In the corridor, Chu Zhishui emerged from the Personnel Office, still reeling from the shock of discovering her own gluttonous tendencies. Glancing out the window, she spotted Mimi and other yao creatures in the courtyard, chatting and laughing together.
Under the tree, Mimi had claimed the round stone bench that belonged to the deity, forcing Xin Yunmao to stand beside her. He leaned against the tree, supporting Mimi, silently watching his daughter interact with the other yao creatures. Though his face showed no emotion, his gaze was gentle.
Jin Yu stood nearby, releasing a flurry of colorful bubbles to capture Mimi's attention. In the sunlight, the bubbles sparkled and slowly spread, creating a dreamy scene that left Mimi utterly entranced.
However, Jin Yu's charm quickly faded when Niu Shi arrived with drinks and pastries, placing them on the chess table and successfully diverting Mimi's attention. The glass held clear apple juice, and there were also some kid-friendly pastries. The apple puree was molded into cute bear shapes, while the yam puree took the form of rabbits, resembling a delightful zoo of adorable animals.
Xin Yunmao, unwilling to let anyone else handle the feeding duty, immediately took over the fruit and vegetable puree plates, determined to win his daughter's favor himself.
Chu Zhishui, standing upstairs, watched the scene with great interest for a long time. Only when they started eating snacks did she take the elevator downstairs and walk out.
Outside, the sun was warm, the flowers and plants were thriving, and beautiful bubbles floated in the air.
Chu Zhishui took a deep breath, savoring the perfect sunlight. Seeing Xin Yunmao feeding Mimi, she reminded him, "You shouldn't feed her here. She'll remember it and come back on her own."
The courtyard was filled with bamboo, though it was unclear who had planted it. Chu Zhishui knew her daughter well enough to predict that if Mimi developed fond food memories here, she would sneak back for more.
One side of the courtyard conveniently led to the cafeteria, making it Mimi's ideal shortcut.
Upon hearing this, Xin Yunmao pondered for a moment, realizing that his tactic to secure his daughter's favor might be undermined. He decisively suggested, "Then we should put up a sign here that says 'No Unauthorized Feeding of Bamboo.'"
Chu Zhishui retorted, "You're a grown bamboo, yet you're still so petty."
Mimi, as if understanding her mother's words, suddenly reached out toward Chu Zhishui, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile, trying to divert her parents' attention.
Chu Zhishui, knowing her daughter's tactics, gently touched Mimi's hand and teased, "Little glutton, now you know how to charm people."
She had once suspected that Xin Yunmao wasn't favored by their daughter because he had often said that plant yao didn't need to eat, which was a surefire way to annoy Mimi. When it came to anything food-related, Mimi's comprehension was top-notch.
Niu Shi chuckled, "Anyway, I'm usually in the cafeteria. I can keep an eye on her as long as she doesn't run off the premises."
"Right, Mimi can come play with us sometimes," Jin Yu added excitedly. "I've never seen such a young yao creature before."
Mimi's aura was incredibly powerful, but her childlike appearance was deceiving, making Jin Yu feel no sense of intimidation. Being the child of Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao, Mimi inherited traits from her mother that softened her imposing aura. Unlike Xin Yunmao, who occasionally made the other yao creatures nervous, Mimi was much more approachable.
At that moment, a carefree voice rang out from the side, "I haven't seen one either. She's quite amusing, meow."
Miao Li, rarely seen without his Demon Suppression Robe, strolled over from the old office building. His golden eyes sparkled with interest as he observed the little girl, his mind no doubt scheming something.
Xin Yunmao sensed Miao Li's gaze and subtly stepped forward to block his view.
"Tsk, so stingy," Miao Li muttered, tilting his head but still unable to see. He then walked around Xin Yunmao, determined to get a better look at Mimi.
Mimi stared blankly at Miao Li's mixed-race features.
Miao Li, intrigued, leaned in to get a closer look. This was his first time seeing a yao creature transform into a toddler, and he couldn't resist reaching out to touch her.
However, before his hand could reach her, Mimi turned her head in disgust and hid in Chu Zhishui's arms.
Miao Li: "?"
Chu Zhishui was surprised by Mimi's rejection, as the child hadn't shown any aversion to Jin Yu or Niu Shi earlier. Even when she met Hu Chenrui, she had been perfectly fine, not showing any signs of wanting to hide.
Chu Zhishui gently urged, "Mimi, take a look at Uncle Miao."
Mimi stayed close to her mother, refusing to turn around and even making a strange sound: "Ew—"
Miao Li: "!!"
Xin Yunmao, feeling vindicated, couldn't help but gloat, "Of course my daughter wouldn't like a cat!"
Chu Zhishui quickly interjected, "No, no, it's probably because she was interrupted while eating."
Niu Shi tried to smooth things over, "Kids are sensitive to many things. Maybe she just doesn't like the vibe from the Observation Department."
Xin Yunmao added coldly, "Or maybe she just doesn't like bad cats."
All the other yao creatures could get close to Mimi without issue; even Jin Yu could touch her. But Miao Li was the only one who faced rejection, experiencing the same predicament Xin Yunmao had once endured.
Xin Yunmao had initially been rejected as well, but through persistent feeding, he had gradually built a bond with his daughter. After all, in a way, he was synonymous with "food" to her.
Miao Li, frustrated, refused to accept defeat. He circled the tree, only to find that Mimi was repelled by him from every angle, even growling like a feline.
Jin Yu timidly suggested, "Maybe if you see her a few more times, it'll be better."
"No, it must be the way I approached her. I'll try again, and it'll be fine," Miao Li snapped, turning away. He was determined to find a way to win the child's favor.
Xin Yunmao sneered, "Why humiliate yourself?"
Chu Zhishui wondered, "Where's Director Miao going?"
Moments later, the black-clad young man didn't return. Instead, a large black cat with white paws appeared, sauntering over with a leisurely gait. It casually rubbed against Mimi, without encountering any resistance this time.
"Ah..." Mimi, having never seen a small animal up close, stared at the black cat in fascination, just as she had with the colorful bubbles.
Xin Yunmao, impressed by Miao Li's shamelessness, said with a cold expression, "Is this the only trick you know?"
The cat ignored Xin Yunmao's disdain, deliberately leaning against the stone bench, its body curving into a graceful arc. It even allowed Mimi to pet its head, its ears twitching occasionally, eliciting excited cheers from her.
Mimi was completely captivated by the silky feel, her mesmerized expression making Xin Yunmao unhappy, though Chu Zhishui kept patting him to calm him down.
However, everyone had forgotten that young children often react unexpectedly to new things.
The black cat suddenly felt itself being grabbed by a small hand, and the next moment, it was tightly hugged and subjected to vigorous petting from the toddler. Although the strength wasn't great, the improper cat-petting technique left it a mess, causing it to meow in distress.
Mimi wrapped her arms around the black cat, starting to play mahjong with its fur.
Chu Zhishui, seeing the wrong way to pet a cat, quickly said, "Mimi, don't bully Uncle Miao!"
Xin Yunmao coldly added, "Don't hug stray cats!"
Hearing this, the black cat wanted to escape but remained in place, clearly trying to annoy Xin Yunmao by tolerating Mimi's rough handling, even allowing her to pet its fur against the grain.
This only deepened Xin Yunmao's frown, and he reached out to shoo the cat away from his daughter, but the cat dodged nimbly, refusing to leave.
The scene descended into chaos, with the bamboo and cat both leaping about.
Chu Zhishui, seeing the black cat feeling uncomfortable yet still provoking Xin Yunmao, couldn't help but comment, "Why do you have to hurt each other like this?"
Xin Yunmao hated seeing Mimi hug the cat, while the cat didn't like being petted and cuddled, yet both persisted in their standoff.
In the end, only the toddler remained unscathed.
The pleasant time at the Huaijiang Bureau always passed quickly. As Chu Zhishui had predicted, Mimi had established a new shortcut, occasionally sneaking to the bureau for meals. She often took advantage of her parents being at home to slip into the cafeteria for snacks, as the bureau's meals were more abundant than what was available at home.
Time flowed like water, and the years slipped away.
Children grow up quickly, and Mimi has also gradually transformed from a bamboo rice into a bamboo shoot. Not only has she reached the age to start kindergarten, but her growing intelligence has also revealed some of her personality traits. She can now speak fluently, with a logical way of expressing herself inherited from Chu Zhishui, but her tone occasionally carries a hint of Xin Yunmao's arrogance.
At home, Chu Zhishui and Xin Yunmao discussed the matter and decided to have a talk with their daughter before she starts kindergarten, addressing the topic of humans and monsters.
The family meeting took place in the living room, with the three of them gathered together, and Chu Zhishui leading the discussion.
"Mimi, Grandpa and Grandma have already found a good kindergarten for you, and I heard the food there is great, with fruit served after every meal," Chu Zhishui said softly, noticing her daughter's eyes light up. "But before you start kindergarten, can you make a promise with Mommy and Daddy?"
Mimi blinked her round eyes, looking puzzled at her parents.
"Mommy is human, and Daddy is a monster. The uncles and aunties at the bureau are monsters, but the kids in kindergarten are all humans," Chu Zhishui explained. "So, we make a promise: Mimi won't use monster powers at school, just enjoy being a regular human. Then, after school, you can do whatever you want. Is that okay?"
Mimi is both human and monster. Perhaps dividing her day into two parts will allow her to fully experience the world. The Huaijiang Bureau provides her with the opportunity to interact with monsters, but one day she will need to independently engage with humans, experiencing the joys and sorrows of being human.
After thinking for a few seconds, Mimi answered quite decisively: "Okay."
"That was quick," Chu Zhishui reminded her. "But remember, you can't teleport home for snacks during school, and you can't use monster powers at kindergarten. You have to be just like the other kids. Think carefully before agreeing, and don't go back on your word later."
"I won't go back on my word," Mimi said proudly, placing her hands on her hips. "Even without monster powers, I'll definitely be the best. Otherwise, everyone wouldn't like me so much!"
Mimi didn't think not having monster powers was a big deal. She was sure she would be loved by everyone at kindergarten, just like her parents and grandparents loved her, and even the uncles and aunties at the bureau were friendly. How could there be someone who didn't like her?
If there was such a person in the world, it must be because they were shy and hiding it!
Xin Yunmao nodded in agreement: "That's my daughter."
Chu Zhishui laughed, amused by Mimi's confident stance. "You're just as confident as your dad was back then."
They didn't need to worry about Mimi feeling down at kindergarten, as their daughter had no concept of being discouraged, exuding a vibrant, lively energy.
As expected, Mimi's kindergarten life went smoothly. She quickly gained the favor of her teachers and established friendly relationships with her classmates. It was said that she even became a little leader at school, often leading her classmates in playing with toys that simulated farming, occasionally engaging in some management-style role-playing games.
Even the most introverted child in the class couldn't resist her charm and was eventually roped into the farming and management team.
During the kindergarten parent-teacher meeting, Chu Zhishui had the chance to see the classroom's plant corner, which was reportedly created by Mimi and her classmates. It was filled with various plant plush toys, and the walls were adorned with vibrant children's drawings of bamboo, seamlessly integrating the greenery into the kindergarten.
Her habit of letting bamboo "infiltrate" every available space was just like her father, the God of Bamboo.
Chu Zhishui couldn't help but laugh, standing in the corner for a long time, even taking a photo to send to Xin Yunmao.
Under the sunlight, the breeze gently swayed the sheer curtains and brushed past the bamboo drawings on the kindergarten walls, creating a surreal sensation of hearing the rustling of leaves without seeing the actual bamboo.
In the drawings, lush green bamboo leaves, light blue raindrops, and a small emerging bamboo shoot. The naive, childlike strokes revealed the artist's contentment and joy, exuding an endless sense of happiness.
It was the warmth of the sun, the nourishment of rain, the caress of the wind, and the vitality of growing, waiting for the future.
Through the cycle of seasons, the small bamboo shoot absorbed love in the winter, finally awakening in the spring when all life flourished.
-Side Story Complete
