31 The Glistening Wishing Well

Pei Nana smiled, her young face radiating an inexplicable sense of maternal warmth. She waved a hand and said, "Don't mind us, you go ahead and eat. I’m not hungry yet. Besides, Paimon’s hands are so tiny that holding a knife and fork is quite inconvenient, so I’ll help her. And don’t you think little Paimon looks adorable when she eats?"

Paimon chimed in immediately, not forgetting to point a finger, "Exactly! Nana is nothing like someone else who is cold and heartless!"

The Traveler: "..."

The Traveler rolled his eyes silently and went back to cutting his own steak. Just as he was feeling a bit awkward, half a piece of steak was suddenly placed onto his plate. He looked up in surprise to find Pei Nana watching him with a gentle smile. "I can't eat that much, it would be a waste."

The Traveler paused in silence, not knowing what to say, and quietly used his fork to pull the meat toward his side.

The meat was faultless.

Mmm, delicious.

Pei Nana was telling the truth; she had actually already eaten dinner. Eating anything more would have left her feeling overstuffed.

By the time she was full, the Traveler and Paimon were still devouring their meal, the big one and the small one perfectly synchronized in their movements, both focused intently on their food without looking up.

The spot recommended by Miss Sara for viewing the stars had ultimately gone to waste.

As they ate with such focus, Pei Nana watched them with equal focus, and before she knew it, she had picked up her chopsticks again to help them add more food, especially the grilled fish.

Fish is troublesome to eat because of the bones. Pei Nana picked up a large piece of grilled fish, carefully removed the bones, and placed it beside Paimon’s plate.

Paimon didn't mind a bit; she took a big bite and enjoyed it even more. Since she was always flying and didn't need a chair, she had drifted closer and closer to Pei Nana without realizing it. Pei Nana didn't even need to reach far to feed her; a gentle lift of her hand was all it took to deliver the food into little Paimon’s mouth.

After this meal, if there were a favorability meter, Paimon’s would surely have risen by at least 20 points!

Once full and feeling slightly bloated, Pei Nana lounged on her chair for a while before tilting her head to look at the sky. In the deep black, slightly blue expanse, the brilliant stars were twinkling softly.

"It’s so beautiful," Pei Nana murmured, smiling as she turned to the Traveler. "I’ve been in Mondstadt for several days now, and it feels like the starry sky here is beautiful every single night. But, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but the moon always seems full and round, as if it never changes."

She had a sudden thought and added playfully, "Could it be because of a slow rotation or revolution or something?"

The Traveler also looked up at the glittering sky and repeated pointlessly, "It really doesn't change much..."

The transition between day and night was also quite short.

Beside her, Paimon’s characteristic, excitable voice rang out, "Eh? No changes? It’s always been like that! Does the moon change where you come from?"

Pei Nana and the Traveler: "..."

A satellite that never changes—do you really think that’s logical, little Paimon!

The two exchanged a silent glance, and the Traveler offered a comforting remark, "Perhaps it’s just the local customs."

Pei Nana replied, "That’s true. We don't even have elemental energy where we're from." Maybe it’s just game textures.

Little Paimon’s curiosity was piqued. She flew over happily, pestering Pei Nana to tell her about the moon in the other world.

Pei Nana was helpless; she couldn't bear to refuse such a cute creature, so she gave a rough explanation.

Paimon listened, lost in thought. After a moment, she gestured with her little hand, swaying slightly. "Then I think it’s pretty good that it’s always a full moon."

The other two looked at her with curiosity, and the Traveler asked, "Why?"

Paimon replied, "Think about it! Nana said the full moon is when it’s brightest! Doesn't that mean we don't have to be afraid of the dark at night? Hehe..."

Pei Nana: "...That makes a lot of sense. Plus, we wouldn't have to worry about traveling at night either."

The two girls, one big and one small, quickly reached a consensus, leaving the Traveler to watch them with a speechless, inward critique: *There are monsters in the wild, who in their right mind would travel at night for no reason...*

Pei Nana and Paimon pretended not to hear him and continued their affectionate chatter.

Paimon said, "We’re so full, it’s not good to head back right away. Since we’re idle, should we go for a walk?"

Pei Nana asked, "Where does Paimon want to go?"

Paimon replied, "Hehe, see that fountain down there? It’s actually a wishing pool! Should we go take a look? Maybe our wishes will actually come true!"

Pei Nana: "Sure, we're free anyway. Besides, it’s already past ten; the restaurant will be closing soon, right? It’s not polite to keep occupying our seats. Don't you agree, Aether?"

The Traveler: "..."

Is it his imagination, or are these two starting to disregard him more and more? How bold!

The Traveler snorted coldly and stood up first. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!"

Both of them giggled. Pei Nana held the solid-feeling Paimon in her arms and followed behind him.

The proprietress was tallying the accounts at the counter while the other staff members cleaned up the tables. Seeing them, she immediately put down her pen and greeted them warmly, "Are you finished, Traveler? How was the food?"

The Traveler nodded and smiled, "As always, it was excellent. And thank you for the complimentary mint jelly."

The proprietress’s eyes curved into crescents. "It is an honor to have provided you and your friends with a pleasant dinner. We look forward to your next visit, Traveler, Paimon, and... uh, Miss Nana!"

The Traveler remained calm and poised. "Thank you."

Pei Nana mimicked his demeanor, hugging Paimon tighter, and with a delicate, beautiful face, she tried her best to look dignified and composed, repeating, "Thank you."

Paimon waved enthusiastically at Miss Sara, who was cleaning tables nearby, shouting loudly, "We’ll definitely come back again! Miss Sara!"

Leaving the Good Hunter restaurant, the fountain plaza was just a short distance away. Because it was late, the plaza was empty. The water in the fountain rippled with a gentle murmur, and the warm yellow streetlamps cast a hazy, melancholic glow. Insects hidden in the grass chirped incessantly, creating an atmosphere of quiet peace.

The three walked onto the plaza. Paimon flew to the edge of the fountain first and stared into the water. She let out a "Wow," and unconsciously began to drool, her expression filled with longing.

Pei Nana, curious, leaned in to look as well and also let out a "Wow." Under the hazy moonlight and lamplight, the bottom of the pool was a brilliant, dazzling sight—layer upon layer of glittering Mora.

She couldn't help but sigh, "How much money must this be..."

Little Paimon nodded in agreement beside her, her expression full of regret. "Exactly! What a waste!"

The Traveler leaned over, his expression one of cunning and mischief. "So, are you two going down to fish it out?"

Pei Nana: "...?"

Pei Nana, wary of the fact that he was the financier and her "thigh" to cling to, showed some restraint, but Paimon was much more direct. She looked at him with disdain, pointing a finger in contempt. "You really are something else, Traveler! You’d even steal from a wishing pool? You truly have no bottom line!"

The Traveler: "???"

As if to distance herself from him, she flew a bit further away from the Traveler, pulled two Mora coins from somewhere, stuffed one into Pei Nana’s hand, and held the other between her palms. "Let’s make a wish too, Nana."

The Traveler: "Hey! What about mine? What about mine?"

Paimon: "Hmph! You have your own, use your own!"

The Traveler: "How stingy."

He took out a Mora coin, stood alongside Pei Nana, and folded his hands, eyes closed. After a few seconds of solemn contemplation, he tossed the coin into the water.

*Plop, plop, plop*—three sounds as they all hit the water.

Little Paimon asked curiously, "What did you both wish for?"

Pei Nana said softly, "I wished that the days ahead would be smooth and healthy. How about you?"

Little Paimon giggled and said with longing, "I wished for endless delicious food and more Mora than I could ever spend! What about the Traveler?"

The Traveler looked profound. "I can't tell you."

Pei Nana: "?"

Paimon: "???"

The Traveler looked serious and stern. "If you say a wish out loud, it won't come true! That’s why I can’t tell you!"

Pei Nana: "???"

Paimon: "!!!"