Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

"Achooo!"

The loud sneeze echoed through the clearing.

Everyone turned sharply.

Liu Mei blinked, sniffled once, and smiled sheepishly. "Hehe… sorry."

Yuu, ever the responsible one, wordlessly handed her a handkerchief with a small sigh.

Betty, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes.

The look she gave Liu Mei could only be described as the kind one gives a particularly dumb rock, one that had been told repeatedly not to roll downhill and still did.

"You had one job," Betty muttered under her breath.

Zhao Mei didn't react, arms crossed and expression unreadable.

But beside her, Zhao Yun smiled faintly, her eyes crinkling in silent amusement. She didn't seem bothered in the slightest, if anything, she looked... entertained.

Only Icehart didn't glance over.

And then there was Alice, the mute girl who quietly stepped forward, eyes filled with concern.

She reached into her little pouch and offered Liu Mei a cookie.

Liu Mei's face lit up like a lantern. "Aw, thank you!"

She accepted the cookie with exaggerated care, wiping her nose once more and giving a big thumbs up to Alice.

"Don't encourage her," Betty deadpanned, rubbing her temple.

Alice just blinked and tilted her head, then offered a second cookie.

Betty stared at it.

"...No."

"What about me?" Yuu asked, puffing her cheeks slightly. Despite being the oldest in the group, she had a notorious habit of not acting like it.

Alice tilted her head, then calmly handed her a cookie.

Yuu accepted it with exaggerated dignity, then reached over and gently patted the girl's hair. "Good, good. Big Sister Yuu will protect you… at least until next week."

Alice responded with a smile and began signing with quick, practiced gestures.

Yuu blinked. Then slowly turned to Betty with a helpless look.

Betty let out a soft sigh, rubbing her temple. "She said to take care of everyone, not just her."

Yuu clutched her chest dramatically. "Awww, you're so sweet!" And without warning, she gave Alice a kiss on the cheek.

Alice's eyes went wide. Her face turned a deep red, and she quickly took a few small steps back, flustered.

Yuu just laughed. "Cute~"

With a newfound mission, Alice continued distributing cookies.

She gave one to Zhao Mei, who accepted it with a silent nod, and then to Zhao Yun, who gave her a bright smile and a pat on the head in return.

Then, with quiet steps, Alice walked over to Icehart.

He blinked in surprise as she held up a cookie.

"I… I appreciate it," he said, shaking his head gently. "But I'm a prisoner here. You don't have to do this."

She looked at the cookie in her hand… then at Icehart.

Her fingers trembled slightly, but she still held it out.

To her, kindness wasn't optional, it was sacred.

A moment of silence passed.

Then his instincts screamed.

Killing intent.

It came from Zhao Mei. Then Zhao Yun.

Then Yuu. Then Liu Mei.

Even Yuu, who'd just called herself "big sister," now had a serene smile and narrowed eyes that promised violence.

"…On second thought," Icehart said, sweating bullets, "I'll gladly take it."

He reached forward with trembling fingers and accepted the cookie. "Thank you…"

Betty let out a slow breath of relief. Thank the heavens no one tried that with me…

And then—pop—a cookie appeared right in front of her face.

She stared at it.

Then slowly looked down… and followed the hand holding it.

Alice stood there again, calm, patient, and adorable as ever.

Without hesitation, Betty snatched the cookie, stuffed it into her mouth, and nodded solemnly. "Tasty."

Liu Mei happily munched on the cookie, crumbs clinging to her lips as she licked her fingers with childlike delight.

"Mmm! This is amazing!" she beamed. "Alice, I want more!"

Alice nodded with a cheerful smile and threw a few quick hand signs.

As usual, Betty stepped forward to interpret, arms crossed, tone dry.

"Liu Mei," she began, voice laced with theatrical seriousness. "You are stupid. And a fool. Without doubt, a glutton."

The world went still for a heartbeat.

Liu Mei froze mid-lick, blinking.

Alice's face paled in horror, and she began frantically signing again, this time faster, more chaotic, trying to undo the damage.

Her expression screamed "That's not what I said!"

Betty chuckled lightly, flipping a lock of her hair. "Relax. I'm joking."

Liu Mei smiled.

A slow, eerie, overly sweet smile.

"I know," she said, her voice melodic, sing-song even.

But her eyes stayed closed. And her smile… didn't quite reach her cheeks.

The temperature in the room seemed to dip just a little.

Yuu quietly scooted one step away from her. Zhao Yun leaned in toward Zhao Mei and whispered, "That's the smile she makes when she's really pissed."

Icehart was already inching toward the far wall, hands up.

Even Alice looked nervous, sneaking a glance between Liu Mei and Betty.

Betty raised both hands in surrender. "Hey now. Don't shoot the translator."

Just then, Liu Mei's eyes snapped open, bright, gold yellow and brimming with fake innocence.

"Phew," she said, stretching with a content sigh. "That was close. I'm so glad Master taught me this trick. I just counted to one billion, twenty-one million, six hundred eighty-seven thousand and eight to calm myself down."

Silence.

Every head slowly turned toward her.

Zhao Mei blinked.

While Zhao Yun whispered, "Monster…"

Yuu looked genuinely proud. "She actually hold herself back."

Even Alice gave her a cautious side-eye, as if unsure whether to offer another cookie or run.

In the back, Betty cleared her throat and added calmly, "Liu Mei.. Alice says she has more. She can make as many as you want. Always. And… she also says: Master."

Liu Mei immediately perked up.

A soft, sunny smile bloomed on her face as she clasped her hands to her chest.

"Awww… what a sweet disciple! I knew she was worthy of me!"

Alice shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking proud.

The tension evaporated into nothing.