"So, did you see it?" Kiyono Lin asked, smiling.

"Who would pay attention to that kind of thing!"

"Che! Santa Claus!" Little Lian shouted.

Dubian Che was put in a bind, "How about you ask your mom?"

"No such thing, Little Lian," Kiyono Lin said.

Dubian Che: "...You're really strict."

Little Lian stood open-mouthed, stunned.

The little girl in the princess dress looked so happy she seemed about to dance; then, she took Little Lian's hand and said:

"Lian, even if Santa Claus doesn't exist, 'the creepy big brother who stands under the slide to peek at girls' panties' can still give gifts."

Little Lian's eyes lit up again, and she looked at Dubian Che, "Really, Che?!"

"Really." Dubian Che nodded earnestly.

"That was close," Little Lian murmured. "My life almost changed."

"Shall we continue playing, Lian?" the princess-dress girl said.

"Yeah! I want to play with the Shinkansen!"

"Ehh, that's boring. It's just a train model. But if you want to play, I'll play with you."

"Thank you, Kazuki!"

The two little girls held hands and ran towards the train.

Little Lian played the role of the driver and ticket conductor, a sun hat now serving as a work cap.

That girl, Kazuki, played a passenger along with a dragonfly doll.

The two played very seriously, performing each step methodically: selling tickets, boarding, announcing stops, reaching destinations.

When the two mothers returned, Little Lian waved goodbye to the princess-dress girl:

"Goodbye, Kazuki!"

"Goodbye, Lian! Let's play together tomorrow. I'll take you to see a dragonfly that can land on your finger!"

"It's a promise!"

"Yeah!"

"You've made a friend, Little Lian," Mrs. Jiutiao adjusted Little Lian's sun hat.

"...Yeah."

On the way back, Little Lian rode her bicycle, her basket filled with the dragonfly doll, vigorously pedaling forward.

Green shades, sunlight, birdsong—once again, the wind stirred her hair, her clear eyes twinkling with light.

Returning to the villa blended into the forest, Mrs. Kiyono began preparing dinner.

Starting with bonito and kelp, then adding slices of pork, mushrooms, tofu, and Chinese cabbage.

The pot bubbled away, surrounded by other ingredients, dipping sauces, and drinks.

"Does anyone need rice? I soaked some rice for twenty minutes in advance," Dubian Che said.

"I'll take a bowl," Kiyono Lin said.

"Me too!" Little Lian held out her bowl.

Jiutiao Meijie silently handed over her bowl, and Dubian Che hesitated for a second before choosing hers.

Mrs. Kiyono picked up a slice of meat from the plate, cooked it in the boiling soup, dipped it lightly in the sauce, and placed it in Little Lian's bowl.

"Try this, Little Lian."

"Thank you, Aunt Youzi." Little Lian ate the meat with rice.

"Is it good?"

"Yes, delicious!" Little Lian also cooked a slice of meat and offered it to Mrs. Kiyono, "Aunt Youzi, for you."

"Thank you, Little Lian." Mrs. Kiyono couldn't help pinching Little Lian's cheeks.

Her cheeks were pinched, but it still didn't stop Little Lian from cooking ingredients in the pot.

Inside the wooden villa, under warm lights, six people enjoyed a beautiful meal at an exquisite dining table.

"Little Lian," halfway through the meal, Mrs. Jiutiao asked, "Is it fun here, or is the countryside more fun?"

Little Lian looked down, pondering, unsure how to answer.

Dubian Che looked at her and said:

"Little Lian, you might feel the countryside is better because you're missing Misezawa, your mom, and everyone else. Or you might find the city exciting because it's your first time here; don't rush to a conclusion."

Little Lian looked up at him.

"Each life has its own fun. Only after trying all can you know what you like. Little Lian, you can choose any life you want, but don't look down on or disdain the other."

"Yes, I understand," Little Lian obediently nodded.

Dubian Che ruffled her little head, continuing:

"You can catch fish in the fields of Misezawa Village and ride a bicycle in the forests of Karuizawa—treating both equally, Little Lian, you're already an amazing elementary student."

"I want to be the most amazing elementary student!"

"Yes, just like your brother."

"Is this Mr. Dubian's way of teaching?" Mrs. Kiyono, holding her chopsticks, supported her chin and asked with a smile.

"What teaching method? I just say whatever comes to mind, and I wouldn't force Little Lian to do anything," Dubian Che replied.

"Not forcing others to choose, yet subtly influencing them," Kiyono Lin said to herself while eating.

Dubian Che picked up a large bottle of drink from the ice bowl, asking everyone, "Does anyone want some?"

After dinner and a bath, as they had been sitting in a car all day and had walked for so long, Little Lian lay down early in bed.

She was wearing an old home pajama, lying on a soft, big bed, covered with a snow-white sheet, the dragonfly doll placed at the pillow.

Dubian Che tucked her in.

"Che, I miss mom and dad."

Dubian Che looked at her slightly moist eyes, sat beside the bed, and spoke softly:

"Then think about tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, didn't you promise to go see a dragonfly that can land on your finger with Kazuki?"

"Yes."

"And the mailbox, the red one you saw today. Tomorrow, send a postcard from Karuizawa to mom and dad; you can even put a photo of Little Lian in it."

"I want to send it!"

"Then look forward to tomorrow coming soon."

"Yes!"

"Let me tell you a story, a story about a treasure. A long time ago…"

"How long ago?"

"1621."

"That's a long time ago."

"Yes, a long time ago. Back then, Spain ruthlessly plundered its colonies, the gold and silver mines in South America and other rare resources were transported back to Spain by ships..."

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