"Please note, host, this system is not a shopping mall! Clothing is not provided!" the system responded coldly.
"I'll pay. How much for a set of pajamas? 50 copper coins? Or 100? Even 2 gold coins is acceptable." Mai Ge said calmly, glancing at his remaining 616 credits.
The system remained silent for a moment, then silently displayed a price list: "One set of children's pajamas: 2 gold coins; one set of adult pajamas: 3 gold coins; one set of children's regular clothes: 3 gold coins; one set of chef's uniform: 3 gold coins. Color and style can be selected."
"Then I'll take a set of children's pajamas and a chef's uniform first." Mai Ge thought to himself, looking at Amy, who was starting to feel sleepy after her bath. The prices weren't too expensive, but his most pressing need right now was to use his cash to buy ingredients to complete the mission.
Looking at the various styles and colors of children's pajamas that suddenly appeared in his mind, Mai Ge was a little overwhelmed. He looked at Amy and asked, "What kind of pajamas does Little Amy want? What color do you like?"
"Little Amy likes purple, and it would be great if there was a little bear on it..." Amy thought seriously for a moment, then looked at Mai Ge expectantly. Her father's magic was so amazing; the houses and clothes he conjured up were all so beautiful, so she was really looking forward to her new clothes.
"That's it." Mai Ge's eyes lit up when he saw a purple onesie. It was a fluffy onesie with two cute bear ears on the hood and a cute little brown bear on the front.
"I'll go get some clothes for Little Amy." Mai Ge told Amy, seeing the system notification that the clothes were in the closet, and went to the room. He opened the closet and found a cute bear-themed onesie and a brand-new chef's uniform already there.
Mai Ge folded his chef's uniform and placed it on the bed. He then took Amy's pajamas into the bathroom and smiled, asking, "Do you like it?"
"Wow, what a pretty dress!" Amy, wrapped in a towel, looked at the purple bear dress Mai Ge had unfolded in his hands and nodded happily. "Yes, yes, it's my favorite purple! It's fluffy, and wearing it makes me look like a bear. I love it so much, Daddy, you're so good!"
Seeing Amy so happy made Mai Ge feel very pleased as well. He took a dry towel from the side. "Then I'll dry Little Amy's hair, and you can change into your pajamas for your afternoon nap."
"Okay." Amy nodded, eagerly craning her neck to look at her new clothes.
Mai Ge carefully dried Amy's hair with the towel and then used a hairdryer before helping her change into her new clothes.
"So soft and comfortable." Amy raised her hand and rubbed her face with the fluffy sleeve, her eyes narrowed, and her little face was full of happiness.
Mai Ge looked at Amy. The fluffy purple onesie made her look like an adorable little purple bear, highlighting her fair skin. Her soft silver hair cascaded over her shoulders and back, and her cute little pointed ears were snow-white and glistening—a perfect blend of human and elf.
"Daddy will hold you up for a moment, our little bear Amy." Mai Ge pulled Amy's hood up and picked her up to face the mirror.
"Wow, the little bear is here, it's going to eat you!" Amy looked at her bear-like reflection in the mirror, opened her mouth wide, and waved her arms at Mai Ge.
"Little bear, have mercy! Little bear, have mercy!" Mai Ge laughed and playfully backed away.
"It's alright, don't be afraid. Little Amy wouldn't want to eat Daddy." Amy opened her arms and hugged Mai Ge's face, kissing him on the cheek and stroking his hair to comfort him.
"Hmm, no afraid anymore. Our Little Amy smells nice now, it's time for a nap." Mai Ge suppressed a laugh; the little one was truly adorable. He sniffed the air, then carried Amy into the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed.
"Amy can't sleep, Daddy, please tell Amy a story." Amy said, lying on the bed, grasping one of Mai Ge's fingers and shaking her head.
"Okay, then I'll tell Amy the story of the Ugly Duckling." Mai Ge nodded, pulled over a stool, and sat down at the edge of the crib.
"Okay, Little Amy wants to hear it." Amy nodded.
"In a faraway, beautiful countryside, a mother duck was nestled on a bed of eggs, incubating her ducklings…" Mai Ge began to tell the story of the Ugly Duckling in a slightly somber tone. Almost every child had heard this fairy tale, and Mai Ge had his reasons for choosing it.
Part of Amy's lack of confidence stemmed from her feeling different from other human children, and different from elves, which sometimes led to her being bullied and mocked, just like the little swan born among the ducks.
So he wanted to use this story to tell her that she wasn't strange, but special, and that she would be even more outstanding than them in the future.
Of course, now that he was there, those external storms would never fall on her again.
An ugly duckling hatched among a flock of ducks. Because it looked different from the ducks and all the other animals, it was shunned. It was chased and bitten by the ducks, pecked by the chickens, mocked by the cat, and kicked by the maid who looked after the chickens.
Helplessly, It drifted away from that place alone with the river. It endured a harsh winter, nearly perishing in the hands of a farmer's wife, and finally, the warm spring arrived. Seeing the white swans flying in from afar, they bravely flapped their wings and flew away, only to discover that it was actually a beautiful and noble white swan, capable of soaring in the sky and receiving the love of others.
The story unfolded in Mai Ge's deep, slightly magnetic voice, captivating Amy completely. Her little fists clenched tightly, as if she was worried and anxious for the Ugly Duckling. She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that the Ugly Duckling had escaped danger, but was quickly tense again because of new dangers. Only when the Ugly Duckling finally transformed into a beautiful white swan, soaring into the sky and finding its true friends did a happy smile appear on her face.
"So, Daddy, is Little Amy an ugly duckling? Will I really grow up to be a white swan?" Amy looked at Mai Ge, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"No, Little Amy is a beautiful little swan now, and will grow into an even more noble and beautiful white swan." Mai Ge smiled and shook his head, gently stroking Amy's hair with his other hand. He said tenderly, "Besides, as long as Daddy is here, no one can hurt Litte Amy."
"Yes, I believe Daddy." Amy looked into Mai Ge's eyes, nodding with complete trust. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Little Amy has a small request."
"Hmm?" Mai Ge looked at her encouragingly.
"Can we raise an ugly duckling?" Amy asked softly.
"Does Little Amy like white swans?" Mai Ge was a little surprised. Little swans weren't easy to come by, but if Amy wanted to raise one, he could try to find a way.
"Yes, that way, when it grows up, we can eat roast goose." Amy nodded earnestly.