinking of going to look for them, she saw the two walking towards them from a distance!
"You still remember to come back? I thought you two were going out for dinner today."
"Hehe, Grandma Hua, no. I like your cooking the most. I'll tell you, Grandpa Hua was scolding me over there, and he pinched my face just now. It hurt a lot!"
Ji Xingmi had found her savior. As soon as she let go of Elder Hua's hand, she ran to Deng Caiyun to complain. Elder Hua didn't say anything and just watched her complain.