Makoto took the Sunsettia from Eula's hand, took a shallow bite, and his expression immediately changed.
"These Sunsettia are sour and astringent; they haven't even ripened yet."
"If you weren't really hungry, why would you eat this as a meal?"
"Don't tell me it's for losing weight. I've never seen anyone lose weight by eating unripe Sunsettia."
Eula's lips moved, wanting to explain several times, but in the end, she gave up.
Because she didn't have many friends, Makoto was one.
She didn't want to lie to her friend.
Eula lowered her head, silent, like a Little One who had done something wrong.
"Oh, you girl… sometimes smart, but sometimes truly silly."
Makoto found it difficult to say more; he simply reached out and ruffled Eula's Little One's head.
Eula looked utterly wronged. She really liked her hair when Shenhe helped her comb it, but now Makoto had messed it all up.
The Little One pouted and silently re-combed her hair, muttering, "Big Brother said I'm silly and messed up my hair. I've remembered this grudge!"
Makoto was the first to make Eula remember three grudges in one day.
Seeing this, Makoto smiled and said, "If you were in Liyue, you could easily become 'Grudge-Remembering But Never Retaliating True Lord'."
Eula blinked her large eyes, her face full of confusion.
This Big Brother always said strange things, but they sounded quite interesting.
Makoto didn't continue the topic but instead asked, "It's so late, and you're still not home. Did you have a conflict with your family?"
Eula didn't speak; she first nodded, then shook her head.
She nodded because she indeed had disagreements with her family.
She shook her head to say it wasn't just a conflict, but a complete break.
Eula took a deep breath, her Little One's face exceptionally serious: "I've already left my family and am preparing to start a new life."
Makoto said with emotion, "Is that so…"
In fact, seeing Eula eating unripe Sunsettia to fill her stomach and not returning home late at night, Makoto had already guessed the general situation.
The current Eula should have already obtained the ice seal and left the Lawrence Family.
According to the original background story, a hungry and cold Eula would meet Amber and her grandfather, then move into Amber's home, naturally becoming Uncle An's apprentice.
But now… with Makoto's arrival, this story is about to change.
A long time ago, a butterfly gently flapped its wings, and now it has caused a huge storm.
"Little Eula, have you considered what you'll do in the future?"
Faced with Makoto's sudden question, Eula was stunned for a moment, then gently shook her head.
After all, the current Eula is still just a Little One, so she certainly couldn't consider things comprehensively.
She was only focused on breaking away from the Lawrence Family and hadn't considered anything beyond that.
"Then where will you stay tonight?"
Immediately after, Makoto posed another question.
Eula was silent, because she also couldn't answer this question.
The vast Mondstadt City seemed to have no place for her.
Eula originally thought that leaving the Lawrence Family would allow her to start a new life.
But a few casual questions from Makoto made her feel lost and helpless.
Ultimately, the current Eula is still just a Little One; there's so little she can do.
Beidou deeply understood this.
Noticing Eula's distress, Makoto extended his hand towards her: "I've rented a hotel in Mondstadt, and there are many empty rooms."
"If you don't have a place to stay, you can temporarily stay with us."
"It's not too late to make plans after the Windblume Festival ends."
As his words fell, the Little Ones behind Makoto also eagerly extended invitations.
Beidou excitedly said, "Eula, stay in the room next to mine! That way we can exchange sword techniques!"
Shenhe gently took Eula's hand: "Your hair is a mess. I'll help you comb it tonight."
Hu Tao put her hands behind her back, smiling and winking: "I just thought of a fun doggerel, so tonight I'll have another listener!"
Qiqi said with a blank look: "Eula… I'll take you to see the Little Sparrow… they are also Qiqi's friends…"
Facing Makoto and everyone's invitations, Eula felt her vision gradually blur, tears welling in her eyes.
All this time, Eula had no concept of the word 'home'.
Was the Lawrence Family considered home? In Eula's view, it was not.
Because there was no warmth there, it was as cold and biting as Dragonspine.
The Lawrence Family wouldn't care about Eula's feelings; everyone was just an expendable chess piece on the board.
It wasn't until she met Makoto and the others that Eula first gained a concept of 'home'.
Here, people gave her smiles, gave her warmth.
Even though they weren't blood-related, everyone treated her as an important family member.
Eula wanted to say that she was very willing to join Makoto's group,
But just as she was about to take that step, her identity as a Lawrence made her hesitate.
Many questions flashed through Eula's mind.
Big Brother doesn't know I'm a descendant of the Lawrence Family, which is why he's willing to help me.
But if he knew about my connection to the Lawrence Family, would he still take care of me like this?
Certainly not.
Because no one in all of Mondstadt City welcomed people from the Lawrence Family.
"Eula, what's wrong?"
Noticing Eula anxiously clenching her Little One's fists, Makoto took the initiative to ask.
Actually, Eula had thought about concealing the fact that she was a descendant of the Lawrence Family.
Perhaps that way, she could always be friends with Makoto and the others.
But reason told Eula that concealing her identity would bring trouble to Makoto.
Eula didn't want to cause trouble for Makoto.
She would rather return to solitude than cause trouble for Makoto.
Eula lowered her head, her voice growing softer: "Big Brother, thank you for your kindness, but… but I am a descendant of the Lawrence Family…"
As her words fell, the air fell silent.
Eula felt as if she had fallen to the bottom of a valley.
Now that Makoto knew her identity, he would surely no longer be her friend.
Perhaps he would even dislike her, deliberately distancing himself...
She had finally made friends with such difficulty, and now losing them again, Eula felt very bitter inside.
At this moment, Makoto's voice softly sounded: "I've always known."
"You knew?"
Eula was very surprised, as Makoto's answer exceeded her expectations.
"Since you knew, why were you still willing to be my friend?"
"They, they all say I'm a Sinner's descendant, unwilling to play with me, or even approach me."
As Eula said this, tears welled in her eyes; only she knew the bitterness and hardship within.
Makoto reached out and gently wiped away Eula's tears, speaking softly: "Because…"
"I won't understand someone through others' words, nor will I have prejudice against someone because of their family's past."
"My personality is just like this. As long as I think you're a good person and suitable to be a friend, then other things aren't important."
Eula tried to understand Makoto's meaning.
She felt that Makoto was different from the people in Mondstadt City.
The people of Mondstadt City hadn't interacted with Eula, nor did they know Eula's personality.
Those people just heard that Eula was a 'descendant of the Lawrence Family' and treated her coldly.
On the other hand, Makoto wouldn't jump to conclusions or label Eula just by hearing the name Lawrence.
He would first get to know Eula, then decide his attitude.
Just this point alone was much better than those people in Mondstadt City, at least Eula thought so.
"I won't understand someone through others' words…"
Eula suddenly felt that Big Brother looked quite handsome when he said that.
"Eula, we're ready to go back. Do you want to come?"
At this moment, Makoto looked down and said to Eula beside him.
"Okay~"
This time, Eula had no reservations whatsoever and nodded in agreement.
Makoto didn't care about her identity as a Lawrence descendant, so why should she keep dwelling on it?
"Let's have a race! The last one to run to Mondstadt City has to do a dance!"
"Countdown starts now, three… run!"
The Little Ones already understood Makoto's trick; the countdown was always just 'three', never 'two' or 'one'.
So, when Makoto was saying the countdown, they were already huffing and puffing, running towards Mondstadt City with their short Little One's legs.
Only the innocent Eula was seriously waiting for Makoto's countdown.
Strange?
Why did everyone start running before the countdown was finished?
Where were 'two' and 'one'?
Eula, realizing belatedly, understood that Makoto was cheating; there was actually no countdown at all.
Big Brother actually tricked a Little One!
This grudge, I've remembered it!
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