Hearing Ganyu's words, Bonanus looked over at Yanfei with a puzzled expression. What about the vegetable salad? Did this girl forget to bring it out?
Caught by her sister's gaze, Yanfei looked up in confusion. She didn't understand at first.
Then her eyes drifted to Ganyu and saw her troubled expression. Suddenly, she remembered!
She had left the prepared salad in the kitchen! She hadn't brought it out!
How could she have forgotten? Her memory was usually so good. Why did she have to slip up now?
"Ah! Oh! Sorry, sorry! I left it in the kitchen!"
Yanfei said apologetically. She stood up, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and hurried back to the kitchen to get the salad.
"So she really did forget." Bonanus covered her face with her paw, laughing.
"Forgot what?" Ganyu tilted her head, confusion written all over her face.
"It's a vegetable salad. Yanfei knew Qilins don't eat meat, so she prepared it in advance. She must have been too busy and forgot." Bonanus explained with a smile, taking another bite of food.
"Oh, I see!" Ganyu nodded in relief. Salad wouldn't make her gain weight.
"I don't think you need to worry so much, Ganyu. Eating meat once in a while won't make you fat." Bonanus chuckled.
Ganyu just shook her head. The moment she thought of her past embarrassing moments, her face flushed.
No, no. That was too awkward. She absolutely couldn't gain weight. Absolutely not!
Seeing Ganyu shake her head, Bonanus chuckled to herself. What a diet fanatic.
She actually admired Ganyu's self-control. She would never give up delicious food just to stay thin!
If she did, she would be miserable!
Their conversation ended when Yanfei returned with the vegetable salad.
Ganyu and Bonanus ate quietly while listening to the others chat.
...
Time passed.
"Sister Bonanus... I really can't eat any more..."
At the lively table, Xiao looked at the mountain of meat and vegetables in his bowl and fell into deep thought.
He wasn't a child. He had two perfectly functional hands. Why did his sister keep piling food into his bowl? It was almost overflowing!
"If you don't want to eat it, you still have to. Eat more so you can grow taller." Bonanus said in a tone like a mother talking to her child.
"Tch..." Xiao clicked his tongue. There she went again, talking to him like a child. So annoying.
He shook his head. His sister was just caring for him. He shouldn't feel this way. Wait—did she just call him short?
Just thinking about it made him speechless. He didn't even know what to say.
"Haha! Alatus, eat your vegetables. They'll help you grow."
Bosacius laughed heartily, slapping his thigh as he teased.
"Just eat your meat." Xiao frowned slightly, giving Bosacius a light glare.
"Little sister, Alatus is a few thousand years old. Don't treat him like a child." Menogias said with an amused smile. He understood how it felt to be treated like a child, especially after thousands of years.
"Got it." Bonanus nodded. Menogias's words made her realize that treating someone over two thousand years old like a child was a bit strange.
It just didn't make sense.
"Haha, I think it's fine. A sister's care for her younger brother is perfectly natural." Granny Ping said gently.
"I agree."
Bosacius chimed in. He knew Alatus hated being treated like a child, especially by fellow Yakshas.
But seeing the usually composed Alatus at a loss was still amusing.
Only their little sister could handle Alatus like this!
After all, brothers were supposed to tease each other. That was just how it worked.
Hearing that, Xiao shot Bosacius a flat look.
He could clearly hear the hidden meaning in his brother's words.
Sigh. Why did they have to "hurt" each other? When would Bosacius ever change?
With that thought, Xiao smiled slightly and fell silent.
His expression was subtle, easy to miss. But Ganyu noticed anyway.
She smiled warmly at Xiao, happy to see him so at ease. At least he could smile now, unlike before.
Noticing her, Xiao nodded in acknowledgment.
...
After that topic faded, everyone moved on to another. Time passed slowly.
Eventually, everyone had eaten their fill—well, almost everyone. They were full, but no one had touched any alcohol.
"So satisfying. If only we had some good wine!" Bosacius patted his round belly on the couch, looking completely content.
"Drink less. And our little sister isn't good with alcohol anyway." Menogias said flatly. He was holding a thick law book from Yanfei's collection.
He was interested in Liyue's legal system, so he borrowed it to pass the time before the cake cutting.
"It seems you're quite interested in these things, Lord Menogias." Ganyu smiled from across the room.
"Yes. I've been curious about Liyue's laws for a while. I haven't had the chance to learn, so now's the perfect time." Menogias replied.
"Ganyu, Menogias isn't that much older than you. Why call him 'lord'?" Bosacius asked lazily.
"Lord doesn't mean elder..." Menogias said, exasperated. Bosacius's brain only worked for combat and tactics.
"Ah? Oh, right. Didn't think of that." Bosacius gave an awkward smile.
Seeing that, Ganyu covered her mouth and laughed. She watched Yanfei clear the dishes, then Granny Ping sipping tea.
"So, what are those two doing? They went into the room and haven't come out yet." Ganyu asked curiously.
After dinner, Bonanus had dragged Xiao into her room. No one knew what they were doing.
"Who knows? It's not time for the cake yet." Bosacius yawned, looking a little tired.
"Want to take a nap?" Menogias turned to him.
"Nah, not that tired. Just bored." Bosacius shook his head. He didn't need sleep—just something to do.
"They should be out soon. We still have to cut the cake." Menogias said, closing his book.
Then—
Bang!
The door to Bonanus's room burst open. It was Xiao.
He ran out, looking absolutely desperate and terrified. Bonanus chased after him, holding a ribbon hair tie in her hand.
He was wearing a maid outfit. His expression was panicked. He looked at Menogias with pleading eyes.
"Don't run! I haven't tied the ribbon yet!" Bonanus grabbed him and dragged the struggling Xiao back into the room, slamming the door shut.
Everyone stared in stunned silence. What just happened? Had they seen a ghost?